Hello from Door County,

Yesterday as I was driving across Wisconsin, as is often the case when I drive, I think, ponder, reflect and remember. Sometimes without any music in my car, and sometimes it is the music that causes me to remember. A Joe Walsh tune sparked my memory yesterday of probably my best friend if I look at my half+ century of life. So I called him on the cell phone and we chatted, at least as well as Cellular One’s coverage would allow.

His mother is still alive and in her late eighties and ironically, our fathers were good friends and died within three months of each other. Well, one ponder led to another and I realized that at 52 I have lived twice as long as my brother did. He was 26, and I remember that seemed so old; now it seems even younger and more tragic to pass so prematurely. But, he had so many responsibilities already. He was married and had three small children. That seems so different to me now.

I am in Door County to preach and lead an adult class for a seminary classmate. It is always nice to come over here; the only unfortunate thing is that they are usually gone when I come so I rarely see them. Preaching is such an amazing task and opportunity, and responsibility. I do believe much as the political landscape of the day, people want strong preaching and teaching in their churches. They want to exercise both their hearts and their heads. And I believe that is what God wants. As I often say, God gave us a brain to do more than hold our ears apart. Faith is like a muscle, we must exercise it and argue with it and struggle with it; not in a way that says I don’t have it, but rather what do I do with it. How does it work??

Today, I will drive back to Menomonie, so have the time of being in Door County will be getting here and home. So it is. This morning, I have on those clothes that I wore every week for about 10 years. It is almost ten years since I am no longer technically ordained. Interesting how we remember times, events and places. What are your memories today and how are they part of who you are? How do they inform and affect what you do?

I hope all is well and I will write again this coming week. Thanks as always for reading.

Michael