You know those group gatherings where we are asked to name “one word that describes where you are today?” I’m freshly back from study leave and – of course – someone asked a group of clergywomen this question. My one-word answer: Reviewing.
My March 2026 Retirement Date has been announced and I’m profoundly grateful for these months ahead when I can review 40+ years of professional ministry. I share this in order to ask you all – lovely readers – if there’s anything in particular you would like me to reflect on out loud/in this blog. Among the things I look forward to doing over the next ten months:
- Personally thanking the people who saved my life/changed my life/loved me best. This is a long list because I’m the world’s richest person in the people department. My Roundtable Clergywomen – among others – know the correct response to this phone call in the middle of the night: “There’s a naked dead man on my kitchen floor.” (Note: there is only one correct response to this statement.)
- Stuff I’ve learned.
- Trying to discern where to live out the next 30 years of my life (or a fraction thereof) with HH.
I’ve never been a fan of prepping for a role with the ones previously serving in those roles, mostly because I love discovering things on my own . . . until I hit a bump in the terrain that requires historical information. And then I reach out wondering what’s up with that committee member who responds strangely whenever someone refers to “the camp.”
What I’ve learned is not necessarily going to be helpful to anyone else. But this blog has always been a bit like a journal for me. If others find it interesting, that’s great. And if not, that’s great.
In the meantime, I am relishing these days. It could have been very different and I’m deeply grateful.
A Church for Starving Artists 