Currently The Clothes They Stood Up In By Alan Bennett see related

I'm on sabbatical, but I wanted to post a new entry because I have just discovered that one of our churches has chosen to link to my blog.  I'm chagrined that I didn't keep my promise to blog from Synod, but I intend to see if I can post some pictures from Synod.  And perhaps knowing that someone is watching will keep my blogposts more regular.

It is my hope that, this fall, when I return from sabbatical, we as a Conference will begin to give time and energy to the subject of generosity.  That may sound strange in the middle of this econmic disaster that we call a recession, but I think it's the ideal time to begin some new conversations.  A magazine article I read recently suggested that we have gotten too caught up with "having" instead of "being" and "doing".  I think I agree.

I have just finisehd reading a very strange little novel called The Clothes Tehy Stood Up in, by British playwright Alan Bennett [I'm involved in two different summer reading programs this year].  It's about a proper middle-aged Bristish couple who return home from the opera one night to discover that everything in their apartment has been stolen---right down to the garbage cans and toilet paper.  In the midst of this, they are given an opportunity to reassess their lives, which she begins to do, but he has no interest in.  Well, I won't tell yu the ending, but I do think it's time to think about new opportunities that present themselves to us even in the midst of difficult and uncomfortable circumstances.

What opportuity has the recession give you?  I'd like to hear.  You can respond to this post just by going to the bottom and look for the words "write a comment."

Blessings, Marja