know thy elf

-The "young at heart" ladies in Bible study (they're mostly in their eighties) deciding that after my having taught the last couple of Bible studies that I should just continue and teach them all "while they have me." I love engaging in the Word with them because they have such devout faith and poignant questions, and am so honored that they've embraced me so heartily. It's amazing how women who have never before worked with a female minister and who certainly would be accustomed to a traditional one have been some of the most devout supporters of my sense of calling. Plus, the homemade scones and earl grey tea aren't too shabby. After having a guy my age at a Presbyterian Church in Ireland full-time youth workers' day today say "so are you seriously ordained? No offense, but I don't see you as a minister...you look so young!" it's nice to know these more mature ladies have my back. I replied to this guy that I get that whole "you don't look like a minister thing" a lot, and that I consider it part of my calling to break the mold, to show young women that this is an option for them too.

-Seeing an elf tree on my walk home through the park and having something childlike stirred within me. Have I told you that as a child I used to think that these smoothed-over parts of trees were doors for the elves who lived inside? Occasionally, I could be seen talking to trees for this reason. Yeah for child's imaginations. Maybe here it's a leprechaun tree...

-Running into my friend Tura while walking and both of us popping our headphones out of our ears to engage in actual communication (as opposed to the sometimes-blissful, but always individualistic, iPod world).

{Feeling bored? Or maybe Lentish? Or just want to hear me speaking with an ever-so-slight Norn Iron lilt? You can have a listen to a recent sermon I preached at Fitzroy based on Luke 4:1-13, Jesus' temptation in the wilderness, called "Le(n)t it be." It's here.}