I was discussing a meeting with a parishioner, and I got a look at their pocket calendar.  More like pocket hieroglyphics.  I suggested that perhaps a bigger book might work. 

I like a lot of people suffer from middle of the night syndrome. Well, that is at least what I call it.     It is when you wake up in the middle of the night and your brain is fully engaged planning the next six months. 

I think it is somewhat of an occupational hazard. There is so much that needs to be planned in being the church. Our events always need lead time.  Meetings need though about agendas. Events need thoughts about who is doing what.   I have lists in the back of head about what Advent will look like (from a clergy standpoint closer than you think) to what will we need to plan the Solstice Tea. Which would be on June the 21^st 2025 I have weddings on my book that will have been there for two years. I have planned a three month vacation for June 2028. 

I have Always struggled and had some good arguments with companies that that We (the church) are not a business, that we are a church.   The Church is not a business. This leads to point of contact or impact where the church must touch the secular world to be able to be the church. 

With all the practical aspects of what it takes to keep the lights on, the planning, the looking ahead and all that our programing entails the true nature of who we are called to be can be lost. 

We spend a lot of time trying to discern what is needed next. I wonder if we get to a point where we can’t see the forest for the trees.  All of this can also be experienced in our personal lives as well. 

Just recently a friend shared we me this very enlightening philosophy

It comes out of Holland and is called Niksen.    Niksen is a Dutch wellness trend that means “doing nothing.”  Doing nothing without purpose. 

 It is a type of mindfulness but not guided and is about being present in the moment. Niksen is  more about carving out time to just be, letting your mind wander wherever it wants to go.  It is being without purpose or direction.  In the old days we would call it gathering wool or daydreaming.  It is not meditation, which is guided mindfulness, but letting the mind just be.  Staring out the window watching a leaf fall from a tree, sitting in the front room just looking at it. Not thinking about what should be dusted, as if that would cross my mind. 

Surprisingly it has been found by doing this a person can become more productive. 

Can it be that this is what the gospel is speaking about today?  This is a great story. 

That is what we find in today’s gospel. Here we find the disciples having a discussion. Who is more important and Jesus overhears the whole thing.  Rolls his eyes, and reminds them what is important. 

How human. Who amongst us have not vied for the spot light to be the center, to call the shots to be the right hand person, most favored most looked up to.

Why were the disciples silent when Jesus confronted them?

The disciples were silent, presumably embarrassed at being caught by Jesus as they argued over which of them was the greatest. Their ambition, however was perfectly human. 

 Could the discussion of the disciples become a metaphor for all that we have going on in our lives. What is more important.  Are we being reminded to stop and be, and see what truly are the priorities in our lives. 

I had someone speak to me after worship last week. Someone had spoke to them after our seniors lunch. What the guest said is that they enjoy coming to Freelton Strabane because of the welcome and hospitality.   

The Didascalia, is a third century document on church life.  It asks the question about what should happen if a needy stranger should arrive at the church unexpectedly and there is no room for them at the table. 

The response is “If a destitute man or women, either a local person or a traveler, arrives unexpectedly, especially one of older years, and there is no place, you must, make such a place with all your heart, even if you yourself should sit on the ground, that you may not show favoritism among human beings, but that your ministry may be pleasing before God.