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Hello St. John’s Family,
Once again, I found myself roped in.
Last week I received a text from a colleague and good friend, inviting me to a clergy event. The premise was good: an afternoon to pause, reflect, pray, and focus on personal renewal. An opportunity to reset for a couple hours by simply spending time with God. Though it sounded good, it was something I didn’t have the time for. I knew that. I was already overbooked; the answer was no. Then the periodic follow-up texts came: it would be really great to see you…
Much like Jerry Seinfeld shouting Newman! on the old Seinfeld show, I shouted my friend’s last name, and then gave in with a sigh of “Oh alright…” He had roped me in again. As I was rushing around to leave for a quiet afternoon of prayer and renewal, my mind wasn’t exactly in an open, calm, or centered place.
As is always the case when we’re running late, the drive took 15 minutes longer than it should have. I entered the gathering late, smiled, and quickly shook hands with my friend, thinking “this had better be good.” Midway through the afternoon we were instructed to go outside, walk slowly, and observe something we typically wouldn’t notice or pay attention to. We were to study this object, see what makes it unique, and snap a picture of it with our phone. OK, whatever, I thought. At least this gets me outside on a beautiful day.
While half-heartedly attempting to complete my assignment, I stumbled across a multiflora rose bush. This is something I intentionally avoid – an invasive thornbush – so it fit the bill. I looked closely at a thorn; it appeared almost translucent where it connected to the branch. Perhaps that was why I was scratched so many times by these bushes over the years. Anyway, it looked interesting, so I snapped a picture. But my phone couldn’t bring it in focus, so I deleted it. I tried again and again, until I finally got one picture that somewhat captured what I saw.
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