There is a reason why I haven't written a blog post in over a month. In fact, there are dozens, hundreds of reasons. I'm the pastor of a church, mother of three children, wife, friend, neighbor, and (since last fall) doctoral candidate.

As the church readies itself for Holy Week, as the children have all their concerts and school events, as books need to be written and papers read -- I find myself feeling a bit overwhelmed. The clock is ticking loudly and I feel myself living in the future. If I can just make it until May 5, I tell myself, Easter will be over, classes will be done, and then I'll have a chance to breathe again.

Perhaps you have found yourself doing that sometimes too. At some mystical time in the future, living will be easy. But living in the future is a problem. At that magical time in the future, new problems will be facing us, perhaps harder than the ones we face today. Perhaps we won't even be there to enjoy that future moment. None of us, not one, is promised that we will wake up tomorrow.

I remind myself of these things, not to be morbid, but to remember to focus on right now; to live this life, acknowledge this moment, feel this breath as it enters and leaves my body.

Breathe.

Peace,
Pastor Lisa