The Daily Office

I don't really know what 'The Daily Office' is. It's a term I picked up reading THE SACRED WAY by Tony Jones. It sounds so much holier than sitting in my office usually feels.

I read today about 'The Jesus Prayer' ("Lord Jesus Christ, Son of God, have mercy on me, a sinner"). I think I will try that today during my lunchtime prayer/fast. It's something we started doing awhile back - our church council; and we invited as many in the church as would participate - to not eat lunch on the day of council meetings, and use that time to pray for God's leading for our church. The Shelter Project is a direct result of this.

Monastic Man
I think I feel a leading to go on a prayer retreat of some kind. I've never felt led to do this before. Maybe even just a day/night away in a tent or something. But I kinda feel like a week alone to do nothing but pray, read Scripture, listen, and write sounds more along the lines of it. This is not a good summer to take a week to do that - what with Isaac graduating from high school, a niece and nephew (in 2 different states) graduating, Carrie maybe moving away to do an internship, and the usual summer busi-ness. But... we'll see. Speak to me, Lord.

The Weekend
Had a pretty decent weekend. My parents were here. It went well. They came to watch Isaac play guitar in pep band for the last time in h.s., as well as to see Carrie and take her shopping. Jane and I slept on the couches. Which I don't mind because the "old" couch is actually more comfortable than our bed, I think.

Tonight the kids are both going to see Sigur Ros in Indy. I wish I was going; but I'm glad they are. I hope it goes well.

The Week
I have some serious issues to deal with this week. I would really rather sit in my office; or go to a music store; or have a root canal, even. Give me strength, Lord. Give me an aura of peace. Remind me over and over the meaning of grace. May I be a servant to the Good News. As Brian Larson wrote this morning, "We are servants of the message. We don't serve ourselves, our "careers," our liking. We serve the message, whether we see results or not, whether we are known or unknown, celebrated or castigated. We don't worry about what the message does or does not do for us because the message does not serve us. The noble preacher is a servant."

Peace, friends. Peaceful revolution. I belong to that branch of the service.
d.