This is (theologically speaking, of course) the week from hell. It started today with a meeting of the church corporation, working out some details regarding building maintenance with our caretaker. That was at 7:30. I went from there to the monthly meeting of the Ministerial Association. Uncomfortable surroundings, and a lot of  "stuff" going on. Tonight is Vestry (that's a parish council to you non-Anglican folks), which could be quite contentious, because it's that time of year again, when we are forecasting a deficit, and we have to ask people to respond. The well might run dry eventually...

Tomorrow is the fall meeting of Diocesan Executive. That's all day in a church basement, for what purpose I'm not really sure, because the Diocesan Synod meets Thursday evening through Saturday lunch.

Meetings, meetings, meetings! And they all pile up together. What I really want to do is teach and preach.

But then, maybe the life of the church is in meetings. After all, didn't Desmond Tutu say that what kept the Anglican Church together is "We meet." When we don't meet, we drift into our own little corners, where the seeds of discord and even schism flourish abundantly.

So, Lord, help me to hear you speaking in all the talk.And give me the strength to get through this week...