I woke up early, aware that I had been dreaming -- I was half way finished working on my sermon for next Sunday before I finally realize that I was on sabbatical and don’t need to write a sermon. It appears that it may take some time for all of this to seep down into my soul.

My dog, Henri, slept as close to me as he could last night. He knows something is going on. Leaving him behind is one of the more difficult parts of this adventure.

I find myself struggling with pastoral instincts that want to stay because of Donna’s recent diagnosis of cancer. What lets me leave is the strong confidence that the congregation will be who I know them to be, and they will surround her with love and support.

I really love this congregation and am grateful to them for the opportunity to go on this adventure.

June 8th - Quadra Island, BC:

Greetings from Quadra Island BC (two ferries away from ordinary life) -

Yesterday I took the ferry from Vancouver to Nanaimo (on Vancouver Island) and drove north to Campbell River, arriving just in time to catch the ferry over to Quadra Island. The campsite where I am staying is right on a beautiful little bay. My tent is perhaps 10 yards above the high tide mark. Off in the distance are the snow-capped mountains of British Columbia. Soaring overhead are bald eagles. This morning I watched one swoop down, catch a fish and then land on the beach to eat his breakfast. They chitter in the trees almost directly above my camp. Life is good.

I begin five days of sea-kayaking tomorrow morning.

I’m reading Thomas Cahill’s "How the Irish Saved Civilization." Speaking of the faith which Patrick brought to Ireland, he writes, "The world is holy, not just parts of it. The sacred dance of the sacramental life, a sacramentality not limited to the symbolic actions of the church’s liturgy, but open to the whole created universe. All the world is holy!" Then he quotes an Irish poet, "The world is charged with the grandeur of God. It will flame out, like shining from shook foil --"

I find the idea of a creation-affirming, non-judgmental faith to be very appealing.

My prayers are with you.

June 13th - Vancouver, BC:

Greetings!

I just finished 5 days of sea-kayaking yesterday in some of the most beautiful country imaginable. I can’t begin to come up with enough words to describe how inspiring and breath-taking it all was. So many of my pictures are labeled, "Islands & Mountains." There were so many things about the experience that were meaningful and had an impact -- pushing my body in new and challenging ways; being so close to God’s awe-inspiring creation; being completely removed from the normal routines of life (we didn’t once stop anywhere that I could have spent money even if I had brought any along). Eagles entertained us at dinner every night, and I woke almost every morning to the chittering of eagles in trees directly over my tent. I chose this experience for part of my sabbatical because being on the water has always been a source of spiritual energy and renewal for me. It worked!

The contrast between that experience and the traffic of Vancouver and Seattle was almost overpowering. It reminded me how fortunate I am to live in a place like Moscow. And the trip reminded me how fortunate I am to be a part of a faith community that allows me the opportunity to enjoy such experiences. You were prayed for in some truly spectacular places.

The other thing it did was remind me how important community and relationships are for me. As amazing as the scenery was, I wouldn’t want to be there all the time without the balance of friends and a faith community. I remain more convinced than ever that we were created to be in relationship with each other -- sharing life in mutually enhancing ways.

My prayers continue to be with you.

June 21st - Bozeman, MT:

Greetings!

Philip, my almost-five-year-old nephew, made a cross in the top of his pudding with his spoon and declared that he had found a sign of God. “You mean God is in your pudding?” I asked. To which he responded, without hesitation, “God is everywhere!”

This important lesson came back to me yesterday as I was driving through Yellowstone. What a strange and wonderful and beautiful place! My brother calls it "pre-historic" and there are certainly parts of it which fit that description. As I drove along watching for bison and elk and steaming sulphur-smelling geysers I felt as if God could be found around every corner. And then I heard again Philip’s profoundly simple declaration -- "God is everywhere!" Of course God could be found around every corner, and not just in Yellowstone on this beautiful day, but in every moment of every day. In places like Yellowstone such an awareness is a little bit closer to the surface -- you have to drive slower and you know to be on the lookout for the extra-ordinary. And that, it seems to me, is at least half the trick. We need to learn to live every moment of our lives this way -- slow down and watch for signs of wonder around every corner. After all -- "God is everywhere!"

June 29th - Arcata, CA:

Greetings from the northern California coast -

Wow! What an amazing few days!

I spent Wednesday night with my sister and her family in Salem, where I grew up. I haven’t been back there in about 15 years. A lot has changed and a lot remains the same. I drove by our old house and discovered that the cedar trees I helped plant (which originally came in coffee cans) are now bigger around than I could reach. One thing I discovered is that Salem no longer feels like home. It was fun being reminded of lots of old memories I hadn’t thought about in years, but it is in my past. A recurring theme for me on this sabbatical journey is the growing awareness of how much I belong in Moscow.

Thursday my journey turned south. The ocean was close at hand all day. Being on the Oregon coast was such a delight. I spent lots of time there in my younger days and it has been way too long since I’ve been back. There is something about the crashing waves and the rocks and the smells. I feel refreshed. Even though the day was misty and heavily overcast and general damp and cool, it was a wonderful day. After dinner, I walked from my camp site to the ocean (a little less than a mile away). I was alone on the trail through the dunes and I was alone on the beach. Just me and the crashing waves and the awareness of God’s presence close at hand.

Friday was unbelievable. It began with a drive down the southern Oregon coast (where I had never been before) past amazing, huge rocks on the beach and out in the surf. Then I drove through the redwood forests of northern California and finally arrived in Arcata, where Mariah Talbott lives. We then jumped in her car for a tour of the Redwoods. They are spectacular! They are huge! They are almost magical. The tour also included a trip to Fern Canyon, which defies description. I’ve never been any place like it in my life. It was a very full, very awe-inspiring, very wonderful day. God is, indeed, around every corner.

You continue to be in my prayers, which continue to occur in truly spectacular locations.

July 5th - Gaviota Beach, CA:

Greetings from Gaviota Beach in Southern California -

What a great trip. Let me just say that Highway 1 down the coast of California is the most amazing road I’ve ever been on. I can’t yet decide if the person who built it should be declared certifiably insane or given an engineering award. In either case it was great fun to drive. If that doesn’t get your heart pumping you just aren’t paying attention (and paying attention is absolutely essential on that road). The scenery takes your breath away.

Took a tour of Hearst Castle (the little shack on the hill above San Simeon that William Randolph Hearst built). It’s amazing what can be done when money is no object.

Arrived at Gaviota Beach on Tuesday and will be here until Sunday when I head in to LA. It is nice to leave my tent set up for several days in a row. I love watching the pelicans flying over the ocean and diving for fish. But even more amazing than that is watching the dolphins just off shore jumping completely out of the water. The first time I saw that it literally took my breath away. It is a thing a graceful beauty to behold.

Next week I will be in class all week at Claremont School of Theology (north LA) - Creative Worship with Ann Weems. Then I head back to Moscow by way of Arizona (the Grand Canyon) and Utah.

I find that slowing down to appreciate the view and notice all the ways that God is around every corner has been a wonderful gift of this adventure. Hopefully I can remember the lesson when I get back home. Thank you for the chance to experience all of this. You are never far from my thoughts and prayers.

July 13th - Claremont, CA:

Greetings from Claremont in LA County -

I’m writing this to you early on Saturday morning after a stimulating and exciting week. The birds are singing, the temperature is cool, the orange trees on the other side of the pool are ladened with fruit and my mind is still filled with laughter as I recall the experiences of the past few days. I drove down from Gaviota Beach on Sunday, past more beautiful and scenic coastline. Monday morning found me sitting in a classroom at the Disciples Seminary Foundation with Ann Weems standing in front of me. For the rest of the week my mornings were spent playing with words in the warm glow of her wise and gentle spirit. In the afternoons I explored parts of LA.

One of the highlights of the week (well, OK, one of the highlights of this whole year) came on Friday morning when Ann began the class by reading a poem I had written earlier in the week.

"Fluid Grace"

Straining my eyes I watched
   Holding my breath I waited
But simple anticipation could not prepare me
   for the overwhelming grace
      of one dolphin leaping
Tears of joy unbidden
   formed my prayer of thanks

Then on Friday afternoon came an amazing extra treat. Rod and Mary Anne Parrott took me sailing off Dana Point (just north of San Clemente). It’s been several years since I’ve been on a sailboat, so just that much would have been enough. But while we were out we came across a massive pod of dolphins leaping and dancing through the waves -- 50 or 60 of these graceful creatures breaking the surface as one. The water at times appeared to boil. And again, just that much would have been more than enough. But they decided to play in our bow wake. So for at least a half hour we found ourselves in the midst of these sleek, gray forms. I was laying flat on the deck at the very front of the boat with my arm outstretched as far as I could reach. There were times when my fingers were only inches from touching them. I could hear their chirps and squeaks as they communicated with each other. The water was crystal clear and more than once I found myself in direct eye contact. I am confident it will remain one of the great wonder-filled experiences of my life.

Tomorrow morning I head for Arizona, Utah and home. I look forward to seeing you soon.

July 19th - Zion National Park:

Greetings from Zion National Park in southern Utah!

What an incredible week, nearing the end of an absolutely incredible adventure. I was hiking a trail today in Zion Canyon, surrounded by towering red rock cliffs rising thousands of feet above me, when I had a thought that just made me laugh out loud. A week ago today, at about the same time I had this thought, I was playing with dolphins on a sailboat in the Pacific Ocean. Since then I have been through the desert of southern California and Arizona (way too hot for my tastes), watched a lightning storm and beautiful sunset (at the same time) from the magical Granite Dells just outside of Prescott, Arizona, gaped in awe and amazement at the red rock cliffs surrounding Sedona, Arizona, watched the sun set and rise over the Grand Canyon (both south and north rims), and hiked up to a beautiful emerald green pool at the very base of a cliff several thousand feet tall.

I have now been in seven states and one Canadian province, visited four National Parks, driven several thousand miles, taken hundreds of pictures (thank goodness for digital cameras and laptop computers), and seen enough amazing things to keep me smiling with joy for years to come. I have encountered God over and over again in the most amazing places. The thought occurred to me today -- "If you don’t believe God celebrates diversity, just take the trip I’ve just taken!"

I cannot even begin to express my deep gratitude for your support in allowing me the time and resources to experience this adventure. I don’t know how much “practical” wisdom I will be bringing back with me, but I can promise you I will be refreshed, renewed, re-energized and filled with a deep sense of joy and wonder.

I look forward to seeing you all soon. You continue to be in my prayers.

July 26th - Moscow

Greetings from Moscow!

6,500 miles later, I am once again sleeping in my own bed. These past two months have been such an amazing experience. When I think back over all the places I've been and all the things I've seen, I am only beginning to take it all in. But it has been more than simply a grand tour - it has also been a powerful spiritual journey. I come home with a fresh appreciation for what I already knew - that life in this community, shared with my congregation and my friends, in the ongoing presence of our loving and gracious God, is something to be cherished and enjoyed. Just today I read a verse from T.S. Eliot which goes a long way towards expressing the lesson I am learning:

We shall not cease from exploration
And the end of all our exploring
Will be to arrive where we started
And know the place for the first time.

I am spending these last few days of my sabbatical (until the end of July) slowing re-acclimating myself to life back in this community which I love. I look forward to being in worship with you again next week.