10 May 05 The Rescuers

Tuesday is normally the day I sketch out my upcoming Sunday message, plan the weekly assembly and put together the weekly small group lesson. These three things are interrelated and thus I like to work on them together. I like to get an idea of where the text is going so that once the outline is set the message can simmer in my mind.

There will be significant simmering today as my office is in a serious state of disarray. Our offices are located in the basement of the church building and water has been seeping through my exterior wall. It has been happening for some time now, long enough for there to be space sufficient to allow the free entry of mice.

Yes, Bernard and Bianca have been partying in my office. “Evidence” of their activity abounds - some of which extends even into my desk drawers. I have no idea how or why. I’ve got half of my office pulled out into the conference room (which has been cleaned) and the other half is waiting to be rescued.

With all that going on I feel somewhat distracted. That and I’m still on West Coast time which means I’m staying up late and getting up early. There are always these types of distractions. You have the same experiences. We feel the tension between the important and the urgent. The important things and the urgent things, you realize, are not always one and the same.

If you think about it, from now on, pray for me on Tuesday. Pray specifically for my heart, for my ears to be open to the leading and the voice of the Spirit in these, the early stages of the message. Pray that I will hear and prepare the words God intends for us to hear.