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| ps from ps I’m working remotely this week from Silver Bay YMCA and Conference Center in Silver Bay, NY. Got here Sunday before the 15″ of snow.  Some of you might know the camp on the north end of Lake George as the site of the Lutheran Week at Silver Bay which many in the Lutheran tribe have been gathering at over the summer for many years. Beautiful in the summer. Maybe even more beautiful in the winter. Michelle came with me this year. We get our workout done in the morning. Then I work on Lenten planning, meetings with Pastor Kristen and staff, sermon planning, and time to write. Before dinner, we hit some cross country ski time and then add a night snow shoe with the head lamps. It’s a lot of added outdoor stuff. So I had to let go of a few things: like watching the stupid Patriots win, other random sports events, checking Facebook and keeping up to speed on the news cycle. It’s not to run away from it. It’s to get a break from it. A break to rebuild. The Spiritual Life Center here (a retreat center where pastors/church workers can come and stay for free for respite) has a great little library filled with books to read if you choose. This one caught my eye:  To be clear, I’m not planning on reading it (it has waaaaay too many words and not enough pictures and diagrams). I just love the title and picture. I especially love the depth and width of the roots. In order for the leafs to get to the top of the tree, beautify the landscape, provide the oxygen and shade the surroundings, the roots must be healthy, wide and deep. Coming to Silver Bay and working from here once a year builds up my roots. Shutting off social media to take a break builds my roots. Disengaging from the painful news cycle builds my roots. And yes, not letting my emotional stability be influenced by who wins a football game builds my roots. (Although, I’m sure if the Bills ever won the SB, that would build my roots too! What’d ya say God?) In order for us to maintain/rebuild our spiritual and emotional health, we have to give time, space and energy to those roots. Jesus modeled it and encouraged it. In Matthew 5, Jesus reminded so many who were run down, cast off and root-less because of the culture, that they were blessed. He was trying to build their roots in the depth and width of his love. I drove 5 hours in a snowstorm. You might not have to go that far though. It may be in the quiet of your home, God’s creation around you or even space at St. Paul’s. (Which ALL of you are welcome to sit in the sanctuary at St. Paul’s at any time, beyond Sundays, if you just need some space for the rebuild. And right now it also acts as cryotherapy being about 57 degrees! Bring a prayer shawl this week). This week, may you give yourself time to “transform your inner life” by stepping away from the things that are breaking you down and allowing God to rebuild your roots! Lord, help me find the space, make the time and create room by letting go, so that you can rebuild my roots. Amen Still in One Peace ps. |
January 28, 2026
