HELLO!

I had a very busy day at the church; began the morning with a grieving family https://tjtracey.com/tribute/details/4321 the funeral is set for Monday October 26^th, please keep David’s family in your prayers, and two pastoral visits with long-time members of Woodlawn United, a quick visit to the hospital to visit a member admitted over the weekend and the second session of our weekly Faith Study still to come at 7 pm (we had 25 join us last week). I have another busy day planned on Wednesday, ending with another evening meeting, I usually get home close to 10 pm. I share this for two reasons: 1) I am in no way “coasting to the finish line” in my final two years, I love my work (except for meetings that last more than 90 minutes and driving). I am “all in”. And 2) to demonstrate that although I am “busy” I always make time for visits. A pet peeve of mine are folks I try to track down for a visit, who can’t give me a date, but who will drop in while I am visiting others and tell me, “You are too busy for us to meet”. I am never too busy, I always make time, but I do prefer planning over “I thought I would drop in, I was in the neighbouhood”.

I served a pastoral charge in Cape Breton for four years and enjoyed myself very much. One highlight was the half hour TV talk show I hosted on Seaside Cable, where I invited the audience to suggest local “eccentrics” I might speak with, I called the show “The People in our Neighbourhood”. We recorded 200 shows, pre-internet. I visited everyone in our church directory there, in all three churches: Donkin, Port Morien and Birch Grove (we had three services every Sunday, 9 am, 10 am and 11:15 am). It bothered folks there I would call early in the week to arrange my visits, “The door is open, just drop in when you have the time…” I never did, and yet I was the first and only minister to visit all the households. I love to visit but I do not like “dropping in” and I confess, I never liked people dropping in on me when I am home. For an extrovert this sounds strange. When there is no one in my office, my door is not closed, I enjoy people dropping in to see me. But I am confused when they are disappointed that I am not there. I will call, “Why didn’t you call first?” At home, especially when I had three jobs and never saw enough of Lucian and Kim, I did not like unexpected company.

I could spend all day talking with people, and sometimes I do. I love to hear others’ stories, insights and experiences (unsolicited advice, “not so much”). But to have as many visits as I do, requires I schedule. I once had a colleague who spent all 40 of his hours in a week sitting in his office. All of his visits were random “drop ins”. That does not feel “productive” and it would mean many of the visits I have had in my 36 years would never have happened. If I am not in my office, I am out visiting, likely someone you know. And there are still 230 households for me to reach (though the last ten people I called/emailed said “no thanks” to my offer).

I love this photo, sent to me by my friend Brian. The duck seems to be wondering, “What do I do next, where do I go?” Exactly. Peace, Kevin