After last fall's successful conference on 21st Century Policing was held at the University of Wisconsin in Platteville I was asked to teach an introductory course this spring on criminal justice. I have just given the final exam this week and my last lecture this semester. The two events, the conference and teaching, will happen again this fall.
So how's my spiritual life with all this going on? Sabine (and yes, thanks be to God, she is still with me and we are holding the line on the cancer and living a fairly "normal" life) and I are in our 12th year at St. Peter's Episcopal Church in North Lake (between Madison and Milwaukee). It has remained one of my primary callings as we celebrated my 20th year in ministry last summer.
When one does parish ministry it comes with all the challenges of dying and burials, marriages, baptisms, teaching and outreach. (And, no, Christians are not always able to get along with one another!).
On the cancer front (and 5 weekly home hemodialysis sessions) we and our trusted medical staff have been able to manage both the cancer through an oral drug regimen and our handy 70# hemodialysis machine that we have been able to drag along with us in automobile, train, and boat.
Sabine's 92 year old mother, Charlotte, is with us on our farmette and while her memory has been greatly challenged she remains healthy and active in gardening and caring for our two donkeys.
This is been a year in which death has been pushed to the back row (it wasn't too long ago he was front and center in the first row!). While being in the back row, he has not left the theater. I know this and yet still hope for some kind of miracle knowing that every day we are each dying a bit -- carpe diem.
None of us will get out of here alive. So we are living in the moment as much as we can and appreciating the gift God has given us.
We acquired an old cruiser houseboat on the Mississippi River at Dubuque last year and enjoy our floating cabin on the river. We have even dialyzed while underway (firmly anchored!).It is our respite. Our getaway in which we enjoy the gift of each other and knowledge of the God who journeys with us!
Peace to you and yours!
p.s You can also follow me on Twitter: @bocougar
