Since I had a few stops to make early this morning, I didn’t get to my office the usual time, and shortly after my arrival, I headed to my darkened corner and began my Sunday morning contemplative prayer session. I believe my having recently mentioned my sessions to several whom I believe to be more on the spiritual side, enabled me to have an even better experience this morning. As much as I keep wanting to go deeper into the spiritual realm, I know it’s a gradual work in progress which requires a great deal of patience over a long period of time.
Once finished, I headed to my computer to see what newsworthy things had happened around the world, and since I have about five news feeds I regularly visit, it takes a bit more time to migrate thru them, but since I have a method in place, there’s not much that gets missed.
I still can’t believe that creepy Mike Johnson managed to get himself elected the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and after my having gone down another investigative ‘rabbit hole’, he’s definitely about as ultra-conservative as you can get, so I afraid the Republican Party is rapidly devolving into something most of us main-streamers will be backing away from when it comes election time. Yes, I know I’m not supposed to talk about religion, but I will insist to my dying day that there must be a distinct separation of church and state for democracy to survive. I personally don’t care what religion our politicians are, as long as they keep it to themselves and don’t drag it into our government bodies. Yes, I’ve very old fashioned when it comes to that, and that’s just OK by me.
After I finished with the news, it was time for me to head over to First Congregational Church and get myself situated before their members started arriving. I did have a short but pleasant chat with their Pastor, and since he was standing there, I announced that I’d be playing one of their hymns on their grand piano, which he thought a good idea.
Everything went as well as expected other than for some crazy reason, I only played three of the five versus of the recessional hymn, and about three seconds after I stopped, I realized what I had done, but of course it was too late. Ugh! Before walking out, I went and apologized to their Pastor and their song leaders. I don’t think that’ll be happening again any time soon. Even now, I still don’t know why I stopped at the third verse because all five of them were before my very eyes. Oh well, it was another learning experience.
When I got back to office, I dropped off my music and headed back out and took about a forty-five minute drive which was basically a half-circle around North Iowa. That drive was simply to help me get a little ‘stink’ of the City out of my system, just so I could get myself back in balance, and it worked.
I had to make a quick stop at a groceteria, and while there, I managed to find a few deeply-discounted in-house specials which I took advantage of. While there, I ran into one of the members of St. Paul Lutheran, so we had a nice chat about the recent increase in attendance at their house of worship. I’m scheduled to play for them next Sunday, so I’ll be making sure I have all the music I need, long beforehand. I’m still a bit sad they don’t have the funds to get their organ completely restored, so the only time I play it, is either before their Services, or a short postlude afterwards.
It was nearing the hour of one when I got back from the store, and for whatever reason, I decided to view today’s online Service I played, and after listening to it, I dare say, the recording system they have, is still needing some work, but at least it’s not even in the same solar system as St. Paul’s which I still can’t believe they haven’t done away with it entirely, and only because it’s that bad.
Those online services can be a double-edged sword to where one side offers the shut-ins an opportunity to watch them, but the other side, it’s not encouraging those who are able, to attend. Regardless what anyone says, any coming together is more fulfilling in person, rather than watching something online. Isn’t the coming together as a community of faith, what it’s really all about? Oh well, that’s another thing we can blame on the pandemic, which is the rise in social and religious distancing we’re seeing.
The remainder of my day was spent over at my little/big project where I was a toiling away for a good three hours until my body was telling me it was time to quit. What I did manage to get completed, I was so proud of myself to the point where I actually took a picture of it with my cell phone, just as a reminder of how good it looked. I’ve always backed away from taking ‘before’ photos, but I do enjoy taking the ‘afters’.
Now that we’ll soon be out of the month of October, I’m gonna really focus on getting my current active listings sold before Christmas arrives, so if you have a spare moment or two, say a little prayer I get them sold. No matter what anyone says, selfless prayer can make a remarkable difference.
First thing tomorrow morning, I’ll be calling my HVAC person to schedule an appointment for him to look at two furnaces, and only because one isn’t working properly, and the other sounds like its fan motor is possibly going out, and for sure I’d rather get it replaced before it shuts down in the middle of a blizzard. Better safe than sorry. Right?
Tonight’s One-liner is: Always be a first-rate version of yourself, instead of a second- rate version of somebody else.
