As I type this we're watching the local news and they just did a story on the drugs used to treat erectile dysfunction. Turns out those meds can cause a form of blindness.
You can't make this stuff up.
It rained all day, sometimes hard. The weather gal says that's going to continue through Monday.
She looks like she's 13.
This morning I picked up the last of the fruit tress we ordered, a variety of apple and a peach tree. I know the lady who helped me because she sometimes comes into the coffee shop I frequent. We talked about the imminent closing of the nursery and I asked her if she knew if it was going to be razed and turned into housing.
Nope. Pot farm. (a really big pot farm)
Oregon.
The church we attended before we couldn't take it anymore and started going to UFC still has us on their list for getting text messages. It's a small congregation and meets Sunday nights at 6:00 at a Methodist church with no evening service.
One of the weird things about that church is how often they cancel that service. Last fall we got a text early in the week from the pastor that basically said, "Hey guys, I'm really weary and the staff is too. So we're cancelling this Sunday's service. We think it models what we've taught; take care of yourself. See you next Sunday night!"
Christmas Day and New Year's Day were both on a Sunday this time so....yep, no church service.
Tuesday we each got a text saying that because of the Super Bowl they were cancelling church. People are encouraged to get together with someone else from church to watch the game and fellowship together as an expression of spiritual community.
In the text he said that he remembers back in the day when a situation like this was used as a metric for identifying the committed and those who were half-hearted church members. Then he said that thankfully we've moved on from that kind of legalism.
Aside from the fact this game involves the Patriots I think I disagree with him.
If I'm given a choice between two options, the one I choose can reasonably be understood to say something about my priorities. That seems fairly obvious.
I may choose Option A because I like it better, or because my wife likes it better and I like my wife, or because short term pain is offset by long term benefit.
Actions reflect values.
Do I think they should have gone ahead with the service? If it was my decision I might have made the same call, so I'm not calling him out on that. I can think of a couple of reasons for cancelling, including avoiding antagonizing people who would feel backed into a corner. Or grumpy staff. Or finances....
But I disagree with what seemed to me like a "let 'em off the hook" approach by telling them that choosing between church and _____ has nothing to do with personal values and priorities. Of course it does. How else can it be understood?
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