the searbys

Yep, I've been spending the weekend without my lovely wife. Jen has been in Illinois at a friends wedding and its been strange being here all alone. My whole routine has been off and I'm a creature of some habit. In some ways its nice to have some alone time but in most ways, I don't like it. You grow to love and depend upon someone and you want them there. I'll be glad when she gets home.

Yesterday after church and lunch I came home, crashed on the couch and turned on golf. Growing up there were lots and lots of Sundays that my dad and I would do the same thing. I never quite understood it but I always liked it. There we'd sit in our white undershirts leftover from church and the most comfortable shorts or sweats we could find. It was usually just kind of a nice background sound for naps. Now I'm starting to understand a bit more. Sunday mornings are draining when you're a minister. For one, you've prepared all week for the sermon and when its over you feel a sense of relief. Plus, you greet everyone you see and spend a few moments with them, hearing about their week, sharing yours, just generally interacting. But the minister is expected to remember everyone's week. It's a lot of pressure. Then you eat lunch with someone in church and it often turns theological or at least to discussions about ministry. By the time you get home a nap is certainly in order. So, that's what I did yesterday, before waking up and heading back to church last night for a prayer time. It was a great day at Harvest yesterday and I continue to be excited about that opportunity that God has placed before us.

I hope you're well and always enjoy hearing from any and all of you. Have a great week!
-joel

i completely agree and understand. my sunday afternoons are sacred after a morning of teaching the kids and then going to church. it's so hard to remember all that everyone does and yet they assume that since you are in a ministerial role, you automatically have a special place in your brain for everything anyone has every told you about how their dog went to the vet. plus i get to try and keep straight which kid went with who to homecoming and what type of controversay that caused. sigh.  

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Jen and Joel,

I'm glad to hear you're getting rest. It sounds like everything is going really well. I hope the wedding was fun.

justin  

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ei joel, i really enjoyed reading your blog and nice banner too. thank you also when you said, "So, I guess I'm saying to those married men out there, appreciate your wife for the little things that she brings to your life every day." i just sent it to my hubby. hahaha. hope to get something from it. laff. naah, hubby's really great.  

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