Through Stained Glass: Thursday Thoughts on Friday Afternoon

                I used to write for our congregation during the week. While my writing wasn’t as profound as Bruce’s weekly posts or as wise as the church mouse's musings, I took pleasure in the process. Occasionally, especially during Advent, I aim to share something creative that captures the spirit of the season's anticipation.

                 I’m feeling inspired to start this practice again. I’m interested in hearing which topics you'd like me to explore—whether through 'Thursday Thoughts on Friday’ (a working title) or even a sermon. Would you find value in a short commentary on the upcoming Sunday lectionary readings? Are you curious about what I’m currently reading and how it influences me? Maybe topics like current church trends, PCUSA happenings, or brief liturgies and rituals interest you. Or perhaps you'd like some photos of my dogs, Tecumseh and Brigid? Whatever topics or questions you have, please share them with me. I’d be happy to connect here and tailor my content to your interests.

                 Here’s my first entry.

                 Long before I knew it, rituals mattered to me in my personal life. Now, I’m not talking about the ones we engage in at church, although those certainly remain deeply resonant in my being and a major reason why I am a pastor.

                 I’m explaining how we synchronize our hearts, minds, spirits, and bodies for meaningful moments like the first day of school. This is especially top of mind as students prepare to return, a reminder I notice every morning after 7:30 a.m. when the Lincoln Community High School marching band starts practicing. Still, the bittersweet reality that summer was concluding and school was approaching was softened by the annual tradition of shopping for school supplies and clothes.

                 I remember joyfully browsing the school supply aisles, eager to select folders, notebooks, and writing tools, filled with hope for their future use. I thoughtfully picked the colors: blue for social studies, because I liked the subject; red for math—need I say more? Yellow for health and science, and orange for spelling and literature, since those were the subjects most likely to be left behind!

                 Then there was the shopping for school clothes. Well, I mean, one new ‘outfit’ and a pair of shoes. Who am I kidding? As the fourth child, my ‘new’ stuff was the clothes my brothers wore that didn’t have holes or stains. Regardless, having a fresh wardrobe helped ease the sting of summer’s end.

                 Here’s where the ritual came in, and perhaps you or your kids did this, too.

                 The night before school, I carefully packed my book bag with the items we bought at K-Mart (blue-light special, anyone?). I matched folders and notebooks by color and arranged my pencil box neatly, fully aware that once I closed it, everything would become chaotic and disorganized. Then I laid out my first-day-of-school outfit, knowing two things: first, I wanted to impress my classmates; second, I knew Mom was going to make me stand on the porch at 7 a.m. after a long summer to take my photo. As a kid, I tried sleeping in my clothes and uncreased Nikes, but eventually I realized that wrinkled clothes wouldn't impress anyone, and sleeping in shoes isn't great for circulation. I wanted to make sure I was ready for the first day of a new year.

                 What I didn’t consciously realize but felt deeply was that those rituals made the shift from summer to school smoother and more meaningful. They signaled a transition in time and gave me space to acknowledge my sadness about what had passed and to hope for what lay ahead, even if I wasn't fully aware of it. Internal and external changes were unfolding, and these rituals helped me move through my feelings and circumstances with a sense of calm and acceptance.

                 Rituals have existed since the beginning of human history. The word ritual can mean different things to those who are religious and those who aren’t. I’ve always been intrigued by rituals, and it’s no wonder I ended up as a pastor, since ritual lies at the intersection of humanity and faith. I recently listened to a podcast [so Millennial of me] about ritual, and it reignited my deep appreciation for ritual. It’s titled “Ritual: Finding the Center in a Turning World.” In it, two Jungian psychologists have a conversation with New York Times best-selling author Bruce Feiler about his new book A Time to Gather: How Ritual Created the World – and How It Can Save Us.

                 My copy of the book arrived today.

                 In the weeks ahead, most posts won’t be this long. Bear with me as I figure out these “Thursday Thoughts.”

                What rituals do you practice to help you manage the various transitions in your daily life? I’d love to hear about them!

One last note – this Sunday we will be ‘blessing the backpacks’ of our students. If you could offer 1 word of encouragement to these students, what would it be?