The shoulder of a religious alb that is stark white except for the large foundation stain above where the buttons are snapped.

I'm currently serving at a hugging church...and it shows. 😳

Most to least favorite communication method...

- text
- email
- face to face
- zoom
- phone call

I hate the phone call.

Not people younger than me looking for split hostas. Reader, pray for my repose - the timeliness of mortality seems to draw near.

Was literally approached at one of my favorite restaurants yesterday to do a drawing of the building for them. I think that means I've made it or something. 🤷

To be a pastor is a gentle gift of guidance, love, and attendance in another's life, given by an individual moment to moment.

I know which matters more to me and it's not "The Rev." but the friend who comes alongside in a "Pastor(al)" way.

As I'm discerning where God is calling me (TEC or ELCA), the question of priest versus pastor keeps coming up.

To be a priest is something that requires a degree, ceremonies, and an overarching idea of responsibility and commitment, given by a wide body of Christians.

May the printer be free of demons;
may the liturgies and hymns be set in stone;
may no parish drama unfold;
and may you feel some sense of the beauty of this week as the panic begins to fade.

Happy hell week for all my fellow church employees!

My seminary used HEAVILY ai-edited photos of a scholarship's recipients and I hate it.

I won't be surprised when McD's CEO is asked to resign because he's making the brand look even worse than normal.

Midweek Lenten Service - March 4 YouTube video by Lutheran Church of the Resurrection Cincinnati

Did a sermon-testimony thing at my Field Ed parish tonight and found out someone I really like is homophobic. 😔
Such is church life...

Here's the sermon-testimony thing: www.youtube.com/live/IrKG2dY...

It's a Lenten*Discipline* or a Lenten *Practice*, not a Lenten *I'm-Going-To-Do-This-Thing-Perfectly-Or-I-Failed-Jesus-And-God-Hates-Me*

A small loaf of bread in plastic with a small circle of mold on top

Bought a pumpkin bread yesterday at my new Field Ed parish's bake sale.

If this isn't a metaphor for my life this week, I don't know what is...

If I became Lutheran, would you all still be my friends?

[I'd actually enjoy reading a worm's opinions, though, so I may need to find a different specimen to align myself with.]

[Why should MY thoughts be taken so seriously as to be wed to a technical life that may far outlive my own? I'm just a worm.]

[reader - I do not actually love writing. I find it completely overwhelming and paralyzing. This is a meager attempt to reframe my dislike. *Except, I do genuinely love writing Bible studies...]

I LOVE writing. I love writing outlines, I love writing journals, I love writing Bible studies*, and essays. I love writing introductions. I love sitting down and having only a keyboard in front of me with my thoughts. I love the feeling of a blank word document - an adventure not yet begun.

Made my partner her first hot toddy for a cold. I think she prefers NyQuil.

The amount of terrible driving in Cinci today is actually kind of wild. Easy example - turn lanes are for turning into a business, not for turning out of one. Following Christ is hard in a sea of hollow heads.

It's a weird feeling to know you're reading one of your favorite books for the first time.

"There is no such thing as monsters in this world. There are only human beings who are wounded." - See No Stranger, Kaur

A tattoo on sami's pale chest. The tattoo is a dove descending with an olive leaf and four crosses surrounding it, creating a Jerusalem cross

Went to the oldest tattoo shop in the world today.

After today's incidents at the Church of the Nativity and the disrespect shown to the incarnation, I'm reeeeally not a fan of UUs. Be respectful of those around you, especially if those around you are part of your group.

Two people (Sami and Carson) standing in front of a window.

Two of your faves causing trouble in the Holy Land. @carsonhollis.bsky.social

The foundation of a house bulldozed by the IDF in a Bedouin village.

Today was a tough one.

The old city of Jerusalem lit up at night.

Shout out to @carsonhollis.bsky.social and Connor! We met for the first time in one of the most beautiful places I've ever seen. The view from our place of rest is incredible.

Flying for 10.5 hours after 2.5 hours is a very particular form of hell.

Very nervous about the country I'll come home to.

Two people standing in a large room. The person on the left has curly light brown hair and a striped sweater. The person on the right is slightly shorter with brown hair that's pulled back, a tan hoodie, and blue backpack slung over her left arm. The background is Cincinnati's airport entrance with skylights above and floors viewable below.

Aaaaand one of my lovely partner and I. She was kind enough to walk me all the way to security.