Here I Am in 2009

No, I didn't fall off the planet at the coming of the new year. I've been fighting a cold, working, doing the church thing, and so on, and I've not been in a blogging space. There's not a lot going on in life at this moment. I did renew the church contract for 3 more months though after yesterday's gathering, I don't think it was such a wise idea. People somehow haven't learned the art or concept of respect. People snap at and belittle one another, often without thinking about how their message is received. We had a furnace problem and I had the building person call the repairman. It turned to be a thermostat problem which, according to the "monday morning quarterbacks" could have been fixed in house. However, a call was appropriate. Come Sunday, one of the board members mouthed off saying, "You should have checked the thermostat first". We nearly lost the person who was being addressed. I told him it was real easy to criticize the day after, but in the moment we took the appropriate action. People haven't learned the art of expressing opinion without belittling other people. That, if nothing else, is my challenge over the next three months. I am calling people on their inappropriate behaviors and let the chips fall where they may. I am using the manta, "JUST BE NICE." We will never all agree on every matter before us, but we can disagree without being disagreeable. We need to recognize that it isn't a me vs. you, but a "What's best for the life of the church?" mentality that is needed. Breaking this systemic mess might break me, but it will be worth the effort if there is success. I am off work today and tomorrow and taking it a bit easy trying to get over the cold. I am just about well, but still tired and a bit coughy. Perhaps another day of laying around. Anyway, that's what's happening here in this suburb of Hell. Hug someone.