Melinda, my co-host, and I took a road trip.  We headed to South Bend, IN to be on a television program called “The Harvest Show”.  It’s on the LeSea Broadcasting Network.  I don’t know much about the network, but the host of the show, Kelly, was delightful and professional and Melinda and I had a good time.  The best part of the trip, however, was a stop we made on two college campuses.  I was reminded of how invigorating it is to be in close proximity to college students.  I am close to students every day at Moody Bible Institute….but when I arrive on campus I go straight to my office and stay there, and don’t experience much of campus life.  Melinda and I walked around the campuses of Notre Dame, and St. Mary’s.  We ate lunch and dinner on these two campuses and briefly interacted with students.  The experience 1.  made me want to go back to school again.  2.  I was pleasantly surprised at how kind and helpful students were.  3.  I was shocked at how good the campus food is these days, and how many choices of food there are…..no wonder it’s so expensive to go to college. 4.  I felt younger, at least for a few hours, because of hanging out on a college campus.  I think I’ll do it again soon!

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The economic news keeps getting worse.  The Dow continues to drop, and everyday I hear of more friends losing jobs.  At first it was a friend of a friend, but now those losing jobs are people I know.  I can put a face to the problem.  What do you say to them?  What kind of encouragement can we offer?  I don’t want to give the pat answer, the cliche that is of zero comfort.  All I’ve been able to say is “I’m sorry, and we’ll start praying.”  As weeks and months roll on, though, I’ve been thinking of other things that I can say…like, “Do you need anything?  Food, money, clothes?  My husband and I had this conversation today…..we asked if we would tell our small groups, our close friends, if we were really in need of food.  Maybe it’s the gender difference, but I said “yes”, and he said, “no”.    I thought that’s what community was for, but I know not providing well strikes at the core of who a man is…..so I’m thinking gender is the difference in our answers.  I think these are the times to have uncomfortable conversations with friends who may be hurting financially.  These are the times to get closer and go deeper as the body of Christ.

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I grew up in cold weather climates.  I spent the first 13 years of my life in Maine and Pennsylvania, but I think I was made for warm weather.  Can you say Aruba, Bahamas, Grand Cayman?  I wish I had a vacation home on one of those lovely Islands…..but alas, I’m in Chicagoland enduring one of the snowiest winters in a number of years.  Thankfully my son is old enough now to be a real force in shoveling, and this year I “stated”, shoveling is for men…..so my husband and son have done all the work (most of the time).  How many of you wish you lived where the climate was warmer…..at least warm enough to melt snow within a day, and shoveling was never needed?  Did I tell you we are in the middle of receiving 4 - 9 inches of snow right now?

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I went to a family wedding yesterday.  My nephew got married.  It was the first wedding of one of my sibling’s children and it was an incredibly joyous occasion.  There was the usual fun of being together with family that we are far too seldom together with…..but there were other joys of the occasion.  It was the first wedding my 16 yr. old son had every witnessed.  All four sets of grandparents are living.  Both sets of parents are still married to each other.  I would venture to say that there were at least 225 years of marriage represented in parents and grandparents alone at the wedding.  Both Bride and Groom come from strong Christian families, not just in name,  but true Christ following families.  Both Bride and Groom have a solid, alive relationship with Christ.  And….they both desire to serve Jesus together, most likely in foreign missions.  It was a day filled with emotions and memories and joy, and a very bright future!

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