A SUMMER TO REMEMBER

One of my favorite jokes about Minnesota, the state where I lived through two winters with temps around 40 below, goes like this: "I was in Minnesota in June, the day it was summer that year." After this brief visit I think I will not tell that joke anymore.

But now I can tell about what it was like to live by myself in a seminary dorm for two nights at 80+ degrees, with no power, no hot water, and, of course, no air conditioning. The news reported that over a half million customers were without power. It was the worst thunderstorm on record in the history of the Twin Cities, and it will take five days before power is totally restored.

People here wonder what hurricanes are like back east . . .

Fortunately for me, I rented a car at the airport. That enabled me to get to a local mall outside the storm track where there was power. I joined dozens of people waiting for tables at "Bakers Square," a wonderful local pie restaurant that serves other meals as well. After 25 minutes I got a table which I shared with a young engineer from Iowa with whom I had been talking while on the waiting line. 

It was a good visit. I shared some of what I was doing on sabbatical, and I learned about him and his work. When he asked me what made me decide to become a pastor, I shared some of my experience. That opened a door for him to share about his faith journey as well, and it was an encouraging story.

After the meal I took a photo for my sabbatical album and we bid farewell. That meal made my day.

Later on I went to a movie and had dinner by myself and returned for my final night at the dorm.

Sunday morning was much better. It started out with a clap of thunder at 6 a.m., but by the time I was fully packed up and ready to check out, the rain subsided. I returned to Bakers Square for breakfast, and there was no waiting line this time.

I went on to the Cathedral Church of St. Mark in Minneapolis and arrived in time to find a parking spot. The early service was letting out as I neared the entrance, and I was greeted by Bishop Bruce Caldwell (former bishop of Wyoming) with whom I had made arrangements to meet after the 10:30 service. He recalled my contact and invited me to visit with him between the services in his office.

I learned a lot which I won't share here, and after that I went to the service where the two men I met with at Luther Seminary on Friday were ordained as deacons as part of the cathedral's new Shared Ministry Team. Two other team members were ordained as priests and one was commissioned as a Pastoral Care Minister, bringing the team to five members.

I went on from there to Alexandria where I stayed last night. The swimming pool was open, and the restaurant had no waiting line. I slept well in an air-conditioned room.

My only disappointment here is that I still haven't met any Egyptians. . . but there's still hope --  I haven't gone for breakfast yet.