Gratitude

An important part of "mindfulness" is learning to live gratefully in every moment. (The Apostle Paul wrote, you may recall, "Give thanks in all circumstances....") Some moments are easier than others; this is one of the easier ones:
As we prepare to wrap things up and head home, I want to express tremendous gratitude for what has been an experience of a lifetime. The list is not necessarily in order of importance... just the way it rolled out!
The Lilly Endowment: Thank you for believing in the proposal the church sent in, and for the grant that made my program and the church's possible. (Both I and the church now write an extensive report to the Endowment on our programs.)
The Church of the Palms: Thank you for writing sabbatical time into my terms of call, and for all the cooperation and interest you have shown. A special thank you goes to the planning team for working on the proposal last year and seeing the process through. Thank you to the staff and volunteers for weathering the changes and disruptions, for picking up the jobs that I had done before, and for taking good care of my mother when she was hospitalized... and after.
Cindy Fain: Thanks for faithfully coordinating our mail and other personal matters that came up.
Clint Reynolds: Thanks for serving so capably and enthusiastically as Acting Minister.
Summer Preachers / Seminar Leaders: Thanks for bringing your unique gifts and sharing them so freely.
Everyone who has held us in your prayers along the journey... thank you, you made a big difference.
This will be the final post... at least from Europe. A bientot! (See you soon.)