At the Feeder This Morning

There just to cheer me up, I'm convinced -- well, okay, also because they'd like to survive -- a pair of Black-Headed Grosbeaks.

I went swimming in the Bear River yesterday. There's a deep-ish spot near a picnic area where Wanda and I baptized a young man a few years ago. (You can only do this in July and maybe August; otherwise you'd freeze.) It was lovely to bob around in the cold water, looking up at the sky and trees.

Today, a day off for me, I had lunch with my friend Bill Heersink, professor and currently interim President of Salt Lake Theological Seminary. We met at Taggart's Cafe, a wonderful place tucked into one of the canyons between here and Ogden, Utah. Not only did they have great food, but they had a pair of peacocks walking around the garden. This thrills me no end.

I found myself thinking on the drive home how I might fashion a headdress for myself that looks like a peacock's headdress. This is either a sign that the stress has taken me over the edge (of what exactly, I don't know), or just a sign of returning imagination. I had a vision of using a headband and attaching frond-like stalks to it ... then it came to me:

Where could I possibly wear my peacock headdress?

I told Guy about this; he was not at all surprised, and in answer to this pressing question he said, "Around the house. Maybe to church?" Somehow I'm thinking not on the last one.

Bill and I talked about the possibility of my doing some writing and teaching for the Seminary, which I would love. Just the thought of new possibilities helped me feel better after an absolutely awful week at the hospital.

Before I drove over to meet Bill, I delivered flowers and cards from the hospital patients to the funeral home where the service would be held for our patient who killed herself on Sunday. I met the parents and the young woman's brother. They were really touched by the effort of their daughter's fellow patients to reach out in this way. Their tears moved me to tears. I cried halfway to Taggart's. Thanks, God, for Bill's pastoral presence -- and the peacocks. 

Comments

[David]

Missing you. Hoping you're okay. Beth is coming this weekend for the 'Skins-Fins game. Peace & Cheers.