We’re well into the new school year, and it’s been some time since I posted anything particularly personal/reflective.  That’s not for a lack of reflection, mind you.  The absence has been from finding the right place to write from.

The summer went really well.  Just was spent on-island.  Besides a few hiccups in power and infrastructure, those days were wonderfully consistent.  My 9 days in Tennessee went well: a good time with family and friends that had a good, helpful flow (and it helped that the weather stayed nice).  My time in Texas went well: one night in Kerrville and then three nights at Laity Lodge.  Once again, the weather was great . . . for summer in Texas.  I ended up staying an extra night in Austin because of flight issues, so that Sunday evening felt a bit like a Douglas Coupland novel about to be written: nondescript hotel near an airport with some DoorDashed Sonic and some Ted Lasso reruns.  When I got back, the neighborhood was quiet . . . by my second evening back almost everyone on the lane was traveling.  But there was some socializing along with an attempt to return to routine that was nice.  And then, just like that, school was back on.

I’m not sure what twenty-two years at a job is supposed to feel like.  Every year is a little different, which is true for this year as much as any other.  Classes have gone well: this week is our first set of tests, which is always something of a landmark in the semester.  And the administrative side of things has been mostly fine, too.  I did spend a chunk of Friday’s holiday in the classroom getting ready for the week ahead, though.  It’s the kind of thing that pays off in the long run.

This last weekend itself was pleasantly productive.  All the pieces of the regular routine plus some much-needed yard work as well as a chance to catch Alien: Romulus with a friend.  The Friday-time in the classroom definitely took off some of the pressure, which was nice.  Church was fine, consistent in its own way.  And then this morning was back to a five-day week routine.

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All of that to say that getting back into the swing of things hasn’t been too easy.  In fact, there have been a few frustrating moments.  Part of that is the rush of things, of things going from zero to sixty in a moment because that’s how vacations come to an end.  Some of that you can contain, can prepare for.  But there’s always a good bit that is beyond your ability to predict and prepare for.  But I did come to a realization of sorts:

Sometimes forgetting is the only way forward.

Too often systems aren’t dynamic enough to absorb certain kinds of wisdom or learning or change, and so you either snap back or you snap off.  You all but force yourself to forget what you’ve learned in order to survive, to sync back up with the flow of things.  I don’t recommend this, of course, and I definitely don’t believe it should be necessary.  But sometimes it feels that way.  We shouldn’t have to forget in order to move forward.

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Here’s my favorite song from the summer.  It’s from Mission House’s live album.  They definitely have a style that I like, though I’m not sure it is reproducible in most churches.

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I’ve got a list of things to try and write about this week.  Some thoughts on Laity Lodge, some reflections on ideas from Seth Godin, and, of course, some reflections on The Rings of Power before next week’s premiere.  Maybe a few other things will pop up, too.