Did the Beard See Its Shadow?
In that day the Lord will shave with a razor that is hired beyond the River-with the King of the Assyria- the head and the hair of the feet and it will sweep away the beard also…
- Isaiah 7:20
Friends,
My thanks to all who gave so generously to answer the beard or no beard question. The projectors, the new screens, all the install and infrastructure upgrades have been fully funded by contributions above and beyond the regular giving and operating budget of the church. Beard rallied late but fell 1500 ‘votes’ short of no beard. So the razor has done its work. Since it was so close and I did attempt a compromise (pictures below) but not all issues can be resolved by going halfway! Neither mustache nor goatee remains.
In a time where there have been plenty of tears, where there have been contests and trials of far greater impact than whether or not I shave, I am grateful for a community of people who still laugh and sing even in the valley of dark shadows.
This Groundhog Day, I am grateful to report that I will be taking a pilgrimage during the Lenten season this year. I will be here Ash Wednesday and then will begin a journey to go walk the Camino in Spain. People have been walking the road to Santiago for a thousand years (I am walking the ‘French Way’ for those that have some awareness of the different paths). I feel drawn both to the adventure but most powerfully to weeks of prayer and reflection with God to restore and revive…and to return ready to lead well in the next season that opens before us here at University. I will be back for Holy Week and Easter and I know that the clergy, staff, and lay leaders will lead this community well through the richness of lent.
(I can’t promise the beard won’t return as I walk but if so it will be ‘swept away’ prior to my return.)
Blessings,
Pastor Ben
