Third Monday / May / 23

Some talk around the Table

I

Registration is now open for the Greatheart’s Table sponsored retreat “Off-Script Kids.” This event is designed for parents of all situations but is particularly aimed at those struggling to navigate life with adult children who no longer share or practice their parent’s faith. It will be held November 3-5, 2023 at the beautiful San Pedro Retreat Center in Winter Park, Florida. I’m excited about how this is coming together.

You can now register, or get more information, at our newly launched web site. I encourage you to visit and poke around a bit. If it interests you, I hope you’ll register and plan to participate.

For those wondering if it is worth traveling from out of town, remember that in addition to the content and the refreshment of the retreat itself, Florida is a pretty nice place to visit in November. Expect daytime temps in the low 80s and nighttime in the low 70s. The Atlantic beaches are but an hour away.

We’d love to have you.

II

I’m grateful to the growing number of you who are supporting Greatheart’s Table through a paid subscription or via Patreon. Your support not only helps offset the costs involved, it as well helps me continue to provide GHT content free to all who want access to it.

Your support is something, too, of a philosophical rebuke to the internet fallacy that everything is to be free. As we know, “free” internet content is never really free, as providers collect data and target ads accordingly. GHT has no ads nor the sophistication to gather such data. I can only appeal to a sense of honor. If you value what you receive here, and can pay, please do.

If you can’t pay, that’s okay. I want you here and value your presence. I mean that - I want you here whether you can pay or not.

III

In the “best-laid-plans” department, on May 7th I ran the Flying Pig half marathon with 13,000 others (as well as the 8,000 running the full marathon). It was a wonderful run, accompanied as I was step by step with my niece. We were, however, unprepared for the pouring rain, lightning, and thunder that also accompanied us. As a result, my intention to join the congregation of Grace and Peace Presbyterian Church in Bellevue, Kentucky for worship was overwhelmed by the stronger desire to get into dry clothes as quickly as possible. I hope to get there some day.

IV

I have written in various posts my thoughts regarding Eugene Peterson’s challenge to pastors to be, in a way, “unbusy.”

I write about it, that is, and then struggle to apply it.

This means that I’ve wandered into a season in which I’m over-committed and overwhelmed and need to open a release valve.

Consequently, this seems a good time to run a few “best of” GHT posts. For a month or so I will reach into the archives and re-post some early content that was well received but sent to a much smaller number of subscribers than I have now. These will be new to most of you and hopefully helpful reminders to the rest.

This is hard for me as my commitment to this space has been to provide new content on a regular and reliable basis. But it is necessary, and will provide the respite I need to get my life back into some kind of reasonable order. I hope it is a winning decision all the way around.

V

Finally, I will be at the General Assembly of the Presbyterian Church in America meeting in Memphis, TN from late Monday, June 12 through mid-day Friday, June 16. Greatheart’s Table will have no booth nor specially arranged meal or reception. But if any of you would like to meet up, let me know by emailing me and I’d love to set up a time.