Author: lyftingmeup

So I took a week off as last weekend involved a three day round-trip to Oklahoma. I am here to report that the world is flat. Well at least it is for hundreds of miles east of here. I am a big fan of the road trip. This was a solo journey. Just me and my Sirius Radio. I had a lot to think about in those 10 hours of wind turbines, wide open space, and rest areas. We had just spent a week with our daughter Steph, and almost-three-year old Sofia, who I wrote about last week. Here is…

I have been blessed with ‘book-end’ grand kids. Zach, who was born on “Leap Day” 30 years ago, will celebrate his birthday with us Monday. His actual birthday will take place in that nano second on Midnight of Feb 28th. He was followed by seven other grandkids, the last of whom is Sofia who will be three this May. Sofia came today from California to spend a week in Colorado. Just a few minutes ago she put on her snow suit and went out to her first encounter with snow. Grandma packed her in the snow suit and she reminded…

Well, we have zipped through February with relative ease. Perhaps it was the Olympics or the Super Bowl planted nearly halfway through, but it seems that this month has an economy of time that appeals to me. I love the fact that it is most often only four exact weeks long. When we hit March its like a giant do-over with three extra days. I was pondering what it would be like to have all 28 day months. They would each start on Monday and that, way for this preacher, the 7th, 14th, 21st and 28th would always be on…

Last evening I stepped outside to check out that perfect snow. A ‘perfect snow’ means there is no wind, the flakes drift ever so slowly to the earth and peace fills my heart. On my sleeve I looked down to see the miracle frozen water crystals that make up a snowflake. They did not immediately melt, but displayed themselves to me as if it were my own private jewel collection.I was soon transported to the bike rack at Ben Franklin Elementary. It was 1958 and I was in the third grade. It was February and the snow was falling just…

In the first month of our ‘in-person’ worship with mask wearing, one of my very thoughtful members gave me a gift. It was a “liturgical mask”, which was bright red, and in the center the Chalice logo. I knew I was extra cool when, at a press conference, the Governor of Kentucky was sporting the same mask. Then one day over a year ago, I lost the mask. I kept thinking “It will show up”. Finally I turned it over to St. Jude (the saint of lost causes). Occasionally, I borrow stuff from MK’s Catholic pedigree. I guessed it had…

One of my new pit stops is the COSTCO located off of I-25 just north of 160th. For you non Colorado folks, that is way north between Arvada and Greeley on my commute. I can save about $.50 a gallon, which adds up when you are driving four to six hundred miles a week. The other night I had a perfect plan. I had just enough gas to make it to COSTCO on my way home. As is my habit, I call MK on my commute home as we need no stranded geezers on I-25. I told her my COSTCO…

I am not sure when I got my first “haircut” but I do remember sitting on a yellow stool with a tea-towel pinned around my neck. My dad was the “barber” . The buzz of the clipper and the smell of the blade lubricant still remains. The itch that followed was an irritant, but the feel of a freshly smoothed head always made me smile. The evolution of my hair being cut is ending where it began.I was probably about five when my dad loaded me in his 53’ Chevy pick- up with port windows. “We are going to ‘Slick’s…

Twelve years ago I was asked by my cousin Chelli’s then-husband if I would give the introductory lecture at a brand new class he was teaching at Denver East High— Exploring Comparative Religions. He asked if I could give an hour and a half presentation on “What is Religion and its Role in Society”? I told him I would be honored. This past Thursday I taught two sections for this now very popular class.Last year I had the challenge of doing it via a screen. We made it work but there is nothing like face to face. Ministry offers a…

It is afternoon on New Year’s Day. It’s always interesting to decide if I have anything to write about. When I was driving for LYFT it was easy. The stories showed up in my car. It was often the case that I had four or five customers that lit up my imagination. COVID stopped my Lyft driving, so in the mean time I have tried to share stories of where the ordinary reveals the extraordinary. People, places, events, all provided a point of reflection. I was thinking about exactly two years ago. I did a little LYFT driving, game watching,…

This is the second year that our home will not be graced by a traditional Christmas tree. It is a hard decision but when it is just the M and MK show at the townhome, and MK leaves Christmas Day for a month with the California crew, it makes no sense. We have settled for these two trees in these pictures.While I was swimming my hour today, I started thinking about all the Christmas trees I have experienced over my life. My memory bank takes me back to ‘bubble lights’, metal tinsel, paper chains and popcorn strings. I have tender…