An ever-so-slightly overwhelmed lady.

I'm overwhelmed.
But attempting to BREATHE.

And eating a bag of croutons - something that always gives me a sense of peace.

Then, I'm going to have a good, quality cry for about 15 minutes. And I will be fine.
{Afternoon update: GREAT NEWS! I bypassed the cry and enjoyed a 15-minute solo dance party instead. Background music: my very first Nsync CD! It totally did the trick!}

I'm taking a few moments now to imagine the beautiful sights and sounds of New Mexico - remembering that the world is a big, amazing place and I have a lot left to explore.

I am reminding myself in this moment that the most important work I can do (and we all can do) is to just be fully present in every moment - and connect with people the best that we can.

Will I be able to complete everything on this crazy to do list? No. Will every sermon be better

than the one before it? No. Is it humanly possible to be full of pep and energy for 14 hours straight? No.

But guess what? That's okay.

Because when someone dies and when families grieve, I am there, doing the best I can to make room for the Holy Spirit's presence. And when a couple gets married in a few hours, I will be there doing the best that I can to make room for the Holy Spirit's presence. And when tomorrow's sermon eventually gets written, I will be there doing the best that I can to make room for the Holy Spirit's presence.

That is today. And all God expects of any of us is that we take it one day, one hour, one person at a time. That, I can do.

As the wise mystic Julian said long, long ago: "All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well."

Amen.