...if we were in Canada or that was my name. Ah well, it made for a different subject title.
Back from my weekend in Lodi, California. I had the privilege of being flown up there to perform a wedding for the granddaughter of a dear, dear friend, Barbara Taylor. Flew up to Sacramento ("THe City of Trees"--who knew?) and drove to Lodi. This city is plentiful for trees. But not quite the town I could live in. "Stuck in Lodi again..." as the song says. However, the wedding was lovely in the groom's family beautiful two-story home.
I had been the T.A. for Barbara and her husband, 16 years ago for their Practitioner training at Agape. We stayed friends and with the beauty of e-mail, we stayed in touch when they moved North. When Gene died suddenly, I was invited up to Lodi to do his memorial seven years ago. In fact, Barbara and I spent Saturday morning searchng out the dedicated brick in the town plaza in reognition of Gene's service on the Lodi Police Department Partners Program.
Got back in time yesterday to attend the Board meeting but unfortunately, missed the service and the choir. Our Board is working to create a positive move for us and putting into motion steps for securing our new Home Base for July. Everyone is getting more excited about moving to our new Sunday site on June 4th.
I want to say thank you to so many of you who have been so kind and compassionate about my difficult choice of releasing Sammy. I know he was a beloved part of this community for many people and he will be missed.It's been hard to have classes without him there; and even harder to come home after my travels and not have his big brown eyes smiling at me. He learned a lot--mostly, how wonderful he is and how loved he is--so I know he will fare well in this farewell.
Tomorrow night is MC PHEEVER NIGHT!!!!! it is the last night of "American Idol" and the last chance to hear Katherine McPhee and vote for her as the new American Idol. Even though I like Taylor Hicks, there is no question that Katherine deserves the title I am soooo proud of her for all she has done. Katherine is an amazing young woman who also happens to have a dynamite voice and incredible talent. Please remember to vote tomorrow night and since we are her extended church family, a prayer of Light, calm, joy and right action is always a good plan.
Kudos to Jake Peavey for his franchise record of 16 strike-outs tonight at the Atlanta game. Now if the rest of team could just get him the win tonight.....
This is a big week for me and for the church. GEtting ready to have our closing service at our present Mission Valley location. Lots of emotion and lots of details. I know that this Sunday, The CHoir sang, "Spirit's Calling Me" and that is exactly what I feel is in place for us calling us to TierraSanta and our new home(s). Keep breathing along with me this week and we will be there for each other.
Wait a minim.....
Tonight, we rented the new film, "The Fabelmans" and loved it. Incredible performances, screenwriting and story-telling. I espec...
4 comments:
Welcome back, Rev DD! We missed ya! Sounds as though one of the cool things about a minister's job is to travel and experience a diversity of people, places and things. Reading about your travel experiences has been interesting! Still good to have you home, though!
Phyllis Y.
I am very upset about what happened to Sammy. I was upset about when you gave your cat back too. Giving back animals is just not right. They are like kids. You go the distance for them. I'm being anonymous because I am just can't say this to you face to face.
Now I need to address one of the recent comments that posted anonymously in regards to my releasing Sammy the Wonder Dog. I allowed myself some breath space to sit with the comments before replying.
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The good news is that this blog is working as source of communication and a venue by which people can express their feelings. I am glad that this person got his/her feelings out and found a way to not let them fester. Clearly, this person still harbors judgment towards me for which I would have preferred direct contact. To respect the anonymity, I can only reply publicly. So, the following is directed primarily to that person but all are welcome to read.
There is always a risk as a public person and a leader that one has to bear burdens and make decisions that are not popular; and in this case, I didn't need to go public with my choices, but I did so in honest, disclosure and in hopes of providing others with comfort, understanding and strength. Since I made the post about Sammy, I have learned from several people about times when they too, had to make a difficult decision about releasing/returning an adopted animal.
What saddens me that as a congregant all this time that you do not know me well enough to know what a difficult and painful decision it was to release Sammy. Nor at the time when I released Max the cat back to his previous family that it was a choice made by both parties to support the well-being and best interests for Max. Your comment was to " go the distance for animals" --well, you don't know all the details and therefore, it was an unfair assessment. I agree with you and support the intention of going the distance for animals. How do you know that 'going the distance' didn't include letting him go?
Sometimes the harder choices ARE the higher choices.
I am glad that you wrote your concerns and feelings as it is better than to harbor them. I encourage you to seek out a practitioner to get prayer support; or if you choose, have the willingness to come and see me about this for prayer and deeper understanding.
Thanks for listening.
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Dear Anonymous,
Duchess Dale is the biggest animal lover I have ever known. She understands animals more than most people would ever dream. She recognized that releasing Sammy, and Max, was in their best interest. "Going the distance for them" must include "distance", literally sometimes in order to love them. Just as it is love that requires us to release our human children when the time is right. I can understand your feelings if you love animals too. It was hard for me to see Sam go, but I know he is a happier dog for the time he spent learning to open-up thanks to the tutulage of Duchess.
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