Dear Friends,
My friend Henry David Thoreau said, “I wish to begin this summer well, to do something in it worthy of it and of me, to transcend my daily routine; to have my immortality now in the quality of my daily life!”
Late June and most of July is filled with travel. First, I’ll be in Boston for General Assembly, going early for ministry days. I’ve agreed to participate on a panel to discuss, “The Challenges of an Interfaith Marriage,” at which I’ll speak from a personal as well as professional perspective.
I’ll spend a few days at the cabin in Maine before flying off to Transylvania. Our group leaves on July 9 and will return on the 21st. I’ve been in close contact with Mihaly and got an email message from him today, translated by Abigel Kiss. He said, in part: Dear Frank and congregation;
“I realize I haven’t written for a long time, but so many things have happened lately. I was sick during Easter and the period after it; they found I had pneumonia. My illness made me very weak, and I am still not the same old me. Besides my sickness, my family and I went through a very hard time when we lost my brother. It was a real tragedy, and it happened so very fast. My brother was five years older than me–he passed away from a heart attack. We are still very sad, but we cannot do anything anymore, we pray that God and time will ease the pain.”
“We are very much looking forward to your visit. I am eager to see you. These four years went by so fast. I wish you the best and I send you all my love, hoping to hear from you soon.”
A few days after returning from Eastern Europe I’ll be at Chautauqua with Lory and Carlyn. I’ll conduct the Sunday service on July 27 and spend the following week participating in the many educational programs there.
For two weeks in August Carlyn will be going to her first sleep-a-way music camp to continue work on the cello. She’s a gifted, hard-working musician.
Lory and I will have a week at the Maine cabin as well as some special time together in Westport.
The office will have my on-call schedule. Barbara, Ed, Marion and I will each have times when we are available for emergencies.
I have an ever-increasing stack of books that are waiting patiently to sit with me on the cabin porch or Old Orchard beach like a new-found friend. There’s a lobster or two swimming in the Maine waters with my name on it, and there’s a on old pair of sandals that hasn’t felt the sole of my foot since last September, and a few pair of shorts waiting to be worn again.
I wish to begin the summer well, and to be fully immersed in the summer so I’ll be ready to return to the new church year in early September.
I hope you are well, and I hope you ‘begin the summer well, to do something in it worthy of it.’
Enjoy.
Warmly,
Frank
