It's nearly Christmas, and I'm healthy. I could totally get used to this.

It's nearly Christmas and I'm healthy.  I could totally get used to this.

For quite a long time now, I suffer from pneumonia around Easter and Christmas.  For as long as I've been in ministry, it's just happened that way.  Last year, I thought I was in the clear since I was relatively healthy at Christmas.  What happened instead was that I merely postponed the pneumonia until about mid-January.  Something had to give.

Part of the issue was that I've been in bi-vocational ministry for a long time now.  Juggling ministry and an outside career is challenging on a daily basis.  But when the holidays come around, it's exponentially harder on the body and on the family.

I've been in Pittsburgh since Sept. 1st.  And I've been working one job.  That's right.  One job! 

That has made an enormous difference.  Not that the work isn't demanding.  But, I'm free to take vacation time for vacation.  What has been true for me in the past has been taking vacation time from one job in order to apply it to the other (like taking vacation time from my newspaper job so that I could go to a denominational conference for a week).  Now if that isn't robbing Peter to pay Paul, I don't know what is.

So this Christmas, one of the gifts to me and my family is that, barring any emergencies, I plan to take 11 days off in a row.  So, what is that you're supposed to do on this thing called "vacation"?


Maybe I'll start with this prayer:
Lord, help me to celebrate your birth.
Lord, help me to experience your joy in this season.
Lord, help me to relax and enjoy everything around me that comes from you.

my hardest thing this year ... or ever

Hadley giving me a thumbs-up after her surgery - having enormous Alvin and the Chipmunks in the hallway was something she loved seeing on our walks through the pediatric floor.

In February, my dear little Hadley underwent major surgery  --  she had a tonsillectomy and adenoidectomy.  She had trouble breathing especially when sleeping.  After much prayer and reflection, my wife and I decided that we might as well have her go through the surgery when she's young and can bounce back a bit easier which is a bit more difficult the longer you wait.

I volunteered for what would be the hardest thing I've had to do this year ... or ever in my life so far.  One parent can go into the operating room with the child and to stay with her until the general anesthetic kicks in.  I knew that I had to do this for Hadley.  To be with her, to bless her, and to reassure her that everything will be OK and to stay until it was time for the surgery to begin.

God willing, I'll never have to do that again.  I have never felt this helpless before.  I watched as my daughter breathed through a mask normally until she went to "sleep."  As her father, I went completely numb watching her on the operating table.  You never want to see your kid like that.  That vulnerable.  Ever.

But I knew deep down that Hadley needed this operation.  However, it didn't make it easier at all.  One of the nurses escorted me out of the Operating Room and I was just standing in the hallway.  Feeling lost in a hospital that I've been in a million times before as a pastor visiting his parishioners.  This time, I was just Hadley's father and not "Father Jack."  It took me a minute or two to come back to earth and then I realized that I was in the way.  I found the nearest stairway and I completely lost it.  I prayed for Hadley and for the surgeon and his team that all would go well.

A few hours later, Hadley came out of the Operating Room and went to Recovery.  It was a tough day or so in the hospital but I could see my dear little Hadley coming back to us.  Even as Hadley was recovering, she gave me a thumbs-up in the little wagon I had to cart her around in on the children's floor.  The thumbs-up - which I know she got from me - is her signature photo pose.  It's how I know she's OK and having fun.

So, in the same hospital where Hadley was born, three years later we're back for a major surgery.  And taking her home from the hospital this second time around was just as joyful as the first time.  In reflecting on 2011, this is probably the hardest thing I've had to do this year ... or maybe ever in my life so far.

October and November catch up

OCTOBER
I started October by taking a red-eye flight on Friday night from Seattle to JFK to Pittsburgh so that I could be home early Saturday morning for my wife and kids.  This was on the heels of a very packed 9 days that included 2 bishops being consecrated, 4 priests ordained and a College of Bishops meeting.

I had 3 days off at home before taking off to Cairo for a missions consultation for Sudan (more here and here).  I got home and crashed hard after a wonderfully exhilarating trip.  I was quite glad to return to the US where I gobbled up a bacon cheeseburger on a layover in JFK - something tough to find in Cairo.

Attended and participated in my first Anglican Relief and Development Fund trustee meeting as a National Trustee.  (Thankfully, this was held at a hotel just a few minutes away from my house - it was a huge help in getting over some massive jet lag!)

NOVEMBER

Flew to Victoria, British Columbia to represent Archbishop Duncan at the Anglican Network in Canada Synod.  It was my honor to bring greetings for the Archbishop and to meet leaders from our church in Canada.  It was a joyful time in a beautiful place with great people.

Got a few days off before flying to Dallas for Forward in Faith Council Meeting.  It was another great opportunity to represent Archbishop Duncan at this gathering.  I was only in Dallas area for one night to be here for a 2 day meeting.  I'm starting to get used to this fly in - head to the meeting - fly out routine.

The rest of the month was the start of my stretch at home - no anticipated travel until mid-January.  It was so great to finally settle in at home!

Wrapped up the end of the month with Thanksgiving and 7 days off ... in a row!  This has been a tough commodity to come by in my former work as a solo, bi-vocational pastor.  It took me no adjustment time at all to get into the groove of vacation as it has been a very long time in coming.