When the world stands still.

Yesterday, for the first time since Joshua’s battle against the Amorites, time stood still. Okay, so it wasn't for a full day; but for three hours last night, life as we know it came to a halt. From 5:30 to 9:00 PM Starbucks was closed. Not just my husband's store or a few in town... all of them. Nationwide. As my cousin put it, "the world waited at the feet of the green mermaid wondering if she would keep her promise and return on time." Each store reopening was a magical chocolate factory moment, minus the eerie Willy Wonka played by Johnny Depp.

The reason for our momentary lapse in caffeine was an initiative by the company to take a moment of reflection. For three hours baristas around the country gathered around personal dvd players to watch a video message from the CEO Howard Schultz and then walked through three training sessions with their managers. By taking this time-out, they accomplished almost half a million hours of training. It's a clear message that they think standards and training are important for their company's success. As a local manager told my cuz, “[They’re] getting back to [their] soul.”

That comment really gave my heart a pause. If Starbucks thinks it's important to take a few hours off for introspection, shouldn't I? When's the last time I took three hours, shut the doors to the world, and spent that time "in training" with God? In the Psalms, the writer talks about God taking my hand and guiding me with His counsel. Yet solitude is one of the most neglected spiritual disciplines in the Church today.

This week is crazy busy for me, and I know everyone else out there is just as busy with family, work and life in general. But let's take the challenge-- three hours. By yourself, with God. If it's worth those loss in revenue for Starbucks, imagine the increase we'll experience in our own lives.

What do you think?

My Valentine to the Pastor's Husband

A few months ago I was asked by my presbyter to pray about serving on the Sectional Leadership Committee. Unfortunately, God didn't like my 'no' answer and kept using that nagging little voice to remind me of a few things (okay, so maybe if I had been paying more attention it wouldn't have felt like nagging, but you get the point that I wasn't all that agreeable with the subject).

Today, one of our credentialing interviews was a woman going into ministry with a husband who is not in vocational ministry, nor does he plan to be. As my fellow members of the committee asked the couple great questions about handling the women in ministry "issue" (because, yes, even on the Left Coast it can still be an issue), I began answer their questions in my own head.

The night Ben and I decided to start dating (which by the way, will be 8 years ago on Feb. 18), I point blank said to him, "I'm called to pastor. No one will ever change that. Are you okay with that?" Funny thing is, I think back then, he saw how that could work even more than I did.

My husband is my biggest supporter. He is my rock. And for anyone in ministry, you can understand with me the importance of having someone that will always be in your corner and standing firm. And for anyone who's ever made an ignorant remark about who wears the pants in our house...well, you've obviously never spent more than 3 minutes around us. I could not do what I do if he was not there, in full support, already knowing what I was going to say because I had to think it through out-loud during dinner, praying me through it, and of course, making sure my microphone is working. (woo-hoo for having a personal techie!).

Ben's even temperament balances my emotive, I've-spent-a-lot-of-time-in-the-theatre one.
Ben's loyalty challenges my over-extended independence.
Ben's ability to laugh off someone's shock at his "I'm Pastor Kathy's husband" balances my annoyance with confused faces at my "I'm a pastor."

And not the least of these...

Ben's eyes...still make my heart melt.