My spiritual director has led me to work using Ignatian discernment.  So at the end of today I ask myself what in this day has most surely led me in a Godwise direction, and I have to point to the experience of making two new friends, fellow Central Atlantic Conference folk, one a minister newly installed in her first church, and one, like me, a minister in formation (though far beyond where I am.)  It is exceedingly difficult to identify something that leads in the other direction, away from God, in a day so totally devoted to our relationship with God, but I'd have to say my continued anxiety about a lost journal. 

From there I headed  very quickly to the room where Barbara Brown Taylor was speaking.  I started reading her when my husband gave me "A Preaching Life" for Christmas, and have continued, when I have time.  Her writing, both memoir and sermons, are difficult for me to put down, I just love her work.  Arriving early, I got to sit in the front row for a lecture on "Narrative in the age of Twitter," which was as you might expect from her, brilliant, cohesive, provocative, and sprinkled with wonderful stories throughout.  It was the first time I've been able to be there and HEAR her present her content - in the past I've always read it.  She is, in her own way, which happens to be the more conversational style I am used to, every bit as good a preacher/speaker as Otis Moss III, who wowed me yesterday.  I feel very blessed to have had both these experiences.

I followed this experience with two top notch workshops, one of which was on the arts in the church - excellent, but the main takeaway for me is that my church is at the forefront of including the arts in worship; that while we should no doubt do it more often, we're very much on the right track. That's encouraging and discouraging at the same time. 

Next was a workshop on preaching anti-racism sermons.  It was given by a graduate of Howard Divinity School, so I felt incredibly welcomed.  As a current HUSD student, I'm in the same club, and she responded to that.  There was a LOT to pick up in that, particularly since I have not taken a preaching course yet - though she did refer a couple times to a book I've read, and the workshop did not go over my head.  When we did a short exercise, I found it challenging, but was able to do it to my satisfaction, which I was glad with.

After the anti-racism sermon workshop, I had dinner with two young women from my conference.  It was a lovely time, and I think I have made two important new friends - one new clergy, one, like me, on the road (though way ahead of me on this road) with whom I immediately bonded.  I even remember their names, and one is in the Potomac Association.  

The evening ended with a celebration of the ministry of John Thomas.  We had a lovely presentation of some of his life, and the high points of his ministry, before releasing him with the same formula we used at the Central Atlantic Conference meeting for Jerry Foltz.  In a denomination where so much is in the air, the old friend of a familiar liturgy was a neat thing - at least for me. 

I think that is probably enough for today.  Shalom to all.