That’s the whole point, isn’t it? Not just of Jeremiah but also of reading the Bible. We want to learn from it not just what one people centuries ago thought, but what we can understand about living a faithful life now, in our own situation.

I have been struck, at McKnight, by how there is a dedicated core of people who study together, who worship together, who work together. You are already thinking about the Bible, and you are already thinking about how to live a life faithful to God. I am honored to think about those things with you, and about how to do them with both liberty and passion—I look forward to seeing you in church!

A blessing for the start of a new school year

(Is anyone really ready?!)

The year is tilting toward the start of school again,

but truth be told, we’re not ready.

We’re still hanging on to summer, to the promise it held

for long-awaited connections and celebrations,

for refreshment for our bodies and souls

in water and sky and color and sunlight,

and all those little moments given to us

where we could linger just a little longer.

Now that it’s almost over, we don’t want to let it go.

The beauty. The freedom. All that was life giving.

God, could you help us stretch it, extend it,

and maybe even blend it

into this coming school year?

Parents, students, teachers, all,

May your newly-structured days breathe with creativity,

your new duties be infused with delight.

As you write on those fresh new calendars

May you trust that your plans are a lot like magic ink.

Much may seem to disappear into obscurity,

but whatever is done in love will remain.

Amen.