Boston here we come...

We were sick after Christmas - and Di had to work - so the time we might usually take off after the holidays had to be postponed for about 10 days. But we're headed to Boston on Thursday morning for three days of quiet, personal time together.

One of the things about being a pastor is that you work through the essential religious holidays. Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't trade the privilege for anything but it is often the case that we take our holy day time AFTER the holidays. And that's what this mini-retreat to Boston is all about: holy time for rest and renewal.

Another thing about being clergy is that I have found that more often than not I have to leave town for rest. There is a great clergy cartoon somewhere about a minister meditating quietly on a mountain top with a helicopter over him - with a rope ladder coming down - and a parishioner hanging off the end saying, "I am sorry to bother you pastor on your away time but... where do we keep the silverware?" It is just a fact of life and we plan on it...

So three days in Boston staying in the Back Bay right off Copley Square. Two years ago we wandered around the area - still VERY much a Victorian part of town - with both Old South Church (Congregational) and Trinity Church (Episcopalian) on the Square along with the Public Library. A little bit down the way is the outstanding Fine Arts Museum - and not far from that there is the Gardner Museum - and a ton of tea/coffee shops and bookstores.

One of the blessings we have discovered together is that we LOVE to travel to new places together AND we love to wander through new neighborhoods. We stop in the local dives, chat up the bartenders or barristas and make time to talk with the folk along the way. We never DO much on our trips except wander and eat and talk and drink with the local folk. But, man, is it a little bit of heaven that always refreshes our souls.

So, we're off to Beantown. There is a Toulouse Latrec exhibit going on, some fine hole-in-the-wall ethnic eateries to be discovered, Yo-Yo Ma is playing Schubert with the Symphony and we will have lots of time to rest and talk. I think that prophet of rock and roll, Todd Rundren, got it so right when he sang: "I don't want to work I just want to bang on the drum all day...!" So, after a very full and loving Advent/Christmas/Epiphany we are off to do just that.