Last Class, Take One

I just taught my last Ecology class, one of the courses I enjoy most. Several of the students had chipped in for a giant cookie with “Best Wishes” on it. One of them got up and made a speech about how much she enjoyed the class after initial misgivings about it, and how it was a class they all looked forward to as a relief from the others they were taking. Then everyone applauded. It was all very sweet. I didn’t have the heart to lecture after that, so I answered their questions about what comes next for me – as though I know! I’ll miss being around people who never age, who look forward to the future with hope and anticipation.

On the clerical front, at the moment I’m spending every weekend at a different church. This weekend it will be a Saturday and two Sunday services eighty miles from home. A couple of weeks ago our former bishop came to my home church to preach a stewardship sermon for our Consecration Sunday. I like him a lot, so I couldn’t figure out why I was anxious about his coming. I started to understand when we processed in for the early service, at which I was presiding. I tried to go in front of him, but he corrected me: the presider goes last. (Of course!) And I discovered that it is very unnerving to be standing at the altar celebrating the Eucharist with a bishop immediately on one’s left! Fortunately, no bread or wine was spilled and Jesus showed up in spite of my nervousness.