Family

Alaska, and particularly Southeast Alaska (that part of Alaska the rest of Alaska isn't necessarily convinced is a part of Alaska) is home to unique cultural phenomena. I know; everyone wants to say their home and region is culturally unique; I get that. But Alaska is Alaska; a place unlike any other.

Needless to say the weather presents certain challenges to those who live here. Friends north of us are dealing with sub zero temps, while our own "balmy" daytime highs leave me feeling almost guilty; but not guilty enough to move north. Daytime does not necessarily mandate daylight, and where else in the world do people talk about vitamin D consumption as a part of daily conversation?

Distance can be a challenge. Here in Southeast each city constitutes a functional island, since one cannot drive from one to the next. And distance creates a felt sense of isolation. Some like the isolation, while others do not. There is talk of the State building a road from Juneau to Skagway, connecting us to Alaska and the outside world, even Canada I guess. The general populace here is split; right down the middle, each sporting bumper stickers that say "Build the Road!" or "Don't Build the Road!"

Many if not most of us living in Southeast Alaska are away, a long way away from hometowns and family. So when it comes to the holidays Southeast Alaskans make due by forming functional if not actual family connections. Such was true for us this past Thanksgiving weekend.

Deb and I were/are without our children. Our friends the Hanley's, also without their children invited us to join them (note comments on distance above.) Their friend Colleen was attempting to fly from Anchorage to Sitka but was stuck in Juneau (note comments on weather above.) Andrew the "first nephew" of Alaska was home caring for the "first dog" of Alaska, and they both joined us for feasting as well. We became a family; Alaskan style.

The night before Deb and I helped serve Thanksgiving dinner to the students at UAS. Even for those few hours it felt like a family gathering. And the deep-fried turkey ruled, until it was ruled by the locusts that consumed it.

Southeast Alaskans crave family because they are away, a long way away from family. This cultural phenomena gives the Church in Alaska a wonderful and sacred opportunity: to create gospel communities that feel and function like family. Alaskans are unique, but not all that different from anyone else - they want to be near their family.

Double Nickel Reflections

Birthdays come and go. My father modeled to me the art and science of attempting to fly under the radar when our respective birthdays come each November. Facebook has not helped my cause as of late.

This year, hitting the double nickel benchmark finds me a bit reflective; reflecting on God's bountiful blessings for sure, and reflecting on my still ongoing maturation process. Maybe it's the late fall Alaska landscape that induces such deep, and therefore for me alien thoughts. Maybe not.

While no one has ever, ever accused me of being more mature than my age, I do see some signs of maturity slowly taking root in me. Slowly. I'm a chronic late developer.

I realize I don't always have answers, and my self-appointed role as the "answer man" has been discredited over time. I am not so quick to enter into a philosophical or ideological fight, not so quick to point out the faults in other people, not nearly so consumed with being impressive. And I've learned to applaud and not internally jeer the husky joggers I see from time to time along the roadways, knowing I am now in their camp. Only by God's grace, and out of His concern for other people, the priestly side of me is growing. I am becoming strangely more compassionate.

It's been my privilege to live in beautiful places up and down the west coast. I realize I have been blessed beyond measure with enduring friendships. And I have learned that God does His best lesson-giving in my life through the more difficult circumstances I encounter, especially those encounters I bring on myself. I am learning to pray from new levels of need and greater heights of praise.

The gospel of Jesus is more mysterious to me than it's ever been. I am learning that the Church is organism, a family, rather than static organization; a garden rather than a gated community. I see now that my life is borne out of my identity rather than my production. I've learned that head knowledge does not by itself bring about transformation. And I'm amazed it took me this long to figure this out.

And I see, finally, that God is not lucky to have me. I am fortunate to be His. Grace is being given something not deserved, and I have been given grace.

And I'm learning I can no longer make assumptions about the pants size I wear.

Great Dark North

Even here in Alaska we were at least aware of the recently concluded election cycle. Like anyone else we voted and then followed the national returns with an eye on our own local results as well. And so it goes, and we resume our regular programming.

And, to be honest I've had my mind on other things.

I've had my mind on the SF Giants World Series win. I don't consider myself a rabid baseball fan (that's reserved for soccer) but the idea of the Giants winning it all now twice in my own lifetime is something I (or my grade school friends) never imagined. I have been sporting a Giants cap around town. But there remains, as always one perplexing question: If it's the "World" Series, why don't we invite any other countries to play?

I've had my mind on the encroaching darkness. Our Alaskan days are getting shorter, at a rate I have never encountered - probably because I've never lived this far north. Locals tell me to expect darkness by 3:30 on December afternoons. Some exaggerate and tell me it's more like 2:30. We live in a spectacularly beautiful place, but we may not see it again until late spring. Great Dark North it is.

I have had my mind on the "Church" as concept and as ideal. In recent years my notions of Church have changed, and trying now to put this to paper and thus transferable is a current challenge. I am seeing Church less as organization and more as family; not so much as static entity as dynamic movement. If the Church is a "family of missionary servants learning how to be and make disciples of Jesus," this has direct implications for how we talk about and gather the church here in Juneau and Southeast Alaska. It really has implications for how the Church functions as the Church.

I've had my mind on my wife. Then again, I've always had my mind on my wife. I am so glad I get to share this "middle age couple picks up and moves to Alaska to the bewilderment of their friends and family" adventure with her. Wouldn't trade it, and absolutely wouldn't trade her. And the fact she hasn't talked about upgrading is nice for me, too.

And I've had my mind on picking up new diversions, fun things to go out and do. I want to go stand up paddle boarding (this summer, when I can again actually see what the outside looks like) and bow hunting. But first I have to take up hunting.