Snow and Santa

How the heck did this Southern girl end up in Chicago? Don't get me wrong. I love this city, but I'm sitting by my window, trying to crank out a sermon, and my coffee has gone cold because the outside air is effecting the temperature inside. Oh well. At least the radiators are working.

Tomorrow I will don a Santa hat and beard (don't tell the Advent Police) and run my first 5K in over a decade in the Santa Hustle. I'm really excited, a little nervous about my ability to finish, delighted that 4 of my friends are also running and terrified about the fact that there will be snow falling as I run by the lake in this Windy City.

I've been using the C25K (Couch to 5K) app on my iPhone. A better app has never been created. I love, love, love it. I've gone from being able to run for 2 minutes to being able to run 25 in less than 6 weeks. Amazing. I never thought I'd get there again.

It seems appropriate that it falls in Advent--a time of rebirth, of expectation, the new liturgical year, for those of us who do liturgical cycles. I asked my congregation last week (in my sermon) what they were waiting for, watching for, expecting. I've been sitting with the question myself--still no real answer. Maybe there doesn't have to be something. I mean, it's good, I suppose, just to learn to wait. Especially for me (I'm a terrible wait-er). In the mean time, there are sermons to write and recipes to make (mango black beans and rice is simmering on the stove. Moroccan chicken a little bit later!) and Presiding Bishops to dine with later tonight (just me and the rest of the clergy of the Diocese). 

At any rate, it's good to be writing a bit. It's good to have day off. And it's good, ready or not, for Santa hats in the snow!