It is well

Yesterday morning, Saturday November 20, I started the day by texting Steve and EJ. Steve came and picked me up and we went to Kelly Temple. I always thought COGIC didn't acknowledge female preachers (I went in collar not as fashion statement, but because of DeAnte). They repeatedly offered to seat me with clergy, and were much more accepting of me as a female cleric than I had imagined.

We agreed we were only going to the viewing. We walked in and there was a video screen over the casket with DeAnte preaching his heart out. That was good, because he's been out for like two weeks now. It's time to put my little brother in the ground. Part of the delay, I understand, was that COGIC had its annual conference in St. Louis (he was supposed to have been there) and they had to wait until it was over. They're having another homegoing celebration for him in NC next week. See you around the Throne, DeAnte!

So I came home, changed, and went to 72nd street. I was looking for a home depot there, but ended up in Best Buy where I got Donald Lawrence's latest (Steve had played the one about the King in You, and I had to have it). I also made my first trip into a Bed Bath and Beyond. I got a shower massage, but can see that without restraint I could end up spending a lot of time and money in that place.

On FB yesterday afternoon, I learned that Mrs. Woodard died. As a preacher, I share the Good News of the birth, life, death, resurrection and coming again of Jesus Christ. (thanks, Donnie). And while that is good news, and while God makes no mistakes, I still mourn the absence of Mrs. Woodard from this earth. I am grateful she is being welcomed into her new Home, and grateful that I had the opportunity to teach Bible to her and to see that she was interested and making progress. Still, I'll miss her. What a sweet and dear spirit.

I have seven more papers to grade. I can hardly bear reading them. Between the plagiarism, the pomposity and the perpetual confusion of historical data, I am just worn out.

I'm really struggling with a personal issue -- a feeling of betrayal by someone in whom I'd placed a great deal of trust. Since I don't trust easily, the sense of betrayal is particularly heightened. In general, I think you don't get to straddle a line then retroactively settle on one side of it. It's just like revisionist history. If you're not able to own up to things you've done, whether positive or negative, then how can they be acknowledged and rectified?

So last night I took a nice bubble bath. Bubble baths, chocolate, rest, and much prayer, meditation, and reflection will get me over. At the end of it all, I still give thanks to God!!