May 2015 Newsletter Article: Let's Go for a Walk!

We are marching in the light of God,

We are marching in the light of God.

We are marching in the light of God,

We are marching in the light of God.

We are marching, marching

We are marching, marching

We are marching in the light of God.

-  South African Traditional, “We Are Marching in the Light,” ELW 866

Let’s go for a walk.

This year, as I try to visit as many LCS folks as possible, I would like to invite you to take me outside on a walk to your favorite walking place. For all the years I’ve been here, I haven’t actually been to many of the most popular walking places in Kalamazoo. I haven’t been to the Nature Center or the Bird Sanctuary or the River Trail, or probably your favorite park or path. I think getting outdoors and getting some exercise would be a great time to catch up with you and see how things are going. I just don’t get out and walk much.

This last point was made clear to me when I recently completed my Health Assessment through Portico Benefits Services, the company through whom my family receives health care as ELCA pastors. After taking the assessment we receive money for health expenses, which is particularly helpful after Sarah’s broken ankle earlier this year. Also, if enough pastors / enrollees in our synod take the assessment, every congregation receives a 2% discount on our health insurance, which is also nice.

Where was I? Oh yes, walking. Well, after taking the assessment, the Mayo Clinic (the actual administrators of the Health Assessment) attempted to shame me into exercising more. They must have been at least partially successful. Their one suggestion that really stood out to me was to have “walking meetings,” which sounds fun and pleasant this time of year.

Of course I’ll still be happy to come to your home, or have you come to my office, or to meet in some other way. I think walking visits can be a pleasant and healthy variation on this central part of being your pastor, so why not give it a try? Maybe we’ll be caught in a downpour and have a hilarious story to tell. Maybe we’ll be walking your dog and your dog will rescue a person in distress and we’ll end up with our picture in the newspaper. Or maybe we’ll just be the church, visible, out in our community, as Jesus and his followers always were.

I’ve asked Starr Meintz to again this year help me schedule visits with people, or you can always contact me by phone or email if you have an idea for a visit. Especially those of you who skipped out on a visit last year, or thought we spend so much time in committee meetings that we don’t need to have a visit (you know who you are, and I raise a skeptical eyebrow in your direction).

So let’s go outside for a walk. Let’s have an adventure in the name of Jesus.

Thanks,

Pastor Andrew