Over the past couple of days my world here in Abilene has become a ghost town. Classes have ended and almost everyone I know has beat a path out of town for the winter break. Which leaves me to deal with myself for a while, until I finally meander up towards Oklahoma. For the first time since school started back in August, I feel like I will actually have a sabbath-like Sunday tomorrow. Usually it is a process of getting up early, getting showered and dressed, heading over to prayer group, helping lead discussions at a table in the college class, worshipping at the second service, going to lunch, getting home close to 3:00, about a half-hour nap, working on LIFE Group lesson, cleaning the house, leading LIFE Group, hanging out with LIFE Group people, eating dinner, last minute study for Monday, then sleep. Worshipping will be the only item remaining on that list for tomorrow -- the rest of the time will be mine. This is a refreshing feeling. Since nobody is here now and I have no pressing school concerns (until I start reading for the January short course), I'm looking forward to using some of this time as a personal retreat to help find a center again. There are certainly some things about which I need to do a lot of thinking and praying.

Some probable themes of personal retreat time (in no particular order):

• I just have to admit that I have no clue what tomorrow looks like (both literally and figuratively.)


• Sometimes I have no idea why things happen the way they do, and what to do about it.


• What habits need to change, and how?


• What attitudes need to change, and how?


• Wisdom: Lord, I need some.

Anyway, since this town (at least my section of it) is fairly empty for a little while, this blog may become a better friend.