"Tis the season, they say... For those of us who are clergy, this time of year can seem like a nightmare and a blessing. It's a blessing because it's an exciting time. It's a nightmare because the days seem to get longer and longer working 12, 14, sometimes 16 hour days. When Christmas morning rolls around, I'm so exhausted it's hard to drag myself out of bed. However, my kids are young and excited. So, it makes me excited too.
It's this time, right now, that I enjoy the most. I've got the warm glow of a computer monitor, a nice pipe, and reading what you all write on here. It's a release and a relief. I can dream about raiding Peck's closet with mystery pipes hidden and buried. I can celebrate the acquisition of a new Dunhill or watch as a new guy finally gets that smoke just perfect. I get reminders that there are still gentlemen when I see pictures of unexpected gifts given to someone "just because". Advice given and shared. Friendships formed through time and space by people who would never have known each other. Struggles shared and burdens lifted. We're all brought together by something so simple and silly: a piece of wood we hang out of our mouths and burn leaves in. Yet, YET it's something so much more. It's a connection; both to each other and, for me, to a taste of the divine.
My life has been so topsy-turvy the last few months. I've gotten to go and study under some great carvers that I discovered through this forum. My marriage nearly imploded but people reached out to me on this forum. I felt lost in my calling but some other pipe-smoking ministers reminded me of why I do what I do. So now, as I sit here smoking a pipe I just got off of this forum, now in this moment, my heart and soul are calm, my body is relaxed, and things seem to be steadying out in my life as we enter into this hectic season. I've told my family all I want for Christmas is this really beautiful Claw Meerschaum pipe from Meerschaumstore.com. But as I sit here reflecting on the past year of being a member here, it's hard not to think that I've already been given such a wonderful gift. I've been given the gift of this forum and your friendship. What else could I possibly want?
It's this time, right now, that I enjoy the most. I've got the warm glow of a computer monitor, a nice pipe, and reading what you all write on here. It's a release and a relief. I can dream about raiding Peck's closet with mystery pipes hidden and buried. I can celebrate the acquisition of a new Dunhill or watch as a new guy finally gets that smoke just perfect. I get reminders that there are still gentlemen when I see pictures of unexpected gifts given to someone "just because". Advice given and shared. Friendships formed through time and space by people who would never have known each other. Struggles shared and burdens lifted. We're all brought together by something so simple and silly: a piece of wood we hang out of our mouths and burn leaves in. Yet, YET it's something so much more. It's a connection; both to each other and, for me, to a taste of the divine.
My life has been so topsy-turvy the last few months. I've gotten to go and study under some great carvers that I discovered through this forum. My marriage nearly imploded but people reached out to me on this forum. I felt lost in my calling but some other pipe-smoking ministers reminded me of why I do what I do. So now, as I sit here smoking a pipe I just got off of this forum, now in this moment, my heart and soul are calm, my body is relaxed, and things seem to be steadying out in my life as we enter into this hectic season. I've told my family all I want for Christmas is this really beautiful Claw Meerschaum pipe from Meerschaumstore.com. But as I sit here reflecting on the past year of being a member here, it's hard not to think that I've already been given such a wonderful gift. I've been given the gift of this forum and your friendship. What else could I possibly want?
