Pastor's Devotions by Tim Harris

This past week, Kim and I attended a pastor’s conference at the Hershey Lodge and Conference Center. Of course, everything at the hotel was Hershey chocolate themed. When you checked in, you received a chocolate bar for each person. There were Hershey images all over the hotel—e.g. Hershey bars, Reese’s cups, etc. The wallpaper in the bathroom was decorated with Hershey kisses. The little bottles of shampoo, conditioner, and lotion were all cocoa-infused. And, as you walked through the hallway you couldn’t help but pick up the smell of cocoa that I believe was infused through the airducts.  In fact, just about wherever you went you picked up the fragrance of chocolate.  Now, don’t get me wrong. I love chocolate (especially dark, which they did not give you!). But I wasn’t quite sure I wanted my body and hair to smell like chocolate. And, after a couple of days I was done with the feeling that, at any moment, someone was going to show up and hand me a cup of hot chocolate. Beli...

Like many of you who live in suburbia, we have a number of unwanted visitors who come into our yard and do in it whatever they like. No, I’m not talking about neighbors or the kids who live around the block. I’m referring to the deer who come around multiple times per day, eat whatever they like, and leave behind “evidence” of their visit! They have even created their own path that goes from our front yard, across our side yard, to the neighborhood behind us.  Like most people, I think deer are beautiful creatures. I really have nothing personal against them. But when they come in a herd that includes two to three doe, two bucks with full antlers, and a few fawn, that becomes way too many visiting at one time. And, when I pull into our driveway and find a few of them in front of my car or on the lawn, staring me down as if to say, how dare I show up at my own home…well, at that point they’ve crossed a line!  At that point they have really become unwanted visitors!  Thus I...

Last Friday I had what I would call, “a failed run!” That is, partly through my long run for the week, I bailed out—something I had never done before. Let me explain.  I left my home at about 6:30 am in order to beat the heat that was supposed to set in later that day. Although it wasn’t yet all that warm, the humidity was extremely high. (Later, I learned it was close to 80%.) I had mapped out a 12 mile run and began it feeling pretty well. I had with me a small bottle of electrolyte drink and an energy gel. And things were going great for about the first 4-5 miles. By about mile 5, however, my shirt was soaking wet. I felt like I was carrying a 3-4 pound weight on my back. At mile six I realized that my legs were feeling heavier and heavier and my pace was getting slower and slower. At that point, I didn’t think I was going to make it all the way back home. So, I did something I had never done before: I called my wife, Kim, who was yet at home, and told her I only had about one m...

Last week I once again attended the US Open Tennis Championships in Flushing Meadows, Queens, NY with my brother Chris. It was a great day filled with lots and lots of tennis as we went from one match to another; we watched about nine hours’ worth that day! And being that it was the third day of the tournament (Wednesday), all of the singles matches we watched were second round matches. That means by that point in the tournament, half of the players who began the tournament on Monday had already been eliminated.  In case you don’t know how a tournament like this works, a “major” (as this level of tournament is called) begins with 128 singles players—i.e., 128 men and 128 women. As each round is played, half of the players are eliminated. Thus, in six rounds of play the 128 who began on day one have been whittled down to the two who will play in the finals for the championship trophy (and lots of cash!). By the seventh round—i.e., the finals—126 players have been eliminated.  I...

The old song by the Beatles projected ahead to the day when the young song writers (John Lennon and Paul McCartney) would turn 64 years old. They were looking ahead to life with their loved one, taking care of a house, weeding the garden, going on vacations, and saving for the future. But they knew that one day their hair would be thinning, grandchildren would be in the picture, and before they knew it, they would be 64. So, the question is asked, “Will you still need me, will you still feed me, when I’m 64?” as they express their hope that the one whom they love will stick with them through all the changes the years promised to bring. Yet, it seems, that to the young Lennon and McCartney 64 seemed a very long way off.  Well, today I’m 64 and I can tell you it came a lot more quickly than I anticipated.  After all, it feels like it wasn’t that long ago that I graduated college, got my first job, went to seminary and began my life as a pastor. It feels like it wasn’t that long ...

This week I  needed to buy a new pair of running shoes. For one, according to the running app I use, my current ones (which were purchased almost exactly one year ago today) have 369 miles on them—and  they are supposed to last a maximum of 400 miles. Secondly, I can actually see where my current shoes have been worn out. Finally, I need to break in a new pair before it gets too close to my next half-marathon race, which is coming up near the end of September. Thus, the new pair of running shoes.   Like most runners would be, I’m very excited about running tomorrow morning in my new pair of running shoes. I know it might sound a bit childish, but there’s something about putting on a new pair for the first time, looking down at your feet to admire the color and the look, and then taking off for a maiden flight (run!). I’d say, it’s much the same feeling one gets when they drive off the lot with a new car. (Well, maybe not for you!) Everything feels so fresh and so new...

Today is my grandson Jesse’s third birthday. Although Kim and I won’t be with him today, thankfully we got to celebrate with him this past Monday with cupcakes, decorations, and a gift. And in fact, we got to spend the past three weeks with Jesse, his little brother Jack, and his parents as they were on vacation with us in the Adirondack Mountains and spent some time here at our house. Later today we will most likely FaceTime with him.   Except for a couple of times per year, Kim and I don’t get to spend all that much time with Jesse and his family. Thus, the changes that take place as he grows are often quite striking to us. And now at three years old, those changes are taking place very rapidly. Both his fine and gross motor skills are increasing every day. His vocabulary is expanding at an exponential rate. He is now reasoning (as well as a three year old can reason). He negotiates, makes promises, is gaining a sense of time, and beginning to learn that there are consequenc...