Not to be morbid or anything like that but (I think you know where this is going…) I’ve been thinking about the end, the great beyond, pie in the sky. You know, death and dying. It’s been one of those years. No, let me re-state it: this has been one of the weirdest and darkest years ever. From COVID-19 to wildfires to chaos reigning – this is one for the books. Yes, I've been thinking about death. So there.

I will never take fresh air for granted again. It was glorious last Friday to be able to take a walk after ten long days and to take deep breaths from our smoke-free western Oregon skies.

Literally and figuratively, it’s grim. Today marks day #8 of smoky air and low visibility because of the Oregon fires. You know it’s bad when you’ve downloaded two air quality apps on your phone. You know it’s bad when you’re excited that your city has been downgraded from “if you go outside, you’ll die” to “if you go outside, maybe you’ll die.”

Whenever I have a deep, deep stewardship question (and of course, I only ask deep, deep stewardship questions), I call Ken Sloane, Director of Stewardship & Generosity at Discipleship Ministries, The United Methodist Church. This is not just any Methodist church mind you, it’s The (with a capital “T”) UMC. Now in his ninth year, and after serving at the local church level for many years, Ken has heard and experienced all things stewardship. He is the man.

I knew something was wrong the moment I unfolded the letter.

I couldn’t read it.

Not because it was in another language. Not because I spilled coffee all over it. No, I couldn’t read it because the text was in an 8-point font. I bravely tried to squint my way to see what was on the page but ultimately (gasp), I had to find my glasses. Oh, the wretchedness of it all.

On Monday, I received an urgent text from my friend Kathy.

“‘Here and Now’ is doing a piece on church giving right now.”

You know you’re a Stewardship Geek when you get texts like this. I proudly accept the title.