It is that time of the year where the equinox plays merry havoc with the weather. It was snowing on Monday, we had a nor’wester yesterday with temperatures into the 20s, and this morning feels mild. It is all the last day before I turn 54, and my birthday always puts me in a melancholy mood. The semi-annual photo has been taken using a webcam, (mainly because the photos from the school’s music festival (did I mention it is the last week of the school term, and daylight saving comes in this weekend?) are not that good.

And I am looking at Paul, the Energizer Bunny of the Apostles. While most were content to remain in one region (and indeed did good work: great work) Paul had witnessed to “All of asia” that is the area of Modern Turkey. There are some controversies in this passage: the baptism into Christ and then laying on of hands to receive the Holy Spirit is taken as normative by some Pentecostal churches. But I have a feeling that Paul shuffled things around a bit depending on the situation where he was.

I think his model of hiring halls is worth following.

And it happened that while Apollos was at Corinth, Paul passed through the inland country and came to Ephesus. There he found some disciples. And he said to them, “Did you receive the Holy Spirit when you believed?” And they said, “No, we have not even heard that there is a Holy Spirit.” And he said, “Into what then were you baptized?” They said, “Into John’s baptism.” And Paul said, “John baptized with the baptism of repentance, telling the people to believe in the one who was to come after him, that is, Jesus.” On hearing this, they were baptized in the name of the Lord Jesus. And when Paul had laid his hands on them, the Holy Spirit came on them, and they began speaking in tongues and prophesying. There were about twelve men in all.

And he entered the synagogue and for three months spoke boldly, reasoning and persuading them about the kingdom of God. But when some became stubborn and continued in unbelief, speaking evil of the Way before the congregation, he withdrew from them and took the disciples with him, reasoning daily in the hall of Tyrannus. This continued for two years, so that all the residents of Asia heard the word of the Lord, both Jews and Greeks.

(Acts 19:1-10 ESV)

Paul did not build churches by merely putting his hands on people and acts of power: though they happened. He worked hard. He was pastoring daily, preaching daily, witnessing daily: he put his whole being into this work. He had, for Christ, some advantages: he was male (and prepared to die for the gospel), he was single, he was mobile.

Peter, by way of contrast worked equally, had zeal for the gospel, but was not mobile, and was married: he had other duties he had to consider.

And I reflect today that by now both men were no longer young. They were, like me, in middle age.

At the age I now find myself, I have to pay active attention to remaining fit. So I can do anything: the gym when I was young was optional: it is not now. I used to be able to eat anything and remain skinny: that I cannot do. However, it is not time to slow down. The agenda for the rest of this year is busy.

Looking back, I have been without a spouse now for eight years. This has been hard, and I have not managed it anywhere near perfectly. But I have learned one thing. Stopping doing the tasks set in front of you is not an option. I have duties to my family: I have connections in this community. I have learned that one has to not wait for a door to open, but work at what is in front of you and you will find walls disappear. Locally, there are projects and tasks I am involved in.

What does this mean practically? Well, with the NZ conference for my trade coming up, then the Society of mental health research meeting in December, the dance card is full and I will probably be working in the evenings, or doing things with the boys, and blogging on secular issues a lot less.

For the other thing one can learn from Paul is to concentrate. To do the tasks before you well, but limit what else you do. My tendency to enjoy the novel, the technical, and be distracted by new toys and tools does get in the way here.

And I am aware there is more than a sufficiency of snark in this world, but not enough theology.

So let this place retreat into obscurity, But let it bear witness to Christ, and not my bitter, misanthropic nature.