My good friend, Pickett Miles, is leading the St. Stephen congregation in worship this morning. This past week he e-mailed me, "I'm your stand-in this Sunday. That will make your congregation pray more fervently for your recovery."

His humility not withstanding, I was nourished by Pickett a number of times when he was Rector at St. Martin's Episcopal Church. How wonderful to be in the ELCA, with its (our)ecumenical energy -- so that an Episcopal priest can lead worship for a Lutheran congregation!

Yesterday, Randy Punchard and Max Hinders spent the afternoon at our house, cleaning out leaves from the gutters and installing mesh screening that will keep future leaves out of the gutters. I said to Randy, "How can we thank you for this wonderful work?" He said, "Get well. That's all." Once again, the tears came to my eyes. (Tears have come quite often over the past month or so.) I know there's been a crew of you, youth as well as adults, who have been caring for our house and yard during this leaf falling season. What a gracious and generous bunch of people I am privileged to serve as pastor. I too am praying fervently for my recovery, because I miss you all so much. Thank you for your prayers and love.

Yesterday, I walked one driveway farther than I had before on the street in front of our house, before turning back. (That's how I'm measuring my progress these days -- by the number of driveways!) Today, maybe I can get one more driveway further, and take a morning AND an afternoon walk. I'll see what my body is telling me after the first walk. These are days of, on the one hand, pushing as much as I can but, on the other, of listening closely to my body which may be saying, "Hey! Back off! You're doing too much!"

I have an appointment Tuesday with the pulmonologist. A main question I have is how to wean myself off the oxygen. Perhaps he can write a prescription for one of those finger tip pulse oxygen machines, so I can measure my blood oxygen saturation as I use the oxygen less and less in the weeks to come.