First Day in Salt Lake: 10.5 miles = sore feet

Well, today was the first of what will likely become a series of long and busy days. The morning was devoted to travel. First up: getting to the Memphis airport (and thanks to Mary Jane Viar for letting me keep my car at her home and for the ride to the airport at 6 this morning!).

Four other members of the deputation from West Tennessee joined me on the flight to Salt Lake City, and we arrived at our hotel over three hours before our rooms were ready.

That was fine: we had time for a leisurely lunch, to get ourselves registered for General Convention, and to enjoy a brief moment of down time this afternoon. At 5:30, however, that changed as many of us participated in our first meetings of the various Legislative Committees on which most of us are serving.

This Convention I have been appointed to the Prayer Book, Worship, and Music Committee. We have quite a few resolutions to consider, and our first public hearings will begin tomorrow at 7:00 am. Does that sound rather early to you? Or is it just me?

Anyway, tomorrow we'll follow up the early morning hearings or meetings with various presentations from church leaders, an orientation session, and three hours dedicated to a "Presentation of Presiding Bishop Nominees." Three hours? Really? There are only four nominees!

Then, just in case the day isn't long enough, legislative hearings and meetings begin at 7 pm and are scheduled to continue as late as 9. Whew!

Oh, and our hotel is (by one of our deputy's calculations) .8 miles from our door to the door of the Salt Palace Convention Center. Today the temp was in the low 90s. In the days to come we'll see highs from 97 °F tomorrow up to 100° on Friday and staying in the triple digits for pretty much the duration of General Convention. (Go ahead, you know you want to say it: "Yeah, but it's a dry heat...")

According to my pedometer I walked 10.5 miles (nearly 17 kilometers!) today. Think I'll sleep really well tonight!

Please keep General Convention, the Bishops, Deputies, exhibitors, guests, and other participants in your prayers. These days will be packed with activity, business, fellowship, worship, discussions, walking, sitting, voting, thinking, praying. Along the way we will consider, debate, and act on hundreds of resolutions that will impact how we live our lives as Episcopalians. So your prayers are definitely needed and solicited. Thanks!