Writer’s Block — Makes Me Cranky

Crankeverend (CR) has been absent from the “blogosphere” for one main reason — CR has writer’s block. It is a terrible disease for a pastor — especially a cranky pastor. When CR loses the ability to release the crankiness through writing, then the crankiness builds, and builds until CR’s head feels as if it will explode. And no one, no person wants to see a pastor’s head explode – even a cranky one. So this writer’s block has gotten CR thinking — thinking mostly about writing.

The writer’s block does not extend to CR’s ability to write a sermon — CR has been cranking out sermons at an amazing rate. Can’t say they are good sermons, that is left to the congregation and the Holy Spirit to determine. But CR is not being blocked in that manner.  The writer’s block does not extend to CR’s ability to write devotions either — if you follow me at “Crankyrev” then you may also follow me at “LutheranSchreff” where I post my daily devotions. The devotions are coming as quickly as they hit CR’s brain.

But, when it comes to expressing what makes CR cranky — there has been a dry spell of “desert proportions”. What could this mean? Could it mean Crankeverend is getting less cranky? Unlikely — just ask the people who live with CR — there is no lack of crankiness in CR’s life.  Could it mean CR is learning to count CR’s blessings? Nah….CR has always appreciated the blessings that G-d has showered upon “the Cranky One”. Even cranky people understand how blessed they are among the many days of crankiness. Cranky people are just more willing to let the crankiness out. Non-cranky people are more prone to heart disease, constipation, and irritable bowel syndrome (this is just a speculation on CR’s part and by no means has any verifiable statistics behind the statement — and besides there is nothing funny about diseases).  So what, pray tell, is happening to CR? CR has no idea — so maybe CR has to recall some of the more cranky people of the bible to help him gain some footing again.

For example, lets talk about Moses. Moses was one cranky dude on that fateful day he was tending sheep in the desert — when of all things he sees a “burning bush”. After all, who wants to encounter a burning “anything” when they are in the desert? Everything would look and feel as if it was burning in the middle of the day, in the desert. And Moses lets his crankiness come out. After G-d introduces G-d’s self to Moses, G-d says “Moses, I have chosen you to lead my people out of Egypt.” What is Moses’ response?  Moses gives five cranky excuses — five fine “whines” — and G-d is having nothing of it.

And then there is Jonah — called to preach repentance to the city of Nineveh, that terrible city.  Jonah put on a huge, or as the “Bern” would say a “Yuuuge” bout of Crankiness and ran the other direction.  He did eventually relent, but after  being “vomited” out of the mouth of a giant fish, he was just as cranky.  And then when G-d relented on punishing the people of Nineveh, and Jonah realized that G-d was going to win, his crankiness soared to new heights.  And yet G-d loved Jonah, crankiness or no crankiness.

Maybe, just maybe this Cranky Reverend needs to be reminded that even in the midst of our crankiness, G-d accepts and loves us just as we are.  Maybe it isn’t that CR’s crankiness has decreased, as much as CR’s realization that, just like Moses, G-d will not relent on calling us to ventures where G-d believes we have the gifts of ministry, even if it includes living out our crankiness.  Just because we are believers and followers and lovers of G-d — and lovers of others — doesn’t mean we don’t have our cranky moments.  We just know that when we are cranky, G-d doesn’t relent, G-d just works with us, supports us and loves us through those times.  If G-d didn’t love cranky people, G-d would have given up on Moses and Jonah.  But G-d did not give up on them, and they did not give up on G-d.

So, writer’s block or no writer’s block, CR’s crankiness has been percolating — swimming in the pools and resources of CR’s mind.  There is more to come — after all, there is so much to be cranky about.

Crankeverend………..CR’s Back!