I can tell you this. If you are going to dwell anywhere for more than a few days, beds are optional but a table is a necessity. I learned that in the jungles of Costa Rica. For the year I went, things were more primitive than they have ever been, before or since. I spent two weeks building a church in a jungle, on a piece of land reachable only by dugout canoe.

About a week ago, I received an inquiry from the person responsible for coordinating the clergy retirement ceremony at this year’s session of our denominational assembly. He didn’t say how many retirees there are….rumor puts the number at eleven or twelve….but he did say we would each be given four minutes (and not a second more) to speak.