When I discovered President Lincoln’s birthday, February 12, fell on a Sunday, I began pestering Pastor Monte about a Lincoln sermon. For some reason, it never registered that he and a mission group of fifty some others would be leaving for Slidell, Louisiana to assist with the remaining devastation of Katrina on the morning of February 12. Earlier this week, in an Email, I pestered him about the Lincoln sermon. That evening I was on the telephone with his wife, Chris, and I was sliding through the Emails he had sent earlier regarding the confirmands heading to Camp Mowana this weekend. And there it was…

Darin: “Do you have your Lincoln sermon started?”

Pastor Monte: “Actually, I had thought of asking you to preach on Lincoln’s birthday. I don’t know how you feel about preaching. Still can or you can pass. I will be leaving for Slidell, LA that morning and not be in church.”

I read the first line to Chris while laughing hysterically. What a jokester! Then, I continued reading further… “Holy Shit!” I exclaimed. “Monte’s serious.” Chris turned to Monte to confirm his seriousness.

Without giving it much thought, I agreed.

That night, the table next to my bed was filled with my Lincoln books, a pad of paper and a pen. It felt so good to be in a creative mode again – something I have missed terribly since beginning my work at the Muse Machine. I decided to speak on the spirituality of Lincoln, which I find so intriguing… our most Christ-like president who was not a technical Christian.

After it is delivered, I will post it on here.

The photograph above I found on the internet – it is my favorite photograph of him, and it has been colorized. I love it!

The other photograph is of wax sculptures of the Lincoln family at the new Lincoln Presidential Library Center in Springfield, which I hope to see in the near future.