By Clayton L. Smith, claytonlsmith@icloud.com, Stilwell, Kansas

I am feeling more freedom over COVID isolation now that I have had my two vaccinations! We hope to be back in church on Easter Sunday! I even got a haircut and cut my facial hair! I continue to read and write a lot which brings me information and inspiration. I am very active in our digital webinar wonderland.

I can recommend Will Willimon's new book, Aging: Growing Old in the Church (Pastoring for Life: Theological Wisdom for Ministering Well). It would be a great book for a pastors' online study group.

My wife, Lori, and I are so grateful for our new grandson who is now six months old! And we are really looking forward to our visit to Seattle in a few months to see him and his parents!

I had an opportunity to teach an online course for Saint Paul School of Theology on my book Growing Through Disaster: Financial and Trauma Recovery Tools for Your Faith Community. I am also doing several webinars for our Board of Discipleship this year. My concern for our seminary students and pastors grows with urgency in these challenging times for the church.