We’re not quite pulling these questions randomly out of a box. This week once again I’m pairing a pretty everyday question with one that has a little more religious impact.

First, where did you grow up? Two answers to that seemingly simple question. First, I was born in Northumberland, where my father’s family was from. (My grandfather was one of 15 children surviving into adulthood. Not all, but many remained near home.) When I was in the third grade, we moved to Montoursville. I loved both places. But, Montoursville was full of ranch houses with families, and loads of kids to play with or walk to school with. We walked a lot of places, and took the bus when we needed to go “uptown.”

Secondly, when is your ordination anniversary? June 24. I’m very grateful that things fell together to give me—and my classmates—that date. It’s a huge feast day—the Nativity of St John the Baptist. Easy to remember each year. And for planning purposes, we didn’t have to sit down and talk about what readings we wanted. They were always going to be about St John. And I like St. John the Baptist as an anniversary because he reminds us that our ministry points to someone else. The verse on my prayer card for that day came from John’s mouth: “Christ must increase; I must decrease.” Those words always challenge me to back away from anything in my life or ministry that isn’t about Jesus.