Phyllis Tickle has a crush on Tim Keel

The hotel I stayed at in Sacramento had a concierge floor, which I was so graciously assigned to by some beautiful person in the inner-workings of Youth Specialties.  I’m not sure who makes those decisions but thanks.  This provided a place to have a little bit of casual down time along with drinks and food.  It was also a good place to hangout with youth workers and speakers attending the convention. 

Phyllis Tickle spent quite a bit of time in this hospitality room so I was able to have some good conversations with her.  One time I slipped in without Phyllis seeing me and was able to overhear her go off on a ten-minute rave of Tim Keel.  Tim is my pastor, friend and co-laborer.  I was having a blast hearing her describe his brilliance and declare that some of the writing projects he is working on will be truly seminal, along with how his voice will grow in influence theologically.  I waited until it seemed she was done before I let her know I was in the room behind her.  I told her that I think Tim has a bigger crush on you (count me in on that too) than you do on him.  She assured me, and everyone with whom she was talking to, that even though she is in her mid-eighties, she is not too old to be in love with Tim Keel. 

What a gift this amazing Woman of God is to all of us who are younger.  It makes me feel good to think I’m almost 35 years younger.  Go Phyllis; your best years are ahead of you.