Christmas! It's the most wonderful time of the year! And so the song goes. I am truly blessed with grandchildren to grace our home for Christmas. Their little faces are such a joy to behold on Christmas morning as they rip throuugh their presents from Santa. It is truly amazing because has so many toys for them that they just don't all fit under the tree at home..
This morning, both my daughters came to the house with their families. My mother and father were there as was my mother in law who had stayed with us the night before. They coulddn't wait to open their gifts.... It was over in a flash!
Afterwards, we all ate breakfast together. My son in law had to go to work and my youngest daughter went home to go to the childen's (other) grandma's house. My oldest daughter stayed here with her two boys. Around noon, we all fell asleep for a well deserved nap.
Sunday, December 25, 2005
Friday, December 02, 2005
Prepare Ye the Way of the Lord
Mark 1:1-8 1The beginning of the gospel about Jesus Christ, the Son of God. 2It is written in Isaiah the prophet: "I will send my messenger ahead of you, who will prepare your way" 3"a voice of one calling in the desert, 'Prepare the way for the Lord, make straight paths for him.' " 4And so John came, baptizing in the desert region and preaching a baptism of repentance for the forgiveness of sins. 5The whole Judean countryside and all the people of Jerusalem went out to him. Confessing their sins, they were baptized by him in the Jordan River. 6John wore clothing made of camel's hair, with a leather belt around his waist, and he ate locusts and wild honey. 7And this was his message: "After me will come one more powerful than I, the thongs of whose sandals I am not worthy to stoop down and untie. 8I baptize you with water, but he will baptize you with the Holy Spirit."
Perhaps I am just going through a confusing time in my life, but it seems ever so much more difficult for me to figure out which direction God leads. It seems to me that in this culture, there is a growing trend to meet God through "self-awareness" or the presence of God in nature or one another. In some respects, I can understand this trend since we are indeed made in God's image and have been given God's Spirit in our hearts. So in essence, there is God with us and God among us. But as I look deep within myself, I do not see God. Instead I see blackness....sinfulness abounds. Even the goodness that comes from within is marred by my own sinful motivations.
And so, my journey begins with recognizing this about myself and others. My journey begins with baptism, washed clean by the power of God. Even now, I feel as if I am in the wilderness...tempted to do great things. But I am afraid bec ause unlike Christ, I have not recognized Godly timeliness....Jesus knew that turning rocks to bread was not necessarily a bad thing....he did it for the crowds who gathered to hear him. Jesus knew that he was not to throw himself off of the mountain...and yet he threw himself into the arms of the Roman and Jewish leaders and submitted to death on the cross. In the end, he recieved kingship over the world...not by worshipping Satan, but by discovering the gift of God's timeliness in all things.
The message of this day and age confuses me. I cannot look within to discover God's direction. And so, I look to my baptism, to the sharing of Christ's body and blood in Holy Communion, and to the cross where the perfect one suffers for my sake. It is where I get a glimpse of God's direction for faithful living and it is where I find the forgiveness to keep searching for the right direction.
Perhaps I am just going through a confusing time in my life, but it seems ever so much more difficult for me to figure out which direction God leads. It seems to me that in this culture, there is a growing trend to meet God through "self-awareness" or the presence of God in nature or one another. In some respects, I can understand this trend since we are indeed made in God's image and have been given God's Spirit in our hearts. So in essence, there is God with us and God among us. But as I look deep within myself, I do not see God. Instead I see blackness....sinfulness abounds. Even the goodness that comes from within is marred by my own sinful motivations.
And so, my journey begins with recognizing this about myself and others. My journey begins with baptism, washed clean by the power of God. Even now, I feel as if I am in the wilderness...tempted to do great things. But I am afraid bec ause unlike Christ, I have not recognized Godly timeliness....Jesus knew that turning rocks to bread was not necessarily a bad thing....he did it for the crowds who gathered to hear him. Jesus knew that he was not to throw himself off of the mountain...and yet he threw himself into the arms of the Roman and Jewish leaders and submitted to death on the cross. In the end, he recieved kingship over the world...not by worshipping Satan, but by discovering the gift of God's timeliness in all things.
The message of this day and age confuses me. I cannot look within to discover God's direction. And so, I look to my baptism, to the sharing of Christ's body and blood in Holy Communion, and to the cross where the perfect one suffers for my sake. It is where I get a glimpse of God's direction for faithful living and it is where I find the forgiveness to keep searching for the right direction.
Saturday, November 26, 2005
One upmanship
I was reading my email this morning, most of it is from a dog list of which I am a member. Every now and then, there is a discussion about other breeders and their practices. Statements condemning the practices of some breeders usually force people who own dogs from those breeders to feel as if their dogs are substandard. It is kind of sad when an owner is excited about the quality and tempremant of their pup and someone rains on their show with such accusations against the breeder.
I can understand where some of those who are quick to condemn are coming from. They deeply love the breed that their dogs represent and wish to keep the temperament and beauty that is standard in that breed for years and years to come. The problem is, many "good" breeders have used the same lines to breed their dogs for so long that the animals actually become inbred. Long dormant recessive genesare waiting to be stirred up suddenly become dominant. This inbreeding causes the to animals suffer from the very genetic and temperametal disorders that the breeders have been trying to avoid. Unkknowingly, while trying to make the perfect perfect breed, these well meaning people have cut the gene pool down to a small one with the very same problems they were once trying to avoid.
There is a dilemma here of course. A poodle is definitely a distinctive animal. Their curly hair, square body, long legs, deep chest, pointed snout and long ears make them distinctly poodles. Breeding too far from the breed standard will definitely begin to make dogs that are no longer poodles. So while there may be reasons to allow more open breeding within poodle lines, going too far away from the standard will produce an animal that in essence becomes something other than a poodle.
The same kind of thing happens with people of faith. While discussing faith, people with certain theologies will condemn others with different beliefs making them feel substandard in their own faith. Even as these people have good intentions about keeping faith pure, they end up insisting on certain practices concerning their faith that become a stumbling block for those who are trying to be faithful. In doing so, the very faith they are trying to protect becomes corrupt rather than life giving.
Here too there is a dilemma. Christian faith is defined by some very common beliefs...things like an understanding of the mystery of the Trinity, the incarnation of Jesus, the obedience of Christ even to death, the resurrection of Christ and his ascension into heaven, the proclamation of this God given gift given with the hope that all of creation might one day be made right with God. When we wander too far off the beaten track with our theology, we end up with something that becomes less than Christian.
I sometimes wonder what the implication of "going too far" is for either of these scenarios. Allowing the breeding of a diverse number of poodles will end up with a breed that is very diverse but in the end will end up with a breed whose only commonality is that they are dogs. Accepting and welcoming views other than traditional faith will end up with people of faith whose theology is so diverse that the only thing left in common at all is that they are people.
Good thing? Bad thing? I suppose some would disagree on the answer to this quesiton. For me, I enjoy the individuality of the poodle and do not want to see it stray so far from the poodle line that it will no longer be recognized as a poodle.
As for faith, the basic tenets of Christian faith seem to make the most sense to me as the story of God and God's people has unfolded throughout time. In a world that is empowered by the sin of self and selfishnessm reliance on our own capabilities seems to be what feeds this selfish tenedency. Instead, we need a people set apart who trust in the hope of God's salvation. They are not here to condemn others, but to do God's work, proclaiming the gift of God's son so that all might be reconciled to God. It is these people who are called to selflessly serve God's creation in love. I don't want to see our faith stray so far from the Christian beliefs that it will no longer be recognized as Christian but neither do I want it to be so narrow that millions of people will never be able to relate to the gift of God's perfect love.
I can understand where some of those who are quick to condemn are coming from. They deeply love the breed that their dogs represent and wish to keep the temperament and beauty that is standard in that breed for years and years to come. The problem is, many "good" breeders have used the same lines to breed their dogs for so long that the animals actually become inbred. Long dormant recessive genesare waiting to be stirred up suddenly become dominant. This inbreeding causes the to animals suffer from the very genetic and temperametal disorders that the breeders have been trying to avoid. Unkknowingly, while trying to make the perfect perfect breed, these well meaning people have cut the gene pool down to a small one with the very same problems they were once trying to avoid.
There is a dilemma here of course. A poodle is definitely a distinctive animal. Their curly hair, square body, long legs, deep chest, pointed snout and long ears make them distinctly poodles. Breeding too far from the breed standard will definitely begin to make dogs that are no longer poodles. So while there may be reasons to allow more open breeding within poodle lines, going too far away from the standard will produce an animal that in essence becomes something other than a poodle.
The same kind of thing happens with people of faith. While discussing faith, people with certain theologies will condemn others with different beliefs making them feel substandard in their own faith. Even as these people have good intentions about keeping faith pure, they end up insisting on certain practices concerning their faith that become a stumbling block for those who are trying to be faithful. In doing so, the very faith they are trying to protect becomes corrupt rather than life giving.
Here too there is a dilemma. Christian faith is defined by some very common beliefs...things like an understanding of the mystery of the Trinity, the incarnation of Jesus, the obedience of Christ even to death, the resurrection of Christ and his ascension into heaven, the proclamation of this God given gift given with the hope that all of creation might one day be made right with God. When we wander too far off the beaten track with our theology, we end up with something that becomes less than Christian.
I sometimes wonder what the implication of "going too far" is for either of these scenarios. Allowing the breeding of a diverse number of poodles will end up with a breed that is very diverse but in the end will end up with a breed whose only commonality is that they are dogs. Accepting and welcoming views other than traditional faith will end up with people of faith whose theology is so diverse that the only thing left in common at all is that they are people.
Good thing? Bad thing? I suppose some would disagree on the answer to this quesiton. For me, I enjoy the individuality of the poodle and do not want to see it stray so far from the poodle line that it will no longer be recognized as a poodle.
As for faith, the basic tenets of Christian faith seem to make the most sense to me as the story of God and God's people has unfolded throughout time. In a world that is empowered by the sin of self and selfishnessm reliance on our own capabilities seems to be what feeds this selfish tenedency. Instead, we need a people set apart who trust in the hope of God's salvation. They are not here to condemn others, but to do God's work, proclaiming the gift of God's son so that all might be reconciled to God. It is these people who are called to selflessly serve God's creation in love. I don't want to see our faith stray so far from the Christian beliefs that it will no longer be recognized as Christian but neither do I want it to be so narrow that millions of people will never be able to relate to the gift of God's perfect love.
Thursday, November 24, 2005
Surprises!
I never could fool my mother! When I was five, I was visiting a friend's house. Their mom offered me some cookies and milk, and not wanting to be rude, I accepted. When I got home, my mom asked me if I had eaten some cookies. You see, we had a rule in our house....no snacks between meals and my mom was pretty strict about making sure that there was always room for a healthy meal. So, I did what any five year old would do. I lied. And to my surprise, I ended up in the corner. No, it wasn't the two eyes behind my mother's head that gave me away...instead, it was the cookie crumbs that were stuck to the corner of my mouth.
I still can't keep anything from my mom. I have spent the last ten months planning a surprise 50th anniversary party for her and my dad. SOMEONE spilled the beans! But even if they had not, I am pretty sure that she would have already figured it out anyway. There are any number of things that have happened in the course of the last ten months that could have given it away. In the end, it certainly wouldn't be those proverbial eyes behind her head. Instead, the case of the missing key would have most likely tipped her off.
You see, a friend and I wanted to get a nice picture to put into a frame that she had purchased for this special event. So one day about a month or so ago, we snuck into the house while they were gone and snapped a few digital pictures of what we wanted. We very carefully put everything back in its place and left. As luck would have it, the picture that we really liked was oriented incorrectly. Once again, we secertly entered the house to take more photos.
It was a very cold and rainy evening when I got the frantic call from my father. Dressed in only a tee shirt, he had taken the dog outside and somehow had gotten locked out of the house. When he went to get the key....it was missing. I started to think about both times that I went into the house and distinctly remember putting the key away the first time, but don't really remember what I did with it the second time...my guess is that I didn't put it back. I hope that my Dad can find a way to forgive me when he finds out....poor Dad, I always seem to get a chuckle at his expense!
Somethings never change....I am my own worst enemy when it comes to trying to keep something from my Mom..... maybe one day I will learn my lesson....and then again...maybe NOT.
I still can't keep anything from my mom. I have spent the last ten months planning a surprise 50th anniversary party for her and my dad. SOMEONE spilled the beans! But even if they had not, I am pretty sure that she would have already figured it out anyway. There are any number of things that have happened in the course of the last ten months that could have given it away. In the end, it certainly wouldn't be those proverbial eyes behind her head. Instead, the case of the missing key would have most likely tipped her off.
You see, a friend and I wanted to get a nice picture to put into a frame that she had purchased for this special event. So one day about a month or so ago, we snuck into the house while they were gone and snapped a few digital pictures of what we wanted. We very carefully put everything back in its place and left. As luck would have it, the picture that we really liked was oriented incorrectly. Once again, we secertly entered the house to take more photos.
It was a very cold and rainy evening when I got the frantic call from my father. Dressed in only a tee shirt, he had taken the dog outside and somehow had gotten locked out of the house. When he went to get the key....it was missing. I started to think about both times that I went into the house and distinctly remember putting the key away the first time, but don't really remember what I did with it the second time...my guess is that I didn't put it back. I hope that my Dad can find a way to forgive me when he finds out....poor Dad, I always seem to get a chuckle at his expense!
Somethings never change....I am my own worst enemy when it comes to trying to keep something from my Mom..... maybe one day I will learn my lesson....and then again...maybe NOT.
Sunday, November 06, 2005
Gifts
Mention the word gift and I bet most people's thoughts turn to Birthday or Christmas memories. But, when I think of gifts, I think of God.
In I Corinthians, Paul offers a list of spiritual gifts that God has gifted to the body of Christ, that is, the church. Every member of Christ's church has already received a spiritual gift to be used for serving others in the glory of God. Discovering that gift can be a real challenge though. Just ask anyone how God has gifted them to serve and you may find someone with a puzzled look on their face. I have begun to see that we do a very poor job helping people to discover those gifts.
Too often, the church has "jobs" that need to be done and any warm body who is able to work is chosen to fill the position. Unfortunately, there are many times that we often fill round holes with square pegs. Unfortunately, both the outcome of the job and the person trying to do that job are stifled by the poor fit.
Last night, I had the opportunity to witness the result of a task done by a person whose gifts have been embraced by the commuity and where she has been empowered to use them for God's glory! When Michelle started to share her vision for our church's 50th anniversary party, there were a few skeptics about what she had in mind. But she had a vision and she came up with a plan! Lack of funding didn't hold this woman back! Using her gift of hospitality, she hosted one of the best nights our congregation has ever experienced. She found a way to make it happen and we even raised a little more than a hundred extra dollars to add to our growing "Fuel for the elderly fund."
How wonderful it is when God's gifts are recognized and used for God's glory!
In I Corinthians, Paul offers a list of spiritual gifts that God has gifted to the body of Christ, that is, the church. Every member of Christ's church has already received a spiritual gift to be used for serving others in the glory of God. Discovering that gift can be a real challenge though. Just ask anyone how God has gifted them to serve and you may find someone with a puzzled look on their face. I have begun to see that we do a very poor job helping people to discover those gifts.
Too often, the church has "jobs" that need to be done and any warm body who is able to work is chosen to fill the position. Unfortunately, there are many times that we often fill round holes with square pegs. Unfortunately, both the outcome of the job and the person trying to do that job are stifled by the poor fit.
Last night, I had the opportunity to witness the result of a task done by a person whose gifts have been embraced by the commuity and where she has been empowered to use them for God's glory! When Michelle started to share her vision for our church's 50th anniversary party, there were a few skeptics about what she had in mind. But she had a vision and she came up with a plan! Lack of funding didn't hold this woman back! Using her gift of hospitality, she hosted one of the best nights our congregation has ever experienced. She found a way to make it happen and we even raised a little more than a hundred extra dollars to add to our growing "Fuel for the elderly fund."
How wonderful it is when God's gifts are recognized and used for God's glory!
Tuesday, November 01, 2005
Time
My alarm went off at 6AM. Actually, no, if truth were to be told, I forgot to set it. But there I was, wide awake at my usual time... 6AM. One would think that would be plenty of time for someone to ready themselves for work that begins at 8:30.
I think part of the problem is that I really don't want to go to work. I enjoy waking up and spending a few minutes while my dogs greet me with a good morning kiss. They love to lay on the backs while I rub their tummies...a good morning massage.
Then it is off to the kitchen door. Their time outside is usually pretty brief because they know that when they come in, food will be the next item on the agenda. I usually have enough time to make a pot of coffee and pour a bowl of cereal or throw a bagel in the toaster while they are out.
Most times, I am able to fold a load of laundry or put the dishes in the dishwasher away. When my breakfast is done and the girls are finished eating, they know exactly where we are going next. Ginny usually races ahead of me, up the stairs, jumping on my computer chair. She figures it is a good place to be since I always eat my breakfast here while I read my email. The best part for her is when I get interupted and have to leave the room for a moment. When I return, her little face is right in my breakfast dish....oh well, I really didn't want to eat it all anyway.
I don't know what it is about my morning ritual, but the time just seems to slip through my fingers. Like right now...I am already five minutes passed the time that I should be jumping in the shower.
Oh how illusive time is! It seems the more I have, the faster it flows through my hands...not like sand in an hourglass, but more like the rushing water of a Tsunami. As I get older, and my minutes here on earth become fewer and fewer.....why does it seem that time slips away faster and faster?
I think part of the problem is that I really don't want to go to work. I enjoy waking up and spending a few minutes while my dogs greet me with a good morning kiss. They love to lay on the backs while I rub their tummies...a good morning massage.
Then it is off to the kitchen door. Their time outside is usually pretty brief because they know that when they come in, food will be the next item on the agenda. I usually have enough time to make a pot of coffee and pour a bowl of cereal or throw a bagel in the toaster while they are out.
Most times, I am able to fold a load of laundry or put the dishes in the dishwasher away. When my breakfast is done and the girls are finished eating, they know exactly where we are going next. Ginny usually races ahead of me, up the stairs, jumping on my computer chair. She figures it is a good place to be since I always eat my breakfast here while I read my email. The best part for her is when I get interupted and have to leave the room for a moment. When I return, her little face is right in my breakfast dish....oh well, I really didn't want to eat it all anyway.
I don't know what it is about my morning ritual, but the time just seems to slip through my fingers. Like right now...I am already five minutes passed the time that I should be jumping in the shower.
Oh how illusive time is! It seems the more I have, the faster it flows through my hands...not like sand in an hourglass, but more like the rushing water of a Tsunami. As I get older, and my minutes here on earth become fewer and fewer.....why does it seem that time slips away faster and faster?
Friday, October 14, 2005
Smiling Faces?
1.JPG)
January 4, 1975...there is a wedding...ours. We are young, 18 and 19 years old. The final picture in our wedding album is a picture from the car. In it, I am smiling...my husband has this look on his face that says..."What the hell did I just do?"
Fast Forward 30 years. My husband is now 50, I am soon to be 49. We have been blessed with two lovely daughters and four grandchildren.
While the faces have aged over the last thirty years, I can't help but to notice something....you can see it in this picture. There I am with the biggest smile you could see...and there he is... with a face that looks as if he would rather be anywhere else but here.
Can anyone tell me.... "What's up with that?"
Has both our tenuous beginnings and our life together been such a burden? Does he really just hate cameras that bad? I can't say I love cameras that much...but how can you not smile when you are in the midst of such a beautiful family?
Sometimes I feel a million miles away from him and I wonder if that is the way it began and if that is the way it will always be.
Monday, October 10, 2005
True Sacrificial Giving
I have a friend who truly knows how to give all of herself to God. Today we worked together on a project for our church, raising money for fuel for the elderly. She had a box of bears, collector's editions, that she was selling. The price was good for the item, but like at all tag sales people wanted an even bigger break. I could tell she was a bit hesitant to let them go for anything less than she was asking....and when she made the sale she told the woman that they were very special to her. They were her best friend's bears...a woman whom she loved deeply and lost without warning.
I am so blessed to be surrounded by people such as her who are a shining example of the sacrifices that people make in the name of our wonderful God! These bears are a part of the memories of her friend...a link to a loved one. And yet, she is willing to give them up for the work of the kingdom. And the legacy of her friend will now live on as an elderly may receive a gift that will allow them to stay warm during this cold New England winter.
What an awesome thing to witness! God, thank you for your gift to me of such a giving friend.
I am so blessed to be surrounded by people such as her who are a shining example of the sacrifices that people make in the name of our wonderful God! These bears are a part of the memories of her friend...a link to a loved one. And yet, she is willing to give them up for the work of the kingdom. And the legacy of her friend will now live on as an elderly may receive a gift that will allow them to stay warm during this cold New England winter.
What an awesome thing to witness! God, thank you for your gift to me of such a giving friend.
Sunday, October 09, 2005
What I needed to Hear
As the president of a small congregation, I have had to lead our members through a time of great change. It was about a year ago that our Pastor told us that he had decided to accept a call at another congregation. He had been with us almost 11 years...definitely not without conflict, but we had become good friends. When it came to life in the church and the need to define our mission and vision, he was my mentor. Now granted, things weren't always rosey with us as we worked together, but I always felt that I could speak with him in truthful love and vise versa. Now that he is gone, I find that I really miss that comfortable relationship.
We have a new pastor onboard. I have to say that from the start, I have had my doubts. But the congregation approved this call and it is time for me to begin the work of supporting this new pastor as she begins to lead us toward fulfilling our mission and vision. It should be exciting and wonderful... but for me, it isn't.
Instead of an excitement for the future, I see fear. There has been gossip and ugliness that has been the underlying current in this call and I can't seem to steer us clear of it. There are decisions to make that I know are the right thing to do, but decisions none the less that will alienate some members of our congregation that I deeply love. And through it all, I just want to be able to do God's will in all of this.
I spoke with our interim pastor about this after church this AM. As I shared my fear of screwing everything up with what I said and did, he related to me exactly what I needed to hear. That sometimes no matter what you do, there someone will be upset with your decision. But, you must be true to yourself...because it is you that you have to look at in the mirror each and every day.
I remember meeting a lesbian couple awhile ago. Tatooed on one of the women's arms was an armband. Written above that band were the words, "Be true to yourself." They struck me then as very powerful and how wonderful that this woman was able to live out her life as she was without pretending she was anything else. I had forgotten about them and now that I heard them again, I am reminded that ultimately, I must do what I feel is right. I need not get wrapped in the acceptance of others, but must only care if I will accept myself when I wake up the day after making any decision.
And yet, if I am true to myself, where in this is God?
I must never forget that God is deep within my heart. His voice is there to guide me and as long as I know that God is there, I will know that being true to myself is in fact, being true to God.
We have a new pastor onboard. I have to say that from the start, I have had my doubts. But the congregation approved this call and it is time for me to begin the work of supporting this new pastor as she begins to lead us toward fulfilling our mission and vision. It should be exciting and wonderful... but for me, it isn't.
Instead of an excitement for the future, I see fear. There has been gossip and ugliness that has been the underlying current in this call and I can't seem to steer us clear of it. There are decisions to make that I know are the right thing to do, but decisions none the less that will alienate some members of our congregation that I deeply love. And through it all, I just want to be able to do God's will in all of this.
I spoke with our interim pastor about this after church this AM. As I shared my fear of screwing everything up with what I said and did, he related to me exactly what I needed to hear. That sometimes no matter what you do, there someone will be upset with your decision. But, you must be true to yourself...because it is you that you have to look at in the mirror each and every day.
I remember meeting a lesbian couple awhile ago. Tatooed on one of the women's arms was an armband. Written above that band were the words, "Be true to yourself." They struck me then as very powerful and how wonderful that this woman was able to live out her life as she was without pretending she was anything else. I had forgotten about them and now that I heard them again, I am reminded that ultimately, I must do what I feel is right. I need not get wrapped in the acceptance of others, but must only care if I will accept myself when I wake up the day after making any decision.
And yet, if I am true to myself, where in this is God?
I must never forget that God is deep within my heart. His voice is there to guide me and as long as I know that God is there, I will know that being true to myself is in fact, being true to God.
Friday, September 30, 2005
Tonight, I was sitting at the computer, listening to songs and hoping to find the perfect song to choose for a Father and Daughter dance at my parent's 50th anniversary. Imagine, 50 years married, to each other! Not something you see a whole of now a-days, but through thick or thin, they are now celebrating that golden day together in November.
Anyway, as I sat listening to songs, I got an IM from a very good friend who has always lived halfway around the world. Her father passed away this afternoon. Several years ago, she lost her mother too. I cannot imagine losing both of my parents.
Even as I find joy in the celebration of my parent's life together this evening, my thoughts are turned to a friend who is no longer able to talk to, hug or laugh with her parents. May God's peace be with her and her family not only as they go about the preparations for the funeral, but also during the difficult holiday times ahead.
Anyway, as I sat listening to songs, I got an IM from a very good friend who has always lived halfway around the world. Her father passed away this afternoon. Several years ago, she lost her mother too. I cannot imagine losing both of my parents.
Even as I find joy in the celebration of my parent's life together this evening, my thoughts are turned to a friend who is no longer able to talk to, hug or laugh with her parents. May God's peace be with her and her family not only as they go about the preparations for the funeral, but also during the difficult holiday times ahead.
Friday, September 23, 2005
It has been so wonderful to get away from the everyday stresses of life. All of the responsibilities that I have had to endure recently have weighed heavily on my shoulders. The least of which is the loss of income to our household.
This time away would not have been possible without the generosity of my brother and sister in law. They have treated me to a couple of nights in Cincinnati where we went to the Zoo and to the Aquarium. They have provided me with refuge and food in their home and have even given me a new pair of shoes. How can I ever thank them for the gifts I have received.
My thanks are to God who has opened their hearts to my need.
I wonder...Lord, how can I now serve others in gratitude for the things that I have received?
This time away would not have been possible without the generosity of my brother and sister in law. They have treated me to a couple of nights in Cincinnati where we went to the Zoo and to the Aquarium. They have provided me with refuge and food in their home and have even given me a new pair of shoes. How can I ever thank them for the gifts I have received.
My thanks are to God who has opened their hearts to my need.
I wonder...Lord, how can I now serve others in gratitude for the things that I have received?
Sunday, September 18, 2005
Struggling with Understanding
I went to see a friend tonight who is dying, most likely, of cancer - brain, stomach, and lungs. He looked like hell - eyes sunk into sockets painted black, pastey white complextion, and has lost 38 pounds in two and a half weeks - cancer is truly evil. In my religion, I know God is not behind disease, but logic sometimes takes a backseat to the question of "WHY?" I just want to have the most unchristian temper tantrum. I want to scream obscenities at God and use Him for a punching bag...I know He understands and is not mad at me, which sort of intensifies the anger.
Earlier today, my husband and I made spaghetti sauce, all ingredients from our garden. We took it to a family about to face a horrible trama - daddy is having his leg amputated on the 28th. This is man is in his 30's, married, two young girls, and a severe diabetic. He already has lost all his toes on the other foot. He cries because he can not get out and play with his daughters, because he can not be the father he dreams of being. Obvioulsy, I have had an emotionally tramatic day.
I also miss my two friends, who are, by now, in West Virginia. They have family there - one has her son, wife, and two granddaughters and the other, her brother. I wish them a terrific vacation - they deserve some good times.
Well, good night world, tomorrow brings more, hopefully better days lie ahead.
Earlier today, my husband and I made spaghetti sauce, all ingredients from our garden. We took it to a family about to face a horrible trama - daddy is having his leg amputated on the 28th. This is man is in his 30's, married, two young girls, and a severe diabetic. He already has lost all his toes on the other foot. He cries because he can not get out and play with his daughters, because he can not be the father he dreams of being. Obvioulsy, I have had an emotionally tramatic day.
I also miss my two friends, who are, by now, in West Virginia. They have family there - one has her son, wife, and two granddaughters and the other, her brother. I wish them a terrific vacation - they deserve some good times.
Well, good night world, tomorrow brings more, hopefully better days lie ahead.
Friday, September 16, 2005
Home Sweet Home
Stay home? Oh dear - home sweet home - cleaning, cooking, washing, phone, family worries, fun with Bill, and church work...sure, why not stay home, sounds like a lot of fun (wiseass smirk) Naw, this disorganized week will pay off once you reach your destination - a week with your brother, his wife, and kids. and your mom - life doesn't get sweeter. And, if the work office blows up, so be it...life will be sweeter, and the clean-up made easier by the memories you are about to creat - go, have fun, life will go on, and you can worry about life's clean-up when you get back!!!! May your journey be filled with memory creating materials that will bring smiles to your heart on your worse day at work!
Wednesday, September 14, 2005
Drop Dead Tired
This week is a killer for some reason.
With meetings on Monday and Tuesday, Bowling on Thursday and a wedding on Friday, there is little time for rest and relaxation.
Well what about Wednesday, you ask? Let's see, write two articles for our newsletter, review a congregational budget, try to plan all the things I need to do before the special congregational meeting on the second and, .. oh yeah, I forgot...Pack my bags for a week's vacation!
Now shouldn't this be a joyous thing? But no, being drop dead tired, I can't decide what the heck I want to bring. I don't know what the weather will be like, I can't fit into most of the clothes I would love to bring, the dog ate my shoes, and I can't forget that damnable machine that helps me breathe at night. (Oh yeah, and I must remember to transfer the maps to the truck that I will be driving and to update my laptop's files before I go.)
How sad that life can be like that! How sad that the planning for a much needed vacation is so tiring that by the time I actually leave...I will need two vacations!
Oh yeah...and I won't even think about what things will be like at the office when I return... On second thought... maybe I should just stay home?
With meetings on Monday and Tuesday, Bowling on Thursday and a wedding on Friday, there is little time for rest and relaxation.
Well what about Wednesday, you ask? Let's see, write two articles for our newsletter, review a congregational budget, try to plan all the things I need to do before the special congregational meeting on the second and, .. oh yeah, I forgot...Pack my bags for a week's vacation!
Now shouldn't this be a joyous thing? But no, being drop dead tired, I can't decide what the heck I want to bring. I don't know what the weather will be like, I can't fit into most of the clothes I would love to bring, the dog ate my shoes, and I can't forget that damnable machine that helps me breathe at night. (Oh yeah, and I must remember to transfer the maps to the truck that I will be driving and to update my laptop's files before I go.)
How sad that life can be like that! How sad that the planning for a much needed vacation is so tiring that by the time I actually leave...I will need two vacations!
Oh yeah...and I won't even think about what things will be like at the office when I return... On second thought... maybe I should just stay home?
Tuesday, September 13, 2005
guilt and commentment
Guilt - a gift of our "horned" serpent. Each parent throughout the ages has instilled the concept of guilt into their children - "who did it?" a question Adam and Even never had to ask Cain when he killed his brother; however, seems parents need to know the answer - so guilt is a primary factor, seemingly simple in a family, but a huge delimna within social factors, due to the stigma of guilt instilled in most of us during childhood - thus the "pass the buck" syndrome. So, I am not surprised at the guilt syndrome (blame game) being played out regarding New Orleans. No one wants to take the fall; no one wants to lose their postion - it is childhood conditioning in action.
Sunday, September 11, 2005
Commitment
I sometimes wonder why it is so darn hard for us to commit ourselves to things. As president of our congregation, one of my jobs is to schedule council meetings. During those meetings, we take time to build relationships among the members, participate in a learning process and then tend to the business of being the church.
People really do want to serve, but try to get 11 people all together on one day of the week! Times aren't like they used to be with parents home with their children on weekday evenings. Now that both parents work, all activities occur during those times. Who can find time to meet when you are bringing your children to scouting meetings, dance classes, sports events or simply spending much needed time with family? As their leader, I am always wondering....Is it unfair to expect people to meet yet one more night? What other ways can we bring people together that will make it less of a burden to them?
Yet, when I look at Jesus' call to his disciples...he expected so much more! Jesus said, "Follow me." It meant giving up everything and following. Once, when someone asked Jesus to give him time to bury his father, Jesus said, "Let the dead bury the dead." Is the call to discipleship today just as compelling as it was so many years ago?
And what of the burden? Jesus calls us to carry our crosses for his sake...and again...take up a yoke with Jesus...for the burden is light when shared with God. Why is it that we seem to want to forget this part?
To what ministry is Jesus really calling us?
People really do want to serve, but try to get 11 people all together on one day of the week! Times aren't like they used to be with parents home with their children on weekday evenings. Now that both parents work, all activities occur during those times. Who can find time to meet when you are bringing your children to scouting meetings, dance classes, sports events or simply spending much needed time with family? As their leader, I am always wondering....Is it unfair to expect people to meet yet one more night? What other ways can we bring people together that will make it less of a burden to them?
Yet, when I look at Jesus' call to his disciples...he expected so much more! Jesus said, "Follow me." It meant giving up everything and following. Once, when someone asked Jesus to give him time to bury his father, Jesus said, "Let the dead bury the dead." Is the call to discipleship today just as compelling as it was so many years ago?
And what of the burden? Jesus calls us to carry our crosses for his sake...and again...take up a yoke with Jesus...for the burden is light when shared with God. Why is it that we seem to want to forget this part?
To what ministry is Jesus really calling us?
Friday, September 09, 2005
The Blame Game
Ever since the beginning of time, the blame game has been played. God asked Adam and Eve, how did you know you were naked? The game began! Adam said, "It was the woman YOU gave me. She made me eat of the fruit." Eve said, "It was the serpant."
Today, in the wake of the inept response of the government to serve people devastated by floods, the blame game continues. "It is the Federal government's fault." "It is the state government's fault." "It is the local government's fault." "It is the people's own fault."
Have we not yet learned that we are all at fault in some way?
The good news is that God removed Adam and Eve from the garden so they would not eat of the tree of life...lest we would have to live on this earth to play the blame game forever and ever.
Today, in the wake of the inept response of the government to serve people devastated by floods, the blame game continues. "It is the Federal government's fault." "It is the state government's fault." "It is the local government's fault." "It is the people's own fault."
Have we not yet learned that we are all at fault in some way?
The good news is that God removed Adam and Eve from the garden so they would not eat of the tree of life...lest we would have to live on this earth to play the blame game forever and ever.
Wednesday, September 07, 2005
The Sorrowing Monster
So many questions - answers, if any, change daily. I think the world has been exposed to the illness within the monster, and the monster turned out to be no threat after all. Well, maybe it is - maybe its threats to war and kill, but within itself, the monster fails. Lost in its external show-off status, always the bigger and better, and powerful, it has lost its own self, its life anorexic. Now the monster is frighten, blaming external forces for its own lack of care, exposing even more its withered underbelly.
Saturday, September 03, 2005
Giving and Receiving
God has given us such precious gifts...the gift of God's own son, the gift of eternal life, and the gift of the promise of God's kingdom present in the here and now. Can we graciously receive that which God has given us and isn't it time that we begin to graciously give back to God?
Yesterday, I was thinking about an old saying, "It is better to give than to receive." I realized that this old adage is part of today's attitude problems. In a society that uplifts power and wealth, the ability to give is associated with being successful. Having to receive is associated with the lack of success. I wonder how this plays out today when thousands of people are now out of work and homeless due to the hurricanes.
How difficult will it be for people to receive the gifts given by so many? How difficult will it be for the leaders of this nation who believe we are the strongest and the best to receive gifts from the world?
Do we give because it makes us feel important? Do we look down on those who give? Will our attitudes make it difficult for others to receive with their heads held high? I wonder if being a gracious giver, with no strings attached, from the motive of pure love, will help us to be gracious receivers in our time of need?
God has given us so many precious gifts...the gift of God's own son, the gift of eternal life, and the gift of the promise of God's kingdom present in the here and now. How can we graciously use that which God has given and isn't it time that we begin to graciously give back to God?
Yesterday, I was thinking about an old saying, "It is better to give than to receive." I realized that this old adage is part of today's attitude problems. In a society that uplifts power and wealth, the ability to give is associated with being successful. Having to receive is associated with the lack of success. I wonder how this plays out today when thousands of people are now out of work and homeless due to the hurricanes.
How difficult will it be for people to receive the gifts given by so many? How difficult will it be for the leaders of this nation who believe we are the strongest and the best to receive gifts from the world?
Do we give because it makes us feel important? Do we look down on those who give? Will our attitudes make it difficult for others to receive with their heads held high? I wonder if being a gracious giver, with no strings attached, from the motive of pure love, will help us to be gracious receivers in our time of need?
God has given us so many precious gifts...the gift of God's own son, the gift of eternal life, and the gift of the promise of God's kingdom present in the here and now. How can we graciously use that which God has given and isn't it time that we begin to graciously give back to God?
Wednesday, August 31, 2005
I have always wondered
Lately, I have heard an awful lot about blogging....and I started to wonder if I wanted to try it myself. Then a little LuLu came along and started her own blog...invited me to take a peek. What a neat way to ramble with words! Maybe I will enjoy it too!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)