coloring

So Much

Since hearing about the post-election conflict in Kenya, there is one image from several years ago that has been springing to mind.  An eight-year old grinning boy named Peter walking a new-to-him bike up and down the street.  Peter had just been given an old beat up bicycle that most of us would toss to the curb.  He couldn't even pedal it as the chain was broken, but Peter didn't care.  He had a bike.  And he loved it.

Peter and his family lived a couple doors down from us at seminary.  My whole neighborhood was mostly international students; there were only a few American families in my section.  Since arriving from Kenya to live in their tiny townhouse, their family had furnished the home with castoffs and freebies from other students.  The children wore clean but mismatched clothes everyday to school.  The family was so grateful for all the gifts they had been given.

My friend Bonnie and I volunteered with a ministry that offered day old bread to seminary students.  We traveled from grocery store to grocery store picking up bread and pastries destined for the garbage bin, threw away all the moldy items, and shelved the rest.  As a benefit, we were given first pick of the day old offerings.  I thought we were above eating this food, but we were cash poor and needed it.  Bonnie and I worked the store and helped families bag their items.  The international students were so grateful for the food, thanking us and showing excitement over doughnuts and cake.  I gulped down a little nausea each time I bit into our bread.  My family vowed we would never eat day old bread as soon as we could afford it.

I will never forget the look of joy and gratefulness from those who have so little.

"Where you live should not decide
Whether you live or whether you die" - U2

Open

Last night we had the luxury of sleeping with the windows open.  (I always envision myself throwing back the shutters of an old-world window in France or Italy and stepping out onto an iron-railed balcony to gaze at the cafe-lined street full of life, vibrancy and action, but...you didn't want to know that.)  There's something invigorating about a cool breeze gently tugging at my hair and the pungent earthy smell outside my window.  It speaks to me of hope, possibilities, and new beginnings.  The open window is a small reminder of an open tomb half a world away and two thousand years ago.

Every time we open our windows, may we be reminded of Hope.

Picture found on flickr by claudecf.

Robb's Favorite Christmas Card We Received

Naked Writing

I find myself to be distracted and completely uninspired when sitting in front of my laptop.  It's a little too easy to click over to google reader and see what everyone is saying or check my e-mail in case something important has transpired.  When I took my writing class in the fall, my teacher suggested we write the old-fashioned way with pen and paper.  I have found that simple change to be very freeing and helps me to focus on my words.

My friend Renee enlightened me to the fact that many writers feel more inspired and less distracted when they write naked.  Yes, she said naked.  I won't be incorporating that writing tool into my life any time soon, but I have to say I love the simplicity of the idea.  To write at my best is to connect with the vulnerable parts of myself and expose them to the world.  It is the ultimate form of honesty.

In case you are still scratching your head wondering who would actually write naked, here are a few examples.  Victor Hugo, Ernest Hemingway, and Benjamin Franklin to name just a few. 

Baby Steps

I don't write about politics often on my blog because it is very polarizing.  Apparently I am doing it anyway.  I am not surprised that Hillary had a poor showing in the Iowa Caucus yesterday.  I have been saying that I don't believe the country will elect a female for President.  Not ever just not yet.  As soon as I say this, my friends get very offended.  That statement is not a discussion of the merit of women in leadership just an observation about our country.  It was just in 1997 that Madeline Albright became Secretary of State and became the highest ranking female at the time in our government.  Whenever we have an election, the political pundits exclaim, "America wants change!"  Honestly, I think America likes very little change and in small doses only.

Just for the Fun of It

If you need a good chuckle, go watch this short film about a guy who breaks all ten commandments before breakfast.  Thanks, Kelly, for the link.

The Gift of Empty Spaces

I wanted to share these beautiful words from Red Barn.

This gift (empty spaces) takes me down a path I may not have chosen otherwise: emptiness, brokenness, darkness, without-ness.  The invitation is there, I have only to cross the threshold.  And I am discovering that there are layers to this threshold, layers of emptiness and brokenness to live through.  Perhaps this is what John the Baptist spoke of when he said, “Prepare the way.”  What if prepare isn’t about pulling out all the Christmas boxes from the attic or basement in order to get the house just right or about baking up a storm but rather it’s about emptying, being without, getting rid of, all in order to make room?  Could it be that it’s in the empty spaces and brokenness where there’s room for Emmanuel to be born?

“You hollow us out, God,

so that we may carry you,

and you endlessly fill us

only to be emptied again.

Make smooth our inward spaces

and sturdy,

that we may hold you

with less resistance

and bear you

with deeper grace.”

-Jan Richardson, Night Visions

Merry Christmas

Work of Christmas Begins

When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with the flocks,
then the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
to make a little music with the heart…

And to radiate the Light of Christ,
every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.
Then the work of Christmas begins.

-- Howard Thurman, adapted

posted originally last Christmas

Work of Christmas Begins

When the song of the angels is stilled,
when the star in the sky is gone,
when the kings and princes are home,
when the shepherds are back with the flocks,
then the work of Christmas begins:
to find the lost,
to heal those broken in spirit,
to feed the hungry,
to release the oppressed,
to rebuild the nations,
to bring peace among all peoples,
to make a little music with the heart…

And to radiate the Light of Christ,
every day, in every way, in all that we do and in all that we say.
Then the work of Christmas begins.

-- Howard Thurman, adapted

posted originally last Christmas

Vacation Thoughts

Friday morning I rolled out of bed before the sun peeked over the horizon, squirmed into my bathing suit, brushed my teeth, and strolled down the street with my family to the dive shop.  Pulling on my wetsuit was more difficult than pulling up pantyhose and a lot more frightening.  I might have hyperventilated a little as I stood there feeling naked and exposed in my second skin (and a little claustrophobic too).  I made a conscious decision to stop worrying about how I looked and to focus on the opportuntity to swim with manatees in their natural habitat.

Our captain did not make the usual "where is everybody from" tourist banter on the way to the snorkel site.  She was completely unconcerned with making clever jokes or working us for higher tips.  Her face lit up as she shared her love for the manatees recounting stories and facts.  After calling us out of the water so we could move to the second location, our boat was swarmed with manatees.  We ended up leaving late with little time to snorkel at our next stop since she was overcome with excitement and slid back into the water for a second chance to frolic with these gentle and curious creatures.  We were the last boat back to the dock, and she said with genuine fervor, "I don't know about you guys, but I had an incredible day." 

She inspired me.  She does this every day, but she hasn't lost her zeal for the manatees.   One of the things I love about vacation is learning from people and experiences.  She taught me about passion, wonder, and joy.

Not Patting Ourselves on the Back...Just Awed by God

Robb and I just had our annual church planting assessment.  I must say that we had a great time at our assessment as we were able to celebrate all that God has done this past year.  Last year we moved to Norfolk.  On our last Sunday in Virginia Beach, Robb told everyone that they were not invited to move with us; they needed to be called.  It was bleak at the beginning of the year as we lost a lot of people, went a while without getting paid and found ourselves working three days a week to reno the warehouse which lacked heat. 

Since that time, we did two art shows with the purpose of beginning spiritual conversations with artists and art-lovers in the community and merged our church with another church plant that met three blocks away.  As a result of connections through the art show, it looks like we will be renting our space to writers and artists for various classes and workshops.  Robb may even teach a songwriting workshop through one of the groups.

Symphonic just hired a pastor to a nearby neighborhood that struggles with racial divides, poverty, and literacy problems to just name a few issues.  Josh and Laura will be serving in a missionary-type capacity and will help connect people at Symphonic and other churches to the needs in this area.  I love that during a season of growth the leadership is looking to serve the community and not hiring a pastor to serve us.

Wow!  What a year!

My Seeping Brain, Google, and South of the Border

• I am frustrated with all the knowledge that has been seeping from my brain over the years.  In an attempt to curb that pattern, I started subscribing to French Word-a-Day.  I was at a loss as to how to brush up on my language skills.  I could take a class, but would I have to start back at French 101?
• Google has started recommending blogs to me.  The top three choices that I am not reading are Tim Stevens, Church Marketing Sucks, and Dave Ferguson.  If Google would start recommending what I should make for dinner, that would be helpful.
• I leave this afternoon for Orlando, and there is absolutely no stress in my house.  Weird!  Normally there is a flurry of activity going on last minute.  Did we prepare well or did I forget something important?  We are driving, and anyone who has driven I-95 to Florida knows that there are at least 247 signs advertising South of the Border.  I thought it would be fun to actually stop there with the kids for a photo-op.  I figure what's the point of driving if we don't enjoy the drive.

Shining Down

Living one winter in Grand Rapids taught me an important lesson.  I don't appreciate the simple things in life until they are gone.  The sun did not shine for the whole winter, and I missed it terribly.  There is something about basking in the sun's rays that is luxuriant and indulgent, and I don't want to let today pass without thanking God for a beautiful open the windows kind of day.

On a more trivial note, good fortune shone on me yesterday.  I drew the best number during a "dirty Santa" gift exchange, and I walked away with the best present there.  It will be in my son's Christmas stocking.  I almost feel guilty. :)

I went to Wal-Mart with the sole purpose of picking up two items.  Of course, I ended up with four, but I digress.  The lines were horrendously long, so I opted for the self-checkout lane.  I have never used the self-checkout lane, but I wanted to save time.  I scanned my items, bagged, and paid.  When I returned home, I rifled through my bag only to discover I had two items.  Of course, they weren't the two things I really needed.  I checked the car in hopes of finding that they slipped onto the floor .  I called Wal-Mart.  So after my second trip to Wal-Mart to pick up the items I purchased on my first trip, I didn't save any time.

In this season of Advent, it leaves me wondering if I should cherish opportunities of waiting and give myself permission to slow down.

Photo by MacWagen

No Safety Net Required

My friend made herself extremely vulnerable a few weeks ago in church.  She shared something personal and unflattering about herself during God Talks.  She didn't neatly sew it up, no happy little ending.  It wasn't inspiring; it was an honest confession.  Honesty may be liberating, but I think I require a safety net because real authenticity feels like jumping off a cliff to me.  It would have been difficult enough to have been this transparent with a few of my closest friends surrounded by love, compassion, and mutual trust.  I walked away from that worship gathering encouraged by her obedience and boldness and challenged to rethink my need for a safety net.

"i hope that everybody can find a little flame
me, i say my prayers
then i just light myself on fire
and i walk out on the wire once again" - Counting Crows

Like Father, Like Daughter

The Nativity Story

Our family watched the movie "The Nativity Story," and we truly enjoyed it.  There was a lot of pausing to explain things to my daughter, and it sparked a great family conversation.  It moved me in a way that I didn't anticipate.  It's a story we have heard so often that it's easy to forget how spectacular and how difficult it was.  Putting flesh and bones to familiar words helped me to see things in a new light and gave me a new love for the nativity story. 

A Twist on Christmas Gifts

We are forgoing presents in lieu of a family trip to Orlando.  Family members are purchasing tickets to various parks, and we are using my sister-in-law's timeshare.  Robb and I both value experiences and find them more enriching than most gifts, and the memories we make together last forever.  An added bonus:  no more gifts that go unused collecting dust in the closet. 

The kids still want the excitement and anticipation of opening gifts on Christmas morn, so my daughter had two great suggestions.  We drew names and are responsible for purchasing a book for one person.  Any suggestions for books I should read?  I love books that challenge, inspire, make me think, and change me in some way as a result of reading.

We are also going to do one handmade gift for everybody in the family.  The most exciting part will be seeing the creativity that results.  If you are not into homemade gifts, you might enjoy buying handmade this season as an alternative. Here's a list compiled by Magpie Girl.  I would love to put together a list of local crafters and artists.  You can leave me an e-mail or a comment with suggestions to include for a future post.

Anybody want to share ideas for a unique and memorable Christmas experience?

New Music Alert

Jon Foreman of Switchfoot just released a solo EP.  It's comprised of six songs that were more mellow than what the band usually plays.  There will be a release to correspond with each season.  You can find Fall here for only $5.  (HT: Daley Hake)

Simple Can Speak Volumes

"The focus is Jesus not the meeting about Jesus."

One of the many comments I have heard from Ron and/or Robb concerning the Symphonic vision.  Maybe they should add a list of this and similar comments to the website that express the heart of Symphonic?

True Significance

I am often frustrated by the fact that I am good at several things but great at nothing.  Maybe to be great is to be divine.  In my mortality, I should stop pursuing greatness and pursue God's greatness.