coloring

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.