"The big kids went with their mom to shop for school clothes. Which means Anna gets to do what ever she wants--she's finishing off YOUR potato stix." The reply, "That sounds about right!"
This was the texts between my husband & I yesterday.
School starts for our grandchildren tomorrow! A second grader and a kindergartner--at least one of them is excited! They have an amazing mommy. She planned the whole day as an outing especially for the three them-including lunch at one of their favorite non-fast food restaurants! Precious! One of my favorite things about this is that when they returned to our house, I got to see the runway performance of what cute elementary school kids are wearing to school this year! LOVE it!
Another favorite thing was the time I got to spend with Anna (all by myself, you see, she has quite a population of aunts and grandparents)--she is funny because she's not yet two! I handed her a cookie and I stood there amazed because of her prompt and correct "Thank You!"--music to my ears.
During Sunday's sermon about prayer, the point was made that we are to approach our Heavenly Father as a little child...As I think of Anna this morning, I have a sweet visual illustration for the sermon notes!
Sometimes I feel like her in MY Father's presence. Because she is so young, her vocabulary is limited. Because I am small compared to God, my vocabulary, in His presence, is limited, or it should be! Anna walked toward the front door, and because I know her, I helped her open the door and we went outside to consider the rocks, the driveway, and the trees--at one point we considered the view of the traffic passing by--but mostly it was a quiet 'knowing' moment. No words--or basic words of communication just content to feel the breeze on our faces and the view of the leaves swaying in our sight. Just enjoying our time together, the two of us. Precious. There are no other words to describe--and yet somehow thankful comes to mind as another word to use!
This is how we should approach Our God, the Creator of Heaven & Earth...the One Who IS Mighty to Save--yet knows how many hairs are on my head!--a small child filled with wonder over the smallest detail! a small child, just to sit in His presence--feeling a sense of comfort, contentment and joy! a small child, not really knowing the words to use, but knowing that the One Who knows my heart's desire and wants to bless me with good things! a small child wandering around this world but doing it with the assurance that God has promised never to leave me or forsake me--indeed, He will accompany me outside the confines of my comfort zone and into a rich new world of life experiences!
I love the ways that we can learn about God through our every day life experiences--if we are looking to learn! Teach me, O God--for I truly want to learn through this experience today, and always!
Tuesday, August 13, 2013
Wednesday, August 7, 2013
Happy Birthday, Cailyn!
Babies, especially newborn babies, there is nothing quite like their little sounds and gentle movements. They are fascinating to watch. They bring with them such awe and wonder. I love their little stretches, their facial expressions and their precious newborn smell.
Our oldest baby was about three weeks old when I figured out that the back of my neck was actually sore from just holding her, and looking at her constantly--but such a good kind of pain--for she was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. Then, four days later, her cousin was born, and we had two beautiful babies to enjoy. These two baby girls are all grown up now, having babies of their own,
It is true, the babies in our family are all the most beautiful I have ever seen. Isn't that the truth, every mom or grandma, or aunt or great aunt, thinks their babies are the most beautiful...this is as it should be, for if you told the truth, you would say the same.
I think when we welcome, celebrate and rejoice when babies are born, we are acting from a place of profound hope. The birth stories we share concerning our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews...are sacred--because these babies give us a place in history--this particular time and this place.
Today, I am feeling hopeful, because today, our family will grow because of baby being born!
Today, this day, our niece will have deliver her third baby. Happy Birthday, Cailyn Grace!!! She is being welcomed by her big brother, Clay, her big sister, Carsyn and her mom & dad--along with her grandparents, and her aunts and uncles. She already is so blessed to be a part of such a family who already love her. I love that we are counted among extended family members. I do not like that we live in another state and we will not get to meet her right away. I love that there is technology available, though, so we will be able to see her right away!
We choose whether we want to have babies or not. If we choose not to, we certainly have much time to do 'other things'--and that is fine. When we choose to have babies, though, our lives somehow simultaneously slow down in order to enjoy, and speed up in order to get it all done!
Through our children we learn a different perspective about life, don't we? We have a better discernment, hopefully, for the truly important things in life. I have learned my most valuable life-lessons because we have children. Not that my children have taught me everything, but the experience of parenting, itself, has been an amazing educational process. There are the extremes, happiness, joy, laughter and hilarious stories to tell, re-tell and enjoy.
There are the terrifying things, like illness, driver's permits, waiting in the moments when they are late for curfew...sending them out the door on their first sleep over when they are 6 or 7, and then again, when they go 'out' with friends in a car for the first time. There are sad moments, like when they don't make the "team", or they feel their best friend betrayed them--or their boyfriend has stopped calling. There are questioning moments like when the plumber has to pull the toilet, only to find that a cassette tape has been mysteriously flushed. OR, when two little girls come in squealing about their new 'pet bird'...and they have actually roped a little bird with kite string--we still do not know how that happened. There are ER visits for stitches and doctor visits for high fever. There are sleepless nights--for all kinds of reasons. There are contented sleep-filled nights, too, though like when the entire family is under one roof contentedly sleeping.
Another lesson to learn is how to tell a great story. For example, stories about family members are great for our kids to hear. When we turn good memories of our family members that have gone on before us into children's stories, we have given our children a sense of belonging, and a sense of their place in family history. These stories are sacred to our families and should be told and re-told.
Yes, having children is a gift, but a gift that comes with great responsibility to help them find their identity and place in their family and within this world, as well. Do it well...with passion and purpose...but do it well!
Our oldest baby was about three weeks old when I figured out that the back of my neck was actually sore from just holding her, and looking at her constantly--but such a good kind of pain--for she was the most beautiful baby I had ever seen. Then, four days later, her cousin was born, and we had two beautiful babies to enjoy. These two baby girls are all grown up now, having babies of their own,
It is true, the babies in our family are all the most beautiful I have ever seen. Isn't that the truth, every mom or grandma, or aunt or great aunt, thinks their babies are the most beautiful...this is as it should be, for if you told the truth, you would say the same.
I think when we welcome, celebrate and rejoice when babies are born, we are acting from a place of profound hope. The birth stories we share concerning our children, grandchildren, nieces and nephews...are sacred--because these babies give us a place in history--this particular time and this place.
Today, I am feeling hopeful, because today, our family will grow because of baby being born!
Today, this day, our niece will have deliver her third baby. Happy Birthday, Cailyn Grace!!! She is being welcomed by her big brother, Clay, her big sister, Carsyn and her mom & dad--along with her grandparents, and her aunts and uncles. She already is so blessed to be a part of such a family who already love her. I love that we are counted among extended family members. I do not like that we live in another state and we will not get to meet her right away. I love that there is technology available, though, so we will be able to see her right away!
We choose whether we want to have babies or not. If we choose not to, we certainly have much time to do 'other things'--and that is fine. When we choose to have babies, though, our lives somehow simultaneously slow down in order to enjoy, and speed up in order to get it all done!
Through our children we learn a different perspective about life, don't we? We have a better discernment, hopefully, for the truly important things in life. I have learned my most valuable life-lessons because we have children. Not that my children have taught me everything, but the experience of parenting, itself, has been an amazing educational process. There are the extremes, happiness, joy, laughter and hilarious stories to tell, re-tell and enjoy.
There are the terrifying things, like illness, driver's permits, waiting in the moments when they are late for curfew...sending them out the door on their first sleep over when they are 6 or 7, and then again, when they go 'out' with friends in a car for the first time. There are sad moments, like when they don't make the "team", or they feel their best friend betrayed them--or their boyfriend has stopped calling. There are questioning moments like when the plumber has to pull the toilet, only to find that a cassette tape has been mysteriously flushed. OR, when two little girls come in squealing about their new 'pet bird'...and they have actually roped a little bird with kite string--we still do not know how that happened. There are ER visits for stitches and doctor visits for high fever. There are sleepless nights--for all kinds of reasons. There are contented sleep-filled nights, too, though like when the entire family is under one roof contentedly sleeping.
Another lesson to learn is how to tell a great story. For example, stories about family members are great for our kids to hear. When we turn good memories of our family members that have gone on before us into children's stories, we have given our children a sense of belonging, and a sense of their place in family history. These stories are sacred to our families and should be told and re-told.
Yes, having children is a gift, but a gift that comes with great responsibility to help them find their identity and place in their family and within this world, as well. Do it well...with passion and purpose...but do it well!
Thursday, August 1, 2013
Hope in MY Waiting...
I have been dreaming of a week-long retreat of solitude for a few years. You know the kind. Going off by myself to contemplate life, write and read and relax. I do not know if this is a selfish goal, or one that, because I feel it would be good for my soul, would help me become a better person.
As I think about it, a week in a monastery, while it might be the ticket to make this dream come true, might not work out in real life too well. If you know me you know that I can be loud, and strange things/happening make me laugh out loud, so I might disrupt the peaceful rhythm of a place of intentional quiet retreat.
As I am now two weeks past my surgery, I want to share a story with you. Looking back, the days seem to run together, I have begun to call them "day ?" after the surgery. I had many sweet and precious visitors while I was "in."
I realized around "day 7" that I had sort of experienced a week of solitude. My time, of course, was spent recuperating. However, I began to purposefully recount the unanticipated ways that I experienced the love of God through those around me, and within the "quietness" of my room, tethered to my beloved IV pole.
On day 4, a dear friend and her sweet little girl brought me a beautiful bouquet of lavender and lilies from their own garden--so simple and so beautiful. I chose to set this bouquet on an elevated shelf, so that I could enjoy them when I 'looked up.'
For me, day 6 was the most difficult day to experience. As I prepared to go to sleep that evening I was pretty weepy, uncomfortable, and somewhat frustrated at my 'progress'...I thought my body should have been farther along in the healing process than it was, and I could not go home. But watch, this is the fun part...
As I went to bed that night, I looked up at my flowers, and the beautiful yellow flowers had all closed up and wilted...some had even fallen onto the floor. That pretty much was how I felt, too. I prayed for a little while and fell asleep.
When I woke up on the morning of day 7, I felt great physically. I asked for coffee right away, and as I waited for it, I looked up. The most amazing thing: two beautiful yellow lilies had opened up...the bouquet was restored to the way it looked just a few days before. Somehow, that gave me so much hope. I think of the oil of joy or beauty from ashes...bad attitude to good attitude...a selfish spirit traded for a heart of gratitude...
I was also reminded of a text that I had received from a dear friend that lives far away from me, "God sees you, and He loves you!" God is not the lilies, but I think that because they opened up for my eyes to "see" I felt such comfort and peace, knowing that God had made those flowers for His pleasure, but on this particular morning, I got to experience that same pleasure. And, reassurance of His love for me, and the fact that He truly does see me in every way! I love that about Him!
As I think about it, a week in a monastery, while it might be the ticket to make this dream come true, might not work out in real life too well. If you know me you know that I can be loud, and strange things/happening make me laugh out loud, so I might disrupt the peaceful rhythm of a place of intentional quiet retreat.
As I am now two weeks past my surgery, I want to share a story with you. Looking back, the days seem to run together, I have begun to call them "day ?" after the surgery. I had many sweet and precious visitors while I was "in."
I realized around "day 7" that I had sort of experienced a week of solitude. My time, of course, was spent recuperating. However, I began to purposefully recount the unanticipated ways that I experienced the love of God through those around me, and within the "quietness" of my room, tethered to my beloved IV pole.
On day 4, a dear friend and her sweet little girl brought me a beautiful bouquet of lavender and lilies from their own garden--so simple and so beautiful. I chose to set this bouquet on an elevated shelf, so that I could enjoy them when I 'looked up.'
For me, day 6 was the most difficult day to experience. As I prepared to go to sleep that evening I was pretty weepy, uncomfortable, and somewhat frustrated at my 'progress'...I thought my body should have been farther along in the healing process than it was, and I could not go home. But watch, this is the fun part...
As I went to bed that night, I looked up at my flowers, and the beautiful yellow flowers had all closed up and wilted...some had even fallen onto the floor. That pretty much was how I felt, too. I prayed for a little while and fell asleep.
When I woke up on the morning of day 7, I felt great physically. I asked for coffee right away, and as I waited for it, I looked up. The most amazing thing: two beautiful yellow lilies had opened up...the bouquet was restored to the way it looked just a few days before. Somehow, that gave me so much hope. I think of the oil of joy or beauty from ashes...bad attitude to good attitude...a selfish spirit traded for a heart of gratitude...
I was also reminded of a text that I had received from a dear friend that lives far away from me, "God sees you, and He loves you!" God is not the lilies, but I think that because they opened up for my eyes to "see" I felt such comfort and peace, knowing that God had made those flowers for His pleasure, but on this particular morning, I got to experience that same pleasure. And, reassurance of His love for me, and the fact that He truly does see me in every way! I love that about Him!
Wednesday, July 31, 2013
Will YOU Ponder These Questions?
With your permission, may I ask some questions? Are you curious about any of these things?
What is a good question? Is the ability to ask good questions natural?
When we meet someone new, where do we begin with questions? Should they be of a personal nature, or more broad?
Who do we know that is a really good person? What makes them good? What makes them really good?
What does a good life look like? How do we get a good life?
How should we think about politics, politicians and political policy?
Should we be activists or pacifists? Which is best, or is that a moment by moment decision?
What about economic growth or decline of our country/world? What should we hope to see that politicians can actually do to stimulate economic growth?
Is the answer a larger minimum wage? Or, is it bringing jobs back to America?
Does it have anything to do with the Immigration Reform laws?
Is funding for ObamaCare something of an answer to all our woes? Did anyone on the planet ever actually read the entire ObamaCare document when it was passed in to law? What are the consequences of shutting down our government? Is it easy? Is it difficult? Are the ones that are arguing both sides really there for the people, or for their own political gain/position?
Does the average American really care who is running in "fourth place" in the NY Mayoral race? Should we care? Was Huma really humiliated? Or, was the whole mess calculated, in advance, as a part of some political machine that she and her husband are putting together for the future? If a female political figure conducted themselves in a ways that "Anthony & Bill, and many others" have conducted themselves, would there be a blip in the press, or a full blown scandal?
Is it important for me to 'do' anything about any of the answers to the previous questions?
What is my role? What is your role? Are you good person? Are you a person striving to do your best? Do you have a good work ethic? Are you respected and trusted in the work place? Do you strive to be Truthful? Do you speak with malice or with grace? Is your tongue controlled, or does it say things that it shouldn't?
What is your idea of helping those around you? Do you even care about those around you? What are you doing in your life that is most meaningful to you? Is it your most favorite thing? What are you doing to make a difference for future generations? Is just simply "being a consumer" good enough? Is living only for yourself each day really the most meaningful thing you can do?
Is there a way to live a rich, full life without focusing on our own personal preferences and comfort level, by putting the needs of others first? Is it possible to be selfless in our society?
Is this too many questions? Why did you read to the end?
What is a good question? Is the ability to ask good questions natural?
When we meet someone new, where do we begin with questions? Should they be of a personal nature, or more broad?
Who do we know that is a really good person? What makes them good? What makes them really good?
What does a good life look like? How do we get a good life?
How should we think about politics, politicians and political policy?
Should we be activists or pacifists? Which is best, or is that a moment by moment decision?
What about economic growth or decline of our country/world? What should we hope to see that politicians can actually do to stimulate economic growth?
Is the answer a larger minimum wage? Or, is it bringing jobs back to America?
Does it have anything to do with the Immigration Reform laws?
Is funding for ObamaCare something of an answer to all our woes? Did anyone on the planet ever actually read the entire ObamaCare document when it was passed in to law? What are the consequences of shutting down our government? Is it easy? Is it difficult? Are the ones that are arguing both sides really there for the people, or for their own political gain/position?
Does the average American really care who is running in "fourth place" in the NY Mayoral race? Should we care? Was Huma really humiliated? Or, was the whole mess calculated, in advance, as a part of some political machine that she and her husband are putting together for the future? If a female political figure conducted themselves in a ways that "Anthony & Bill, and many others" have conducted themselves, would there be a blip in the press, or a full blown scandal?
Is it important for me to 'do' anything about any of the answers to the previous questions?
What is my role? What is your role? Are you good person? Are you a person striving to do your best? Do you have a good work ethic? Are you respected and trusted in the work place? Do you strive to be Truthful? Do you speak with malice or with grace? Is your tongue controlled, or does it say things that it shouldn't?
What is your idea of helping those around you? Do you even care about those around you? What are you doing in your life that is most meaningful to you? Is it your most favorite thing? What are you doing to make a difference for future generations? Is just simply "being a consumer" good enough? Is living only for yourself each day really the most meaningful thing you can do?
Is there a way to live a rich, full life without focusing on our own personal preferences and comfort level, by putting the needs of others first? Is it possible to be selfless in our society?
Is this too many questions? Why did you read to the end?
Tuesday, July 30, 2013
Defy the Odds...
I am finishing two major projects for my summer semester. In writing this post, I am hoping to sort out all the thoughts that are running through my brain!
I find it fascinating that with almost every course I have taken on this educational journey/pursuit, I have had the opportunity to live out, in my life, the subject matter. It seems this semester is not different. As I have faced each of my personal medical experiences this summer, I have been reading books concerning God, medicine/medical ethic issues and suffering. (or, literally, the theodicy problem, which attempts to answer questions like, "Is God good? If so, given the scope of suffering, can we think of God as all-powerful? (Long, p xi)) And, then the book that made visitors to my hospital room a little nervous, "The Christian Funeral." Yep, that's me--the patient that wants to live well--but required reading, none-the-less!
The first morning of my hospital stay, after receiving my delicious breakfast of ice-chips--one of the two glasses of them that I received each 'shift'--my nurse asked me if I wanted the TV on. "No," I replied, "I have some reading I want to do." She said, "You gonna read a sexy novel, then?"
I am still laughing about that one--my answer was, "no, not really, it's actually homework." Who takes their homework to the hospital with them? I guess I have been packing books in my suitcase for so long that it has become a habit!
Anyway, I have so much to learn about medical ethics and the words to use in counsel from a ministry perspective, concerning suffering and pain. What was a surprising realization for me was that the actual responsibility of medical professionals is to teach us, as patients, how to take care of our bodies, enabling us to live. If life is not an option, then they teach us how to die with dignity. Pretty sobering, isn't it?
As I prepared both, for my class work and for the days I would be in the hospital, I watched one of my most favorite movies. The very first scene is simply "A True Story." Of course, it is Hollywood, and there was probably some creative license taken, however, the real story did actually happen in history.
It is the story of the survival and leadership, in 1941-45, of the Polish Jewish Bielski brothers. This band of brothers helped around 1200 people survive, in the woods, instead of face the massacres that awaited many of their family members. The movie: Defiance. The brothers decided early on that their revenge, their act of defiance, would be to LIVE! How amazing is that?
And, no this movie is probably not on your church's list of family-friendly movies--but at a certain age, perhaps it should be! Sometimes, you have to be radical to actually LIVE in this lifetime, expressing ideas and convictions that go against what the world would think as OK. Telling the truth, for example, or living a life of fidelity with your spouse.
I cannot imagine the horror the Jewish population faced in those years, the undignified ways in which many (most) faced death...and I will not pretend to think that my recent surgical inconvenience can begin to compare.
However, my conviction remains, my heart breaks and my mind reels when I consider the ways in which many of us take this life for granted, each and every day.
Live well--in each circumstance, by the Grace of God--defy the odds and live WELL!
I find it fascinating that with almost every course I have taken on this educational journey/pursuit, I have had the opportunity to live out, in my life, the subject matter. It seems this semester is not different. As I have faced each of my personal medical experiences this summer, I have been reading books concerning God, medicine/medical ethic issues and suffering. (or, literally, the theodicy problem, which attempts to answer questions like, "Is God good? If so, given the scope of suffering, can we think of God as all-powerful? (Long, p xi)) And, then the book that made visitors to my hospital room a little nervous, "The Christian Funeral." Yep, that's me--the patient that wants to live well--but required reading, none-the-less!
The first morning of my hospital stay, after receiving my delicious breakfast of ice-chips--one of the two glasses of them that I received each 'shift'--my nurse asked me if I wanted the TV on. "No," I replied, "I have some reading I want to do." She said, "You gonna read a sexy novel, then?"
I am still laughing about that one--my answer was, "no, not really, it's actually homework." Who takes their homework to the hospital with them? I guess I have been packing books in my suitcase for so long that it has become a habit!
Anyway, I have so much to learn about medical ethics and the words to use in counsel from a ministry perspective, concerning suffering and pain. What was a surprising realization for me was that the actual responsibility of medical professionals is to teach us, as patients, how to take care of our bodies, enabling us to live. If life is not an option, then they teach us how to die with dignity. Pretty sobering, isn't it?
As I prepared both, for my class work and for the days I would be in the hospital, I watched one of my most favorite movies. The very first scene is simply "A True Story." Of course, it is Hollywood, and there was probably some creative license taken, however, the real story did actually happen in history.
It is the story of the survival and leadership, in 1941-45, of the Polish Jewish Bielski brothers. This band of brothers helped around 1200 people survive, in the woods, instead of face the massacres that awaited many of their family members. The movie: Defiance. The brothers decided early on that their revenge, their act of defiance, would be to LIVE! How amazing is that?
And, no this movie is probably not on your church's list of family-friendly movies--but at a certain age, perhaps it should be! Sometimes, you have to be radical to actually LIVE in this lifetime, expressing ideas and convictions that go against what the world would think as OK. Telling the truth, for example, or living a life of fidelity with your spouse.
I cannot imagine the horror the Jewish population faced in those years, the undignified ways in which many (most) faced death...and I will not pretend to think that my recent surgical inconvenience can begin to compare.
However, my conviction remains, my heart breaks and my mind reels when I consider the ways in which many of us take this life for granted, each and every day.
Live well--in each circumstance, by the Grace of God--defy the odds and live WELL!
Monday, July 29, 2013
The Whirlwind that has been July
What a beautiful morning! Inside and out! Recently, I have been reminded of the fragility of life. You would think I would know this to my core, holding each moment as sacred. Truly, until recently, I thought I was doing a pretty good job of living in the moment, not taking my relationships for granted. Perhaps more than I needed a reminder, I needed to write about it...so, we'll see how this goes:
Yesterday, we got an urgent request for prayer from a dear friend whose husband had had a mild heart attack...he had just been playing with his little girls, water games...thankfully, we live in a time and place where, with expert medical attention, within a couple of hours, he had a stint in place and was resting peacefully. These are YOUNG people, with little girls--WOW!!!
July has been a whirlwind of unfamiliar, yet necessary, medical experiences and procedures for me, personally. I will not share details here, but I will say that there were moments when 'waiting' was all I could do. Waiting to be seen, waiting to heal, waiting for test results, waiting for my system to wake up from a major surgical procedure. Just waiting. Worth the wait: pathology came back "stage zero"--no treatment required.
I have cried, been frustrated, confined to a hospital bed, I have rested, relaxed, and had peace that surpasses understanding. I have laughed, prayed, received notes, cards, flowers, a gorgeous and most therapeutic blanket. Our children & grandchildren drew pictures, made cards and carefully hugged and kissed me. Friends and family have faithfully called, texted, sent Facebook messaged, and came to visit.
I was discharged from the hospital on the eighth day--pretty much pain free--without the use of prescription drugs. Today, I was told that I can drive my car, as long as I feel good. How fun is that? I do feel like I need to rest every couple of hours for this is the process of healing that I must not take for granted.
Mostly what I want to say, is that our bodies are amazing things--the symptoms I had, for my body was giving me subtle clues for a long while and I was not listening well--are all gone. The lesson? Learn to listen, life is fragile, and it is worth living!
And, today, the top is definitely coming down--it's a convertible kind of day, I think!
Yesterday, we got an urgent request for prayer from a dear friend whose husband had had a mild heart attack...he had just been playing with his little girls, water games...thankfully, we live in a time and place where, with expert medical attention, within a couple of hours, he had a stint in place and was resting peacefully. These are YOUNG people, with little girls--WOW!!!
July has been a whirlwind of unfamiliar, yet necessary, medical experiences and procedures for me, personally. I will not share details here, but I will say that there were moments when 'waiting' was all I could do. Waiting to be seen, waiting to heal, waiting for test results, waiting for my system to wake up from a major surgical procedure. Just waiting. Worth the wait: pathology came back "stage zero"--no treatment required.
I have cried, been frustrated, confined to a hospital bed, I have rested, relaxed, and had peace that surpasses understanding. I have laughed, prayed, received notes, cards, flowers, a gorgeous and most therapeutic blanket. Our children & grandchildren drew pictures, made cards and carefully hugged and kissed me. Friends and family have faithfully called, texted, sent Facebook messaged, and came to visit.
I was discharged from the hospital on the eighth day--pretty much pain free--without the use of prescription drugs. Today, I was told that I can drive my car, as long as I feel good. How fun is that? I do feel like I need to rest every couple of hours for this is the process of healing that I must not take for granted.
Mostly what I want to say, is that our bodies are amazing things--the symptoms I had, for my body was giving me subtle clues for a long while and I was not listening well--are all gone. The lesson? Learn to listen, life is fragile, and it is worth living!
And, today, the top is definitely coming down--it's a convertible kind of day, I think!
Saturday, June 8, 2013
A Pivotal Moment Due to a Random 3 by 5 Card
Do I really have anything to say today? I am bleary eyed, and a little groggy from the lack of sleep this past week. However, there is much to do today. Why on earth would I take time to write in this blog when there are books to write, and respond to--there are probative questions to develop an turn in--and there is research to be done. And yet, all I want to do is tell you about my week! That is the great thing about this blog: you can read it, or not! Either way, I get to write!
First of all, many of the friendships I have formed at this school were deepened as a direct result of sitting through a week of class together! The class, Rhetoric in Christian Leadership. It was exhilarating, challenging, frustrating, exhausting and fun! We had opportunities to 'think out loud'--it turns out, I'm pretty good at it, especially when I do not understand the question at hand.
We had opportunities to do extemporaneous speeches, where a question was written on a 3 x 5 card, we were told "go" at a certain point, and we had twenty minutes to prepare an answer...and then a specific number of minutes to speak about that answer--forgive me the number of minutes is a blur of a memory at this point--7 or 10 seems correct.
We each had a partner (in my case there were three of us) to work together to script a mock radio talk show concerning out topic of choice. We had to take the "opposite" stance of our "real" position on the topic, in an effort to formulate truly hard questions about our topic...what an exercise...punching holes in your side of any given situation is difficult, but healthy. To better clarify, we each wrote our name and topic on the back of a three by five card. Each person then drew from the stack of these cards. For example, I drew my friend, Mike's card. That meant that I took his position on his topic, and he asked my the hard questions about his issue.
My topic was the current foster care system and the problem of kids who 'age out' of that system without adequately formed healthy adult relationships. These kids, especially those aging out of a group home setting, are at great risk for homelessness, joblessness, illness, violent, addictions, lack of educational opportunities and early child-bearing. These are very real concerns for our entire society--for there is something that can be done, and it is very simple, really. However, that is not what this blog is concerning today. I will write more on my topic later.
Thank with me, for what I am about to say blew me away. I drew a card and this is what it said, "Why does a loving God permit pain and suffering?" Yeah, let that one sink in for a moment. We were given creative license to make up the qualifications of our guests, giving them appropriate credentials to speak about our the topic. As we practiced for my partner's interview, he did the opening to his 'show', introducing me and after my name he follows with "she's joining us this morning to talk about her new book on today's topic: why Christians suffer". I was shocked.
And, so I said, well, do you want the title to the book I am actually writing? Of course, he took it and incorporated it into our show...and so, I was able to take my journal (that is my starting point of this book) and refer to it as we did the interview. It was a blast.
This experience was surreal, in that it struck me as I answered his questions (and our 'listening audience who were actually a viewing audience were completely engaged) this is to prepare me for when this really happens--sort of a rehearsal for life--but what a gift.
I do not know what the coming days look like, but I think that interview will not be my last opportunity to speak about love and loss, joy and pain, suffering and healing and where God might be while we go through these things on earth. No, God is not finished writing my story. And, He is not finished revealing to me 'the next thing' in my life!
Yes, teens that age out of the foster care system is a very real concern for me. I am committed to raising awareness of the enormous opportunity we have to help in this crisis. Yet, I can't help but think that many of them are there because someone in their life did not adequately process their grief and it took over--causing all kinds of havoc. And so, my bigger message concerns appropriate grief.
When our radio show finished, applause erupted, and many encouraged me by saying, "You have to write that book-- you have a message that needs to be heard." I do believe that to be true.
But, for today, I will read about how to distinguish characteristics of people's world views (in order to be a better communicator) and then do some reflective work about becoming a 'revolutionary communicator'...yes, I am truly in my element, and in this place for a reason...I'll keep you posted on the book, though!
First of all, many of the friendships I have formed at this school were deepened as a direct result of sitting through a week of class together! The class, Rhetoric in Christian Leadership. It was exhilarating, challenging, frustrating, exhausting and fun! We had opportunities to 'think out loud'--it turns out, I'm pretty good at it, especially when I do not understand the question at hand.
We had opportunities to do extemporaneous speeches, where a question was written on a 3 x 5 card, we were told "go" at a certain point, and we had twenty minutes to prepare an answer...and then a specific number of minutes to speak about that answer--forgive me the number of minutes is a blur of a memory at this point--7 or 10 seems correct.
We each had a partner (in my case there were three of us) to work together to script a mock radio talk show concerning out topic of choice. We had to take the "opposite" stance of our "real" position on the topic, in an effort to formulate truly hard questions about our topic...what an exercise...punching holes in your side of any given situation is difficult, but healthy. To better clarify, we each wrote our name and topic on the back of a three by five card. Each person then drew from the stack of these cards. For example, I drew my friend, Mike's card. That meant that I took his position on his topic, and he asked my the hard questions about his issue.
My topic was the current foster care system and the problem of kids who 'age out' of that system without adequately formed healthy adult relationships. These kids, especially those aging out of a group home setting, are at great risk for homelessness, joblessness, illness, violent, addictions, lack of educational opportunities and early child-bearing. These are very real concerns for our entire society--for there is something that can be done, and it is very simple, really. However, that is not what this blog is concerning today. I will write more on my topic later.
Thank with me, for what I am about to say blew me away. I drew a card and this is what it said, "Why does a loving God permit pain and suffering?" Yeah, let that one sink in for a moment. We were given creative license to make up the qualifications of our guests, giving them appropriate credentials to speak about our the topic. As we practiced for my partner's interview, he did the opening to his 'show', introducing me and after my name he follows with "she's joining us this morning to talk about her new book on today's topic: why Christians suffer". I was shocked.
And, so I said, well, do you want the title to the book I am actually writing? Of course, he took it and incorporated it into our show...and so, I was able to take my journal (that is my starting point of this book) and refer to it as we did the interview. It was a blast.
This experience was surreal, in that it struck me as I answered his questions (and our 'listening audience who were actually a viewing audience were completely engaged) this is to prepare me for when this really happens--sort of a rehearsal for life--but what a gift.
I do not know what the coming days look like, but I think that interview will not be my last opportunity to speak about love and loss, joy and pain, suffering and healing and where God might be while we go through these things on earth. No, God is not finished writing my story. And, He is not finished revealing to me 'the next thing' in my life!
Yes, teens that age out of the foster care system is a very real concern for me. I am committed to raising awareness of the enormous opportunity we have to help in this crisis. Yet, I can't help but think that many of them are there because someone in their life did not adequately process their grief and it took over--causing all kinds of havoc. And so, my bigger message concerns appropriate grief.
When our radio show finished, applause erupted, and many encouraged me by saying, "You have to write that book-- you have a message that needs to be heard." I do believe that to be true.
But, for today, I will read about how to distinguish characteristics of people's world views (in order to be a better communicator) and then do some reflective work about becoming a 'revolutionary communicator'...yes, I am truly in my element, and in this place for a reason...I'll keep you posted on the book, though!
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