I don't know if you have these moments, but there are times when something happens to me and I know that I have to write about it...that happened to me a few weeks ago...and I am now just getting around to putting it into words.
I continue to marvel at the community of faith that I have been gifted to be a part of in this place. God surprises me when another couple or individual joins us as we journey together. Sometimes I have to stop to realize what God is doing...yeah, I may be slightly too busy....maybe. Anyway, there is a couple who has joined us in the past year or so...and they are just great. They have a three year old little girl who is a cutie...she has this curly brownish/red hair, fair skin, and big, bright, blue eyes. When she laughs, she lights up a room...and when she sees me, it's like no one else in the room exists...her mouth drops open and her eyes become round with excitement. Talk about making you feel loved...
One day at church, she saw me, and she had the same reaction as usual...the gasp, mouth open, eyes big...but this time, instead of just running up to me and jumping into my arms, she ran up, jumped, and gave me the wettest, sloppiest kiss! It caught me totally off guard...my big, blue eyes probably were bigger than hers have ever been! Ha! She just went on and hugged me and started to play again...
It wasn't until later, as I was thinking over the day that I have a realization...I don't know if you've heard the song "Oh How He Loves..." Well, sometimes I really like to hear it and other times I am over it...maybe I'm the only one who gets that way with songs...anyway, the original version of the song (until it was censored by Christian radio...really?!)...says...
"And heaven meets earth like a sloppy, wet kiss
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest
I don't have time to maintain these regrets
When I think about the way
Oh, how He loves us, oh
Oh, how He loves us, how He loves all
How He loves."
This little girl, so full of life, so full of wonder,
So full of unconditional love...
Met me with a sloppy, wet kiss...
The words kind of made me uncomfortable before...something about sloppy, wet, and kiss...talking about God at the same time...but it has new meaning for me now...
The way heaven and earth collide when we are truly the body of Christ to others...it is messy...it's not romantic, or this beautiful masterpiece....but it is a messy, sloppy kiss that sometimes makes us uncomfortable, sometimes doesn't look pretty...but the background of the action of the kiss is unconditional love....it is heaven, in all its beauty and mystery, crashing into earth in the form of us....broken people...it catches us and OTHERS off guard with its force and unguarded affection...
And in all of this...God demonstrates his love for us...that while we were still sinners, Christ died for us...the biggest, sloppiest kiss of all...
Thank you, Lord, for your kisses upon this world...and for using a child to remind me of what a beautiful mess it is...
Monday, October 1, 2012
Friday, May 18, 2012
Dreaming...
I know that we must all dream....I know this is true literally and figuratively. I rarely remember my dreams...I never have been able to keep them more than about 5 minutes after I wake up in the morning.
Dreaming is a part of the subconscious...it is unknown...it reveals a part of our brains that is not logical....it is completely right brain activity that goes uncensored. We only dream when nothing is allowed to interfere with that creative, uninhibited part of ourselves. I have often prayed that God will give me dreams and visions of what is to come, of who I am created to be in the moment, in this world. I may have received them, but alas, I don't remember them.
Why are some people given dreams and visions? We see people, throughout time and history, that have been given dreams and visions that have changed the course of their lives and sometimes the course of a people. God used the time when they were at rest, when they let go of their ability to reason with themselves or God (haha) to allow them to dream His/Her dreams.
From a figurative perspective, this is true as well...we must let go...we must stop dwelling on what we know, what we can see, what makes sense, what is comfortable...in order to dream.
May we have enough sense to rest, enough rest to dream, and enough dreams to become foolish for the sake of the good news.
Dreaming is a part of the subconscious...it is unknown...it reveals a part of our brains that is not logical....it is completely right brain activity that goes uncensored. We only dream when nothing is allowed to interfere with that creative, uninhibited part of ourselves. I have often prayed that God will give me dreams and visions of what is to come, of who I am created to be in the moment, in this world. I may have received them, but alas, I don't remember them.
Why are some people given dreams and visions? We see people, throughout time and history, that have been given dreams and visions that have changed the course of their lives and sometimes the course of a people. God used the time when they were at rest, when they let go of their ability to reason with themselves or God (haha) to allow them to dream His/Her dreams.
From a figurative perspective, this is true as well...we must let go...we must stop dwelling on what we know, what we can see, what makes sense, what is comfortable...in order to dream.
May we have enough sense to rest, enough rest to dream, and enough dreams to become foolish for the sake of the good news.
Thursday, May 3, 2012
Here we are again...
In church on Sunday, we were having a discussion about quality time...yes, the love languages won't go away. Anyway, we read the story of Abraham...of Sarah discovering she was prego, and the laughter that followed. Then, the way Abraham was able to talk to God, and convince God to not destroy all of the people if there were a few that remained righteous..it was almost like a back and forth, well God, I've already asked, so how 'bout another? Kind of humorous...to me. ;)
So, in regards to quality time, Abraham spent time with God...enough so that when he had a conversation with God, he was able to dialogue with God, to honestly and openly approach the author of Creation. So, I started thinking about faith and obedience. This is a recurring theme in my life...this lesson that is...and the story of Abraham is always fresh and real to me.
God told Abraham to get up, to pack everything, and to start walking...that's it. And Abraham walked with the promise that God was going to do something great in and through him. He acted on faith--he didn't have a back-up plan, or even the assurance of where he was going. Yet he walked and kept walking...that is faith.
Abraham was obedient. God said go and Abraham went. So, perhaps faith is the fruit of obedience. As we obey, we begin to believe, without seeing what is ahead. As Abraham walked, trusted, and obeyed, he began to know God more and more. Relationship happens this way...we develop trust in each other...we do things for each other...we don't see what is ahead, but find that the walking is worthwhile because we are together in the journey. Time together produces relationship...and even laughter at the absurdity of what God has done, is doing, and will do in and through us.
Obedience. Faith. Relationship. Fruits from the tree that is probably the craziest, most beautiful tree anyone has ever seen....Jesus.
So, in regards to quality time, Abraham spent time with God...enough so that when he had a conversation with God, he was able to dialogue with God, to honestly and openly approach the author of Creation. So, I started thinking about faith and obedience. This is a recurring theme in my life...this lesson that is...and the story of Abraham is always fresh and real to me.
God told Abraham to get up, to pack everything, and to start walking...that's it. And Abraham walked with the promise that God was going to do something great in and through him. He acted on faith--he didn't have a back-up plan, or even the assurance of where he was going. Yet he walked and kept walking...that is faith.
Abraham was obedient. God said go and Abraham went. So, perhaps faith is the fruit of obedience. As we obey, we begin to believe, without seeing what is ahead. As Abraham walked, trusted, and obeyed, he began to know God more and more. Relationship happens this way...we develop trust in each other...we do things for each other...we don't see what is ahead, but find that the walking is worthwhile because we are together in the journey. Time together produces relationship...and even laughter at the absurdity of what God has done, is doing, and will do in and through us.
Obedience. Faith. Relationship. Fruits from the tree that is probably the craziest, most beautiful tree anyone has ever seen....Jesus.
Friday, April 27, 2012
throw back...
Wow...found this prayer/reflection that I wrote a few years ago...still fitting for my life...
"Poor is not just a physical state of being, but sometimes a way of life. Poverty is easily seen if we open our eyes--to see more than projects or abandoned buildings. If we look into the mirror, at times we will see poverty that affects us all--and then we will not be so far removed from those Jesus calls our neighbors. When it comes down to it, past the layers, we are more alike than we care to admit. we need each other to dispel the poverty we find in ourselves and outside of ourselves. This is community; this is what we are called to become together. What walls have we put around ourselves to keep others out? How do we lock ourselves into comfort? The gates and walls within us are the most dangerous and more likely to inhibit the work of the kingdom. What are we missing? Lord, tear us down; break down the walls; open the gates we have created. Help us allow you to be bigger and more powerful than it all."
"Poor is not just a physical state of being, but sometimes a way of life. Poverty is easily seen if we open our eyes--to see more than projects or abandoned buildings. If we look into the mirror, at times we will see poverty that affects us all--and then we will not be so far removed from those Jesus calls our neighbors. When it comes down to it, past the layers, we are more alike than we care to admit. we need each other to dispel the poverty we find in ourselves and outside of ourselves. This is community; this is what we are called to become together. What walls have we put around ourselves to keep others out? How do we lock ourselves into comfort? The gates and walls within us are the most dangerous and more likely to inhibit the work of the kingdom. What are we missing? Lord, tear us down; break down the walls; open the gates we have created. Help us allow you to be bigger and more powerful than it all."
Life Together
Yes, I have written repeatedly about my life and community in this place...this is a poem I wrote for our church's art display of "Life Together." Hope you enjoy.
Life is full—
Places to go.
Meetings to attend.
Children to feed.
Bills to pay.
People to appease.
Life is colorful—
Oranges, reds, and browns in the fall.
Deep blues, whites, and grey of winter.
Greens of spring and summer.
Flowers blooming, the earth renewed with each season.
People color our world,
With love, culture, and awareness of the difference, yet likeness, of each other.
Life is messy—
Babies are born.
Friends leave.
People we care about die.
Jobs are lost.
Partners are found.
Life is art—
Colors join.
Materials clash.
We are broken.
And yet, the artist continues to create…
To piece us together out of nothing,
Weaving all aspects of our mess,
And the result is a beautiful masterpiece,
A work of art
That is…life together.
We are made for life together.
I will hurt you.
You won’t always understand me.
And yet, we will choose to live together—
To forgive.
To move forward together
Because the end result is something more beautiful than this moment.
It is the art of the kingdom realized, on earth as it is in heaven.
Life is full—
Places to go.
Meetings to attend.
Children to feed.
Bills to pay.
People to appease.
Life is colorful—
Oranges, reds, and browns in the fall.
Deep blues, whites, and grey of winter.
Greens of spring and summer.
Flowers blooming, the earth renewed with each season.
People color our world,
With love, culture, and awareness of the difference, yet likeness, of each other.
Life is messy—
Babies are born.
Friends leave.
People we care about die.
Jobs are lost.
Partners are found.
Life is art—
Colors join.
Materials clash.
We are broken.
And yet, the artist continues to create…
To piece us together out of nothing,
Weaving all aspects of our mess,
And the result is a beautiful masterpiece,
A work of art
That is…life together.
We are made for life together.
I will hurt you.
You won’t always understand me.
And yet, we will choose to live together—
To forgive.
To move forward together
Because the end result is something more beautiful than this moment.
It is the art of the kingdom realized, on earth as it is in heaven.
Thursday, March 8, 2012
A New Season....
"It's a new season. It's a new day. A fresh annointing is coming my way."
We sang that song years ago in church...
I thought of it today as I look back over the past few days. Yesterday morning, I was driving to work on a back road...the sun was beginning to rise, casting glorious light across the hills. I looked to my left and saw five deer just hanging out. I came close to stopping the car...I slowed to a crawl and looked further and saw four more. Now, I come from Georgia...the deep south side of Georgia...where plantations rule and deer are no stranger to this girl...but something about that group of deer, standing at peace, was beautiful to me. Then I noticed the sunrise...the way the sky is different each morning...the newness of each day astounds me sometimes.
Last night, as I was on the stupid eliptical, I looked over the soccer field at Carson-Newman...practice wasn't going on, but all of a sudden, I looked up and saw geese flying overhead. They were circling the field, like they had practice...I laughed a little. And with each lap around the field, a new goose took the lead while the others followed behind. Geese all know where they are going, but work together to get there...when one gets tired, another heads to the front and leads for a while...there is no dominance...just a steady rotation of getting the job done.
The trees are blooming. Yes, we may still have winter ahead, but the revival of creation has begun and reminds me of God's capacity to revive us, to renew us...to make something beautiful out of dirt. And if creation is already praising God, why aren't we? Huddle up like the deer, be at peace, and join me in practice as we fly...take the lead, be a part of it all.
We sang that song years ago in church...
I thought of it today as I look back over the past few days. Yesterday morning, I was driving to work on a back road...the sun was beginning to rise, casting glorious light across the hills. I looked to my left and saw five deer just hanging out. I came close to stopping the car...I slowed to a crawl and looked further and saw four more. Now, I come from Georgia...the deep south side of Georgia...where plantations rule and deer are no stranger to this girl...but something about that group of deer, standing at peace, was beautiful to me. Then I noticed the sunrise...the way the sky is different each morning...the newness of each day astounds me sometimes.
Last night, as I was on the stupid eliptical, I looked over the soccer field at Carson-Newman...practice wasn't going on, but all of a sudden, I looked up and saw geese flying overhead. They were circling the field, like they had practice...I laughed a little. And with each lap around the field, a new goose took the lead while the others followed behind. Geese all know where they are going, but work together to get there...when one gets tired, another heads to the front and leads for a while...there is no dominance...just a steady rotation of getting the job done.
The trees are blooming. Yes, we may still have winter ahead, but the revival of creation has begun and reminds me of God's capacity to revive us, to renew us...to make something beautiful out of dirt. And if creation is already praising God, why aren't we? Huddle up like the deer, be at peace, and join me in practice as we fly...take the lead, be a part of it all.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Ashes to Ashes Wednesday...
I found this new hymn on Sojourner's website today...
"O God of love, the fast you choose is not some great display.
It’s everything we gladly do to serve you day by day.
It’s not a moment set apart when we will mourn our sin;
For you require a change of heart— a change from what has been.
Lord, we confess we often sing that you are our delight,
Then we go shouting words that sting; we bicker and we fight.
Oppressing others for our gain, we put our interests first.
We overlook our neighbors’ pain while praying here in church.
You teach us what it means to be a church that worships you:
In setting captive people free, we praise you as you choose.
In sharing bread with hungry folk, bringing the homeless in,
And breaking every bitter yoke we worship you again.
God, bless us as we journey on to live in loving ways.
Then darkness will turn into dawn and gloom will turn to praise.
When justice is our offering, we also will be blest,
And we will know the fast we bring will be our very best."
I've often viewed the season of Lent as a time of "giving up," of sacrifice, of discipline...but in a negative way...of making myself suffer and endure. I am tired of making this experience a negative one...and sometimes even a diet...yes, you know it's true. Reading this hymn, I begin to focus on the great love of God...that inspires me to act in a way contrary to my "humanness." Mourning and change are different...we can and will mourn many things...our sin, our loss, etc...but Lent is a time to change, to take action in the right direction, with the right motivation. Darkness becomes light in this season of change...the goodness of God is unearthed as we sprout good deeds of love.
I also read an article about giving up Facebook for Lent...and the author said the following,
"How many times have you suffered "buyer’s remorse"’ after spending two hours on Facebook? You think to yourself, I could have made so much more of that time – I could have done something that mattered."
Now, my sentiments are not exactly the same...Facebook and I are on good, long-distance terms these days...but, I often chide myself after wasting time on things that I know are not making me better, and that honestly probably are making me worse.
So, all of these patchwork thoughts lead me to introspection...an evaluation of who I am, who God is, and how that translates into the actions that I take.
Ashes to ashes...they will quickly go away.
"O God of love, the fast you choose is not some great display.
It’s everything we gladly do to serve you day by day.
It’s not a moment set apart when we will mourn our sin;
For you require a change of heart— a change from what has been.
Lord, we confess we often sing that you are our delight,
Then we go shouting words that sting; we bicker and we fight.
Oppressing others for our gain, we put our interests first.
We overlook our neighbors’ pain while praying here in church.
You teach us what it means to be a church that worships you:
In setting captive people free, we praise you as you choose.
In sharing bread with hungry folk, bringing the homeless in,
And breaking every bitter yoke we worship you again.
God, bless us as we journey on to live in loving ways.
Then darkness will turn into dawn and gloom will turn to praise.
When justice is our offering, we also will be blest,
And we will know the fast we bring will be our very best."
I've often viewed the season of Lent as a time of "giving up," of sacrifice, of discipline...but in a negative way...of making myself suffer and endure. I am tired of making this experience a negative one...and sometimes even a diet...yes, you know it's true. Reading this hymn, I begin to focus on the great love of God...that inspires me to act in a way contrary to my "humanness." Mourning and change are different...we can and will mourn many things...our sin, our loss, etc...but Lent is a time to change, to take action in the right direction, with the right motivation. Darkness becomes light in this season of change...the goodness of God is unearthed as we sprout good deeds of love.
I also read an article about giving up Facebook for Lent...and the author said the following,
"How many times have you suffered "buyer’s remorse"’ after spending two hours on Facebook? You think to yourself, I could have made so much more of that time – I could have done something that mattered."
Now, my sentiments are not exactly the same...Facebook and I are on good, long-distance terms these days...but, I often chide myself after wasting time on things that I know are not making me better, and that honestly probably are making me worse.
So, all of these patchwork thoughts lead me to introspection...an evaluation of who I am, who God is, and how that translates into the actions that I take.
Ashes to ashes...they will quickly go away.
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