A Season’s Gifts

Winter.

In many parts of the world it is the season of rest. Nature hibernates or slows.

Our winter in northern California has yet to fully rest. Today I took a walk in a warm sunshine that felt like spring, thankful while being hopeful for the blessings of rain and rest.

Seasons are unpredictable, not up to us. Gifts from the Creator, they come and bring what they have.

I remember visiting a small Amish bakery in Missouri when my children were young. It was a sweltering summer day, and as we stepped into the warm darkness of the little bakery, my son exclaimed to an elder Amish man, “It’s hot!”

The man smiled and said, “We take the blessing of each day. Without the warmth we would not have the grain to bake the bread.”

I’m learning to live in the uncertain–in nature’s seasons and life–with a blend of acceptance and expectation.

With thankfulness and with hope.

Each day made by God a day to be thankful for. Psalm 118:24

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Expectations

Expectations.

Usually I’m not conscious of how incessantly they drive my thoughts, play with my choices, nip at my perspective of myself or my relationships.

But if I make room for a shift . . .

What if I live up to my expectations, my goals and dreams, my prayers and understanding of God’s love for me—

instead of the expectations of others?

What falls away? What remains?

What truth, what gold?

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Cherry Pits . . . and Eventually Grace

A family incident, when my children were young and when my husband and I were visiting my father, has become representative for me of my relationship with my father . . . and grace.

At one of our meals, a cherry pit hit my stepmom and my father immediately blamed the children. He wouldn’t let it go even though their ten cherries and corresponding pits were accounted for.

This is the same man who once told me, “Your mother and I didn’t plan to have children” and never followed that up with, “but we’re so glad we had you and your sister.” Continue reading

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Born To . . .

I just listened to a local news story about a 90-year-old woman who travels to a pediatric center every Thursday to hold babies. She is described as having a “deeply peaceful presence” as she spends her hours holding the precious little bundles.

“That’s what’s important—that babies get loved.” She tells others this is what she can still do and says, “I was born to hold babies.”

Simple. And powerful.

In a place of transition and questions and hoping to land more firmly on what I was born to do, I smile as I think of this woman. Am I trying too hard? Making this more complicated than it needs to be? Likely.

This woman—her name is Edna—has a beauty and wisdom to her story that I can learn from.

Live. Be with others.
Do what comes naturally.
Love.

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The Invitation of Slowing

For several years now I have sensed God’s invitation for me to slow my life and discover the richness I otherwise miss in keeping a frenetic pace.

Imagine what it would be like if instead of speeding down a highway through a country setting we took time to walk the same route. What would we notice? Who might we meet?

Or what if we were to stroll through a museum and pause in front of one masterpiece. Just one. What intricacies of the artist’s labor would we begin to notice? What stories would we imagine?

Religion and art are saying the same things: stop, pay attention, be aware of the depth of time, see people, see others, be human. ~Fredrick Buechner

If you were to find a moment today to pause and pay attention, where would you linger?

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Fully You

What a difference it makes in our day, in our relationships, in our intimacy with God when we courageously live the intricacy of our unique design.

‎”Here’s what I want you to do: Find a quiet, secluded place so you won’t be tempted to role play before God. Just be there as simply and honestly as you can manage. The focus will shift from you to God, and you will begin to sense his grace.”
The Message’s take on Matthew 6:6

Take time to stop, if even for a moment, to be fully you, fully present in the presence of God. What shifts do you notice?

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From Thorns to Fragrance

The time in my life had been extremely difficult, and my body was physically and severely responding to the stress. A friend stopped by my house to share a gift of encouragement. With it came this quote:

Note this bit of gorse bush. The whole year round the thorn has been hardening and sharpening. Spring comes. The thorn does not drop off and it does not soften. There it is, as uncompromising as ever; but halfway up appear two brown furry balls, mere specks at first, that break at last–straight out of last year’s thorn–into a blaze of fragrant golden glory! –Lilias Trotter Continue reading

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self-injury–back on our radar

Self-injury. Thankfully now many have become more aware of what it is and how to encourage or help someone they know who is struggling. March 1st was designated–though not entirely officially–as National Self-Injury Awareness Day.

But what happens when the issue slides off our radar? Continue reading

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teens and sex : Oprah and Christianity Today

Recently I had a conversation with a parent of a young adult who is now out of the house, has chosen not to live according to his parents’ faith values, and who is in a new relationship. The father said, “I just told my son to be sure he was having protected sex.”

He felt powerless to challenge anything different. Continue reading

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teen/young adult small groups that make a real difference

A safe place. Somewhere to talk about the tough issues—the real issues. To test and see if it’s okay to ask the questions, to tell someone what’s been going on inside . . . maybe for the first time.

Today I spoke to a twenty-something-year-old reflecting on her teen years. She recalled what a difference it made when a youth leader finally began talking honestly about topics that hit her and others where it mattered. Other leaders and teachers were nice, helped her feel accepted and welcomed, but none went deep. And that’s what she craved. Continue reading

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