Aren't Signs Supposed to Mean Something?

As we begin March, there are all kinds of signs that are supposed to mean something: 

1. The basketball teams are playing away, usually doing their best of the season, anticipating tournaments to come. Folks are making all kinds of predictions about who will play and how they'll do... it's all just fun at this point.
2. When I was teaching,  this is the month I used to put away the snowflakes and hearts that decorated my classroom and replace them with shamrocks and kites.
3. This afternoon, I got an e-mail about gardening from one of the local home improvement stores, one of many I've received from similar places lately. I joined their "Garden Club" at some point a few years ago. Their selling point when convincing me to share my e-mail address was that I'd get occasional coupons. They more than covered the meager discounts offered by showing me dozens of pictures of gardens and planting projects. 
4. It's Lent. If I didn't know it by the abundance of devotionals on facebook, I'd know it because of the fish specials on Fridays. 
5. I saw green leaves from jonquils-to-be poking out of the ground this morning.. even though unfortunately, poking through the snow. 
6. Daylight savings time begins soon. We "spring forward" our clocks Sunday, losing an hour.  I'll try not to complain about that as I recall feeling especially appreciative when I got the extra hour last fall.

So... all kinds of signs. What do they mean? It is SUPPOSED to mean that spring is almost here! Generally, we have been enjoying warm sunny days for weeks and have packed away winter coats by now. Even the rainy days are fairly mild! When these things come together, the basketball, shamrocks, planting diagrams, fish, jonquils, and clocks - we have SPRING!

 It really seems hard to believe that it's time to be thinking about seed starting supplies when it's freezing cold outside. But despite the snow on the ground as recently as today, the weather forecast is temperatures in the 60s by the weekend. I have no idea what follows that - I haven't had the nerve to dare wonder. But one thing I do know is that after a few warm days, we will definitely be ready for spring.

If basketball season has to wind down, the least that should happen is warm weather! All of the "leading indicators," to borrow a media term, suggests spring is here.... I sure wish someone would tell Mother Nature. She's falling down on the job!

Looking Up, Through the Gray

The morning is quiet and hushed as the sun rises. It's not one of those "bright glorious sunrise" days, but a gray one. The skies went from dark to light as if gradually turning up the brightness button on a grayscale photo. The silvery sky is covered by blotchy clouds. As the large trees stand firm, the smaller ones are rustling, nervously awaiting whatever the day will bring. The wind chimes are clanging, as if sending out a warning.

The weather forecast isn't pretty, promising a chilly day with periods of drizzle, a wintery mix, and gusts. It's a typical late winter day, not a favorite forecast, but certainly not the worst.

Despite the gloom outside, as I watched the sky lighten, revealing the familiar once again, I felt a sense of protection, and of being blessed. There have been dark moments in my life, when sadness and worry overtook my soul, ignoring the brightness surrounding me Thinking of that as I watched the sky, I was reminded, "Though I walk through the valley of death, I will fear no evil..." and thought of the many, many times when I have been protected and comforted by God.

Yes, we have gray days, in "real life" and in our minds. But they are not permanent, and even serve a purpose. As the rain nourishes our gardens, allowing the ground to soak up needed moisture in order to send up colorful plants, the quiet times of reflection, when we draw closer to God, nourish our souls, calming and soothing us... it reminds us to keep going in order to see the good that is coming.

"The Lord himself goes before you and will be with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged.”  Deuteronomy 31:8  These words were spoken by Moses, speaking to Joshua. We need the reminder at times, just as the Hebrew people did. Yes, God is with us, even on gray days.

Yin and Yang = the balance

It's been a night of reflection. It wasn't intentional, but the TV was never put on, so it has been quiet, both the result of, and reason for, the musing.

It is my birthday - I'm 55. I consider that a good thing. It is cold and dreary outside, as it often is on my birthday, but other parts of the country are dealing with life-threatening blizzards. This got me to thinking about how I'd grumbled, even though I had it better than thousands of others.

Next thing you knew, I thought about some people I'd come in contact with recently, and their lives. It led me to the thought of yin and yang, the ancient symbol that reminds us of good and bad, hot and cold, male and female... in other words, the balance within life.

And you know how it is once I get to thinking... I start writing. It got so long that even "I" decided it was too long! It was supposed to be here, on this blog, but my thoughts developed as I wrote and it soon let me know it was not just a comment on life. It was a part of my Lenten Journey, so there it shall go. It will be interesting to see how this leads me, whether just to grow, or perhaps, to do.

You'll be "grateful" to learn that I divided it into two parts. They are scheduled to be posted on Saturday and Sunday. I hope you'll read and consider what I share, as perhaps it might influence you to do some thoughtful musing as well.

You can go to my Lenten Journey via this link or using the tab at the top of the page under the header.

Maybe "New and Improved" Really Isn't

One of my friends posted one of those, "Remember When" pictures that those of us in the grandparent age group relate to so well. It showed children sitting on the floor, saying to the old man in the chair, "Grandpa, tell us about the days when you had to buy the whole album even when you only wanted one song."

 It reminded me of something though.... all of us "old-timers" that had to buy the whole album remember we always discovered songs we really liked on the album that we hadn't heard before. Just as the "Side B" of a 45 occasionally became the big hit, I remember many, many favorite songs I loved on albums that I didn't hear until I had the whole thing.

Modern folks miss that now by downloading just the one they want. Their new precise searches and seizures limit their scope at times. It is the same way when it comes to doing research now. People miss out being exposed to a lot of random information now by the way they look things up. They want to know about collies? They do a search and get information about only collies.

"Back in the day," when we wanted to know about collies, we'd look in the encyclopedia and as you looked for "dogs" you would stumble across Denmark, dinosaurs, and diamonds on the way. You know you paused to at least look at the pictures and picked up interesting facts along the way. Then, once you found "dogs," you saw working dogs, etc. and all sorts of breeds, and finally got to collie.  I miss that and younger people never even got to experience it.

One of my favorite parts of our World Book encyclopedia was the section about the human body. It had clear plastic pictures that worked together, each one overlaying the other. You could look at just the muscle page, then lift it up and see the internal organs underneath! It was very cool. 

I remember when the man came from World Book to our house. He showed my parents the books and they talked. Even as a child, I realized that this was something very expensive and very special. It was a hardship for my parents, and I have no idea how they pulled it off (probably paid on it for years!) but they bought a set for our home. I thought it was beautiful! We also got the "Childcraft" set which was awesome as well. There were volumes of fairy tales, and poetry, and all sorts of magical things to discover.

We had a set for our children growing up as well, but they soon turned to computers for their information. Sure, you can get the most up-to-date facts online, but seriously, just how much have dinosaurs changed lately? If you want to know about colonial times, they are still the same as they were when the book was published.

It hadn't occurred to me at all until I saw my friend's comic, and thought of these things, but maybe it would not be a bad idea to get a set for our grandchildren to read here at our house? They're all being raised by techie parents, and even the toddlers are fluent in the use of the I-pad type things. It is unlikely that they'll discover the magic of unplanned discovery in their technological world. Perhaps this is something to consider...

Is THAT all?

Slow getting going this morning, sore, stiff, kinda yucky, just not feeling good.  My chest hurt when breathing all night, and it was hard to sleep, so tired too.I got up anyway, 'cause that's just what has to be done. 

Then after getting out and about, realized I have a headache too, leading to the thought, "Could I just be getting sick?" 

Smile. "Oh! is THAT all? Well, that's good!" - such is life with chronic illness.  I don't even remember the year I last had energy. I can do this! No problem.

When you deal with stuff all the time, getting sick is good because it's something temporary - it can be fixed and will go away. It's like the feeling of relief when you find out the crushing chest pain is "just" pneumonia, which can be cured, instead of another heart attack.

Don't worry, be happy! So, either way, it's good. I've been up a while now... might just be the normal slow start, not sick. If it continues, I'll take something for it. Either way - life goes on!

Walking the Walk

God has been speaking to me... No, it's not like those fakey TV evangelists that get a message that YOU should do something, or more often, give them money.  When God speaks to me, it is in the still quiet moments when my heart does the listening, not my ears. Recently, I've been unsettled, restless - sometimes with thoughts on direction, but not always.

I've allowed "the world" to interfere. Yet, we ARE of this world, living among the rest of the people, surrounded by the needs, wants, and surpluses contained there. As tempting as it might be to become a recluse, this doesn't really seem to be the plan for me. Or at least, not in the sense that I can hide out from the world, lost in my own thoughts.

No, there's a task to do and while the details are sketchy, I've had experience trying to ignore God... it really doesn't work.  Perhaps one sign of a bit of spiritual maturity is that sketchy details would've driven me crazy in the past. I wanted to know what, how, and when.  I learned that it will all become evident in God's time, and I am okay with that.

It is not long until Lent, and recently, this has been placed on my mind. It's often been a time of personal reflection and "new year's type" resolutions for me. However, I'm not waiting for Lent this year. You can peek in on my progress from time to time as I'll share the journey. (which is a part of what was put on my heart to do) There's a tab on this blog, or you can go directly to the link, A Lenten Journey  to read it. It, like my life, is a work in progress, under construction. I'll be in touch.

The Message

In life, no matter what happens, however stressed, worried, or even sad I feel, there is still an undercurrent that holds me up. God is my rock, my foundation that holds me together even during those moments that I might not act as if I know this.

There have been times that I have considered what it must be like for those without this assurance. What if I DIDN’T know God had my back? What if I truly did feel that I was facing adversity completely on my own?  Knowing the peace and comfort I have, it seems that it would be so hard…. Just imagine dealing with stress, death of a loved one, loss of health or job… now, think what it would be like without God?

Over the years, and especially recently, I’ve found myself in a position of talking to people dealing with great adversity, yet without my coping tool… they seem to seek me out. Maybe they know OF God, but not sure they KNOW God. One woman told me that she had been wondering, searching… thinking that there must be something more, but she didn’t know. Not really being in a position where I was “supposed” to be talking to her, all I could do was suggest she pursue whatever it was she was thinking, to find her own path. But as she talked, I knew her path would lead her to God.

She told me she often thought of praying, but wasn’t sure how and didn’t know if God heard her. She asked me what I did. We talked about talking to God, and about seeking peace… I told her how it helped me to get away from “the world,” whether physically, or just mentally, and that is when I found God most easily.  I tell her to "Be still..." Yes, I talk to God, but must also pause to listen as well.

Today, another women came looking for help. She talked about the things going on in her life, and she had really been struggling. But she wanted to cope… she really felt that it was possible, but was feeling overwhelmed. I understood how she felt. She asked me if I had any scriptures that might help her. I did what I could.

But things like this keep coming up… there have been quite a few people placed in my life – or perhaps it’s me placed in their life – that have similar struggles. There’s a fine line at times, a tightrope of respecting all spiritual paths… but they open up to me, telling me their worries, and want to know what “I” believe, so this is what I tell them.

Do not be afraid. The Lord God will always be with you and will never forsake you.  There are many instances of this phrase in scripture. I believe it is true, and I don’t think it’s an accident that it is repeated over and over.

God so loved the world that He sent His only son to die for our sins, and once we invite God in our hearts and lives, suddenly, things are okay. Sure, we have the reassurance of eternal life with God – but as awesome as that must be, we have life with God now and I am so grateful.

Jesus said, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give you. I do not give to you as the world gives. Do not let your hearts be troubled and do not be afraid.” (John 14:27)

Each of the people leave a small part of themselves on my heart and I keep them in my prayers, even though they don’t know it. God has blessed me in many ways, not just in the way the world would see, but internally. The world would say I am blessed to be alive, which is true. But the greatest blessings have not been just the joys, but the peace that has been possible in the valleys. It seems that perhaps that is what I am supposed to share with others – for that is what they seem to need to know.  

Honestly, I don't have a plan when I talk to people - it just happens, so I feel inadequate; I listen to them, which is sometimes a very needed gift. Somehow, I am given the right words and they thank me for my help, saying that they feel better after our conversation. And each time, I know that they do feel better, perhaps comforted, perhaps hopeful, at least for the moment.

I have two prayer requests. First, pray for all of those that are struggling, and are seeking God as well. Pray that they find what is right for them. Second, please pray for me. Pray that when these people seek me out, that I am given the words that they need, the words God would have placed on their heart.  

Epiphany???

January 6, Epiphany...  It's interesting to me to notice the variety of ways this date "is" or "is not" significant.  To some, it's a minor notation on the calendar, to others, it's the event of the season. Then there are those that say, "Huh?" to the entire conversation. I guess I'm somewhere between the middle and extreme, if middle means I've heard of it!  :)


To understand, let me back up a bit.  First of all, there's Advent. That's the time counting back the four Sundays before Christmas. (Personally, I love Advent.) This is the time we remember the waiting for the promised Messiah, the one foretold in prophecy.  It is the time of preparation for Christmas, the weeks of hope, peace, joy, and love. Then there's Christmas, when we celebrate the birth of Jesus Christ.  MOST people, even those without faith, celebrate Christmas, even when they ignore the meaning.

"On the first day of Christmas, my true love gave to me...."  Just a song? 12 days of Christmas? What's THAT all about anyway? When you look at the calendar, you notice that there are 12 days between Christmas and January 6.... you guessed it, the 12 days of Christmas.  Some celebrate the 12th Night with celebration and parties.  This brings us to Epiphany.  Traditionally, this celebrates the arrival of the Wise Men, the Magi, when they visited Jesus. Most historians agree that this took a while, and that Jesus was a toddler by then.  In some countries, Epiphany is celebrated more than Christmas, and the children get gifts, just as the Wise Men brought gifts. They believe that the Wise Men bring them, not Santa Claus. It's often called "Three Kings Day."

Looking at the word, many use the word Epiphany to mean a newfound awareness, or an "ah-ha!" moment, when something suddenly becomes clear. If you think about it, the arrival of the Wise Men, after their journey to find Jesus, was definitely an Epiphany. It suddenly became clear that Jesus is indeed the Son of God, the Savior they were waiting for!

They brought gifts, such as gold, that you'd bring an earthly King. They also brought frankincense, used for temple worship, a gift for the Son of God. And finally, they brought myrrh, which was used for healing and embalming, remembering His ministry and time on the cross. What an Epiphany this is! This IS most certainly, the promised Messiah, the Son of God, our Savior.

While many hurried and got their Christmas things put away, some by New Years, and some the days that followed, mine remains up until Epiphany, until Christmas is finally really over.  Is it my love of the Kings? Not really,  In my case, it's a convenient excuse... a deadline extension  that allows me to celebrate Christmas just a little bit longer. But I love the holiday anyway. There are Wise Men on my Christmas tree. While they weren't present at the Nativity, they were soon on their way, and are an important part of the story.

Early Christians celebrated the Feast of the Epiphany before they celebrated Christmas. In another post, I'll share another connection Epiphany has.... you just might be surprised.

New Year, New Slate

Happy New Year... if you're happy about it or not! After all, the year has changed - you might as well enjoy it. January gets its' name from the goddess, Janus. She had two faces, so could look forward and backwards at the same time. What an appropriate skill for this time of reflection, as we remember the past and consider the future.  Keep the good parts in your memories and drop the bad.

Good or bad, 2012 is over. Chances are it had both good and bad moments, hopefully more good than bad, but some years are better than others for us as individuals. Even the years that had absolutely horrible things occur, had good times as well.  2013 will be the same, with a mixture - and at times, there won't be a thing we can do to change things, but other times will be up to us.

Many will make resolutions to mark the new beginning. Personally, I don't think this has to be set by the calendar at all. Once you decide to make a change, then DO it!  I've set goals at all times of the year - maybe one just needs to be open to the possibility when it is presented and you feel the strongest about it.

As the year ended, I read about some interesting rituals some friends did. One involved writing down the bad habits they wanted to break, and others listed moments they didn't like. Then they might rip them up into shreds, throwing them into the air like confetti.  Others buried them or burned them in their firepit or fireplace. In other words, they symbolically got rid of the bad things of the past. You could do the same thing by writing it down on paper and wadding it up. If it inspires you or helps you move on, what could it hurt?

There are also some interesting thoughts about goals for the new year. One suggestion is to keep a jar or box and write down good things and blessings. Others suggested keeping a notebook. The idea is to open the container or book and read your positive thoughts next year on New Year's Eve. It seems to me that it'd be even more helpful to read these on days when you're feeling glum!  When I was a teacher, I got notes from students. Sometimes, it'd be a quick note, or just a smiley face. Occasionally, it'd be a heartfelt letter or an apology for misbehavior. I kept them all in a drawer in my desk. When I had days that I felt overwhelmed and under-appreciated, I'd look at the notes. At the end of the year, when I cleared out my desk, it reminded me of the many positive moments.

As a writer, I related to the many posters that said something like, "This year is a book with 365 pages and it's up to you what you write on them." We can't control what happens, but we can often control how we respond to things - and that might make all the difference in what happens next!  I learned long ago that having a positive outlook makes for a happier life. Don't forget to talk to God about your day, the good and the bad.

Who knows what 2013 has in store? I've learned that sometimes what we know will happen, just won't. "For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future." (Jeremiah 29:11)  There are always surprises - guess we will just have to live it before we'll know! Happy New Year!

A Candle is Burning

A Candle is Burning
sung to the tune of "Away in a Manger"

A candle is burning, a flame warm and bright,
A candle of HOPE in December's dark night
While angels sing blessings from heaven's starry sky,
Our hearts we prepare now for Jesus is nigh

A candle is burning, a candle of PEACE,
A candle to signal that conflict must cease
For Jesus is coming to show us the way
A message of peace humbly laid in the hay

A candle is burning, a candle of JOY,
A candle to welcome brave Mary's new boy
Our hearts fill with wonder and eyes light and glow
As joy brightens winter like sunshine on snow

A candle is burning, a candle of LOVE,
A candle to point us to heaven above
A baby for Christmas, a wonderful birth
ForJesus is bringing God's love to our earth.

We honor Messiah with Christ's candle flame
Our Christmas Eve candles glad tidings proclaim
O Come, all you faithful, rejoice in this night
As God comes among us, the Christian's true light.

 

 A Candle is Burning  Words are a song by Sandra Dean, a former Director of Music at Southminster United Church in Ottawa, Canada. It is used with her permission and blessing.  It was the inspiration for my Advent book by the same name.

Away in a Manger

        Luke 2:4-7 tells us, "And Joseph also went up from Galilee, out of the city of Nazareth, into Judaea, unto the city of David, which is called Bethlehem; (because he was of the house and lineage of David:) to be taxed with Mary his espoused wife, being great with child. And so it was, that, while they were there, the days were accomplished that she should be delivered.  And she brought forth her firstborn son, and wrapped him in swaddling clothes, and laid him in a manger; because there was no room for them in the inn."  

Away in a Manger

It may be called a manger, the nativity scene, or a crèche.  During the Middle Ages, people set up living crèches in Italian villages.  Whatever name you use, you probably have one.

The word Nativity has to do with birth, but this was not just any birth, but a birth that changed the world then and now.  The manger used by Jesus was most likely a food trough in a cave, as that is where they kept their animals. (Sometimes animals were kept in a cave during this time, other times, a lower level of a house, like a lean-to.)

Traditionally, most people have one under the tree.  I have several, close to 20 actually, yet rarely put there under the tree because I like branches to the floor.  Mine are set up around the house.  The more delicate ones are put up in a safe place but others are on tables to be enjoyed.

Our children were familiar with the nativity story and enjoyed “acting it out” using the mangers kept out for them.  Each had particular ways of arranging the manger, according to individual interpretation.

When she was about five, Elizabeth declared, “Who put all these animals in here?  I moved them outside where they belong.  You can’t have dirty animals with Baby Jesus!”

Andrew moved all the animals to one side and added Matchbox cars to the manger like a garage.  It was possible to identify which child had touched it last by the position of the pieces!  Occasionally, Fisher-Price animals managed to join “the regulars” as well.

I do not remember which son did it, but one day I noticed that Baby Jesus was missing!  I asked about it and he took Jesus out of a pocket.  Apparently, Baby Jesus had wanted to see the large Nativity scene at church so he showed him.

Why did I allow the kids to play with the Nativity scene?  I wanted it to be real to them.  After all, it IS a real story.  Young children love the story of the baby in the manger.  Reenacting the story gave them joy.

A prayer for today 

 Dear Lord, I want to keep the story of the Nativity real in my heart, just as a child.  Help me keep the love and wonder alive.  Remind me to show MY life to Jesus and include Him.  Amen.

sharing a reading  from my Advent 

devotional called,  "As We Wait" 

a book that looks at the symbols

 and customs of the Advent season, 

written for the entire family.

Linus Understood the Light of Love

Sharing two entries from my Advent book, "A Candle is Burning."

The Light of Love

 Today is the fourth Sunday of Advent, the week that represents Love. As we light the last purple candle, along with the other candles, the light reminds us that Jesus is the light of the world.  His birth brings light to the darkness of despair.

John 1:1-5

 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God.  All things were made through Him, and without Him nothing was made that was made.  In Him was life, and the life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not comprehend it.

In the beginning, was God, and He sent His Son to became flesh, in other words, man. Jesus showed us how to put God’s love into practice, even dying to do so. God wants a relationship with you, just as you are.

John 1:14

And the Word became flesh and dwelt among us, and we beheld His glory, the glory as of the only begotten of the Father, full of grace and truth.

 As we begin the last week of Advent, the waiting is almost over. Soon, we’ll celebrate the birth that changed everything, when God’s love arrived as a newborn.

When the candle of Love is lighted, remember God’s love for you and share it with others.

Linus Understood

 One of the most familiar Christmas traditions is the Charlie Brown Christmas Special. It has been almost 50 years since it first aired in 1965. Charles Schultz insisted on using the voices of real children, which was a new idea. He also insisted on using average children, not professionals. The CBS executives had serious reservations about this. They were especially concerned about Linus quoting from the Bible on network television and almost refused!

50% of the television viewing audience watched it that night and it got wonderful reviews. They related to Charlie Brown’s question, “What is the real meaning of Christmas?” The children’s play, the overly-decorated doghouse, and search for the perfect tree represented the false emphasis of the holiday then, and still happens today.

 Luke 2:12-14

“And this will be the sign to you: You will find a Babe wrapped in swaddling cloths, lying in a manger.” And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!”

When Linus quoted the Christmas Story from the Gospel of Luke, he touched the hearts of viewers. It is my favorite scene from any movie. You may want to share it with someone today..

 from my book, "A Candle is Burning"