Wanna K.I.S.S. ?

I have a habit of making things more complicated than they sometimes need to be.  Like Emeril, I like to kick it up a notch.  or two.  For the most part I think it's worth it - even though it can tend to drive others around me a bit bonkers.

But it doesn't always work.  Take last year. I was all geared up to dive into 40 days of contemplative prayer during Lent.  I had not just one, but 2 books, and a brand new journal with a butterfly design.  The first couple days I sat down in my "prayer chair" at the allotted time, went thru the guided exercises, took deep breaths, made the appropriate notations.  By Day 4 I sat there and seemed only to be able to focus on the noise of the heat turning on and off and reflected on how there is no such thing as real silence.  It was not working.  I gave up a few days after that.  So much for acquiring that "new spiritual discipline".  

SO, while not really making it an official "thing", this year I have been trying to simplify during Lent.  Simple meals.  Simpler calendar where possible.  Even simple prayer?

Back in January, my bible study of the book of Luke hit Chapter 11 where Jesus teaches his disciples to pray - the verses form the basis of what many faith traditions use for the Lord's Prayer. I learned this as a child and have been saying it for years, but it began to take on a fresh meaning as I was reminded how most (all?) of our daily needs can be met in these simple, familiar words. 

SO, for Lent I have been saying the Lord's Prayer.  No fancy books, no journal, nothing complicated about it.  A lot of the time, I listen to a sung version of it, and have included a recent favorite version below.  

Some times, you just need to K.I.S.S. (keep it simple and sincere!)

Our Father, who art in heaven, hallowed be thy name.

Thy kingdom come, thy will be done,

on earth as it is in heaven.

Give us this day, our daily bread,

and forgive us our debts, as we forgive our debtors.

And lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil.

For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory forever. Amen.

Would you remain homeless to keep your cats?

It's been one of those days where the heart strings are being tugged hard.  I experienced yet another in a growing collection of encounters that leave me wondering.  So, I'll just share.  

For about the 4th time in the past year, I have had an encounter with a homeless person.  I have already written about one such encounter with a man on a street corner in Richmond here.  One time I was approached in a church parking lot (the person wanted to know if the church had a food bank) and one time I was approached in a strip mall parking lot by a woman who needed a place to live.  They all caught me off guard and they all left me wondering afterward what I could have done differently. 

Today's encounter seemed to be an extension of the previous ones.  A woman was sitting in an intersection near my house - a place where I have never seen a homeless person before.  She was on the inside barrier, and my car stopped at the light to where I was literally eye level with her.  Sigh.  I knew what I needed to do - but this time it was not as much a dilemma as it had seemed on those earlier times.  I rolled down my window and handed her whatever cash I had on hand (I was literally on the way to the bank so the sum total was only about $10). I told her I'd pray that her situation improved, and I asked her if she had tried out local shelters or the county for assistance.  She said yes - but the main issue was no one would take her AND her cats.  (yes, I know....what the ???)  She was well spoken and indicated she knew quite well that many people did not understand how she would sacrifice her own well being for a bunch of animals.  Then she said, "those cats have been there for me when no one else has, and I am not going to leave them now".  

wow.  I honestly did not know what to think. I have not had a pet since I was a kid, but I know a lot of folks who would feel the same way about their pets.  I told her that I could understand, and that I hoped something worked out.  Then the light turned green.  As I drove away I actually figured she would use the money I gave her for cat food. And I was OK with that.

How are these people ending up in my path lately?  I have said before - really - I am NOT that person who talks to homeless people.  But here I am talking to them? 

SO - here is what I think I might have learned so far from these encounters:

1)  It's gotten easier every time.  Maybe it's cause I don't want the guilt of having ignored another human being, but with each encounter it has seemed more like the right thing to do and less "risky".  I would not have thought that ones needs "practice" for this type of thing - but maybe we do.  

2) Each time I have wondered about what I might do differently - and this last time I actually followed thru on that.  When I asked her if she had looked into where to get help - that was something I had thought of only after he fact when approached by the woman who need a place to live. SO, maybe the practice pays off?

And I still wonder what I might have done differently.  One thing - I really should have asked her name...maybe next time I'll remember.  In the mean time, now I have added "woman on the corner"  to the "man on the corner" as folks to pray for.

Let's Do Lunch!

It all started Super Bowl Sunday – I met an old friend for lunch.  It had been a while since we had gotten together, and when we went to leave I apologized for it having taken so long to find a time we could both meet.  Her reply was one of those great unexpected gifts – in effect she replied that with some friends you don’t have to see them to know they are there if you need them, and when you do finally get together you can pick right up where you left off.  Isn't that what we all want and NEED? more of THAT?

That lunch was the beginning of what has turned out to be a month of lunches.  And all of them in their own way highlighted why it is so important to take time to just BE with people.   SO, here are a few of the “lunches” I have had recently:

-       “the new place” – a dear friend suggested lunch at a place I never would have gone to on my own.  LOVED it.  We had not seen each other since the holidays.  We could have both easily been too busy to share an hour over a meal – but we did it any way.  We got caught up on life, shared complaints about the status of our hair, and supported each other in our decision to skip dessert. 

-       “leftovers at home” – my husband and I shared a simple weekday lunch of dinner leftovers at our kitchen table.  No kids.  No agenda.  No calendar planning or household decisions to be made.   Just enjoying the time – never knowing when it might happen again (as I write this he is on travel).  And he pleasantly surprised me with a suggestion I would not have thought he would make.

-       “working lunch” –What started as a purposeful meeting with someone I knew, ended as a wonderful shared time with someone I KNEW much better.  In the end, the “purpose” of the lunch was the topic of least discussion. 

-       “mother/daughter” lunch – I brought an easy lunch to a lovely mother/daughter duo who each in their own right are friends of mine – but I don’t think we had all three lunched together before.   We shared fears, dreams, complaints, joys, and laughter. 

-       “non-lunch” – another “meeting” – but this time food was not part of  it.  We were two busy moms trying to make plans.  It was someone who I had “known” for three years, but after this lunch, felt I really KNEW for the first time.

-       “group lunch” – OK, not a lunch at all – rather it was the Ash Wednesday soup supper at my church.  But, the meal was minimal – which left more time to re-connect with older friends, and bring some newer friends into the circle of fellowship.  One slurp at a time.

-       “pre-lunch” group  - also not a lunch.  Rather a gathering of myself and a group of other women – none under the age of 60.  We all knew each other at least by name – many had known each other for a long time - yet in an hour we grew to know each other even more through sharing of stories involving tears, laughter and a bit of good-natured debate.

 What I learned or was reminded of from these lunches:

-    It’s amazing what you can learn about someone in an hour when you give them your complete attention

-      The importance of an open and honest relationship with my children, esp. as they become teenagers

-      There is much to be learned from the “elders” of the church – there is no substitute for life experience

-  We often have more in common with each other than we think, regardless of age, gender or life circumstance

-       Everyone has a great story – we just need to make the time to listen to it

-       You never know where a conversation will lead if you don’t start one

Today I learned of an idea that someone is trying to form a church that meets “online”.  I found myself dismayed at the thought.  In an age where we are given ever increasing opportunity to seclude ourselves behind machines, I don’t want the church to add to that.  We have real human need to be in relationship with other human beings. Relationships take effort, and time.  They do not happen by accident.  We can go on for a long time with surface level acquaintances, but eventually that gets old.  SO, I am grateful for a month of lunches to remind me of that. And I look forward to hearing more stories – one lunch at a time.

Return to the Mountaintop

Funny what a difference a year makes.  Today I "ran" 5 miles and hope to still walk tomorrow.  A year ago I was neck deep in training for my first  1/2 marathon. Today I had Girl Scout cookies for lunch.  A year ago I was 10 pounds lighter thanks to logging 25+ miles in a week on my feet.  

Today was Transfiguration Sunday on the church calendar - a story where Jesus takes some of his disciples up to the top of a mountain and they experience an extraordinary event.  A year ago, this day didn't occur till March 6th.  I ran my race 2 weeks later (I ran the Shamrock 1/2 marathon in support of the American Cancer Society).  At the time, I had no idea it would become my very own mountain top experience!   It certainly was the last thing I expected.  It was a day like no other.  After the race, I was asked about my experience.  Unable to adequately express all that I was feeling in a brief response, I wrote the following piece and shared it with my supporters.  As I re-read it now almost a year later, I can only imagine what the disciples felt on that mountain top.  So, I share what I wrote a year ago, and wish for you all your own mountain top experience.

________

The Race

So many of you asked about how the race went – and it was so awesome there is no one word answer!  So, here is a bit of my 13.1 mile experience:

Early Start:  I woke at 1:45am and never got back to sleep.  Nervous, me??? Yikes!  Good thing I napped Saturday.  I got all the last minute race essentials in place and brewed the in-hotel room coffee (but only 1 cup – not good to OD on coffee unless you want to visit the port-o-john mid race!).

Headed out:  I left the hotel about 5:30am in the dark to walk the mile or so to the race check in.  Yikes it was WINDY – like 20+ mph.  My shamrock headband flew off my head and was promptly stashed in my bag till race start.

Ready to race:  The American Cancer Society DNation team had their own tent to collect our bags with “dry gear” (anything you don’t want to carry in your hands during the race, then they bring it to the finish line for you to get afterwards).  We took a group picture and headed to the race start!

RUN:  The first 3 miles were pretty easy – I went out fast but not too fast.  Got in a good groove, sun was finally up, wind was dying down, everyone was happy.  Frankly, running folks are just so darn nice.  It was early (7am race start) so not so many spectators, but there were some – including folks handing out beer to runners as they passed by (I did not partake at this point…made me ill to think about it actually).

By Mile 4, I was on a total runner’s high – I totally rocked miles 4-8.  The play list was just right, there were bands on the sidelines to keep us going.  I ran negative splits for 5 miles – this means that I got faster with every additional mile.  This was “God moment” #1. I NEVER run negative splits.  NEVER.  By the end of Mile 8, I was running an 11 ½ minute mile pace – this is slow for many, but is practically a sprint in my world.  I was on pace to finish in under 2 ½ hours AND beat the time challenge from one of the survivors I was running for.  I was motivated for many miles at the thought of calling him up and telling him “I did it!”.

Mile 9 – At this point we were back into the wind by the coastline.  I started to slow down, but was still doing pretty well.  I had made a bib to wear on the back of my shirt called “Survivors and Saints” – with all the initials of the many folks I was running for.  I got a lot of comments from the people passing me on my shirt (yes, a lot of people passed me but I guess its OK since they saw the shirt!).  I thought a lot about how lucky I was to even be in that race.  I thought a lot about how just 2 years ago I never would have thought it was possible. 

Mile 10 – Started to feel it in the knees.  God moment #2 – “Run” by After the Chase came up on the play list – it is based on Isaiah 40:31.  I think I played it on repeat for the entire duration of Mile 10.  Truly, the only way my feet kept moving was God watching over me and putting little wings on my feet.  But I was slowing down.

Mile 11 – God moment #3 – and this is what did me in as far as meeting any time goal.  I got another comment on my shirt.  I grunted in appreciation.  Then I got asked a question if I had cancer.  SO, I grunt no as answer to her question.  [For the record, I DO NOT talk when I run.  I am the most unsocial runner ever.  Really, I can’t run and talk at the same time.  I talk too fast that it uses all my air for running!].  Then she starts to pass me and I hear her say she has cancer and then I see the bulge of her PICC line (the permanent IV line where you receive chemo usually).  My heart stops.  My feet barely manage a shuffle at this point as I am overwhelmed with emotion remembering exactly what that PICC line means – even the grind of flushing the line, and cleaning to prevent infection.  So much hope lies in that plastic tubing and I was SO thankful not to be a part of that world any more.  Trying desperately to compose myself so I can keep running, we run side by side for the briefest bit.  We chat as easily as one can when we each have music blaring in our ears.  She has lymphoma.  I tell her my husband was sick, she asks what kind.  She thought he was still sick – I felt an insane amount of guilt when I said he was 2 years cancer free.  I never did get her name.  She said “thanks for caring.”  Then I slowed down more and she pull away.

She changed the entire perspective of that race for me.  I pretty much walked the rest of the race trying not to cry like a baby the entire time.  I saw all the folks who passed me and just took it all in.  It was one of those rare moments when God is so present and you actually realize it WHILE it’s happening and not just after it’s all over.  I crossed the finish line physically exhausted (this was expected), emotionally drained (much more so than I thought I’d be), and spiritually fulfilled (more than I ever thought possible).

Double Dog Dare!

I love how one seemingly normal word can all the sudden seem to pop up every where and take on a larger meaning.  It's like my new car - I see "my car" every where!   Lately, the word has been DARE.  It's popped up in songs, articles - even the new liturgy of the Catholic mass.

Today - it appeared again in this song.  I love the lyrics of the song sung from the perspective of Abraham (and it doesn't hurt that it is sung by the singers from Casting Crowns).  

"Tell me who, but You, would dare me to Believe what I can’t see"  

After hearing this song, I again began pondering the word "Dare".  I chuckled remembering the games of truth or dare I played as a kid.  Then my thoughts went to the current state of the church.  I was recently in a discussion about how hard change is in the church - and in response to the future of the church someone asked "How do you see the church you've never seen?" I think the lyrics above go direct to the point - we haven't seen it yet - but we still need to dare to believe.

SO what would it look like if we were to DARE to believe and live out our faith as we are truly called to do?  I love a good acronym...so how about this:


DARE to be a Christian by:
D igging deep into the Word
A cting out faith through service
R eaching out to those in need
E mbracing everyday miracles


Do you dare?
  

¹ You know, brothers and sisters, that our visit to you was not without results. ² We had previously suffered and been treated outrageously in Philippi, as you know, but with the help of our God we dared to tell you his gospel in the face of strong opposition. ³ For the appeal we make does not spring from error or impure motives, nor are we trying to trick you.⁴ On the contrary, we speak as those approved by God to be entrusted with the gospel. We are not trying to please people but God, who tests our hearts. ⁵ You know we never used flattery, nor did we put on a mask to cover up greed—God is our witness. ⁶ We were not looking for praise from people, not from you or anyone else, even though as apostles of Christ we could have asserted our authority.⁷ Instead, we were like young children^[a] among you. (Thess 2:1-7)

Don't Worry...Be Happy?

There is a LOT of worry going around.  It seems to be coming from all directions these days.  Friends worried about job security, teens worried about how their life is going to turn out - even my own young kids have worries (today was report card day - I am sure there was some lost sleep last night).  

I keep a running list of prayer concerns in a journal (I am past the point of letting my wee brain remember everything).  Today that list included WAY too many children fighting illness.  And those were just the ones I know about.  Having been in a situation with a family member having a serious illness, I KNOW those parents are worried.  And when people tell them NOT to worry???  Don't even go there.

But, what if it's Jesus telling us not to worry???  As it almost always happens, my weekly bible study highlights some aspect of life that could use some improvement.  Today one of the areas was from Luke 12:25..."Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life?"  Earlier this week I joked on Facebook that I should take these words and place them strategically around my house -  like on my bedroom ceiling.

I have kind of a crazy imagination -  a blessing and a curse.  It often leads to some really cool ideas - and just as often leads to worry.  Like when my husband does not text me the minute his plane lands somewhere.  and I am convinced his plane has crashed (really - how did folks with traveling spouses ever live before cell phones??).

So, I start to WORRY when Jesus says I am not supposed to WORRY.  Is there no benefit to a little angst?  I have no idea what the right answer is there - but I will say the following:

•  I am human. I am going to worry about stuff.  All kinds of stuff - important stuff, and yes even not-so-important stuff.
• Other people are going to worry.  It is not my place to judge the importance of their worries.  Just like all prayers received by God - my worries are no more or less important than someone else's worries.
• Having lived thru worrisome situations in life - I can say from experience that it's better to take all those worries to God in prayer than let them consume you.  I've done it both ways, and prayer is definitely the way to go.  The bigger the worry, the more praying required.   

I would go so far to say that a strong faith can actually let you worry.  You can imagine the worst and still have confidence that it will all work out somehow.  Faith let's you think the dark thoughts, but then brings you back into the light.

So, don't worry.

Mashups: Expect the Unexpected

Have you ever listened to mashups?  They are when you take two (or more?) completely different songs and play them together to get a "new" song.  Like Jay-Z and Frank Sinatra. Or Madonna and the Beatles.  Or in my case Katy Perry and Kari Jobe.

I have Katy Perry on my workout play list.  I have always liked her "Firework" song.  In many ways, I think of it as the new age version of "This Little Light of Mine".  The lyrics have a way of energizing me [Do you know that there's still a chance for you - you've just got to ignite the light and let it shine...it's always been inside of you and now it's time to let it through].  Then there is the other end of the spectrum - cause post-sweat I like to listen to a more peaceful tune.  Right next to Katy Perry on my list of artists is Kari Jobe, a Christian singer with the most unique voice that often lulls me to sleep on the nights my husband is on travel.  

I chuckled when I noticed that they were the only artists in my music choices that started with a "K".    They couldn't be more different.  Katy Perry makes headlines when her marriage ends and raises eyebrows with some of her bold lyrics.  Kari Jobe leads thousands in worship through song.

But they both inspire me - so I tried an experiment I sometimes do.  I made a mash up.  [I discovered how to do this by accident:  if I open multiple  tabs in my browser and hit the play button on more than one sound file/video they ALL play at the same time].  You never know what you are going to get - it can be awful (and often is) - but every now and then these odd combinations turn out some really funky yet appealing tunes.

It got me to thinking about the current state of the church (as opposed to the State of the Union we heard last night).  I have spent a bunch of time recently reading books and listening to people talk about how we need to use the good things churches have done in the past, yet be open to new ideas in a rapidly changing culture - all with the purpose of sharing the hope of our faith.  

The overlap of recognizing the past, yet making change for the future is not always welcome.  It can create a little chaos.  It's a bit like a mashup.  You never know what you are going to get unless you try.  But, sometimes, you end up making beautiful new music.