Madre's Musings

It's so bright...

2012-03-17T09:06:00.000-05:00

Meditation for Lent 4B

In thegospel for Lent 4 we find one of the most known passages of scripture. We find it at almost every gathering ofpeople, from football games to car races to t-shirts to church signs. It has been trivialized and the richness ofits meaning lost to many.

The versefollowing it is also rich in love and grace. It is the reminder that we are loved to the point we need do nothing forGod has already done the work. The wordsof darkness and light are beautiful images that speak to the depths of God’slove and our willingness to run from it. A colleague recently shared that our response to God’s love is too oftenthat we are blinded by the light, the love, so we put our sunglasses on to hidefrom the light. In doing so we are ableto run just a little while longer from the depth of God’s love.

It canbe difficult to trust in the gift of that love because we are unable to seeit. While it is there, how can webelieve it when we cannot see it? This lifeof faith would be so much easier if we were provided with special glasses thatallowed us to see God’s love in times we have forgotten what it looks like whenwe have spent too much time focused on the darkness.

Foolishness

2012-03-10T07:36:00.000-06:00

(Meditation for Lent 3B)

Godcomes to us in many amazing and unexpected ways and to those of us most wouldthink are less than stellar choices. Thepoor, the weak, the broken, the sinful, the fragile. God redeems even those that seemunredeemable.

Themost unbelievable of the ways God comes to us is in the incarnation. How astounding is it that God came to us as ababy in a smelly manger? Became a workerof wood? Became one that continues totouch us and heal us? Came to die forus? That continues to come to us inunexpected and “foolish” ways?

This is the God whose law continues to teach us how to love Godand our neighbor with the words given on a holy mountain. The God who becomes angry at the cheapeningof the temple. The God that seems tomake no sense. The God who continues todo the unexpected, the unanticipated, the unexplainable, and the foolish. TheGod who continues to call us, each of us to follow this upside down journey tothe cross. The God who says repeatedlyto believe in those things that seem to make no sense…to lose our lives to savethem, to serve in order to lead, to give away to gain…the God that calls us outof our comfort zones to follow.

This is the God many find foolish. Are we willing to appear foolish for God’s sake? Foolish enough to share the Good News of Godin Christ?

The Kindness Chronicles

2012-03-04T20:34:00.001-06:00

One of my favorite artist's, Jane LaFazio, began The Kindness Chronicles today with some of her friends. You can read about it here on her blog: Janeville

The goal is that the first Sunday of each month we pay attention to kindness, both shared and received. Part of me wishes that I knew about it before I left the house today and I had to chastise myself because I shouldn't need a prompt to be kind.

I have no huge things to share and realize that is how most days really are when we don't make kindness a priority.

As I reviewed the day I was reminded of the smiles I both received and gave, the hugs shared, and the gifts that are part of what this vocation calls me to, sacramentally and relationally.

Kindness was given in sharing a God box with a friend who needed one, chatting with a teen I have missed about life and then finding a snack together, making a collage for someone I haven't seen in a while, and in guarding my tongue when I wanted to be not so nice (perhaps that really is something else, yet today it felt like a kind thing).

Kindness was received in words of affirmation after stepping out of my comfort zone in the pulpit, new trees to bring shade outside my kitchen, a chance to make amends, and receiving a holy meal with brothers and sisters as we journey together.

The lessons for me are:

~ that I shouldn't need to be reminded to be kind.

~ I am blessed to do what I do where I do it.

~ being kind is mostly about the little things that add up to make a big difference.

I intend to pay more attention to kindness not just the first Sunday of the month, but every day especially as we make that journey to the greatest kindness we have received.

Feel free to join me in paying attention to kindness and the lessons it brings.

Follow the Leader

2012-03-02T10:59:00.001-06:00

(Meditation for Lent 2)

Do you remember playingfollow the leader? The goal of the gameis to do what the leader is doing. Failureto do as the leader is means you lose and are out of the game.

The leader’s goal is todo increasingly more difficult actions quickly so that others are unable tokeep up. The winner is the last one(other than the leader) left in the game.

The readings for theSecond Sunday of Lent remind me for many reasons of playing follow theleader.

First we see Abraham whoin spite of all outward appearances believes God’s covenant with him. The covenant which lets him know he will bethe father of many. Here Abraham is 99years old and Sarah is barren. Against allodds, Abraham believes and follows God.

Next we have Peter whofocuses on the human, the safe, the known. He attempts to rebuke Jesus as Jesus shares what is to come. Aside from the boldness, Peter makes mechuckle. How much I am like him attimes! “Um, God, no…not so much. It’s going to be like this…”

And then we have Jesuswho reminds us of the need to follow him. To follow him in this upside down journey to the cross. This journey that makes no sense on thesurface. This journey that calls us tolose our lives to save them. Thisjourney that calls us to lead as servants. This journey in which we follow an unseen God.

A person much wiser thanme said, “Faith is obedience without reservation.” May we follow THE leader without reservation.

Going Deep

2012-02-23T09:25:00.000-06:00

(Meditation for the first Sunday of Lent)

Picture a desert. Likely hues of brown, dryness, and heat come to mind. Have you ever spent time in the desert? If you have you know that there is a beautyabout the desert that is unique to its need for survival.

Most deserts receive around ten inches of rain peryear. In some, it may be several yearsbetween rainfalls. In others the runoffand evaporation rate is such that there are bursts of rain in great amounts andthen periods of drought.

Plants in the desert are spaced further apart than in areas withmore rain. Plants often have a root networkthat run fifty feet deep. Characteristicslike this allow them to survive in their arid environment.

While the predominant color scheme is brown with grays and abit of green, there is life in the desert. Life that relies on receiving water when it becomes available.

It is no coincidence that we begin Lent watching Jesus headout into the desert after his baptism. It is a reminder to us that there is a need for connection to the sourceof living water, the source of the covenant, the source of the kingdom of God.

In the desert the focus is often on sustaining life. Unnecessary movement ceases. The goal is to go deep to find water,sustenance, and life giving basics.

During this season of Lent may we go deep. May our roots penetrate through theunnecessary that we might find the source of all life. May we connect again with living water andthe keeper of the covenant. In doing somay we remember that kingdom of God is indeed near. It lives deep within us and calls us to be areflection of it in our arid world.

Ash Wednesday

2012-02-22T08:25:00.000-06:00

We are sacramental, a people who live out our faith inoutward symbols of inward grace in the midst of our worship. Today we will do so as we are marked withashes and reminded that we are nothing more than dust to which we willreturn.

We are reminded again of the need to closely look at ourhearts and our lives, to be reconciled to God.

During this season of Lent it is tempting to give up or takeon more than we can handle and like a new exercise program or New Year’sresolution which we start zealously and wear ourselves out with, give up andwalk away from. Leading us to feel we have failed miserably, perhapsthinking we don’t have what it takes to be a “good” Christian.

“Rend your hearts and not your clothing” Joel tells us,while Matthew reminds us of the call from Jesus to practice our piety in waysthat may go unseen.

These words remind us that God seeks our hearts not theoutward symbols of our piety. God yearnsfor relationship with each one of us. Godseeks us out unceasingly.

So as you go to God about what to do this season of Lent,remember God has already done the work. Ourcall is to say yes. How that looks willbe different for each of us and that is as it should be.

May you open your heart to hear God as the journey in thedesert begins.

SSSSSSSHHHHHHHHHHHHH!

2012-02-15T16:59:00.001-06:00

(Meditation for the Last Sunday after Epiphany)

Sssshhhh!

Be silent.

Sssshhhh!

Be silent.

Sssshhhh!

Don’t tell.

Sssshhhh!

In the “transfiguration” of Elijah we see Elisha tell othersto be silent when they ask if he knows what is coming. In the transfiguration of Jesus we see Jesustell Peter, James, and John not to tell others what happened on that holymountain.

Think about it. How manytimes have you heard someone share their faith in a vocal way that seemedcondemning only to see them later do or say something that seemed to contradict their words? How many times have you seensomeone claim to believe in a loving God acting hatefully to another? How often have you been hurt in the “name” ofGod or the church?

It is striking that in both of these biblical stories thosewho are witness to a mighty act of God are told to not speak. There is something there.

What would happen instead of talking about our faith, our relationshipwith Christ, our connection to the church, we lived the Gospel?

What if our actions were the testimony thosearound us “heard?”

What if instead of talking about the Great Commission welived it?

What if we silently became thehands and feet of Christ EVERYWHERE we go?

The Gospel isn’t about words. It is about action. It is about love. It is radical. It is what we are called to live not just talkabout.

"Christ has no body now butyours,
no hands but yours,
no feet but yours.
Yours are the eyes through which
Christ's compassion must look out on the world.
Yours are the feet with which
He is to go about doing good.
Yours are the hands with which
He is to bless us now."

~St. Teresa of Avila

Shall we dance?

2012-02-10T12:07:00.002-06:00

God lifts us up.

God heals.

God restores.

Look at Naaman in 2 Kings 5. He gets angry because God is not doing more for him. For not doing what Naaman expects him to do.This great warrior is used to telling people what to do and have them doit. It seems he expects the same of God. He says, “I thought for me he would …” come right to me, doall the work, and I would be healed.

Don’t we hear ourselves say that at times?

God has already made the choice to heal us just as Jesuschooses to heal the leper in Mark 1.40-45. .

God has already healed us.

God has already reached out to us.

God has chosen us.

God keeps reaching out to us.

God keeps choosing us.

It is we that push God away. It is we that put conditions on God, on God’s action in our lives and inour world.

God chooses us! Thatis astounding and humbling and EPIC (my new word for the week).

God chooses to heal us. To turn our wailing into dancing as David so eloquently writes.

That is good news isn’t it?

God chooses to heal us. We only need to say yes.

Can we remember again that God is good?

God is able?

God is real?

And that God isgenerous?

Can we be less like Naaman… “I thought God would…”

Can we put God first? Make God the priority rather than put conditions on how we meet God?

Can we make time forGod out of love rather than duty?

Can we dance more? Wail less?

Can David’s words in Psalm 30become our prayer?

I will exalt you, O LORD,
because you have lifted me up *
and have not let my enemies triumph over me.

O LORD my God, I cried out to you, *
and you restored me to health.

You brought me up, O LORD, from the dead; *
you restored my life as I was going down to the grave.

Sing to the LORD, you servants of his; *
give thanks for the remembrance of his holiness.

For his wrath endures but the twinkling of an eye, *
his favor for a lifetime.

Weeping may spend the night, *
but joy comes in the morning.

While I felt secure, I said,
"I shall never be disturbed. *
You, LORD, with your favor, made me as strong as the mountains."

Then you hid your face, *
and I was filled with fear.

I cried to you, O LORD; *
I pleaded with the Lord, saying,

"What profit is there in my blood, if I go down to thePit?
will the dust praise you or declare your faithfulness?

Hear, O LORD, and have mercy upon me; *
O LORD, be my helper."

You have turned my wailing into dancing; *
you have put off my sack-cloth and clothed me with joy.

Therefore my heart sings to you without ceasing; *
O LORD my God, I will give you thanks for ever.

Can we remember God chooses us?

Thanks be to God!

Words

2012-02-02T21:14:00.000-06:00

It is by no means a new concept yet today I have been struck anew by the power of words and their perception. So much of what we say with our mouths is really not what we meant to have heard by others. I forget that not everyone has learned to read beyond words to see the 90% that is said with the body. Having learned early and often to "hear" in ways other than words kept me safely at a distance from harm as a child and able to understand those without words in my first career, this "skill" often leaves me heart broken as I "hear" and "see" differently these days. It leaves the recipient confused and wondering, leads to misunderstandings, and is hurtful when hopes are raised by words not meant.

I am reminded of the need to speak clearly, honestly, and with sincerity. I pray my words bring more blessing than pain.

Let the words of my mouth and the meditation of my heart be acceptable to you, O Lord, my rock and my redeemer. (Psalm 19.14)

Creative Every Day for January 23

2012-01-24T22:41:00.001-06:00

Not quite the industrious week as last week, but a few new things. Among them I collaged my calendar:

finished a journal:

added more pages to another.

Did some drawing while having to sit still in meetings and some of those are being incorporated into a few pieces still in process.

Finishing up a few details on outstanding projects (making an old broken thing new again - pics when done) ...

And trying to remember that when I am attacked it isn't always about me (even when it feels like it)....maybe that is this week's new (again).

Watch for a piece prominently featuring the warrior princess....she is waiting to be seen.

Why I love "church" and Jesus

2012-01-24T11:23:00.000-06:00

Recently a video entitled “Why I Hate Religion, but LoveJesus” has garnered a lot of attention. While I am not a fan of rap, I do love poetry and the young mancertainly has some good points. I haveheard and read a variety of responses to this video. I appreciate that in going viral this videohas forced us to look at, talk about, and think about religion, church, Jesus,and how they are the same and how they are not.

Now unless I have gotten it very wrong, Jesus did not cometo “abolish religion” as this young man states, but rather because God lovesus. After the resurrection Jesus seeksout Peter. This would be the Peter towhom he said, “And I tell you, you are Peter, and on this rock I will build mychurch, and the gates of Hades will not prevail against it (Matthew16.18).”

If we were able to “get it” on our own and stay strong inour faith we would be able to feed ourselves, stay strong in times of doubt anddarkness, and have no need of community. I have yet to meet a person that can do that on their own. I believe that is why we have thechurch. To hold one another up when weneed holding, to love one another when we cannot love ourselves, and tocontinue seeking after Jesus this side of heaven.

There is much religion or the church has gotten wrongthrough the years. There is much we getwrong right here on the corner of Washington and Elk in Fayetteville,Tennessee. Yet there is much more thatwe get right. Some of the them areletting a little girl carry a treasured cross into the sanctuary with the helpof her father so she learns she is important and valued in the midst of ourliturgy, feeding one who cannot stand long enough to cook her own meal, sittingthrough the night with one who has fallen and cannot be left alone, allowing questionsin the context of study so that all come away with a deeper understanding ofGod’s word, turning coffee hour into a meal that feeds a single person withmore than food, and being a place broken people enter to be with God during theweek. There are many more and likelymany I have yet to learn.

So while there are times we confuse things and make thingsnot of man more important than things of God, I am grateful that we are a workin progress and that God is full of grace and mercy. I pray that here in our little corner of theworld that we as a people called the church and a place known as a church canindeed be an ocean of grace to those in need of refreshment.

Creative Every Day Check in January 16th

2012-01-16T16:16:00.000-06:00

The theme for the month of January is "new." That word is near and dear to my heart entering this year (see post "tion-ing" below).

God has been working in me to allow me courage to try new things and let go of my need to listen to my inner critic as I create. I have had many epiphanies this month (see "God and gesso" and "drying time")as I have trusted and let go of my need to please as I play in my art room. It has been a safe place to learn, pray, play, and risk.

This week I began two new journals...

No peeking Nana Cat

an attempt to be accountable

Made some thank you gifts for service for some incredibly dedicated and wonderful people...

the picture is of the church doors, the words are prayers

and made a gift for a fellow traveler...

first time using these project boards

All of this is "new" and wonderful and sometimes frightening. There have been burned fingers, ruined clothes, a few tears, but mostly some incredible lessons and the awe that comes when someone says, "that is beautiful." And indeed it is!

So come, visit, play, and find "new" with me in my art room. The door is always open and Joshua always loves new friends!

"I'm so cute, how can she not notice me?"

And I had a new bloom on my Christmas cactus!

Still Pinching Myself as I Dance

2012-01-15T12:26:00.000-06:00

Oneyear ago today I officially became your rector. In my first Sunday sermon I asked you to respond with me to theinvitation of Jesus to “Come and see.” Ireminded you that we are invited to dance with a savior who will step into ourlives and our very hearts, shake everything up, and in the midst of that dance,call us. The last year has been full ofmany steps and a few missteps, yet what a dance this has been.

Wehave said goodbye to beloved brothers and sisters in Christ who were calledhome or called in new directions. Wehave said hello to new brothers and sisters who have become beloved. We have visited with and been visited bybrothers and sisters whose path took them to new places or shared a stop ontheir way home.

Wehave prayed together, played together, shared holy meals together, sangtogether, cried together, laughed together, fussed at one another, supportedone another, and continued to grow together in our relationship with God andeach other.

Thejourney has not always been an easy one and sometimes our dance has resulted inus stepping on one another’s toes. Thatis part of learning a new dance. Each ofus comes with our view of what the right steps are and sometimes those stepsresult in a change in the dance. Sometimes we have to take a break, rest, and start the dance again in adifferent way.

Thegood news is that we are a people who believe in grace. There have been times we have had to say, “Iam sorry,” or “I accept your apology.” Those are hard words and yet necessary in the life of the church. Much like a dance in time we begin to movemore fluidly together as we let Christ be in the center rather than try towrest control ourselves.

Ourlectionary now places us at the beginning of the Gospel of John. We see Jesus inviting Phillip to “followme.” That invitation is for us too. We have had the chance to come and see andnow we are called to take that next step. To actively respond to the invitation to follow Jesus.

Phillipimmediately goes and tells Nathaniel about Jesus. When Nathaniel questions him Phillip’s replyis to “come and see.” And they go tofind Jesus again. Their dance takes theminto new life.

Thecalling of Samuel is a story familiar to many of us. We usually focus on the response of Samuel toGod, “here am I.” Yet remember at firstSamuel was confused and keeps going to Eli. It is to Eli he says, here am i. Samuel is unaware that the one calling is God. It is not until Eli realizes that it is Godspeaking that Samuel is able to respond to God’s call. It is then that Samuel says, “speak for yourservant is listening.”

Justas Samuel needed the wisdom of Eli, we need the wisdom of those who have gonebefore us in the place, the saints that have helped to make this part of thebody of Christ what it is today. We needto remember the steps of the dance they have shared with us. We learn from their example as well as theirmissteps. We carry on the dance whichbegan on that St. Mary Magdalene day over 130 years ago.

Weneed to listen for and discern God’s call for us today. What does it mean for us as a worshipingcommunity to follow Jesus? How are webeing called to live that out with and for one another and the communities inwhich we live, work, study, shop, and play?

Thisnext year will be a lean one in terms of budgets and pledges, yet that does notmean we limit our response to share the Good News of God in Christ. It may mean we do so in creative ways as weuse our resources wisely. It may alsomean that we discern more carefully how we share our gifts and talents with theworld.

Sorather than spend money we don’t have on curriculum, can we continue to rely onthe gifts and talents of those teaching to develop Sunday school programs thatfit the needs of our children?

Canwe do Bible studies relying on our Bibles rather than a program?

Canwe make materials needed for worship as an act of prayer rather than purchasethem?

Whatwould our altar look like on the weeks no one signs up for flowers if webrought them from our gardens at home? What if we planted a garden here?

Whatwould it be like to listen to the Word of God rather than follow a writtensheet?

Whatwould it be like if rather than pay an electric bill for those in need, weworked with others to transform lives?

Thereare many more questions I could pose, but I will leave you to ponder somecreative responses to how we move into this phase of the dance. I will rely on you to listen to how God iscalling you to share your gifts and talents in the year to come, how you hearGod calling us.

Andwhile we each discern how that is lived out, the good news is we do not do thisas individuals, but rather as the Body of Christ lived out in this place wecall home. We do this as we continue togrow together in our understanding of how to love God and love ourneighbor. We do this as we respond tothe invitation to “follow me.” We dothis as we continue to learn to dance with our Lord and with one another. There will still be times we may step on oneanother’s toes, yet there will be more times when our dance becomes fluid andmore intricate.

Wedo this as Samuel did by saying, “Speak for your servants are listening.”

Drying Time

2012-01-12T17:04:00.002-06:00

My epiphany today was that just as in art the artist needsto let the layers dry or cure or set, so we must do that in this journey offaith.

God starts with a blank space,

prepares it,

then slowly builds upon it.

Each layer adds a new texture, a new color, and new things emerge.

This takes time. Whenwe rush the process we end up something less than we can be if we takethe time to step back, step away, and let the Holy Spirit work.

Yet if we take that time to let God work in and through us,just like a work of art we have the chance to be more beautiful than we thoughtwe could be.

Yet, O Lord, you are our Father;
we are the clay, and you are our potter;
we are all the work of your hand. (Isaiah 64.8)

Mold me Lord and let me allow for drying time. ~Amen

Where the artist and liturgy geek intersect

2012-01-09T14:56:00.000-06:00

I love art and liturgy and wanted the two to interact in a new way in my work. So what better way than to do a mixed media series on the seasons of the church year?

All are on 2x2 pieces of MDF and proudly feature a lot of gesso (see God and gesso post below). I wanted to include the seasonal colors and objects that reminded me in some way (sometimes in a convoluted one) of the season.

Advent

Christmas

Epiphany

Lent

Easter, Pentecost, and the Season after Pentecost are still in process (and so am I).

God and gesso

2012-01-04T10:34:00.000-06:00

In learning how to use new mediums in art I have made somedetours. As I was working I came to therealization that God’s shaping and molding of us must be a lot like how artistsuse gesso.

I started with a beautiful background

and in my exuberanceto make something new managed to make a bit of a mess with it, much like when Ifall into sin.

I had been pouting aboutit for several days when it dawned on me I could cover the mess up with gessoand start over. (again much like when Isin)

So I began to apply a heavy coat of gesso over my mess. As I did I had the chance to remove someobjects completely, but decided to cover them up with the gesso and find a newway to use them.

My epiphany is that is how God works in us. God doesn’t “take away” our messes, butwashes over them with grace allowing those messes, mistakes, detours to be usedin new ways in a new day.

Thanks be to God (and gesso!) for the chance to make thebroken parts of my life new in ways I could never imagine! Can't wait to see where God takes me and this piece of art!

New toys

2012-01-03T16:23:00.001-06:00

Now that I have a room to play in I have been on a tear with my mixed media work and a bag my handy hubby made for my Kindle. I was blessed with an extremely generous present from my parishioners and was able to indulge in new toys from Blick and some MDF which the nice guys at the lumber company cut into 2x2 squares for me.

I am currently working on a series based on the liturgical calendar and will post them as they are finished. Feels odd to reach back to Advent already.

Here are a couple of the pieces I have finished in the last few days:

This is outside stained glass which is what I see as I look in the church from the outside.

This is beach combing which I hope to do more of sooner rather than later.

I still have no words (so TW you are safe), but have many new stains on my work apron.

My constant companion during play time:

"tion" - ing

2011-12-31T11:27:00.000-06:00

http://www.caribbeanprincessmusings.com/2011/04/saying-goodbye.html

On the cusp of2012 there is time for introspection, retrospection, and several other “tion” words.2011 was full of letting go of old things (some hurtful memories and the place Icalled home among them) and a chance to grab on to some new things (newtraditions, new friends, and yes even some new hurtful things).

As I sit here on this last day of 2011 I amreminded of Paul’s words, “So if anyoneis in Christ, there is a new creation: everything old has passed away; see,everything has become new!” (2Corinthians 5.17).

Yes 2012 will be anew year with new things and yet 2012 is really still just a number. The same me enters the year and will Godwilling end the year. If the year is tobe new I must be open to letting God work in and through me. To allow those words from Paul to be true Imust surrender all that I am, all that I want, and all that I dream to my perfectparent.

I may not be happywith the results and there will be times I attempt to wrest control fromGod. There will be times this dance willbe full of joy and laughter, yet there will also be times it will be painfuland difficult as I ask God to make me new trusting in the Holy Spirit to workin and through me.

As I sit here I rememberthis year began with hope, joy, and expectation in the midst of nervousness onthe brink of a new chapter. I am gratefulthat this year ends in the same way. WhileI hope my location won’t change this year, there will be new adventures, newlessons, new friends, new joys, and even new pains and hurts to continue therefining that is God at work in my life.

What a gloriousdance it is! Thanks be to God!

Christmas Eve Sermon

2011-12-25T00:00:00.000-06:00

Setting: the sanctuary Christmas eve night, the children have just moved the wise men closer to the altar and placed the shepherds and baby Jesus in the manger with the others placed there through the season of Advent.

War and violence fill the evening news and we nolonger notice it. Adults run themselvesragged to ensure that their families don’t fall into poverty and despair whilechildren are so over scheduled they have forgotten how to play.

The joy of shopping for loved ones has beentaken away as senseless acts of violence unfold over televisions, tennis shoes,and toasters.

We live in dark and fearful times. We come into thisplace to hear a reassuring and timeless story of angels and shepherds andvirgins...and we find a Savior lying in a horse trough.

Our Savior is a wee little babe lying next to cows,sheep, and goats among all those things one finds in a stable.

What an extraordinary claim! What an unlikely andincredible cause for a celebration! How can darkness and doubt be penetrated bya tiny baby born in a stable with the yuck that is real life to a frightenedand displaced couple far, far from home?

We come tonight to celebrate the birth of the Christchild. Some of us come with heavyhearts, broken spirits, and tired bodies. Others come not remembering this child. Still others cannot imagine this child making a difference in our lives,in our worlds. Some of us come becausewe don’t know what else to do.

The story we celebrate this night is far from safe.From the very beginning there were few who could accept it. Every Gospel speaksto this. John says he came to his own but his own people did not accept him.Luke says that even as he was being born, no room could be found for him andthe doors were shut to him. Matthew says the very mention of him threw the kinginto a murderous fit, and the child and his family had to flee. And strangelyenough, right here in the stories of his birth, we are already hearing echoesof his death. Even as a newborn we could not find room for him. Even at thefirst glimmer of the light of the world, the world was saying "There is noroom for you here.”

In the stories of his birth and death we see a kingwho is far more powerful and far more glorious than any splendid earthly ruler. A God willing to lay aside power andglory in a way we never could. We seeone who is more pure and righteous than even the most virtuous person walkingthis earth. One who does not treatanyone as beneath him, none are excluded from his love. Not even the lowest of the low. We see one who is the rightful judge of allthe earth, yet who never judges us harshly for our attempt to run from him andshield ourselves from his light.

We see one who, though we shut our doors and left himto be born in a filthy stable, and though we found it easier to turn our backson his death than endure his teaching, he continues to approach us with theunbearable light of extravagant love, perfect grace and truth made flesh. Perfect love made incarnate in a form we canrecognize only if we choose to look past the simplicity of it.

We see in this amazing, upside down love story that itis possible for love to banish fear, for grace to banish vengefulness, and for humilityto banish arrogance.

If we let go of our petty excuses to run from thislove we can come to know this saviour that chose to come as a fragile and vulnerableand powerless newborn baby. Then andonly then may we stand in the light of Christ.

This little baby lying in a trough promises thesalvation of the world. This story is sofar from what was expected then, expected now, that we have difficulty wrappingour arms, let alone our minds around it. Yet, if we like those long ago shepherds follow the light into thatdirty stable, we will find ourselves born anew, born of God, born as childrenof God, full of grace and truth.

And if we allow ourselves to come closer to thattrough, to kneel with the shepherds and angels in the smelly mess that isImmanuel, God with us, we begin to see the edges of the darkness pushed away alittle bit at a time.

In that wee babe we experience a love like noother. A love that turns everythingupside down. A love beyond ourimagining, our understanding, our experience. A love that pushes the darkness further and further away.

This is the love that cannot be quenched even when theworld will not make room for it. A lovethat will come to us again and again until we recognize it, embrace it, makeroom for it. A love that redeems allthat it touches. A love that makes even those of us that are frightened anddisplaced feel as though we belong. A lovethat allows us to crawl into the trough and be made whole again.

Thislove comes to us in the stuff that is life and drives out the darkness. A love that calls us to run with theshepherds from the stable to share with others all we have been told about thischild. A love that changes everything asthe need to share it bursts from us as we leave the stable this night.

Shall we gonow and see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known tous?

Christmas eve blessings

2011-12-24T10:10:00.002-06:00

Any words on the cusp of this most holy of nights seemtrite, irrelevant somehow. The littlegirl in me still waits for the magic to unfold under the tree, yet the moremature little girl cannot wait to kneel in the manger this evening and gazewith wonder at the best gift to ever be given.

It is easy to lose hope in this time of uncertainty and yetit is in that manger we find true hope. Itdoes not come in beautiful wrapping with shiny bows, but rather in a wee babeborn in simplicity with those often not seen by others.

My prayer this Christmas eve for each of you and your family’sis that you take a moment or many to kneel with that wee babe in the manger andremember that God is in the simple things and with you always even in timeswhen the darkness may seem overwhelming.

Et verbum carofactum est. And the Word became flesh—and dwelt among us.

Christmas eve blessings,

Julie+

How to find words

2011-12-14T12:23:00.000-06:00

Words have not been coming to me during this season and yet I could feel them building and needing to be expressed. This is how they made their way out....

a different lens....

angel of peace....

it continues to amaze me when the same materials become different things.

Now maybe I can talk out loud again. Or not.

Playing with water

2011-11-28T20:44:00.001-06:00

Given that it is Advent, the church is in a new year and I have long learned I don't do well with resolutions set to begin on January 1st so I make them to coincide with the liturgical calendar (because I am a geek that way).

The resolution that will stretch me the most is the one to begin painting with watercolor. My hope is to find a teacher relatively close to help mentor me through the process. In the mean time, I will continue to move forward on this learning curve.

Here is what I have done so far:

basis shapes

filling in some detail

I think it's done

My new age challenge (50 that is)

2011-11-28T19:25:00.001-06:00

This week's diva challenge (#50) inspired us to move out of our comfort zones and to "biggify" some of our favorite 'tangles (http://iamthedivaczt.blogspot.com/2011/11/weekly-challenge-50.html ).

My fav. 'tangle stretched really big

It was a stretch in more ways than one. Several attempts were too "safe," others ended in the trash. In the end I 'tangled my fav (flux) on the entire tile.

fav. of challenge

The difficulty was realizing how much I rely on shading now to hide "flaws" and to have to think about what I was doing instead of checking out...in other words, I didn't zen with it....

a "safe" attempt

Red Thread Challenge

2011-11-25T11:26:00.001-06:00

Weekly Challenge #49: "Red Thread Challenge" ( The Diva)
"An invisible red thread connects those who are destined to meet regardless of time, place or circumstance. The thread may stretch or tangle, but it will never break." -Chinese proverb

To me, this sounds like an invitation to tangle. To my friend Sonya, it sounded like an invitation to help orphans in China, disabled kids in Haiti, and people in the United States who would otherwise be lacking in medical care and other essentials that most of us take for granted. She is VP of an organization called The Red Thread Promise. Take a look at their blog to see the wonderful work that they do.

To raise awareness of their mission, your challenge this week is to create a traditional black and white tangle tile with a single red "thread" running through it.

Here is my take on it:

when i grow up i wanna be a wave

2011-11-18T19:29:00.001-06:00

when i grow up i wanna be a wave

i would spend each day dancing

playing with birds and fish

tickling tiny toes

my music soothing frayed nerves

teasing walkers

giving treasure to the seeker

rarely taken for granted

only a hindrance to castle builders

and the one trying to stay dry

making new patterns

and leaving the old behind

being brave as i join the chorus that leads to new shores

Day 3 of 50

2011-11-14T18:05:00.001-06:00

The task for the day was to find the best oysters at the best price....

Along the way we found a fantastic restaurant loved by locals and at which you didn't need a ladder to pay (the description given between that and the 5 star one down the road)....

There was also a cemetery that likely had a story, but I didn't find it today....

Sad to be remembered as a pile of leaves and granite and nothing else. I pray I leave at least a memory or two for the generations to follow me.

We met this little guy in a parking lot while on the quest for something non-fried to eat...

A little time at the beach...the guy with the big orange nose was being picked on by others. I truly hope he was just playing dead...

The catch of the day was slimmer, but fixed for supper...along with the oysters.

Did you know water doesn't just magically appear...

Gotta go, supper is ready...

Beach Roses

2011-11-14T08:16:00.001-06:00

Found in the midst of sand and shell

wonder of the story they tell

so at odds with sea oats and drift wood

what would they say if they could

a testament of love i'm sure

but was it bad or was it good

answers not found in the sand

i pray you are dancing to the band

as the circle on your hand

continues the tale in a place far way

may your love last alway

Happy feet

2011-11-13T19:49:00.001-06:00

These feet of mine have been tired and in need of refreshment....

They are happy now....

because this is where they most belong....

Sadly like this one, they will soon be taken from the water.

Day Two of 50

2011-11-13T13:39:00.001-06:00

Today is day two of fifty...

Day one was spent at Host of Christmas Past...

We then jumped in the car and drove almost eight hours to begin unplugging here...

This little guy was quite photogenic, but notice his preferred sign.

This was as close as I dared to get...

A few different views from the pier...

Someone apparently didn't like the sign.

AAAAAHHHHH!!!!

This came in handy after dark...

A plethora of my favorite decorating tool....

Best fishing trip in that we both caught lots, but da bear still got the biggest....he amazes me at his ability to know when, where, and how to fish. It is watching a dance perfectly executed.

We caught them here:

This is the big 'un....

I still don't like my picture taken and especially have to work at touching these things....

we never figured out what this was so he got to swim away until another day...

Our catch....

Day two of fifty pretty much rocked!

Remembrance

2011-11-09T12:47:00.000-06:00

Innocence lost

On a field far from home

Dreams shattered

Miles away

Forgotten by many

Remembered by some

Youth traded for darkness

Visions of rage

Follow as you age

The torch passed

To those who come next

Words unspoken

Keep you from being broken

As you strive to forget

Innocence lost

What do you see?

2011-11-06T16:08:00.000-06:00

I hear of your flaming arrows

The poisonous words

Meant to hurt

To wound

Tears rise to the surface

As I ponder how much you must ache

The chains that must hold you close

The scars so deep

The walls so high and wide

That keep love from piercing your side

I wonder as you look in the mirror what you see

How hard it must be

For when I look at you there is beauty

Hidden deep below the mask

Shown to the world like a well worn badge

My heart aches at the need to push away

The one thing most desired, most needed

How many times will your ears not hear

Your heart not feel

Your hands push away

The love that will always stay

Is that what keeps you running each day?