As many know, I had concerns on Friday on a grocery shopping trip. I was contacted by HEB, which I am very pleased about.
I spoke with someone at the corporate level who oversees food how food is handled that goes to the food banks and other organizations. I had some clarifications that I wanted made and had some concerns I still wanted to share.
It was a favorable conversation. He wants to do checking up on the store level which I think is GREAT. It turns out that the items that were pulled from the bakery at this particular store were pulled early. They are pulled on their expiration date at around noon. I was shopping at 6:45 in the morning. Hmmm...
He also understood my concern for the bread being thrown at this particular HEB. (I have seen it happen at other ones as well). He is going to look in to how they can better handle that. I shared my concern that the bread was taken back to the warehouse. Because of the delicate nature of bread, all of it goes directly to the Food Bank. He was also going to check in to this clerk's claim that sometimes the Food Bank didn't come.
All in all, I am pleased. HEB does wonderful work with hunger issues in Texas. The gentleman and I had a fruitful conversation. He saw my concern about the "fancy breads" and said that he would check with the proper people to make sure everything is as it needs to be.
My main point in my blog was not to have talks with HEB, although I am glad I did. Mainly, I wanted to voice my concern for the need for awareness of wasted food. The fact of the matter remains that as Americans we are wasteful. Many are hungry and yet we all let food go to waste. We don't make sure it is where it needs to go.
I am not going to change the world. But, perhaps I have made a needed HEB connection that will help to be a service to people who need it.
Thank you HEB for what you do. Thank you for taking the time to care about some random youth director's blog.
AMEN
Monday, January 18, 2010
Saturday, January 16, 2010
So, let's stick with hunger topic for a bit
As many of you know, I was contacted by HEB regarding my experiences. I look forward to a phone meeting with one of the heads on Monday. It was a crazy day yesterday (all in a good way).
This month is the month that our church focuses on Souper Bowl of Caring. I have had the privilege of bringing the Souper Bowl of Caring Ministry and concept to two congregations now. If you don't know about Souper Bowl of Caring, please take a look at www.souperbowl.org. Each year I have tried and add something to this event and really look forward to it every year.
We, at church do a big food drive for our local food pantry and on the weekend of Souper Bowl / Super Bowl, we participate in the 30 Hour Famine sponsored by World Vision. www.30hourfamine.org
It is interesting, and somewhat scary to me each year to put together the weekend full of service experiences and hunger facts and all that goes in to planning a weekend for teenagers.
Last year, when preparing for the Famine, I came across a staggering figure on www.stophungernow.org:
The world produces enough food to feed everyone. Total food production in calories per person per day has increased by 25 percent since 1961 and is more than sufficient to feed every person on earth 2800 calories per day. The principal problem is that many people in the world do not have sufficient land to grow, or income to purchase, enough food.
Source: FAOSTAT Agriculture Data: Food Supply, Crops, Primary Equivalent. February, 2004.
http://faostat.fao.org/faostat/collections?subset=agriculture
Let's think about this for a minute. The average person usually eats 1200 - 1500 calories a day. So, if we look at the above figure that food is produced daily to feed every person on earth 2800 calories per day. WOW!!!!
So, what happens to all that food? Well, you all know I went to the grocery store yesterday. When I got home, before I put food away -- I cleaned out the fridge. Yes, I too, am part of the problem (as I am sure everyone else is as well). I threw away out of date yogurt, mushy tomatoes, and mushrooms that had gotten all shrivel-y. I remember several years ago (we don't do this anymore), throwing away boxes of cereal from our pantry because we had forgotten about them and they were stale, we didn't eat them fast enough, or we decided we didn't like them. It is wasteful. After serving several times at the soup kitchen over the last 5 years and seeing what they have to prepare food, I disgust myself in my wastefulness.
I know I am not the only one in the world that does this. I can say, that for myself, over the past 5 years, I have been much more conscientious about what I buy and how much I buy so that I am not as wasteful. We all do it. Obviously, the food is going somewhere, if there is enough food to feed everyone double what they need a day... right?
My prayer is that everyone is more cognizant of their wastefulness. My prayer is that we become more aware of how we can help; that we are more than ever aware that even something small can make a difference. I have become so aware, especially with yesterday, that one little statement can make a huge difference. That is amazing.
Yea God.
This month is the month that our church focuses on Souper Bowl of Caring. I have had the privilege of bringing the Souper Bowl of Caring Ministry and concept to two congregations now. If you don't know about Souper Bowl of Caring, please take a look at www.souperbowl.org. Each year I have tried and add something to this event and really look forward to it every year.
We, at church do a big food drive for our local food pantry and on the weekend of Souper Bowl / Super Bowl, we participate in the 30 Hour Famine sponsored by World Vision. www.30hourfamine.org
It is interesting, and somewhat scary to me each year to put together the weekend full of service experiences and hunger facts and all that goes in to planning a weekend for teenagers.
Last year, when preparing for the Famine, I came across a staggering figure on www.stophungernow.org:
The world produces enough food to feed everyone. Total food production in calories per person per day has increased by 25 percent since 1961 and is more than sufficient to feed every person on earth 2800 calories per day. The principal problem is that many people in the world do not have sufficient land to grow, or income to purchase, enough food.
Source: FAOSTAT Agriculture Data: Food Supply, Crops, Primary Equivalent. February, 2004.
http://faostat.fao.org/faostat/collections?subset=agriculture
Let's think about this for a minute. The average person usually eats 1200 - 1500 calories a day. So, if we look at the above figure that food is produced daily to feed every person on earth 2800 calories per day. WOW!!!!
So, what happens to all that food? Well, you all know I went to the grocery store yesterday. When I got home, before I put food away -- I cleaned out the fridge. Yes, I too, am part of the problem (as I am sure everyone else is as well). I threw away out of date yogurt, mushy tomatoes, and mushrooms that had gotten all shrivel-y. I remember several years ago (we don't do this anymore), throwing away boxes of cereal from our pantry because we had forgotten about them and they were stale, we didn't eat them fast enough, or we decided we didn't like them. It is wasteful. After serving several times at the soup kitchen over the last 5 years and seeing what they have to prepare food, I disgust myself in my wastefulness.
I know I am not the only one in the world that does this. I can say, that for myself, over the past 5 years, I have been much more conscientious about what I buy and how much I buy so that I am not as wasteful. We all do it. Obviously, the food is going somewhere, if there is enough food to feed everyone double what they need a day... right?
My prayer is that everyone is more cognizant of their wastefulness. My prayer is that we become more aware of how we can help; that we are more than ever aware that even something small can make a difference. I have become so aware, especially with yesterday, that one little statement can make a huge difference. That is amazing.
Yea God.
Friday, January 15, 2010
This is a sad world we live in
Disclaimer: I realize the businesses and organizations I am talking about in this blog are not the ONLY problem. This is a societal problem that HAS to change.
Ok, so I realize I am not going to change the world through this blog. I hope though that somehow I am able to take what I am learning in my faith and serving around me to maybe make a difference.
I went grocery shopping this morning. In San Antonio, we have HEB and Walmart pretty much to grocery shop at. My experiences this morning are not a problem of HEB. I know this.
We are a wasteful society. We live in a society that is PROFOUNDLY wasteful. I just searched global statistics on hunger on Google and found www.stopthehunger.com. They have a ticking timetable that is scary. Over 52,000 TONS of food has been wasted in the USA TODAY. HOLY SMOKES!! It is only 9:30 in the morning. I have no words. Well, I do.
According to this website, over 410,000 people have died this year already due to hunger. We are only 15 days into this year. Here are some other facts I pulled off the San Antonio Food bank site that are more specifically for San Antonio and Texas:
According to this website, over 410,000 people have died this year already due to hunger. We are only 15 days into this year. Here are some other facts I pulled off the San Antonio Food bank site that are more specifically for San Antonio and Texas:
- Texas is most food insecure state in the nation. Defined, food insecurity is when you are so limited in resources to buy food that you are running out of food, reducing the quality of food that your family eats, feeding your children unbalanced diets, or skipping meals so your children can eat. 16.4% of Texas' population is food insecure.
"Household Food Security in the United States, 2004", USDA/Economic Research Service - 4.9% of Texas' population experience hunger on a regular basis - more than one million people. "Household Food Security in the United States, 2004", USDA/Economic Research Service
- The rate of children living in poverty in Texas is 22.1%; the national rate is 17.0%. In Bexar County, the rate is 29.7% - that means that one in three children most likely struggle with food insecurity.
Child Food Insecurity Report 2005-2007, USDA - 12% of Texas seniors are living in poverty. That is more than one-quarter of a million seniors!
U.S. Census, Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement 2005 - Texas has nearly the worst record in the nation for children participating in the free USDA Summer Feeding Program. FOr every 100 eligible kids, only 7 participate.
Food Research Action Center, "State of the States 2006" - Each week, approximately 25,000 people receive emergency food assistance from an agency in the San Antonio Food Bank network.
Hunger in America 2006 - SAFB Local Report - More than 40% of the San Antonio Food Bank clients served report having to choose between paying for utilities or heating fuel and food; 29% had to choose between paying for rent or a mortgage and food; 36% report having to choose between paying for medical bills or food.
Hunger in America 2006 - SAFB Local Report
I understand there are regulations. I understand that this not just HEB. BUT, I also know what happens to alot of the food that is in those baskets.
I asked the guy on the bread aisle about the basket at the end of the aisle. He confirmed my fears. He would scan it out and then "if" the Food Bank got there today, it would go there BUT "if" the Food Bank did not make it....He hesitated. I replied "It will go in the trash?" He hung his head and said, "YES."
THAT IS DISGUSTING!!!! THAT IS PAINFUL!!!! You hear about Freegans (the fashionable word for "dumpster divers"). Maybe I need to be a freegan. All of that precious food may be thrown away today.
Probably even the sadder part of this is that I have been on the receiving and sorting end of the "destined for the dumpster" baked goods. After they leave this HEB, they go back to the warehouse or food bank. They are mangled and mushed and sometimes really nasty by the time they get to their destinations.
Several times I have gotten to go through what a downtown soup kitchen gets gets. Often by then, rodents have gotten in them. (yes I know but this is reality folks). What was once a nice, pretty croissant in one of those plastic container is so smashed that it is not edible. One step further-- I was told, by the Dining Room Supervisor, "Just throw the hard stuff and smushed stuff away, they won't eat it." Would you blame them? When was the last time you bought or ate a smushed up slice of bread?
Then it goes one step further. Ciabatta bread, or as Jody and I sometimes call it -- rich people bread, is THROWN AWAY at the Dining Room. It is harder more robust bread. Alot of the people they see can't eat it because their teeth are bad. I understand completely. Also, and let's be honest here, a homeless person will choose white bread and wheat bread because it is what they know. Pumpernickel, Rye, fancy shmancy rich people bread, which I love, will be overlooked because it is weird and different.
I know, they are hungry, they should not be picky. It is more healthy, they should eat it. Let's get real -- living with a 4 yr old who HATES mashed potatoes, people go with what they know. They go with what they are used to, what they understand. Rich people bread is weird. (Yes, I love rich people bread).
Where do I go from here? Well, knowing some of the people who read my blog, I might get a few calls. Sadly though, I don't know what the answer is. Last year, when doing World Vision's 30 Hour Famine, I saw a statistic that we produce enough food in this world that each person can eat 3 lb of food. WOW!!! And yet in San Antonio, 1 in 10 has hunger problems?
:(
Wednesday, January 13, 2010
I am not a reader
You know... with yesterday's music blog that was so random, I decided today I should address my reading habits.
I hate to read.
That really is a strong statement. I don' really hate to read but I have always had difficulty with it. Reading has never been truly enjoyable for me. (That would probably be more accurate). I enjoy short snippets. Periodicals and magazines, online resources. All of these feed my reading needs much easier than a book.
This is sad really especially now that I think about it. I have to wonder why this is so. I can blame it on alot of things. I can blame it on my ADD (yes I was diagnosed). My attention span stinks. It always has. I get terribly distracted. This makes books difficult to follow. I also have a difficult time finding the genre of books that interest me enough to keep me going from page 1 to the end. This is petty really and I should give them another try. I also get all hyped up for a recommended book only to find that it was not all it was cracked up to be, at least for me.
So, I am looking for a new book to read. I have no idea where to start. I can go stand in Borders for hours and come home empty handed. I can go across the street to the library and come back to church with nothing. This frustrates me a ton. I am coming close to finishing my current book on prayer and meditation but what to read next.
Let's look at my reading list for the past 10 years (books I have finished. There are many more that got tossed aside). This might help to figure out what the next step would be.
Chronicles of Narnia -- this series excited me. I got lost in this series and did not want to put it down. This never happens for me which was really cool.
Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli -- Everyone should read this book. Yaconelli was an amazing man who set out to remind the world that we are not perfect and Jesus came for our imperfectness. I have read it 3 times. I have never finished his other book. Hmmm... maybe that is a thought.
A handful of Youth Ministry resources -- I have tons of books in my office and have read most of the important parts of them -- philosophies on youth ministry, Bible study topics, etc. There have been good ones and ones that were really a waste. This is not the kind of book I want to read right now.
Power vs Force -- This was an interesting book. It was suggested by a friend. It challenged me. It kept me interested. It was way over my head at times but I still kept reading.
So now I am again at the burning question, "What should I read next?" There are an infinite possibility of choices but what is really going to help me grow to the person God intends me to be. It doesn't have to be a "God" book. If some romance novel is out there that will help me understand love and peace in my life, I would surely be interested.
I guess as I get older (even though I am never getting old), I want to read more. I want to learn and figure out things in this world that I have never understood. Reading is not a bad thing and I know that I need to do more of it.
But what?
I hate to read.
That really is a strong statement. I don' really hate to read but I have always had difficulty with it. Reading has never been truly enjoyable for me. (That would probably be more accurate). I enjoy short snippets. Periodicals and magazines, online resources. All of these feed my reading needs much easier than a book.
This is sad really especially now that I think about it. I have to wonder why this is so. I can blame it on alot of things. I can blame it on my ADD (yes I was diagnosed). My attention span stinks. It always has. I get terribly distracted. This makes books difficult to follow. I also have a difficult time finding the genre of books that interest me enough to keep me going from page 1 to the end. This is petty really and I should give them another try. I also get all hyped up for a recommended book only to find that it was not all it was cracked up to be, at least for me.
So, I am looking for a new book to read. I have no idea where to start. I can go stand in Borders for hours and come home empty handed. I can go across the street to the library and come back to church with nothing. This frustrates me a ton. I am coming close to finishing my current book on prayer and meditation but what to read next.
Let's look at my reading list for the past 10 years (books I have finished. There are many more that got tossed aside). This might help to figure out what the next step would be.
Chronicles of Narnia -- this series excited me. I got lost in this series and did not want to put it down. This never happens for me which was really cool.
Messy Spirituality by Michael Yaconelli -- Everyone should read this book. Yaconelli was an amazing man who set out to remind the world that we are not perfect and Jesus came for our imperfectness. I have read it 3 times. I have never finished his other book. Hmmm... maybe that is a thought.
A handful of Youth Ministry resources -- I have tons of books in my office and have read most of the important parts of them -- philosophies on youth ministry, Bible study topics, etc. There have been good ones and ones that were really a waste. This is not the kind of book I want to read right now.
Power vs Force -- This was an interesting book. It was suggested by a friend. It challenged me. It kept me interested. It was way over my head at times but I still kept reading.
So now I am again at the burning question, "What should I read next?" There are an infinite possibility of choices but what is really going to help me grow to the person God intends me to be. It doesn't have to be a "God" book. If some romance novel is out there that will help me understand love and peace in my life, I would surely be interested.
I guess as I get older (even though I am never getting old), I want to read more. I want to learn and figure out things in this world that I have never understood. Reading is not a bad thing and I know that I need to do more of it.
But what?
Tuesday, January 12, 2010
I've got a feeling.... that tonight's going to be a good night
To say that I have an odd taste in music -- odd is not strong enough of a word. I love music. I have always loved music. Music speaks to my soul the way nothing else can. I get lost in music. I guess music is my own little alternate reality.
So, for Christmas I finally got an mp3 player. I had a small one and the one that is attached to my phone but I now have a really real mp3 player. (yeah, it is NOT an ipod). I set out on a quest to fill it with music. I am one that usually likes to listen to the WHOLE album. You never know what gems you will find buried behind the billboard charts. Knowing that I have a bajillion random CDs, I knew those needs would be covered but I knew I wanted more.
I listen to pop, country, rap, R&B, new age -- you name it. I love instrumental music. Violin Concertos send chills up my spine. Yeah, ok, I am a little weird. Today, I uploaded 3 new/used CDs that I picked up over Christmas. Here is the vast array of my likes -- Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Tori Amos and Lady Gaga.
All of this music got me thinking. So many times I have difficulties erasing the noise from my life. So many times I can't just be alone with my thoughts. Finding peace in the chaos that is my life -- well, it's hard. However, I am at peace with music. I am in focus with music. I feel joy and excitement with music. It really doesn't matter the song. It can be "Papparazzi" or "New York State of Mind." The beat, rhythm and melody embrace my inner peace.
Now, I mostly stick to music with good messages, but I admit that I have guilty pleasures. I mean I like Lady Gaga. Some music just makes me happy.
And all this makes me think of that silly Sesame Street song from my childhood --
So, for Christmas I finally got an mp3 player. I had a small one and the one that is attached to my phone but I now have a really real mp3 player. (yeah, it is NOT an ipod). I set out on a quest to fill it with music. I am one that usually likes to listen to the WHOLE album. You never know what gems you will find buried behind the billboard charts. Knowing that I have a bajillion random CDs, I knew those needs would be covered but I knew I wanted more.
I listen to pop, country, rap, R&B, new age -- you name it. I love instrumental music. Violin Concertos send chills up my spine. Yeah, ok, I am a little weird. Today, I uploaded 3 new/used CDs that I picked up over Christmas. Here is the vast array of my likes -- Eric Clapton, Billy Joel, Tori Amos and Lady Gaga.
All of this music got me thinking. So many times I have difficulties erasing the noise from my life. So many times I can't just be alone with my thoughts. Finding peace in the chaos that is my life -- well, it's hard. However, I am at peace with music. I am in focus with music. I feel joy and excitement with music. It really doesn't matter the song. It can be "Papparazzi" or "New York State of Mind." The beat, rhythm and melody embrace my inner peace.
Now, I mostly stick to music with good messages, but I admit that I have guilty pleasures. I mean I like Lady Gaga. Some music just makes me happy.
And all this makes me think of that silly Sesame Street song from my childhood --
Sing, sing a song Sing out loud Sing out strong Sing of good things not bad Sing of happy not sad. Sing, sing a song Make it simple to last Your whole life long Don't worry that it's not Good enough for anyone Else to hear Just sing, sing a song. Sing, sing a song Let the world sing along Sing of love there could be Sing for you and for me. Sing, sing a song Make it simple to last Your whole life long Don't worry that it's not Good enough for anyone Else to hear Just sing, sing a song.
AMEN
Monday, January 11, 2010
Communication -- it is not just picking up the telephone anymore
Communication is a funny thing. I have been reading about connections and staying connected in my current reading material but also thinking about, more specifically, communication.
Yesterday, marked 10 years since I was installed as a Youth Director. At church last night, I realized this. It is not something I usually think about, but I had a "duh" moment. When I mentioned it, Pastor Ralph said "Oh, if I would have known I would have said something at church this morning." I get that alot. Many times people say things after the fact and then are upset that you don't just know. At that moment I laughed and said, "Well, my brain was in another place. Oh well."
How many times in a week do you say, "If I had only known...?" I wonder why that is. For instance, someone will say, "I had a band concert last night. I wish you could have come." And my answer then usually is, "Yes that would have been awesome. If only I had known...."
Communication really is a funny thing. There are so many times that I say "We missed you last night at XYZ event." And the typical youth response is "I didn't know." Even though for most events I send out Facebook notices, emails, text messages, mail and sometimes even phone calls. For most people, I know their "preferred" communication.
So how do we fix this? How do we make communication smoother? How do we make sure that in life we are an effective communicator? (If anyone has the ultimate answer, I would love to hear it?) Really it is a two way street. On the one side, the person has to be willing to share the information. Of course if you are passed out in a hospital bed, calling the church might be the last thing from your mind.
The other side of it really is that people have to be willing to ask questions. If you don't see a person for awhile, call or text or WHATEVER. If you know that something might be coming up in a schedule, ask the questions ahead of time. (obviously a Christmas concert will probably happen in December. DUH!)
Communication really is a two way street. Search out the answers you have. Find the right information because living in the dark ain't that fun. But most importantly, admit that you goofed when you goofed. "Oh, I forgot. I am so sorry." "That must have slipped my mind." "I would have told you but we will work it out next time."
We are not perfect people. (at least I am not). We make mistakes of EVERY kind. This includes communication.
AMEN
Yesterday, marked 10 years since I was installed as a Youth Director. At church last night, I realized this. It is not something I usually think about, but I had a "duh" moment. When I mentioned it, Pastor Ralph said "Oh, if I would have known I would have said something at church this morning." I get that alot. Many times people say things after the fact and then are upset that you don't just know. At that moment I laughed and said, "Well, my brain was in another place. Oh well."
How many times in a week do you say, "If I had only known...?" I wonder why that is. For instance, someone will say, "I had a band concert last night. I wish you could have come." And my answer then usually is, "Yes that would have been awesome. If only I had known...."
Communication really is a funny thing. There are so many times that I say "We missed you last night at XYZ event." And the typical youth response is "I didn't know." Even though for most events I send out Facebook notices, emails, text messages, mail and sometimes even phone calls. For most people, I know their "preferred" communication.
So how do we fix this? How do we make communication smoother? How do we make sure that in life we are an effective communicator? (If anyone has the ultimate answer, I would love to hear it?) Really it is a two way street. On the one side, the person has to be willing to share the information. Of course if you are passed out in a hospital bed, calling the church might be the last thing from your mind.
The other side of it really is that people have to be willing to ask questions. If you don't see a person for awhile, call or text or WHATEVER. If you know that something might be coming up in a schedule, ask the questions ahead of time. (obviously a Christmas concert will probably happen in December. DUH!)
Communication really is a two way street. Search out the answers you have. Find the right information because living in the dark ain't that fun. But most importantly, admit that you goofed when you goofed. "Oh, I forgot. I am so sorry." "That must have slipped my mind." "I would have told you but we will work it out next time."
We are not perfect people. (at least I am not). We make mistakes of EVERY kind. This includes communication.
AMEN
Saturday, January 9, 2010
The Blessings that we take for granted in life
There comes a time in all of our lives where we realize just how lucky we are. We realize how blessed our lives our. I have several friends who blog but read one while catching up this morning. I cried like a blubbering idiot. I cried tears of joy for her but also tears of joy for my own life.
First off though, let's talk about blessings, about life. Often times we get annoyed by things, we take for granted things that others would leap for joy at. I have a friend who can never enjoy thunderstorms. Thunderstorms trigger her headaches. When fronts move in she has to have very painful shots. These shots lead to her being in bed for several days. She doesn't get to stand out and enjoy thunderstorms. The sad part is that I hate thunderstorms. They scare me. I have been through some natural disasters in my life (2tornado and 2 hurricanes) and I just feel a total loss of control.
I have another friend who when sick, cannot just go buy over the counter meds to fix a cold or whatever. Because of his heart issues, something as simple as a menthol cough drop could be a bad thing.
But back to my friend's blog that made me cry this morning. I have two friends who have non verbal children because of their autism. Having a bouncy incredible boy that talks incessantly. His latest is to crawl up in our lap and say "Let's talk about snow." He then goes into this whole vision he has about what we would do in snow and what stuff like sleds and skis we would take with us. It is really funny.
These are things I take for granted. I take for granted these thought provoking conversations that don't make sense sometimes. They don't usually have life changing moments. Cade has an incredibly vivid imagination and currently in his play room with one of his toys travelling down a huge hill really fast. He is goofy.
So, my friend blogged this morning about an incredible Christmas gift. On Christmas morning, her 8 yr old called her "mom." I have no words. I have no understanding how amazing that must have been except that even re-typing it right now brings me back to tears. Cade calls me mom everyday. It was his first word. . It is still the sweetest thing in the world when he says, "I love you mommy." For awhile I had that as my text message alert and people thought I was crazy.
In life we are all very blessed. We take most of those blessings for granted. We don't understand how wonderful our lives are sometimes. Then at brief moments, we are shot back in to those realities of the remarkable blessings that are so precious.
Thank you, God.
AMEN
First off though, let's talk about blessings, about life. Often times we get annoyed by things, we take for granted things that others would leap for joy at. I have a friend who can never enjoy thunderstorms. Thunderstorms trigger her headaches. When fronts move in she has to have very painful shots. These shots lead to her being in bed for several days. She doesn't get to stand out and enjoy thunderstorms. The sad part is that I hate thunderstorms. They scare me. I have been through some natural disasters in my life (2tornado and 2 hurricanes) and I just feel a total loss of control.
I have another friend who when sick, cannot just go buy over the counter meds to fix a cold or whatever. Because of his heart issues, something as simple as a menthol cough drop could be a bad thing.
But back to my friend's blog that made me cry this morning. I have two friends who have non verbal children because of their autism. Having a bouncy incredible boy that talks incessantly. His latest is to crawl up in our lap and say "Let's talk about snow." He then goes into this whole vision he has about what we would do in snow and what stuff like sleds and skis we would take with us. It is really funny.
These are things I take for granted. I take for granted these thought provoking conversations that don't make sense sometimes. They don't usually have life changing moments. Cade has an incredibly vivid imagination and currently in his play room with one of his toys travelling down a huge hill really fast. He is goofy.
So, my friend blogged this morning about an incredible Christmas gift. On Christmas morning, her 8 yr old called her "mom." I have no words. I have no understanding how amazing that must have been except that even re-typing it right now brings me back to tears. Cade calls me mom everyday. It was his first word. . It is still the sweetest thing in the world when he says, "I love you mommy." For awhile I had that as my text message alert and people thought I was crazy.
In life we are all very blessed. We take most of those blessings for granted. We don't understand how wonderful our lives are sometimes. Then at brief moments, we are shot back in to those realities of the remarkable blessings that are so precious.
Thank you, God.
AMEN
Friday, January 8, 2010
Procrastination gone bad -- but will turn out good
It's cold in San Antonio. (Yeah, big news I know). So as I was sitting and watching the news last night, I had a "duh" moment. They were showing homeless downtown struggling for warmth.
I got a pit in my stomach. You see, unbeknown to most people at CTK, there is a box of blankets that was supposed to go somewhere 4 years ago. I, at this point, have know idea where. It was someone's project that fell through and we "forgot" they were there in a storage closet. It is a major fail that just sometimes happens unfortunately.
So what do you do at 6:00 at night, when you have probably 30 or so blankets that are not huge but it is really cold in San Antonio? Practically and realistically, at that hour not a whole lot of anything. The shelters had met curfew so going there really would not have helped. It turns out Salvation Army doesn't want blankets. Okay?
So, I did some research. Went to places I knew and made calls. From many I got -- bring them to a donation center. The problem there is that the blankets are needed NOW - not after processing.
Here in a bit, I will be taking them down to St. Vincent De Paul to their dining room. People who need them will be able to pick them up as needed.
What do I take from all of this? Wow, procrastination and not following through is really detrimental to programming. Why has it taken this long for anybody to do anything with these blankets? How sad is it that at the time, we were going to do something GOOD, but no one ever followed through.
This is how much of life is though. Throughout the holidays, I passed the little red Salvation Army buckets by because I was too lazy to walk the 20 steps back to my car to grab change. I would always say, "oh, next time I will grab the change." How many times do I leave my food pantry donation at home instead of bringing it to church on Sunday?
This month starts our church's focus on Souper Bowl of Caring. This is a tradition we have started from the national www.souperbowl.org campaign. Everyone will be bringing food to church (gentle reminder) and will be donating money for 30 Hour Famine.
Let us each though additionally take that time to not procrastinate about helping. Putting off helping does no good. The "oh, I will do it tomorrow" mentality really helps no one.
So now, off to St. Vincent De Paul.
I got a pit in my stomach. You see, unbeknown to most people at CTK, there is a box of blankets that was supposed to go somewhere 4 years ago. I, at this point, have know idea where. It was someone's project that fell through and we "forgot" they were there in a storage closet. It is a major fail that just sometimes happens unfortunately.
So what do you do at 6:00 at night, when you have probably 30 or so blankets that are not huge but it is really cold in San Antonio? Practically and realistically, at that hour not a whole lot of anything. The shelters had met curfew so going there really would not have helped. It turns out Salvation Army doesn't want blankets. Okay?
So, I did some research. Went to places I knew and made calls. From many I got -- bring them to a donation center. The problem there is that the blankets are needed NOW - not after processing.
Here in a bit, I will be taking them down to St. Vincent De Paul to their dining room. People who need them will be able to pick them up as needed.
What do I take from all of this? Wow, procrastination and not following through is really detrimental to programming. Why has it taken this long for anybody to do anything with these blankets? How sad is it that at the time, we were going to do something GOOD, but no one ever followed through.
This is how much of life is though. Throughout the holidays, I passed the little red Salvation Army buckets by because I was too lazy to walk the 20 steps back to my car to grab change. I would always say, "oh, next time I will grab the change." How many times do I leave my food pantry donation at home instead of bringing it to church on Sunday?
This month starts our church's focus on Souper Bowl of Caring. This is a tradition we have started from the national www.souperbowl.org campaign. Everyone will be bringing food to church (gentle reminder) and will be donating money for 30 Hour Famine.
Let us each though additionally take that time to not procrastinate about helping. Putting off helping does no good. The "oh, I will do it tomorrow" mentality really helps no one.
So now, off to St. Vincent De Paul.
Wednesday, January 6, 2010
Are you living life to the fullest?
This past week or so I have been blah. It has not been an explainable blah, but blah nonetheless. I guess there is a whole lot going on in my head and sorting it all out has been challenging.
In speaking with a friend, I began to see that maybe this was God trying to tell me something. Maybe these walls that i felt I was running into might be God's way of having me relook at things.
So then, I workout this morning. (It still amazes me sometimes how God works and puts all these pieces into my head so that things make sense.) I programmed many songs into my mp3 player this morning so i put it on shuffle just to get a variety. 2 songs that came on went right along with everything in my head.
Gloria - Watermark
I wish I could crash like the waves and turn like the autumn breeze - In effort to praise You
I wish I could smell like the forest, the fragrance lifting a mighty chorus - In effort to praise You
In effort to praise
But I'm such a limited creature - And my words can only paint so many pictures
But somewhere I think I read that I am treasured over all creation - So I know that I must try
I wish I could roll like the thunder, to leave the earth below in wonder - In effort to praise You
I wish I could fall like the summer rain and every drop would sing Your name - In effort to praise You
But I'm such a limited creature - And my words can only paint so many pictures
But somewhere I'm sure I read that I am treasured over all creation - So I know that I must try
Gloria, glory in the highest - Forever I will hide myself in Thee
Oh, gloria - Glory in the highest - Forever I will hide myself in Thee
Every breath that I breathe, every moment in my history - Is an effort to praise You
Glory in the highest - Forever I will hide myself in Thee
Oh, Gloria - Glory in excelsis Deo
So this song got me thinking. I am a perfectionist in many ways. In many ways, my ego really likes to take over and really likes to be in control. What I find happens then, a lot of times, is that in an effort to live the life that I am supposed to be living -- I get stuck. I don't want to fail. I don't want to upset anyone. I don't want that uncertainty that comes next. I want control.
Now with all this swimming around in my head, I really was pushing the eliptical trainer that much faster. This is when the next song came on.
All Creatures of our God and King (redone by David Crowder)
All creatures of our God and King - Lift up your voice and with us sing
Oh, praise Him Alleluia
Thou burning sun with golden beam - Thou silver moon with softer gleam
Oh, praise Him - Oh, praise Him
Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia
So what does it all mean?
Many times in life we find ourselves searching. We, perhaps, know what the next step of the day, the moment, the life is. We know what we need to be doing. For some reason though, we don't. Perhaps it is fear, perhaps uncertainty. But when we pause to look at the rest of creation doing what they need to be doing, being what that need to be being -- what do we find?
Does a dog say, "Oh no, I might not dig this hole quite right -- so I guess I won't dig at all?"
Does a tree not go through the growing process because it is scared to get a little taller?
We are no different than the dog and the tree. We have to take that next step of uncertainty. We have to believe that because of God's unending love for us, that we can and will be all that we are supposed to be. It ain't easy. Life never is. But it is so worth it to make those goals, to step away from the comfort zones and do whatever it is that God has put us on the earth to do - Praise and Glorify HIM.
AMEN
In speaking with a friend, I began to see that maybe this was God trying to tell me something. Maybe these walls that i felt I was running into might be God's way of having me relook at things.
So then, I workout this morning. (It still amazes me sometimes how God works and puts all these pieces into my head so that things make sense.) I programmed many songs into my mp3 player this morning so i put it on shuffle just to get a variety. 2 songs that came on went right along with everything in my head.
Gloria - Watermark
I wish I could crash like the waves and turn like the autumn breeze - In effort to praise You
I wish I could smell like the forest, the fragrance lifting a mighty chorus - In effort to praise You
In effort to praise
But I'm such a limited creature - And my words can only paint so many pictures
But somewhere I think I read that I am treasured over all creation - So I know that I must try
I wish I could roll like the thunder, to leave the earth below in wonder - In effort to praise You
I wish I could fall like the summer rain and every drop would sing Your name - In effort to praise You
But I'm such a limited creature - And my words can only paint so many pictures
But somewhere I'm sure I read that I am treasured over all creation - So I know that I must try
Gloria, glory in the highest - Forever I will hide myself in Thee
Oh, gloria - Glory in the highest - Forever I will hide myself in Thee
Every breath that I breathe, every moment in my history - Is an effort to praise You
Glory in the highest - Forever I will hide myself in Thee
Oh, Gloria - Glory in excelsis Deo
So this song got me thinking. I am a perfectionist in many ways. In many ways, my ego really likes to take over and really likes to be in control. What I find happens then, a lot of times, is that in an effort to live the life that I am supposed to be living -- I get stuck. I don't want to fail. I don't want to upset anyone. I don't want that uncertainty that comes next. I want control.
Now with all this swimming around in my head, I really was pushing the eliptical trainer that much faster. This is when the next song came on.
All Creatures of our God and King (redone by David Crowder)
All creatures of our God and King - Lift up your voice and with us sing
Oh, praise Him Alleluia
Thou burning sun with golden beam - Thou silver moon with softer gleam
Oh, praise Him - Oh, praise Him
Alleluia Alleluia Alleluia
So what does it all mean?
Many times in life we find ourselves searching. We, perhaps, know what the next step of the day, the moment, the life is. We know what we need to be doing. For some reason though, we don't. Perhaps it is fear, perhaps uncertainty. But when we pause to look at the rest of creation doing what they need to be doing, being what that need to be being -- what do we find?
Does a dog say, "Oh no, I might not dig this hole quite right -- so I guess I won't dig at all?"
Does a tree not go through the growing process because it is scared to get a little taller?
We are no different than the dog and the tree. We have to take that next step of uncertainty. We have to believe that because of God's unending love for us, that we can and will be all that we are supposed to be. It ain't easy. Life never is. But it is so worth it to make those goals, to step away from the comfort zones and do whatever it is that God has put us on the earth to do - Praise and Glorify HIM.
AMEN
Tuesday, January 5, 2010
I am a life-r. Yep, that's me
So this Sunday is the Sunday that honors the Baptism of Jesus. It was this Sunday, 10 years ago that I officially started work as a youth director. That sounds so weird to say.
I remember sitting at my first youth director conference thing and they would go around and ask how long people had been in youth ministry. I was down at the bottom of the numbers, 2 months. I remember thinking people must be crazy to stay in youth ministry 10 years. That was an unattainable goal in my mind. That was a very long time.
Now I sit in that category. That is weird. That is cool. That is still somewhat awkward to comprehend.
When I was in the 2nd grade, I wanted to be an orthodontist. I knew I wanted to go to Baylor. I knew what courses I would need to take to attain my goal of being an orthodontist. There was no doubt in my mind.
When I was in 5th grade I had a mind blowing camping ministry experience that charted me on a different course. It was a course that I did not accept or understand til college, but God kept tapping me on the shoulder. I didn't listen though because I wanted to be an orthodontist.
When I started college, I was going to be an orthodontist. That was it. Quickly, I started to feel that little "God tap" on my shoulder reminding me that there was a different calling. I just kept saying, "God, you do not know what you are talking about. I am going to be an orthodontist and THAT IS THAT. There is no changing my mind."
I laugh at those little God talks now. I laugh at all the times I REALIZED what I was supposed to be doing and laughed it off. I had my goals set and I am pretty headstrong. The second semester of my freshman year, I was no longer going to be an orthodontist. I was majoring in Theology and never looked back.
I still didn't know the "WHAT" in theology that I wanted to do. That took me quite awhile. I realized youth ministry was my calling when I was sitting on my front porch, crying and wailing and yelling at God because my dog died. It was my emotional meltdown sitting on my porch in Kingsbury Texas that somehow sent me to this AWESOME road that I have now been on and am proud to have walked.
I feel called to work with youth and families in my church now more than ever. I love to teach them about prayer and devotion. I love to laugh and cry with them when drama happens. I love everything that goes with this ministry -- the good, bad and sometimes ugly.
I giggle at the thought that I was so headstrong about being an orthodontist. I giggle that for so long, God was yelling at me -- not just calling -- but yelling. I didn't want to listen, I knew what I was supposed to do. BOY WAS I WRONG!!!
AMEN
I remember sitting at my first youth director conference thing and they would go around and ask how long people had been in youth ministry. I was down at the bottom of the numbers, 2 months. I remember thinking people must be crazy to stay in youth ministry 10 years. That was an unattainable goal in my mind. That was a very long time.
Now I sit in that category. That is weird. That is cool. That is still somewhat awkward to comprehend.
When I was in the 2nd grade, I wanted to be an orthodontist. I knew I wanted to go to Baylor. I knew what courses I would need to take to attain my goal of being an orthodontist. There was no doubt in my mind.
When I was in 5th grade I had a mind blowing camping ministry experience that charted me on a different course. It was a course that I did not accept or understand til college, but God kept tapping me on the shoulder. I didn't listen though because I wanted to be an orthodontist.
When I started college, I was going to be an orthodontist. That was it. Quickly, I started to feel that little "God tap" on my shoulder reminding me that there was a different calling. I just kept saying, "God, you do not know what you are talking about. I am going to be an orthodontist and THAT IS THAT. There is no changing my mind."
I laugh at those little God talks now. I laugh at all the times I REALIZED what I was supposed to be doing and laughed it off. I had my goals set and I am pretty headstrong. The second semester of my freshman year, I was no longer going to be an orthodontist. I was majoring in Theology and never looked back.
I still didn't know the "WHAT" in theology that I wanted to do. That took me quite awhile. I realized youth ministry was my calling when I was sitting on my front porch, crying and wailing and yelling at God because my dog died. It was my emotional meltdown sitting on my porch in Kingsbury Texas that somehow sent me to this AWESOME road that I have now been on and am proud to have walked.
I feel called to work with youth and families in my church now more than ever. I love to teach them about prayer and devotion. I love to laugh and cry with them when drama happens. I love everything that goes with this ministry -- the good, bad and sometimes ugly.
I giggle at the thought that I was so headstrong about being an orthodontist. I giggle that for so long, God was yelling at me -- not just calling -- but yelling. I didn't want to listen, I knew what I was supposed to do. BOY WAS I WRONG!!!
AMEN
Monday, January 4, 2010
It's a new year. Yeah, so?
I have never really understood the complexity of what some people see as the all important "New Year's Resolution." They have never made a lot of sense. Really, now that I think about it, other than me writing a new year on my checkbook, I don't know that New Year's has that big of an impact on my life.
So, this troubles me a bit. I have to be honest. There are thousands of people who are right now working out for the first time in their lives in hopes of losing weight in 2010. I noticed the parking lot of the gym where I belong was full this morning. Normally, when I work out at 6:00 in the morning, there are maybe 5 others in there as well. This morning that number quadrupled. But why? Why does New Year's signify the day where we have to start over? And if there is a significance, do people actually understand why they make these resolutions? Or do people just make them because "we have always done it that way before?"
So... it seems there is in fact history -- (knew there was)
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-New-Years-Resolutions&id=245213
It all makes sense really. Out with the old and in with the new seems logical but then, don't we do that everyday really? Martin Luther talked about remembering his Baptism each morning when he washed his face. Baptism is yet another "out with the old and in with the new." Why then do we not celebrate the anniversary of our Baptism as our "New Year?" When one goes from being single to married that is a BIG "out with the old and in with the new" time. Of course I did that on January 2, 1999 so New Year's was pretty close there.
I guess it all comes down to the important things in your life. For many in 12 step programs, the day they became sober, or the day they stopped whatever addiction they had becomes a MAJOR new years experience. Those times when they totally changed their life for the better.
I don't know that I have had a mindblowing, life changing New Year experience that I can really look back on and say "WOW my life just changed. I don't ever want to go back." Sure, I have had small ones throughout my life -- those milestones that I always look back on with great fondness. And, I guess that is ok. New Year's will always be just another day for me. It is a day that means I have to write a new date on the checkbook. It is a day that means I have to do an Annual Report at church. That really is all it is though. The little milestones in my life mean so much more. The times in my life where I can look back and smile and say, "Wow, I think my life just changed and I don't want to go back."
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
AMEN
So, this troubles me a bit. I have to be honest. There are thousands of people who are right now working out for the first time in their lives in hopes of losing weight in 2010. I noticed the parking lot of the gym where I belong was full this morning. Normally, when I work out at 6:00 in the morning, there are maybe 5 others in there as well. This morning that number quadrupled. But why? Why does New Year's signify the day where we have to start over? And if there is a significance, do people actually understand why they make these resolutions? Or do people just make them because "we have always done it that way before?"
So... it seems there is in fact history -- (knew there was)
http://ezinearticles.com/?The-History-of-New-Years-Resolutions&id=245213
The tradition of the New Year's Resolutions goes all the way back to 153 B.C. Janus, a mythical king of early Rome was placed at the head of the calendar.
With two faces, Janus could look back on past events and forward to the future. Janus became the ancient symbol for resolutions and many Romans looked for forgiveness from their enemies and also exchanged gifts before the beginning of each year.
The New Year has not always begun on January 1, and it doesn't begin on that date everywhere today. It begins on that date only for cultures that use a 365-day solar calendar. January 1 became the beginning of the New Year in 46 B.C., when Julius Caesar developed a calendar that would more accurately reflect the seasons than previous calendars had.
The Romans named the first month of the year after Janus, the god of beginnings and the guardian of doors and entrances. He was always depicted with two faces, one on the front of his head and one on the back. Thus he could look backward and forward at the same time. At midnight on December 31, the Romans imagined Janus looking back at the old year and forward to the new.
The Romans began a tradition of exchanging gifts on New Year's Eve by giving one another branches from sacred trees for good fortune. Later, nuts or coins imprinted with the god Janus became more common New Year's gifts.
In the Middle Ages, Christians changed New Year's Day to December 25, the birth of Jesus. Then they changed it to March 25, a holiday called the Annunciation. In the sixteenth century, Pope Gregory XIII revised the Julian calendar, and the celebration of the New Year was returned to January 1.
The Julian and Gregorian calendars are solar calendars. Some cultures have lunar calendars, however. A year in a lunar calendar is less than 365 days because the months are based on the phases of the moon. The Chinese use a lunar calendar. Their new year begins at the time of the first full moon (over the Far East) after the sun enters Aquarius- sometime between January 19 and February 21.
Although the date for New Year's Day is not the same in every culture, it is always a time for celebration and for customs to ensure good luck in the coming year.
Ancient New Years
The celebration of the New Year is the oldest of all holidays. It was first observed in ancient Babylon about 4000 years ago. In the years around 2000 BC, Babylonians celebrated the beginning of a new year on what is now March 23, although they themselves had no written calendar.
Late March actually is a logical choice for the beginning of a new year. It is the time of year that spring begins and new crops are planted. January 1, on the other hand, has no astronomical nor agricultural significance. It is purely arbitrary.
The Babylonian New Year celebration lasted for eleven days. Each day had its own particular mode of celebration, but it is safe to say that modern New Year's Eve festivities pale in comparison.
The Romans continued to observe the New Year on March 25, but their calendar was continually tampered with by various emperors so that the calendar soon became out of synchronization with the sun.
In order to set the calendar right, the Roman senate, in 153 BC, declared January 1 to be the beginning of the New Year. But tampering continued until Julius Caesar, in 46 BC, established what has come to be known as the Julian Calendar. It again established January 1 as the New Year. But in order to synchronize the calendar with the sun, Caesar had to let the previous year drag on for 445 days.
It all makes sense really. Out with the old and in with the new seems logical but then, don't we do that everyday really? Martin Luther talked about remembering his Baptism each morning when he washed his face. Baptism is yet another "out with the old and in with the new." Why then do we not celebrate the anniversary of our Baptism as our "New Year?" When one goes from being single to married that is a BIG "out with the old and in with the new" time. Of course I did that on January 2, 1999 so New Year's was pretty close there.
I guess it all comes down to the important things in your life. For many in 12 step programs, the day they became sober, or the day they stopped whatever addiction they had becomes a MAJOR new years experience. Those times when they totally changed their life for the better.
I don't know that I have had a mindblowing, life changing New Year experience that I can really look back on and say "WOW my life just changed. I don't ever want to go back." Sure, I have had small ones throughout my life -- those milestones that I always look back on with great fondness. And, I guess that is ok. New Year's will always be just another day for me. It is a day that means I have to write a new date on the checkbook. It is a day that means I have to do an Annual Report at church. That really is all it is though. The little milestones in my life mean so much more. The times in my life where I can look back and smile and say, "Wow, I think my life just changed and I don't want to go back."
2 Corinthians 5:17
Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; the old has gone, the new has come!
AMEN
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Where do you pray? How do you pray?
I have thought alot about comforting places in our lives as well as those places we don't want to go back to.
But today I want to think more about praying places and praying spaces.
It is always amazing to me that most people I know and talk to will say that they don't know how to pray. Prayer is so simply a conversation with God and a connection with God. There are so many different kinds and ways to pray.
Jesus teaches his disciples in the Gospel to pray using the Lord's Prayer. Children learn to pray before meals and bedtime. Cade everyday says the prayer he learned at the CTK Child Development Center last year. "Hands up high. Hands down low. Hands out wide and then close. God we thank you for this food, for rest and home and all things good; for wind and rain and sun above, but most of all for those we love. AMEN Thank you God and Jesus.
It is a simple prayer. It was funny when he learned it, he was almost like Pavlov's dog. He prayed it 4 times on the way from church to home one Sunday signalling us that he was ready to eat NOW.
When we lost Muffin last month to illness, we talked to Cade about Jesus taking care of Muffin. Cade prayed for Muffin and that Jesus would keep her safe. Its fun to watch Cade's understanding of prayer and teach me where I might need to head in prayer.
Then there is this prayer journey I have been on for awhile. Each day I have made a conscious effort to spend time with God. I have talked about how freeing and stress releasing it has been to make this practice.
But what about the WHERE question? In this day and time of busy places and busy lives, where do you feel comfortable praying? At different times and in different situations, there are many places where I want to pray. Here lately, a nice hot bath with candles has been a great place to spend time with God. The other day, when at the gym, I had some wonderfully uplifting music playing and had one of the most meaningful prayer times in several weeks while running on the eliptical trainer. The quiet in myself and music playing in my ears made for great conversation time with God.
The thing is, prayer time can happen anywhere really. Sitting in class waiting for everyone to finish the test; a traffic jam on 1604; a commercial between your favorite show. There is no wrong time to pray. There is no wrong way to pray. But, we cannot live without that time of connection and reconnection with God.
And then there comes the next part -- "But I don't know what to say." I hear that so many times from youth. We have prayer time at the end of Sunday School that usually leads to me doing all the talking and a lot of awkward giggles. We think we will do it wrong. How do you pray wrong? We have this understanding that our words won't be good enough for God? That cannot be farther from the truth.
For the longest time I did not understand that. For the longest time, I didn't think my words were good enough. I remember one time at camp (yeah lots of my memories are camp memories), I did not get to sleep til well after 2 am because I just kept talking to God. There laying in my bed, all I wanted to do was have a talk with God. I didn't know if I was doing it right (I was only in the 8th grade) but I knew I was doing it right too.
So -- where do you pray? how do you pray? what makes you want to have that talk with God?
But today I want to think more about praying places and praying spaces.
It is always amazing to me that most people I know and talk to will say that they don't know how to pray. Prayer is so simply a conversation with God and a connection with God. There are so many different kinds and ways to pray.
Jesus teaches his disciples in the Gospel to pray using the Lord's Prayer. Children learn to pray before meals and bedtime. Cade everyday says the prayer he learned at the CTK Child Development Center last year. "Hands up high. Hands down low. Hands out wide and then close. God we thank you for this food, for rest and home and all things good; for wind and rain and sun above, but most of all for those we love. AMEN Thank you God and Jesus.
It is a simple prayer. It was funny when he learned it, he was almost like Pavlov's dog. He prayed it 4 times on the way from church to home one Sunday signalling us that he was ready to eat NOW.
When we lost Muffin last month to illness, we talked to Cade about Jesus taking care of Muffin. Cade prayed for Muffin and that Jesus would keep her safe. Its fun to watch Cade's understanding of prayer and teach me where I might need to head in prayer.
Then there is this prayer journey I have been on for awhile. Each day I have made a conscious effort to spend time with God. I have talked about how freeing and stress releasing it has been to make this practice.
But what about the WHERE question? In this day and time of busy places and busy lives, where do you feel comfortable praying? At different times and in different situations, there are many places where I want to pray. Here lately, a nice hot bath with candles has been a great place to spend time with God. The other day, when at the gym, I had some wonderfully uplifting music playing and had one of the most meaningful prayer times in several weeks while running on the eliptical trainer. The quiet in myself and music playing in my ears made for great conversation time with God.
The thing is, prayer time can happen anywhere really. Sitting in class waiting for everyone to finish the test; a traffic jam on 1604; a commercial between your favorite show. There is no wrong time to pray. There is no wrong way to pray. But, we cannot live without that time of connection and reconnection with God.
And then there comes the next part -- "But I don't know what to say." I hear that so many times from youth. We have prayer time at the end of Sunday School that usually leads to me doing all the talking and a lot of awkward giggles. We think we will do it wrong. How do you pray wrong? We have this understanding that our words won't be good enough for God? That cannot be farther from the truth.
For the longest time I did not understand that. For the longest time, I didn't think my words were good enough. I remember one time at camp (yeah lots of my memories are camp memories), I did not get to sleep til well after 2 am because I just kept talking to God. There laying in my bed, all I wanted to do was have a talk with God. I didn't know if I was doing it right (I was only in the 8th grade) but I knew I was doing it right too.
So -- where do you pray? how do you pray? what makes you want to have that talk with God?
Saturday, January 2, 2010
Connect and Reflect
There comes a point in your life when you have to stop and look at everything. Today is my anniversary. My husband and I said, "I do" at TLU in Seguin. We have had a great marriage. We now have a beautiful 4 1/2 year old that in a great asset to both of our lives. We have had the ups, downs and ins and outs. At the end of the day, Jody supports and loves me more than anything I could ask for. Even when he is busy and has tons of obligations, he still sends me a text or calls me to say, "I love you."
You see, that is all I need. We share a wonderful life together. We aren't perfect but we grow and learn and that is all that matters.
Looking back at when we first met, the internet. Yes, we met online. The only communication we had with each other for the first 9 months or so was pretty much online and phone.
Connection is a funny thing. I just started a book that talks about connections and the church as they relate to social networking. Essentially that is what Jody and I had way back when -- primitive social networking. Many of my youth and I communicate daily by Facebook and texting. It is a reasonable way that we can keep in touch and stay connected. It is nice because it allows me to let them know I am praying for them and it gives them a steady connection with me.
It will be interesting to see where this book takes me. It is called "The Church of Facebook" by Jesse Rice. As I have only just started, I am really looking forward to seeing what it says about yet another connection.
Happy Anniversary Jody.
You see, that is all I need. We share a wonderful life together. We aren't perfect but we grow and learn and that is all that matters.
Looking back at when we first met, the internet. Yes, we met online. The only communication we had with each other for the first 9 months or so was pretty much online and phone.
Connection is a funny thing. I just started a book that talks about connections and the church as they relate to social networking. Essentially that is what Jody and I had way back when -- primitive social networking. Many of my youth and I communicate daily by Facebook and texting. It is a reasonable way that we can keep in touch and stay connected. It is nice because it allows me to let them know I am praying for them and it gives them a steady connection with me.
It will be interesting to see where this book takes me. It is called "The Church of Facebook" by Jesse Rice. As I have only just started, I am really looking forward to seeing what it says about yet another connection.
Happy Anniversary Jody.
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