Thank you to all the youth who participated in the worship service this past Sunday. What a true testimony to others about the way you LIVE YOUR FAITH OUT LOUD!
My friend Debs shared a song "The Time of my Life" by former American Idol contestant, David Cook, that picks up on the theme LOL.
The words are: I'll taste every moment, and live it out loud, I know this is the time to be more than a name or a face in the crowd. This is the time, This is the time of my life.
As a new class of confirmands is blessed this Sunday, I hope you will remember your baptism and confirmation. Indeed, as we say "yes" to God and our faith, we are accepting the responsibility to be more than a name or face in the crowd. It has to mean something and cause us to act differently, make better choices, be more accepting. It is not easy when we care what others think, when we struggle financially or emotionally, when things don't go our way or someone wrongs us. But God didn't ask us to LOL when it was easy. He modeled practicing your faith regardless of the circumstances.
As the song implies "choose to love rather than be bitter ". Quit "holding on to things/images that vanish into air". And always, always keep your feet on solid ground and face the Son. And then you can face everyday with arms wide open to Live Out Loud!
Friday, May 21, 2010
Tuesday, May 11, 2010
Finding Sabbath in a whirlwind
Well it finally happened, my two worlds collided! The Sabbath world I have been trying so hard to perfect intersected with my "to do" list in the real world.
On Friday, Charlie and I loaded up Ma maw B and headed to Chapel Hill for the weekend to celebrate Catherine's graduate degree in Sports Administration. For those of you not familiar with my reality, my 88 year old dementia challenged mother lives, moves and has her being with us. During the 150 miles trip, she must have exclaimed half of those miles 'well I see why Catherine doesn't come home much.'
Friday afternoon was a day of running around Chapel Hill to accomplish Catherine's "to do" list. The only crisis we encountered was Catherine realizing her Master's hood for Sports and Exercise Science was sage green and Carolina blue, apparently not in her color pallet! We had a nice meal at Nantucket courtesy of Catherine's supervisor.
Only at evening's end did I finally take a deep breath and remember there was an evening and there was morning, the seventh day. I gave thanks for mother being able to come, regardless of her mental condition. When mother handed Catherine the bouquet of fresh flowers from the Farmer's Market, Ma maw's eyes sparkled and "hi there girl" was just as clear as the day Catherine Rebecca Greene was born! In our hotel room Catherine literally went to sleep as soon as she sat down in a straight back chair and I said "well done ,good and faithful servant". Finally I gave thanks for Charlie and his patience and understanding with three women!
Saturday was more of the same. Searching for Sabbath time, I found it by the pool with family, friends and sunshine. As a peaceful breeze ruffled the air, I was reminded that "surely the Lord is in this place."
Sunday was a day of celebration. Once again I struggled between checking out of the hotel, putting on my make up and my mother's (not on the same face, thank you), finding a parking place and pushing the wheelchair versus recognizing the Sabbath in the day. I was challenged to find reverence in the chaos.
Closing my eyes and taking slow, deep breaths, God came to me
On Friday, Charlie and I loaded up Ma maw B and headed to Chapel Hill for the weekend to celebrate Catherine's graduate degree in Sports Administration. For those of you not familiar with my reality, my 88 year old dementia challenged mother lives, moves and has her being with us. During the 150 miles trip, she must have exclaimed half of those miles 'well I see why Catherine doesn't come home much.'
Friday afternoon was a day of running around Chapel Hill to accomplish Catherine's "to do" list. The only crisis we encountered was Catherine realizing her Master's hood for Sports and Exercise Science was sage green and Carolina blue, apparently not in her color pallet! We had a nice meal at Nantucket courtesy of Catherine's supervisor.
Only at evening's end did I finally take a deep breath and remember there was an evening and there was morning, the seventh day. I gave thanks for mother being able to come, regardless of her mental condition. When mother handed Catherine the bouquet of fresh flowers from the Farmer's Market, Ma maw's eyes sparkled and "hi there girl" was just as clear as the day Catherine Rebecca Greene was born! In our hotel room Catherine literally went to sleep as soon as she sat down in a straight back chair and I said "well done ,good and faithful servant". Finally I gave thanks for Charlie and his patience and understanding with three women!
Saturday was more of the same. Searching for Sabbath time, I found it by the pool with family, friends and sunshine. As a peaceful breeze ruffled the air, I was reminded that "surely the Lord is in this place."
Sunday was a day of celebration. Once again I struggled between checking out of the hotel, putting on my make up and my mother's (not on the same face, thank you), finding a parking place and pushing the wheelchair versus recognizing the Sabbath in the day. I was challenged to find reverence in the chaos.
Closing my eyes and taking slow, deep breaths, God came to me
in the beauty of nature
in the tears as graduates' names were announced
in multi races, cultures and religions represented
in traditional music and new pieces
in commencement messages
in a grandmother and daughter
walking barefoot through the lush lawns
in my cell phone and sidekick email left in the car
in plentiful hugs, smiles and flowers
for mothers and graduates
Thank you Catherine and the Class of 2010 for helping me practice sabbath. "Sabbath is the great equalizer, reminding us we do not live on this earth but in it" (Barbara Brown Taylor).
In the eyes of the world, there is no reward for reflection. In the eyes of God, reflection is required not occassionally but on a regular basis. You have to wonder what makes people so resistant to it, because I came back from Chapel Hill refreshed spiritually and more committed to Sabbath.
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