Monthly Archives: March 2013

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Jason had a small wedding to officiate today. Only the couple and their immediate family would be there.  I asked him if someone would be taking pictures.  He thought probably not.  So I did what I so naturally do; I inserted myself into the event.  Not even knowing the couple, I decided (all self-important-like) that I would save the day.  I asked Jason if I could tag along and offer to take their wedding pictures.

Pulling up to the church, I got out of the car ready to pour on some picture-taking love.  I was stopped dead in my tracks by a woman holding a camera with a professional-looking attachment that resembled a creature out of a sci-fi film.  I told Jason I could stay in the car realizing I had no purpose in being there; I hadn't been invited.

Fast forward to 2:00.

Jason and I found ourselves on a "Let's get everybody something new to wear for Easter" mission. After a few hours and a few shopping bags, everybody had something new and spiffy to wear; except me. Every dress was too short, too tight, too young-looking or dry clean only.  If there was a dress meant just for me, I wasn't finding it.  And so we went home with one person in the car suffering with a case of "poor me".

The way I see it, this is a give and take world. Not one to do all giving or taking only, I find it appropriate to have good balance.  I had planned that good balance today.  I was going to give at the wedding by taking pictures that would serve an unsuspecting couple.  I was later going to take home a new dress; I'd owe it to myself.

Give and take. I see myself doing just that in every day's story; a story in which I'm always a central character.  I'm "a friend in need or a friend indeed".

But it isn't always about me.

At the wedding, I found myself nothing more than a nameless girl in the audience. I wasn't there to give or take. I was there, simply,  to take-in.  I saw the mother and father of the bride holding hands; their age-old love for each other evident.  I watched the bride wipe tears as she repeated "I do".  And I listened to a story of how the marriage came to be; a story rich in love.

Leaving the mall, I found myself with a willingness to give-in. Old dress or new dress, flashy or dull, I'm not the main character on Sunday, or any day. I may find an opportunity to greet some visitors and certainly I'll sing praises.  There will most assuredly be someone there who warms my heart with a hug or a compliment. Most importantly, beneath my dull, old dress will be one who remembers

There's a time to give,

a time to take,

and a time to do little more

 than fade into the audience;

a grateful and unimportant bystander-

with a heart occupied by worship.

 

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In my last post, I was all chilled-out with my c'est la vie attitude.  Mistakes and messes, I said are often unavoidable and can be great opportunities to see God at work.  So roll with messy life, I told you and I told myself.

The same day I wrote "The Chill Proclamation",  Hayden got into his truck for the first time without me and without his dad.  I released control and let him go to Market Basket to get a few things, envisioning the worst. (I realize this admission makes me seem like a fruit loop to some of you.)  I smiled confidently as I followed him to his truck and placed my hands and face on the window, near willing myself to cling to the side of his truck like Spidey Woman.

My smile didn't match my feelings.

I knew deep down that it was the right thing to let him go.  He has his license.  It's time.  I have faith.  But that's the funny thing about faith; faith is trusting God with what happens.  Often what I really want faith to mean is that -what I want to happen will happen.

Certainly we need to listen to God so that we're making right decisions, but even the keenest ear won't make all the right ones.  Even more frightening, some good decisions can end with consequences that we don't like. We must place more importance on trusting God (no matter the circumstances) than our ability to make right decisions.

Our feeble feelings and faith can coexist.  I let Hayden go, despite worrying, knowing that God is in control.  In my days I find myself angry, frustrated and worried. I can still trust God even when my feelings shout in disagreement.

Faith and feelings don't have to match.

I remember being really angry with someone one time.  I had let my anger grow and get the best of me for a couple of months.  I remember a point where I prayed something like this:

"You know my feelings God,  I'm having a hard time changing them. I know you don't want me to feel this way.  So I'm going to obey you and trust you.  I'm going to trust that you will change my feelings because I can't."

 Of course he did.  It took a little time, but I found myself walking closer to him in the wait.

Be on your guard; stand firm in the faith; be men of courage; be strong.  1 Corinthians 16:13

My feelings are loud.  They tell me that life is uncertain.  My feelings try to dictate my actions and inform my beliefs.   But I know better. My feelings are from me.  Faith is from God.  I think he wins.

 

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Chocolate syrup is not a familiar item on my grocery list.  Because it's messy. I avoid purchasing messy food items. That being said, I've never been a fan of paint or arts and crafts either.  I know the outcome dealing with such items. 

But I bought chocolate syrup on Saturday.

I was feeling generous I guess.  My oldest daughter, Hallie, asked for it and my shopping companion and oldest, Hayden, reminded me to get it. Here I am this morning having spied, unsurprised, a stream and spatter of chocolate running down my white cabinets.  It's dried of course, because the culprit left it there.

The suspect was either unaware of the mess or was unable to deal with it. 

I knew it would happen.  I know it will happen again.  Even if I stop buying chocolate syrup for my kids' milk. Because there will be other messes.  That's what kids do; make messes.  It's what we do in our humanity.  We're a messy people. 

Last night our youngest's Bible Buddy group showed off their Bible skills at church.   Rylie, much like her dad is secure.  She boldly moved to the microphone as they recited the Old and New Testament.  She, and the rest of the group in sing-song , flew through the first twenty-two books with ease.  But then even though she knew the books backward and forward, Rylie got stuck in a "Ezra, Nehemiah, Esther, Job" loop. 

Her booming loop confused the entire group so much that the leader had the group start again at Genesis only to have the same hitch. They tried a third time with Rylie's voice only slightly softened.   Willing, she  messed up three times but was never shaken.  If that's not enough, after loudly botching the books, she volunteered to recite them again aloud and alone.

She was not only comfortable making a mess, but she allowed herself to be vulnerable in front of a crowd.  I admire that.  She knows she doesn't have it all together and she's fine with that.

I'm aspiring to be more like that; in fact the chocolate syrup is still stuck to my cabinet while I'm writing.

Hayden got his driver's license today. I'd tote him around forever to avoid fender benders or worse.  Everything in my nature tells me to shake in terror as we invite the opportunity for mistakes.

But no, I'm determined to be mindful of a few things about messes.

1.Even when we strive for perfection and prepare ourselves fully, messes are still made.  Sometimes mistakes are unavoidable.

2.Mistakes teach us more than our easily-achieved successes ever could.

3. Sometimes messes are a precursor to something more beautiful than "rightness" could have ever brought about.  It was our fallen-ness that led to the cross and resurrection, the most beautiful and glorious event to ever take place.

4.Though God is ever-present, it's in our messes that we look to Him.  And he is with us in power.

5.And thank goodness, Love keeps no record of wrongs......

The match to our mess is marvelous grace.  

 

 

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Words are important.  Words encourage, enlighten and inspire.  Yet there are moments when words aren't necessary.

I've been reminded as of late, that communication can be beautifully accomplished with lips sealed.

10 Sights for Sore Eyes:

1. Flowers at the airport- After spending a week in Seattle, my family was waiting for me at the airport along with a fresh bouquet of flowers.  In an instant, my exhaustion from the day's travel melted and was replaced with excitement.

2. Sticky S'more fingers- Marshmallowy fingers communicate sweet rest and are usually accompanied by companionship. Milk mustaches warm my soul too.

3. Hand holding and Hugs- Love seems to course without a word when hands are held and hugs are given.  Hand holding is automatic when I pick Rylie up from school every day.  I treasure it.

4. Full baby cheeks and tiny toes- I'm reminded of God's design, still fresh.

5. A Card in the Mail- Stephanie, a dear friend, sends me a card throughout the year.  I'm touched deeply every time BEFORE I open it.  The envelope with my name handwritten speaks love into my day.

6. Jason's Car in the Driveway- The sight of his car pulling into the driveway means that the day in its laboring sense is done, and that it's time for togetherness.

7. Mom and Dad (well, all of our family)- Miles have separated us.  Though we talk weekly, they're a sight for sore eyes when we're together.

8. Things that are beautiful, things that are grand and things you don't see everyday. So,........things.  Beautiful things remind me of God's handiwork.  Grand things humble me and remind me that God is big.  Things you don't see every day shake me from the trance which tells me that my days are full of sameness. The bagpipes in the picture are made from chair legs and who knows what else, and the bagpipe plays.  I think it's wonderful.

9. Budding Friendships and Old Friendships too.- Sitting on the sidelines at the Heritage Festival and watching Hayden and Hallie stroll with friends reminds me that God provides.  Them finding friends has been a prayer of mine; one that has been answered.

10. Carefree Moments- When my mind has stilled I see better; I see deeper.  In busy-ness I see boys throwing rocks.  In a carefree moment I see time shared, without worry. Carefree moments are a sight for sore, tired eyes. 

What's a sight for your sore eyes?

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I spent the past week in Seattle, Washington with my sister-n-law who's ill.  Time with her beautiful family on their turf made for an adventure with God written all over it.  Here are a few life lessons from the Pacific Northwest.

Being alone makes room for God. I don't like being alone.  I especially don't like traveling alone.  Wondering around in the airport, alone, makes me face myself in all my inadequacy.  What better companion than God; I hear him best when I'm alone. He helps me to see beyond myself.

 

The sun is always coming.  My nephew has a night-light that is timed.  It's a moon during the night hours.  And it turns into a sun in the morning.  Aidan went to bed each night with anticipation that the sun was coming; that's when he could get out of bed.  I saw him sitting on his bed one morning before the sun was "on".  Sitting cross-legged with his fists on his chin, he was hopeful.  He was sure,  The sun always comes.

  An empty plate is a happy plate. My sister-n-law and her husband are awesome parents (there should be a book with some of their tips).  The kids were encouraged to eat, because "an empty plate is a happy plate".  This is true for adults.  We clean our plates by meeting the demands of a busy schedule only to fill our plate again.  Find time to have an empty, happy plate.

 

 There's protection from the rain. I thought rain boots were mostly for decoration and puddle stomping.  But sometimes there's so much rain.  We need protection from it.  God is our covering.  Our bodies may be drenched by the rain, but our souls have protection.

There's super in the simple.  Find it.

 To borrow from Eponine of Les Mis, "Rain will make the flowers grow".

Used-up,  sometimes icky things, can be a part of a big beautiful masterpiece. My favorite part of sight-seeing happened to be the Gum Wall in Seattle.  Both horrible and beautiful.  Always have perspective to see the beauty.
  Love makes the world go 'round ...and it makes you go 'round the world........and back.  (Traveling across America seems that far). I'm thankful for a week of getting to love on and be loved by the Gatties.  I'm thankful to have returned to the love of my own "Burdens".

 

Thanks Seattle!

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7 Indeed, the very hairs of your head are all numbered. Don’t be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows. Luke 12:7

Most everybody has read this verse.   To think that God knows how many hairs are on my head tells me that he is a personal God; an omniscient God.

It's impressive.

I'll tell you something else that's impressive; the hair on the heads of the Burdens.  All five of us have been blessed.  We have hair to share.  I was doing laundry yesterday and spent much of my time removing hair that had become entwined in the fibers of our clean clothes.

What a monotonous job.  But the hair-picking made me realize just how remarkable God is.  When I think about God knowing the number of hairs on my head, I think of a single number.  God knows that I have.... say, 108,237 hairs on my head.

As I removed hair strand by strand from a sweater, I was struck by a simple fact.........

The number of hairs on my head CHANGES constantly.

The number of hairs on my head changes when I brush my hair.  I lose hair as I go about my day.  Silver strands sprout daily adding to my hair number.  I lose thousands of hairs with no awareness.  I notice every new gray.  And God is aware of it all.

And so it goes with life.

Life is full of change with its swinging moods.  You're on fire for God one minute and you've forsaken him the next.  Change is ever about; when you step on the scales and when you see your sixteen year old pull out of the driveway without you.

Know this.

God knows your troubles just like he knows your hair's number. He's ready for those curve balls bearing change and he tells us not to be afraid.  Change is constant, and like the shedding of our hair it's often unavoidable.

Life is full of change. It's impossible sometimes to keep up.

The number, that great mysterious number of hairs on our head changes,

 but our God of great grace does not.

 It is well for us that, amidst all the variableness of life, there is One whom change cannot affect; One whose heart can never alter, and on whose brow mutability can make no furrows. - Charles Spurgeon

 

 

 

 

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Space missions have never interested me.  Call me simple or lacking in adventure.

This morning I woke up with the word "mission" on my mind, strange I know.  I thought about how the church is full of mission activities and how the world needs people on mission.  I thought about my full schedule; my mission for today.

I think we all wake up with mission on our mind.  I know I walk like I'm on a mission; my hasty steps determined.  I drive like I'm on a mission too.  Horns and squealing tires around me tell me I'm not the only one.

This morning I read a short article about space missions on the NASA website; don't ask me why. I was curious about what all went into a mission. There were a thousand details I didn't have time to read, but having a successful mission really comes down to two things.

1. Preparation is a vital part of the mission. Astronauts train intensively for two years. They don't get on the rocket ship and wing it.

It seems to me that I forget the necessity of training for my mission.  I'm more likely than not to get out of bed, and hope for the best.  With no more than a few words spoken to God and a maybe a couple of verses read I'm all prepared for my day, right?  Oh yeah, I went to church too.

Astronauts spend time together.  Newer Astronauts are grouped with those more experienced. They learn and live together. They're on the same mission so it only makes sense.

Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but let us encourage one another-and all the more as you see the day approaching. Hebrews 10:25

Much of Jesus' mission was spent walking alongside others with a calling.  Jason has said, "There are no Lone Ranger Christians".

We're all on Mission; one I hope ends with the sweet words of Jesus

"Well done, good and faithful servant!" (Matthew 25:21)

All too often I find myself getting distracted by the thousands of mini-missions I find myself on.  I fool myself into believing that things like matching socks and meetings are more important than they really are.  The only mission set before us is one that leads us step by step closer to Jesus. We're better fit for our mission when we're in constant prayer and in the word. Having brothers and sisters beside us in our journey makes it better too.

Above all, let us be joyful on our mission because with Christ behind us and before us, the mission has really already been accomplished.