Spiritual – Page 6 – A Writer's Daughter

Lexicon Part 2 – Variations in Rhythm

In the second of this “Lexicon” series, I contemplate the word rhythm. Its plainest meaning refers to the beat of music or patterns in sound. In that use, rhythm denotes syncopation that is harmonious, repetitive and predictable, or at least pleasant in digression. In a wider scope, rhythm describes motion and patterns in life. The term Circadian rhythm refers to long cycles in life. I hadn’t heard it for a long time until the other day I read it in a newspaper article about adjusting to Daylight Savings time.

A newer use of the word rhythm in today’s lexicon aligns the concept with routine. Some young newlyweds I know felt that it took a few months for them to find the rhythm of living together. Another young married couple setting up house chose to run the dishwasher nightly and awaken to the cleaned load each morning, as a positive “rhythm.” A recent issue of Victoria magazine, in describing an upcoming winter feature, stated “Rhythms of Repose: Amid the cadence of a quiet pastime or treasured ritual of daily living, find a calming breath of serenity …” (Victoria, January/February 2020, p. 11). Rhythm is a predictability that gives life calm.

My Pastor mentioned rhythm in a podcast explaining the importance of personal and corporate worship (“Pray the Word” Podcast # 880, David Platt, January 6, 2020.) Platt’s explanation focused on both the idea that worship should be regularly scheduled into our lives, and furthermore that within worship itself, there is rhythm. Complete worship always pairs revelation (teaching and learning from God’s Word) with personal response (letting the Word soak into your heart for God to use it and grow you.) Today’s sermon further elaborated on the “rhythm of gratitude” in worship (Mike Kelsey, 4/19/2020, www.mcleanbible.org/sermons). Clearly, spiritual rhythm is a thing and without the frequent rhythm of a worship structure, you’re out of sync. The beat won’t go on.

I wrote most of text above on a return flight from a wonderful late winter visit to my parents in Florida. The Corona virus was just beginning to be newsworthy. I remember being encouraged by the bustling airport and many families still arriving for Florida vacations as I departed. Only days later my district, with no forewarning, shut down school for a month. Shortly thereafter, governors closed schools statewide, in Virginia’s case, for the rest of the academic year! Talk about losing all sense of daily and work rhythm in life! It has frankly been that upheaval that has kept me from finishing this blog post. I may have more time on my hands but our new normal feels anything but normal and I accomplish less in the offbeat fallout.

As I observe Americans responding to the COVID19 outbreak, I notice something that concerns me greatly. Few seem to approach the crisis spiritually. There’s our wonderful American spirit of hope and triumph. We have some of the world’s best scientists and healthcare professionals to guide us. We protect our entrepreneurs as they improvise business practices and creatively provide needed resources during the shutdown. It is all so positive and encouraging but our hearts, as a nation, don’t appear to be seeking God in response. Maybe most folks are out of a spiritual rhythm; acknowledging the God of the universe in crisis or calm isn’t firmly regulated in their lives. I pray that whether we’ve reached the apex of the outbreak or not, people turn to God. “Call to Me, and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know. God is our refuge and strength, an ever-present help in trouble. The Lord your God is with you, He is mighty to save.” Jeremiah 33:3, Psalm 46:1, Zephaniah 3:17

A friend who’s both a teacher thrown into on-line instruction and a mother thrown into homeschooling organized her daughter’s day.

Shadow of Death

I crisscrossed the roads of Norfolk and Virginia Beach quite a bit this winter when I stayed there to help my daughter with her new baby. One afternoon as I headed back to her house following the directions of a navigation system, I drove past some city services buildings and noticed an unusual display of t-shirts. It took me a second, but I soon realized that it was a memorial for the victims of the Virginia Beach shooting on May 31, 2019. The complex was just a couple of miles away from my daughter’s home. It was a sobering thought for me. She and her husband had also spent time in Pensacola, FL for Navy training a few months prior to the shooting at that Naval Base. Life nears the “shadow of death” more closely and more often than we realize.

Many near miss or divine intervention stories emerged from the events of 9/11. People overslept, missed the bus, or had traffic tie-ups that kept them from being at the office on time, resulting in escaping the horrific tragedies at the Pentagon and the Twin Towers in New York. Unplanned circumstances saved the lives of quite a few that day. They too narrowly passed by the “shadow of death.”

I faced the Corona dilemma early on when a new student from an affected region transferred into my school. At the time, school officials had no enforced policies in place. Our principal gave us only vague assurances from the school district. I contacted a friend who works in the international enrollment office and she confirmed that the county had no regulations for them to implement. Those of us who were to work closely with the new student had concern but we accepted the risk. We too were “in the shadow.”

I love Golden Books. We often read this depiction of the 23rd Psalm.

The Corona virus pandemic brings a seemingly tangible danger to our world. Although there is a wide continuum in how folks perceive their personal risk, the virus and its potency are real. The daily stats, new policies and lifestyle changes indicate a threat. Risk has moved from the cloudy shadows into clear view and many are shaken by the fear that they could get sick or that loved ones could die.

The phrase “valley of the shadow of death” is taken from the Twenty-third Psalm. Verse 4 of the short chapter states, “Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me; thy rod and thy staff they comfort me.” For centuries this passage has comforted its readers with promises of God’s protection and provision. Believing that God leads us results in calm and rest. David, the shepherdboy turned king who was inspired by God to write these words, explains a conditional peace. These promises are given to those who call the Lord their Shepherd, who are in God’s flock. Times of crisis remind us to check our status. Are you truly one of God’s sheep, living safely in the boundaries of His Fold? Now is the time to make sure that your life and soul belong to the Light of the world, Jesus (John 8:12).

Illustrator Tasha Tudor produced versions of both the 23rd Psalm and The Lord’s Prayer. She always included Corgis and floral borders in her artwork.

It’s Fixed

I am happy to report that many of our previous problems have been fixed!! The septic system was overhauled, and new grass is growing. An extra blessing from the Lord was that our insurance company covered much of the repair cost. The cars are working fine, we said good-bye to a kitty, and usually our technology cooperates, except for tonight when I am trying to work on this blog. A recent flood of the washing machine indicates that the 18-year-old appliance needs to be replaced but I think we got our money’s worth.

This is not the picture I intended to feature but photos wouldn’t download this time. I do like the candy cane vine.

I update this short blog to assure you that we press on even when things go wrong. And as I said before, we dealt with some nuisances but some of you are experiencing serious relationship, health, job or financial crises. Whether we are facing a series of setbacks or a season of blessing, there is a reality check. Romans 8 describes frustration in creation, a waiting for liberation, and a groaning for future hope. You can read the whole interesting passage in Romans 8:18-27. Put encouragingly, “Therefore we do not lose heart. Though outwardly we are wasting away, yet inwardly we are being renewed day by day.” (2 Corinthians 4:16) That is the renewal of walking daily with Jesus.

Football Season and Extra Yard for Teachers

I like football season. I barely understand the way the game is played, and I don’t closely follow any team, but I enjoy the rhythm of the season. Fall Saturdays feature the college games with traditions like Homecoming and tailgate parties. The sportscasters and programming of pro football games feel familiar to me also. We’ve had fun attending college football games, especially at our kids’ schools, and have made it to a few professional games. Football has been momentous for my husband and me. We officially met at my college Homecoming game and we became engaged after attending a Navy football game in Annapolis.

On the right, my son and I chat at a pre-game cookout back in his college days. GO FLAMES!

Extra Yard for Teachers (EYFT) is an initiative leveraging the college football program to honor teachers and inspire people to become educators. EYFT just finished an 8-day blitz of events, but each week of the collegiate football season, players share about a special teacher who inspired them. As a teacher, I appreciate higher education athletics recognizing the formative contributions of educators.

I came across a remarkable football story reading a waiting room magazine. Rob Mendez is a young man without arms and legs, the result of a rare congenital condition. From a young age he loved football and passionately learned all he could about the game, dreaming of becoming a coach. Understandably, securing a coaching position proved challenging given his extreme physical limitations. Mendez said this:

“Two years ago, I rolled out of a church service dejected, out of work, wondering if I’d ever get a chance to become a head football coach. I remember finding a quiet spot near a bush and just asking God to give me a sign that I wasn’t wasting my life, that there was a place for me in football. A few days later, I got the phone call for the interview at Prospect. And now all this has happened.” (ESPN, July 2019, p. 60)

Mendez got a JV Head Coach job, coached an 8-2 winning season and was awarded ESPY’s “Jimmy V Award for Perseverance.”

Mendez’s turning point followed his participation in a worship service. He shares how he felt very down but it seems that time spent in church strengthened him to plead to God regarding his dreams and despair. It wasn’t long after that his coaching opportunity came along.

Rob Mendez coaches a JV football team in Saratoga, CA.

Church has a way of doing that. Joining worship, leaving the concerns of life at the door, experiencing fellowship, being lifted in song, and hearing the Bible preached, result in change and produce healing. Many people think they can experience God without going to church. You can experience God on your own, but church is God’s vehicle for fully encountering Him and Christian community. Corporate worship uniquely offers connection with other believers and a focused time learning through Scripture. Psalm 73: 16-17 describes frustration thwarted by joining others in the place of God: “it was oppressive to me until I entered the sanctuary of God.” God’s design is for us to “flourish” as we enter “in the house of the Lord … the courts of our God” (Psalm 92:13). The New Testament restates it clearly: “Let us not give up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing” (Hebrews 10:25). Leave your excuses at home and go to church next Sunday.

It’s Broken

I can’t tell you how many things have broken recently. My lovely kitchen faucet handle isn’t working after installing all new parts. A week ago today, my car battery died. One of our kitties is living its very last days but the mother of all hassles for me is computer issues! Much of last weekend my husband was on the phone or at the store trying to solve problems that surfaced as email problems. If you talk to the internet provider, they blame the software. When you call for tech software support, they tell you to fix the router. On and on it goes! I spoke to them again this morning.

An encouraging note from a prisoner today.

Pictured with this blog is a photo of our side yard. Last Sunday night we discovered an issue with our septic system. Again, my dear husband altered his plans, working from home for two days to be there as workers came out to determine what’s wrong. Our property is aging so repair for a septic system is not unexpected but it sure will be expensive to fix. And as I went outside to take the photo today, I noticed that our small pond had lost a lot of water. I turned off the pump, refilled the water for the goldfish and added ‘leak’ to the to do list!

So why do I write this short blog about these inconveniences? A couple of thoughts cross my mind. It is good to share concerns with others; it brings some relief. Also, I know that many of you have problems too. My little annoyances pester me but some of you are experiencing serious relationship, health or financial crises. Whether our problems are minor or overwhelming, comfort and strength can be found in God. A verse that I have gone back to many times this summer is, “You are my God, the Rock my Savior” (Psalm 89:14) and for those experiencing true calamity, my favorite Scripture is Hebrews 4:16.

Morning at the Laundromat

This morning I am at a laundromat. It’s an annual chore that I enjoy. Bedspreads are too heavy for my home washing machine so once a year I trek over to a neighboring community to give the bed covers a thorough cleaning in large professional machines.

I love the bright atmosphere and fresh scent of this well-kept laundromat. It intrigues me to observe people as they complete the task of laundry together. Moms and sometimes Dad keep up the loading, transferring and folding. Kids find ways to entertain themselves. Today, two toddlers push around wheeled laundry carts. A teenager babysits her younger sibling in front of a too loud TV. The Spanish channel (any channel!) blaring is the only unpleasant part of this experience for me. As I entered, an older woman left in a taxi with her morning’s work all done. It is good to see how others do life in ways different than my own.

I thrive on task completion. Checking off a job or errand on my “to do” list feels satisfying to me. This chore signifies that summer is in full swing; winter is packed away for a while. I am grateful for a measurable accomplishment in a life season that seems to have many unknowns.

My good friend Robin designs in textiles, including the quilts pictured. When my daughter worked for her, I learned much about the qualities, care and beautiful possibilities of fabric!

I was surprised on Sunday when my Pastor mentioned being “clean” in his sermon. Of course he was referring to spiritual cleanliness, not the clean that comes after a shower or even being free from substance abuse. I don’t think modern American culture emphasizes feelings of shame or guilt much, even when they may be appropriate. Some cultures do value honor and use shame as a deterrent. My pastor’s use of the term, however, indicates that we are self-aware of an unworthiness in ourselves, a falling short. In fact, the definition of sin is missing the mark. We have a sense that we should be cleaner. Across time, mankind has attempted to achieve purity in order to reach God. But as my pastor pointed out, God doesn’t ask us to get cleaned up for Him. Instead He allowed Jesus to get dirty for us. The task on the cross is accomplished and we have only to access the fresh life He offers. “Purify me from my sins, and I will be clean; wash me, and I will be whiter than snow.” Psalm 51:7 “But if we confess our sins to him, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all wickedness.” 1 John 1:9

As I leave the laundromat, a woman and her adult son enter with their laundry baskets. I hope they will enjoy working together today, sharing conversation, and maybe taking a break at the nearby McDonald’s or the Dollar General next door. Such treats I also enjoy.

Robin hand-dyes cloth to produce custom pieces. She possesses amazing creativity and skill which she now uses to bless a community of women in Uganda. Find out more at Gloryboundministry.org

Speak Your Truth, Really? A Crossroads – Part 3

In part 2 of this blog series, I laid out some options for making regular Scripture reading part of your life routine (“Speak Your Truth, Really? A Plan” January 3, 2019). I shared that many types of Bible reading plans exist and they can be adapted to one’s available time and one’s familiarity with Scripture. I also explained that several years ago, I began a Bible reading plan that incorporates different sections of the Bible into a single reading. It is a self-paced plan and I included in that post a photo of the lovely bookmarks my daughter made for me, to keep my four places.

Last summer, as I was following along in this reading routine, I came across specific references to God’s concern for prisoners or “captives” in three of my four passages. This kind of thing has happened before. One passage quotes another that I’ve just read, or a previous event is referenced in a following passage. These are not coincidences; they are proof that God’s Word is a unified message from Him, and that God powerfully works through His Words. As I read the Bible that day trusting it as True, I came to a crossroads. How would I follow-through on God’s concern for the incarcerated?

For years I have known about an organization that provides Bible study materials to prisoners. Volunteers check the lessons and return them to the prisoners with a letter of encouragement. I had always thought it would be a great opportunity. With the clear reminders in Scripture that day, I knew that’s what I must do. I hesitate to share my commitment with you because Jesus said to keep our good works to ourselves since He knows what we’re doing (Matthew 6:1-6). We are told not to boast (Matthew 23:1-12). But as this pertains to how Bible readers must respond, I cautiously tell you this story.

After scoring the Bible lesson, I write a letter. I ended this letter by composing a prayer for both of us.

Crossroads Prison Ministry developed a Bible study program designed specifically for those in prison. It’s a leveled series broken into weekly lessons. Prisoners sign up to become a Bible student and Crossroads Ministry sends them lessons. Students mail the finished lessons back to Crossroads who document completion and pass it on to a mentor like me. Mentors receive one lesson each week. We check the answers with an answer key and then write a letter encouraging them, based on thoughts they share through the lessons. Mentors return the graded lesson and letter to the prisoner in a Crossroads envelope, signing only our first name. Thousands of incarcerated individuals are doing these lessons and Crossroads Ministry needs more mentors. This is why I wanted to tell you my story about obeying Scripture. Crossroads Prison Ministry can be found at http://www.cpministries.org

I can’t leave you with the false impression that I always follow-through fully on everything God challenges me to obey in Scripture. There is much that I neglect or violate. Such is sin and needs correction. You may have heard the expression, “Christians aren’t perfect, just forgiven.” That’s how it is. Believers trust Jesus to accomplish redemption because we can’t accomplish that on our own. The life of a Christian seeks to walk more fully in God’s ways each day (Colossians 1:10, 2:6).

Speak Your Truth, Really?

This fall I attended an all-day workshop for teachers. As is often the case, one of the first slides of the PowerPoint displayed the norms for the day. One expectation out of the fairly short list stated “Speak your truth.” That jolted me awake! As educators, I expected a better understanding of the English language!

Truth is something that is veritable in all situations. Truth is not dependent on circumstances or personality. Truth stays the same; is absolute. I am not a grammar expert but putting the possessive pronoun “your” before “truth” is an oxymoron, a faux pas or just plain poor writing. Pairing “your” with “truth” suggests that a colleague’s truth could be different than my truth. If that is the case, that there are multiple versions of truth, then the topic is no longer truth but experiences, feelings or opinions.

Sadly, the presenters didn’t miscommunicate their intentions. They, like many, believe that truth is relative and that kindness, respect and peace are best achieved by accepting all ideas equally. Nothing in the workshop was particularly controversial. Conflict was unlikely during the training but expecting tolerance is admirable and may be necessary in this day and age, especially in a region that is extremely diverse. Of course every participant’s contributions are valued! Unfortunately, the presenters missed the point by misusing the term ‘truth.’

As we come to the end of the Christmas season and look ahead to the New Year, we can reflect on Jesus’ words about his own coming to Earth. To his interrogator Pilate Jesus said, “In fact, for this reason I was born, and for this I came into the world, to testify to the truth.” (John 18:37) Jesus was born as a baby, leaving behind His heavenly privilege, so we could experience truth. Jesus spoke the truth and He talked about true things and unchanging principles. He even called Himself truth when He said, “I am the way and the truth and the life.” (John 14:6)

Christmas cards artfully portray Jesus and His various names. Christmas carols include His names too. He is called Prince of Peace, Light of the World, and Lamb of God, to list just a few. Each of these names and His many others represent something true about Jesus the Savior, the Son of God. May you be greatly encouraged that Jesus’ birth and purpose are true and real; may you not fall prey to believing that there is any other Truth.

There is a funny story about this photo. I saw this nativity scene in a nursing home, while visiting a family member. On our first visit, the manger was empty with no baby Jesus. I joked with someone that possibly one of the residents had picked up the baby Jesus; some of them like to carry doll babies and often mistakenly take things. It turns out that the Catholic tradition is to leave the manger empty until Christmas Day. Happily, baby Jesus arrived on Christmas!

All Creatures Great and Small

Did you read the classic James Herriott stories retelling the experiences of an English country veterinarian? I thoroughly enjoyed reading the detailed, even graphic accounts of treating farm animals and working among simple folks in rural Yorkshire. The veterinarian turned author wrote a series of four books and he gave each a title from an English hymn: All Creatures Bright and Beautiful, All Creatures Great and Small, All Creatures Wise and Wonderful, and The Lord God Made Them All.

This delicate flower named Toad Lily is blooming in my yard now.

Cecil Frances Alexander wrote those words in 1848. Her lyrics reflected tenants of The Apostles Creed and may have been inspired by Psalm 104. The poem’s wording also echoed a stanza from Samuel Taylor Coleridge’s “Rime of the Ancient Mariner.” Whatever her inspiration, the concept of God’s creatures is now well-established in the English lexicon.

Amazing how the moth perfectly mimics the leaf.

All God’s creatures, great and small, amaze me. I’m not a biologist (that’s my husband and daughter) but I appreciate the order, complexity, beauty, and creativity of living things, especially little things like flowers and insects. Field botany and biology courses in college piqued my interest in God’s tiniest creatures, starting with microscopic algae! My classmates and I collected, preserved and identified an assortment of plants and bugs. We became quite competitive regarding the varieties and sizes of our specimens, which would partially determine our course grade. I give much credit to one of my professors, Dr. Dorothy Chappell, who always pointed the origins of our amazing world to its amazing Creator.

Never did figure out what insect this was. It was about 4 inches long; maybe an unusual dragonfly variety.

God’s created organisms can all rightly be called God’s creatures, but another phrase is not so accurate. “God’s children” is an expression that some use to refer to all people. This is a misnomer. God’s children are those who have joined God’s family by means of repentance of their self-sufficiency, claiming instead dependence on God’s forgiving work through Jesus alone. Those are the only ones who can rightly be called “God’s children.” John 3:16 tells us that this opportunity is open to all, but the choice is ours.

The ‘walking stick’ and the featured praying mantis are two of my favorite insects. I see the incredible uniqueness of God’s handiwork in them.

The letter or epistle of First John (not the Gospel of John) uses the expression “children of God” several times. My pastor, David Platt, is currently preaching a sermon series on this book of the Bible. His sermons on First John can be found on-line at www.mcleanbible.org/sermons.

Wedding Reflections

These last weeks have been a needed time of rest and reflection for me as well as joyful remembering! In May our son and his bride married in a beautiful Southern wedding in Florence, South Carolina. Seven weeks later, we hosted our daughter’s wedding in Virginia’s historic Piedmont region. With some trepidation but much excitement we experienced a double season of engagements, showers, guest lists and invitations, rehearsal dinners, and beautiful ceremonies surrounded by family and friends. There is the expression “showers of blessing” but we had a deluge!

Weddings are joyful celebrations but they require a great deal of planning, taking a great deal of time. Our daughter-in-law and her family took on the first wedding but the second one was ours to coordinate in just three and a half months. I credit the groom and bride and others for their extensive efforts but I knew a lot of the wedding work was my responsibility and it was a daunting task. Several perspectives kept us sane and upbeat in those busy planning days.

First of all we focused on the reason for our work: a young couple had found each other and committed to a future together. Many prayers had preceded this finally happening and it was the happiest of events for us. It was important to see this as a marriage more than a wedding. We wanted a fun party, but the priority was to launch a lasting marriage; Scripture tells us that God hates divorce (Malachi 2:16).

And if you’ve been in a wedding season recently yourself you know there is no end to the trimmings for today’s weddings. Pinterest, Etsy and Amazon, bridal magazines and The Knot and Zola have advertised every detail you’ve never thought of! Together with the bride and groom, we purposed to plan a lovely event without overdoing it. As the saying goes, our intent was to bless, not impress.

Personally, I had to get serious to accomplish a lot of tasks quickly. Though I like organizing and planning, I knew a wedding in three months required laser-like focus, which is not my natural style. I had my teaching job, home/family responsibilities and other commitments but I dropped all optional activities and pastimes to get going. I also encouraged myself that since this was God’s plan, it could be done in time. I could think of the two weddings a few different ways: a spring wedding, then a summer wedding; about three months apart (May, June, July); or I could say less than three months apart; just seven weeks between them. Maintaining perspective kept me positive. For the most part we all did pretty well working together, being patient, and coming to agreement on many decisions.

A candid from her ‘dry run’ and portrait day.

As the main details came together, we enjoyed wonderful moments of celebration and beauty. Gift giving, creating and decorating, parties and getting pretty filled many hours with joy, togetherness and prayer. My husband and I continued with life beyond wedding planning too. It gets old when every dinner conversation covers the latest wedding expenses and selections. In the course of our wedding season, we managed to get out to two local car shows and host a campaign event. There were hospital visits and a funeral to attend as well. While we experienced joy others faced pain.

He entitled this photo “real men wear pink.”

Gratitude best sums up this season of weddings. We are thankful to God for the gift of spouses for our children. We have witnessed their Christian marriage according to God’s design. From the very beginning God established marriage with the words, “A man will leave his father and mother and be united to his wife, and they will become one flesh,” (Genesis 2:24). Be assured that we realize life will have its challenges for them and for us, but we have been glad, very “glad, in the day the Lord has made,” (Psalm 118:24)!