Spiritual – Page 7 – A Writer's Daughter

Mask-wearing Woes

Mask wearing is now a routine of daily living. Regardless of local law, mask requirements are entry policy into most public spaces these days. For many of us, including me, mask-wearing looks weird and feels strange. Recently, two friends from the medical world who regularly wear PPE, remarked to me about their mask aversion in private life but for the foreseeable future, mask-wearing is in! The bright spots in this masquerade are the American spirit of creativity, ingenuity, and entrepreneurship in mask production and … we are all set for Halloween!!!

Early on, I experienced mask challenges. I started with a quasi-mask: a sideways-turned hairband but decided that straps around the back of my head messed up my hair. I broke down and bought the cheap blue industrial style until I had time to sew up some fun masks with my own fabric. The ear loops worked better for me except for the earring issue. Another learning curve was lipstick. I hated not putting lipstick on at all, but the creamy types rubbed off, so I switched to paint-type lipsticks that dry. For recent air travel, I splurged on a heavy-duty snug-fitting type of mask, which apparently kept me COVID-free.

My dad cheerfully sports his Pittsburgh Pirates mask.

A major fallout of mask-wearing is communication. Masks muffle clarity: it’s like you have cottonballs on your mouth, which you do!! My husband and I have misheard conversations including medical directions and food orders. When a second language, cell phone dynamics and less-than-sharp hearing are added to the mask mix, it sends me through the roof!!!

In my last post, I discussed how God created us with five rich senses with which we amazingly engage with people. Masks, I believe, disturb yet another of our God-given, wonderful human gifts. And that is our perceptive ability to read people and their moods and emotions. We perceive through the observation of facial expressions and tone of voice. That sensory ability is greatly diminished when a mask conceals expressions and dulls voices. Eyes peer out (if they’re not also in a hat and sunglasses, making them a regular bandit) but much is lost to the observer. I am especially concerned about children having a prolonged gap in observation and practice during their developmental years, as the mask mandate persists. As a sidenote, I call on Dave and Mark, designers/inventors I know, to develop a transparent mask that meets protection protocols!

This drugstore sign made me laugh – an oxymoron, don’t you think?

To be honest, I do not have answers to the mask mess. With long practical use in the medical world, and some assuring data about at least temporary protection, we are likely going to be wearing masks for quite a while yet. I am trying to put on a happy face, along with my lipstick that you can’t see, as I wear mine.

It does not matter to God if you wear a mask or not. I am not speaking about conformity or rebellion but about how God sees us. We present a desired exterior façade of ourselves which may fool others but never fools God. Not only did He create our bodies and faces, but He sees our hearts and our intentions. The Bible says man looks on our outward appearance, but God perceives the heart (1 Samuel 16:7). Psalm 139 details God’s intimate knowledge of us, to the point of knowing our words before we say them. This is scary yet assuring. God knows us completely, our best and our worst, yet He loves us wholly. He is compassionate too, fully grasping our pain, loss and fears. In the end, that we cannot disguise our true selves, is deeply reassuring.

It was a beautiful evening at a picturesque spot but my smile, not my mask, covers an undercurrent of discord.

Pandemic Postcard

Last Tuesday I received the blue and green postcard shown in my feature photo. The state of Virginia sent it to our household offering services for anyone suffering emotionally or psychologically due to fallout from the COVID-19 pandemic. Getting that mailer, realizing that the state formed a helpline, surprised me and yet it didn’t. Just within the past week I’ve had conversations and seen discussions or posts about depression among teenagers, demise and death among the elderly in quarantine, of suicide attempts, and concerns about children’s social development. Many talk half in jest, but with a note of truth, about the summer that wasn’t or about cancelling 2020. I have heard “Will I ever see them again?” or “Will I ever go there again?” Even Dunkin’ Donuts is jumpstarting Pumpkin Spice Latte season early this fall to boost public morale! We seem to be at a breaking point. What is wrong?

Although “stay home, stay safe” is positively promoted, long-term isolation is dangerous. For more than five months now, people have sheltered in place ordering food and supplies on-line, worked and learned from home, socialized virtually and watched streamed church services. With the internet and social media, it seemed that folks could live normally in a distance bubble, but the outcomes reveal differently. People aren’t healthy alone.

Yes, we have texting threads, phone calls by the hours, Facetime and Skype with video chats, ZOOM meetings and the like for interaction but it’s not the same as being together. God created us for community with Him and with humankind (Genesis 1:26-27, 1 John 1:3). Experiencing friends and family in person, not just through screenshots or phonelines, keeps us alive. Think about how God gave us five senses. You can remember the scent of your grandparents, the smells of dormitory life, and the odors of sweaty teammates. Flavors are memorable too: holiday dinners, romantic coffee dates, bitter medicine, childhood popsicles. Human touch is necessary as well, yet we have gone from being hug happy to physical aversion.

It is not easy to decipher the many messages about the Corona virus and its contagious nature. We do our best to stay informed, to choose reasonable precautions and to obey regulations. But if it is safely possible, choose to be with your friends and family. Make coffee dates with friends at outdoor cafes. Meet up with folks for picnics. Open your windows and doors and have company for dinner. Take long walks with neighbors. I do understand that some of you reading this cannot do these things because of restrictions at your residence, employment regulations, severe health risks or other restraints. We all must reach out in secondary ways when ‘in-person’ isn’t possible but I hope that you’ll have that chance to visit, to sit together, to share a meal, to see, smell, touch those to whom you are close. Virginia cares … and so do I!

A Higher Authority

For years one of the core values of my church was “People Matter to God and People Matter to Us.” That tenet is still core in Scripture and to The Church. All human life has intrinsic value because people are created by God and people are made in the image of God, as earthly copies of Him. All people matter!

Few Americans condone police brutality, violent riots and destruction of property. Most of us grieve over inner city poverty, crime and substandard schools. No one applauds fractured families and unparented children. There is also the plight of the rural poor and their lack of opportunity as well.

Despite abundant concern, few new solutions seem to be emerging. Mostly we hear about providing more of what has already been unsuccessful. More regulation and updated policy are not likely to stop looters, end rampages, cease dishonesty or bias within government or prejudice in law enforcement. These problems matter – they are matters of the heart.

Unless one commits his or her heart to something other than oneself, attitudes and actions of selfishness, survival, mistrust and prejudice will prevail. My pastor used to joke about the Hebrew National motto that touted: we answer to a higher authority. Submitting oneself to God’s ways, His authority, is the only solution to our hearts that tolerate insensitivity, partiality, defamation, destruction, and even murder? (see Matthew 5:21 -22).

It says in a New Testament book called James, “God opposes the proud but shows favor to the humble. Submit yourselves, then, to God.” (James 4: 6-7) Actually, I recommend reading the entire chapter 4 of James. It begins with “What causes fights and quarrels among you?” and ends with, “Who are you to judge your neighbor?” Once again, God’s Word is spot on!

Postscript – We may wonder if this is a matter to us or an issue for others? Scriptures point out our need to consider. “The heart is deceitful above all things, and desperately wicked; Who can know it?” (Jeremiah 17:9). King David the prolific Psalmist asked, “Search me, God, and know my heart; test me and know my anxious thoughts. See if there is any offensive way in me,” (Psalm 139: 23-24a).

Our friend Randy Wyant (idophoto.com) captured these cloud shots at the beach. We wondered if the double halos were a jet trail left by some pilots we know “makin’ lazy circles in the sky” (Oscar Hammerstein, “Oklahoma,” 1943).

Brevity

On my pre-pandemic commute, I passed a street named Brevity. Brevity sounded like a profound topic for a blog post until life as we knew it was upended, continuing to this day. With the utmost of brevity, I share these words.

It is not whether you test positive for COVID19 or not. It’s not poverty or prosperity. It’s not black or white, or left or right. It is know Jesus or no Jesus. (Galatians 3:28)

As someone who knows Jesus, let me be quick and clear to say that Christians are not perfect and don’t always get it right, but we desire to follow the life and message of Jesus, as written in God’s Word, the Bible.

The Apostle Paul summed it up this way: “For I resolved to know nothing while I was with you except Jesus Christ and Him crucified.” 1 Corinthians 2:2

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.