buzzards part deux

My friend Pat sent in this reply to yesterday's blog...

So here is another way of looking at buzzards. For whatever reason, they strike us as gross. Why? Maybe because we see them eating dead things, you know like beef, and pork and chicken. Or maybe its because they eat so differently, there at the side-of-the-road smorgasbord, you know, like people who use chopsticks, or their fingers, or think a napkin is for decoration.

Seems to me we draw artificial lines between ourselves and others because we need to feel better about ourselves. Is that how we really want to be “done unto?”

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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Buzzards

There seem to be a lot of buzzards flying around the church and roosting.  Maybe they are waiting for the peacocks to get hit by a car?

I find buzzards to be gross.  They look gross and they eat dead things.  Yeuch!!!

But then I remember, everything has a place in God's economy.  The food chain that God has created is amazing.  Every piece of creation has a purpose.  It all matters.

And now for you... if you ever feel like a buzzard, don't.  You have an important place in God's
creation as well.  You matter.  You are here for a reason.

It’s a beautiful day in God’s world, be sure to see the good.

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Funny

Muskogee Ducks watch the spectacle
up on Mike's roof...

Across the street lives our neighbor Mike.  Mike is a retired fellow who takes good care of yard and feeds the local livestock.  Local livestock includes Sandhill cranes, Muscogee Ducks, Egyptian Ducks, and several other varieties of big birds.

At 2pm every day all of the animals show up for their feeding.  It is quite a zoo.

Well the other morning when I went outside I noticed that a pair of Egyptian Ducks had flown up and perched on the peak of Mike's roof.  I don't know why, but I thought it was funny, so I took a picture.  Everyone that I showed the picture to, laughed as well.

I hope you smile and laugh when you see it.
We all need a good laugh these days.

I am still laughing at this picture!

It’s a beautiful day in God’s world, be sure to see the good.

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a special day in my life

I was asked recently to tell about one of the best days in my life.  While I believe that every day is a good, special and a beautiful day, there are a few that stand out.  This is the story of one day in April 1989.

I was ordained in 1984.  Five years later I was divorced and out of the ministry.  After working at a bank for a couple of years, I took a job as the youth and education guy at St. John's UMC on Ward Parkway.  During that year, I got to know other pastors and the district superintendent Elroy Hines.  Elroy was very interested in getting me back into the pastor role.  But there was a problem.  I was ordained in Oklahoma, but was now living in Missouri - two different conferences.  Back then, if you were divorced, they thought that you were crazy.  Anyway, my credentials were in limbo.  Oklahoma held them but Missouri wanted to use me.  Missouri wanted to use me but they wanted Oklahoma to hold my credentials, that way if I was crazy, I would be Oklahoma's problem.

We were at a standstill.  Then on a Tuesday in April 1989 the phone rang.  Elroy Hines said, "Jeff, are you still interested in an appointment?  It would be minimum salary and out in the middle of nowhere.  Come into the office tomorrow I have two district superintendents that want to meet with you."

That Wednesday morning I walked into the Kansas City District office of the Methodist Church.  I told the secretary that I had an appointment with DS Elroy HInes.  She said, "well he is across the hall in the board room with the Bishop and the entire cabinet [all 16 district superintendents.]"  I sat down to wait.  After about 10 minutes, Elroy came out and asked me if I was willing to sit down with the entire cabinet.  I said, sure, if he took care of me.

This is a very very nervous moment for me, and a moment that I was not expecting.

Now Bishop W.T.  Handy was a large imposing black man with a very deep voice.  When I walked into the room, the Bishop stood up.  The 16 district superintendents followed as well.  Pointing to an empty chair at the end of the table, the Bishop said, "sit here son."

I went to the end of the table and sat down.  Everyone else sat down.  The Bishop said, "son, tell us your stooory."

And so with no warning or preparation that this was going to happen that day, I told my story.  Raised in the Lutheran church, my family left the church when I was 16.  I told about being a church vagabond for years.  Then College.  Marriage.  Seminary at Oral Roberts University [a very conservative place.]  I told them that I knew that ORU was a bit of a black mark on my record, but that the seminary was much more open that what one would expect.  Seminary in fact ruined my first marriage because it set my mind and heart away from fundamentalism and in a completely different direction.  Now a few years later I am remarried and have 2 young children.  I told the Cabinet that I would pass around the girl's pictures but it was probably not the best time.

Bishop Handy said, "let me see them babies."  So the pictures of Alli and Jenny went around the table.

I told them that I still felt called and that I would love to have another shot at being a pastor.

When I finished my life story, the bishop asked if there were any questions.  No, none.

I thanked them and drove to my job at St. Johns.  When I was walking in the door, the secretary, Julie Breckenridge, handed me the phone.

Hello?

Jeff, this is Elroy Hines.  I want you to know that Bishop Handy has already spoken to the Bishop in Oklahoma.  We are receiving your credentials.  You are back in the fold.  Tomorrow we want you to go to Lebanon to meet with the Pastor there about an associate position.

And the doors were open.

Two years in Lebanon.

Three years in Princeton and Mercer.

Twenty-two years at Woods Chapel.

All hinging on that one day.

A very special day in my life.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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the power of helping others

My friend JW sent me this...

A growing consensus from scientific studies shows that being thankful and expressing gratitude will predictably increase one's sense of well being.

The one good thing that 'may' live on after this 'episode' in our lives has ended - helping others - reaching out more - being kind - thinking of other people!

St. Luke's Heart Institute has a monthly magazine - my husband is on the mailing list - GRATITUDE is big, really big in the world of cardiac research - and, this..............

The Harvard Help Guide states that individuals who invest their time and energy into supporting others live longer than people who do not regularly help other people. Moreover, there seems to be a does-response effect, whereby the more you help others around you, the happier and healthier you are likely to be.

It’s a beautiful day in God’s world, be sure to see the good.
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Paying attention to the simple things

My friend Nancy is a healthy walker. She walks like Forest Gump ran. I wish I was as healthy as she is with her walking.

Anyway, she sent me this story that I thought I would pass on.

Last week, on the day that you wrote about seeing nature and had posted the beautiful pictures, I walked over near the ocean. As I walked down by Manatee Island restaurant, I saw the resident rabbit.  I see it frequently and believe that it lives in the bushes by the restaurant. The night before, there had been some rain and there on a low lying place in the sidewalk sat the rabbit drinking from a small puddle. I stood 4 feet away and just watched quietly for probably 5 minutes. Probably 2 months ago, I would have certainly not taken the time just to stand and watch. I walked down that big sidewalk toward the jetty . I got out on the jetty and another crevice provided a puddle.  There I watched 3 different little birds take their baths individually.  I could not believe how long each of them splashed around in the few inches of water.  I stood for a long time a few feet away just watching.

It is nice to see things as simple as that and be reminded that life will go on and its not all about my discontent.

Another small bird was perched on top of one of the street signs singing away and I had the same exact thought that you did--no worries, just another day!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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What if?

What if there was only one small section of scripture?  What if it was this selection from Ecclesiastes chapter 3?  What would the world be like, What would theology be like, if this was all we had to go on?

Here is the passage...

I know that there is nothing better for people than to be happy and to do good while they live.
That each of them may eat and drink, and find satisfaction in all their toil—this is the gift of God.

Eccl 3:12-13

Think about it...  nothing better!

pursuing happiness

doing good to others

eating and drinking

finding satisfaction in work

and all of it is a gift from God.

No need for wars.  No need for hatred.  No need for denominational battles.  No arguments over who is in and who is out.

happiness and doing good.

living and loving.

All of it, a gift from God.

Not a bad way to look at life.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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Wesley and the Porter

I love this story and I have thought of it many times over the last few weeks.

During John Wesley’s student days, a poor porter, whose job it was to carry people’s luggage, knocked on Wesley’s door one evening and asked to speak with him.
During their conversation, Wesley observed the man’s thin coat. It was a cold night, and Wesley suggested that he had better get another coat.
“This is the only coat I have,” the man replied, “and I thank God for it.”
Wesley asked the man if he had eaten and the man answered, “I have had nothing today but water to drink, but I thank God for that.”
Wesley, growing uneasy in the man’s presence, reminded him that he would have to leave soon or be locked out. “Then what would you thank God for?” Wesley asked.
“I will thank God,” replied the man, “that I have dry stones to lie upon.”
Wesley was deeply moved by the man’s sincerity and he said to him, “You thank God when you have nothing to wear, nothing to eat, and no bed to lie on. What else do you thank God for?”
The simple man replied, “I thank God that he has given me life, a heart to love him, and a desire to serve him.”
After the man had left with a coat from Wesley’s closet, some money for food, and words of appreciation for the witness he had made, Wesley wrote in his journal, “I shall never forget that porter. He convinced me there is something in religion to which I am a stranger.”

A person's outlook or perspective on life says everything about whether they are happy or sad.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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Jean was right

I was talking to my friend Jean.  I told her that I was ready for things to go back to the way they were.  She said that she was definitely not.

Things not back to how they were?  How so? 
Jean said, "I see so much caring, so much kindness.  I don't want to lose that."

Good point.
People are seeing the needs of others and reaching out in caring ways.  I know that you are a part of that... looking for ways to be there for others.

When this over, may things not go back to the way that they were.  May the newfound kindness, caring and generosity continue on.

And you know, we have the power at least in how we conduct our own lives, to make that so.
The new found and rekindled awareness and compassion for others can continue.  We can make it so, every day, one person at a time.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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instacart

Well with the social distancing order in place, my handyman work has dried up.  So I first focused on fixing things around the house.  Believe you me, if it can be taken apart, cleaned, oiled and put back together, I have done it.

After a few weeks I got terrifically bored.  I still have my 15 hour a week church job, which I love, but I had to find something to do to get out of the house.

I finally applied and was accepted to deliver groceries for instacart.  I have been doing it part time [in times of my choosing] and I am loving it!!!  The shopping is like going on a treasure hunt.  I am my own boss and I can work as much or as little as I want.  It fits nicely around my work at the church.

The best part is the people that I get to help.  Many are quite terrified of getting out in public.  I made one delivery to a woman that is 101 years old.  I made another delivery to a woman with cystic fibrosis.  Almost everyone is pleasant and glad to see me.  It makes me feel like I am doing something worth while.

You know it makes you feel good when someone is glad to see you.  When this is over, I will be glad to see you!!!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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The world marches on

George on top of the sign

So, we think that the world has come to a complete halt.
This is the most unusual, unnerving, discomforting time in our lives.
Bigger than 9-11.  Bigger than the housing bubble in 2008.
Big stuff is going on.

And so the other day I walked out of the church to head to my car.
In the yard next to the church, live a flock of peacocks.  The main male, the boss, is named George.
As I stepped out, I saw George perched on the church sign.
I had a very strange feeling.
We are nervous.  We are worried.  Some of us are wigged out.
For George the peacock, it is just another day.
Eat, drink, and shake your tail feathers for the ladies.

one of George's girls

We are worried.
The birds are not.

And I remember Jesus' words in Matthew 6

26 Look at the birds of the air; they do not sow or reap or store away in barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not much more valuable than they? 27 Can any one of you by worrying add a single hour to your life?

It is just another day for the birds. No problems, no worries, our Maker has our back.  If we saw life the way that the birds did, we may not be so worried. How can we learn to look at life and just feel trust in God?

If the birds can do it, I can do it, we can do it.

the seagull is not worried

the sand hill crane is not worried

the Muskogee duck is not worried.

Don't worry my friends.  The birds are cool.  This will all work out.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

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kindness

Yesterday I watched the movie "It's a beautiful day in the neighborhood" about the life and work of Fred Rogers, Mister Rogers.

I laughed.  I cried.  And I cried again.

Another reminder that life is about being kind to people.  Life is only about being kind to people.

Watch the move.  It will bless you.

Who can you be kind to today?  Tomorrow?
This is why we are here, to be kind to one another.

A new commandment I give unto you that you love one another as I have loved you.
                                   John 13:34

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.
Watch the movie.
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transactional or relational

If you believe that we get to heaven by believing in the angry God who murders his son to cover for our sins, then you are in.  In for heaven.  Whew.  I'm in.  It is transactional.
God killed him for me.  I believe it.  So I am in for heaven.

This thinking leads to some tragic behavior where well meaning Christians tend to think in terms of trying to get others to make the same transaction.  Believe like I do, they say, and you are in too.  Forcing others to believe instead of loving them.

Worst of all, there is no practical application required.  The rest of life does not matter in the big picture.  Just believe the right things and you are in.

Whoa!   Wait a minute!
What about how we live?  What about how we treat each other?

There is another way to look at faith, not as a transaction, but as a relationship.

I see the love on the cross.  I am filled with the love from the cross.  And therefore, I want to, I must share it.

Those who see the love on the cross, want to spend their lives sharing it.

What do you think is more God like?  Getting people to believe and say something about God killing Jesus instead of you?  Or is it more God like to see the love on the cross and want to spend your life following this God of love and living a life of love.

Whatever we did to the least of these we did it unto him.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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What does the cross mean?

Following up on yesterday's post...

If I am no longer going to believe that God intentionally killed his son to get even with us, what do I believe? What do I replace the old ideas with? What does the cross mean?

Peter Abelard [1079-1142] was one of the early teachers in this line of thinking. According to Abelard, "Jesus died as the demonstration of God's love, a demonstration which can change the hearts and minds of the sinners, turning them back to God."

I would add that if I suffer for you, it is a sign of love. If I go out of my way for you, it shows that I love you. On the cross, Jesus showed God's great love for us.

Do you sacrifice for your children?  Would you suffer pain for them?  A good parent spends their life trying to help their children grow, learn and fly in life.

A good parent does not murder someone because they are offended.

The cross is a message of God's love.

Feel the love.

Live the love.

Spread the love.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.
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The God we cannot follow

I am going to take a break from pandemic thinking and write about something else that continues to be on my mind.

Are you ready?  Here we go...

I am mad.
I am raging mad.
Someone did me wrong.
I am going to hurt someone.
I have to get even.
I am not just going to hurt someone, I am going to kill them.
I am going to torture them.
I am going to make them suffer as no one else has.
The last few hours of their life are going to be miserable.
I must have blood.

Oh.  Now they are dead.
Oh.  Ok.  
Whew, now I am good again.
Ok, I'm good.  You're good.  
We're all good.

Let me ask you.  Does that sound like normal thinking?  Do healthy, kind people think like that?  What would happen if I really thought and behaved like that?  You cannot follow someone like  that unless you want to end up in prison.  Would we want to teach our children to think and behave like that?  ABSOLUTELY NOT! 

Yet, this is what many believe about God.  Sure there are scriptures that make God sound just like what I wrote.

But you have to decide what you believe about God.  You have to decide what scriptures to hang your hat on.

Is God an angry, vengeful murderer?  Or is God a God of love?

Love.  A loving God.  That is where I hang my hat.
1 John 4.  God is love.
John 3.  God so loved.

That is something to follow.  That is something to emulate.  That is something to teach your children.
May we release ourselves from the anger, the vengeance, the blood and the murder and hold instead to his loving hand.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Wrestling with God...

I read biblical history, archaeology, and translations of the text written by the people who lived around the Israelites, and so on. It probably sounds odd to you, but I think Christianity is the greatest mystery of all and reading about it from all perspectives helps me pursue what it all really means to me. I really was never very good at accepting what someone told me it meant. Usually they were just telling me something someone had told them.

Over the years I have waffled from being a devoted literalist, a chronic disbeliever, an atheist, a devout Christian, and several things in between. Some mornings my faith is strong. Sometimes it is MIA.

One of my favorite lines from a book is in The Stand by Stephen King. One of the main actors is called on by a woman claiming to be God's mouthpiece to perform a task. He responds by claiming he doesn't believe in God. The woman tells him, "That's ok, He believes in you." We're lucky that even in our most vacant moments, God believes in us, in you, and in me.

So I continue my pursuits even though I know at times it will really make me struggle with just what God is and who Christ was and what it all means. I've always thought that's what God really wants us to do: struggle with who he is. Jacob's name was changed to Israel because he wrestled with God. [Gen. 32] We become something more than what we were when we do the same.

And thinking about God makes me think about myself and how I fit in to it all, which is a good way of making me more kind and gracious in what I do and say.

Submitted by my friend Pat.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

something beautiful

In the midst of a lot of bad and scary news, we need to remember that there is still much good in life.  There are many beautiful things.

The other day, after moping about being stuck at home, I saw these flowers.  I saw them...
We look at so much that we do not see.  Things that are there but we are not paying attention.  Even in this tough time, there are still so many beautiful things to see.

The squirrel on the left is older than I am. 
There is a picture somewhere of me standing
by him in my parent's yard at three years of age. 
Notice the missing ear... I had nothing to do with that.

Beautiful Hibiscus!!!

Cornflower I think
All beautiful!!!

May we all wake up!!! May we all be aware!!!
Let's do all we can to keep seeing the good.  It's still there.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Joke Day

In the Greek Orthodox Church, the day after Easter is joke day. They tell jokes because on Easter, Jesus pulled the wool over Satan's eyes. He got the best of the devil. [now you know that I don't believe that the devil is the opposite of God, but I am just going to let them keep their metaphor.] In fact, I am going to join in. Today is joke day. Let's enjoy.
Here are a smattering of my favorite jokes

What did the fish say when he swam into the concrete wall?
dam.
What do you call a cow with no legs?
ground beef.
A cow with two legs shorter than the others?
lean beef.
Why did the turtle cross the road?
to get to the shell station.
Did you know that Col. George Armstrong Custer was a fancy dresser?
he wore arrow shirts.
Why did he lose the battle of the Little Bighorn?
his horses had engine trouble.
What do you do when you stub your toe?
call a toe truck.

Two jumper cables walk into a bar and order a beer.

The bartender says, OK, I will serve you, but don't start anything.

A termite walks into the bar and says, "is the bar tender here?"

Charles Dickens walks into a bar and orders a martini.

The bartender asks, "Olive er twist?"

A skeleton walks into a bar and sits down.

The bartender says, what will you have?

The skeleton says, I'll have a beer......... and a mop.

Well we could go on and on, but if you catch one little smile today from a joke that you know, give thanks to God because Jesus is the Victor and we can all rest easy today. He is risen!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Happy Easter

Happy Easter!!!

The death and resurrection of Jesus should never be a reminder of what sinners we are.  We should never think on his experience on the cross as reflective of how bad we are.  The Christian faith is not about how bad we are.

On the contrary, the suffering of Good Friday is a sign of God's love for us.

Easter is the ultimate reminder that God loves us!

May the thought of God's love for you fill you with joy today.

May the thought of God's love for you fill you with joy everyday!

Illness and grief

I was making random phone calls this week to members of our church just to check in and see how they were doing.  Most report that they are doing well and feeling fine.  All is good.

Then I called Bill, a snow bird from New York.  His voice is trembling.  He asks if I really want to know how they are doing?  I said, yes of course.  Bill tells me that his brother has died of CV19.  His father has died of CV19.  His mother is in the hospital on a ventilator and is not doing well.

Bill said, "I would never have imagined that this would come to my family.  Please be careful, be safe.  This thing is real, and it is vicious."

You know I have thought a great deal about the symptoms of the illness and how CV19 affects a person's body.  I have empathized for those who have the aches, the chills and the trouble breathing.  What Bill helped me to think about is how it affects your heart and soul.  Up until this phone call, I had not thought about the deep grief that families feel when they lose a member of their family.

To lose someone in a timely way is not easy.  To lose someone because of an illness sweeping around, to lose someone too early, if tragically painful.

Please pray for Bill and Julie.
Please pray for all those whose loved ones are sick, or whose loved ones have passed.  Offer to them a word of love and encouragement.

the gift of a sandwich

On Monday I helped our church organist, Dick Lystra to make sandwiches for the homeless.   Two pieces of bread and two pieces of cheese.

In Ft. Pierce, many of the feeding programs have shut down due to the social distancing rules.

When we finished making the sandwiches, we drove to the waterfront bandstand, to the bus station, and to a park to give them away.

We parked the car and walked to where the folks were.  They could tell as we were walking up with bags, that we had food.  They were very interested.  We asked them if they wanted a sandwich.  The response was incredible.  Every single person said yes.  And every single person said "thank you."

I have to tell you, this was one of the holiest moments that I have experienced in a long time.

While we try to keep ourselves and our loved ones safe, let us not forget the least of these.  When we help them, we are helping Jesus.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

what are we to do?

My friend Pat reminds me that we all have fears.  "None of us would be fearless if a ghostly apparition with a burning sword suddenly appeared in our bedroom at night. God in his greatness knows any of us would faint dead away when confronted with such a visit. 

On the other hand, God comes in quiet, discrete ways. What he doesn’t want us to fear are the changes and trials that may come."

"What breath of God do you hear in these times? The notion isn’t frightening, but what it asks you to do might be."

I have been waking up with nothing to do... should I watch TV?  Work in the yard?  Dust the wine bottles?  Clean the paint brushes... again...

Pat reminded me that maybe what we are to do in these times is bigger than that.  Is God asking me to see life in a better way?  Is God asking me to appreciate those around me?  Is God asking me to share?  To eat left overs?  To become content with a simpler life?

What is God asking you to do and be in these times?

finding the good things

In these challenging times, we have the opportunity to reflect, meditate and pray - all good things that often get cast aside during "normal" times.

I have a plaque in my bedroom that reads "Create your own sunshine." Pretty profound words. I have a choice to create gloom by dwelling on the what ifs, the uncertainty and give in to panic or I can choose to be grateful for what I have, count my blessings and share encouragement and love to those around me, even if it is through technology.

May we all be those spread a little sunshine especially when the skies are gray.

Submitted by my friend Marty...

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

heart thoughts

This crisis we're living through right now is hard on everyone. The uncertainty of the future, financial worries, health concerns, and feeling helpless. I too feel the effects of all this chaos and confusion, but I remain calm and collected because I truly believe and feel, with every fiber of my being, that God is with me, with us. 

Sometimes, as I sit here at home, I think that maybe I should be more concerned instead of just sitting here watching movies, doing chores around the house, going out for walks, continuing with "normal" life.... but then I stop and remind myself that worrying about the difficult and sometimes scary situation we're living through at the moment will not help at all. It will only add to the problem, increase the stress level, chisel away at my patience and begin to make me question my faith.  I refuse to give anything, or anyone for that matter, that kind of power over me, especially over my faith in God. 

I remind myself that I am already doing everything that I can do and I'm supposed to do to navigate these uncertain times. I am doing my part. I also remind myself that God has not forsaken us, He is always with us, watching over us, protecting us, helping us to keep going and surrounding us with His Grace. His blessings surround us at all times if we just take a moment to see them, to feel them and to be thankful for them. 

The ongoing crisis sometimes makes it difficult to do that, but we have to remind ourselves that even though God did not cause this, there are always lessons to learn, and always character to build. Sometimes it is hard to find a reason or a purpose, but I think we humans tend to learn through struggle more than easy street.

God has given us free will and he watches the decisions that we make. It is important through all this to remain steadfast in the knowledge and belief that His love for us is immense and unending. That even though He is certainly allowing us to bend as we live through this confrontation, that He will certainly never allow us break. That we, with our faith and unwavering belief in His love for us, will not only make it through this, but we'll be better for it. Stronger in faith, more appreciative of each other, more compassionate, more loving, more helpful and patient with each other and more thankful for all His blessings. 

Having faith means being completely confident, beyond any shadow of doubt, that He is Love, He is righteous, He is equitable, He is good and kind... He is GOD. He loves us completely and His Grace is all around us. Having faith means trusting completely in His love and knowing that He is always with us. Always. WITHOUT ANY DOUBT... ALWAYS.

Submitted by my dear friend Rudy from First Watch

Next time

As soon as these restrictions are relaxed, I am going to hug you.  The next time I can get closer than six feet to you I am going to hug you.  The next time that we get to sit down and talk in person, I am going to pay very close attention to you.

The next time we see each other I am going to cherish the moment.
I have pent up love and kindness that is tired of being stuck at home.

Next time I see you for real, it will be a happy time!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

A beautiful day

Since 2007, the tag line for this blog has been, "it's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good."

I have had to remind myself over the years to try to see the good when things were not going my way.  See the good when someone is not nice to me.  See the good when I don't feel happy.  See the good when I had a middle seat on the plane.  See the good when restaurant service was bad.

Now, seeing the good has taken on a completely different meaning.  It is almost easier to see the good because all of us know that our days could be numbered. 

What about this virus?  Will it get to my city?  It is already here.  Will it get to my neighborhood?  Probably.  If it gets to my house, how will it arrive?  Will I be one of many who get the virus but have no symptoms?  Will my symptoms be mild?  What if they are difficult?  What if I have to go to the hospital?  What if I die?

Gosh it's all possible.

That makes today very important.  That makes today very beautiful.  That makes today one of a kind.

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

Pandemic Poem

Pandemic

What if you thought of it
as the Jews consider the Sabbath—
the most sacred of times?
Cease from travel.
Cease from buying and selling.
Give up, just for now,
on trying to make the world
different than it is.
Sing. Pray. Touch only those
to whom you commit your life.
Center down.

And when your body has become still,
reach out with your heart.
Know that we are connected
in ways that are terrifying and beautiful.
(You could hardly deny it now.)
Know that our lives
are in one another’s hands.
(Surely, that has come clear.)
Do not reach out your hands.
Reach out your heart.
Reach out your words.
Reach out all the tendrils
of compassion that move, invisibly,
where we cannot touch.

Promise this world your love–
for better or for worse,
in sickness and in health,
so long as we all shall live.

–Lynn Ungar 3/11/20

It's a beautiful day in God's world be sure to see the good.

American Society has a talk with God - source unknown

Society: What about my plans?!

God: My plans for you are always better than your own. Don't worry. I'm going to work this all out for your good.

Society: We're not going to get anything done!

God: That's the point. You know how you keep spinning your wheels—always working, moving, doing—but never feeling satisfied? I've given you permission to stop. I've cleared your calendars for you! Your worth isn't tied to business or accomplishment. All you have to do is take care of each other.

Society: What does this all mean?

God: It means I'm in control. It means you are human and I am God. It means I've given you a wonderful opportunity to be the light in a dark world. It means you are going to learn to rely on me.

Society: What are we supposed to do when we can't leave our homes?

God: Rest. You are always so busy and overwhelmed, crying out to me weary and exhausted. Can't you use a break from your fast-paced and over-scheduled lives? Go ahead and rest. Pray. Love your families. Be still and spend time with me.

Society: You mean we're supposed to stay home with our kids all day, every day?

God: Yes. And you're going to be just fine. This time together is a rare gift. The rush of daily life has come to a halt. Play games. Bake cookies. Work on projects you've never had the time for. Teach them kindness and grace. Show them how to endure difficult circumstances and steer them toward me.

Society: We better start hoarding anything we can get our hands on!

God: Prevention, yes. Precaution, yes. Preparedness, yes. But after that, it's time to put the needs of others before your own. When you see someone in need, help them. Offer up what you have. Do not worry about tomorrow! Haven't I always taken care of you? Now, go take care of someone else.

Society: Why is this happening?

God: To remind you that I'm in control. To bring your attention back to me. I'm bringing you together as families and neighbors. I’m showing you patience and perseverance. I’m reminding you of your purpose and priorities. Now is the time to learn and teach your children what this life is really about.

Society: We don’t know who to believe.

God: Believe in me. Trust me. Ask me for wisdom and I will surely give it.

Society: We’re scared!

God: I’ve got this and I’m with you.

It's a beautiful day  in God's world, be sure to see the good.

In the time of Pandemic

“And the people stayed home. And read books, and listened, and rested, and exercised, and made art, and played games, and learned new ways of being, and were still. And listened more deeply. Some meditated, some prayed, some danced. Some met their shadows. And the people began to think differently.

"And the people healed. And, in the absence of people living in ignorant, dangerous, mindless, and heartless ways, the earth began to heal.

"And when the danger passed, and the people joined together again, they grieved their losses, and made new choices, and dreamed new images, and created new ways to live and heal the earth fully, as they had been healed.”
~Kitty O’Meara

click here for the original source

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.

April Fools

I was supposed to fly to Kansas City today to help Bruce Letner with his new deck.

Not happening...

Many things in life are turning out in ways that we had not anticipated.

Life is playing a cruel joke on us....

But life goes on...

One of my favorite April fools stories comes from 1971. I was 14. My grandma, my dad's mom came to live with us. My sisters got to share a room so that grandma could have her own space.

Her name was Mary Lee Toll Brinkman. She was born into big money. The house of her childhood is now the Catholic Reporter building on Armor road and Warwick in Kansas City. It is next door east of the Jacob Loose house.  The house and the money were gone long before I was born, but my Mom used to tell the story of going to dances in the ballroom on the top floor of the "Toll Mansion."

We called Grandma Toopta. No one knows why. She used to babysit us on Friday nights so my parents could go to lodge meetings. Years later we found out that lodge was really Dad's AA meetings. Back then we had one little black and white TV, an RCA Victor model. Sometimes I would go with Dad to the store to replace the tubes. Do you remember when the grocery stores had little tube testing stations where you could test and buy tubes? Anyway, we would sit up on Friday nights with Toop and watch TV. She taught us all the song, "the incy wincy spider" and the more obscure, "I don't know why she swallowed the fly" rhyme. I will have to say it for you sometime.

So, anyway, Toopta came to live with us when I was 14. She liked Hawaii 5-0 "book em Danno." She watched the Today show and General Hospital. She drank Sherry [something like wine or brandy I think.] She attended the Episcopal church. My mom didn't like her. I am not going to speculate why. There were a number of possible reasons, but it was a real sacrifice for my Mom to have Toopie living in our home. It only lasted for about a year, and then she was gone. As quickly as she had arrived, she was gone, traded off to another Uncle for a player to be named later.

One morning, I heard a thump, thump, thump, coming down the stairs. I ran around the corner and there was Toopta in a writhing ball of pain at the bottom of the stairs. I called for help, and in a few moments, my mom and both of my sisters were there. We were all gathered around Toop. My Mom took over. Kids step back.

Mom: Toop, where does it hurt?
Toopta: Oooooo. [groaning]
Mom: do you want me to call an ambulance?
Toop: Oooooo.
Mom: where does it hurt?
Toop [quietly]: what day is it?
Everyone looks at each other. We are puzzled. She must be losing her mind.
Toop: what day is it?
Mom: Toop it is Wednesday.
Toop [a bit louder now]: no, what day is it?
Mom: it is April 1st.

April 1st!!!!!!!!! It is all a big joke. She is not hurt, she did not fall down the stairs. My sisters and I start laughing. Mom is furious. She does not think it is funny at all for a 72 year old woman to pull such a stunt. She storms off into the other room. I help Toop up and Toop and the kids go on about our business, somehow the better for the story.

That's the way it was, April 1st, 1971.

I hope that story gives you a smile.  Smiles are good!!!

It's a beautiful day in God's world, be sure to see the good.