Horrified
Working in a little retail shop there is down time. Sometimes I sit and look out the window onto the busy street as folks walk by. The other day I caught myself thinking of every person who walked by. I noticed to my horror I passed judgment on each person. "Awful hair" "Stupid outfit" "Lose some weight" "Wish I had those shoes" "I want that purse" "He's hot" "She's not"
It got even worse as I listened to the voice in my head blithely pass sentence as each person came into view. "They look scary" "He looks mean" "She's full of herself" Just who is full of herself? Hmm. It was nasty to hear. I was ashamed. I took a deep breath.
Then a more gentle thought entered my head, every single person I see is a child of God. He loves each and every one. He's not that pleased with me at the moment but he still loves me too. So I smiled at every person who passed by. Of course few saw me, though every now and then a person would stop and look in the window of the shop and I'd make eye contact and smile pleasantly. You know what, most every person smiled back, even the "scary ones."
Posted 9/16/2009 @ 10:04 PM | Weekly Thoughts | Read Entry
Mustard Seeds
A journey of a thousand miles begins with a single footstep. A savings account grows from pennies in the bank. A hand-knit sweater starts by casting on the first stitch. Even cancer starts small when a few cells mutate. When I wonder how I will tackle a new job or project I have to remember this: small beginning grow over time. I think this is why Jesus gave us the example of a mustard seed of faith. Such a very small beginning yet a lifetime of growth will realize all the potential. A mustard seed of faith gets you through; for once it takes root there it is nurtured by the Spirit and can grow and grow.
Take a small step, save a penny; cast on a stitch, small beginnings grow to wonderful ends in time.
Posted 8/26/2009 @ 9:51 AM | Weekly Thoughts | Read Entry
Simple or Easy
“It will be simple.” A statement like that makes you think whatever “it” is will be easy as well. Simple and easy are synonyms right? Maybe. I’ve been thinking lately they are not as closely related as I’d like to assume.
Simple. I figure if something is labeled simple it will be easy. I presume there will be little to do. It will be done in a snap. Not always true.
The book and movie Julie & Julia are popular right now. It’s all about the food. Okay and much more. For now I’m think of the first recipe Julie describes in her book about cooking her way through Mastering the Art of French Cooking, it’s a recipe for potato soup. Few ingredients and simplicity itself she says. But Julie finds out that does not mean it is easy. The leeks for example have to be cleaned and cooked down. Yes it’s simple but it is time consuming. It’s also delicious.
Simple. Child’s play. Effortless. Hmm. Maybe not. Simple can pack a lot of punch. The unadorned truth is simple. God told us simply what is required: Love your neighbors as your self. Simple. Yet how easy is that when you neighbor is the entire human race? I don’t get along with everyone I meet. It is not that simple. Hmm. Yet it is in God’s eyes. So I have to look to Him for an answer. Simple also means graceful and unadorned. Or full of grace and transparent. I need to be filled with God’s grace and transparent in my actions to keep the simple commandment of loving my neighbor. It sounds simple but it’s not easy.
Posted 8/20/2009 @ 10:55 AM | Weekly Thoughts | Read Entry
Light Up
Jesus is the light of the world. It’s a metaphor he used over and over. He encouraged us to be a light in the world as well, not to hide our light under a bushel. I thought of this the other morning when a sunbeam hit my face. I was trying to sleep. I was in a hotel room with room darkening shades and yet a tiny sunbeam was shining on me. It’s surprising the force of that one little shaft of light. Not only did the light tap me on the shoulder and wake me but it seemed to illuminate the whole room.
Before bed I’d done my best to seal the windows off from morning sun. Hurmph. I tried to shut my eyes and go back to sleep but the sunbeam was persistent. So I lay there and thought about the light of the world. I thought about how He cracks through the tiniest hole in any defense and shines. One beam brings an incredible power to a dark place. I smiled. Today I’ll try to shine I’ll try to be the bright spot.
Posted 8/11/2009 @ 8:12 AM | Weekly Thoughts | Read Entry
Wonder of Words
The Planet Earth series was recently rerun and we enjoyed it on our big screen all over again. When presented with the marvels of creation any doubts I'm feeling about God fall away. I see things in nature so unknowable there can only be God as an explanation. It's easy, a no-brainer.
I got to thinking though, God is in every thing, EVERY THING so I should be able to find His beauty, plan and hand in other places as well. Hmm. I opened a recent email and the gal told me she was flummoxed (confused) by a question I had asked her. Flummoxed is not a word I use or see very often so it gave me pause. I loved it. She pulled out the perfect word to tell me she was not just confused but confounded. For the rest of the day I listened to the language around me. I looked at the words on the pages I read. I took delight in the incredible range of expression.
I found lots to make me smile:
plunge tranquil miasma ablutions tangerine cluster penetrate marrow dwell infuse meander
Okay, I'm a wordsmith and I get off on these kinds of fanciful thinking but since God is in every thing He's in our language too. We have ways to express ourselves from blush and glorious, to threaten and harmony. Just as nature offers so many expressions of glory our language unfolds to reveal just as much wonder to me. How amazing we can have so many ways to tell each other something is great wonderful unbelievable awesome wow terrific cool neato! And remember God provides all this eloquence not just in English, but Spanish, German, Dutch, and hundreds more tongues. That to me is God showing off again in a spectacular way. We really can find Him in everything.
Posted 8/2/2009 @ 10:32 AM | Weekly Thoughts | Read Entry