Anyway

The words of the blessed Mother Teresa reach through the pages and bring me inspiration, motivation and fresh strength today. Her words are printed onto my "Wall of Calm" in my office, right next to my computer.

"People are unreasonable, illogical, and self-centered.
Love them anyway.
If you do good, people may accuse you of selfish motives.
Do good anyway.
If you are successful, you may win false friends and true enemies.
Succeed anyway.
The good you do today may be forgotten tomorrow.
Do good anyway.
Honesty and transparency make you vulnerable.
Be honest and transparent anyway.
What you spend years building may be destroyed overnight.
Build anyway.
People who really want help may attack you if you help them.
Help them anyway.
Give the world the best you have and you may get hurt.
Give the world your best anyway."
~Mother Theresa

"So let us not let ourselves get fatigued doing good. At the right time we will harvest a good crop if we don't give up, or quit. Right now therefore, everytime we get the chance, let us work for the benefit of all, starting with the people closest to us in the community of faith.

Galatians 6:9-10, The Message

Dearest Lord, encompass me in Your love and plant within me the divine stamina to see others with the eyes of Christ. Your Kingdom come, Your will be done on earth as it is in heaven.

In the Penalty Box

Mist slowly rising off the frozen rink -
Charged, chosen warriors meet at center ice.
Eagerly waiting, poised on the brink:
Their race to the puck, their moves are precise.

Slamming! Jamming! Shooshing! Whooshing!
Barreling! Speeding! Whew - a narrow escape.
Zipping! Whipping! Whirling! Blurring!
Thrashing! Crashing! How much more can he take?!.

The whistle’s shrill blast, the official stops play.
For a revenge-full, avenge-full intentional aggression.
10 minutes is determined what the player will pay
For the bone-crushing penalty – a major transgression.

The penalty tender slides open the locks
And swings open the door to the penalty box.
You must wait. You must stay.
For your transgression you will pay.

A heart in deep freeze, chained up link by link
Charged, chosen anger takes center court.
Eagerly waiting , poised on the brink
Each side is defended like a combat fort.

Lying! Defying! Stealing! Concealing!
Breaking! Forsaking! No love to be found.
Self-protecting! Self-reflecting! Ripping! Whipping!
Never forgiving – frozen, empty and bound.

The spiritual conviction – sin filled heart, sin filled life.
This revenge-full, avenge-full intentional aggression.
Eternity is weighed on the edge of a knife:
There is nothing enough to pay for this compelling transgression.

The penalty tender has the nameplate engraved
For the heart lost in sin, with no hope to be saved.
But Jesus has frozen the punishment clock
Jesus takes our place in the penalty box!

Not for sin He committed
But through grace He is permitted
To pay the price for the debt.
Before we knew Him, He took our place -
Jesus’ love for the human race
Is a gift that is complete and set.

Faith in Christ Jesus brings an assurance we can know:
Faith in Christ Jesus takes the sin-debt away.
Christ Jesus paid the debt He did no owe
To pay for the debt we could not pay.

He took our place
Because of divine love and grace,
In the Penalty Box.

jsi

“No member of the human race except Christ ever gave to God, by dying, anything which that person was not at some time going to lose as a matter of necessity. Nor did anyone ever pay a debt to God which he did not owe. But Christ of his own accord gave to his Father what he was never going to lose as a matter of necessity, and he paid, on behalf of sinners, a debt which he did not owe.

It is in dying Christ gives something that he does not owe. The death of Christ offers something of infinite value and something that is not owed. In so doing, Christ gives God what is necessary to pay for all human sin past and future. Christ, the God-Man, made an infinite payment, that He did not owe, to God for the sins of humankind.”
Anselm, Cur Deus Homo?

But God demonstrates His own love for us in this: while we were still sinners, Christ died for us. Romans 8:5

As I unpacked my bag yesterday, I had to be near an electrical outlet, and not just the one which has two outlets open. Good grief, I needed the outlet that had the power cord multi-charger available. I'm going to take up most of the strip. Three years ago, I didn't even use a cell phone let alone own one, but those days seem a distant memory now. My cell phone needed charged desperately, its down to 1/2 bar; my palm pilot needed charged, as it was listed at 13% power. My laptop computer had just signaled me to immediately plug into an outlet as it had reached 8%...good grief I thought I turned it off before I zipped up that bag. I grab Dave's phone to make sure he gets charged up and plug in my camera so its internal battery will be full capacity tomorrow. Added to that is the rechargeable battery charger which prepares 6 AA for use and this power strip is maxxed out.

If I had an ipod, I think I could cause an electrical short in the house! Dave needed to find a different place to charge his laptop but that was primarily that he had some things to type and email...not the fault of the outlet or "charging station" as I have affectionately named it. He wants to videotape something tomorrow so the video camera is getting its battery juice capacity. Its rather embarrassing how many technological elements I am now carrying, working with and depending upon. Forget one power chord and I'm up a creek without a paddle. (And I wish that could only be a hypothetical description - missing one little piece of connection has wreaked havoc. Augh!)

My personal batteries have needed recharged and these past few days really brought the extra energy I have needed.

:accomplished tasks. Our Christmas sign-up week was met with advance thought, preparation, extra staples, extra helping hands and more chairs for an extended waiting room in the hallway. I had to miss three days of this years sign-ups (out of town, mandatory Annual Divisional Leadership Conference a.k.a. Officer Retreat), for the agency negotiations in our community who were doing their Christmas sign-ups were already selected for us, before we got here. Not everything went completely smooth or without glitches, but it was a good beginning to an involved and engaged season of generosity and need, ministry and joy. We will continue to take applications up through 12/12...(shhhhhh, be verwy, vewry quiet, lest those calendar avoiders overhear. When they try to lie and say they didn't know when Christmas was, I almost want to leave the room. Instead I pour a cup of coffee and let them know I know their lie is just a poor sounding explanation that bad things happen outside of their own control. Didn't know when Christmas was...hmmmm) And after 12/12 will be a waiting list, I actually take applications up until the day before distribution; it dawns on me know that my staff doesn't exactly know that yet. Monday will be a new day!

:sitting next to my sweetheart. So many times by the end of my week, I feel like Dave and I see each other coming and going more than right next to each other. Sometimes its the kid's schedule, sometimes its mine or his or the community, sometimes its the excessive flexibility ministry requires. But...some days it feels like Dave and I are like Clark Kent/Superman - never really in the same place, but everyone understands the other is somewhere nearby or will return soon. Our Officer Councils/Leadership Retreat gave us a chance to sit together, eat together, talk with friends, pray and worship together, ride in the truck next to each other, see a movie (oh, my ears are still blistered...why did I let them pressure me into Gone Baby Gone...never again) go to a restaurant. We shared more time together in those 2 1/2 days than we have in a month. There is a definite smile in my heart and on my face.

:Teaching from Esther. Bob Hostetler spoke and taught throughout the planned sessions primarily through Esther and his emphasis upon leading in the face of crisis, decisions within the face of fear, stability within the sea of uncertainty - he brought a good word from the Good Word. And he finalized his points with the illumination - we have been given the authority to do something about the wrongness/poverty/sin/brokenness we encounter. Bob is an inspiration and a motivation within the realm of God's ministry.

:watching an infant mold to mom's embrace. It is so inspiring to watch a young hearts simply shine with the inescapable wave of falling in love with the new baby in their life. What a privilege you shared with us all, to simply be able to watch this little life wrap himself through your hearts.

:throwing the letter away. I hate being away from my kids, even though I know a break is beneficial for all of us. With an aunt who was able to give her time for the evenings and mornings, dinner and bedtime, breakfast and bus times, everything had the possibility of running smoothly. But I still had to write the letter, the dreaded letter. I hate it when I have to write it, and I'm never in a good mood after I've done it. You know the letter...the one with each child's birthdate and social security number, accompanied by the insurance card. A list of your cell phone numbers, and the mileage from where we will be traveling. And the birthdate and full name and social security number of the person in whom the insurance is under. With directions how to get to the hospital. And legal guardianship authority to begin filling out any paperwork so that there would not need to be a delay in medical treatment. Once again, the preparation and writing of this letter was not needed and I could just sweep it into the trashcan, unapologetically, unsentimental. Good riddance.

:a book finished. Not for study or for assignment, but just for the sheer pleasure of reading. I have been reading about 300 pages a week, mostly for Master's classes. But yesterday I finished Jane Eyre (3rd time with the gem, and still things to learn and gain) and felt like I completed something very stabilizing.

:a trip to the library. Every one got three books and this afternoon was rainy outside so we sat and lounged and read.

:affirmation. It is so amazingly empowering to hear a trusted confidante say the words, "You are right, this is not your imagination, you are not wrong..."

:gingerbread house competition. A. and I will put in our application for the community Gingerbread house competition, and we searched this afternoon for the perfect recipe.

:hearing the piano from around the corner. I am happy to do the dishes as my daughter is playing her recital piece. It keeps a song in my heart, and I don't care if I have dish-panned hands to show for it.

My batteries, my private inner batteries are recharged and replenished tonight. God's blessing is deep and wide.

The temperatures are colder and the foliage in our yard begins to glimmer through its new wardrobe in jewel tones of crimson, gold, amber and flaming orange. They have caught my attention throughout the day: in the early morning as we left the house and again late during sunset as we returned at the end of a full day. There are different trees in our yard, each turning according to their seasonal pattern, some holding tightly to their still-green leaves as others have already released their temporary treasures. Strangely, there are two trees, both trunks shooting out from the same place in the ground and they have the exact same conditions to grow from. They are exactly the same type of tree. They were planted in the same year, so they are exactly the same age. They get exactly the same amount of sun, rain and soil nutrients. And yet, even with their identical conditions, one has remained green with leaves and the other has turned golden and dropped every leaf.

October's poplars are flaming torches
lighting the way to winter.
- Nova Bair
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This October night has a sky that is spotless clear and the autumn air has a chill in the evening, persuading the bare shoulder to reach for the nearest sweater or jacket. The movement of the seasons steps gingerly through these harvest weeks, ensuring the calendar journey is one step farther from summer and one step closer to winter. I stand in my backyard, entranced by the size of the moon – it is enormous! It seems as if it fills the entire sky, spilling out its moonglow brightly. It is not quite a full moon, that won’t happen until October 26.

The oceans on the moon are so visible tonight, these mares so romantically and beautifully named by Galileo: the Sea of Serenity, the Sea of Clouds, the Sea of Rains, the Sea of Ingenuity, the Sea of Fertility, the Sea of Cold. Directly across from each other one can observe the Sea of Tranquility directly across from the Sea of Crises. These lunar regions have encountered nearly identical exposure to the meteors which have pummeled the moon’s surface. Because of the orbit and axis the moon travels upon and within, these regions are exposed to the sun in the identical time period. Galileo links these two moon oceans together, Tranquility and Crises.

Tranquility and Crises.

I cannot overlook the poignancy of the elements I see before me. God weaves tranquility into our lives, tranquility in the face of crises. Some circumstances can bring out strength from us (green leaves on the branches) and others can make us almost unwind (golden leaves in a pile at the foot of a tree), even though we haven’t left our faith. When we turn to God and rely upon Him as our Rock, our Guide, our Shield, our Strength, He brings a calmness of heart and mind in the throes of a violent storm.

We can see within the heart of the crises that there is a divine heart of Tranquility which is unmoved, unscathed, undisturbed, unintimidated. God is faithful, endlessly faithful to us, providing serenity in the midst of crises. These two experiences are linked together, peace and panic, and are held within the hand of the Master Creator of our lives.

One thing I ask of the LORD, that I will seek after; to live in the house of the LORD all the days of my life, to behold the beauty of the LORD and to inquire in His temple. For He will hide me in His shelter in the day of trouble; He will conceal me under the cover of His tent. He will set me high on a rock. Psalm 27:4-5

Bidden or Unbidden

Looking within the pages of notes, study material and unpublished lectures of the medieval scholar Erasmus, a phrase rings out plainly into the cacophony of today’s pounding life with its unrelenting pace and unyielding schedule of obligations:

“Vocatus atque non vocatus, Deus ad erit.” Latin
“Bidden or unbidden, God is present.” English

Psychologist and theologian Carl Jung was captured by this phrase and the depth of its meaning for the world. God is always there, whether we asked for Him or not. Jung had this Latin phrase carved and bronzed and hung it over his home entrance, a physical reminder of God’s tangible availability. This plaque served as a lifetime memorial about his conviction, his heartfelt passion that there is nowhere a person can run that is away from God. It is also present on his tombstone as an epitaph.

“Invitado o no invitado, Dios está presénté.” Spanish
"Chiamati o inopportune, Dio e presente." Italian

We may sometimes forget that we don’t have to invite God into our lives…He is already present, in the midst of happiness and joy, trouble and strife, grief or blessing, life or death. There is no obstacle to high or deep that keeps God away from the problems we encounter.

“Appelés ou injustifiées, Dieu est present French
"Genannt oder unangebracht, Gott ist." German

Whether we call upon God, cry out to Him in help or in praise, God is working in us and through us an all around us. God’s divine activity is traceable, His hand within our lives, plans, footsteps.

When welcoming a brand new child, God is there.
When facing the grief of losing a child, God is there.
When experiencing personal fulfillment, God is there.
When experiencing the blackness of depression, God is there.

The question has never been “Where is God in all of this?” But instead the question remains, “Are we paying attention to what God is doing?”

Bidden or unbidden - God is present. Vocatus atque non vocatus, Dues ad erit.

When a hungry stranger receives food, God is there.
When a lonely widow is welcomed into the city, God is there.
When people work for peace and struggle for justice, God is there.
When we witness courage and bravery, God is there.

When someone is rescued from a flooded street, or when a bomb in the heart of the city is defused and made safe, God is there.

When a child is carefully instructed and taught, God is there. When anger is irrational and bullets are flying and strength and bravery offer protection, God is there. And though it may be hard for us to accept, even when people are trapped and terrified in an airport, God is there too.

Reach up and reach out and claim the presence of God, who is right there with you, every step of what you are doing. Extending our hands out to man require that we must, absolutely must keep our hearts extended to God.

Bidden or unbidden – God is present.

“Great are the works of the LORD, they are pondered by all who delight in them. Glorious and majestic are His deeds, and His righteousness endures forever. He has caused His wonders to be remembered; the LORD is gracious and compassionate.” Psalm 111:2-4