Tuesday, January 30, 2007
Worthless?
Writing with a pen that skips is actually a great annoyance. The first urge, beyond shaking the pen… is to toss it in the trash. Aren’t we fortunate that when we fail on an assignment God doesn’t throw us out with the garbage?
Monday, January 29, 2007
Watch
I’ve noted on more than one occasion a bird in the air with a nice wingspan. He soars and glides so effortlessly. It's enjoyable to watch as those wings beat and he rises through the air or simply floats across the blue sky…. He has a grace and a beauty I’ll never possess.
The picture I’ve attached to this post is not mine, I didn’t have my camera handy the last time I saw this bird in flight, but I wanted to include a photo. If you are an astute observer, you will note that this bird is a vulture.
Interesting, is it not, that such a bird as this, one who up close would be regarded as ugly (in the very least) is quite amazing when really, truly watched.
(Please note that this is not my picture.)
Interesting, is it not, that such a bird as this, one who up close would be regarded as ugly (in the very least) is quite amazing when really, truly watched.
(Please note that this is not my picture.)
Wednesday, January 24, 2007
English Breakfast Tea
'ope you did too, love!
(author's note: please read this with an English accent and put your pinky up. Thank you!)
(author's note: please read this with an English accent and put your pinky up. Thank you!)
Tuesday, January 16, 2007
Story
Most of my life I’ve gotten the chance to “step” into other peoples lives.
Think about it, how many conversations do you overhear while you are in the grocery store waiting in line to check out? How many people did you pass by at school who were in the middle of a deep or light conversation? How many times have you been sitting in a car in traffic when you looked over and saw someone on the phone, or maybe by themselves, talking or singing? For the briefest of moments you are in that person’s life. We see tears, laughter, scowls... all from people we’ve never even met.
Yesterday while riding the bus with Margaret, she pointed to two birds on a rooftop and said “I wonder what they think of us.” The first in a series of gentle nudgings from God—it was like he was saying, “pay attention, each person you come in contact with today has a story.” I heard Casting Crowns Does Anybody Hear Her? three times yesterday on the radio on two different stations. For as long as I can remember God has allowed me to see snippets, but this time things were a little different. It’s like hearing God say “dig deeper”. Don’t just see it, pray about it, store it in your heart—like being prepared to actually DO something.
Not that it’s unusual for me to cry, but the third time the song came on the radio I’m singing with it and I burst into tears because I know we fail, as a body we fail to notice and to care, not just to say a prayer for someone in need, but to stop and talk and to see what that need is so that we might better serve. I know I fail.
If judgment looms under every steeple/ If lofty glances from lofty people/ Can't see past her scarlet letter/And we never even met her.
It makes me question who I have missed in my lifetime and whether or not I’m going to continue missing them because I’m too busy to slow down. I’m too busy to do the simple tasks God asks of me. “Stop” “Stop…” “Now go ask if that person needs a ride” or in my case right now “Go talk to that family, make them feel welcome.”
Here’s a step further, I guess I needed a lot of talking to yesterday and I was getting it too…
We dropped the children off after AWANA and normally we watch the kids walk in the door, just that extra making sure that the child is safe. My rider and I both missed one boy walking into his house, but we had to pass back by the house. He is in the 6th grade. He was walking toward a smaller building in his apartment complex, where the washers and dryers are. It didn’t feel right, with the time of day (it was dark outside, 8:30pm) to leave him there, we pulled up beside him and asked him what was up and he said he had to take care of the laundry. It still bothered the both of us, so we parked it and I walked in to talk to him. We waited for 15 minutes so that he could finish and saw him safely back to his home. I was upset with his mother for having him do that instead of taking care of it herself and in the middle of that mental battle—God says, “she has a story too”. Man!!! It is very difficult to care about someone when you want to give them what-for for not taking care of their children.
Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?
Does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?
Think about it, how many conversations do you overhear while you are in the grocery store waiting in line to check out? How many people did you pass by at school who were in the middle of a deep or light conversation? How many times have you been sitting in a car in traffic when you looked over and saw someone on the phone, or maybe by themselves, talking or singing? For the briefest of moments you are in that person’s life. We see tears, laughter, scowls... all from people we’ve never even met.
Yesterday while riding the bus with Margaret, she pointed to two birds on a rooftop and said “I wonder what they think of us.” The first in a series of gentle nudgings from God—it was like he was saying, “pay attention, each person you come in contact with today has a story.” I heard Casting Crowns Does Anybody Hear Her? three times yesterday on the radio on two different stations. For as long as I can remember God has allowed me to see snippets, but this time things were a little different. It’s like hearing God say “dig deeper”. Don’t just see it, pray about it, store it in your heart—like being prepared to actually DO something.
Not that it’s unusual for me to cry, but the third time the song came on the radio I’m singing with it and I burst into tears because I know we fail, as a body we fail to notice and to care, not just to say a prayer for someone in need, but to stop and talk and to see what that need is so that we might better serve. I know I fail.
If judgment looms under every steeple/ If lofty glances from lofty people/ Can't see past her scarlet letter/And we never even met her.
It makes me question who I have missed in my lifetime and whether or not I’m going to continue missing them because I’m too busy to slow down. I’m too busy to do the simple tasks God asks of me. “Stop” “Stop…” “Now go ask if that person needs a ride” or in my case right now “Go talk to that family, make them feel welcome.”
Here’s a step further, I guess I needed a lot of talking to yesterday and I was getting it too…
We dropped the children off after AWANA and normally we watch the kids walk in the door, just that extra making sure that the child is safe. My rider and I both missed one boy walking into his house, but we had to pass back by the house. He is in the 6th grade. He was walking toward a smaller building in his apartment complex, where the washers and dryers are. It didn’t feel right, with the time of day (it was dark outside, 8:30pm) to leave him there, we pulled up beside him and asked him what was up and he said he had to take care of the laundry. It still bothered the both of us, so we parked it and I walked in to talk to him. We waited for 15 minutes so that he could finish and saw him safely back to his home. I was upset with his mother for having him do that instead of taking care of it herself and in the middle of that mental battle—God says, “she has a story too”. Man!!! It is very difficult to care about someone when you want to give them what-for for not taking care of their children.
Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?
Does anybody even know she's going down today?
Under the shadow of our steeple
With all the lost and lonely people
Searching for the hope that's tucked away in you and me
Does anybody hear her? Does anybody see?
Thursday, January 11, 2007
Snowflake
We have only this moment, sparkling like a star in our hand... and melting like a snowflake. Let us use it before it's too late.
~Marie Beynon
~Marie Beynon
Tuesday, January 09, 2007
As the Deer
As the deer panteth for the water
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee
You're my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a king
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything
I want You more than gold or silver
Only You can satisfy
You alone are the real joy giver
And the apple of my eye
I don't know who wrote this, I haven't taken the time to look--there's a possibility I've posted this song before, but I'm having a day where I feel this song through and through, so today it is my claim "so my soul, longs after You, dear Lord".
So my soul longeth after Thee
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee
You alone are my strength, my shield
To You alone may my spirit yield
You alone are my heart's desire
And I long to worship Thee
You're my friend and You are my brother
Even though You are a king
I love You more than any other
So much more than anything
I want You more than gold or silver
Only You can satisfy
You alone are the real joy giver
And the apple of my eye
I don't know who wrote this, I haven't taken the time to look--there's a possibility I've posted this song before, but I'm having a day where I feel this song through and through, so today it is my claim "so my soul, longs after You, dear Lord".
Monday, January 08, 2007
My boss sent this to us... and here I tell a tale of woe...
One day some 5 years ago I was working in the library and I happened upon a bag of books to check in... they had cat urine on them.... After many disgusting faces and much washing of hands I excitedly got AWAY from those nasty books. Ew Gross!
The End!
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