Ash Wednesday

Today is Ash Wednesday. The day that marks the beginning of the Lenten Season. At 7:30 p.m. I will get the ashes on my forehead which will be the external sign of the internal reality that I am striving toward humility in God's midst. The forty days on the Lenten calendar are representative of the time that Christ spent in the desert being tempted by the devil. The culmination of these forty days is the celebration of the week of Easter that starts on Palm Sunday and ends on Holy Saturday, the day before Easter. During the forty days of Lent, through Holy Saturday, it was tradition for Christians to observe a fast—not completely abstaining from eating and drinking, but limiting the kinds of food and drink as well as the number of meals.The tradition of fasting dates back to the early Middle Ages, when examples of acceptable foods were fish, bread, and fowl, and when the consumption of alcohol was for the most part banned during the fast. Nowadays, people who choose to observe the fast are much less restricted in their choice of foods, and fasting is mostly about being modest and showing humility and restraint in one’s eating habits. For some this means giving up chocolate (agh horrors!) or meat or coffee or what ever you should really eat less of anyway...really more of a resolution than a sacrifice. Giving up something for Lent isn't a get-skinny-in-time-for-Spring-Break thing...it's a concentration on Christ's journey and a very private mental communion with God. I have friends who always ask what I'm giving up for Lent...just like they ask me about my New Year's resolutions. I always lie and say I haven't given anything up or that I haven't decided. For me, it's a very private thing...somehow just not for conversation.
However you decide to concentrate on this time make it meaningful. It may not be giving anything up at all. It may be a Lenten book study or intense moments of prayer in a private place. Make it a time to explore your relationship with God and ask some really tough questions of yourself. Am I putting my faith into action by serving others? Am I being quiet and really listening to God's answers to my concerns? Am I really working to make those changes in myself that I've been wanting to change? Let these next 40 days be pure communion with God.

My day won't be ruined if you stop talking

..that's right! I'm feeling cranky because I can't shake mean people's affect on me. I've been allowing others' inability to communicate kindly to affect my mood and allowing them to control my day. What's is going to take? A run around the block? Do I need to throw something?...no wait, that's just another manifestation of my not being able to shake it off. It's a good thing I'm preparring for Lent today. Perhaps this is my last hurrah. Some people celebrate Mardi Gras by going out and sin like they're Lutherans or something and get all their sillies out before the contemplative season of Lent. Apparently I'm going to throw a big pitty fit before I get in touch with my understanding of meditative peace and supplication before God. (There, that's better. Seems that typing that sentence has done the trick). So now I'm going to be quiet.

To satisfy your real hunger - Come to a Soul Feast

I'm not one of those people who easily goes to a group workshop on spirituality...don't wanna have to be in front of people when I'm working on closeness to God because I'm probably going to tear up and get emotional. But here is a day that I can't miss! Saturday, February 28th is a day that I will dedicate to learning more about how to commune with God...in a meaningful way. I don't know about you but I find so many obstacles in my life that strive to keep me from prayer, meditation and just simple 'time' with God. The result is I start to feel alone, lost and kind of empty when looking for strength to handle even the smallest hurdle. I started reading Soul Feast by Marjorie Thompson and I'm already feeling the benefits. Yesterday, I sat outside and read scripture and was spoken to in a new and refreshing way and I'm looking forward to a day dedicated to investing again in a life with true communion with God. Go here if you would like to register and attend as well. http://www.firstchurchdallas.org/ministries_adults_workshop.htm. You don't have to read to the book to attend. Just come hang out with me and we'll discover something new together.

What I really want for Valentine's Day

I'm not one of those girls...you know...the one who gets really bend out of shape if she doesn't get what society describes as an 'appropriate' gift for Valentine's Day. Maybe that's easy for me to say since my honey always remembers to lovingly send me a beautiful arrangement. I'm also not big on diamonds or chocolates in a box shaped like a heart. So this year is no different for me when all I want is Time. I want time with my husband. That might mean dinner but I don't care if dinner is at a restaurant or at home. I just want that moment when we concentrate on nothing but our decision to be together. I also think it's important to remember that Valentine's Day doesn't only celebrate romantic love but the love we have for everyone. When I was writing notes to our visitors yesterday I was compelled...no...emotionally forced to put a little heart sticker on every envelope. What a dork right? Maybe not. But I like to think that the love God showers on all of us should be celebrated as well. As I know you're not shocked that I put stickers on all my correspondance please be equally unshocked that Valentine's Day for me is also a celebration of humanity and my moment of concentration on the dream of everyone loving each other. Happy Valentines Day everyone!!!!!!!

Runner's Random Act

At 7:55 this morning I found myself where I always find myself at about that time...at the corner of MacKinney and Avenue of Champions in Valley Ranch waiting for the light to turn green. We've lived in this neighborhood for 6 years and I've never waited at that light for less than 6 minutes. It just seems to freeze as the line of cars behind me grows and grows. My dad was a municiple engineer and once told me that some traffic lights work on timers and others on sensors...so I of course I've even tried the 'inching forward and backing up' manuver to trip that sensor and make the light change. Now I've given up and know I will use that time for sipping my coffee spill free and apply my lipstick.

Today, as I was approaching the dreaded intersection, I saw a man running on the sidewalk. I thought things like, "Good for you buddy, wish I had that motivation" and "I wonder why HE isn't sitting here waiting to get to work?" Then I thought about how he was going to have to interrupt his stride and wait for the dang light just like the rest of us saps. Just then he took a turn to the right to run along MacArthur and whacked that silver crossing signal thingy as he ran by it. That light turned within 10 seconds and we all made it through. I believe that nothing will make me smile me more...ever...on my morning commute. He didn't look back, he didn't stop...he just hit the button for all of us. Thanks man.

A bird's life

We have a row of oleanders on the side of our fence and there must be at least 100 sparrows in there chirping, flitting and taking turns at the bird bath just inside the back yard. I like to sit at the table on the patio and watch and listen. I wonder what they're talking about? Once it gets close to Spring, everyone starts building their nests. They like to come to my wreath on the front door to choose the perfect pieces for their new homes. I've lost a wheat wreath and another dried wreath to these little construction workers. Now my wreath is made of fake berries and cast iron stars. This morning I even saw my first robin...that groundhog doesn't know what he's talking about! I think all the time about what birds think and how they communicate. I wonder if when they're all grown up if they fly by the tree or bush where they were born and tell their friends..."hey, that's where I grew up". How far from their homes do they actually go in their lifetimes? And what do they think about me sitting back there watching them all the time? They don't seem to mind cuz they keep living there. I always make sure they have plenty of yummy snacks and lots of clean water. This year I'm going to install some little basket in the space between the porch cover and the beam that my porch swing is hung from. Maybe a dove will make it's nest there and I will get to watch their little family grow. This ends my Wednesday morning off rantings :)

Is it Spring?

Sunshine, birds chirping, my husband grilling...isn't it still winter? As I prepared a few snacks for our little Superbowl Party (we always just like to do our own...just us :), I was simply amazed at the way that it really seems like Spring. Now I know that we who live in Texas get this stuff...23 one day with a quarter inch of ice on the roads and then 75 the next day. But this time we had two days of Spring in a row and its the first day of February. I believe that sometimes we all need a little reminder of what is to come only if it's for a couple of days. When we experience a winter, when everything seems gray...we have to take comfort in the glimpses of Spring.