Snapshots

I have a collection of negatives of photos from my mother's childhood. This one is my mom, her brother and my grandmother. I look through these negatives and have had some developed and love looking at them. I love to study them and imagine what they were thinking. Imagine what their lives were like then. Since I wasn't there I can only fill in the blanks as I listen to stories and attempt to put the whole story together. There are favorite stories that are told over and over. I have favorites like why all the Christmas photos are taken on the front porch complete with the Christmas tree having been dragged onto the porch with all the gifts...no flash on the camera. Another favorite is why in the world my mother and uncle would spend hours in the cow trough braving yellow jackets and thirsty cows...just to stay cool in the brutal summer months of Texas. Even with all the family stories and photos, I still only have a part of the story.
This Christmas I'm listening intently to the stories of Christ and wonder again...what don't we know? When I read scripture and study what it could mean for my life I keep in mind that I only have a snapshot of the whole picture. I can't possibly walk around saying that I know everything God's intends while I only have a little bit of it in front me. It's natural for me to look at the negatives in my collection and try to fill in with own thoughts. But they are only guesses. It's the same with scripture...we cannot put our own words and beliefs into the story just because it sounds nice. I would even go so far as to say that there are many of us who look at those moments in time and make them into something they are not. In the photo above it looks like a nice moment of a happy mom with her two children just standing in the yard. But what about grandma's thoughts. Is she thinking about the fence that still needs to be mended or about the watermelon crop that didn't make?
My revelation today is that I must not always take scripture at face value. We must allow for possibilities that are bigger than our brains as we study scripture learn what they mean for us individually.

What are you waiting for?

Just now I realized I had been sitting at my desk without one single stretch for 2 and a half hours and decided to get up for some coffee and a little break. I walked into the sanctuary just to think a bit and was glad to see the lights were off...well I thought they were off. As I passed through the doors I saw that the Christmas trees and the garland hanging from the balconey were lit. I was immediate drawn in and walked over to admire one of the trees. At first I stood back to see the whole tree. Then I walked closer too se the stiching on the ornaments. Then for no reason at all I put my face right next to the tree. Actually, I put my face IN the tree. The only thing in my vision was light, garland and symbols of Christ. I was immediately immersed in the hope and forward looking that the Advent season brings. We wait. We prepare. We imagine the peace that the love of Christ brings. We are many times distracted during this season as we prepare for guests, buy gifts for those we love and work in a frenzy to get everything done "on time". Take a moment to stick your face into something that blocks all that out. Take a moment to think of what you're waiting for means to you.

Highlights!

The first time I was introduced to the word 'highlights' I was sitting in the dr.'s office waiting for a shot I had to get before I would be allowed into Kindergarten. I sat there practically hating my mother for making me get a shot so imagine my growing calm as I found a magazine that was most surely published just for me for just that moment. Highlights magazine became the only good thing about going to the dr...seeing if there was a new issue so I could freshly mar the pages with mom's pen. I couldn't wait to connect the dots, find the objects hidden in pictures and learn how to grow a bean in a day.

The second time I notice the word 'highlight' a teacher asked me to tell everyone what the 'highlight' of my summer was. I realized immediately that 'highlight' equals 'the best part'. Just like the best part of the dr.'s office was the magazine (not the sucker) What was the highlight---the thing worth mentioning more than anything else.

Now in our church staff meetings each Tuesday we 'highlight' upcoming church programs. We make sure everything that has the possibility of impacting church members and visitors in a positive way, happens. We highlight the event so that the experience is meaningful and memorable for everyone involved. And I can't get through that part of the staff agenda without thinking about connecting the dots, finding the hidden meanings and how we might help grow new relationships. Highlights...not just for the young anymore :)

The Treacherous Path

Often we hear of staying clear of the treacherous path. We are told that we sin and then we are on the treacherous path. Temptation, the direction of sinfullness...the bad way. Today I wondered about being IN the treacherous path. What if I'm just walking along and I see the treacherous path from a distance? I'm not necessarily a part of the treacherous path but I can see it....over there...in progress. Today I'm thinking about being on the curb of that path, seeing it in progress and then making the decision to stay AWAY...to not 'step in'. That path is in sight and I can decide whether or not to step into it or step away. People spreading their hate, people talking about things that don't involve them...a path that moves like a rushing 6-lane city highway. It can only be dangerous. Make the decision today to turn around and stay out of that path.

Daydreaming

I just realized I haven't blogged in a bit. Apparently I've been distracted...for how long I'm not sure. Oh well, here I am and I had a thought so I'd better get writing!

During the summertime, I tend to get distracted. I'm always distracted BY the same things and FROM the same things. Things that distract me are sunshine, playing outside, grilling, daydreaming, bird watching and napping. Things I'm distracted FROM are work, running errands, housework and spiritual study. It's like my brain is on a summer vacation for way longer than I've been allowed by my employer. This summer has been especially difficult and I'm wondering how I'm going to get back on track. I'm also wondering if I'm the only one experiencing this distraction. I mostly get concerned about the distraction from spiritual study. I haven't picked up a biblical commentary or study in two months. But I have been talking to God about what fun I'm having this summer. Amazement at God's creation as birds swoop through the yard and earthworms nourish and break up the ground. I'm wondering if maybe it's okay to take a little break, be a little distracted and experience the childlike side of spirituality for an extended period of time...just letting myself experience God rather than chasing God through paragraphs in a book. Just my thought for the day.

The (Right) Stuff I'm talkin' bout

July 20, 1969, man walks on the moon. I'm happy to report that I was only one year old and don't remember this amazing moment in our nation's history. But for some reason I've always been intrigued by the story. In high school, my favorite movie was The Right Stuff. I decided that year that I would marry Ed Harris or Dennis Quaid...whichever asked me first. I watched this movie and was amazed mostly by the rigorous physical trials these individuals endured in order to be chosen to be on the team of those worthy enough to participate in the space program. I also fell in true love with Sam Shepherd as Chuck Yeager. What a man! He had all the ability and guts it took to excell over the highly book educated candidates but was never even a contender because of his lack of higher education.

We all know different personalities of Christians and other religions for that matter. We know those who have really big theology brains...those who have studied, dialoged and commentaried on every theological concept imaginable. I fell deep into that well in college. I mistook heady theology for spirituality. Then we know those who are all experience...all emotion...and never seem to sober up long enough to 'think'; decern for themselves what scripture says and how it will be applied to our own life. I think of how in The Right Stuff, there should have been a candidate who was the perfect combination of Chuck Yeager and the college boys. One who had the heart AND the brain in perfect alignment. I wonder if that's what we strive for in our relationship with God and in our practice of growing spiritually....that most healthy and worthy combination of heart and brain.

Big Red

We spent last week with my parents between Sequin and Gonzales. Of course that meant a dip in the Guadalupe EVERY day. Ever since I was 7 and my sister was born we have made many trips to our pecan farm and now our parents live only 3 miles away. We did everything we always do...make our daily pilgrimage to the river loaded down with our plastic chairs, water and towells. You have to go slow in the summer because 1, it's hot. But we also have to keep an eye out for critters...snakes, ants and other creations of God I can't explain. When we were little the biggest treat of all was for Dad to take us to Goss'. Goss has a convenience store that looks like something out of Hee Haw. There was always fly paper hanging from the ceiling, there is no 'actual' door but a sliding piece of tin that was shoved aside during business hours. After crossing the threshold we knew the way to the soda water cooler. I'd lift the lid and fish around till I found what we wanted. A glass bottle of Big Red. We turn around avoiding the hound dog laying just behind us and walk over to the little window inside where Goss was sitting waiting to take our money. Goss always wore a cowboy hat and we knew he was there when we saw that old Caddy with the horns on the hood. There is nothing better on a hot Texas day than that red suggary concoction. This past week, Dad took us and we bought it again...against the better judgement of two grown up girls. Mr. Goss died last year but the store is still there still making the best Bar-B-Que chicken on Saturdays...go early, they run out early. Here's to childhood memories and great sisters.