My family

Many of you have been wondering how my pseudo brother Ben is doing now that he’s back from the Middle East and out of the armed services.  Well, I talked to him yesterday and we had a quick, but great conversation.  The best part of our relationship is that we can talk about the important stuff, laugh together and tease each other, all in a short amount of time.  Plus Ben ended the conversation with the “I love you sis.”  That always gets me.  And chokes me up.  I’m so glad that he is home and safe.

As I’ve gotten older, I’ve come to realize that sometimes the best family that a person has is a family that we create out of important people in our lives, and not necessarily our blood, biological, or the family that raised us.  I’ve been so blessed to have created a new family for myself as I grew up.  It’s a combination of friends, both old and new, family that I’m actually related to by blood, and people from my church.  What I consider to be my family has people from a couple of weeks old to people who are in their eighties and above.  I have white people and people of color in my family.  I have straight, gay and people who are on different places of the sexuality spectrum in my family.  I am called “Aunt,” “Mentor,” “Auntie,” “Friend,” “Cousin,” “God-Daughter,” “Sister” (by more than 3  people , and more other names than I can think of now.

So as I begin this Lenten Season of reflection, I’m thankful for all of you that are part of my family.

A little prayer for all who dream…

For some reason, a bunch of my friends are trying to “discern” their futures right now, from my college roommate who is trying to figure out how she is going to live and work in both the United States and South Africa to another friend who is back in the dating scene.  So for everyone who is trying to figure out what God’s plan for them is, here is a poem I found for you and for me…

“A PRAYER FOR DREAMERS”

We pray for the dreamers of this life, O God,
for those persons who imagine new possibilities,
who long for what others cannot perceive,
who spin dreams of wonder and majesty in their minds.
Defend them from ridicule and harsh criticism,
from self-doubt and lack of faith in their dreams,
and from abandonment of this call to make things new.
Grant that from their dreams
may come forth blessings for humankind
to enrich the quality of life
and the wonderment of us all.
Amen.
—–Vienna Cobb Anderson  

The God Box

I don’t usually respond to e-mail forwards, but this one, which came from my friend Sarah, hit me right in the heart, because it was exactly what I needed to hear right now, so I’m going to share it with all of you!  Since it came from an e-mail I don’t know who the author is, but whoever wrote it…thanks.

To:  YOU
Date:  TODAY
From:  GOD
Subject:  YOURSELF
Reference:  LIFE

This is God.  Today I will be handling All of your problems for you.  I do Not need your help.  So, have a nice day.   I love you.. 

P.S.  And, remember…
If life happens to deliver a situation to you that you cannot handle, do Not attempt to resolve it yourself!  Kindly put it in the SFGTD (something for God to do) box.  I will get to it in MY TIME.  All situations will be resolved, but in My time, not yours.  

Once the matter is placed into the box, do not hold onto it by worrying about it.  Instead, focus on all the wonderful things that are present in your life now. 

Now, you have a nice day.

God

The Saddest Day

Today, June 24, is one of the saddest days of my life.  It was four years ago today that my friend Betzi lost her brave battle with breast cancer.  She left behind her husband and her daughter Addie.  I was absolutely devastated when I heard the news, because I always thought that Betzi was going to beat the cancer.  Now she’s become one of the angles that I know is watching over me.  Sometimes I can even feel her presence.  I was thinking about how I could celebrate her life today, and it turns out that I didn’t have to do anything.  Betzi let me know that she was thinking of me.

Like the rainbow showing up over the Kennedy Center after the Tim Russert memorial, where the final song that was played during the memorial was “Somewhere over the Rainbow.”  Betzi sent me a sign to let me know that she was thinking of me and that she approves of the role that I am playing in Addie’s life.  Earlier this summer I bought a rose bush and several small purple flowers.  I bought a huge round planter and a rectangular planter that goes over the deck.  I put the rose bush in the big round planter with special potting soil, and I put the purple flowers in the other planter.  I wasn’t sure if the rose bush was going to grow this season.  But sure enough the branches began to sprout green leaves and the branches themselves began to turn red (which led me to believe that the roses were going to come soon.) 

I’ve been checking on my rose bush every single day for a couple of months, and even through the rain that came today, my first flower appeared.  It was my sign from Betzi, who was a wonderful gardener and loved planting flowers and different kinds of gardens.  As soon as I saw the red bloom and my first rose, I began to cry , because I know that my angel is watching over me and she’s reminding me that I really am doing a good job being in Addie’s life!  I love you Betzi and miss you!

The Bible in a whole different light

I’ve been trying to read my Bible everyday, and some days I want to try different translations even.  Luckily, I have a huge collection of Bibles that I’ve received from various family members so if I want to read the old English, I’ll pull out my King James version.  But all of this aside, I’ve been spending a lot of time on the computer and finding different ways to access the Bible from the internet.  I can download audio podcasts, read the bible online, or my favorite, see the Bible through pictures.

Yes pictures, but not just any pictures.  The Bible verses are portrayed through LEGO people and lego sets.  It is one of the most hysterically funny sites I’ve seen lately.  (When a battle is portrayed, there are clear red little lego squares put on the ground to represent blood.  Very Creative.)  They use a lot of the old Star Trek kits and people, so it’s fun to guess what sets are in use.  But they really do capture the spiritual message of the Bible in a very entertaining mans The Brick Testament.  ner.  The site is called The Brick Testament.  And here is the website you can click on to go directly to it: The Brick Testament.

“I believe…”

When I hear those two words two very distinct and VERY different images run through my head.

1) The Apostles Creed, said in my church every Sunday (except when we say one of the other creeds.)  The Apostles Creed basically lays out what we, as Christians, believe in.  So when I hear “I believe,” I think of the things that I believe in my heart as a way for me to live my life.

Here is the version that the ELCA Lutherans use:

The Apostles’ Creed

I believe in God, the Father almighty, creator of heaven and earth.

I believe in Jesus Christ, God’s only Son, our Lord, who was conceived by the Holy Spirit, born of the virgin Mary, suffered under Pontius Pilate, was crucified, died and was buried; he descended to the dead.* On the third day he rose again; he ascended into heaven, he is seated at the right hand of the Father, and he will come to judge the living and the dead.

I believe in the Holy Spirit, the holy catholic Church, the communion of saints, the forgiveness of sins, the resurrection of the body, and the life everlasting.  Amen.

*or “he descended into hell,” another translation of this text in widespread use.

2) The second thing that I think of when I hear “I believe” is Larry the Cable Guy and the rest of the Blue Collar Comedy Gang.  Except that you have to say it a little bit different.  Say it “Ah-eye, bl-eve..” and follow it up with something like what Ron White said “[I believe] if life gives you lemons, you should make lemonade, and try to find someone who’s life has given them Vodka and have a party.”  (I love that one!!!)  To watch the full “I believe” here it is from youtube.

Okay, but what got me on the “I believe” tangent?  Well, I woke up extra early today (a Saturday) and was watching the Saturday Today Show on NBC, and they did a segment on the fact that in South Carolina, you can now buy a licence plate with a cross on the left side of it, and under the numbers it says “I believe.”  Now I want to share my faith with others, but I want to do it on a personal one-on -one level, not because I can show it off on my car.  (I also don’t have any decals on my car.)  I’m also thinking that I’m a hypocrite, because I had a yellow magnetic ribbon on the trunk of my car that said “Support our troops.”  Because I have family and friends in the military.  I guess I didn’t have any problem wanting to show my public support for the troops, but why don’t I want to show my faith???  To see the plate click here. 

Prayer Shawl

After a horrible day yesterday.  (In addition to having one of my back teeth break in two (I think I swallowed the half that broke off! And of course it’s a holiday weekend so I can’t see a dentist until Tuesday) I cut my left thumb while cutting up a tomato for a sandwich and it still hurts!)  I decided that making it to church had to be a top priority today.  We started on our summer schedule, which is one service at 9am, which I absolutely love.  I can get up for 9am.  8 not so much, and the 10 service goes on and on and I sometimes don’t leave until noon, so this 9am is great.

Unfortunately the father of our Associate Pastor/Minister of Music had a stroke this week and Pastor Pat is with her family (prayers for the Potter family please.)  So we got a treat today.  Our regular Pastor, Pastor Julie played the organ and her husband, also a Pastor, Pastor Hans filled in as the presiding minister.  Pastor Hans delivered a great sermon on God always being there for us and that we don’t need to worry so much.  I almost started to cry a couple of times, especially when he talked about being sick and worrying about getting better.

After the service, Pastor Julie said that she had something for me.  My mom (who also goes to the same church as I do) and I went to Pastor Julie’s office and Pastor Julie gave me this absolutely beautiful handmade knitted shawl.  We have this wonderful ministry at Immanuel.  Many people get together and knit these prayer shawls for people in the church and the community who are going through tough (and also good like marriage) times.  The church has been praying for me and they wanted to give me something tangible to remind me that I am not alone.  I was so overwhelmed that I started to cry and was at a loss for words (which for me is a shocker!)  Pastor Julie said that each shawl ends up having some special meaning between the knitters and the recipient.  When I unfolded the shawl, I immediately noticed the colors, the two outer panels are gray and the middle panel is red.  The colors of my hometown in Wisconsin.  In high school we were the gray hounds and our colors were red and gray.  I said this to Pastor Julie, and she said she was getting goosebumps, and one of the knitters who had joined us, heard this as well and Sandy got goosebumps.  It’s an incredible link.  No one here in Massachusetts could know the importance of red and gray in my life… except God. 

For those of you who have doubts about the existence of God, this could not be a cosmic coincidence.  Or luck of the draw.  It is God and I am so thankful.

Here is a picture of my prayer shawl.

Here is the prayer that came with it.  By Sandy Mann May 2006

“Prayer for Healing

Guided by God’s love for us, this shawl is knit for you.

Healing, strength and peace, to bless upon your spirit true.

Wrap yourself in warmth and love, entwined in every stitch.

Prayers said to God above, please heal, mend and enrich.

Father, Son, Holy Spirit, intoned throughout the shawl.

Triune blessings knit within it, best wishes from us all.”

Pennsylvania Politics

Either David Gergen or Paul Begala (Democratic strategists, I can’t remember which one) made a very interesting comment tonight on CNN that the longer this primary season for the Democrats goes on, the more likely it would be that whoever wins the nomination (Clinton or Obama), would have to pick the other for the Vice President in order to “heal the party.”  I don’t know if I agree with that comment, but I know that I am ready for the primaries to be over and for the general election campaign to begin.  I want to hear about the ISSUES!  Here is a list of 10 issues for the candidates that are important to me that I want answered (not in any particular order, and I’ve probably left some off.)

1) How are we going to get health care for everyone (like we have in the state of Massachusetts) and how is it going to be paid for?

2) What is the plan for obtaining a long lasting peace in the Middle East (from Iraq to Iran to Palestine and Israel and the Holy Lands, etc?)

3) What is the policy going to be for scientific research.  Including stem cell research, funding for new medications, funding for research on diseases?

4) What will the policy be on women’s reproductive rights? 

5) What will the policy be on the environment, especially renewable energy, and reducing the dependence on oil?

6) What will the policy be on reducing the number of people going hungry through out the world?

7) What will the policy be towards the nations that have massive debts, and have people suffering from hunger, poverty, HIV/AIDS, curable diseases, unclean drinking water, etc?

8 ) What will the policy be to bridge the gap between the classes in America?  How can bridges be built between the races, genders, economic statuses, etc?

9) What will the policy towards literacy for all children be?

And finally…..

10) Can we finally get a national anthem that is singable and really has a lot of meaning.  (I mean the War of 1812, come on?)  I’m suggesting “America the Beautiful.”  I know that it refers to God, but it really captures the spirit of America!

“Why Jesus Is Better Than Santa Clause”

I’m having a very spiritual moment right now and the following fits my mood perfectly.  Straight from Mikey’s Funnies. 

WHY JESUS IS BETTER THAN SANTA CLAUSE

Santa lives at the North Pole…
Jesus is everywhere.

Santa rides in a sleigh…
Jesus rides on the wind and walks on the water.

Santa comes but once a year…
Jesus is an ever-present help.

Santa fills your stockings with goodies…
Jesus supplies all your needs.

Santa comes down your chimney uninvited…
Jesus stands at your door and knocks, and then enters your heart when invited.

You have to wait in line to see Santa…
Jesus is as close as the mention of His name.

Santa lets you sit on his lap…
Jesus lets you rest in His arms.

Santa doesn’t know your name, all he can say is “Hi little boy or girl, what’s
your name?”…
Jesus knew our name before we were born…
Not only does He know our name,
He knows our address too.
He knows our history and future and
He even knows how many hairs are on our heads.

Santa has a belly like a bowl full of jelly…
Jesus has a heart full of love

Santa says, “You better not cry”…
Jesus says, “Cast all your cares on me for I care for you.”

Santa’s little helpers make toys…
Jesus makes new life, mends wounded hearts, repairs broken homes, and builds
mansions.

Santa may make you chuckle but…
Jesus gives you joy that is your strength.

While Santa puts gifts under your tree…
Jesus became our gift and died on a tree…

AMEN

Serenity Prayer

I was looking through some prayers on de-stressing my life this afternoon, after my pastor gave a very interesting sermon on time this morning.  I came across the Serenity Prayer, only I didn’t recognize it at first, because there was more to it than I’m use to.  So here is the Serenity Prayer as I found this morning.  Hope it helps you as it has helped me!

God grant me the serenity
to accept the things I cannot change;
courage to change the things I can;
and wisdom to know the difference.

Living one day at a time;
enjoying one moment at a time;
accepting hardships as the pathway to peace;
taking, as He did, this sinful world
as it is, not as I would have it;
trusting that He will make all things right
if I surrender to His Will;
that I may be reasonably happy in this life
and supremely happy with Him
forever in the next.
Amen.

Reinhold Niebuhr (1892-1971)