Washing Dishes and Mashing Potatoes

In a few moments I'm off to begin (or continue) my contemplative/reflecting day. We all have one of these days around January 1, don't we? Its time to write down the hopes, dreams, and goals I would like to accomplish in 2010. This also requires reminiscing about the past year and more specifically the last couple of weeks. Not to mention thinking through the last decade and realizing it was 10 years ago this month I was with the college choir in Hawaii. 10 years!

I am a journal-er, and hadn't made it to writing about my trip to MI yet. As I thinking about my favorite family moments,I surprised myself. One of my favorite moments was Christmas Eve when I was doing dishes with Kathleen and Laura. I was in charge of putting the items away because "I knew where things went at mom's house". In one of my many attempts to figure out exactly where mom's "fancy" dishes actually went, I turned around and stopped for a moment. I watched two groups of family members working on the puzzles mom had given us, I saw another texting and, of course, dishes being done. We were just being. And it was real, genuine, honest. For a too brief moment all was well.

Another favorite moment was Christmas day. Christmas morning I help my grandmother get ready for the arrival of the rest of the family. Mashed potatoes and stuffing are on my to-do list when I arrive. This has become a very sweet tradition to me. I get my own "grandma" time without anyone interrupting. She lets me in on family updates, and more importantly--on her secrets. If I listen carefully I can hear heart and see how she's really doing. Its not often she lets people in enough to see her heart. I am forever grateful for these moments.

Washing dishes and mashing potatoes--its not as trivial as you may think.

Primal...

If you have heard about Mark Batterson, I am guessing it is either because you attend his church or because you have read In A Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day. I happen to fall into the later category with aspirations of visiting NCC and Ebenezer's one day.

Currently, I'm reading through his newest epic--Primal. I'm only about 3/4ths of the way in, yet I feel the need to stop and process the many thoughts that have been underlined.

However, there is one thought that continues to be at the forefront of my mind. "The truth is that most of us are already educated way beyond the level of our obedience."

Educated beyond my obedience? Am I? Does my obedience need to catch up with my knowledge? What's the point of knowledge without obedience? Is there one?

In Acts 4, John and Peter stood before the Jewish leadership to give an account for telling everyone about Jesus. Verse 13 says "When they observed the boldness of Peter and John and realized that they were uneducated and untrained men, they were amazed and knew that they had been with Jesus"

I'll be considered "uneducated" if that means people know I've been with Jesus.

Mark also says this, "As I tried to absorb the significance of where I was (ancient catacomb), I couldn't help but wonder if our generation has conveniently forgotten how inconvenient it can be to follow in the footsteps of Christ. I couldn't help but wonder if we have diluted the truths of Christianity and settled for superficialities. I couldn't help but wonder if we have accepted a form of Christianity that is more educated but less powerful, more civilized but less compassionate, more acceptable but less authentic..."

Primal--makes you question your motives. Do you want truth or to be superficial? Do you want education or the power of Jesus? Civilized or compassionate? acceptable or authentic?

Current Prayer...

For grace that is greater than my heartbreak--I love you.
For encouragement through Your people--I thank you.
For always knowing and being near me--I praise you.

Overlooked

Go here. Help malaria, sex trafficking victims, those in poverty. Provide clean water and opportunity...

Book Junkie...

I love books.
I have piles of books, some I have read, so I have yet to read.
It's fantastic.
I was alerted of this website where you can purchase books and donate to global literacy. Woo-hoo! If you're buying someone books for Christmas, check out Better World Books.
ASAP!

Guilty...

Ok. I admit it. I like presents. I like giving them and I like receiving them. I do not like it so much because its "stuff" but because it means that someone had thought about me, remembered me, and cares about me. If you are familiar at all with the "love languages" I believe the language of "gifts" is running a close second next to my main language of "words" and such.

This joy of giving and receiving clashes largely with my loathe of the craziness that Christmas has become. I often feel guilty for wanting presents at this time of year. I want to fully support Advent Conspiracy and other such options. Spend less! Worship more!

How do I reconcile these two polar opposites in my life? Especially when I want to give presents as well. The only idea that has come to mind is to ask for/give from organizations that benefit others. i.e. Tom Shoes and Land of Thousand Hills coffee. Or, if I lived in Grand Rapids, MI...I'd give to people from MadCap Coffee because I know the beans there are brought from farmers them selves.

These are the only organizations/companies I'm currently aware of that give to others as well. Do you know of more??

A Book in Review

I was introduced to Margaret Feinberg at Catalyst. She was promoting her new book Scouting the Divine. My Search for God in Wine, Wool and Wild Honey. As she was talking about it, I mentally made a note to figure out where I could get a copy of the book. Then the interviewer said my new favorite phrase "and we are giving everyone a copy". I came home, finished the book I was in the midst of and immediately moved this book to the top of my "to read" pile.

In this book, Margaret discusses the time she spent with a shepherdess in Oregon, a farmer in Nebraska, a bee keeper in Colorado and a vintner in California. Why was she doing this? Because Scripture speaks these professions in a very profound way.

I was half way through reading about her time in Oregon when I text'd a friend and said "Is it ok that I weep through this entire book?" The answers shepherdess Lynne was giving about insights into who God is, without even knowing it, has been priceless. I found myself wanting to be like the sheep named Iris.

As you read Scouting the Divine...you feel as though you are actually in Oregon, Nebraska, Colorado and California. Maybe it was because I always read this book with coffee and/or tea in hand, but reading it felt cozy. I finished this book a few weeks ago and I still smile as I remember the stories, or more importantly, the truth she wrote.