On the Agenda

Kids come running in to show me this page from MY scrapbook like it's a novel discovery. (Yep. I was there, you guys.)

This happened the week I turned nine. I remember being very excited. I remember trembling in fear. 

I must have heard my dad pray in public hundreds of times by then ... using words like may and might and blessings and courage. 

Today, I would tweak the bit about standing up "for what they believe" and admonish us all to stand on truth. But otherwise, I notice it was a suitable prayer for me personally as I "involved" myself in government and asked the Lord for strength and wisdom to decide.

What a sweet little seed of calling, planted long ago (back when we covered boxes with shag carpet, feathered our middle-part, and popped one wrist to say "cheese").

Threshold Blessing

Father, thank you for today. Only you can see all the many choices that have brought us to this point, and only you can see the future blessings that will emerge because of your presence here with us today.

Through the indwelling presence of your holy spirit, you show your kindness by supernaturally infusing temporal things with meaning, purpose and memories. 

We thank you. 

We confess our dependence upon you. 

Jesus, be near. 

May every spoken word, every shared seat at the table; every gift of thanks (both hard and happy) that is offered in this place bring honor to your name.

Let us become more aware of your presence. Let us experience the glory of your goodness.

Giving Gifts

The note said, "It's your birthday! I thought you'd like to share with your friends!"

My sister-in-law sent a giant take-out bag containing an assortment of individually boxed desserts with eight pouches of plastic cutlery to my office which provided me with the most enjoyable afternoon.

"Hello? Hi! Can you stop by my office in a minute?"

"Hey! Come over here! I have something for you!"

"No, you choose what you like. I like them all so I'll be happy with the last one."

So much joy. Rising and rolling over. Becoming more.

I felt a strange confidence ...

I found myself in abundance and the only reasonable response was to sustain the rhythms of gratitude and generosity by sharing what I had been given. 

It was humbling too...

Since I hadn't baked or bought any of the sweets, there was no room for the credit to be mine. 

Here's the thing about gifts.

God in many ways has delivered a bounty of good into your life as though His personal message says, "This is the day that I have made! Find joy and share with the world!"

I'm not sure what's in your bag of treats - the assortment of ways in which He has gifted you. Maybe you help, or encourage or create. Perhaps you speak wisdom or teach truth or pray power. Is it making music, heavy lifting, taking a stand . . . dreaming, organizing, seeing things through? Whatever you've got, I know it came with extra forks! 

The gifts He has given are not just for you. He intends for you to confidently, humbly, offer them to others as an invitation to participate in the fullness.

The only reasonable response is to sustain the rhythms of gratitude and generosity by sharing what you have been given.  Since you aren't the one who creates or provides the gifts, all the credit and thanks belong to God.

And many more.

Path and Pathos

My student worker pulls a cart loaded with boxes of hand-me-down books, tea-stained cups and mismatched frames. 

I carry my plant. My beloved pathos is the only potted greenery to survive any of my nurturing efforts. I bought her at Brookshire's in 2016.

We gingerly walk the several hundred steps from last season to next.

Five years ago John Harris called from ETBU to say my name had been mentioned, and he wondered if I'd be interested in a secretarial position in the religion department.

He told me about my dad calling him in the 90's from ETBU to say that his name had been mentioned and he wondered if John would be interested in a faculty position in the religion department.

We talked about his cancer in that first call. Somehow I knew I would work for him for the rest of his life.

John had the highest standards: in work ethic, gift-giving, and Turabian formatting.

He had the most answers: always a position, rarely any sway; always a strategy, never a second guess.

He had a tremendous amount of patience with me and reciprocity reigned.

That pathos grew bright and tall as discussions of propriety, ministry, and Seinfeld episodes wafted around the office day in and day out.

Over time, snapped yellow leaves were tossed away while clipped sturdy stems rested and rooted in clean, clear cups of water.

Pruning and productive, five years full.

We slowly walk to the cadence of cart wheels clunking across brickish pavers, and I'm numb. So much change in these last several months. All the grieving and leaving and recalibration. Am I ready for more?

The elevator dings.

Onward and upward. We unload the photos and coffee and books. And we gently set the glazed dish of flourishing vines upon an unfamiliar ledge.

A fresh vista where light will shine through slivers of space, and words will stir purpose and seep satisfaction like water in the soil. The time-consuming, hard and happy work of thriving awaits.

Ready, set, grow.

When At First

You know that person you try to avoid? In the name of peace, of course, you steer clear. The one who makes you uneasy, who makes life not easy? Maybe they are careless or cruel, or just unbearable.

I wonder if you could close your eyes and thank God for them.

This is not easy. 

But can you breathe in and thank the Creator - who gives you both breath - for His image they bear just by being here?  

Can you thank Him for being available to them the way He is available to you? 

Can you exhale and linger in the whispered truth that God made both of you, and He has a plan for each of you, and He loves you both?

Are you able to see God's kindness in it all? 

Can you ask Him to give you gratitude for this person - a real supernatural thankfulness, the likes of which you cannot acquire on your own?

We can believe God and watch while gratitude affects our attitude and His love has room to work ... putting away fear and miraculously making up for a mess of sin.

Thank You, God, for ________________.