Sunday Thoughts: Light

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It’s been quite a while since I’ve been on here. Thanks to COVID, I’m writing more devotionals and children’s messages and such, which is good. I think. It’s challenging and starting to take a toll. BUT… I got the itch to get back here to share some of my writing, because why not?!

So here’s A Word for All Ages/Children’s Message I video recorded a few days ago for worship today, September 6, 2020, with some tweaks:

Who likes the dark? Show of hands. No one? Some? Well, I don’t particularly care for the dark. It can be kind of spooky.

The Bible has many stories about darkness and light. I think many know the one used at Advent, which says “a light will shine in the darkness.” Or the Psalm that talks about “thy word being a lamp” or the use of lamps in general. The Bible talks a lot about darkness and light.

In his letter to the Romans (chapter 13, verses 8-14), the Apostle Paul talks about following commandments. You know, love your neighbor, obey your parents, don’t lie or cheat, etc… Then there’s this line:

“Let us then lay aside the works of darkness and put on the armor of light.”

I’ve been playing the song ‘Torches’ by X Ambassadors on repeat.  The song goes: “And if you get lost in shadows; There’s a fire inside you; Be the light that guides you.”

I began thinking about what I read in Romans and this line and other lyrics of the song. It got me thinking about this idea of exiting the darkness, leaving it behind, gathering up our torches, our flames, our light and trekking onward.

Things are rough. Still. 2020 is showing no mercy.

School is online, we’re maybe sort of seeing our friends/family but not really, many parents not only work but are also teaching/helping their children learn. Then add in all the other stuff: living in the middle of a pandemic (still), hurricanes and fires, civil unrest and more. It’s like we’re living in the shadows and have been for months.  I don’t know about the rest of you, but I often feel lost in the shadows.

One of the points the Apostle Paul is making here, I think, is to remember to turn on the light because light conquers all.

Professor Dumbledore from Harry Potter said, “Happiness can be found even in the darkest of times if one remembers to turn on the light.” (He does have some great one-liners, doesn’t he?)

This is such a weird, crazy, funky, time. It’s full of shadows and light and good and anxiety. Through it all – whoever you are: Carry your flame, your light and leave the darkness behind. Because you have light inside you.

You can do this. All that comes your way – e-learning school, fighting for justice and marching for Black Lives Matter, watching the news, feeling the loss of a loved one or job, feeling anxiety that just doesn’t seem to lift. Find your light and leave the darkness behind. It’s there, waiting for you to grab the torch.

Friends, “set the night on fire” with your incredible torches of light and shine through these crazy, dark times.

Dear God, guide us through the shadows. Give us courage to carry our torches of light through whatever darkness we face. We know you’ll find us and we know our light will be bright. Amen.

Sabbath Monday: One Word

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This is my third year participating in Ali Edward’s One Little Word.

Towards the end of the year, I choose a word (or the word chooses me) for the next year. Then each month I use the prompts Ali presents in her online workshop to view my word in my world. In the end I have a completed scrapbook with journaling, pictures and more.

One Little Word has been an incredible journey.

In 2017 my word was Embrace.

In 2018 my word was Space.

I so enjoyed my first year and really found I needed to embrace things in my life more. And still do. Simply because I moved on from my word doesn’t mean I let the word go!

Last year, I struggled. Space fit as I moved and settled into a new space. As I attempted to make space for self-care and space for other things. I connected with my word but I didn’t feel this spark-filled connection. I also wasn’t taking the time each month to work on the prompts, which might have contributed to my lack of spark-filled connection.

For 2019 my word is Peace.

My word hit me back in October.

For years I had wanted a tattoo of the word peace on my wrist. I wanted a reminder to find peace in my life, to remember that God’s peace surrounds me and to work for peace in our world. Back then I craved inking myself with the word because I was finally at the end of my ordination journey and settling into ministry as Reverend Amanda. Peace was fitting at the time.

Now, many years later, peace still fits. To be at peace with my life as it is. To find peace amidst the chaos of a busy, stressful life. And of course, to remember God’s peace and to work for peace in our world. That’s always on my mind.

So back in October, I walked into a tattoo parlor with my sister in Las Vegas and got inked with the word peace and two olive branches on my wrist. It’s small enough to sort of be hidden (I am a pastor after all). But large enough to be read.

About a week later it hit me – Peace is my 2019 One Little Word.

Every year I begin One Little Word with uncertainty, not really knowing how my word will affect my life. Sometimes my word gives me freedom to accept things. Sometimes my word allows me to see God in new ways. Sometimes my word acts like a therapist. Sometimes my word is a window into something I need to work on or where God is working in my life.

I don’t know why peace chose me this year because I’m pretty sure it chose me, and not the other way around, which is awesome. And I’m excited to see where the word will take me because One Little Word, like all other things in life, is a journey, not a sprint.

Words have a powerful presence on and in our lives. Whether it’s embracing one word for a full year or a month, or embracing a quote or song lyrics or whatever – words change us. Which is why I love this new year resolution and why I embark on making my word visible each year.

I’m excited for the journey.

So…

What’s your word this year?

 

 

 

Misc. Wednesday: Space (part 2)

Today is my Grandma’s birthday.

Well, May 2 was her birthday.

I’ve been thinking about angel food cake and Grandma cutting it, serving it to us as we gathered in her house for one of our birthdays. There are many memories of birthdays spent in that home.

I’ve been thinking about that space a lot lately – my grandparent’s home.

My grandparent’s house is next door to my parent’s. It is my second home. I have a lot of memories in that house and yard. Making leaf houses with Grandpa and root beer floats (ice cream only for me). Sitting on the porch talking and waving to her as I parked my car in her garage.

That space is such an important aspect of my childhood and adulthood.

When Grandma passed last July, it broke my heart to know I couldn’t simply walk across the yard anymore to visit her. Or to look up from mowing the lawn to see her on the porch.

One day I finally said to my parents, “Ok listen, about Grandma’s house – what are you doing with it cuz I want it.”

And so began my journey into a new space, memories and home.

The 65+ year old house needs some refurbishing. That’s what I’m calling it. It’s not a renovation. It’s a refurbishment. The house isn’t getting a complete demo like something from HGTV. My parents and I are not gutting the place because it doesn’t need it. Well, except the bathroom.

The walls have holes in them where the electricians have been updating the wiring. I’ve spent weekends with Dad scrapping off wallpaper that’s been there since the 1990s. (Love you, Grandma, but the cute bunnies have to go.)  Grandma’s belongings are scattered around the house and once the plastic sheets come off, we’ll need to tackle that some more.

When I needed to make a lot of decisions about sinks, faucets and lights, I asked Grandma and Grandpa to help. I asked for their guidance, knowing full well that both walk with me in life and that they would love to see their granddaughter living in their house. I also know Grandma and Grandpa would want me to make the house my own.

The past is important and change is difficult. Sometimes one simply needs to embrace the past and move forward in creating new space for more memories.

In a few short weeks I move into my grandparent’s space, into their home. Except it’s not their home. It’s mine. With the memories of the past seeping in and around me in every room. The kitchen where I’m hoping my nieces and nephews come for root beer floats, as my siblings and I did. The basement that hosted so many family birthdays and meals will hopefully host more. The old walls with fresh coats of paint and new fans and lights.

A house with a mix of the old mid-century 1950s feel with a modern spin.

My new – old space.

Happy Birthday, Grandma. I hope to make a ton of new memories in the space you loved with the family you loved.

 

 

 

 

Sabbath Monday: Space (part 1)

Hello Dear Readers,

It’s been awhile!

I’ve been thinking about this idea of space for a few weeks. Mostly because space is my word for 2018.

Last year I participated in Ali Edward’s One Little Word project (OLW for short). Basically, it’s part self-care, part scrapbooking, part reflection. It’s fun and uses all of my creative energy. Plus it makes me think.

I almost decided not to do OLW this year, until I thought about last year.

Last year I embraced a lot. My word – embrace – gave me permission to tackle many difficult, challenging, life-altering things. Like whitewater rafting, something I never though I’d do because I don’t swim. Yet I embraced something new when usually I’m too frightened to try new things. I embraced a huge family dynamic shift when Grandma passed. Though I’m still grieving, embracing the memories I have with her has allowed me to mourn and move forward.

Well, May is here. And my word and I are tackling another month together.

For the record, I’m not talking about final frontier, Star Trek space either.

I’m talking about the space I live in – my home, my body, my mind. From finding space, to creating a new home, to making space to read or put together a puzzle.  Space is recognizing that my bodily space, my human space, needs some work – healthier eating, exercise. And mind space – reading and creating so I am able to grow.

There is holy space where I find God. Or empty space in my life that I may choose to refill (or not refill). It’s finding, as Ali calls it, the white space or blank space in my life – whatever that means and looks like. It’s decluttering closets and reorganizing, not only my apartment but also my pastoral study at church.

Space is recognizing that sometimes I need space from family and friends so I may reenergize or take a break, find room and space to keep loving them as I’m able instead of burning out on whatever it is that’s hurting or bugging me. Space is the space I find joy and can dance. Or realizing I need space from all things related to church and work.

Space is a wonderful thing. And it has me thinking a lot about certain habits I have or need to work on. Of when I need to say “no” because I need some blank space in my life.

OLW has been an interesting journey so far.

More to come…

 

 

 

Misc. Wednesday: Gratitude

In a few hours, I will say to members of my congregation, “Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return” while I make a cross of ashes on their foreheads or hands. It’s a reminder of our mortality, that we are created from the ash of the earth and one day will return to the earth.

Today is Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. The beginning of the journey into the wilderness, the path towards the cross and eventually the resurrection of Jesus.

Lent is a contemplative time, a time of journeying with Jesus in his final moments on earth. It’s 40 days (not including Sundays) of darkness and self-reflection of our faith. Eventually light will prevail but until then, we’ve got 40 days of wilderness, desert, and darkness.

For most, Lent is a way of deepening one’s faith by engaging in a spiritual practice. Usually it’s by giving up something. Fish Fry Fridays remind many to not eat meat on Fridays in Lent. Or some give up soda or alcohol. If that practice works for you – go for it.

Giving up something for Lent wasn’t a thing I grew up with. Over the years I’ve tried the spiritual practice. I attempted to give up Diet Coke for Lent long ago. It lasted 2 weeks. I suppose the idea of giving up something for 40 days brings us closer to God, like the monks who take vows of silence. It’s simply not me.

Instead I opt for a different sort of spiritual practice this time of year.

The last 2 years I’ve taken pictures and posted them to social media of where I saw God each day. One year I tried to write a note to different people each day. That didn’t last that long either but I liked the practice of sending love and greetings to special people in my life.

This year I’ve decided to do a Gratitude Challenge. Some do this during the fall around Thanksgiving. Instead I’m doing it for Lent, because there is much to be grateful for, isn’t there? Why should we only give thanks one time a year? Why should giving thanks during Lent be any less important?

Author Diana Bass posted on her Facebook page this past Monday, “This Lent, add some gratitude practices to your journey. Keep a gratitude journal, write thank you letters to someone you appreciate, surprise friends with thank you gifts, do gratitude prayers and meditations. Thanks doesn’t have to wait for Thanksgiving. Thanks is central to deepened faith, strengthened hope, and the fullness of love.”

I LOVE that last sentence!

That’s what I’m going to do. I’m going to walk my Lenten, wilderness journey with gratitude in hopes of deepening my faith, strengthening my hope and feeling the fullness of love in my life.

Because I like to see progress, to feel something tangible with my fingers, I’m going to write down one gratitude a day and place it in a jar. Eventually those notes will be arranged and placed in my 2018 Project Life scrapbook.

I doubt there will be one day when I cannot come up with something. Every day presents us with little things to be thankful for. So it’s kind of fun and exciting to feel the suspense of what each day might bring. Who knows what sorts of gratitude will present itself each day for 40 days?

To begin, this one hit me this morning as I sat at the car dealer, waiting for my car:

I’m thankful for flexibility in my job so I can take a morning and get my car fixed.

Dear Readers, what are you doing this Lent? Or perhaps the better question is: What are you thankful for?

Misc. Wednesday: Read Harder

For the last 2 years, I’ve participated in Book Riot’s Read Harder Challenge. I found the reading challenge through a friend, likely from her Goodreads account.

The Read Harder challenge is a reading challenge (obviously) and is a set of 24 prompts or tasks. One can overlap tasks too, so say one book could count for more than 1 of the tasks. I aim for 24 separate books because I hope to experience more, read more. I try to push myself a bit.

I didn’t finish last year’s tasks. Boo.

I’m blaming Scarlett.

One of last year’s task was to ‘read a book published between 1900 and 1950’. I chose Gone With The Wind, all 1,037 pages on my Kindle of Scarlett and Rhett.  From May 27, 2017 till January 3, 2018 I read about Scarlett’s adventures (and the whining! Oh my gosh!). I did enjoy the book – whiny, self-absorbed Scarlett and all.

Anywho…finished or not, it’s time for a new year of Read Harder challenges.

This year’s list contains a bit everything. And, thankfully, no poetry. I love how Read Harder allows me to experience new books, books I would normally never read but some are just not for me.

Early on I draw up some sort of plan, knowing it will likely change. The same is true of this year’s challenge.

In the effort to create more space for self-care in my life (more than I already do) and since I hope to write more about one of my loves – reading, here is my Read Harder challenge possible books for 2018 (and yes, some overlap with my friend cuz I borrowed some of her ideas – Thanks Friend! And yes, some are already crossed off and finished.):

1. A book published posthumously: Persuasion by Jane Austen (currently re-reading cuz I love Jane.)
2. A book of true crime: Columbine by Dave Cullen or In Cold Blood by Truman Capote
3. A classic of genre fiction (i.e. mystery, sci fi/fantasy, romance): Rebecca by Daphne du Maurier
4. A comic written and drawn by the same person: Ghosts by Raina Telgemeier (completed January 14)
5. A book set in or about one of the five BRICS countries (Brazil, Russia, India, China, or South Africa): Behind the Beautiful Forevers by Kathrine Boo (set in India)
6. A book about nature: Animal, Vegetable, Miracle by Barbara Kingsolver (I haven’t read a ton of her work, though I loved The Bean Trees in high school.)
7. A western: True Grit by Charles Portis
8. A comic written or illustrated by a person of color: March: Book 1 by John Lewis
9. A book of colonial or postcolonial literature: I think The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini counts for this. I loved his book And the Mountains Echoed.
10. A romance novel by or about a person of color: My friend had A Bollywood Affair by Sonali Dev on her list and that sounds interesting. I need to research this one more.
11. A children’s classic published before 1980: The Wizard of Oz by Frank L. Baum. I have always wanted to read this!
12. A celebrity memoir: It Takes Two: Our Story by Jonathan Scott and Drew Scott (a.k.a. the Property Brothers) (completed January 15)
13. An Oprah Book Club selection: Behold the Dreamers by Imbolo Mbue
14. A book of social science: Quiet by Susan Cain or Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance.
15. A one-sitting book: Ummm….No idea. It’ll come to me when I finish reading it in one sitting. LOL
16. The first book in a new-to-you YA or middle grade series: So many choices! The Maze Runner by James Dashner or The Giver by Lois Lowery. Both have been on my To-Read list for years.
17. A sci fi novel with a female protagonist by a female author: A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L’Engle cuz the movie looks good.
18. A comic that isn’t published by Marvel, DC, or Image: Again, I need to research. Maybe Lumberjanes by Noelle Stevenson.
19. A book of genre fiction in translation: I feel like The Snowman by Jo Nesbo counts for this but not sure since I don’t quite understand genre fiction. ‘In Translation’ I get.
20. A book with a cover you hate: Bossypants by Tine Fey
21. A mystery by a person of color or LGBTQ+ author: Cutting Season by Attica Locke
22. An essay anthology: Either Nasty Women or 7 Seasons of Buffy: Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers Discuss Their Favorite TV Show.
23. A book with a female protagonist over the age of 60: Lillian Boxfish Takes a Walk by Kathleen Rooney
24. An assigned book you hated (or never finished): Never finished: The Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck. I struggled to finish it in high school and used cliffs notes to do my book presentation on it. However, I loved Steinbeck’s East of Eden and Of Mice and Men. Here’s hoping I can get through the dust bowl.

There is way more on my reading list this year and I’m sure the titles above will change. And that’s ok. However, I do love the fact that majority of my list consists of women and people of color. Yea!

Happy Reading, Friends!

Sabbath Monday: Love & Call

Yesterday I preached a sermon entitled, “Loved and Called” with Psalm 139 as the scripture.

Earlier in the week as I was deciding on what text to preach on, I knew I wanted to go a more social justice-y sort of route. I mean, it is MLK weekend after all.

I had my sermon crafted in my head, though not on paper, by mid-week.

And then one of our country’s leaders opened their mouth.

I’m not one of those preachers who uses the pulpit to spout agendas or politics or whatever. That’s not what the pulpit is for. I mean, I supposed I could go there. I do have freedom of the pulpit. But I wasn’t taught to use the pulpit for my own agenda. I’m there to push a few buttons, yes, but about faith, God, justice issues and such.

I do, however, use the pulpit to preach the Gospel, which is clearly not something many our country’s leaders are aware of. The Gospel message is all about love, welcoming the stranger, and grace. (The Gospel is way more than that, so totally generalizing here. But you get the idea – clearly not on the minds and hearts of our country’s leaders.)

And so I preached about being “fearfully and wonderfully made” in the sight of God, as the Psalmist says. I talked about being totally connected to God, to the point where we as humans have God in our DNA and in cutting down others, we cut ourselves down in the process.

I talked about the “call” we have in life isn’t only the vocation, the job or profession we are in, using the God-given gifts God has given us. Instead, “call” is about God’s love, about being beautiful in God’s sight for who we are created to be – colored skin, warts, extra pounds, whatever.

I wrote/preached: “The United Church of Christ has a slogan, one my colleague and I say every Sunday from the chancel area – “No matter who you are or where you are on life’s journey, you are welcome here.” That’s not simply an invitation, welcoming and radical hospitality to church and worship. It is, obviously, or we wouldn’t say it week after week.

It’s more than that. At least for me anyway.

It’s God saying, “I don’t care about your faults, your scars, your skin color, sexuality – I don’t care who you are. I love you. I love you because I created you and you are welcome, welcome on this journey of life. I hope you know I am walking with you. Whatever occurs on this journey of life, whatever befalls you, I am there. You are precious and loved and called by me to live this incredible life. For you are fearfully and wonderfully made.””

Later I wrote/preached: “A few days ago, I was shocked to hear yet more appalling news because let’s face it  – that’s all the news is these days. Shocking, appalling, sad. As I read article after article, posts by friends and colleagues, I was saddened. To hear blatant racist remarks in 2018, and so close to Martin Luther King, Jr. day too. I was angry and sad.

But I was also reminded of this psalm – we are precious in God’s sight. We- humanity – from whatever country, whatever sexual orientation, skin color, nationality or whatever – we are precious in God’s sight. We are beloved by God. We are created by God to be unique and different.”

And I went on from there. I quoted South African anti-apartheid leader, Nelson Mandela and poet/writer, Maya Angelou. And of course Dr. King himself saying, “I have decided to stick with love. Hate is too great a burden to bear.”

My congregation is a mix of folks – many supporters of He-Who-Must-Not-Be-Named. I’ve heard rumblings from some who haven’t liked my sermons (and my colleague’s too – I’m not alone) because they are more liberal.

Ok, my sermons may be a bit liberal but I’m simply preaching the Gospel. And answering the question, “What would Jesus do?” Because my Jesus wouldn’t stand for racist remarks. Jesus wouldn’t stand for divisions and an Us vs. Them mentality. That if you’re not blonde and white, you’re not welcome here. Jesus and God don’t work that way.

Oppss…I’ve gotten on my soapbox.

Dear Readers, whoever you are, know this – You are loved. Black, white, gay, straight, blonde or blue hair, skinny or curvy – whatever shape or color or country or religion you come from – You are loved. By me and by God. And if I have to preach that message a thousand times over my ministry I will.

I’m tired of hate, aren’t you? It’s simply too much of a burden to bear.

I choose love, kindness and grace instead.

 

 

 

 

Friday 5: Books of 2017

It’s been…I don’t know…months since I last posted anything. Life got away from me and blogging became a distant memory. I missed it. So, with the beginning of a new year, let me try this blogging thing again. Not sure how often I’ll be writing but my hope is to blog more.

First, let’s talk books.

Every year I decide on a reading goal. In 2016 I read 74 books. In 2017 I read 70. (It would have been 71 but Scarlett and Rhett were annoying me. Don’t get me wrong, Gone with the Wind is a very good book. And Clark Gable and Vivien Leigh were spot on in portraying Rhett and Scarlett. But yeah…) And for 2018 I’m aiming for 75 books.

Of the 70 books I read in 2017 some stand out, some were duds. For this first blog back, here are my top 5 books of 2017:

Book #1: Ready Player One by Ernest Cline:  Soon to be a motion picture!!!! By Spielberg too!!! I’m super excited for the movie. I listened to the audiobook because Wesley Crusher, a.k.a. Wil Wheaton, reads it. I so need to own this book. Basic plot: It’s 2044 and the world is ugly. Wade Watts sets off on an adventure into the OASIS, an online, virtual reality realm. If you’re a nerd, like the 80’s, video games and pop culture – check this one out. Of all the books I read last year, Ready Player One was by far my favorite.

Book #2: The Nightingale by Kristin Hannah:  It took me some time to really get into the story. However, it was incredible. It’s a story of 2 sisters, Vianne and Isabelle, during World War 2 France. It’s a story of love and war-torn countries. It’s got espionage and spying. And I cried. And I had “sitting at the edge of my chair” moments.

Book #3: The Handmaid’s Tale by Margaret Atwood:   I couldn’t put this one down. If you haven’t read it – read it. It’s science fiction, set in a dystopian world – the Republic of Gilead. Offred is a Handmaid. She’s used by certain households to procreate. Offred’s given room and board in exchange for well, rape, so that humanity doesn’t wipe out. She has no control over her body and Big Brother is watching. Ok, they aren’t called Big Brother. That’s 1984. But it’s similar. What’s scary is that it hit a little too close to home, given the state of our country and world currently. I need to watch the Hulu series now.

Book #4: The Princess Diarist by Carrie Fisher:  I read this last January, only a few weeks after Carrie passed. I love the Star Wars world, so reading her words about the making of the original (and the best) Star Wars films was great. Plus, can you blame her for having an affair with Harrison Ford? I mean, it’s Harrison Ford. And, sorry for the language but Leia is a such a badass princess. Loved Carrie’s honesty too.

Book #5: Homegoing by Yaa Gyasi:  I read this in about a week. It’s a story of 2 half sisters, one sold into slavery and one married to a British slaver. The story follows their lives and family over generations, from 18th century Ghana, the early slave trade and British colonization through the present day in Harlem. Each chapter is a vignette on a family member as the family moves through history. Just incredible.

There are many other books I could include – Talking as Fast as I Can by Lauren Graham, The Night Circus by Erin Morgenstern, Scrappy Little Nobody by Anna Kendrick, We are all Wonders by R.J. Palacio (a children’s picture book based on the book Wonder), Their Eyes Were Watching God by Zora Neale Hurston. I could go on.

My Goodreads page lists all the books I’ve read over the last few years and many that I’ve yet to read. The Book Riot Read Harder Challenge is also on my reading list once again this year. I’m excited for some of the prompts and titles I’ve chosen. More on that to come.

For now – Happy 2018 and Happy Reading!

 

Sabbath Monday: A Week in the Life

I lead a pretty ordinary life.

I get up, go to work, come home. Sometimes there are evening church meetings. Sometimes gatherings with friends. Sometimes I treat myself to a movie. Sometimes family time.

But mostly my week consists of just me.

Unlike many, I don’t have a daily routine. I don’t have a routine with children or a husband.

Ok, maybe I do have a routine. Sort of.

But every morning is different – Some mornings I get up early to read or do the dishes. Some mornings I “sleep in”. Some mornings I make lunch to take with me, other days I come home for lunch.

Every work day is different too. Ministry is all about the unexpected.

My average week sometimes turns out not so average for whatever reason – a random get together or multiple runs to the store.

A week in the life of me is often typical and also not so typical.

Though it is my story to share. My story matters.

This week I’m embarking on a Week in the Life with Ali Edwards. (I’m also currently in the middle of the One Little Word project with Ali as well.)

Week in the Life is exactly what it sounds like – A week in my life, documenting the daily doings of where I go, what I do, what I eat, who I meet, etc… Though the project is also more than that. It’s looking at things in your daily life differently. Like, noticing the sun blazing through your picture window and casting shadows on the wall.

This is my first year doing this project and I’m super pumped.

Last week I organized my book and supplies, taking notes and reading Ali’s blog for inspiration. This has helped me figure out what I wanted to do with this project.

Ali is doing her project this week, April 17-23, and I decided to do it along with her. With some minor edits.

I started yesterday, April 16, Easter Sunday. I chose to start then because though that day isn’t super ordinary, it is a special day in my life. I am a pastor after all. Plus, my family is the center of my life. I may go weeks without seeing my sister and her family but they are important to me and part of my life story. I wanted to document that particular family time.

Also, this is likely the last Easter with my Grandmother. Her transition to eternal life has been the focus of our family for a while now and a focus in my life. I may not see her every day but I talk to Mom about how Grandma’s doing sometimes in the week. And she’s in my daily prayers. I wanted to capture these last moments I have with her.

This week after Easter is super busy and a bit out of the ordinary. But whatever. I wanted to capture it.

My schedule changes daily sometimes. Meetings pop up, plans to meet friends for dinner come up. Last week as I prepared and planned for this week’s Week in the Life documenting, my calendar started to fill up. And you know what? That’s not unheard of so I’m rolling with it. It’s not unheard of for me to have a youth event on a Saturday night or book group or church meetings. Why not capture those sort of out-of-the-ordinary moments? Those moments make us who we are, they often define us. Why not capture and document them?

I started printing pictures this evening. I started laying out my book and figuring out what to do where. I’m using Dad’s professional like camera and I’m super excited. Bummed my little snap and shoot has issues but love the idea of playing with lens and angles. I feel so professional! LOL

Mondays are pretty blah since I’m usually home cleaning or resting. Today was about the same. I slept in and watched TV. I cleaned. But while I did this weekly routine I set the timer on the camera and took pictures. Pictures of me cleaning the bathroom, the sun on my plants in my window sill. Pictures of eating dinner and the outside of my apartment building.

I’ve spent most of the evening sorting pictures and printing. Realized I need ink for the printer and more photo paper, so I see a Target run tomorrow.

It’s interesting to be documenting the daily things I do each day or the sort of daily things I do every day. I look forward to taking a ton of pictures this week and documenting the things in my life – some I do daily and some I do occasionally.

But all make up my life story. It’s a story to be told and shared.

Like all of our stories.

 

 

 

Sabbath Monday: Palm Sunday & Start of Holy Week

Sunday was Palm Sunday. It’s the one day during Lent that the church is joyful with palm branches waving, ‘Hosanna’s’ ringing, talks of donkeys. The one day in an other wise dark season that there is a bit of light.

In church we waved palm branches and sang. The children and I paraded around the sanctuary.

I brought palms home to Mom, Grandma and my aunt. Grandma’s face lit up when I gave them to her. (I love seeing those moments of pure joy on her face, something I experienced as a child but really have embraced over the last few months.) And now my dining room table looks as if it has a tree growing from it because the rest of the palms I put into a vase on the table.

A great reminder of the beginning of Holy Week.

And the shadow that’s looming.

As Christians we know what’s to come later in the week.

Sunday the focus was on Jesus and his arrival into Jerusalem.

There was a meme going around Facebook with a picture of Jesus on a donkey and the title, “The party don’t start till I walk in,” a nod to Kesha’s song, Tik Tok, from a few years ago.

It’s true though: on Palm Sunday the party doesn’t start until Jesus walks in.

Pictures and movies I don’t think grasp the pure giganticness of that parade into Jerusalem. I’ve been to some pretty big parades in my life and nothing compares to what I envision that Palm Sunday thousands of years ago to be in my head.

First, Jerusalem was already swelling from the number of people in the city. The Feast of Passover brought Jews from all over to the city for worship and observance of Passover. Then add Jesus’ followers, who numbered (in my opinion) into the thousands as well. The Gospels tell us about the 12 Disciples and Mary Magdalene but I’m guessing Jesus had more followers than that after word spread about what he could do and what he was preaching.

Second, Rome was watching. The Pharisees and Sadducees, the Jewish priests, were watching. And, shocker, they weren’t happy. The crowds were getting out of hand. They were loud. Caiaphas (a Jewish high priest) sings it best in the musical, Jesus Christ Superstar:

“Tell the rabble to be quiet,
We anticipate a riot.
This common crowd,
Is much too loud.
Tell the mob who sing your song,
That they are fools and they are wrong.
They are a curse.
They should disperse.”

Later Jesus replies with a (rather pompous) reply about why wasting your breathe to calm them, there’s no point since the noise would continue even if everyone were still. I realized in the car yesterday that Jesus is referring to a Psalm that says even the stones and rocks sing praise to God. Or at least it seems like a Psalm.  And ok, maybe Jesus was a little full of himself. Maybe he was simply enjoying this moment, the good before the end. (Keep in mind, JC Superstar is an interpretation of Christ’s passion so…there you go.)

Thirdly, this grand entrance of Jesus was something a king or a Roman emperor would have, not some lowly Jew who claimed he was God. To prove he wasn’t a king (or at least not like a king – king, like Herod), Jesus came in on a donkey, not a horse. Kings would ride into towns on horses. Donkeys are small and ugly. Their nickname is ass – need I say more? Point made Jesus.

Finally, Palm Sunday kicks off a week of events – Holy Week:  the money changers in the Temple and angry Jesus flipping tables, the Last Supper, Jesus washing the feet of his Disciples, Judas’ betrayal, Peter’s denial, Jesus’ arrest and trial, and eventual crucifixion and resurrection. Some scholars suggest this didn’t take place in one week but over a few weeks. I’m not sure of that, not that those details disrupt my faith in anyway.

However, Palm Sunday sets in motion the shadow that’s been looming over Jesus’ head for three years, well his whole life actually. It’s almost as if Jesus’ ride into Jerusalem was a trap – the culprit who’s been causing trouble comes to the city where everyone is watching and now those officials have him and probable cause to arrest him.

I wonder sometimes: What was Jesus thinking as he walked with the crowds along those celebratory streets that day?

He had to have known, right? That by entering Jerusalem it meant the end to 33 years of life. He had to have known. I mean, he’s been preaching about the Spirit coming in his absence; he breaks bread and tells his friends that it’s his body, broken for them.

And yet, Jesus is seen praying in the garden, asking God to intervene and to do something, to take this burden away. Jesus’ humanness comes forward in the moment when his divine nature was sent to create a new covenant for the world.

Holy Week, the week of Christ’s Passion story.

It starts out with joy and celebration and ends with tears. Well, up until the stone is rolled away anyway.

It’s a week of raw emotion from the characters in the stories, in Jesus, in us the faithful believers. It’s the central week of our faith.

And it’s a week filled with Hope.

Stay hopeful this week, my friends. God is walking with us on this journey towards the cross and that empty tomb. Listen to the words of Christ and his story with open ears. Remember how the cross connects us with God and with each other. Remember the hope the cross brings – of life eternal, of a resurrected life.