CHOOSE: WACKY WEDNESDAY

This was an easy choice as "my" Molly needed me to accompany Owen to today's "Wacky Wednesday" event at the Brooks Museum.

So....I've decided to look for God there---as Jenna Fergus taught us. Look for God everywhere, even in an art museum. (Job 34:21)

I'm headed out, having asked God for direction and will  report later on what I "see."
I'm back!
I thought God would have me use my "sense of seeing" in order to clearly see Him in works of art.
But God......impressed me with two "life lessons" using my sense of smell and sense of hearing. WOW, GOD!
As we approached our destination from the backside, a new direction, we stopped to smell the roses. Not knockout roses, which are pretty to look at but without even the barest scent of a rose.
Roses. Fragrant roses.

Roses along our journey to see museum art, which emphasized the sweet-smelling "life lesson" that goal-oriented, destination-bound folks need to enjoy the journey along the way.
As the old adage says, "Stop and smell the roses!"Which is exactly what Owen did.

The 2nd lesson was auditory and was gleaned from the voice of a school teacher who simply said, art classes are more than teaching painting or drawing.

"Art is teaching people to see."  

Wacky Wednesday---what a sensory experience, even beyond the visual!

Do you Wanna Dance???

Wait ----I always wanna dance! I need to DA.N.C.E.----but I've lost my groove!
I'm not talking here of grooving to MoTown music. At the first strains of The Temptations, my toes start to tapping.
I'm talking "groove" as a noun---an established routine!

When I encounter struggles in health---mental or physical or "hurts" of the emotional sort, I practice turning to the Lord for understanding. That's the norm---the groove.
Lately, I seem to have turned to every "other" remedy including denial, i.e. "putting my head under the pillow" or busyness to take my mind off the problem. I need to D.A.N.C.E.
Discover what God's word says about the situation.
Accept where you are in the midst of it & ASK for His help.
Notice God's Hand in it.
Celebrate moments of victory, no matter how small.
Extend to another what you have learned in the midst of the struggle/life lesson.

Do you Wanna Dance??? I do!
I'm going to choose to D.A.N.C.E.

3 FUNERALS IN 3 DAYS

Life lessons can be learned anywhere, even in the midst of death!
Many different lessons I learned as I attended 3 funeral events, three days straight. Some lessons varied.
However, the one constant, in the lives honored, was  that of a godly life well lived.
A spiritual heritage!
Having heard eulogies and commendations from family members of the deceased, I understood their true legacy. Not just an "inheritance," which more often than not, is equated in financial terms.

I couldn't tell you anything about those "inheritances" they left to others, but I clearly saw the legacy their lives had imparted to each of their loved ones.

They hid God's word & deeds of faithfulness in their hearts and then shared them throughout their lives. That's the legacy they left, each in his own way.

We will not hide them from their descendants; we will tell the next generation the praiseworthy deeds of the LORD, his power, and the wonders he has done. (Psalm 78:4)

Their faithfulness has endured to all generations----at least their "generations" I have met and known. (Psalm 119:90; Psalm 145:4)

They left a legacy. So what's the one BIG life lesson from the 3 funerals?

One must a have a legacy in order to leave a legacy!

Life's Puzzles

I can't even do a 48 piece puzzle without help from a 4 yr. old. My defense is....it was double sided so I never quite had a clear picture.

Today my journal work on "pleasing God" included an anagram search on the word, "please." One that caught my attention was palese---which is Italian for obvious or clear.

Certainly many life lessons are not always clear to me, especially as I age. Most of the time they only become obvious when I'm looking in my rear view----then I see that God's hand was in it all along. It's that double sided-view that confuses me.

I've always heard that God's view is from the top-side of the tapestry of our life. We just see all the strings and undone pieces as we view it from the underside.

It should be "clearly obvious" to me by now----when I please God, my life lessons whether they look-like or feel-like blessings....or if they are just plain painful---all of those puzzles, even the unsolved ones, are for my benefit. 

"Op-TEA-mistic" View of Growth

I form light and create darkness, I make well-being and create calamity, I am the Lord, who does all these things. (Isaiah 45:7,)

I could easily blog on lessons learned, or needed to be learned, by one who gardens with a brown thumb. But this entry is looking for the bright side of darkness. This entry is about the darkness that provides growth. A bit of darkness is required by some plants in order to flourish. The same could be said of the similarities found in the spiritual world. Often are biggest life lessons are learned in seasons of darkness.

Due to 35 years of tree growth since we first moved into our home, we have limited sunshine in our yard. Thus, the need for flowers that can actually grow in the dark corners of my beds.

Even last night's reading in 2 Timothy reminded me of the lessons the apostle Paul learned and shared from the darkness of a dark and dingy Roman prison. Yet, thousands of years later, those lessons speak to my heart as I prepare to teach on "seasons." Seasons of life, even those which include times of darkness and solitude.

Darkness in both life and a flower bed are ordained by our creator. My Lenten rose plant was a gift from Mimi and has proven both drought resistant and shade tolerant. Plus, it's a perennial! Even my coral bells (heychera) need the darkness provided by shade due to heat of Memphis summers. Sometimes shade can offer relief from the "heat" of life's circumstances as well as the outside temperature, which can exacerbate problems, both physical and spiritual. 

I think I'll put an ice cube in my "op-TEA-mistic" cuppa while I ponder more of the positive lessons that I can learn about darkness.

SUFFERING....interrupting my plans

12/11/12 Suffering that's physical, but temporary---so what's the BIG deal, Dotsy? Too tired and weak to get out of bed. Too miserable to sleep.  Fever. Chills. Head ache. Sore throat. Cough. Yet, I know that in the scheme of things, my malady is minor.  But… right now it feels like MINOR in all caps! It’s interrupting my plans. Plans to be with friends in celebration and plans to be with other friends in the midst of their suffering. “Worthy plans,”are they not?

I have just had a fun, refreshing Austin, TX, trip with chums---it's our 23rd annual, and that was followed by a glorious visit to Doris' farm, not a sweeter place on earth for soul restoration. So, truly I should have NO complaints. Get over yourself, Dots!

One of my blog readers has chronic, severe headaches and she continues to find God's grace in every aspect of her 3-year search for answers.  This year I even had the privilege of transporting a “spiritual giant” to chemo and I NEVER hear her complain though I'm sure chemo was not originally her plan.

Another dear friend just emailed encouraging words because she, too, is now going to have the privilege of being there for a neighbor/friend as she starts her chemo journey. She’s where I want to be once again. Tonight I learned that sweet J.H.’s lymph node results were not what we had all hoped for. We had prayed “God’s best” for her. So….this must be part of His plan. But….my plan is to be there for her. His plan is that I will wait until I am healthy. I just need to trust His plan.

In fellow cancer sojourner, Michèle Phoenix’s, song, “You Are” (about her MAC cancer journey) she wrote,

"That this journey I follow with its joy and its sorrow,

is a gift I embrace 'cause it flows from Your grace.

I will trust in Your goodness in my season of weakness 

'cause it is what it is---but I know that You are who You are!"

 I have learned these last few years that it is in the classroom of suffering, (whether spiritual or physical---with ranges from minor to terminal), that the Lord teaches us life lessons. Lessons that build trust. Trust in Him, not self.

We're not doubting that God will do the best for us, we're wondering how painful the best will turn out to be. -CS Lewis

So, my plan tonight, in my semi-drug-induced state, is to head to bed with Romans 12:12 in my heart and on my lips and to pray for the aforementioned folks in the midst of their “hard place,” that they might be “joyful in hope, patient in affliction and fervent in prayer.” Maybe I need to add myself to that plan!

INTERRUPTIONS.....

8/23/12…..by any other name is still disruptive.                                                  Consequences can follow.

Grandson Owen has been having a few transition difficulties into his kindergarten world---of listening, in particular. A very verbal, only child. A child in a world of adults who listen to him. A wonderful creative wordsmith, if you ask me.

 

A few weeks ago he explained the works of a volcano “erumption” to his mother. It included the description of the hot lava overflow that exploded and streamed forth after said “erumption.”

Earlier this week, Owen’s response to his mom’s, “How was your day?” was “I pulled three clips (warnings) and THEN I lost my Bumblebee from the hive.” (separation from the group is the consequence)

“What did you do to lose your clips?” Mom asked.

“I “erumpted” 3 times---2 times during circle time and  1 time during story. Then I had to sit out during recess."

Separated & only "watching" friends play

What life lessons can be learned in a kindergarten class. 

 This week’s interruptions were "erumptions" in Owen’s words---phonetically interruptions and eruptions all run together for him. And yet it was his inability to hold back that caused him to explode (erumpt) with his “important to him words”----thus interrupting (erumpting) the group, who did not see his words or excuses as more important than the teaching. Result separation from the group. 

Quiet time this morning had me “erumpting” God by rationalizing a truth about myself that I really did not want to face.

That, my friends, is an “erumption” of the highest order.

Separation from God can be the result---until it is confessed and dealt with---thus this blog.

Erumpting no more.

TWO-WAY PRAYERS

8/2/12 For an unfamiliar town with lots of one-way streets, it’s nice to see “two-way traffic” signage. Trip to Upper Peninsula thus far; Nashville, TN, Louisville, KY, Columbus, IN (adorable) and Nashville, IN.

Life lesson learned. Intercessory prayer travels well. You can just pack it up and take it with you. Added benefit---it’s two-way. I took my prayers for others and I am traveling with others’ prayers for me.” Two-way prayers”. Has a nice ring to it doesn’t it!!

Reckoning of Life Lessons…..

8/6/11 …….from the two most important men in my life.

The summer before I left my small town for college, my Daddy took just me to dinner in “big” Nashville. He shared two important revelations with me. The first was that meat did not have to be eaten well, well, well, well-done---think charred. He never criticized Mother; he merely advised me that there was such a thing as medium rare. He ordered me prime rib medium rare and I was hooked. Neither of us ever discussed that part of my education with Mother. At home we continued to eat beef that was very gray when you cut into it and thanked her graciously for cooking out all the e-coli or whatever the bacteria of the month was that we were avoiding.

The second revelation was a matter of linguistics. “I suppose so” was a more “educated” way to respond to questions he informed me. As opposed to “I reckon,” which never quite sounded even that formal when spoken by most folks in Hoptown.

Last week at the beach I struggled with the steep steps to the boardwalk that led over the dunes to the beach house----usually with a child in tow. A seemingly difficult task for all “mature” adults. Hubby revealed a secret to me. Don’t look up he said. (That view was pretty daunting.) Just focus on one step at a time. If you look back you can lose your balance and if you look forward too much (way up) you can actually get dizzy. Boy was he right about that! Looking up overwhelmed me---I feared the worse especially, when John Parker was on my hip. As the week went by I realized that those steep steps were a metaphor for life---take them one step at a time.

These are life lessons which I have taken to heart. I eat my premium beef medium rare and enjoy every bite. I use “I suppose” when appropriate and these days I’m taking life one step at a time.

I “reckon” I’ll never forget any of these lessons. I suppose that deep down, I’m still a “reckoning” kind of gal. Dontcha reckon?

No. 2

11/9/10 The ubiquitous yellow No. 2. These pencils continue to be a standard in education. At the high school level, their main purpose seems to be in the test-taking realm. TCAP, ACT and other standardized tests require them. Exams and end of course tests that are scored using Scantrons still use them---maybe because the softer lead/graphite makes erasure easier.

Just yesterday, Tootsie sent me an e-mail with pencil art. I didn’t see any author so I can’t give credit but some really sharp pencil points were given. (Just had to throw that in because y’all know how I love my pencil points to be extra sharp!) Read and determine for yourself the spiritual implications of the analogy.

5 Important lessons for Pencils of Purpose

1. REMEMBER, EVERYTHING YOU DO WILL LEAVE A MARK.
2. YOU CAN ALWAYS CORRECT THE MISTAKES YOU MAKE .
3. WHAT’S IMPORTANT IS WHAT IS INSIDE OF YOU.

4. IN LIFE, YOU WILL UNDERGO PAINFUL SHARPENINGS, WHICH WILL ONLY MAKE YOU BETTER.
5. TO BE THE BEST PENCIL, YOU MUST ALLOW YOURSELF TO BE HELD AND GUIDED BY THE HAND THAT HOLDS YOU.

As most of my readers know, I am constantly sharpening pencils, especially in times of stress. It’s just so therapeutic for me. However, I need to cease striving and like the good ole No. 2, allow the Hand that guides my life to hold me and use me for His purpose.

Mo Lips---

3/7/10 ….no “mo” lips’ stories. I’ve learned my lesson.
Have you ever made a serious sensitivity faux pas? Recently Larry and I (under duress) had our picture made for the church directory. It was relatively painless except Larry said I needed to relax so I wouldn’t look constipated. You get the idea of the trauma I was under.

After our couple pose, the photographer wanted to do a single shot of me. I, (with my"cancer mouth" surgery scars) less than graciously, declined.  To make matters worse, we then went back out to the “holding” area to wait a turn to preview the pix. I and my big mouth (1/2 of it is big, anyway) preceded to announce that I declined to take the individual shot. “Why would anyone want a single picture of this old lady?” I asked in a somewhat deprecating manner. I guess I could use it as a coffin picture I jokingly said. Then I looked across the aisle at a precious, godly widow who no longer had someone to join her in her photo. I wanted to crawl under the chair. Where was my sensitivity? This world doesn’t revolve around my face and my surgeries---a mind’s eye photo of self-preoccupation loomed large and ugly.

That emotional shock really came home to me last week as I received the 8x10 picture in the mail. (At first, it loomed large and ugly to me.) I even saw Larry wince as he looked at it. But, it’s not about my semi-incorrectly aligned mouth any more. It’s about gratitude. I’m grateful that I don’t need a coffin picture yet. I’m grateful that God forgave my insensitivity faux pas. I’m grateful for life lessons taught by a loving God and embraced by a forgiving widow.

Thankful Thursday

1/29/09

---one year I had to do all 365 days focusing on thankfulness---it became my gratitude journal---I never missed a day but some days I had to scratch/choose to see events as thanksgiving---it became lots easier, the more I practiced---that was a life lesson for me. "In every thing, give thanks."

Yesterday's entry seemed to be full of run-on sentences of mental meanderings. My stream of consciousness tangle/jumble was hard to untangle even for my hubby and he's lived with this confused brain for almost 40 years.

Even during early hour prayers this morning, I found my thoughts would wander. But…..the answer was in Jesus Calling----Keep your focus on Me. When your mind wanders, "Bring every thought captive," (2 Corin. 10:5) In My light anxious thoughts shrink…….. confused ideas are untangled.

I began with focusing on the Lord through song---thinking, " I just need a hymnal." Well, searching on the bottom shelf of the lawyers cabinet that had been my grandmother's, I found a Cokesbury Hymnal, copyright 1923. It cost 30¢. So, the Lord and I had a songfest and my heart began to overflow with gratitude.

When I sang, It is Well With my Soul with tears starting to flow, I knew that even in this challenge, my soul is well, He Keeps Me Singing as I Go---was the hymn reminder that kept me singing/thanking Him all day:

1. …while waiting for the doc phone call that never came.

2. …while celebrating with friends at Houston High*

3. …while talking to myriads of people who care

4. …while hugging a dear friend. IC, whom I had to track down

5. …while calmly responding to my father-in-law's fears about his surgery tomorrow---though my heart ached for him

*UTrust came to school to film the school nurse and the HHS Café ladies, based on a story I had written about them. I was the author, but they were the inspiration---it was their story, I just told it so others would know how each of them make a difference in the lives of so many of us---and they do it because they care. The nurse has already showered me with flowers and hugs and I left the cafeteria today laden with my favorite soup and BUTTER COOKIES!!!! That shoud be #6---b/c I'm thankful for such a big stash.

Things change with a call and before I could even post these earlier comments, I had another BIG reason to say Thank you, Lord! I had an entire chapel to myself, to kneel before the Lord I love and beg for extra measures of mercy and grace for a family I love as my own.