Diversi—TEA

10/28/10 As I set my tea cup on the counter this morning, it was reflected in my framed birthday card from Ashley B.
There is probably no one more diverse in my life than my dear friend, Ashley Bryan. Ashley doesn’t “talk the talk,” Ashley “walks the walk” and is without a doubt one of the kindest folks I have ever known.
So why the diversi—TEA nomenclature? We differ in gender--he’s a he. We differ in age. We're a generation apart. During WWII, before I was even born, he kept a sketch pad in his gas mask. We differ in race. His African roots come by way of Harlem & an Antigua ancestry. We differ in culture---even his home today is on a small island and his passion is preserving the folktales and spirituals of his roots. We differ in experience---his would take pages to list, mine not so much. We differ in distinction. He’s recognized in the art world and literary world with national and international awards under his belt---numerous Coretta Scott King awards, the 2009 Laura Ingalls Wilder medal from ALA for for substantial and lasting contributions to children's literature. In 2008 Ashley was recognized with S. Rushdie, E. Albee, and Nora Ephron as an NYC Literary Lion.

Ashley is all the above and so much more and yet he has been my friend regardless of the differences. One of his book inscriptions reads, "we be family." Together we embrace diversity.

For Molly’s 21st birthday he invited us to Isleford to steam fresh lobster. (her favorite food) He showed her his stained glass works of the 4 apostles made from sea glass & helped her make papier-mâché. He’s met Larry and stayed in our home. He met son, Buddy when he was in Dallas for the opening of the African American Art Museum. He met son, Josh when he was accepting the Society of American Illustrators lifetime achievement award in New York City. He meets up with me at literary conferences and introduces me to the “biggies,” somewhat oblivious that he is a biggie himself. Together we celebrate diversity.

A picture graces my wall that he painted because it “sang out to him of Dotsy.” If you ever check Ashley out on wikipedia, you’ll see him standing in front of a similar work. When he couldn’t make it to Dallas during my October ’09 surgery, he wrote a letter explaining the change. Later he called to check on me. That, my friends, is diversity at it’s finest.

It is truth practiced in love and should be the “color of our spiritual life” regardless of the color of our skin. Abounding love approves those things which are excellent and glorify the God we serve. (Philippians 1: 9-11)

Thanks Ashley for living out those lessons of diversi—TEA for me.

Divinit---TEA

10/27/10 If you want to taste and see that the Lord is good, (Psalm 34:7) this is the "tea" for you. Just look around you.

Though it's been almost 2 years since I began my cancer journey with MAC, it was exactly 1 year ago today that I embarked on what was to be my final surgery. Technically I had 5 surgeries prior to this, not counting biopsies, but it was not Dr. Ha's desire for this to be the last one. He felt that I needed 2 more to complete the reconstruction of my face so that he and I would both be more pleased with the symmetry.

Some of those events still stand out but the ones that stand out the most are the “but God….events” (Ephesians 2:4) those where God in His goodness and mercy clearly showed me His hand in my life. That’s why I continue to record each day the “Seeing God’s Hand” events on my blog.

As my life after the BIG cancer events returned more to a normal routine, I didn’t want to over look the divine. I wanted my world to still be filled with Him, the divine One……….to continue to see divinity everywhere, even in the daily events. Events so filled with God as to spur me to thanksgiving and worship. Events as simple as sitting in newly painted red Adirondacks, sipping a cup of tea* and watching the leaves fall on my patio.

*Basic chai, a strongly brewed black tea diluted with milk & traditionally consumed hot and sweet, is the perfect tea for such a divine event. Thus, Divini---TEA!

Royal--TEA

10/25/10 Fortnum & Mason’s Royal Blend is an appropriate “cuppa” choice for a child of the king. It’s also one of my favorites. However, according to my somewhat faded notes of July 2, 2003, my “cuppa” was somewhat weak---1 tea bag with 8 oz. water and 1 ½ t. sugar (nowadays I use more sugar & less milk) and 2 T of milk didn’t cut it. (I don’t use cream or half-and-half because it tends to mask the tea flavor.) Needed more umph. At 7:15, following my quiet time, I took a second cup brewed w/ F & M loose tea to the patio along with the food section of the Wednesday Commercial Appeal and found the stronger taste more to my liking, even though it was already 73° outside. Plus, I carried with me the teaching of scripture for the rest of the day.

I did feel like royalty that morning. Summer schedules have a way of doing that for teachers. I had time for a “cuppa” with my Father, the King of Kings---that’s really royal—TEA.

I will be a Father to you, and you will be my sons and daughters, says the Lord Almighty. (2 Corinthians 6:18)

Live like royalty today. Take this scripture or the scripture of your choice with you throughout the day.

Spirituali---TEA
10/24/10 In the summer of 2003, I had an idea to begin a “Tea with Thee” devotional time. I would record the teas I chose each day and rate them alongside the spiritual life lessons I gained during my quiet times. In was a documentation of my own little ”Tea Road.” I don’t think I completed my 30-day goal but I did discover things---both about my aromatic beverage of choice and the Lord I worshipped.

Paired with recent notes from a recent ABC sermon, I have 3 things noted. I like my tea---steeped from tea leaves for a “maturi--TEA” flavor---part of that deep flavor comes from the leaves themselves (inherent) and part from my preparation of it---what I do with the tea I am given. That’s the tea test.

Spiritual maturity is a lot like that too. However, the test for spiritual maturity isn’t an IQ test, though “lack of Bible knowledge is no virtue.” The real test is more of a heart test, a spiritual EKG of sorts. (Buddy, 9/26/10) It’s what we do with what we know. It overflows with love to the Lord, to neighbors (others) and to those in the household of faith.

My “cuppa’s” perfect blend is rich in color and taste. Spirituali--TEA also has a depth of color---a color rich in diversity as it reflects the Lord’s love to the world.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity! (Psalm 133:1)

HHH

10/21/10 H.H.H. are the initials of a precious 8 yr. old girl from Allen Bible church. 3 weeks ago she was fine 'til she had a bad stomach ache.
Synopsis:
Tweets begin. TESTS. Waiting. MRI. Very rare cancer. Waiting. Bilirubin up. Meds given. Waiting. Meds don''t work. Fewer tweets, more prayers. Prayers for younger brother, Jacob. Surgery for stent to drain fluids. Waiting. Lung collapses. Waiting. Lung improves. Family at hospital day & night. Waiting. Consult with liver transplant team. Waiting. Another MRI needed. MRI postponed. Waiting. MRI completed. Results due in hours. The longest waiting begins.

Recent tweets with prayer requests:

• Healing of her Liver & for Hannah's emotions & spirit to remain positive, calm, upbeat & to know she is loved!
• Bilirubin to come down so they can treat the cancer!
• MRI & Xrays to show improvements not regression!
  
• A liver transplant after determining that the cancer has not spread is the only earthly possibility for Hannah's survival!
  
• Thursday is HUGE in our daughter's life for sure, but AGAIN, our hope is in the Lord & to Glorify God even if they come back & say NO!
  
• Give us Hope Lord! Purify our Hearts Jesus to be more like you!
  
• We believe that you are the Christ & our Savior & your ways are perfect!
  
• Everyone who reads this Tweet, we need your prayers more than ever for our sweet little Hannah!

Please join me throughout the day in praying God's best for Hannah Hasslen.

The effectual fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much. (James 5:16)
May the we pray for the Hasslens to "be joyful in hope, patient in affliction and fervent in prayer." (Romans 12:12)

To God be the Glory!

SIGNPOSTS

10/18/20 Morning walks in the mountains provided much needed signposts along the way. The crossroads were clearly marked. We would just decide the path we desired and head in that direction. Sometimes we veered from the designated path because something deeper in the woods intrigued us. Other paths were not as clearly marked or maybe we just missed them because we weren’t paying attention to the way, but were just deep in our own thoughts or conversations.

We carried with us a big map but we still found the signposts very helpful in order to stay on the right path. We also discovered that when you’re in unfamiliar territory, you can’t trust your own sense of direction. Some signed warnings were very legit---keeping us from needlessly stumbling over obstacles (or falling into the lake) along the way.

What did we learn on those morning walks? Heed the signposts. Though difficulty might mark the path, the people who established them know the way much better than we do. Such is life on earth.
Such is life in the spiritual realm as well---following the path the Lord has shown throughout the ages is the good way. It behooves us to walk in it. Will we choose His path or will we be stiff-necked and choose our own path as did the people of Judah in Jeremiah’s day?

This is what the LORD says: 

"Stand at the crossroads and look; 

ask for the ancient paths, 

ask where the good way is, and walk in it, 

and you will find rest for your souls. 

But you said, 'We will not walk in it. (Jeremiah 6:16)

KEYS

10/17/10 Key---the word can be the part of speech of choice and has many definitions along with a host of adages & proverbs concerning the aforementioned word.
Personally, keys are the “implements” I misplace quite often. In literature, the “key” to a good mystery is plausible red herrings. The key to meaningful conversation is being a good listener. In relationships, a good friend is a key to sanity in an insane world. In a marriage, women are taught that the “key” to a man’s heart is through his stomach. Shoppers like to key in on a good bargain. Okay, enough of keying in all these inane ideas.
Yesterday’s My Utmost for His Highest entry, “The Key to the Masters Orders,” gave key insights to the spiritual aspects of life. The key (noun) to all of life is in the hand of God. It’s not the work of man. It’s not the key of common sense, nor the medical key, nor the education key. The key is prayer.* As Oswald Chambers states, “prayer is not practical, prayer is absurd.” Prayer from the ordinary, common-sense view seems ridiculous…..but prayer is the key to the spiritual realm.
Did you kneel in prayer today? If you did, did you pray for others in the world?

1Thessalonians 5:17 …pray continually (NIV)
1Thessalonians 5:25 Brothers pray for us. (NIV

*After I had written this blog, I went 2 miles down a curvy mountain road to attend the small Joplin United Methodist Church. The pastor, who is the oldest recipient of a double lung transplant, gave testimony to the importance of prayer. From Luke 18: 1-9, he taught that persistence is one of the key (adjective) aspects of one’s prayer life.

All believers need to key in (verb) on this fact.

Mount Ida

10/16/10 Reflections from a “little cabin in the woods”……and actually at one point, a “little man at the window stood”….and scared the buhgeebers out of me. In my panic, I even thought he had a gun. Ever the faithful friend, JoLynn went to the deck door to check it out. It was just the man to “clean” the hot tub----which I would have known, if I had read our “instructions.” I’m always telling students, “reading opens up a world of opportunities and information.” Hm-m-m. Think I need to practice what I teach!
That old girl scout song goes on to tell of little a little rabbit running by. Though we didn’t see rabbits, we saw lots of other fauna and flora. All a miracle of creation. Land that produced vegetation and trees bearing fruit. (Gen. 1:12) We saw waters that teemed with swarms of living creatures. (Gen. 1:20) Even when we couldn’t see the creatures themselves, rippling water told us when they were “schooling” past. Raucous “birds flying above the earth” (Gen. 1:20) and smaller songbirds nesting in the nearby trees were all part of our environs. The glory of God’s creation!
All around us on our daily hikes was more evidence of His creation. (and God saw that it was good, Gen. 1:12) From beauty berry bushes to white-tailed deer. It was good for us as well.
You don’t have to be in a cabin in the mountains with friends to appreciate God’s creation. Nature is all around us when we have eyes to see. It’s seeing the Creator in the creation that is the marvel----whether in Mt. Ida, AR or in one’s own backyard. Enjoy the scenery!

Trus--TEA

10/15/10 The Lord is my Trust. Does that make me a trustee? I needed to mull this over as I sipped my morning cuppa---Twinings English Breakfast tea, loose preferred.

Several things came to mind: Is He really my Trust? Does my life show it? What exactly is a trustee anyway?

When I put my trust in the Lord, I became His. He became mine. He was, and is, and will always be my Trust. Others in my life should see this. That’s where the trustee part comes in.

• A trustee……carries out the expressed terms (in His word) of the Trust instrument. (God Himself)
• A trustee……is loyal to the Trust.
• A trustee……defends the Trust.

As a trustee blessed with assets and advantages, I need to live well these privileges and administer them for another’s benefit. There are lots of “others” in my life that would benefit from fully knowing my Trust. My prayer today is that others would benefit from seeing me trust in the only One who is trustworthy. I am grateful to be his trustee.

O for grace to trust Him more! ( “ ‘Tis so sweet”)

When we walk with the Lord in the light of His Word,
What a glory He sheds on our way!
While we do His good will, He abides with us still,
And with all who will trust and obey. (“Trust and Obey”)

O LORD Almighty, blessed is the man who trusts in you. (Psalm 84:12)

Identi-TEA

10/14/10 Fumbling to put on my tattered I.D. badge, I realized that this ”documentation” had identified me as an SCS educator for 20 years---when the system instituted this form of tracking. To date, I’ve never had my barcode scanned but I diligently keep up with it because to lose this identity is “costly.”

My passport has identified me as a traveler since 1967---loved “collecting” those various country entry and exit stamps. My red password’s folder identifies me as a “user” for lots of different on-line services. Sometimes further ID such as my mother’s maiden name, my childhood pet, my high school team mascot, my maid of honor’s first name, etc. is required. My blog entries identify me a dancer, a reader and a tea drinker.

Yet, these are not the sum total of who I am. Whose I am is of final import. This significance is my true identity. He has not only given believers the right to become children of God (John 1: 12 but He also knows our name. (without an ID badge)

He calls his own sheep by name…. (John 10: 3)
I plan to savor my identi--TEA with a “cuppa”----Lyons Gold Blend---as I begin my day with Him because that’s the identity that counts for eternity.