Last week was Ash Wednesday and the beginning of Lent. I was in Florida and John was in Thailand when he wrote this in an email:
Can I let you in on a secret? I’m so much more a Christmas guy than an Easter person; I know it sounds sacrilegious, but I love THAT part of the story, cuz of the hope and the joy (and the presents)… And the absence of all that ‘sin talk’ and the beatings, trials abandonments and crosses.
There’s a little scene where the two unlikely heroes of the Lord of the Rings, Sam and Frodo, are hiding and near death, and Sam says, “Do you think think they’ll ever tell our adventure, Mr. Frodo?… ‘Maybe Sam, but this is the part where the children will say, skip this part, Dad, I don’t like this chapter.‘” I know how Frodo feels, on Ash Wednesday.
My response? Me too, me too, me too!
Lent is the part of the story that is ugly and messy and requires humility and self-examination and I’d really rather avoid both thank you very much. Continue reading
The expanse of the balcony looked totally empty as it should be until a movement far away caught my eye. A young woman with long blond hair had been sitting alone, her hair hiding her face. She got up and hurried out.
We have a Saturday night worship service at our church and because it is small, we close off the balcony. At the end of worship a few weeks ago I had to go up to talk to our tech people. This is when I spotted the balcony girl.
Clearly she wanted to see but not be seen. She wore both hope and grief like strong perfume that almost hovered around her in visible clouds. Continue reading
In Christ alone my hope is found, He is my light, my strength, my song; this Cornerstone, this solid Ground, firm through the fiercest drought and storm. What heights of love, what depths of peace, when fears are stilled, when strivings cease! My Comforter, my All in All, here in the love of Christ I stand.
Standing in worship, it felt like I was singing through gritted teeth.
The words were there, but not the heart.
I was having a toddler moment a few weeks ago – frustrated, confused and metaphorically crossing my arms, and stamping my foot with cries of “LORD! I. DON’T. GET. IT!!” Continue reading
Yay Weekend! I know these Friday posts are such a hodgepodge, but I hope you each find something to delight, inspire, or motivate you.
Some of you will be into the Super Bowl, some not, but I pray this weekend God will meet you and refresh you in ways that only He can.
First, a quote from my friend, Sharol Hayner. Her husband, and our friend, Steve, died just over a year ago.
As for us with my brother’s death, this has been a year of absorbing the reality of loss and trying to choose joy, and envision life again.
Sharol sent an update this past week which included this reflection. Her image has been one that has rolled around in my head all week. It is beautiful and hopeful and maybe as helpful to you as it’s been for me.
Grief is like living in a house with many rooms, each with a different name: sadness, anger, fear, celebration, remembering, joy, gratitude. A friend suggested that the key to abiding in this house is to leave the door to each room unlocked and even opened. I frequently visit these rooms and will occasionally get stuck in one of them. I’ve learned that I must keep the door open so that I can get out. This has been helpful when a room overwhelms me and I am tempted to lock the door from the outside and never enter or lock the door from the inside and never leave. I will always live in this house as it is God’s place for me. But the house itself isn’t named Grief. It is named Life. There will be new rooms in time. Gratefully, I don’t live there alone. God is always there, ready to meet me and walk with me into each room. Many of you are there with me as well.
Along those same lines…If everything in your life feels broken, this may be the song you need today.
Any I have to share my favorite picture of the week – Muslim girls waiting to fist-bump the president, taken after Obama gave a speech in Baltimore against anti-muslim rhetoric.
(AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
“There are voices who are constantly claiming you have to choose between your identities. … Do not believe them. … You fit in here. Right here. You’re right where you belong. You’re part of America, too…You’re not Muslim or American, you’re Muslim and American. And don’t grow cynical.”
On my nightstand…The Art of Memoir. You guys! Oh my goodness, this book! It has me obsessed. Each sentence feels like I need to chew it like a cow chewing her cud, squeezing every bit of flavor and nutrition out of it.
And there is so much there to absorb! It is fascinating whether you’re an aspiring writer or a reader. One of the reviewers wrote: “…Anyone yearning to write will be inspired, and anyone passionate to live an examined life will fall in love with language and literature all over again.”
Here’s a sample…
“That’s the quality I’ve found most consistently in those life-story writers I’ve met. Truth is not their enemy. It’s the bannister they grab of when feeling around on the dark cellar stairs…”
I took this book out of the library but it’s all I can do not to grab a pen and underline huge chunks of it!
Lastly…For those Super Bowl party goers or watchers...I tried this recipe recently (the easy version) and had people ask for the recipe so I thought I’d share it here as an option for a Super Bowl party this weekend. Enjoy!
Super Bowl Sunday Hot Corn Dip Recipe
So there are two ways to do this – the easy way is by using this or any similar corn salsa you like:
If you use a bottled corn salsa just skip down to the mayo part 🙂
You really can totally play with this, but here’s the “real” recipe:
2 TB butter
3 1/2 cups corn kernels (can use corn from 4 ears of white or yellow corn or use canned mixture)
1/2 ts. salt
1 cup finely chopped yellow onions
1/2 cup finely chopped red bell peppers
1/2 cup chopped green onions (green and white parts)
1 jalapeño seeded and minced (I’d omit)
1 tsp minced garlic (I’d use more)
1 cup mayonnaise
1 cup (4 oz) Monterey Jack cheese, shredded
1 cup (4 oz.) Sharp cheddar cheese shredded
Tortilla scoops or Frito scoops for dipping
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Melt 1 TB butter in leg heavy skillet over medium-high heat. Add corn, salt and pepper. Cook stirring occasionally, until golden brown, about 5 min. Transfer to bowl
Melt remaining TB of butter in the skillet. Add the yellow onions and bell peppers and cook, stirring occasionally, until the onions are wilted, about 2 minutes. Add the green onions, jalapeño and garlic and cook, stirring for 2 minutes, or until veggies are softened.
Transfer to the bowl with corn.
Add mayo and 1/2 of Monterey Jack cheese and 1/2 of Cheddar cheese, mixing well.
Pour into 8 inch square baking dish (or whatever).
Sprinkle with remaining cheese.
Bake until bubbly and golden brown – 10-12 minutes.
Yield: 6 cups of dip. 12-18 servings.
That’s it for me. What has been delighting, inspiring, or motivating you this week?
“Adventurously expectant” is my “one” word for 2016. As I sit here in my pajamas I don’t look or feel it.
I wrote earlier that this year I am going putting some practices into my life to help me pay better attention to what God might want to teach me through this “one word”.
One practice is looking at places in Scripture where these words are fleshed out. Peter is certainly one I think of as “adventurously expectant”. i can’t picture him sitting around in his pajamas, so I decided to look at one of his “moments”.
When I look at a passage, I always try to look for (at least) 2 things:Continue reading
Today you start your new job – a big, important change-the-world job, and we’re so proud of you!
I know your kindness and competence will win the day, but I also know that as you carefully choose your professional outfit this morning, the “hyper-responsible you” will be worried.
You know there will be days when you mess up, or there’s a misunderstanding, or you have to say hard words, or ask forgiveness in your job, just like in all of life.
And you may feel like you did when you were 5 years old and wrote this sign, taping it to your bedroom door.
“Do not come in! P.S. I will be under the covers.”
I think what you meant (what all of us often mean) is: Continue reading
This is the time of year when the weather just starts getting…well, old. Gray seems grayer and soot seems sootier.
January 29th is about the date when it’s crucial to recount all the things we’re thankful for: Downton Abbey, a warm fire, the beauty of a fresh coat of snow, and the fact that it can’t last forever.
We “do” winter here in Minnesota, but this month I’ve been stuck inside healing from some minor knee surgery instead of cross-country skiing, so this weekend I’m focusing on resources that have delighted or inspired me that can be done indoors. I’d love to hear your ideas in the comments! Continue reading
One of my favorite times is in the hours before guests arrive at our front door and shed their hats and boots.
Some are nervously wary, like deer in the woods, others eagerly expectant, diving into hugs and conversation like happy golden retrievers.
Before they arrive, I love the prep, the anticipation – the chopping of veggies and lighting of candles, the prayer that each person would feel our delight in them, the strategy considering flow and food.
Hospitality is a gift I relish. I love connecting people around a table with thoughtful questions and laughter and meaningful conversation.
But whether the idea of opening your home makes you want to do a jig, or curl up in a fetal ball and hide, it’s still a spiritual practice.
We practice inviting because Jesus invites us.
As we include and gather and host, we mirror the image of God in us, welcoming all around His table.
Recently at a prayer gathering, we did this exercise. Continue reading
Years ago I had a dream I believed was from God. There was a quiet Holy Spirit whisper.
I trusted Him (I thought).
I worked hard. I asked the right questions. I got the right permissions.
I was affirmed for my gifts in the area of my dream. I won awards.
And then, painfully, my dream was demolished by a series of choices outside my control.
A friend said it was like I walked out into an intersection I had been told was safe and was run over by a mack truck being driven by people I trusted.
I waited expectantly for God to swoop in and fix everything.
But God was silent.
He didn’t right the wrongs. He didn’t correct the injustices. I was left with the death of illusions, trust, and my dream.
Jesus lingered “somewhere else” and didn’t show up in time.
I think all of us have times when God has seemed inattentive, uncooperative, or late. What do we do when Jesus doesn’t show up and something dies?Continue reading
Some weeks are just so…weekly aren’t they? I hope something from this post today will lift your spirits, inspire, or encourage you. Have a great weekend! Continue reading
