Welcome to our world

Every year I want to see it fresh.
Every year something new does seem to stand out.

Okay, so it's not new... I'm just thankful that He came into our world, into our lives, my life, the way it actually is. He is King, walking in the dirt among common people. He honours lowly shepherds...the only ones that get a birth announcement at all (well...except for the star and the wisemen). He makes a huge sacrifice, without ever making a big deal of the sacrifice. You never hear Him say, "Don't you know what I left behind for you?" Nope, He wasn't at all focussed on His lot. He could handle the crap, the sin, and not turn away. He's the only one who really does enter the mess of our lives and offer to be "with us" in it all.

My world...just the way it is. He's willing to come, join in, be a part. I want Him to, but I'm kind of embarassed about ... so many things. And yet He comes.

Welcome to our world... Jesus. Welcome to our world.

*Thoughts crystalized after listening to "Welcome to Our World" (song by Chris Rice, sung by Michael W. Smith) last week.

Tis the season

For a Friend, Away from Home at Christmas
(written Christmas 2005)

In all the hub-bub
--the trees, the gifts, the cards, the busyness
even in “Charlie Brown’s Christmas”
(trying to discern Linus’ message from the tree)
we keep trying to regain
that sense
what it was really like
what it was really about
that first Christmas

Yet somehow
in trying to explain
to others
where they have misunderstood
I wonder if
once again
we overlook our own omissions

And so I want to know
about one other
this idea
that is never questioned
along with the others
but perhaps it should be

From where did it come
this idea
that we need to be
“home for Christmas”

When did the season
with its sparkle and snow
become a time to seek
comforts
and community
those who know us best
and love us most

It was not like that
at the start
the first Christmas
a couple travelling
Mary—no Elizabeth to help her birth the child
Wise men, sent wandering
after a star

And the babe
as far as could be
from his Father’s embrace
in pursuit of something bigger and better
(though it looked so small
just a baby in manger)

And you dear friend
though bitter, may it also be sweet
this Christmas
so far from home
in pursuit of something bigger and better
(though it looks so small
just hanging out with kids)

this barrenness
this desolate
is a little closer
tastes a lot like

the
first
Christmas

May your Christmas, and mine, be blessed will all that was real and true about that first Christmas. If we get to be warm and cosy with those we love, thank Father for the extra blessings. If the season is a struggle, and hard. If there is sacrifice, and joy through travel, pain, tears and sacrifice, then maybe (only ‘maybe,’ not guaranteed) we’re getting closer to what it was really about. In any case, follow the star, to the Baby, and learn from Him how to live the season all over again.

How Can I Stop from Singing

See the Morning, by Chris Tomlim, is simply amazing. I've listened to it over and over again since I bought it at the iTunes store last week. The songs are catchy and yet majestic at the same time. I've had to stop and think though--while the music, and the words are such beautiful declarations of all that is true, I wondered if they were accurate expressions of my heart. I find that it's truth that I know in my head, but not always and necessarily the truth that is naturally resonating and bursting forth from my heart. Each song, then, becomes a prayer that my heart would know, like my head does.

Guiding me

I am trying to learn from David Allen a comprehensive method for managing and organizing my life. Yeah, I know, it looks like another one of those promise-the-world-change-your-life-fluff types of books. "Stress-free Productivity" --wow, doesn't that sound good? I saw it recommended on a few blogs and checked it out a bit before buying. As I read it makes sense. I've only done the first step in the first initial stage--collecting all the "stuff" (including ideas, projects, plans, etc), but that is amazing. Most everything has been coralled into a small space. Now for the next part, processing everything. That is the scary part, and where I'm most prone to fall. He does, however, give lots of specific directions and ideas about the filing system you need to have, traps to avoid, and processes that increase the chance that you will actually follow through on keeping up the system to make it work. Another plus with this book is that he makes no difference between how to handle your "personal" and "professional" life. What is needed is a system that works for both.

Wish me well ... I'm coming to the point of knowing that learning in this area is essential to being able to successfully move forward. My brain doesn't naturally figure all this stuff out--maybe yours does. For now I'm thankful for some specific directions for organizing my thinking, my house, and maybe I'll then be able to help my co-workers learn to better organize our work together.

Sustaining words

The Sovereign LORD has given me an instructed tongue, to know the word that sustains the weary. He wakens me morning by morning, wakens my ear to listen like one being taught. Isa. 50:4 NIV

This was my heart's desire last week--what I prayed would be reality. I was scheduled to meet with some high school students in a bunch of half hour one-on-one sessions. Yeah, things went well. Nothing spectacular, but good.

Two days later... two more afternoon appointments... This time my words were neither instructed, nor sustaining. I realized it after it was already too late.

What happened? How did I mess up so bad? And my intentions with all these young people was so good to start with.

Yet on this day I had rushed home for the appointment, happy to see the student. I did not even think to stop and ask for His guidance.

Is it a formula? Pray a prayer and then conversations will go right? Probably not. Yet maybe if I remember to pray for that reality, I might also remember to listen, and keep listening. This is something that needs ongoing focussed attention. A one-time prayer is not enough.

Do not let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouths, but only what is helpful for building others up according to their needs, that it may benefit those who listen. (Eph 4:29, NIV)

Go to the Ants!

It's true, I am suffering an ant invasion. Any crumbs left on the kitchen counter--the ants will find them shortly. If everything is as clean as can be, with dishes all washed, I won't see much of them for about a day. Then, a new line appears--a trail down a wall, over the counter, along the top of the lower cupboards. It's the bag of almonds this time. The Ikea clip for closing bags has not prevented their entry. Funny, I didn't know ants liked almonds.

The ants are diligent. And I... am so unlike them. They see a task and get right to it. I prefer to put it off for as long as possible. Hence the struggle with messes and clutter from which I now try to unbury myself.

I hear, and live, echoes from my past. "Put down the book and clean your room!" my mother says. Ah, but I'd rather read.

I think the ants are here that I might learn.

Joining the Discussions

My new blog is officially here!