"O'er all the way".

I've been bothered all week by a friend's recent post. His child is ill with a rare, although diagnosed disease. This boy, poked and prodded by numerous doctors and stinging from continuous blood draws, has complained, to his worried parents, that life is "just not fair". My heart reaches out to those young parents. Nothing is worse than not being able to "make it all better" for your kids. It's such a devastingly hopeless feeling.
But, haven't all of us witnessed the unfairness of life? If you've lived, you've felt it.
Years ago, when I first whined about the unfairness of life to my mother, she responded in the same way that all of us have, at one time or another. She simply said "Nancy, life isn't supposed to be fair."
Well, what kind of answer is that? Life is not fair when dozens of babies are gunned down in a public school. Life is not fair when drunk drivers cause accidents that hurt and kill innocent people. Heart attacks are not fair. Cancer isn't fair. None of those things are fair. Life just isn't fair.
But, why isn't life fair? God loved us enough to let his son die for our sins. Wasn't that enough? So, why aren't our lives perfect? Why do we have to suffer?
I don't profess to have the best answer, but I do know that God promised to help us survive the un-fairness of life. He does not prevent all of the fatal or near fatal illnesses and trials of life. But, we can KNOW that the one constant, in all of the bad and good stuff that happens, is the love of God for all his children. Life isn't fair...It's real.
"God will take care of you." He can't "make it all better" for us, but He can hold us in His arms and make it do-able.

Good and all knowing God. We know that you are there for all of us, no matter what happens. Help us to keep remembering the promise of your ending love. We thank you for our many blessings, and we hold strong to our faith in your unfailing power and grace.

Up from the Gravy and the Roast

Yesterday was Easter Sunday. Our church was filled to the brim with people of all ages. Children and adults were decked out in their Spring finery, on a glorious sun-filled morning. I don't think I have ever seen so many babies in one place! The Sanctuary was decorated with lilies, tulips, palms and daffodils. The music from the choir and the congregation was uplifting and thrilling.
But, Easter was different this year. The lead-up to this day of resurrection and joy was missing something really important.
Our week before Easter included coloring eggs, as usual. We attended Wednesday choir practice, Maundy Thursday Services and Good Friday Church. Everything was normal and regular. But, we skipped Palm Sunday.
 On Palm Sunday, the folks in our town woke up to a huge snow storm. The streets were covered and it was too dangerous to do much traveling. Fortunately, we were warned that the storm was coming, so many (over 500) city and rural churches cancelled services, as early as Saturday morning. We all ended up having to dig or be dug out, in order to go anywhere!
Well, I like to think that I am not a slave to tradition and routine, but I guess that I am. I missed the parading of the palms and the whole idea of Jesus' triumphant arrival in Jerusalem. The events of the past week were less dramatic to me, because we skipped Palm Sunday. Something was missing.

Dear Risen Lord: We have heard the story of Easter many, many times. The journey of Easter Week renews our faith and revitalizes our spirit. Thank you for coming to save us from our sins and sillyness. We glorify your name.

"Trust and Obey, for there's no other way....."

Today, I totally exhibited the behavior of a seventh grader. Yes-siree. I was right back there at Lakeside Junior High School, thirteen years old, and unable to keep my eyes from staring out of the big glass windows overlooking Adams Street.  I was fascinated by the rapidly falling snow. It was as if I were eagerly awaiting the announcement of one of those blessed snow days. Maybe there would be no school for the rest of today...and maybe no school tomorrow!
The truth of the situation was, of course, I was wondering how bad the snow-snarled traffic was going to get, before I could head home from my job. How many fender benders would I have to avoid? I was thinking about the hills, the bridges, the overpasses and the crazy drivers. I was wondering whether my usual 25 minute drive would be stretched into several hours.
Luckily, the streets were just wet and not icy for my commute home. I cruised home at the usual pace, 27 minutes, door to door. No delays.
But, I can't get over how anxious I actually was. Never once did I stop to "consider the lillies of the field." Oh, Me of Little Faith.

Good and gracious God. When will I ever learn? I am so old and yet I haven't matured enough to trust in you, completely. Forgive me. Continue to watch over me, even when I think and do really stupid things. You are so wise. You deserve my total trust.

What do you think?

I would list my number one character fault as being quick on the trigger with judgemental thoughts. Jumping to conclusions are an unfortunate part of my being. And, you know what? It turns out that I am very often wrong.
Someone once said, " Snap judgements are liable to come unfastened.", and they were right.
I have just finished the novel, "The Paris Wife." It's the tale of Ernest Hemingway, his first wife and their short life together. The story takes place in Paris (duh) shortly after World War I. It's fiction, but I am sure there were diaries, first hand accounts and historical facts to back up the author's account.
Now, it shouldn't surprise you that Hemingway comes off looking like a jerk, in this novel. If you know anything about Hemingway, you have read that his life was a total mess....before and after the period of  "The Paris Wife". Alcohol, womanizing, 3 or four wives, drugs and eventual suicide.
However, because I have learned that maybe I need a few more concrete facts in order to pass judgement, I have decided to read "A Moveable Feast", which is Hemingway's personal account of the same time period.
But maybe, just maybe, I should stop passing judgement altogether and just enjoy a good book.

Holy Lord. We know that only YOU have the right to judge us. Keep us on the straight and narrow. Lead us in the decisions that please you. Guide us toward the life that leads to your Kingdom.

Show Me State

I sincerely believe that we all have our "gifts and graces". Each one of us is truly good at something. That noted, I would like to add that every one of us has things that we cannot or should not do. It is a blessing to know the difference.
Last week, I was downtown waiting for a friend. As I sat, I observed a woman attempting to parallel park her car. Parallel parking is a practiced skill, and if you have a valid driver's license, you are supposed to have learned how to do it.
With empathy (I have been known to circle a city block two or three times looking for a spot where I won't have to parallel park), I watched this woman. First, she tried backing into the space. Unable to park that way, she tried going forward and pulling into the space. Then she tried backing in, again. She gave it three more tries before she finally gave up and drove off.
So what makes this so unusual, you querry? The woman was driving a Smart Car. Those cars are made for small spaces. You can park them on the sidewalk, for Pete's sake. OMGolly. Those tiny vehicles have no front or rear end.

You could say that she was too dumb to park a Smart Car.

Oh God. Be our teacher and help us in all of our endeavors. But, help us to learn our limitations. Keep us ever mindful that we are not all-knowing and all-powerful. Only You can do all things. We praise you name.

Just a pretty face.

My spouse went to renew his driver's license, yesterday. As residents of our state, it is something we do every six years, whether we want to or not.
Luckily, our closest Department of Motor Vehicles Office is located not far from our house. It used to be even closer....in the back of a pet store. Most of the licensing locations in our state are housed in local businesses. I've renewed my license, over the years, in a laundromat, a grocery store, a hardware store and the above mentioned pet food store. That pet food store smelled like birds, cats litter, dog food and pet poo. Believe me, waiting in line, next to the Fresh Step, was very unpleasant.
Driver's licenses serve as our state's photo ID. So, the photo you have on your license is a six-year reminder of how you looked on the day you received your license. When I last renewed my license, I had no hair. I had just finished a 6 session round of chemotherapy. I remember asking the surly clerk/photographer if I could just keep the last picture (when I had hair). She said, "No. Of course not." For the last five years, when I have needed photo ID, I'm always asked, "Who's this bald chick?"
Yesterday, at the DMV, was a tale of "not-who-you-know-but-what-you-are". The young, very attractive women directly in line in front of my husband, was having her ID photo taken. The young male clerk took her photo 4 times, before she decided it was okay. When it was my husband's turn it was ONE and DONE. He didn't even get to look at it before it went into the laminator. Oh, well.
The moral of this little tale. Life just isn't fair.

Gracious and all knowing God. Thank you for our many blessings. Our stumbling block are minor. You will catch us every time we trip. We know that you are with us each minute of every day. Open our hearts and minds to see all aspects of your wonderful world.

"When I was younger, so much younger than today."

It was a terrific "learning experience". On Thursday morning, the snow began to fall. By 4 p.m. on Thursday, we had a total of between 10 and 12 inches. The drifts, caused by the powerful winds, had accumulated to up to 14 or 15 inches, in some spots.
Friday morning dawned cold, clear and sunny. It was time to shovel the driveway. I am the designated shoveler at our house, and from years of experience, I know that in order to move really deep snow, it must be removed in layers. First you skim off a couple of inches and then you dig up the rest on the second or maybe third shovel full.
After about 15 minutes, I only had three to four square feet cleared. At this rate, it appeared, that I would finish by Sunday morning...maybe.
Then a young man drove up and offered to clear our driveway, with his SNOW BLOWER....for a price. I immediately said YES. Twenty miunutes later, our massive expanse of pavement was clear and he had his check.
The lesson is, I cannot do everything by myself. Clearing the driveway was way too big a task for me to accomplish alone. I needed help. I needed to accept help. And fortunately, help came my way.
God is always there, ready to help us along our life journey. All we need to do is ask and accept. We are not on this path alone.
More snow is expected on Monday.

Dear Lord: We open our hearts and minds to you. Guide us and allow us to accept your help. We are in need, always. We thank you for the gentle and the not so gentle reminders that you are in charge.