It's Christmas

I have only time for a quickie post before heading back to the kitchen. My house is so clean, even the ceilings have been washed due mostly to an attempt to clean the dust above the fan and finding that the ceiling was a whole new color forcing me, actually, to do the whole thing. Yesterday I made THREE pans of lasagna in prep for Christmas day, and now I just have some tail end baking and last minute house arranging to do. I should be able to enjoy tomorrow with a Mary and not a Martha heart. I'm looking forward to going to Christmas Eve service tonight so my heart will be prepared as well as my house!

Trans-Siberian Orchestra & Lara Parent
Last night we went to the performance at Van Andel. I enjoyed it so much more than I thought I would. The first part was especially nice with the story and many traditional, though rev'd up Christmas hymns. The second part was also good, but I love stories and music, and the combination in the first half was a winner for me.
I got a bit distracted by the violinist with her sleek black leggings and boot combo with about 4 inch heels. She ran to and fro across the stage with her black and pink violin and contorted her body into positions I never could do, all the while playing her violin. She reminded me of Lara Parent on coffee. Yes, I could see Lara running around the stage, flipping her hair around, but instead of a violin, she would have books in her hands. I can just imagine Lara screaming to the crowd - read, read, read, while the flames leaped up and the lights flashed and she pulled children from the audience and gave them books of all kinds. I really think it could be done. What would you call a concert about books, and igniting passion for reading? The Bodacious Book Tour? The Radical Reading Rocker? Kudos to Lara this Christmas for doing ths every day with the kids at East K8. Check out their work and find some good book picks at The Happy Reader.

Learning to Trust

This week I've been drowning in numbers. Ugh! I get to a point where I could just scream. I'm really not a numbers person - come on, I'm a reading person. I'm a social person. But numbers . . . wish I could do without them.

It's like trust in a way. I'm not naturally a trusting person. I'm a person who likes to know what life is bringing at them, not just today, but tomorrow and the day after that too. Some years are perfect for a person like me, there's a nice flow to family life, financial life, spiritual life. But, I have to say, most years are a little too bumpy for me. I actually, could very easily learn to do without them. However, if I could really learn to relax and lean into Jesus during those bumpy years, well, I think it would make all the difference don't you? Today's Christ of Christmas prayer was to "learn the art of walking by faith, even when it seems Your promises are delayed. Make trust the appetizer to every feast of Your abundance." Wouldn't my life look different if I could learn this art?

I think when I do learn to do this, (and, I must confess, those bumpy years do push me into learning faith), then maybe I will look as though I am wearing that "glistening garment of God" all around me and that the smile of God will shine through me on the companions God puts in my path every day. Instead of seeing "Grizzly Barb", maybe they will see a wholly different person. I am hopeful that Grizzly Barb doesn't show herself very often, but I know she is always lurking in the background!!

Random Thoughts

My brain is on a ramble, jumping from one thought to the next so don't expect this post to have much flow, or maybe even sense!

On Remodeling
Why do we do this to ourselves anyway. It's our turn for Christmas so my husband decided we needed to paint the bath. This made me somewhat crabby, cuz that really means you are down to 1 bathroom for at least a week, if not longer. One shower and 3 people disrupts my routine, and really, I am not a person who does well with disrupted routines. However, I agreed, and then we just went crazy. Now we have painted walls (one a burnt orange color), new floor, new toilet (It can flush a whole bucket of golf balls - amazing), new sink/faucets, new lights. A new tub was not in our budget, otherwise we would have that too. I have vowed to never paint again - what a pain (literally and figuratively). Since my husband did the floor, that led to free time for me to watch . . .

The Lord of the Rings
I really love this movie (I'd love it even if Viggo Mortenson wasn't in it). Although I had to watch in spurts (had to check up on that flooring), I still found plenty to ponder and enjoy. One thought that struck me was about the dwarf. It just popped into my head that the disciple Peter must have been like the dwarf - carried away by passion and fealty (isn't that a good word - one of the meanings is intense fidelity, which means the quality or state of being faithful) to fight for the cause, in this case saving middle earth. Then I was struck by "middle earth", okay if you think of heaven as being above, and hell as being below - hey, we're IN middle earth! I think of Peter's impulse to fight for Jesus and how he cut off the soldier's ear - to me, that's like the dwarf. Then I thought of the dwarf telling Lord Aragorn to "toss him" during the seige, and I thought, isn't that sort of like what being a Christian is about. In a sense when we believe in God, we have to say "toss me" and trust Him to use us where we land. We land in the fray of life, and really we are fighting to show the light that is Him in us, and, isn't it just hard sometimes, which leads to . . .

Christmas
Ahhh, now is the season of Advent, the time to celebrate the real light coming into this dark world. We only have to look a short ways to see that the darkness enroaches all around us. I have this wonderful devotion book for Advent by Calvin Miller: The Christ of Christmas. On day 1 (yesterday), he reminded us that we, like John, have been born to bear witness to that Light. Now is our time to point to Jesus and say "Jesus is the light of the world". I love that Miller reminds us that we cannot coerce people to to accept this truth, he says "God will never hold us accountable for being ineffective in pointing the way, but He will hold us accountable for our cowardly silences." Ouch!

Today, the meditation was on the glory we behold in Christ "the light of grace and truth". He says "Glory is the glistening garment of God--a garment that He is all too eager to throw around us, to welcome us into His everlasting light." He says "grace is the unmerited smile of God. If glory is our dance with God, grace is the ballroom--wide and free . . . not a tiny little dance with thin music and stingy steps . . . it is set to the open steps of elation. Grace saves with celestial music and redeems us, with Christ as our life partner." Then he reminds us that Jesus is truth "the mortar that binds grace and glory together . . . Jesus is never out of love with those for whom he died." What great words to start the day with!!

Walk with me . . .

Enjoy my photo/poetry montage of Fall in Georgia!

The Remarkable and Very True Story of Lucy & Snowcap

I'm finally getting around to reviewing this vacation book - wow, vacation was over a month ago! I actually read this book the first night at the hotel (well, I didn't actually finish it that night, but I got a good way through it). The story held my interest, but, I'm not sure I thought it was as good as the reviewer did. I do think younger readers would like it, and will look forward to reading their comments (Lara, it will be up to you to get some readers/comments on this book for me). What I liked is that unlikely girl becomes the heroine, and in becoming the heroine, accepts and embraces the things that are different about her, and make her who she is. Actually, there are other characters in this book who also come to this place in their lives. I liked how unlikely people became partners, and learned to respect each other. I liked how there was some "magic" involved. I liked how although a little fantastic and hard to believe, it was also based on some real history, and the author shares that with us at the end of the book. Mostly I appreciated the author bringing a girl in as heroine and possibility, when so often girls don't like themselves and don't appreciate the gifts they bring to the world.

Riding on the Clouds

Is God In Control?
This month has been mission month at our church. I have lots to ponder on the messages we received. Today we had a guest praise leader - Robin Mark. He's the writer of many songs, including "These are the days of Elijah, declaring the word of the Lord, these are the days of your servant Moses, righteousness being restored . . . This morning we got to hear the "rest of the story". Robin wrote this song while watching TV during 1994. This is the year of the genocide in Rwanda. He remembers watching the news, and and realizing that the number of people murdered was 2/3 of his country (Ireland). He had the thought - how can God be in control? But then God spoke to his heart, and said, I am in control, just like I was in the times of Elijah, in the times of Moses, Ezekiel. I am still God, I still come. I had to include this story for a person near to my heart, who doesn't like this song!! Hopefully this will bring new meaning, and liking for this song. There IS no God like JEHOVAH!

Is the Shekinah (Glory of God) Apparent In My Life?
Our message today, included thoughts of the Shekinah, or glory of God. The glory of God filled the temple in the Old Testament times, but departed from Israel for 400 years not to appear again until the Angel of the Lord appeared to the shepherds and the Glory of the Lord shone around them. Nine months later the Glory appeared in the form of a little baby, and now, the Holy Spirit dwells in us, God's temple. It begs the question do I show the Glory of God? It's a little disappointing to think how often I don't . . .

What is God's Plan?
The week before we had a talk from the International Justice Mission. The speaker told us there are more slaves in the world now, than there were in the days of the North and the South. Doesn't this just blow your mind?! There is something seriously wrong with this world. We're not just talking about girls and women sold into sexual slavery, but people sold into slavery to work in fields, or sew, or for whatever evil purposes people have in mind. He said, people ask them, when they hear these stories, where is God? How can He be in control? What is God's plan to rescue these people and this world? Well guess what. God does have a plan and it's you and it's me. We need to get to work. We need to pray. We need to learn more about the injustices in the world and do what we can to show Jesus love - whether it's by work, prayer, financial support or all three. So, write to your senator and representative - tell him/her you care about the injustice to people in this world. Be a modern day abolitionist. Get your sample postcard here.

I hear these messages and I think. What am I doing? What AM i doing? What am I DOING. God calls us to courage, and I think I am lacking . . .

Dinner With A Friend

On Menopause . . .
Today was a good day because I got to have dinner with my friend Vonnie. She is my sister-friend, and we always have a lot of fun. We had some scintillating conversation at Villa Maria. We started with menopause, always a fun subject (unless you are having a menopausal moment at that exact moment!). Just so you younger friends of mine know, this is not exactly a fun experience. The worst part is you get to be crabby so much, and, you cry, and you get to have a lot of interrupted sleep too, with moments of extreme heat in between. Very nice. We were talking about herbal remedies, and that reminded me of a book I have: The Wisdom of Menopause. Just so you know, there really is no such thing as menopausal wisdom, you just pray that you get through it. I think God changes husbands just in time too, because mine has been very patient as I go through my emotional moments! Anyway, I do recommend this book although it is a little new age in spots. For example, when she says it's time to discard those things that are causing disharmony in your life, and then proceeds to tell how she divorced her husband - hmmmm. . . I don't approve of that!

Queen Esther and Beth Moore . . .
In January I will begin a new Bible Study on Esther. Vonnie and I came up with an absolute brilliant idea to have a Queen Esther Bible Study cruise. Our cruise would be limited to women (well, we may allow men on board to cook dinner, bring us books, etc). The first part of Esther deals with extreme pampering . . . a whole year of beauty treatments - 6 months with oil of myrhh and 6 months of sweet spices and perfumes. We would, of course, have to modernize the pampering routines - I'm thinking bubble baths, pedicures, manicures, uninterrupted reading time, naps, lots of chocolate, etc. etc. I do believe that men much prefer plumper women, don't you? So, no need to worry that you would be overindulging at the buffets!

Don't you think this is a marvelous idea? Of course, we would have Bible study time in between so that we pampered our bodies and our souls. The best thing about Esther too, is that she is a smart and clever woman, so she is a great role model for us! Of course, Vonnie and I would plan the Bible study so that we could cruise for free :-)

If, like me, you can't afford to cruise, or even vacation, I suggest a good book from the library, some Mr. Bubble, some music of your choosing, and a locked bathroom door. I recommend that you don't come out of there for at least an hour, and you should decree that your family respect your role as Queen of the house for the evening by attending to your every need!

Home by Marilynne Robinson

Well, I read Home through one time, and it kept me up all night because I was upset about the ways characters acted and interacted with each other. I called my sister the next day and said--you LIKED this book? She did. Hmmmmm...we usually agree on these things.

We had some discussion on how certain characters reminded us of, well, certain characters in our current life. One thing that really bothered me is that Jack asked his dad and his friend (both ministers) if a person could be predestined to do bad things. I did not like that at all. They hemmed and hawed, and, instead of directly answering him tried to make a big theological discussion about it. He was trying to ask, am I made this way, or can I change. Finally, the wife of his dad's friend said "Yes, you can change--everything can change." Okay, why don't spiritual leaders just tell us this, rather than making a big debate (or trying to make a point) about things.

Jack's father says all through the story that he forgives Jack for his mistakes. He has done this all his life. Yet, in his old age and weakness, bitterness creeps out. He says things that hurt Jack and don't help him at all. Things that are not grace, but bitterness. I know I act this way too, but the "old gent" as Jack calls him, is dying, so let's get past this and on to the forgiving.

I felt the ending was hurtful, but real. I need another book to bring closure and healing to all the characters (okay, I do know that this does not always happen in real life).

The only person who shows Jack grace is his sister Glory. She has hurts of her own, but she continually strives to get past them and show grace. But, even her story is sad. Aaaaugh! I just didn't think I liked this book, yet, I couldn't stop thinking about it. So . . . reread it, and did find grace and beauty in the story after all.

I think I liked the prequel, Gilead, better, but this story involved my emotions more. Give it a try and tell me what you think.

On The Road Part 2 :-)

I am writing this from a quaint little library in the town of Helen, Georgia. The library is small, maybe as big as a convience store gas station--but, very nice that they have internet access here.

I've been lonely for my quiet time with God, so before I allowed myself to write here, I enjoyed a little book by Corrie TenBoom called Don't Wrestle, Just Nestle which was full of good advice for the very thing I am bad about in my life - worrying! I feel much more centered now. Wouldn't you think while you were on vacation that you would have MORE time for devotions! One little tidbit from it: "Be sure you remain covered with a canopy of praise. It is like a tent over and around you. Satan has no entrace as long as you pin down the sides by praising and thanking God for His wonderful promises." I also liked her little story about Susana Wesley's private place of praise - when the kids and life would just get too overwhelming for her, she would just lift up her skirt and cover her face with it, like a tent, for that quiet escape. Wouldn't they be surprised at work if I gave that a try--instead, I mostly just hide in the bathroom :-)

We've had wonderful, sunny weather. The first morning we explored Helen. Forty years ago the folks here got the idea that they needed an attraction here so people would stop on their way to the larger towns. Basically one person came up with the idea of turning it into a Bavarian (Alpine) Village, and the rest is history. It's not very busy right now, even though it is their big Oktoberfest Festival during October.

So far we have:

1) hiked to Anna Ruby Falls. A.Ruby is about 150' high. When we arrived the sun was shining directly on the falls, so they stood out starkly white against the rocky background.
2)drove up to Brasstown Bald, and then hiked to the top. The Bald is the highest point in this area, about 4,870' or something like that. They've built a circular building on the top of the bald - it looks like it was crafted from area rocks and such. You can see 4 states from the top, Georgia, Tennessee, North Carolina and South Carolina. Basically we were hemmed in by mountains. It was awesome in the truest sense of the word.
3)hiked to Dukes Creek Falls. These falls are 300' high, once again the afternoon sun was shining directly on the falls for a fabulous view.
4)hiked to Unicoi State Park Lodge. The plan was that we would have lunch once we arrived - but we arrived at 2:05 and they don't serve past 2. That was a bummer because it was over 3 miles, and we had to go back 3 miles to Helen before we could eat. Fortunately we carried water, but had taken no snacks as we planned to lunch when we arrived. A candy bar from the gift store shored off the crabbies. This was a nice nature hike, but we didn't notice much on the way down cuz we just wanted to get back!
5)ate lunch at Hans Restuarant and Lounge when we got back. There are a lot of motorcylcists in this part of the country and a number of bikes were in the front, so we hoped that meant good food. It did - a delicious burger (you know the kind, you have to use 2 hands to eat it). This restaurant was filled with wonderful black and white photographs of, you guessed it, motorcyclists! The photos were great character sketches. I wish I could have read the photographer's name so I could have learned the history behind the photos.
5) ate an outrageously expensive dinner at Natacoochee Grill and discovered a new wine from the Habersham Winery - White Muscadine a semi-sweet white - very yummy. The Chocolate Turtle Cheesecake wasn't too shabby either!
6) today, Ron is golfing and I'm hanging out in Helen. I'm getting to enjoy this lovely library and soon, I can go in and out of as many shops as I choose without having to wonder if Ron is getting impatient. He always tells me to take his time, but I will enjoy it so much more knowing that there is no-one waiting on me. I may have to get a chocolate caramel covered apple later in the day from the Hansel and Gretel Candy Factory to tide me over till dinner. From here, I'm planning on going to the Helen Craft Center where I can also dawdle for as long as I choose!

It is beautiful here. It is so nice of God to have created all the mountains, lakes, waterfalls, fall colors, and to have given us such a nice time of refreshment and rest before heading back to real life!

On The Road Again

It seems like a long time since I've written in my blog diary. It is strangely addicting, I rather miss posting my musings.

We are in London, KY tonight and tomorrow we head on out to our "Sweet Retreat" Log Cabin home for the next week in the area of Helen, Georgia. We look forward to some hiking, some good food, some reading, and for Ron, some golf. A week ago, I bought 2 new books, which I have not allowed myself to even peek at! Home, by Marilyn Robinson, and The Remarkable and Very True Story of Lucy and Snowdrop, which, for some reason could not be found on the BN site. I also have I Captured the Castle. I should have lots to write about when I return. It was lovely to internet access in our hotel! In addition, I have a "People" magazine and "Newsweek" with more info on Sarah Palin. For all you democrats, I just can't help it, I LIKE her :-)

SELFISHNESS

I just finished The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls. While it is primarily a story about survival, and focused accomplishment (how did those kids manage to overcome their surroundings and get out of a no-win situation and into school, success, relationships???), I was mostly struck by the selfishness of the parents, particularly mom. I think it is because I can so relate to her selfish feelings. How often have I NOT wanted to do something with my kids, but read a book instead--or create some sort of art or craft, or not make supper, or just lay on the beach, or even, not go to work. I mean really, there are so many things I would rather have done than be tied down to work, home, laundry, meals, bills, kids. My kids are grown now, but I have not forgotten the days when you could not even go into the bathroom and pee without some little voice calling for you outside the door. When you couldn't even read one entire sentence in a book without being interrupted!!

It amazes me that even though this mom gave in to every selfish feeling, that her children do not resent her, but still have relationship with her. It equally amazes me that their parents practically starved them, and they still had love for mom and dad, and wished them well, and tried to set them up for success. Where does that kind of steadfastness come from? If we knew, we could bottle it and help so many kids that are decimated by these kinds of relationships. What is in the core of their being that keeps them from giving up and keeps them moving on? Children are so fragile, and yet, they can be so strong.

And, the thing is, when we put aside our selfishness, and give them our full attention we are rewarded with so much love . . . their "interruptions" give so much meaning to our lives when we meet them at their need, and just dish out the love!

Soul Stirring Conversations With God

"All the ways of a man are pure in his own eyes, but he Lord weights the spirits (the thoughts and intents of the heart). Roll your works upon the Lord [commit and trust them wholly to Him; He will cause your thoughts to become agreeable to His will and] so shall your plans be established and succeed."

Proverbs 16:2-3 (AMP)

"Come to Me, all you who labor and are heavy-laden and overburdened, and I will cause you to rest. [I will ease and relieve and refesh your souls.] Take My yoke upon you and learn of Me, for I am gentle (meek) and humble (lowly) in heart, and your will find rest (relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet for your souls).

Matthew 11:28-29 (AMP)

I"ve started a new Bible Study - Soul Stirring Conversations With God - by Priscilla Shirer (Tony Evan's daughter). It sounds pretty inspiring doesn't it? It is inspiring, but mostly I think, it is convicting. I had decided to skip Bible Study this fall, but Beth called me and told me I HAD to go, explaining that the 5 day study focuses on one subject for the entire 5 days. The first week was on the tongue - I'm sure we can all relate to needing work on that one! This week's lesson is on prioritizing your life. My life hasn't been in the neat little boxes I like it in much this year. So when I got to Lesson 2, with the Proverbs verse, I just felt like it slammed my spirit to it's knees (in a good way). This is so my problem my whole life. I like MY life plan, and God likes His. And even when I am outwardly obedient to Him, well...He knows my spirit, so He's very aware of how I'm rebelling inside. This should be discouraging, but in an odd way it's not. As I'm composing whole conversations in my head to have with people about how my life should be, and wondering who I should choose to talk to, when all of a sudden I think - you big dummy - God is hearing everything you are saying right now, and He is the most confidential confidante of all. He has the best answers, and really, Barb, you already know the answer, so just lay it all (or roll it all on Him). What a comfort (even though it seems a long way off) that He will make my thoughts agreeable to Him (AND, successful!) I had to stop my study and set on this a while, it was so convicting to me.

Lesson three lead into the Matthew verse. I've always loved this verse, especially since reading a sermon by George MacDonald:

"Now, what does this "yoke" mean? Many people have the idea that the Lord takes a yoke and lays it upon you, and that He says, as it were holding the yoke in His hand: 'Come here, and take My yoke upon you.' That is not it at all. "My yoke" means the yoke that I bear, not the yoke that I lay upon you, but the yoke that I an bearing. The eternal Son of God tells us that His own rest of soul, His own peace of mind, just comes from the yoke that He Himself bears. We do not often see in this country two oxen yoked together: but where I live you see not infrequently two lovely oxen walking together with one yoke across the necks of both. That is the idea here. . . it means, take the other end of My yoke and walk with Me, harnessed with Me; we will go together and draw the burden of the Father's Will." (Proving the Unseen - I highly recommend this little book if you can get your hands on it!)

Such a good reminder that I'm not in this by myself, He is there walking right alongside me. I love the amplified version of this verse - not just rest (that's too puny for God), but relief and ease and refreshment and recreation and blessed quiet for your souls. That's what I'm wanting, and I keep letting myself get in the way!

"The Judas Field"

I don't often read books about war, but this book caught my interest during a summer shopping spree at BN - I got about 6 books for $3.50 each and they were all good! "The Judas Field" is a civil war story. The first time I started reading it, I couldn't get into it and put it down. Started it again this past week, and liked it quite a lot. It is a novel about war, and loss, and lives lost, and forever changed, by war. Those touched by it cannot just walk away and forget it - no, war colors their lives forever more. It reminded me in a small way, of, The Things They Carried, a true telling (or as true as their memories can allow) of the experiences of soldiers in the Vietnam era. There is no doubt in my mind that war changes lives forever. We send young men, and women, to fight. A cause may sound noble, but let's face it, war is about killing, it has to become a them or me mentality, or who could survive. How can anyone not be changed by that?

In The Judas Field Cass and Roger talk with Lucian, a 13 year old who becomes part of their unit, about God, and war. . . "Well, now, listen, you-all", said the boy. "If you are scared, do you . . . do you pray before?" "I don't believe God takes any part to speak of," Cass said. "Not in these fights of ours, anyway." "Well, why not?" asked Lucian. "He's in charge, ain't He--you said He was. Don't He pick a favorite?" "It would not be fair if He did," said Cass. "Anyhow, I guess we're all His favorites . . . I mean more or less". . .The conversation goes on and then Roger says that Cass is saying he has faith. "Tomorrow or the next day, there'll be a fight . . . Mister Wakefield (Cass) believes that God takes no sides but hopes for the best for everyone. I happen to believe the same. In a fight, lad, it is not so much us and the Yankees. The Angel of Death wants us all--that's where the real battle is, and why it's all so insane." [italics mine] "Well, could you pray to him then?" asked the boy. "The Angel of Death?" "You could," said Roger, "but he wouldn't listen. Only God does, and He can't help you right then." "Well," said Lucian, "there's no sense in praying a-tall, if you ask me"..."Hush,"said Roger, "Be still and listen, You must have your faith, and it will be sore tested...you look around and you might be tempted to ask where God was when all this happened. . ."He was there, He was there all along, watching and grieving. . .God is there with you, and whatever sorrow you are feeling--well, how infinite must the sorrow be in His heart?". Roger goes on to say, if you decide God is responsible, faith is gone, and no mortal can bear that. . ."That is why we pray, and fervently, but not for preservation"..."What do you ask for then?" said the boy. . ."To be forgiven" Roger says.

To be forgiven . . . it seems the best option, doesn't it?

Surfwise

I was on fire to see this documentary (Surfwise: The Amazing True Odyssey of the Paskowitz Family) about a father who took his wife and 9 children in a 24 foot camper to travel and surf, ditching the conventional life for a life of fun and adventure. The clip, from one of my favorite HD shows, The Ultimate Trailer Show, seemed much more positive than the actual documentary turned out to be. It turned out to be a little more poignant, a little more sad, a little more harsh than what I imagined it would be. Although the children enjoyed what was in many ways an idyllic childhood, they never received any formal schooling, were with their family pretty much 24/7, and when the oldest finally moved out at 23, his father was unhappy with him. Sad because the kids, now married with spouses and on their own, were unprepared to live in the real world. Sad because they harbor some resentment towards their parents, and dad in particular. Sad because they didn't all get together to literally join hands and form the family circle for 10 years. Poignant to hear dad say "I was harsh sometimes, I could have been easier on my kids". Don't all of us as parents feel that way sometimes. There are no do-overs with parenting. We give it our best shot, and then all of us have to forgive each other for the mistakes we make.

In the end, they do all join hands once again, they do forge ahead with lives and jobs (1 brother, who has a son with autism, opened a surf school for children with autism). They actually all lead pretty creative lives, teaching others to surf, being in bands, pursuing graphic arts. It's hard to get that balance between regimented schooling and creativity, and I guess all we can do is keep trying. I think the kids did love their childhood, but wished that they had the balance necessary to pursue their adult dreams and get on in the world.

I, for one, think we all need to put more adventure in our lives. We give up our play too easily to become responsible adults. I hope that there will be a surfer Barb in my future - it looks like fun, and must feel a little like flying.

One More Thought About Books

In The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox Esme's mother says "put the book away Esme...you have read enough for tonight" but Esme (and I can so relate to this) "couldn't because the people on the page and the room they were in were holding her fast . . ."

I'm A Book Glutton

I can only go so long without reading a good book, and then all of a sudden I'm reading 4 of them simultaneously!

After writing about artistry I was inspired to search for a quote that I remembered Frederick Buechner wrote in one of his books - I haven't found it yet, but I did revisit his book WishfulThinking: A Theological ABC where I did find this wonderful reminder of God's mercies being new every morning (Lamentations 3: 17-33..."because of the Lord's great love we are not consumed, for His compassions never fail. They are new every morning, Great is Your faithfulness"). Buechner says: "Using the same old materials of earth, air, fire and water, every 24 hours God creates something new out of them. If you think you're seeing the same show all over again seven times a week, you're crazy. Every morning you wake up to something that in all eternity never was before and never will be again. And the you that wakes up was never the same before and will never be the same again either."

I also picked up Buechner's Speak What We Feel (Not What We Ought To Say): Reflections on Literature and Faith. The book jacket says: "Buechner invites readers to discover the deeper joy and purpose of reading. He shows how these writers--by putting their passion and pain into their work--have enabled him to bear the weight of his own grief and sadness by "speaking out from under the burden of theirs." I didn't know Gerard Manley Hopkins lived such a depressing life, although I loved his answer to the question of how a man who loved art and literature became a priest--"You wouldn't give only the dull ones to Almight God". I am going to have to revisit Mark Twain's Huckleberry Finn - the story will have new depth for me now that I know some of the details of Twain's childhood. I still have to read the chapters on G.K. Chesterton and Shakespeare.

A new author for me: Ivan Doig (Ryan, you would love this author). I picked up at the bargain price from B/N of like $3.50 The Whistling Season. It was so good - it reminds me in an odd way of Peace Like a River in that it is a good yarn, yet interspersed with so many wonderful memories of the 1 room schoolhouse, and childhood memories, and wanting mothers. What ever happened to the 1 room schoolhouse, and spelling bees, and memorizing poetry and having programs for parents that were a BIG THING! An event that the community would never miss for a million years. We need to try to recreate this in today's society.

I have now picked up his This House of Sky. I'm not very far, have only really read the forward, but evidently this was the first big novel he wrote of his memories of his family and living in Montana. I liked what he says in the forward, and I think it describes the way he writes: "It would be magnificent to do the entire book with this slow care, writing it all as highly charged as poetry..." (from one of his journals).

The Shack

Just finished this book, which a friend just loved. Read about it in the paper a few weeks back, and it seems to have caused some controversy in the Christian community. I liked it, and some parts of it resonated with me more than others . . . but, I didn't love it. The first part of the book was really distracting me -- I recently saw a news magazine story about a kidnapping from a campground that was similar to the situation in the book, so I couldn't get that out of my head. The news magazine story was amazing to me, as the mom actually talked with the killer several times, in the hopes her child was still alive, and forgave him. I admire that, not sure I could do it, even though I truly believe that is what God commands us to do, and also believe that the unforgiveness and anger in your heart will ultimately destroy you.

The second part of the book really gets into the heart of the story - one of relationship with Jesus, and growing in your understanding of Him and how He changes you. I did not feel offended by any of it, and some parts really resonated with me. The book didn't change my life however, or how I feel about being in relationship with God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit. One person told me, that for them, the book showed how God is so much bigger than we can imagine. I think God is a huge mystery, the Bible tells us, who can understand His ways - I know I sure don't, and often wonder just what He is up to in my life. In church once, a preacher defined mystery as "radical amazement". That's how I picture it will be on the day that we are resurrected - we are going to be soooo radically amazed that I'm not sure we'll even be able to praise Him. We may just stand there in a stupor not able to utter anything at all.

As far as allegory's go, my favorite would be Hinds Feet in High Places by Hannah Hunard. This one really speaks to my heart.

Sister Support

Shared Hope International, is an organization that rescues women and children around the world from sexual slavery. Consider: 12 (twelve!) is the average age of entry into prostitution; 1 in 5 pornographic images on the internet is of a child; at least 100,000 children in the US are victims of commercial sexual exploitation. Where is our outrage! Please visit the website to learn more about the important work this organization does to prevent, rescue and restore girls and women who are in this terrible situation. I first heard about Shared Hope on a radio program--at that time the focus was on rescuing girls in third world countries from being sold into sexual slavery. This is still one of their main focuses, but consider what happens to our runaway girls who end up in Las Vegas and end up being sex slaves here in our own country! Hearts and minds are being destroyed by this sex trade. Please consider making a donation to support the rescue of these girls.

Depilex Smile Again Organization helps female survivors of acid and kerosene oil burns in Pakistan by providing them appropriate medical attention and reconstructive surgery, psychological/psychiatric support, shelter and vocational training. I read about this in the Grand Rapids Press. Men disfigure these women because they have not received enough dowry, or they have been rejected for marriage or they don't want another girl in their family! Imagine! The story was about 2 of these women who started a beauty shop - good for them! One of them, Liaqat, 21 (she was burned because she wanted to finish school before she married her husband), says "every person wishes that he or she is beautiful, but in my view, your face is not everything. Real beauty lies inside a person, not outside. Visit MSNBC for the full story and photos. This will become another organization I will support financially.

Madeline L'Engle

I was inspired, after writing about my summer art experience, to revisit "Walking On Water: Reflections on Faith and Art". Consider these thoughts from Madeline:

"From Coleridge comes the phrase, the willing suspension of disbelief, that ability to believe which is born firmly in all children, and which too often withers as we are taught that the world of faerie and imagination is not true."

"One of the great sorrows which came to human beings when Adam and Eve left the Garden was the loss of memory, memory of all that God's children are meant to be".

"The artist, if he is not to forget how to listen, must retain the vision which includes angels and dragons and unicorns, and all the lovely creatures which our world would put in a box marekd Children Only."

and this. . . on TV:

"Creative involvement: that's the basic difference between reading a book and watching TV. In watching TV we are passive; sponges; we do nothing. In reading we must become creators. Once the child has learned to read alone, and can pick up a book without illustrations, he must become a creator, imagining the setting of the story, visualizing the characters, seeing facial expressions, hearing the inflection of voices. The author and the reader "know" each other: they meet on the bridge of words".

I LOVE that :-)

And, one last thing (it's hard, this book is so FULL of good things)!

"In art we are once again able to do all the things we have forgotten; we are able to walk on water; we speak to the angels who call us; we move, unfettered, among the stars. We write, we make music, we draw pictures, because we are listening for meaning, feeling for healing. And during the writing of the story, or the painting, or the composing or singing or playing, we are returned to that open creativity which was ours when we were children. We cannot be mature artists if we have lost the ability to believe which we had as children. An artist at work is in a condition of complete and total faith."

More Thoughts on Sarah Palin

I stayed up waaaaay past my bedtime last night to listen to Sarah's speech. Her story intrigues me so much. She has way more charisma than McCain, and I loved her youngest daughter who was just loving up the crowd - and her baby brother! Very cool to me that she doesn't hide Bristol, or make excuses for her, but just loves her. It's amazing to me that a possible VP of the United States of America ended her speech by bringing up her family and holding her baby. I think, more than anything, she has captured the imagination of the people.

Why Am I Dreaming About Sarah Palin?

Wow. The last 2 nights I've had dreams about Sarah Palin, the new VP choice for John McCain. I'm not sure why. I do feel a little worried about her family. I mean, really, they are from small town Alaska, and now their mom is the VP nominee. Do they know how totally their lives are going to change? Can a move to Washington DC ruin a family, or strengthen it?

She totally intrigues me. She has FIVE kids, the youngest with Downs Syndrome. Her husband is just a normal guy who works for $47,000 a year. Her degree is in journalism for pete's sake! A total surprise pick. I just have to wonder about her . . . what is God doing with her life? How is He using this circumstance, this event, to shape her, and perhaps, America?

What I have seen of her so far shows a woman who is comfortable in the spotlight, seems sure of her convictions, and speaks with polish and ease. I'll be curious to hear her speech tomorrow and to see how people will react to the campaign. Anything could happen - this is America, the land of mavericks, and, we always do love the underdog!

Artist in the Making?

This summer I took a watercolor class with one of my good friends. My artwork may not be fantastic, but it was fun and I learned a lot about not being too serious about art in general. Art is about play, and letting go of your inhibitions and worries that you're not good enough and just having fun with color and shapes and laughing a lot. Everyone wants to create, and we often don't want to take the chance of being laughed at, or feeling stupid, when we should just be having fun.

My 81 year old neighbor still loves to create. She fashions magnets out of little pieces of plastic that you melt together with an iron. She made dogs, flowers, smiley face suns, butterflies. She glues magnets on the back so that her art can be hung on a refrigerator.

People create with their yards all the time - and look at all the time we spend decorating our faces and our bodies (I'm not talking tattoos here, but clothing!). Jesus knew what he was talking about when he said we should be more like little children - they create with a freedom and abandon that we don't know as adults. That's one of my goals this year - to give up a little seriousness, and make a little more room for art and laughter!

Madeline L'Engle has a great book on art: "Walking on Water: Reflections on Faith and Art". It's one of my favorite books of all time :-)

The Vanishing Act of Esme Lennox

I am fascinated by this book, and just finished it for the 2nd time in a month. Imagine being a girl, in that straight laced victorian era, who is creative and feisty, and can't sit still. What did they do with girls back then? What happened when families couldn't control them. Well, evidently, a number of them were committed to asylums. What do you turn into when you have to stamp down all your imagination and every emotion? This is the story of one girl, whose spirit is threatened by some life events, and whose family cannot deal with it. We always will, I guess, live in a judgmental society, but to make everyone act in a way that society dictates, and that doesn't allow for any deviation from a pre-conceived "norm". Well, it just boggles my mind. I always felt like I was born in the wrong era. I should have been born in victorian times when I could have gardened, read books, worn beautiful clothes, and entertained gentlemen callers (you know, just to talk!!). This book makes you thankful for all the ways that society has grown to accept woman (and men) who have that creative, imaginative bent, that sometimes keeps people from just fitting in. If anyone reads this book - call me and let me know what you think.

August 28, 2008

My first attempt at blogging. I cannot guarantee that this blog will be full of clever remarks - in fact, I did consider the url BabsBabbles. However, as I share the books, quotes, crafts and social issues that speak to my heart, perhaps conversations can start, and new friends can be made--and, hopefully, a clever remark or two will sneak in!