A Wink or a Baptism?

In one of my first postings I talked about “God Noticings”; those times when we know the coincidence is not merely a coincidence, dots are connected, the missing piece is found which completes the puzzle.   Encounters that we know at the very core of our being is about something bigger than us – a “God Thing”, if you will.  A friend said she calls these a ‘wink’ from God.  It’s as if He enjoys sending us opportunities to glimpse His presence in our life.

But I have recently been introduced to a new idea when it comes to God noticings.  In his book God Hides in Plain Sight by Dean Nelson, he writes about witnessing baptisms in the muck and mire or our every day lives.  I’m not talking about baptism in the church, although certainly that is the foundation from where we begin.  Rather Mr. Nelson suggests some of our noticings may go deeper than a ‘wink’ from God, it might be something that will cause us to shed our old skin and take on the new.  Our journey happens upon a detour, we realize there has been a change, we are walking a new path; we have experienced a baptism.

I believe our recent vacation to Hawaii was a baptism experience for me!  On a scale of one to ten, I would rate it a six – Bill on the other hand would give it a ten.  He was able to get past the wind, rain, and rocky beach, I was not.    So how does this equate to a baptism encounter?   I began to realize God was handing me an opportunity to wash away yet another layer of my need for perfection.  Not only my need for perfection, but my need to cover up those times that are less than perfect.  I made the decision I would be honest when asked how I enjoyed my vacation;  a change of direction on my path of not only accepting myself, but also not projecting to others that which I perceive they want to hear.

Let me close with a quote from God Hides in Plain Sight:

“. . . the Kingdom of God is continuously visiting, interrupting, invading, disrupting, what we perceive to be the world.  We step into the Jordan River throughout our day.  When we let it wash the chatter around us, we hear the voice that says ‘you are more than your job, your role, your mask.  You are mine.  And I am pleased.’  When we step out of the river, we are initiated, illumined, and clean.”

Have you witnessed a wink from God lately?

 How about a baptism?

A Lost Art

Colored chalk squares

Pebbles from

the garden

Tossing, balancing

laughter

A mother teaching

her son...

hopscotch

A Lost Art

Keys thrown

in a pool

Diving to retrieve

Giggles of delight

Uninterrupted time

A mother teaching

her daughter...

companionship

A Lost Art

Walking a

rocky beach

Noticing sand

shells and driftwood                                                

Embracing the

wind and waves

A husband teaching

His wife...

simplicity

A Lost Art

Early morning quiet

calm ocean surf

A glow

on the horizon

suddenly bursts

into view

Streaming light radiates

touching my soul

Unexpected tears

gently spill out

God teaching

His child...

Presence

NOT a Lost Art

Hanalei, Kauai

April 22, 2012

Walking Through Fear. . .With the Spudster

Spud continues to be a vessel spilling out opportunities for self-reflection.   I know it’s not intentional on his part, maybe not even on God’s part, nevertheless there they are, right smack-dab in the middle of my life!

Noticing my fears seems to be Spud’s latest message!  We recently had two incidents, which drove that point home.  The first was while walking the Rose Bowl (which in and of itself was pushing through the anxiety of ‘would I be able to handle this big white mass of muscles as we approached a variety of other dogs strolling with their owners’  - and we did very nicely, I must say!)  However, about half way around I took a tumble.  Have you ever had that experience, almost an “out of body” when you know you are going down and wonder how this will end!?  Fortunately, no injuries, expect perhaps to my pride as people stopped to help (as a side note, Spud seemed awfully happy to have me down on all fours with him – play time!)

My first reaction - fear!  Would I make it to the car without falling again? What had I done to cause it?  I can never walk the Rose Bowl again.

The second incident involved Spud spotting a coyote and deciding he needed to meet him (I don’t know what the purpose of that idea was, but we can only guess!)  This time my husband was walking him and Spud pulled the leash right out of his hand.  Spud was off and running and in a split second out of sight.  Luckily this story has a happy ending.  A friend found Spud walking down the middle of the street, got him in her car and drove him to our house. 

My first reaction (well maybe second, because the first was gratitude that my boy had been safely returned) once again revolved around the familiar emotion of fear; fear Spud might have been lost forever and fear about the outcome of an actual encounter with a coyote.  I’d better not ever walk Spud again, who knows where the next creature might be lurking that he feels the need to meet!

But you see the thing is, NOT walking Spud is NOT an option!  Twice a day, he reminds me it’s time to head out for an adventure together.  Time to look at the flowers, trees, blue sky, white clouds, squirrels, birds – and perhaps an occasional coyote!  Thank God, Spud does not allow me to succumb to my fears.

I’ll end by paraphrasing a quote from one of the last contestants to be voted off Dancing With the Stars (a source of profound weekly inspiration!)

“If there is something you fear, instead of running away, head straight toward it.  It’s the best feeling in the world when you come out the other side”

So . . . got fear?  Embrace it?  What do you think?

Here's Spud recuperating from yesterday's Rose Bowl walk!

And Yet, I Stay

I recoil                                                                   I witness

at the sight                                                             an encounter

of him                                                                    with prophets of old

camel hair clothes                                                  hearing The Voice

unkempt hair                                                         call from above

frantic gestures                                                     I am stunned and shaken

summoning followers

to a river                                                                And yet, I stay.

                                   

And yet, I stay.                                                     I fear

                                                                            His leaving

I puzzle                                                                 as I teeter on belief

at a baptism                                                          abandoned with images

in the Jordan                                                         not quite taken root

heavens torn apart                                                 emptiness creeps in

a dove descending

a Voice proclaiming                                             And yet, I stay.

And yet, I stay.                                                   I peek

                                                                          within

I question                                                            lingering at the entrance

healings and demons                                           reluctant to move forward

miracles of feeding                                              wanting to turn away

walking on water                                                  stepping inside

and calming storms                                             a life-changing decision

                                                                          the choice is mine

And yet, I stay.

                                                                           And so, I stay.

I listen to 

parables

yearning to understand                                       Reflections on my Lenten Journey

wonder at His question                                       with the Gospel of Mark

skeptical of my answer                                       March 28, 2012

hesitant to follow

And yet, I stay.

"Pray Beside the Mystery"

Have you ever had the experience of hearing someone else articulate what you are feeling?  That happened to me yesterday, during a powerful Palm Sunday sermon that ended with the words “Pray Beside the Mystery”.

Here I am entering Holy Week, having walked through a particularly meaningful Lent.  Through weekly lessons, meditations, and a bible study class, I have been immersed in the Gospel of Mark.  My eyes were opened to the life of Jesus as never before.   There were times when it all made perfect sense, but more often than not I was completely baffled.  The Mystery.

I reflect on my personal journey and realize it is much the same.  Recognizing the God sightings, connecting the dots, the inexplicable calm in the midst of a storm, nurturing a divine idea, or the palpable sense of His presence and conversely my doubts, questionings, denials, and feelings of abandonment.  The Mystery.

As so beautifully stated on Palm Sunday, this week we are invited to “Pray Beside the Mystery”, to sit quietly next to The Presence.  No need for complete certainty or controlling the outcome. 

“Pray Beside the Mystery”.

Our 'Call'

Noticing-Listening-Responding

Last Saturday, I was privileged to attend a service of worship for the Commissioning of a Lay Pastor.  It was a beautiful service, where the common thread weaving through the prayers, meditations, and music was our answer to God’s call in our lives.

Noticing-Listening-Responding

I was reminded that each of us has been given a gift; a gift God needs us to share with His world – because that is how God works in His world.  Our gift is our call; have you noticed yours?

Noticing-Listening-Responding

But it is not enough to notice, we must listen to where that call might lead and trust the voice that directs us.  Do you believe God is calling you to engage your gifts with others?  Do you have a sense of what that might look like?

Noticing-Listening-Responding

The following thought is what really grabbed my attention, “Our call is not about us. Our call is about God loving his creation so much that he asks we respond with our gifts to help in His healing a hurting world.”   Imagine that, God has blessed each one of us with a call that is designed for a purpose.   A partnership with God, so to speak, to share His love with those who need His touch; just as someone else uses their call to touch our life.

I love that idea, it’s not all about us, it’s about God loving His creation.  Yet our part is to . . .

Notice-Listen-Respond

BETWEEN SATURDAYS

Walking the Labyrinth

“OK, I hear you, I get it, at least for right now.  But remind me again tomorrow!”

Those were my final sentences in last week’s posting on waiting and community.  Much to my surprise, God chose to remind me while walking the labyrinth at our Morning Apart.

Now let me say right up front, I’m not all that keen on a labyrinth!  We’ve had one at several Mornings Apart, yet I have only attempted the journey around the circles on one other occasion.  Even then, I’m not so sure I actually finished the walk.  I made it to the center and began my return when I just gave up and walked out, not caring at all that I wasn’t following the prescribed route!  I think it might have something to do with “trust issues”!   You couldn’t convince me those curved paths would lead to freedom!  I also was under the false assumption that one road led to the center and a completely separate one meandered its way out.  I was not prepared to meet a fellow traveler on the same path walking in the opposite direction. 

So on our stormy Saturday morning, I said “What the heck, I’ll give it another try.  Can’t go for a walk or sit outside in the rain!”  I envision Jesus smiling, shaking his head, and saying “Alright, now I can shower a few reminders her way, like she asked me to do!” (Do you ever dialogue with Jesus like that, or am I crazy here?!  Perhaps for a later posting!!)    

Anyway, with each turn of the path, I began to understand that while on my solitary walk, I was not alone, but in community.  On two occasions, I met other travelers trekking out as I was heading in.  The first time I accused the person of doing it all wrong – I mean really, how could she NOT know how to walk a labyrinth properly!  We got the giggles over the whole situation. Even though we were breaking the silence of the morning and contemplative had flown out the window, it was a cherished glimpse of community!  The second encounter was with a friend who stopped to give me a hug and whisper words of strength and encouragement.   Another hushed moment where God’s voice came through loud and clear “You are in community.”  I experienced walking parallel with someone who is a new acquaintance in my life, as well as watching a familiar face make their way around the circle, but never coming in close proximity with each other.  Community, in the sweet simple times, as well as the waiting times.  

I learned the labyrinth is truly a metaphor for my journey.  The twists and turns, the long smooth roads, making it to a goal and then quickly seeking a new one.  Walking alone, along side, opposite or in unison, with laughter, joy, empathy and love. 

What a profound reminder I was given on a blustery Saturday morning!

 P.S.  I taught Pre-K in this classroom almost 30 years ago.  Life coming full circle - literally!