God's Art Gallery

At last Saturday’s “A Morning Apart”, we dared to look at ourselves through God’s eyes.  Using Mark 1: 10-12 as a cornerstone, we listened to a voice from heaven that proclaims;  "YOU are my Beloved".  As if that were not risky enough, we were offered the opportunity to look at ourselves in a mirror; move past the bad hair day, the wrinkles, the dark circles under the eyes, the blemishes, any fears, doubts, or hurts we try to conceal, to the beloved child which God claims as His own.

During the quiet time, small canvases were available to paint a self-portrait, in whatever way one chose, to represent the true self; God's Beloved.  The results were remarkable.  From realistic to abstract, flowers, trees, mountains, and doves; each person became vulnerable with God. 

In our closing reflection, my friend declared the altar had become “God’s art gallery”.   And indeed it had!

If you’ve never looked into a mirror  to see yourself as God sees you, give it a try.  It’s a bit scary, but you just might be surprised at the reflection gazing back at you.

“You are my Son (my Daughter), the Beloved; with you I am well pleased.

Lent: An emptying out and filling up

Whenever I hear the word Lent, craving chocolate comes to mind.  Most likely because that is what I would choose to give-up during the forty days of temptation in the wilderness.  I never quite understood how this denial would bring me closer to Jesus, but then again I’m the proverbial ‘good girl’, who does what she’s supposed to do – and asks questions later!

However, this year appears to be starting out differently.  It’s those darned buttons I wrote about a few weeks ago!  I’m noticing a pattern in which ones are being pushed.  Within the variety of size, color, and shape, there’s a common theme; and if you want to know the truth, I think God’s the one doing the pushing!

I’m sensing new vistas on the horizon, but I can’t make the journey carrying the same old tired looking luggage packed full of worn-out buttons!  Consequently, God keeps giving me opportunities to choose a better way of dealing with the unwanted stings that life dishes out.  

And I’m beginning to wonder if perhaps this is my Lenten journey with Jesus in the wilderness; an emptying out and filling up – not an either/or, but a both/and.

Maybe giving up chocolate wasn’t so hard after all!

Naked in the Wilderness

OK, I apologize, not the visual you wanted, nonetheless, it’s a great descriptor for my current location!   Why is that my image at the present moment?  Let me explain.

 I’ve been having these nudges to read the Bible in its entirety.  I encounter passages in my daily meditations, am even rather familiar with a few, but not much in depth.  I am an Episcopalian for heaven’s sake!  So I’ve purchased a “read through the Bible in one year” edition and have begun the trek through the Old Testament.

WOW – NOT for the faint of heart!  It’s only been a month and I’ve witnessed sacrifices, floods (BIG floods!), plagues of all sorts, adultery, incest, a host of dysfunctional family systems, and some pretty interesting miracles thrown in along the way!

Moses has just led his people out of Egypt (not an easy task I learned) and now they’re wandering around in the desert complaining about the food and water supply!  I mean for how long were they in captivity?  God orchestrated all these amazing (graphic I must say) events to set His people on a new path toward their homeland and they’re looking back at Egypt with longing eyes.

Well, there I am!  I’ve been “kicked out of Egypt”!  I’ve been in a leadership role at church for the last three years, two of which have offered me a lofty title and my own imaginary crown.  I’ve always enjoyed being at the top!  But alas, the term limits expired, the crown handed to the new presiding queen, and I’m looking back at Egypt saying, “Wait a minute, how did I get out here?  I was just getting comfortable with my captivity!”

The thing is, I don’t really want to go back.  Actually, I can emphatically say NO; I don’t want to go back.  But I’ve been in this wilderness place wandering about in an unknown land before, who knows what lies ahead?   THAT, it seems, is the million-dollar question.

So for now I will trust that God knows; that He will clothe me and set me on my next path.  I do hope it won’t be as tumultuous a journey as it was for the Israelites!

Buttons

Unaware it was still attached

    couldn't feel it

    didn't see it

until it was pushed.

A few dings

   some scratches

   even a bit of rust,

       yet uncannily familiar

when it was pushed.                                             

Old buttons

    can do that

    reminders of the past

        searching for their garment

waiting to be pushed.

But the apparel is new

    old buttons don't fit

    they just won't fasten

        no matter how hard

they're pushed.

Carol Wawrychuk

January 24, 2013

A Letter From God?

At last Saturday’s “A Morning Apart”, we explored letter writing!  Specifically a letter of Christ, “written not with ink, but with the Spirit of the living God.” (2 Corinthians 3:2-3)  A mighty tall order, don’t you agree?  But wait, there was more.  What if God wrote a letter to US!  What would He say?  How would He address us?  How would God sign our letter? 

During our quiet space that is just what we did, wrote a letter to ourselves from God. We placed it in an envelope, sealed and addressed it, to be returned in the mail at a later date.  Some of us found envisioning God writing to us personally wasn’t such a simple task.  Going out to be the messenger of Christ apparently is more comfortable than relaxing into God’s care and love of us, JUST US, as His individual child.

It was an enlightening experience, one you could try on your own.

What words would God send from His heart to yours?

You are a letter from Christ

in the mailbox of my life

I’ve found many forms of letters

but the ones I’ve most rejoiced in

are the ones sent from my Lord.

they look most ordinary

that no one would suspect

they bear the blessed message

of the truth about my heart.

some letters bring me challenge

to forego my hardened ways;

some letters invite happiness

and promise new delight.

some letters gift my days with hope

when all the world seems dark’

some letters bear tough questions

regarding weaknesses and sin.

some letters send me healing

when my heart is weary

some letters speak of loving

and of giving beyond cost.

some letters make me wonder

how I ever could refuse,

for they are letters of proposal

for a love life with my God.

I know that I’ll keep coming

to the mailbox of my life

because the letters tell of Jesus

and pursue me with this truth.

Fresh Bread Joyce Rupp

PS  If you ever want to respond  directly to me, please include my personal email address, otherwise I may not receive your comments.  They seem to float off into blog space somewhere!  I do enjoy hearing your reflections!  carolwawrychuk@gmail.com

One Year Later

On January 5, 2012, I sat here staring at the angel mustering up the courage to hit the send button on the first posting for "Seeds of Faith".  It still amazes me that I have actually done this - shared some of my journey with you - me, the person who not so many years ago would let no one past the outer wall. But that's the God part, the unexpected ways He just seems to show up and says, "Let's do this differently".  

And I've learned so much from this adventure, especially from you!  So many times your responses have been an encouragement, helped me to look at something from a new perspective, or given me the comfort of a kindred spirit who understands what I'm feeling.

A year ago I had a list of topics on which to reflect; I've only written on a couple of them!  I've come to understand if the nudge to do this was from God, the Spirit would also direct me as to what needed to be shared.  I've relaxed into the flow of waiting for promptings   Now if that isn't out of my comfort zone, I don't know what is!  

So thank you for sticking with me.  Oh, and I'm not going anywhere yet.  “Seeds of Faith” will continue to drop into your mailbox, when you least expect it!

Happy New Year 2013

The celebration of the New Year has never been high on my 'holiday list'.  Oh there have been a few years of parties, late dinners, and even spending the night on the parade route (when I was VERY young and dumb!), but somehow it never measured up to MY expectations of the perfect New Year’s Eve.

But this year was different.  We were invited to an open house, which began early, allowing us to be home at a reasonable hour (well reasonable for us, that is!).   Bill and I wished each other Happy New Year before nodding off around 10:30, Spud already snoring at the foot of the bed!   In the midst of that twilight sleep, I vaguely heard the phone ring, followed by a familiar voice on the answering machine.  It was my dear friend not wanting to let 2012 end without sending her love.   And as I write, one eye is glued to the TV so I don't miss another friend who will be riding on one of the floats.

Doesn't sound all that spectacular does it?  So what's changed, you may ask?

It's me!  I've changed!   I welcomed the New Year surrounded by people I love and who dearly care about me (including canine people of course!) Finally, I am able to recognize perfection with more clarity.   

It's the simple things; seems to be a reoccurring theme with me these days!

Wishing you a 2013 chock full of the simple things in life, with arms wide open to embrace them!