Grace- helping a parishener move, 7hrs. And coming home to prepared supper and an epsom salt bath! Heavenly!

The Grace

I was not in church on Sunday as I have, for the past 5 years, taken the long weekend in May as vacation -being as it is a long weekend that does not have religious responsibilities on my part.  When not present with the worshiping body of Christ I miss sharing the opening welcome, and passing of blessing.  The words are grace and I am going to share them in devotion time with the D.Min. class tomorrow morning.
So to all of you who read this blog, this is for you:
The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, the love of God, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all.  Amen.

green and growing. This is how I feel today. This is pure grace

Victoria Day

G - growing green gardens
R - rough rocks 
A - awesome air
C - clumps clay
E - earth

There was nothing better than spending the day playing in the dirt in the garden.

Blue Nose Marathon

It was utter grace to run the half marathon, in control of my breathing the entire way.  For not having trained as much as I would have liked due to school work, and sitting in class the whole week before, I did awesome!  There is such a power rush when one is halfway through (at PB time of 51:27) and feeling strong, the wind in ones' hair, the air of life flowing in and out.  I felt at one with myself, the world around me.  I smiled most of the way...able to run when once upon a time I had asthma and wouldn't have been able to run the distance.
In the end the time, although not a PB was still good: 2:00:57
Grace also came in the words of the friend who I helped train for the 10k.  She bettered her goal and did 10k in 59minutes.
Grace was with and in my husband as he walked 10k, a great feat! 
Grace, life, is good!

Jesus as Sage

Sometimes grace comes in a sage Word.  This evening I encountered grace in the words of my fortune cookie from supper.
if you chase two rabbits, both will escape.
A big grace was  a delightful supper out, with normal conversation, with my family.
A really big grace was the gigantic warm hug I received from Tim.  It felt so good! 

D.Min.Contemporary Theology Day 4

We are beginning to talk about theologians who have moved from the traditional systematic approach.  Some of these theologians are extremely critical of operating doctrines and theologies.  It is interesting to see that ideas that I have held, wrestled with, or take for granted are verging on heretical by others in the class.  In fact, some of the tenets we are discussing, are being heard for the first time by some classmates.  
I have been reminded that we are a product of our histories and contexts.  Tonight I see grace in the journey that has me where I am -with a wide variety of theologies operating and conversing with each other.  

D.Min. Contemporary Theology Day 2

What oxygen is to the lungs, such is hope to the meaning of life.
-Emil Brunner

D.Min: Contemporary Theology Day 1

Grace is a very interesting topic.  Today as a seminar we discussed Bonhoeffer.  Bonhoeffer talks of Christ being 'pro me', standing in my place where I can not stand, on the border of my existence. This is unconditional grace and love.  As a call to discipleship we are called to stand 'pro me' for others, praying for forgiveness for all so that the other becomes closer to the Incarnate One.  The question is how does grace, and our experience of grace, affect our ethics.  When you look at the life of Bonhoeffer and his part in the resistance, was that acting as grace? I would say yes.
Grace is messy business!

Today's grace is found in the exhiliration of completing a planned presentation, knowing that although nervous as all get-out it is going to be pretty good.  Grace comes in the ability to struggle with theological concepts and difficult language, to in the end understand enough to be able to enter into conversation with it, and integrate some of the theology and make it one's own.

genesis 48

...I never expected to see your face again, and now God has allowed me to see your children too...
I read an interesting thought today about the theology  of music.  The concept presented was one of music connecting human beings to an expression of the chaos and dissonance they experience in the world around them.  The playing and hearing of the discordent cord, the minor keys, and the sometimes unpredictable melodies allow the human  being to "cry out" and deeply feel pain, suffering, and vulnerability.   When this occurs the human empties themself, thus able to grasp the beauty of music and the harmonies found therein.  This is the grace of music -it brings wholeness and healing oft times amid chaos.  There is creation, regeneration, and a chance for hope and transformation.

Genesis 47

...we have come to reside as aliens in the land; for there is no pasture for your sevants' flocks because the famine is severe in the land of Canaan...
Have you ever felt like an alien?  A foreigner? Lately I have felt that way reading theological tomes.  The language is convoluted, difficult, and isn't as systematic as the author thinks that it is.  Today I am thankful for my family - for around them, in my own home, I am free to be ME.  This is a special grace in a world that often is so busy, complicated, and ever changing.  To have a place to be me, and be loved for who I am.  Grace at its best.

Bonhoeffer prayer

...saying this prayer every day might just change one's perspective and have one living grace...
this prayer was written while he was in prison
O God, 
early in the morning I cry to you.
Help me to pray
and to concentrate my thoughts on you:
I cannot do this alone.
In me there is darkness,
but with you there is light;
I am lonely, but you do not leave me;
I am feeble in heart, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is help;
I am restless, but with you there is peace.
In me there is bitterness, but with  you there is patience;
I do not understand your ways,
but you know the way for me...
Restore me to liberty,
and enable me to live now
That I may answer before you and before me.
Lord, whatever this day may bring,
Your name be praised.
Amen. 

Palestinians

Tonight I went to a lecture by His Excellency Archbishop Elias Chacour; Archbishop of Akka, Haifa, Nazareth, and all of Galilee of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church.  His talk was one of a series of three on, "Theological Reflections on Peacekeeping".
His lecture was a series of stories, narrating life from the perspective of a Palestinian Arab Christian, and a citizen of Israel.
He covets prayers and solidarity from us for Palestian people, a people treated as second class citizens in a country where  62 years ago they were treated as full citizens -with lands that had been theirs for centuries.
Grace was in the words that he used, words that he tells the 4000+ children (Jewsish, Muslem, and Christian) who come to the school he started.  Paraphrasing his words, "where you born Jewish, Muslem, Christian?  No, you were born a baby!  As a baby you were born, born in the image of God, just the same as every body else."
When the world realizes this -that will be grace.
 

Genesis 46

...God spoke to Israel in in visions of the night....
Last night I had dreams, dreams that I hope never come true.  I wish that the dream I had my children would have...it was about teenagers drinking, driving, and ending up paralized.  Wouldn't it be wonderful if the fears parents have could be translated into dreams that children hear while sleeping? Not all fears, just the words of wisdom we have to pass on that seemed to be missed in daily conversation.  I guess I didn't always appear to hear my mom and dad, and their wisdom is coming back to me now.  This is grace.  And when all is said and done I suppose my children will remember that which I have passed on when they need it most. This will be grace for them.

I post this blog in appreciation to fellow women colleagues who have had the foresight to join once a month to share issues in ministry and offer support, information, and  constructive conversation.  We have visited everything from abuse to zeal.
Grace for me is in the honesty and confidentiality found in this group.  This is a gift and hard to find. Thank-you girls!  Thank-you God!

genesis 45

....Enough! My son Joseph is still alive. I must go and see him before I die....
This is beauty and a chance at grace.
I find beauty and a reminder of God in my garden -since as yet all my kids are still at home.

 

excited Bible talk

...Tuesdays 10am @ the 3rd floor of the Berkely residence on Gladstone, in Halifax...
It is so neat when a group of people of different ages, a variety of traditions, lifetimes of knowledge -gather together and study sacred text.  What a pleasure to meet with this group and to learn much more from them than they learn from me.  Our holy conversation is filled with the Spirit of Wisdom and seeking of understanding.  This is grace.

a unique prayer

...at Atlantic School of Theology graduate service...
Bless us with enough foolishness to believe that we can make a difference in the world. 

Can you imagine the world if everyone believed this?  Even if just half the world believed this?  What if a thousand people in Halifax believed and lived this -people of a faith tradition, living their faith to the best of their ability?  The world, at least this small part of it would be radically different.  What a dream, a vision of utter grace.