Canada Games Oval

There is nothing more Canadian than grabbing a pair of skates and heading off to an outdoor rink; in Halifax this winter it is a 400m oval on the Commons. To skate around and around with people of all degrees of ability, being blustered by wind on the North side,and enjoy the laughter and comments being made -there is nothing to compare. These are the simpler pleasures -grace- that makes winter tolerable. After starting to sweat, while the nose is cold, one begins to enter oneself no matter how many are on the ice. One's brain does a dance of working out pieces of gathered information and day dreams. The farther one skates the freer one becomes and the more grace is experienced. At 30 x 400m there was a lot of grace.

John1:1-20

"In the beginning was the Word and the Word was with God and the Word was God."
These words take on a new meaning when one looks at the work Dr.Masura Emoto is doing with "words of intent". His work involves finding the mystery of water. He experiments with words, music, or pictures directed at water, which is then frozen and viewed through magnification. Words like love and gratitude create beautiful crystals; the negative in any form causes water not to crystalize.
John's image of God in Word is quantum theory. Add this to speaking words of intent -God- and the world is given the gift, mystery, God-with-us, to heal the world and bring God's creation into God's vision. This vision is hope, love, peace,
joy.

"nothing beats the grace of a well thrown rock."  -from the movie "Men With Brooms"
 Or perhaps it is is watching the movie with ones family and everyone laughing.

words found in the front of my daytimer

The following are phrases I have collected over the years and write in the front of my daytimer.
The words and phrases have guided me and offered grace at times when the world seemed chaotic.
 One could say the words hit home.  They are light when I face darkness:

 Holy Chaos

 Otium Sanctum (holy leisure) 

Practice Resurrection

 Micah 6:8 

 Deja Moo

salem al e acum

 earth, air, fire, water

grace:  a telephone call from a person in-the-know, with love, caring and a listening ear

Grace came in the small voice of the little girl who with a knowing look stated her line of the Christmas pageant.  The simplicity and beauty brought tears to my eyes. It was grace to have joyful tears as my countenance is from moment to moment close to shattering.  I pray that my "little" girl might feel the warmth and simplicity and love that I experienced today - in the small voice of a little girl.

Think what the family would be like if children saw only affection and oneness in their parents.


-Dr.Charles Parker (for more quotes go to Crosslites)
 
As one of my children has left home before fully having wings, this quote strikes me as it hits the core of how I feel.  I am sadden that the affection and oneness that I perceive and feel in the household is not that perceived by one of the baby birds that shared the nest.  I pray she can find a nest that offers her the grace she so desperately needs.

“Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal. It's a way to live.”

 Jackie Windspear

A grace thought by Paul Tillich

"In any case, the great panorama ceases to be chaos, if seen in the light of the ultimate questions of the meaning of life and the paradoxical answer to which the artists are witnesses; the grace of life in a gracelss world."   -1964 Lecture

Cross Training

This is not about the God kind of cross training, although there is plenty of grace in that.  This is about ice skating when the weather is so yucky  one doesn't want to go out running.  Today in Halifax it was extremely windy, then calm, with sun, rain, snow, sleet -all in an hour; repeated over and over throughout the day.  I walked through this with my skates and new helmet to the Forum where I skated  -very quickly- for an hour.  It was awesome! 
The helmet is my Christmas present from my mom and dad, bought early to protect my noggin. The freedom of not being afraid to fall -first time ever skated with a helmet.  Awesome!  Freedom is grace!

"I Shall Not Hate", A Gaza Doctor's Journey

The public is invited to join Dr.Izzeldin Abuelaish, Nobel Peace Prize nominee and author or "I Shall Not Hate", as he share his story of loss, faith and forgivness.
Tues. December 7th
7-8:30pm
Theatre A, Tupper Link,
Sir Charles Tupper Medical Building
5850 college St. Halifax
Admission is FREE.

3:25 am

Those of you who know me know that I am not a morning person.
Those of you who know me know that I do not give out money to transients.
Those of you who know me  know that I do not have a medal in patience.

 Last night I was told a story.
 It was a continuation of a story I heard earlier in June; one a remember -kind of; from a person I remember -kind of.  It is a story that this morning has me reflecting on Joseph and Mary knocking on the inn keepers door in Bethlehem.

 I wonder what time of night they knocked. How gracious was the inn keeper?  How awake was the inn keeper?  At 7pm there is grace and patience.  At 1: 25 am there is a little less.  At 3:55am there really isn't much grace and patience went to dreamland hours ago.
 This was my night, or should I say early morning.  Yes I did help, yes with cash, yes with every ounce of patience I could muster (that means grace shown on the outside with the inside lagging far behind).


The experience did put me to sleep twice saying the Jesus prayer; "Jesus, have mercy", for all those who have no where to lay their heads, for those who have a place but choose not to stay there, for those who have a place but is complicated...Lord Jesus, have mercy.

Responsibility or Not

Today I am thankful for the way my life's journey has been and continues to be.  Along the way it has meant learning responsibility, being responsible, and sharing responsibility.  Now come to find out that contentment and sanity  -GRACE- is found in not taking responsibility.  I am not responsible for fixing everything that falls apart, particularly in the lives of those I love.  It would be less painful however, that would stunt their growth.

Note to self: current responsibity -love without fixing

A Christian View of Poverty

This piece was given at Dalhousie University Student Union Building, Room 224 on Nov.21: a panel on poverty.

Once upon a time, so the story has been told, God dreamed a dream. The dream was a dream that saw the people of the world distributing and re-distributing the world’s wealth.  It was idyllic: people were to live and move and be –enjoying life. It was a place where the law was such that it protected the marginalized: grain was left on the sides of the fields, vegetable and fruit crops were not picked clean –so that gleaners could help themselves.  The gift of law was full of love, to teach relationship, justice, equality.

 Every sixth year the people were to gather and put away enough of the harvest for the following year, for every seventh year was a Sabbath –where the ground would lie fallow, the people would enjoy leisure, people would concentrate on each other.

And every 50 years was a year of Jubilee:  where wealth and resources were re-distributed –family land was returned if it had been sold, slaves went free, debts were cancelled.  Everyone started again: a new beginning where none had too little, and no one had too much.

Although this dream was grand, the gift of the law was given such that it could come true, but perhaps the dream was too grand for the people. People set about living their lives.  It started small with a simple gathering of those things that were needed to survive –then a few extra pleasures; but it didn’t take long for people to start accumulating, saving, growing, investing, amassing, stealing, developing, hoarding,...  The world became full of those who had too little, and those who too much.

Centuries came and went, and God’s grand dream was forgotten.

God thought of a new way to share the grand dream with the people; so God came in person –to preach, teach, live by example.  This God-person, Jesus,

Welcomed the disenfranchised -women, children

Healed the sick –the leper, the blind, the paralytic

Brought hope to poor: “Blessed are the poor in Spirit, for theirs is the Kingdom of heaven”

Those are the sayings, the stories that get told again and again, but this God-person, Jesus was about something quite different.  The mission was to wake the people up, particularly those with too much.  It was the teaching and answering questions that shared the dream; God-person, Jesus was found speaking to the authorities, the system, the religious leaders, the powers-that-be; and it wasn’t shake-your-hand-let’s-do-lunch politics, it was challenge, in your face confrontation. 

It was standing in the Temple watching the people come and give their required, prescribed, offerings to God. And in the moment when the widow came and placed all that she had –her grocery money, her rent, - her two mites; Jesus comments, not for the widow to hear but for the system and those running the system to hear; “She’s given all that she has”;  That wasn’t to built up the widow, to suggest that all should give all they have –it was God saying look this isn’t my dream; there is a systemic problem here when the powers-that-be require the poor to have nothing; don’t you see the grand dream, even an inclining of my vision?

Jesus speaks to the people, trying to ignite God’s grand dream: beware of those who teach and like to walk around in long robes and love to be greeted with respect in the market-place; who choose to sit in reserved seats and the best places at feasts; who take advantage of the poor and rob widows of their homes –and yet still go as if all is OK, to worship and pray with a big to-do.

Yes, your right the story is heard and told differently because many of those telling the story are now the ones with too much; too much to lose –too attached to lose – too overburdened too love.

But the story goes that after this God-person Jesus left, there was a small group of those whose eyes did twinkle with the grand dream; their hearts were one and they sought to love. Now some were poor themselves, others had walked with Jesus as he comforted the poor, still others came with wealth: men, women, children, slave, free, from all nations.  They saw the dream and thus shared their property and possessions, distributing to each according to their need. The big deals had trouble understanding and were less forgiving of the people who wished to dream God’s dream -to envision and work towards a new world; so the people were quieted –in conflict, by prison, through persecution.

As the story continued to be told, small groups throughout the history of the world caught the wind of the spirit who whispered the grand dream.  Those who kindled the flame of this dream offered food, charity – collecting alms; offered medicine, herbs, hospital care for little or no payment; the poor were offered school –the chance to read and write.  This was done for the love of the neighbour out of the love the people felt from God.

And the big deals kind of liked it –because they could give guilt money, feel they had done their part, work on behalf of the poor and never get their hands dirty, never change the way they lived.

As the story continues today, there is a group of people who have caught the winds of the spirit who whispers the grand dream; God vision is being painted through NGOs, food banks, shelters, non-profit housing...but the picture is constantly shadowed by graffiti –not the pretty bright coloured bubble kind, but the black ugly destructive sort.  The people who have vision never get anywhere, or so it seems.  The hope goes from one generation to the next in small patches here and there.  Alms are collected, charity given, but nothing really changes.

..it doesn’t change because we as Christians often fail to tell and listen to our own story; the one where this God-person Jesus confronts the powers-that-be, the law.

This is not the end of the story but a moment in the journey of people who wander seeking more, and the more is the grasping and living the grand dream; where none have too much, and no one has too little. 

a cup of tea

This has been a crazy day.  The third Wed. of a month is the day a group of ladies quilts at the church.  Generally I join them however, this afternoon I had a funeral to do.  The women, bless their hearts, waited 1/2 hr. at the end so I could sit down and have a cup of hot tea and a snack.  This was the best gift of grace.  I told them that they would be the subject of the blog for today:  my three graces.

crafts

Lots of head work and no creative work leads to a craving to let the inner spirit soar.  Yesterday was the day to get out scissors, paper, glue, and markers.  Yippy!  Grace came through the activity and the Christmas cards are almost being done is a bonus.

sunshine

It was warm today, not just kind of warm for Nov.13th, really warm.  At the local university football came the regulars came with extra jackets, mitts, and hats.  When one sits in the bleachers it feels cold after sitting there for a few hours.  Today I felt GRACE -imagine sitting outside in a t-shirt for 2 hrs, sweating.  My skin sucked up the engergy, my lungs inhaled deeply; I felt warm, alive, content.
Even better the team I was cheering for won - that's not grace though because God doesn't choose sides, particularly at sporting events.

All Saint's Remembrance

There is something to be said for remembering the people in ones' past and sharing those stories with others.  There are people in all of our lifes who have contributed to making us who we are.  Take a few moments and reflect on who these people have been in your life.

 Perhaps these people have given you hope, courage, taught you to love, to believe in yourself, shared faith, were a light in the darkness. 
Do you offer the same gifts to those around you?  This is the offering of grace.  This is offering and growing faith and hope for today and tomorrow.

 Today I remember the pastors in my life who are a large part of who I am today: Pr.Skinner who taught me about a love for nature; Pr.Linda -or Mrs.Minister was a model that women could be pastors; Pr. Mark Harris who tolerated questions, in fact encouraged them during confirmation, and instilled a love for liturgy; and Pr.Lloyd Wiseman who dedicated his life to serving in unique pastoral ways especially with disabled and aged living in facilities.
Thank-you for being Christ light, God's grace.

hospital

Grace today came after my husband's minor surgery.  No so much for me, but for him.  He has not been in any pain for the past 3 hrs.; a first in months.

a day off

Mondays have traditionally been my day off.  The past few weeks I have been sitting in class on Mondays; this also meant getting up early.  Today was pure grace -I did work on an assignment, but on my own terms, in my own time.  This morning I slept in, total heaven on earth.  I followed this with a leisurely run to work out the kinks from sitting in chairs for two weeks.  Then I worked on an assignment, taking breaks for tea, snuggling with Felix (my cat), sitting at the table with the kids when they came home.  And then to top it all off I had time to play Scrabble with friends all across this country.  Now it is 8:33pm...meaning there is 3 hours of grace left to be found before turning in to bed.

well laid plans

There is grace to be found in well laid plans.  Last week and this week I am at Acadia Divinity College working towards a D.Min.  Today, I now have a concrete plan for the courses from now to the end, along with the dates.  This was also the day we were given the step by step, time by time, breakdown of the thesis project.  Simple!  It feels wonderful to see the vision of what is to come.  There is peace to be found in this and a lot of excitement in the nitty-gritty.
Often when I get ideas, the ideas are instantly implemented or implemented as soon as possible.  Containing excitement and letting thoughts ruminate is an exercise in patience and guess what else...grace; for ideas become bigger, fleshed out, and morph quickly.  In some ways it is almost selfish as the thoughts move so quickly that others do not get a chance to participate in the spontaneity of the ideas.  Maybe receiving grace in this way, allows for a better presentation of said grace later on.

Henri Nouwen on Grace.

" Can we trust that in the midst of all its human brokenness the Churst presents the broken body of Christ in the world as food for eternal life?  Can we acknodlwedge that where sin is abuindant grace is superabundant, and that where promises are broken over and over again God\s promise stands unshaken?  To believe is to answer yes..."

Film Screening: "Four Feet Up"

The International Day for the Eradication of Poverty is fast approaching. One the events offered in Halifax by the NS assoc. of Social Workers was a film from Canada's National Film Board. In the film a little boy and his family are followed over a year. Poverty is seen through the eyes of the child. Although the parents are trying exceedingly hard, all the right things are still getting them nowhere. The cycle and grip of poverty is very real. One in six children live in poverty in Canada and that means their families do too. I have lots to complain about and after the presentation today, realize that grace is being a loud voice, continually poking politicans,demanding action and accountability. Grace is justice. Grace is a complaint that moves to action. Grace cannot be quiet in a place where God's kingdom is not yet whole.

I am not what I ought to be, I am not what I want to be, I am not what I hope to be in another world; but still I am not what I once used to be, and by the grace of God I am what I am.

John Newton

relaxation

Generally I am a driven person.  When I work in the kitchen I do dishes, cook supper, pack lunches and do a load of laundry all at the same time.  When I work in the church office I photocopy, open mail and reflect on Sunday's sermon all at the same time. When I relax at home I am doing puzzles or word games, reading for school, or thinking about a million things.  This afternoon grace came as I picked up something different, knitting of a prayer shawl in a three stitch that goes "Father, Son, Holy Spirit" perled, "Father, Son, Holy Spirit" knitted, repeated.  It is very meditative.
And as I close out this post, the cat is curled beside me, my husband beside that, our hockey team has more goals, and the knitting bag will come out.  Ahhhhh.

Grace isn't a little prayer you chant before receiving a meal.  It's a way to live.  ~Attributed to Jacqueline Winspear

speechless

Have you come to a point in your day, where you have been left speechless?  This afternoon I find myself with few words to say, other than I am content with that.  Perhaps there is grace in contented silence.

The Bashing of Children a lovely image

Sermon Oct.3, 2010: Pentecost 19C

Did you hear the last verse of the Psalm this morning, or take it in when you said the words aloud?

(wait) ..... great then lets carry on with something else.

...I have a thought that the lack of response is due to the content of the text. I am sure that more than one of you read the sentence a second time, or puzzled over it, or closed the book quickly so as to not think about the image created.

The Psalm read:  “Happy shall they be who take your little ones and dash them against the rock!”

Lovely image, isn’t it?

The Psalm is one of gut wrenching anger, despair and grief.  The people of Israel have been carried off by an opposing military offensive and find themselves by the waters of Babylon –away from their homes, separated from their family, surrounded by foreigners and strange practices.  They are sad, repentant and discouraged by their behaviour which is interpreted as their disobedience to the law of God. They weep for the days of old and speak curses against the oppressors. That is what we hear today; a deeply emotional poetic expression of the tumult of a displaced people.

So there -is the why of the text, but some of you may be asking why is this text included in scripture, repeated and remembered?

Take a moment to pause and remember when you last heard a graphic image and choose to share that image with another.

Consider this:  By watching the news on television one is inundated with images that are just as graphic and similar in cause and reason as the verse written in Psalm 137.  Now think about the last movie you went to in the theatre, reflect on the previews; how many acts of violence were present in just one trailer. –multiply this by five or six previews, and then consider how many acts of vengeance or revenge violence were present in the movie.  Consider the presence of revengeful thoughts and acts in a regular primetime T.V. show? Have you read the newspaper recently, you will find such sentiment and image there too? What lovely images face us every day.

The truth is that the human condition of our world, fallen humanity, is no different today than it was centuries ago.  Images of vengeance against an oppressor, thoughts of revenge and uttered curses are as close to our lips as they were to our ancestors.

 

Why is it that the image of children being dashed against stones should well up inside us an anger, a protest of too much when it appears in scripture, yet in our world it is a daily occurrence to which we turn a blind eye and a hardened heart.  This image doesn’t bother us because of its grotesqueness, it bothers us because the incarnate God who has come to stand in humanity in and among us –agitates the heart of our very being with a sense that all is not right in the world.  We look at the image as the culprit of angst, but it is misplaced anger and shame that we allow vengeance to exist in the world and revenge to creep into our own lives and emotions.  It is easier to say what should be excluded in scripture than face the issues in the real world.

We are part of–and thus can be held responsible- for a society that de-humanizes people and social relationships, the falling apart of households, the perpetual speed of change and stress; stress, chaos and sin that breeds gang violence, swarmings, child abuse and neglect, a rise in homicides and punitive justice, an appetite for war.

Psalm 137 wrestles with human emotion and circumstance; with an eye to seeking understanding that would bring meaning to life.  The poetic song expresses the peoples’ understanding of how God is part of the crisis they find themselves in. And yes, here God is represented as standing with one people, a people with whom God has made a covenant; and so with repentance on the part of the people, they see a return to their homeland and a crushing of the oppressor by the hand of God.

Our theology and understanding of God is perhaps, as we see it, a more evolved theology –one where God is not seen as a cosmic deity favouring one people over another, punishing those not following the law, using nations as if pawns on a chess board and being the God who will enact punitive justice –vengeance at the end of time.  We may say that we are above this kind of theology but it is thriving amongst large sections of societies in this country and around the global.

If this is not the theology we believe in, if our understanding and experience of God is different -then it is high time for it to be shared in the chaotic world; a theological understanding to be lived and in the living to bring hope, reduce violence, foster forgiveness and reignite relationships through reconciliation.

How?

At Lutheran World Federation meetings earlier this year, LWF repented and apologized to Mennonite and Anabaptist peoples for Lutheran acts of violence, torture and death executed by Lutheran hands over differences in theology not only in Europe, but here in North America.

Living a different understanding of God and theology,  is refusing to watch CNN over and over so that you can retell those horrible images and stories at the coffee shop; on the contrary one could share a story of hope, like an aha moment or an event you enjoyed with a friend.

Living a different understanding of God and theology is, no matter how much you dislike a neighbour and feel they deserve revenge, you neither mention these feelings to others or act on the emotion, rather you seek ways to build that relationship.

Living a different understanding of God and theology is going to a hockey game and not calling for a fight and if one erupts you do not stand and get hyped up, but remain seated unenthused until it is done.

Living a different understanding of God and theology is refusing to promote violence in any means and stopping a perpetuation of vengeful portrayals through the voice of your hard earn dollars.  That means refusing to buy video games or home movies soaked in acts of violence.

Living a different understanding of God and theology means a lot of hard work and a willingness to live as a child of God – a person seeking understanding and a coming-forth of new societal values.   If the images of Psalm 137 disturb us, are we called to do anything less than eradicate such images...and until such a time as eradication comes to fruition in the world around us, then Psalm 137 needs to be said, put up before us, rubbed in our faces, challenging us to do better.

And better means fulfilling the law: “love the Lord your God with all your heart, and mind and soul; and love your neighbour as yourself.”  Two laws connected through an image of relationship –a relationship built of obedience and grace.

In May, during my class on contemporary theology, the professor commented during a daily devotion that theology really boils down to one thing: our understanding of the kingdom of God.  The professor chose a hymn with images that painted a picture that represented the kingdom of God to him and suggested that we try the exercise, saying that our understanding of the kingdom colours our understanding of God –and emotionally connecting with this theology through song becomes how it is that we act as a Christian person in the world.  It states exactly how we live our understanding of God and theology.

The hymn I chose is the one chosen as today’s hymn of the day, “All Are Welcome.”  The words paint lovely grace-filled images of the kingdom of God; a kingdom that is created now, a kingdom that faces distressing images of children being bashed and goes beyond to tackle the issues of everyday life and society –refusing to turn a blind eye but rather embracing an understanding of a God full of grace, reconciliation and forgiveness.  It is about the Incarnate Christ, at work today, through us –with the vision and mission of creating lovely images which are truly lovely in reality.

  Today may this hymn be not only our prayer, but God’s mission, God’s vision, our image and theology of God and the fullness of the kingdom of God.  And as hope bearers may we digest the words through our singing of them, that we will live them now and forever. Amen.    

back in the office

Today I am back in the office, having been away for what seems like an eon.  Grace has crept up on me as I have been cleaning out email boxes, phone messages, and getting at the to-do list.  The office is so quiet.  Jobs are being done one at a time.  Although sleepy at this moment, my body -paritcularly my sinuses- have stopped moving from all the travel.  And now it is time for lunch...  ahhhh.

colleagues

As one journeys through this world going about life, job, and whatever else keeps one occupied, one often doesn't realize how isolated they have become. Often in the business I lose track of myself and the support network I have that keeps me sane. As I have spent the past few days on retreat and in conversation with colleagues I have been renewed by them, encouraged, embraced. This is grace.

A weekend with friends

There is grace to be found when one couple can find another couple to weekend with.  That was this past weekend: road trip, hanging out in a hotel room, making use of the amenities, watching t.v., sharing laughs and a few drinks, ordering pizza, going to a football game.
 There is grace in sharing a room, a shower, a couch, a small space...when you find true friends.  It means not being afraid to fart or snore or have someone find a waylaid pair of underwear.
I am thankful for our couple friends and the weekend we spent together in peace and harmony.  Chillin' :)

GRACE comes in common sense! Or perhaps GRACE is common sense!

death

Today the oldest women in the parish died at 97 years of age. This women's life was one that had grace written all over it. Yes, she spoke her mind, crossed a few people, and was stubborn. Her life oozed grace as she kept faith and persevered through living under Stalin, Lennon, and Hitler; being conscripted into the German army; coming to Canada, find her way, fighting cancer, working at a personal sewing machine business until 85, bowling into her 90s, and participating in all sorts of volunteer organizations.
Her life illustrated strength, perseverance and faith.
Through everything Aino loved people - enough to care, to teach, to tell them exactly what she thought.
This was grace.
I love Aino.
Thank-you for loving me.

a mill stone

Have you ever felt like a mill stone has been hung around your neck?  Or perhaps the weight of the world seems to be crushing down on your shoulders?
Every so often, I have periods where I am emotionally kaput.  These times are often difficult to admit to myself.  They weigh heavy.
There is grace in learning to say outloud, "I am emotionally zapped!"  When one is able to express this statement the weight starts to lift.  It is no longer just me in the world by myself.  I have sought help and let the words filter through the universe.  The emotions remain very much alive and present but no longer continue to seep deep inside.
I told a colleague today that "I am emotionally zapped!", she heard, empathized, commented, hugged.  The mill stone now feels more like sacks of pebbles. 

Grace today means I have to look outside my own strength and seek a strength far greater than myself. 

imagine

Resurrection in my Halifax garden -Sept.16, 2010

poor timing

My sense of time is generally very task-oriented.  I suppose this comes from years of time management with school and has been honed with having three teenagers in the house.  As I age, I am also becoming more set in my ways, and when I have a thought as to how time should go -I really like it going that way; my way.
One of my teenagers was pro-active today...a huge grace...and went to a guidance counselor to get information about college.  Tonight, as supper was in process, an email 1/2 written, a phone call being made, it was THE time for the application to be filled out.  Although annoyed at the time, what grace to know that the application was completed and sent, transcripts mailed, and the registration fee paid.

legacy

The past few weeks have been spent on texts from the reading list for an upcoming preaching class. The closing words of the "afterwards", from Eugene L.Lowry's book, "the Homiletical Plot", encapsulated a grace moment.
Now this grace moment is specific to his book and the fact that 20 years later it still is of great value and read by preachers, new and old.  Yet, there is a suggestion that a grace moment for anyone, is to see that 20 years down the road, contributions made to family, community and the world are still respected, used, studied, learned from.  Grace is legacy.
Eugene Lowry writes: "Back in 1980, I never imagined that, the Homiletical Plot would survice these twenty years.  That the possibility exists that it may be of some servicde into the new millenium is for me sheer grace and enormous joy."

Finches

Finches are beautiful birds.
Yesterday my daugther and I were walking home -tired, hot, hungry, thristy too- when all of a sudden our way was marked by fluttering shadows.  On a third story balcony were four bright yellow goldfinches gathered around a bird feeder.  At the time I stopped and smiled.  Listen to the song and watched the fluttering. As I walked away I forgot about the pleasant encounter.
At the moment I set to thinking about what to write today, the corner of my eye caught a movement outside.  Playing in the lilac and around the birdfeeder are a number of purple finches.
I smile at their beauty and their fluttering.
I smile because I now see not only grace for today, but a resurrection of a grace from yesterday -a moment I didn't even think to call grace. 

transformation

There are moments of grace that come at unexpected times. Then there are moments of grace that come out of deep struggle and anguish. In two days I have witnessed three transformations occur before my very eyes. It looks like scales falling off of ones eyes, a veil dropping, a light bulb coming on, a flood gate of tears that pours until there are no more to cry. When one is honoured to participate in this intimate moment, there is no response other than sheer soft silence. This is a graced filled aha!

tough love

Today I have to confront a person for their actions, actions that have rippled and affected a lot of people.  I have thought, prayed and read about this.  Confronting is not an easy thing to do.  It requires grace and in the end perhaps it will lead to grace amongst those who have been hurt and affected.

post graduate work

It is the most wonderful time of the year; the children have gone back to school and life once again has a schedule.  My schedule includes more homework than all three kids put together.  In the past 2 days alone I have read 650 pages and am waiting for the books that are currently in the mail.  My class, mid-October has 2500 pages of reading with written reflective notes on each book, plus preliminary note-taking on 15 biblical texts; the other class the week after requires an intial draft of my thesis-project proposal.
Now when I first saw all this I was flipped into a momentary panic.
 GRACE was found in the drawing out of a homework sheet, complete with coloured post-it notes.
Grace was found in the taking of one step at a time:  going to the library, ordering other books, sitting down and reading (one page at a time-taking notes, adding personal reflection and thoughts).
 Grace is in the ability to focus and now I see it is doable. Thanks be to God.

Hurricane Earl

Well here comes Earl.  Not as strong as expected.
At the present the rain is starting to fly sideways in bits and spurts, until now the rain was watering the desperately dry garden.  The plants sucked it up and started saying grace, just as many do before eating a meal.
 The breeze coming in the windows we have open feels like heaven after days of heat, heat that cold showers didn't even touch.
 I have always loved storms and now that it is hear am enjoying watching it from the safety of my home.
 The kitty is pretty happy and offering prayers of thanks today too; he knew something was us up and yesterday kepy howling -now that the weather/pressure has changed all is good.

Heat and Humidity

This story is no different than that of thousands of others.  This heat and humidity is almost unbearable.
So this morning I decided to find what grace there might be in this weather:
*people are complaining about the weather and not spreading gossip about neighbours
*it has given us a good excuse to take an afternoon nap or not work quite so hard -because we just can't
 *will have us appreciating cooler temperatures when they come along- winter is on the way
 *many are now drinking the amount of water one needs to in a day to be healthy
 *leisure comes to mind rather than go, go, go
If you have other thoughts, please comment.
 Grace on your day!

Vacation

It has been over two weeks since I have used electronics:  no Blackberry, little T.V., checked for an email from School once, no phone...
Vacation was absolute heaven.  Absolute grace.
Grace was spending time with parents, siblings, cousins, niece and nephew, friends.
Grace was taking a run on the beach, swimming every day, soaking up sun and sand.
Grace was having fair trade coffee at a local coffee shop while sitting in Muskoka chairs.
Grace was the feeling of being totally free: to be, to say, to do or not to do, to love life, to reconnect with the inner self.
After all this grace, who would have guessed that the biggest piece of grace was re-discovering and being reminded that issues in life and work often work themselves out with time, without quick answers, with a hands-off attitude.  Who says "Urgent!" messages are urgent?  When two weeks later the situation has naturally righted itself.
Grace is time.  Grace is not immediately answering every email or phone message.  Grace is allowing oneself time to breathe and be.  Thank-you vacation for this re-discovery.

the end of the day

It is the end of my day and I have nothing left to remember, no to do list, everything is done...and it is almost time to sit and enjoy an icecream cone.  Guilt free.  This is grace.

I found this prayer at  
http://www.ramshornstudio.com/for_grace.htm
 

I am bending my knee

In the eye of the Father who created me,

In the eye of the Son who died for me,

In the eye of the Spirit who cleansed me,

In love and desire.

Pour down upon us from heaven

The rich blessing of Thy forgiveness;

Thou who art uppermost in the City,

Be Thou patient with us.

Grant to us, Thou Saviour of Glory,

The fear of God, the love of God, and His affection,

And the will of God to do on earth at all times

As angels and saints do in heaven;

Each day and night give us Thy peace.

Each day and night give us Thy peace.

ACHANAIDH GRAIS

Ta mi lubadh mo ghlun

An suil an Athar a chruthaich mi,

An suil a Mhic a cheannaich mi,

An suil a Spioraid a ghlanaich mi,

Le gradh agus run.

Doirt a nuas oirnn a flathas

Trocair shuairce do mhathas;

Fhir tha 'n uachdar na Cathair,

Dean-sa fathamas ruinn.

Tabhair duinn, a Shlan'ear Aigh,

Eagal De, gaol De, agus gradh,

Is toil De dheanamh air talamh gach re,

Mar ni ainghlich is naoimhich air neamh;

Gach la agus oidhche thoir duinn do sheimh,

Gach la agus oidhche thoir duinn do sheimh.

Whatever you think you can do or believe you can do, begin it. Action has magic, grace and power in it.
-Johann Wolfgang von Goethe

away for the day

There is GRACE to be found in the ability to leave one's house and especially those who share the space.  To spend your own time, in your own thoughts, in your own aura.  There is GRACE in going for a run in the sun and stopping at thrift stores along the way -a bonus to find a few artistic pieces of clothing that fit like gloves.  It is hard to keep that GRACE when the chaos and pressures of home overshadow an awesome day. 
It feels like looking at grace through a key hole.

living wall at the market

Farmer's market

'Tis the first day for the new location of Halifax's farmer's market.  What a glorious space!
There are lots of bright sunny corners, wide aisles, a living plant wall, and so exciting -the expectation of what the roof top garden will be like.  The builiding is green, there is wind power.
GRACE all the way around!

Thinking Ahead

Whenever it is almost time to go away on vacation, there is an enormous amount of work to be done.  The work is not difficult, just minute and taxing on the brain.  Think of it:  doing three weeks of bulletins at one time and trying not to confuse the dates and which announcements go where; arranging for responsible people to unlock the church door at all the required times; getting supply pastors and ensuring they are comfortable with leading service; setting up on call pastors for emergencies...GRACE today is being almost at the end of writing notes, emails, and trying to remember the information to be passed along.  A great big sigh feels so good.  Grace is so good!  God is so good!

Birthdays

This has been the best birthday in a long time; not that birthdays are usually anything but good. 
This year is different because I have Facebook updates coming to a Blackberry.  Every time my wall is written on the Blackberry blips.  All day grace has been heard in the blip, blip, blips.  The blips were friends from around the world sending birthday wishes.  Who knew I had so many friends?  Today 50-60blips later I feel blessed and LOVED!!! Graced -if you will.

A week at Camp Mush-a-Mush

It has been over a week since I engaged grace through words on this blog.  I have been a recluse acting as chaplain at family camp.  This week was grace in so many ways.
Being away from phones and electronics, from preparing meals, and from scheduling appointments and family events was only the beginning of beautiful.
Every day dining hall graces were sung.  The table graces had been written over the years by camp staff and sung to their favourite tunes.  This was really fun and the creative genius superb.
My son and I shared a cabin and neither of our running shoes made the cabin unbearable. Together we participated in a balloon shaving competition and made a winning erupting volcano.  A memory that I will never forget.  I met my son on a new level; creative, intelligent, fun, thoughtful, and caught a glimpse of him as an adult.
Every day the adults met for Bible Study in the outdoor chapel, under sun-kissed trees. The discussion was lively as we engaged scripture using our five senses.  Questions asked and blogged about included: "What does love smell like?  Does God smell the same?" "What does joy taste like?"  "What does God look like?"  "How do you hear God?"  We played with the smells of frankinsense, myrh, the sound of a brass bell, and a social justice personality colour chart.
Grace was heard and felt through my whole body as I would open the windows on my cabin to the view of trees and the lake.  I would play the bagpipes and the sound waffled across the water.  Very cool!
Grace was spoken through the pages of the children's stories read at evening campfires, the enthusiasm of staff, and the laughter of young and old.
God was in every moment.  God grew closer the longer we were a community focused around word, sacrament, and nature; the longer we were away from the business of our lives.  
I am now back home and back to the routine of daily church life. The goal is to carry the grace of camp for as long as I am able; a grace that is routed in nature, community, and word.

concert on Halifax commons

Today there is a concert on the Commons, which is a big public green space in the heart of Halifax. It has a concert stage and a really big crowd, all waiting to hear Black Eyed Peas. Presently as I enjoy a beer on the front porch with my hubby, Classified (local rap stars) are on. We are fortunate enough to live close enough to hear every word. Well, presently I am thinking NOISE. The grace has been watching excited concert goes walk by and hearing cheers of people having fun and enjoying themselves. That makes it all worthwhile.

Taking Time for Coffee

Grace came to me today in the experience of having coffee with another person.
This person, oft forgotten, lonely, and needing someone to talk to, asked if there was time to get together over the week.  I invited this person for coffee at a coffee house 1/2 way between our homes.

It seems rather simple, to share stories over a cup of coffee.  For this person it was anything but normal; they dressed up.  Being invited to coffee was an event, an exception to the rule -exciting.  This person became a someone.  Grace was shared in taking the time to invite the other for coffee.
Coffee ministry, a deeper grace than many realize. A ministry I need to be conscious of and do more often.
 To the one I had coffee with, thank-you for sharing grace with me today.

High Tea

Greeting guests
Relishing refinement
Anticipated appetizers
China cups
Everyone engaged

aprons

I know that this is going to sound extremely wierd...well maybe not for those of you who know me.  As of late, I have found a lot of GRACE in the wearing of aprons; ones with long bottoms and bibs.  In days past, I thought aprons were crazy, why bother, use a towel to wipe your hands. 
The feeling of wearing an apron, wrapped around and tied in the front, in some ways reminds me of my grandmother and the love she brought through serving.  The apron is practical -keeping clothes clean, and whatever might be on my clothes off whatever it is that is being made.  Perhaps there is a certain power given through the apron, one of mothering (would not have thought I would ever say that, or share that).  I am confident to work in the kitchen, or unclogging a drain under the sink, or washing out stinky compost bins.
It's almost as if the apron signifies a calling, a vocation, an ordained way to serve my family, my friends, the community, strangers.  The approach becomes one of love as I am wrapped in a mantle, annointed for the task at hand. 
 

curfew

One of my teenagers went to pick-up a new work uniform and ended up working a first shift. Whether nervousness, excitement, or concentration towards new job - when curfew came and went we began to worry. Then the brain wave, perhaps at work? All teenagers are home safe and sound, this is grace!

video game grace

There is a gaming site that I just discovered where the game is all about finding clues, searching through a book called the Bible to figure out the riddles and journey on. How refreshing, gaming without slaughtering others.  This is grace.www.yahero.com

World Listening Day « The World Listening Project

World Listening Day « The World Listening Project
this is really neat!  Take a moment and click on the above link.  You have a couple of days to think about how you might listen for grace and be part of a initiative bigger than yourself.

Discipleship

Happy are they who know that discipleship simply means the life which springs from grace, and that grace simply means discipleship.  -Dietrich Bonhoefer "The Cost of Discipleship"