Six Years Later

I must admit that, until watching the 10 o'clock news last night, I almost forgot the significance of today. I guess this is what happens as time goes on--wounds heal and life continues. But any one of us can think back to six years ago and we can remember exactly what we were doing when we found out.

I was a CPE student at Parkland Hospital in Dallas and had just arrived at the hospital when the first plane hit. I remember everything about that day in great detail. But six years later, life goes on and the world seems much different now than it did then. I think this is not just because of that tragedy, but because of other world crises like Iraq and Darfur (just to name a few).

I am thinking about September 11 in light of one of the Lectionary texts for this week: Luke 15: 1-10 (the Parables about the Lost Sheep and the Woman and the Lost coin). I have been meditating on this idea of "one"--what does it mean to be the one who is lost and/or the one who is found. It seems foolish to leave the 99 sheep unattended or the abandon everything to go off in search of one lost coin.

When we are among the 99, it is tempting to think that the one does not matter. But consider these words from Leonard Sweet in his book The Gospel According to Starbucks: "For now, though, think of the power of one even without God. Think of Hitler, or Stalin, or Mao. It didn't take them hundreds of years to produce their own holocausts. It took only one lifetime for Mao to end the lives of well over seventy million in China. Not to mention Pinochet, Pol Pot, Idi Amin, and other twentieth-century tyrants. It only takes one. Small is the new large." (10)

The one does matter. Six years later, I am more aware of the power of one person to reap death and destruction on innocent lives. We should heed Jesus' words this week, not only because they remind us to be hospitable to those we view as "outsiders," but also because we are (like it or not) interconnect to all of God's creatures.

We should heed Jesus' words this week because when the one is lost, we are all lost.

Journey on...

Friday's Five

Sally at revgalblogpals writes: "I am preparing this Friday 5 just before I take Chris into hospital for a cardioversion, right now we are all a little apprehensive. But this whole thing has got me thinking, so many of us are overcomers in one way or another, so many have amazing stories to tell of God's faithfulness in adversity. And so I bring you this Friday 5:"

1.Have you experienced God's faithfulness at a difficult time? Tell as much or as little as you like...
Oh my goodness...there have been several times when God's faithfulness has brought me through difficulty. I think the most painful was when I was 23 and my fiance broke off our engagement just 2 months before the wedding. I didn't know then that it was the best thing--that someone for me was waiting out there--all I knew was that I felt crushed. It was a hard situation because we were both in Seminary and both living in the same Seminary housing complex, so I could not get away. The stress of the situation exacerbated a neurological condition that I have--dystonia--causing my head to shake and get stuck in a posturing position.

I think that was a time in my life when I felt just utterly miserable.

2. Have you experienced a dark night of the soul, if so what brought you through?
I think that breakup threw me into the dark night of the soul. The three things that brought me through: faith, family and wonderful friends.

3. Share a Bible verse, song, poem that has brought you comfort?
Psalm 121 was a Biblical balm. The words to the Indigo Girls song Ghost became my lament.

4. Is "why suffering" a valid question?
I don't know if it is a "logical" question, but it seems to be primal. We naturally ask "why?" so there must be some reason for it.

5. And on a lighter note- you have reached the end of a dark and difficult time- how are you going to celebrate?
About 5 years after that breakup, I decided to do something positive in my life. So I joined the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society's Team in Training Program and ran my 1st marathon--and it was through that experience that I met the love of my life.

Journey on....

The Tyranny of Distance

I turned on the TV just briefly the other day to catch the middle of a program on PBS. All I got was that it was a program about the US military doing humanitarian work for the people in the Mohave Desert (with the hopes of befriending them and gaining information from them about potential terrorists moving through the area).

The cinematography was stunning. The initial picture that came up was of this solitary mud hut with maybe 5 people standing in and around it. The hut was engulfed in the lower frame by desert and in the top by an almost cloudless sky. The military official interviewed spoke about the "tyranny distance" in that place--the fact that people are so isolated that part of what the military brings is not only glasses and other needed supplies, but some kind of contact from elsewhere to confirm that elsewhere does exist.

I heard someone say that when they visited Texas, they thought surely the sun would touch the ground. I thought maybe they were talking about the fact that there are more hours of daylight in Texas than Washington during the winter months. But thinking on it now, though Texas is dotted with large cities and innumerable ranches in between, it is mostly flat. There is not a lot to break up the scenery, so it does appear (especially in the Coastal Plains near my home) that the sun will literally touch the ground.

I personally have always loved the mountains and now I wonder if part of that love comes from the fact that glorious mountains break up the scenery...glorious mountains dispel the tyranny of distance by drawing our gaze upward. When I look at the mountains, I can't help but think of God.

I do enjoy going back home and seeing those Coastal Plains--they remind me that somewhere out there where the sky and the ground meet, is someone else, some place else where people live and breath, have joys and sorrows just like you and me.

But for now, I will take the mountains that point my gaze to the God who gives breath and life...to the God who lives in our joys and carries us through our sorrows.

Journey on...

Some more thoughts on the Lectionary

In a Sunday sermon, it is hard to cover all the ground sometimes that could be covered. For yesterday's sermon, I chose Luke 14: 1-14 (I included the middle part the lectionary leaves out). I focused on vs. 11: "For all who exalt themselves will be humbled, and those who humble themselves will be exalted."

One question that I didn't get to develop too much is this: what does it truly mean to be humble? Merriam-Webster provides the following definitions: "1. not proud or haughty; not arrogant or assertive; 2. reflecting, expressing, or offered in a spirit of deference or submission; 3.) ranking low in a hierarchy or scale."

I'm pretty much okay with all of these definitions, but I have some issues with "not assertive." If it is not being assertive in an arrogant way, that is one thing; but, too often humility becomes synonymous with non-assertiveness in Christianity and that causes issues.

Brian Stoffrengen in his Exegetical Notes at Crossmarks deals with the difficulties of the word "humble/humility." He describes how, too often, the word humble becomes synonymous with being nice. "Humility becomes being passive. Letting others walk all over us. Jesus shows by his life that being humble didn't mean being passive, but, when necessary, it meant taking out the whip and driving the self-centered bullies out of the temple."

There are times when, as Christians, we are called to be assertive. We should never be arrogant in our expressions, but we should also never let others walk all over us. Some food for thought.

Journey on....

Post Junior Camp

I can't believe it has been so long since I've blogged. I was at the Gwinwood Christian Camp last week in Lacey, WA directing Junior Camp. The camp is for children going into 4th, 5th & 6th grade--as you can guess if you live in a different part of the country, school doesn't begin here until after Labor Day.

About 3 weeks before the camp, I received an email stating that the camp was going to be cancelled because the director had backed out. I don't really know what all happened there, but I just couldn't swallow having a summer camp cancelled. So I sent an email to our Regional minister and then I became the director of the camp =).

So I have been working overtime for the last 3 weeks trying to get it all together. I'm happy to report that everything went well. We had children with some issues, but overall it was a very meaningful camp.

The children didn't really know or process the situation with the camp director, all they knew was that they were having a great time. And as I watched them swim, worship, play, enjoy camp fires, etc, I thought to myself, "this is because you said 'yes' to God's calling to do something." God does wonderful things when we say 'yes.'

Journey On...

Friday's 5--STRESS

1. First, and before we start busting stress, what causes you the most stress, is it big things or the small stuff ?

I think what causes me the most ongoing stress is the "to do" list in my head. It is always longer than I have time to deal with. There's also some expectations wrapped up in all that--wanting to be a good Pastor, mother, wife, etc. and sometimes feeling like I do a mediocre job at all that stuff.

2. Exercise or chocolate for stress busting ( or maybe something else) ?
I love chocolate, but am finding (in my mid 30's), that it hangs around a lot more these days =). I also love exercise, so I have to make time for it. If I remember it, deep breathing helps for the really stressful moments.

3.What is your favourite music to chill out to?
I like all kinds. I have an ipod and I put anything I like on it and then hit "shuffle." I'm usually pleased with the outcome =)

4. Where do you go to chill?
Before my daughter came along, I had this Lazy boy chair I'd sit and rock in while listening to music. That doesn't work so well these days, so my chill out place is out walking at the school. I also now live in a part of the world where I can drive up into the mountains--20 minutes and I'm there. Sometimes I do that if I just need some thinking time or need to be alone.

5. Extrovert or introvert, do you relax at a party, or do you prefer a solitary walk?
It is funny that there are so many characteristics of mine that would make one think I'm an extrovert. But I am definitely an introvert. If I'm really stressed, I need that quiet walk or that ride up into the mountains.

Bonus: The deep breathing really does work. I was running late to an appointment yesterday, so rather than look at the clock and get angry at the people driving way to slow in front of me, I decided to breath. When you focus on the breath, you can really block (at least for a little while)some of the irritants that make your stress worse.

Journey on...

Last Friday's 5

I love the Friday 5.

1.) Have I ever been on a Pilgrimage?
In 1994, I went with a group of students to Italy to study Christian art & architecture. We went to Rome, Assisi and Florence. It was very much like a pilgrimage being in places where people of faith had been many years prior and left their mark in carvings, frescoes, paintings, stained glass, sculptures and more.

2.)Share a place you have always wanted to go on a pilgrimage to.
The Holy Land

3.)What would you make sure to pack in your suitcase or backpack to make the pilgrimage more meaningful? Or does "stuff" just distract from the experience?
From my trip to Italy, I learned that a backpack would be much better than a suitcase! Clean underwear and a good camera is a must.

4.) If you could make a pilgrimage with someone (live, dead or fictional) as your guide, who would it be?
My grandmother. She was such an important person in my life and she died when I was 11. I would love to share a pilgrimage with her.

5.)Eventually the pilgrim must return home, but can you suggest any strategies for keeping that deep "mountaintop" perspective in the midst of everyday life?
I think pictures help a lot. If you can keep a journal on your journey, that always is refreshing to go back and read.

When I was in Assisi, there was an artist doing a watercolor landscape with the Prayer of St. Francis scripted on it. It was one of my most favorite things that I brought back. Looking at it gave me a feeling that I had about Assisi. One of my good friends, who was unable to afford the trip, loved the picture. So when she graduated from college, I gave it to her as a present. She moved to KY for Seminary and I stayed in TX for Seminary. Four years later, when I graduated with my M.Div., a package from her showed up on my doorsteps. I opened it to find that precious picture.

So maybe you should try to find something special from your pilgrimage to give away--never know when or how it will come back to you and increase that "mountaintop" experience.

Journey on...

You HAVE to be kidding

It has been awhile since I've blogged. I got back from General Assembly and went straight to work putting together a camp for children going into grades 4,5 & 6 next year. I hadn't planned on directing this camp, but it was going to be cancelled because the original director backed out. I didn't think that was acceptable, so naturally I am now directing =)

As I have looked over the list of kids coming, I must admit I have some anxieties. Children with ADHD and one with some other behavioral issues. What HAVE I signed up for? But then I must remember that my assumptions about how things are or are going to be are not always right.

For instance, my perception of my almost 3 year old Border Collie is that he is crazed. After all, he did practically flunk out of dog obedience 101. But when out playing Frisbee with him in the park, more than one person has commented, "What an obedient dog." My reaction--you have to be kidding me, right?

Take for another instance, my perception of our outing the other night to a local restaurant with our 3 year old child. The whole time, I felt like I was working overtime trying to keep her calm and was worried that she was bothering everyone around us. But as we left, a man said, "Ma'am. I want you to know that your child is so well behaved." My reaction--you have to be kidding me, right?

Take for a final instance my perception that I could personally stand to lose a little weight. I think I looked better when I was a size or two smaller. But a couple of Sundays ago, a female church member said, "you have the nicest figure!" Of course she was 95, but my reaction--you have to be kidding me, right?

So often I get it in my head that things are one way, but often they aren't...or others don't see it the way I do. I am glad that God sees things differently. That God doesn't believe the negative self talk or negative perceptions that we have about ourselves and others. God keeps telling us, "You're MY special child." And our reaction--you have to be kidding me, right?

Lucky for us, God is good at changing perceptions and minds.

Journey on...

Where's the Tylenol?

After hauling way-to-heavy luggage on my recent travels, I aggravated my upper back and right arm. I was in a lot of pain for a few days, but with ice and Tylenol, it is better.

I recently heard a friend talk about a trip she took with some medical missionaries to Honduras. She showed me a picture of a barefoot woman with a bundle on her back. After looking at the picture closely, I could see that the bundle was a baby--it was a Honduran style Bijorn.

This one particular woman had walked barefoot for 7 miles to get Tylenol. Tylenol--something I thoughtlessly pick up at the grocery store and thoughtlessly take for my little aches and pains.

I wonder how many times that woman had little and big aches and pains and had no way to relieve them. I wonder how many times her baby had a fever and she worried because she had nothing to give to her to help.

We take so many things for granted don't we. Maybe we should take a moment today to be thankful for even the smallest of things.

Journey on...

Home Again

I am back in Sumner, WA and thanking God for safe travels. For complete coverage on assembly news, you can go to the Disciples web page for updates on business, worship, etc. Though we are denomination (like many today) facing challenges, it seems to me that we are better spiritually than we have been in years. Over and over again I kept hearing our denomination described as one who mission is to bring wholeness to a fragmented world--what a blessed call that, hopefully, we can live into at the local congregational level. Blessings to you today.

Journey on...

Share the Feast--Day 2

Just a quick note before heading out to today's events. Yesterday was full of fellowship, business, food and worship. I don't see Dr. Sharon Watkins address online, but you can follow this link to get an update on what has been going on at assembly.

There were so many people at the Fiesta last night that, after getting my food, it took me 30 minutes to relocate my table! And in between I ran into at least 5 friends I have not seen for more than 10 years. What a joy! I might have taken my hand at riding the mechanical bull, but time ran out and we had to go to worship (darn =).

Will update more later. Journey on...

Sharing the Feast

The first day of General Assembly has been amazing. Personally, it has been like this ultra family and friend reunion--I have run into old friends and professors from college and seminary, colleagues, mentors, church members and friends.

Spiritually, I have been uplifted by the two messages I have now heard. The first was at the Board of Church Extension dinner where the Rev. Dr. Cynthia Hale spoke. She was one of the first new church planters over 20 years ago. Her church, Ray of Hope Christian Church, in Atlanta, GA has welcomed over 10,000 members since its inception. Two things key to the fruitfulness of her labor? Love and PASSION. I couldn't agree more. Without a passion for the love of God, there isn't much to inspire, is there?

The second message was from Dr. Daisy Machado. The sermon was based on the feeding of the 5,000 and focused on our need to do the work of mingling among the crowds, seeing people as people and having compassion for them rather than fear of them.

Today promises to be another full day of fellowship and worship. Will write more later.

Journey on...

Friday 5 on Saturday

I'm sitting here doing some catching up before delving into General Assembly and Sally from RevGalBlogPals posted 5 questions for pondering that I would like to answer:

1. Share a moment/ time of real encouragement in your journey of faith:
Last year I was at the 100th Anniversary of my home church (First Christian Church, Corpus Christi, TX). There were lots of former ministers attending including a man named Jack Meyers. When I was 10 and my maternal grandmother, to whom I was very close, became ill with cancer, Jack was there with the family. When my grandmother died, Jack came over to the house and I don't really know why, but I started crying when he walked through the door. He saw me crying and walked past all of the adults to the chair where I was sitting and he knelt down and began talking to me in a way that I could understand. He embodied God's compassion and I've never forgotten it. So it was very poignant to me, when after this Anniversary celebration last year, he pulled me aside and took the stole that he was wearing off and put it on me. I cried again. It was a cathartic moment and almost a commissioning--a symbol action reminding me that it is now my turn to embody God's compassion to others.

2.) I love what another person wrote--modesty...or moderation. I have grand visions a lot of the time for work, family and ministry...and then I realize that I need to just take one step at a time. There will always be items left on my "to do" list; but, if I am being faithful and doing the best that I can, that is enough.

3.) I will hire a youth/education minister =) Open a food pantry and contribute large sums of money to the Yakama Christian Mission. AND I would write more and speak more at retreats and other spiritual renewal events. AND maybe get a doctorate (I think I need to go back to moderation =).

4.)I think I have to let myself sit with the feeling of disappointment for a while. My default is to move on as quickly as possible, but if I can sit with it for a while, sometimes new thoughts or ideas come to mind. Conversations with a few trusted souls helps me through disappointing times. But it is prayer that really keeps me going.

5.) I wonder about number 5--is it familial roots or church roots? My familial roots are really important to me (even though I now live thousands of miles away from family). As I learn more about family history, I begin to connect with my ancestral history. I thought I was a pioneer by become a female minister, but I think there were a lot of devoted, strong women in my family paving the way for me. My church roots are really important to me. I see those roots embodied in two areas--focus on Scripture (and the freedom to interpret the "non-essentials") and in the sharing of Communion every Sunday.

Share the Feast

This week is the General Assembly gathering of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ). We're gathering in Ft. Worth--my old stomping grounds--which is home to Texas Christian University where I earned my B.A. and my M.Div. (from Brite Divinity School).

It is strange being back in a place that is so familiar, but that has changed so much over the course of years. Coming so close on the heels of our other whirl-wind Texas trip, I was afraid I would just be too tired. But I am starting to feel some excitement and energy.

The Assembly officially begins this evening and I'll be posting updates on what's going on.

Journey on...

A Voice in the Wilderness

This past Sunday, my child and I drove down to Portland, Oregon to meet my husband at the finish line of the Seattle to Portland ride. John, along with over 9,000 other riders, was a real trooper having ridden 206 miles in 2 days.

The finish line, as you may suspect, was a buzz of activity. The riders finished at Holladay park which was decorated with tents of foods, beverages, t-shirts and other items for sale, water, music and more. My 3 year-old was having quite a time bee bopping around the park (she was like a pin-ball bouncing around the inside of pin-ball machine).

At one point we made our way to the end of the park where the trolley line comes in. There were people getting off trains and others waiting to get on. And in the midst of that activity stood a tall, slender, African-American woman with a podium and Bible. She wasn't preaching hell, fire and damnation, but instead was reading from the Psalms.

I passed a couple of men sitting just behind her who were explicitly talking about how drunk they had gotten the night before...I was so busy chasing my little pin-ball that I couldn't stop and talk...and there were hordes of people doing the same thing.

I have been thinking about that scene for the last few days, wondering if what that woman was doing constitutes a true proclamation of the Word. When we think on evangelism and spreading God's Word, is that what we are supposed to do--preach to hordes of people who barely notice and barely care?

If evangelism is measured by faithfulness, then that woman was certainly successful. I think it must have taken a great deal of faith and courage to stand there and read her Bible. But I also wonder about the measure of fruitfulness--should evangelism produce some tangible, visible end result? Should the Word be presented in such a way that people take notice--that people are affected and maybe changed?

Maybe the success of evangelism lies somewhere in between faith and fruit =). In faithfulness we do what we can and pray for God to provide the fruitful harvest.

Journey on...

What a Long Strange Trip It's Been

We got back from vacation on Sunday evening around 8:00 p.m. Needless to say, we were exhausted. We had flown into Dallas, TX where we stayed with relatives for 2 days, driven down to Corpus Christi where we stayed for 4 days and attended one wedding party for my brother and a birthday party for my child, then we drove to Houston for a wedding rehearsal and then the wedding the next day, then we drove from Houston to Dallas to catch our plane back.

And the entire time I ate too much BBQ, slept too little and only got one 45 minute workout in. To top it off, one of our beloved church members passed away on Wednesday of the week I was gone...so I had to work overtime when I got back to prepare a funeral service which was held for her yesterday.

I feel a little confused about where I am and where I have been. It seemed appropriate that when we landed in SeaTac, the first song to come on over the speaker was the Grateful Dead's "Truckin" in which the lyrics 'What a Long Strange Trip It's Been" seemed all too fitting.

My time away was punctuated by moments of joy at being with dear friends and loved family, nostalgia as we drove past our old house in Dallas, confusion as I met my soon-to-be sister-in-law and wasn't quite sure what to make of her, irritation as I attended my brother's wedding held at a Church of Christ (I was asked by two people what I do and when I told them I was a pastor, there was nothing but disapproving silence), and sadness as I thought about my church member who had passed away--a woman who had been in church just the previous Sunday.

I was happy to return home if for no other reason than to get back into a routine that would restore a sense of normalcy and comfort. Of course there is nothing normal about our weather today--forecasters are predicting a high of 98! And we don't have air conditioning (yikes).

Through my experience of the past week, I have come to appreciate again how hard it can be for worshipping communities to change. After all, what is more foundational to one's sense of normalcy and what is right in a chaotic world than the dependability of ordered worship. And yet, ordered worship can become stagnant and unimaginative too.

Through the long strange trip of this past week, the one thing that seemed to bring me a sense of calm and peace, was prayer--even just a few brief moments of prayer. Again, this was a reminder to me that we cannot stop change, but we can navigate through it better when we are focused on what is most important--when we focus on God.

I don't know what kind of travels the summer holds for you, but I hope they will be maybe a little less hectic and topsy-turvey...and that through it all, God will be at the forefront of every moment.

Journey on...

'El Queso' Mata! – 'Cheese' Kills

We're on vacation and I'm loving the opportunity to read a little bit without the pressure of having to crank out a sermon for two Sundays! I am trying to read The Gospel According to Starbucks by Leonard Sweet, which is turning out to be a great book.

Additionally, I did something I haven't done in a long time--I picked up the Sunday morning paper (yes, the print edition!) and read it. The Dallas Morning News had this article buried somewhere deep in section C, "Marchers Take on Cheese." There was a picture of a small group of mostly Mexican Americans, donning t-shirts with the slogan "'El Queso' Mata!" marching to make people aware of the dangers of cheese.

Cheese? What's wrong with cheese I wondered? With the rash of recalls from pet food to toothpaste, I was alarmed to think that one of my favorite foods could now possibly kill me. I was pained to read about how two families had lost teenagers to overdoses of cheese. But it wasn't until halfway through the article that I realized "cheese" is a name for a mixture of cold medication and heroine.

I felt a little silly that I hadn't seen (note to self: put on glasses before reading) the subtitle to the article: "Northwest Dallas: Parents, police rally to promote awareness of drug." For someone who doesn't know the lingo, awareness is needed in order to gain understanding.

I wonder how often people come through the doors of church and feel the same confusion about church lingo that I felt about the dangers of "cheese." I am reluctant to utter words like: Sanctification, Justification, Ordinances, Salvation, Doxology, etc. because although I know these words well, I am aware that they are at best confusing and at worst meaningless to a lot of people.

So I continue to pray for guidance in writing subtitles that are bold and finding words that convey the most important aspect of the life of faith: that God in Jesus Christ loves us more than we can imagine.

Journey on...

Delay

I am very guilty of living in the future. My mind is sometimes racing with thoughts about what I need to accomplish in the next few hours, the next few days, the next few weeks--so much so that I really do forget to live in the moment.

Yesterday, my child "B" and I left from church to go for a ride. One of our favorite routes is a highway that goes from the valley up to Mt. Rainier. On a clear day, it is a gorgeous ride--and just long enough for B to maybe take a nap.

I was ready to go yesterday when a parishioner showed up just wanting to say hi. He only delayed us for about 5 minutes, but it may have been an important five minutes. As we left and made our way up out of the valley, several emergency vehicles passed us. Then more emergency vehicles passed us. I started counting and I'm not kidding, about 15 first responders (police, fire trucks, ambulances, etc) passed us by.

Just a few minutes up the road, we came to a stop. I could see all of the lights flashing up ahead. All I could tell is that there had been a wreck and it was pretty bad. As we sat there, two more emergency vehicles passed by. Clearly we were going to be sitting there for a long time, so I turned around and we went through to pick up some fast food for lunch (healthy, I know).

As we were pulling out, I saw two more firetrucks heading up to the accident scene and one ambulance coming back. I assumed the ambulance was rushing off to the hospital. As it passed by we could see the silhouettes of people standing and working on someone. I suggested that we pray. My little child agreed and we prayed for that person in the ambulance and the people who were working so hard to try to help them.

And I wondered, had not my parishioner, known for the gift of gab, stopped by to say "hi," would we have been in that wreck? or close enough to it that we would have seen what had taken place? I don't know, but it was a stark reminder of how life can change in an instant and how important it is to appreciate what you have right in front of you--even if it is the person who likes to talk a lot =). I must remember to thank him.

Journey on....

Rattle, Thunder, Clap!

The other day we had two rounds of thunderstorms in our area. When I lived in TX, I was used to those kinds of storms, but it never storms like that here. My child was upstairs watching TV, when a flash of lightening struck very close by, followed by a ground-shaking boom.

B screamed instantly. I think it was the first time B had heard a noise that loud. There were tears and then the persistent question, "is the fire coming back?" I guess that flash did look like fire.

We're just not accustomed to that kind of commotion anymore. And when something like that happens, we have to alter our plans, maybe do things a little more differently than we might have. I was working on something downstairs when that happened, but ended up spending the next hour or so cuddling with B. And that was okay.

I wonder, though, as the pastor of a long-established church, is it truly possible to alter plans...do things differently than we might have? I catch myself becoming entrenched in my own way of thinking and then realize that I need to be open to other possibilities, but I know that is not easy.

I guess the key is to try to focus on God, remembering the words of Christ, "apart from me, you can do nothing." And in Christ, all things are made possible, right?

Journey on...

More than just a bird

Peacock
Originally uploaded by johnrite.

This Saturday was a beautiful day and we decided to enjoy it by going to the Point Defiance Zoo in Tacoma. The zoo is small but very nice. In addition to the exhibits you'd expect at a zoo (elephants, tigers, monkey), Pt. Defiance has a roaming exhibit--the Peacock pictured above.

We had seen the Peacock at various points during our visit, but happened to come around the corner just as the bird was getting its ire up and boldly displaying its feathers. My husband captured this beautiful picture--and then the bird charged at us! We quickly moved on to the more sedate penguin house.

But this beautiful photo made me remember something that I learned on a trip to Italy...that Peacocks were symbolic of eternal life in the early church. I remember seeing the Peacock on frescoes in catacombs and mosaics on church floors.

The Peacock came to symbolize immortality because of an ancient myth that the flesh of a Peacock would not decay. It also came to symbolize resurrection as it sheds its feathers for newer and brighter ones every year.

The Peacock's spread of brilliantly colored, spotted feathers serve as a protection mechanism--making the bird look twice its normal size. The many "eyes" of the Peacock's feathers came to symbolize the many eyes of God--able to watch and see many things at the same time.

I'm not sure why the Peacock fell out of favor as a Christian symbol, maybe someone out there can answer that question. But I do know the bird is magnificent, perhaps pointing us to something divine even in the everyday setting of the city zoo.

Journey on....