Advent Week One: Hope Day Six

Psalm 31: 24
Be of good courage and He shall strengthen your heart, all you who hope in the LORD.

At Jubilee Church we often sing the chorus,

My life is in you, Lord,
My strength is in you, Lord,
My hope is in you, Lord,
In You, it’s in You. *

Sometimes I feel a little guilty singing those words because I know how easily I tend to hope in everything but the Lord. I live in a world, a nation, a culture and even a town (founded by staunch German immigrants) that all tell me to put hope in myself.

We can “pull ourselves up by our own bootstraps.” We put hope in our hard work, our jobs, our nation, our military, our money. That is “the American way” after all.

Our Yankee emphasis on rugged individuality has often come in handy. It is not a bad thing to learn personal responsibility or to discover our strengths. But when the day comes, as it inevitably seems to do, that tragedy weakens us or empties our bank account, gas prices rise, the stock market crashes, a natural disaster destroys our home...then what? Life is nothing if not uncertain.

I saw this uncertainty with distressing clarity when I travelled to a town on the Gulf Coast just days after Hurricane Katrina struck. One area along the beach had been the “rich neighborhood.” Now, a place known for oak trees, wide streets and beautiful southern mansions was merely an empty stretch of sand. Only a few twisted branches and some steps leading nowhere remained to indicate what had once been. I will never forget the eerie unreality of that scene. I talked with people who said dazedly, “What do I do now?”

The hope of Advent is not a hope in ourselves. In these weeks before Christmas Day we remind ourselves that our hope is in the Messiah’s coming. As the Psalmist tells us, the Lord will be our strength.

Our hope is built on nothing less,

Than Jesus’ blood and righteousness,
I dare not trust the sweetest frame,

But wholly lean on Jesus name.
On Christ the Solid Rock I stand,

All other ground is sinking sand.
All other ground is sinking sand. **

Prayer: God of Hope, strengthen my heart as I trust in You. Amen

* "My Life is in You" Daniel Gardner

** "The Solid Rock" Wm. Bradbury

Advent Week One: Hope Day Five

Luke 2:36-49
Anna, a prophet, was also there in the Temple...and she was very old. Her husband died when they had been married only seven years. Then she lived as a widow to the age of eighty-four. She never left the Temple but stayed there day and night, worshiping God with fasting and prayer. She came along just as Simeon was talking with Mary and Joseph, and she began praising God. She talked about the child to everyone who had been waiting expectantly for God to rescue Jerusalem.

Why did such a young widow remain alone all her life? Perhaps Anna’s husband was so terrible she vowed never to marry again. Or perhaps he was so wonderful that no one man could ever replace him. Either way, Anna could have spent her life in sorrow or resentment for the pain and tragedy that had come to her. Instead, she spent her life in prayer and fasting in the temple. She made a commitment to put her hope in God.

One day she saw Mary, Joseph and Simeon holding the baby Jesus in his arms. When she saw the couple with a baby she could have felt sorry for herself. After all, she had long ago lost her dreams of a husband, a home, and children.

Instead, “..she gave thanks to God and spoke about the child to all who were looking forward to the redemption of Jerusalem.” When she saw Jesus she saw the one God had sent to answer her prayers for redemption. Only God knows the powerful effect Anna’s prayers had.

Simeon waited on God to fulfill his promise to see the consolation of Israel. Anna hoped in God by a life of prayer, fasting and worship. God answered both their lifelong prayers through a baby, Jesus.

Let’s be like these two faithful people. Let’s keep eagerly placing our hope in Jesus. Let’s offer that hope to those we meet!

Prayer: God of Hope, thank you for sending Jesus as our consolation. Help us to be faithful in prayer like Anna. We pray for the redemption that comes through Christ. We pray for the redemption of Jerusalem, for our own nation, and for our world. Our hope is in you. Amen

Georgia Baptist Convention Misses Again--Shuns Woman Preacher

Thanks to The Tentmaker for a post linking to this article. And hooray for the church standing up for their pastor and what is right. The SBC continues to make me sad and angry. If I hadn't left a long time ago, I would have to be making an exit now.

Advent Week One: Hope Day Four

Luke 2:26-32
That day the Spirit led him to the Temple. So when Mary and Joseph came to present the baby Jesus to the Lord as the law required, Simeon was there. He took the child in his arms and praised God, saying, “Sovereign Lord, now let your servant die in peace, as you have promised. I have seen your salvation, which you have prepared for all people. He is a light to reveal God to the nations, and he is the glory of your people Israel!”

Let’s look just a little more at the passage we read yesterday. Simeon, speaking prophetically, declared that the Christ Child would be “a light for revelation to the Gentiles.” A Gentile is someone who is not Jewish. In Jesus day, most Jews did not associate with Gentiles. Even the great Apostle Peter had a struggle with the idea, as we see later during the early days of the Church. Evidently Simeon did not share such a strong distaste for the Gentiles. In fact, his words seem to indicate he was praying for the Gentiles to find salvation as well as praying for the glory of Israel.

In Mark 5 we encounter one man who found a light of revelation in Jesus. The gospel records that this man had many demons living in him. People had tried to chain him so that he would not hurt himself or others, but he kept breaking the chains. No one could stand being around him. He was a hopeless case if there ever was one! Then one day he met the Light of the World.
This poor man was an enemy of God, an enemy to people and he was his own worst enemy too. Nonetheless, Jesus walked right up to him and asked, “What is your name?” Next, Jesus (at the cost of a whole herd of pigs) drove away evil and gave back to the man a peaceful, right mind. The man later testified how the Lord had mercy on him and shared with others how Jesus was a great light of revelation to him.

It doesn’t matter how deep into darkness we may find ourselves. Jesus Christ is willing to have mercy on us. He is a “light of revelation to the Gentiles” and in His holy presence darkness will flee.

Challenge: Is there someone in your life you find particularly distasteful or difficult? Look beyond the surface, to see the hurting soul behind an annoying exterior.

Prayer: Dear God, have mercy on me, a sinner. Shine the light of truth into my life, and let me surrender the dark corners to you. Help me to show that same mercy to others and to offer the hope found in you. Amen

Advent Week One: Hope Day Three

Luke 2: 25-32
At that time there was a man in Jerusalem named Simeon. He was righteous and devout and was eagerly waiting for the Consolation of Israel, the Messiah, to come and rescue them The Holy Spirit was upon him and had revealed to him that he would not die until he had seen the Lord’s Messiah. When the parents brought in the child Jesus to do for him what the custom of the Law required, Simeon took him in his arms and praised God, saying: “Sovereign Lord, as you have promised, you now dismiss your servant in peace.”

All we know about the life of Simeon is found here. He was righteous and devout, and the Holy Spirit was upon him. However, that alone would not have been enough to merit being included in scripture. Simeon is mentioned because of his faith, but also because of who he was waiting for. Simeon was watching for the Child to be born who would be called “Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father, and Prince of Peace” (Is 9:6b). He had evidently waited a long time.

I do not like to wait. When we wait it seems we are accomplishing nothing. However, Jesus said that when he returns He will be looking for the servant who is watching for His return. I know of only one way to watch for someone. It is through waiting.

When I arrive at an airport I am glad when I see that whoever is supposed to pick me up is already there watching for me. I would never say, “Why were you wasting your time waiting around for me to show up?” Instead, I would thank them for waiting for me. God blessed Simeon’s faithful wait by allowing him to see the Messiah with his own eyes.

Simeon was waiting for the consolation of Israel. Are we? The Holy Spirit had promised this man that he would see the appearance of the Christ. Has the Holy Spirit promised something to you? Will you wait in expectation, in confident hope, for the promise to be revealed? God keeps His promises.

Prayer: Father God, Help me to wait patiently. That is sometimes a very hard thing to do! Help me to know, really know, that you will do what you have said you will do. I wait for you in hope, and I will not stop watching for you. Amen

Advent Week One: Hope Day Two

Zechariah 2:10-13
"Shout and be glad…I am coming, and I will live among you," declares the LORD. "Many nations will be joined with the LORD in that day and will become my people. I will live among you and you will know that the LORD Almighty has sent me to you. The LORD will inherit Judah as his portion in the holy land and will again choose Jerusalem. Be still before the LORD, all people, because he has roused himself from his holy dwelling."

The Jewish prophets had spoken of a special “anointed one,” a Messiah, who would come from God to save His people from the ravages of sin. But then the prophecies ended and God was silent for nearly 400 years. The nation of Israel waited. Sometimes things looked hopeless and sometimes things looked brighter, but as the years passed their hopes that Messiah would soon arrive grew dim. Had God forgotten his promise that a man would come who would defeat evil and restore the earth and God’s people to glory?

Zechariah’s words are both astounding and full of hope. Not only does the passage say that the Lord will send someone, the prophecy says that the Lord Himself will come and live among people! They must have thought this was figurative language. After all, how could God live with them? And as for many nations belonging to God? Unthinkable! Every one knew Jews were God’s chosen.

Looking back, it seems obvious to us, doesn’t it? Of course, God would keep his promise. Of course, God intended to bless the whole world and not just the tiny nation of Israel. Of course, God will “rouse Himself” at the right time. Things are always clearer in hindsight. They were in the middle of hard times, living in sadness and disappointment, and their vision was forward to something not yet seen, not backward to a known event as ours is. Shout and be glad? When the wait is long, and the words of hope seem faint and far away, well then it is not always so simple to believe. Is he really going to come?

During this first week of Advent we remember what it is like to wait in hope, even when the wait is long.

Prayer: God of Promises, it is one thing to shout and be glad when miracles are happening, blessings are coming in, and things seem good. Help me to keep an attitude of hope and joy even when I wonder when, or if, the things you have promised me will ever happen. Help me remember that your people waited for hundreds of years, yet you were right on time. I will hope in you, O Lord! Amen

Thankfulness 24-30

Since I accepted Rev. Mommy's invitation to post something I am thankful for each day during the month of November (but started late) I'm concluding with the remaining of the 30 days of thakfulness.

24. Moments of quiet
25. Animals--pets, but also the world of amazing animal creations
26. My children, Kris and Josh, my best contribution to the world
27. Sunsets and sunrises
28. Showers and flush toilets
29. My computer
30. Celebrations

Now it's time for December. What happened to autumn? It is snowing hard outside.

We Will Miss You, JJ

Early yesterday our son, Josh, called to tell us that his buddy, basset hound JJ, had broken his chain, ran into the road single mindedly (as hounds will do) and then was struck by a car and killed.

Little JJ was a sweet and funny dog--a beautiful example of a practically perfect basset hound with the those soft and lovely "Dumbo" ears. Josh used to joke that he was "God's little joke." We all loved JJ, and we will all miss him--Josh the most--but the rest of us too, including Trinity (who adored him, for some reason and loudly squealed, "JJ!" as one of her first words) Trinity's family dog, JJ's " big brother dog buddy," Rex will miss JJ too. The joy of those two dogs when they were together made all of us laugh-- big, leggy half great dane Rex, and stubby-legged little JJ excitedly running around him in circles, ears flapping.

Josh is here today celebrating a late Thanksgiving with the family. It's a sad day for him, but we thank God for the joy JJ brought Josh and others in the three years he spent in this world.

Advent Week One: Hope Day One

Isaiah 9:1-3
Nevertheless, that time of darkness and despair will not go on forever… there will be a time in the future when Galilee...which lies along the road that runs between the Jordan and the sea, will be filled with glory…The people who walk in darkness will see a great light. For those who live in a land of deep darkness, a light will shine. You will enlarge the nation of Israel, and its people will rejoice…

These words of hope were written about 700 years before Christ came to earth. Jesus grew up in Nazareth in the region of Galilee, exactly as Isaiah had foretold. I love the visual image of light blazing out into the darkness. The hope in this passage shines like a beacon, a beautiful metaphor for the appearing of the long-awaited Messiah, the one the Apostle John called “the Light.”

God’s glory walked among ordinary people, a man who looked, spoke, and lived like others in the region. Sometimes God’s glory shone brightly and people were amazed, convicted of sin, delivered and healed. At other times Jesus passed through crowds of people and slipped away unnoticed.

Do you suppose there was anything remarkable about the boy Jesus, growing up in a small town, attending school, playing with friends, maybe having a crush on a girl? Perhaps, but than again, maybe not, at least most of the time. Scripture seems to imply that he looked quite ordinary.

Still, God himself walked among them. They simply did not see. God’s glory can sometimes show up in unlikely places and in unlikely people. I think God delights in surprising us in this way, but we must pay attention.

Times of darkness will inevitably come. In dark times, continue to hope in the Light of the World. As we wait in hope, God may choose to show up in unexpected ways. Let’s be paying attention in these days of anticipation! Where might we see Jesus appear?

Challenge: Let go of preconceived notions of who or what God will use to speak to you.

Prayer: Lord Jesus, help me to watch in expectation for what you want to show me, to listen for your voice and to see you wherever you may choose to appear. Amen

Introduction to "Christmas at the OASIS”

Devotional Readings and Prayers for the Season of Advent

Just thinking about everything that has to be done before Christmas can spike our stress level. Some of us secretly dread the season, knowing that all the bustle and “ho ho ho-ing” around us will make our sadness, loneliness, or fear even worse.

The image of a kaleidoscope comes to mind—a jumble of constantly changing shapes and colors—yet always resolving into a pattern of light and beauty. Like everyone else, Christians can be pulled in many directions at this time of year, but we do have an opportunity to stop, ponder, reflect and rejoice in a wonderful promise. That is the promise of Advent.

“Advent” means “coming.” The Lord is coming! We reflect on Jesus arriving as a babe at His first coming, and we look forward to his second advent when he makes all things new once again. Each Sunday of Advent an additional candle is lit, and then on Christmas Day the Christ candle, in the center of the wreath may be lit.

As we light the candles on an Advent wreath, whether at home or at church, we reflect on a different aspect of the season—Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy! “Christmas at the Oasis” invites you to consider the following themes, as you take a rest at a place of spiritual water.

Let anyone who is thirsty come. Let anyone who desires drink freely from the water of life. Revelation 22:17

Offer Hope
We light the candle of Hope: The people of Israel waited in hope for their Messiah to come. We have the message of hope for our world today, the true hope found in Christ.

Advance God’s Kingdom
We light the candle of Peace. We advance God’s Kingdom as we share the peace that comes through relationship with the Prince of Peace.

Share God’s Love
We light the candle of Love. We share God’s love with others, because God loved us so much that he sent Jesus Christ the Son into this world to save us.

Invest in People
We light the candle of Joy. One of the simplest ways to invest in other’s lives is to share our own faith journey with God, our own joy in the new life Christ brings.

Seek God’s Purpose
The Sunday following Christmas Day, we will remember the wise men from the east who followed a star, seeking a King, and we will ask ourselves what it is we will seek for in the coming year.

We will begin the series with an early-morning post on Sunday, November 30th, the first day of Advent 2008.

My daughter, Kris, wrote several of the devotions. We hope they can help all of us take time to read, reflect and pray, either alone or with family during this Christmastime May blessings of hope, peace, love and joy be yours

SingingOwl

Thankfulness 23

I have a friend. There we are in the picture. We are both much more beautious than you would ever suppose from our picture. ;-)

My friend loves me enough to tell me the truth. That is not necessarily an easy thing to do.

It is usually okay with her if I act silly, sad, grumpy, confused, happy, or a mix of all those things. That is not necessarily easy either, come to think of it.

We don't see eye-to-eye on everything. Sometimes I frustrate her. Sometimes she frustrates me. Sometimes we misunderstand one another. But even when that happens she persists till we get things as clear as we can.

She frequently visits my mother in the nursing home. She sends cards. We eat hot dogs and ice cream and Twizzlers, use aliases, laugh, drink coffee, sing songs, pray, go shopping, ruminate on the mysteries of life, recommend books, sit by the water, sit under the trees, look down the ski slope, light candles, seek God's presence, read the Bible, and commiserate about our "stuff." We want to encourage the best in one another. I am grateful for my friend and sister in the Lord, and I am glad our friendship has endured, even though these last few years have been challenging and difficult for both of us. I love you, Much 2 Ponder, and I thank God for you. God is better than good, and more often than all the time. Amen? Amen!

Thanking God for You Friday Five (and Thankfulness 23)

Phillipians 1:3 Every time I think of you, I give thanks to my God.

I'm musing about giving thanks for people today, partly because Americans celebrated our annual Thanksgiving holiday yesterday (I try not to just make this holiday "turkey day" even though its main feature seems to be eating till one is nearly comatose) and partly because I read the above verse this morning. It started me thinking about individuals in my life for whom I give thanks. I asked the Rev Gals and Pals to share with us "Five People For Whom You Give Thanks to God" and maybe tell us why they are significant. It is hard to pick just five, of course, but here are mine.

1. My father. He has been with the Lord for a long time now, and I miss him. Among the things I appreciated and also learned (or inheirited) from him were loyalty, faith even when things are bleak, loving to sing, teaching, a compassionate heart, and how to have fun. I am happy to say that he passed down some of his positive traits to me. Well, a couple of the negative ones too, but those are not part of this post.

2. Dr. Jaques. He was an extraordinary eye doctor who agreed to take on a four-year old patient whom others had given up on. I never think of him without gratitude that this dear, old, gifted man not only saved my sight but loved me as well.

3. Mary Newbill. She was my Primary Sunday School teacher. She saw who I was, and she encouraged me. Those of you who teach small kids, never underestimate the power of love and belief.

4. Okay, let's move to present day. I thank God for my secretary, Honey, who reads my posts, works at our church faithfully, prays for me, sometimes cries for me, makes me laugh--and does it all without a paycheck.

5. My husband. He loves me unconditionally. What more can anyone ask for?

Thankfulness 22

I'm thankful today for the changes that blogging has brought me, and some are significant. I'm also thankful for those who take time to read here once in a while--and to each and every one I wish:

Enjoy the day! See you tomorrow for the Friday Five.

Your Friend, SingingOwl

Thankfulness 21

I am thankful for internet friends. So many people I have never seen have enriched my life in so many ways. I am glad I have met some in person.

I'm thanking God for longtime cyber friends from The Egalitarian Christian Alliance: Ruth, Maureen, Psalmist, Nightmare, Dr. Platypus (and family), Tiro333, Pat G., Rudd, Sharon, Bronwen, Jeannie--and many more. You all have changed my life forever. Especially you, Ruth. I'm thinking of my "sister" Psalmist sending chocolates as I studied for my ordination test, Mrs. Platypus making a quilt for Trinity, Dr. Platypus answering linguistic questions (and more), Mauteen's gift of encouragment, Pat G.'s wisdom and gift of a "happy" book, Tiro's gentle wisdom and admirable scholarship, and all of you praying for me at various times, challenging my thinking and more. Over ten years of online connections! Wow!

Thank you, Rev Gals and Pals, dear Questing Parson, Rev. Mommy, Lorna, Iris, Kievas, Chartreuse Ova, Amy M., Zorra, and the list goes on and on...I wish I had time to read more.
It was good to see some of you in person at the F. of H., and I hope next time I can actually have some conversations. ;-)

I once would not have thought that close cyber friendships were possible. I'm not saying they are the same as face-to-face relationships, but they are nonetheless "real."

Thankfulness 20

Yippee! I am thankful that just when I was about to give up on having the devotional books printed in color, I located a printer that charged about half of what everyone else had quoted. Wow! Printing is costly, so I didn't order as many as I'd like to have done, but it will be enough.
For those who asked for a "hard copy" I will try to get it in the mail Wednesday p.m. so it won't be too late arriving.

Thankfulness 19

I'm thankful for what I saw outside earlier today, which was the first good snow of the season and Trinity and Rex playing in it. I am not always thankful for snow, so I am glad I can be for now!

Thankfulness 18

Yesterday was a four-sermon day for me, one at Jubilee and three at prison. It was good, as usual, wonderful singing from the choir, prayer, response to the sermon, lots of handshakes and well-wishes.

A sad thing happened that is a first for me in nearly 17 years of going there periodically for services. As the guys exited the chapel two of them got into a tussle which quickly escalated into a fight which left one with a bleeding mouth and the other sprinting for his "unit." Of course, people quickly told Ken, so he radioed for security staff (why there wasn't one at the chapel is another issue) and then followed the guy heading for "home." So, unfortunately, right after church two men were sent to the segregation unit. Another, for some unknown reason, was picked up after the third service and so that made three.

That is not what struck me the most, however. To my mind the saddest thing was the consternation of the other inmates as the fight broke out. The two guys were in the midst of a group, since they had all just departed the chapel. Some shouted at them to stop. Others backed off as fast as they could. Others tried to break it up, quickly stopping that when Ken came outside. Others came back inside the chapel building, quickly distancing themselves from the fracas. Everyone was upset. One choir member said, "I hate the devil." One was quite distraught about the fact that his friend was going to "the hole" and he hadn't been able to stop him. One of them said, "If we are out there when the guards show up we could end up in the hole too." All seemed surprised and distressed that this had happened practically on the steps of the chapel.

Understood.

The third service started a bit late, but was good. We prayed for light in dark places. Lest you have the wrong impression, "the hole" is not a hole in the ground. It is, nonetheless, a very dark place.

I am thankful that when I go to prison I can leave again. I am also thankful that the light shines in darkness and the darkness will not overcome it.

Thankfulness 17 Christmas Devotion Book

The booklet of devotions is finished! It looks wonderful. I'm excited about getting it printed and using it for church folks and for giving away too. There are 35 devotions/meditations, one for each day from Sunday, November 30th (the first day of Advent) through Saturday January 3rd.
The theme is "Christmas at the OASIS" because our church condensed our mission statement to go along with an acrostic with those letters. However, anyone could use the devotions. It is done in color, and each page includes a color picture or graphic to go along with the devotion for the day.

I am concerned about meeting the printing costs. I suspect it's going to be a chunk o' cash, but I really want to have it printed in color. The color version looks SO much better than it does in black and white. The church is struggling financially. Please pray with me that it will work out.
I'm making phone calls on Monday to see which of three choices of places to print this will work best.

I will be posting the devotions online when the time comes. I would love to share these with anyone who would like to follow along and use this for your devotions this Christmas season. If you send me your email address I will mail you the actual book. Any money received from this blog's readers will be used toward the printing cost. If you'd like my snail mail addy, just let me know.

Mail your address to: dkgeorge at charter dot com
You know the drill, I just don't want my email flooded with messages from spam bots. I'll do my best to get it to you before 11-30.

Thanking God today that this project, a joint effort with my daughter, Kris (who wrote several devotions, found graphics and formatted it all into Publisher) came together so wonderfully! It is better than I dared to hope!

Here is the introduction page:

"Christmas at the OASIS”
Devotional Readings and Prayers for the Season of Advent

Just thinking about everything that has to be done before Christmas can spike our stress level. Some of us secretly dread the season, knowing that all the bustle and “ho ho ho-ing” around us will make our sadness, loneliness, or fear even worse.

The image of a kaleidoscope comes to mind—a jumble of constantly changing shapes and colors—yet always resolving into a pattern of light and beauty. Like everyone else, Christians can be pulled in many directions at this time of year, but we do have an opportunity to stop, ponder, reflect and rejoice in a wonderful promise. That is the promise of Advent.

“Advent” means “coming.” The Lord is coming! We reflect on Jesus arriving as a babe at His first coming, and we look forward to his second advent when he makes all things new once again. Each Sunday of Advent we light a candle on our wreath and reflect on a different aspect of the season—Hope, Peace, Love, and Joy! This year the four Advent Sundays before Christmas and the Sunday following Christmas will focus on one of our O.A.S.I.S. purposes.

O Offer Hope

We light the candle of Hope: The people of Israel waited in hope for their Messiah to come. We have the message of hope for our world today, the true hope found in Christ.

A Advance God’s Kingdom

We light the candle of Peace. We advance God’s Kingdom as we share the peace that comes through relationship with the Prince of Peace.

S Share God’s Love
We light the candle of Love. We share God’s love with others, be cause God loved us so much that he sent Jesus Christ the Son into this world to save us.

I Invest in People
We light the candle of Joy. One of the simplest ways to invest in other’s lives is to share our own faith journey with God, our own joy in the new life Christ brings.

S Seek God’s Purpose
The Sunday following Christmas Day, we will remember the wise men from the east who followed a star, seeking a King. And we will ask ourselves what it is we will seek for in the coming year.

I hope these devotions will help all of us take time to read, reflect and pray, either alone or with family during this Christmastime May blessings of hope, peace, love and joy be yours.

Pastor SingingOwl

P.S. Thanks, Kris, for helping!

Thankfulness 16

I wrote about "terrible twos" (and Trinity isn't even quite two yet), so now I must say that I am so thankful that she is nearby. For me, of course, but right now I am thinking of my mother, Trinity's "Grandmommy" who she usually calls "Grandma Mommy." That makes me smile

Today my good friend Much2Ponder and I went over to the nursing home. I don't go as much as I probably should these days. It is very hard. My poor mother looks so lost. Today when the three of us came up to her it took her a moment to realize who we were and that we were there to see her. Then when it registered she just smiled so sweetly and spent the rest of the visit in silence but gazing intently at Trinity, smiling occasionally, riding around in her wheelchair clasping Trinity on her lap, and one even once chuckling at something funny Trinity said. I am unsure whether she actually understands that Trinity is her great granchild, but no matter.

Trinity was so good! She is such a pretty little thing, and when she passes the residents they light up, of course. She passed around little decorative squashes to the three of us, calling them pumpkins, she smiled, chatted cheerfully (man oh man, she is SO verbal!) and generally just blessed my heart with her sweet innocence and something that seems like innate understanding of what she needs to do. As she toddled down the hall to go my mother was looking so sad till Trinity looked back and waved and said, "See later, Grandma Mommy." Surprisingly, she is very willing to hug her great grandmother, and kissed her goodbye.

As for my mother, I know she will not remember the visit. But it gives me such joy to see her have a little pleasure. She will be 92 in January. I do not know how long she will live, of course, but at least for this time Trinity is able to bring to her a few moments of connection and the closest thing she has to joy.

Thankfulness 15

I am grateful for clergy colleagues.

I attended a ministerial meeting earlier this week where plans were made for a "Walk to Bethlehem" -- sort of a progressive reading of the Christmas story and carol singing and checking out each other's churches when they are all beautified for the season. We start at the Catholic church, then head over to a Lutheran church, then another Lutheran church and then to the UCC church and then to our place. After that, we troop across the street to the high school for "A Country Christmas" which is put on by the chamber of commerce but includes a bunch of church choirs in concert.

Then today Ken and I attended our local AG minister's fellowship group, which was more personal since most of us have know one another for awhile. Good friends.

And then there is the online fellowship of Rev Gals and Pals, some from the webring and some not.

It is good to be part of something larger than oneself, however, and good to know that some issues, problems, joys, challenges are common to all of us.