Not a Race

What do the Indianapolis, Daytona, Martinsville (VA), and Phoenix raceways have in common with "Finding the Faith Way"? Five hundred—miles, laps, kilometers, or posts. Although I am not a pro "driver," still 500 is an impressive number, don't you think?

Just for your information—

I have been waiting for a long time to spend significantly more time and diligent effort on a couple of other projects. I don't intend to abandon this blog, but there may not be as many posts, and they may appear even more unevenly spaced than in the past year or so! Keep in touch by subscribing through ATOM, barely visible at the bottom of the page, or through other networks listed on the left-hand side.

Word work is

a lot easier than

it used to be!!

MaryMartha

 

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

The Last Leaf

If I had my choice—which , of course, I don't—I would choose my final season to occur in October—not that I plan for that any time soon! This is my favorite month. I was born in May, a suitable season for life and growth, and it seems to me that the end of life would be appropriate in autumn, the season of harvest and rejoicing.

Leo Buscaglia has written a lovely children's book, The Fall of Freddie the Leaf, which tells a story for readers of all ages. It goes something like this:

Freddie and hundreds of other leaves shared life on a tall tree in the park where children played and old people came to sit in the shade and families spread out picnics on checkered tablecloths. But Spring breezes passed as did Summer sun and rain. It was October, and one night everything was covered with a thin layer of white which melted in the morning. Freddie's wise friend explained that the frost signaled the end of summer and the arrival of Fall.

Soon all the leaves began to turn other colors besides green: deep yellow, purple, bright orange or red. And then the breezes that earlier had caused them to dance now pulled on their stems until they were swept away from the tree and dropped softly to the ground.  "What's happening?" they all wondered.

The big old leaf explained that this happens to leaves in the Fall; it's time for them to change their home. "Some people call it to die," he said.

"I'm afraid to die," Freddie admitted to his friend. "I don't know what's down there."

"We all fear what we do not know. You were not afraid when Spring became summer or when Summer became Fall. You do not need to be afraid of this new season."

"Then what is the reason for all this? Why were we here if we are only going to fall and die?"

"It's been about purpose," Freddie's friend explained. "It's been about happy times in the sunlight and under the moon's glow. It's been for old people and children and families under our shade. It's been about colors in the Fall. That's enough."

For a little while, Freddie was all alone on the branch, and then the snow fell and he drifted quietly down and landed softly on the white ground. It didn't hurt at all. And for the first time, he could see the whole tree. He knew that he had been a part of its strong, lasting life. And it made him proud!

The leaf analogy can be carried only so far; it fails when it comes to resurrection and eternal life. But I find that it sweetly addresses the autumn season of life, and the confidence we have that all is well for us!

MaryMartha

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Seasons of Life

The seasons of life, as full as they are of newness and excitement, bring their own losses. We celebrate graduations and weddings and the births of babies and new jobs and retirements. We love to party hearty! What we sometimes fail to acknowledge—and then it takes us by surprise—is the little bit of ache that often accompanies rejoicing. We are happy certainly, but we also sense the loss of something dear and familiar.

"I wanted to be finished with school—but now what do I do?"

"I truly do want to marry this person, but I'm afraid to give up my freedom."

"We wanted this baby so much, but I liked there being just the two (or the three or more) of us, and I'm really, really tired of getting up at two a.m."

"I like the money I'm making, but the stress is killing me."

"I've looked forward to retirement all these years, and now I feel so useless."

How strange it is that success is mixed with a secret sorrow! In the last three days, two different friends, very dear to me, have announced that they are moving away from this area. Maybe we'll stay in touch, maybe not; life has a way of going on and distance has a way of changing how friendships survive and thrive. So I am glad for the challenges and opportunities and blessings that lie ahead for them, but still . . .

I wonder if there may be a reader who is feeling some of that "secret sorrow" of change. You can just tell yourself, "It is all right to feel a bit confused. I'm okay even if I'm happy and sort of sad at the same time. There's nothing wrong with me; this is part of change and I will get it sorted out."

Some of our griefs may seem foolish, at least to others. A man begins to bald a bit on top, a double chin appears, and suddenly he is threatened. Or a woman passes beyond the childbearing years, or she loses a breast to cancer, and she feels diminished. A person breaks their addiction to alcohol or goes on a medication that helps the brain function properly or becomes an average-sized individual by losing half her body weight—and suddenly, they no longer know who they are! "What a great problem to have!" someone might say. But no, not if you are one experiencing this sort of identity crisis. Be gentle with the person you used to be, kind to the person you are now!

It is not wrong for us to recognize and grieve our losses, whether that makes sense to others or not. If we are acknowledging now, perhaps for the first time in a long while, that there are some sore places in our hearts, then we have started on the path to healing and wholeness.

"The LORD is close to the brokenhearted; he rescues those whose spirits are crushed." (Psalm 34:18)

MaryMartha

Scripture quotation is taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

The Saving Touch

"Daughter, your faith has healed you.
Go in peace."

There was something different about the little woman who crept up close to Jesus and touched the hem of His garment, believing that by doing so she would be made whole. (See Luke 8:40-47) A crowd surrounded Jesus, pressing close. He was so busy, just now on His way to see a little girl who was dying. The disciples tried to run interference for Him, "Make way! Let us through, make way!"

I think that not only the faithful followers of Jesus were there that day. In the crowd were probably the curiosity-seekers too. "Hey, can you move a bit? I want to see what's going on, too."

There were the awestruck worshippers, not of Christ's divinity but more of His celebrity status. "Yes, I've been following Him around, but I can't catch His eye. Isn't He magnificent?"

Interested news-seekers. "Can you believe what He just said? He's like a god!"

Impressed onlookers. "Say, He speaks like He knows what He's talking about!"

And probably the disgruntled too. "I don't understand why this is such a big deal. I just wish things would settle down."

Then came an interruption. Jesus stopped. He turned around. "Who touched my clothes?" He asked.

The disciples looked at Him, astonished. "Jesus," one of them said, "a lot of people have touched You. They're crowding all around You, even jostling You. How can you even think to ask who touched You?"

But it was not a curious touching to see if He felt like other people. Not a touch to be remembered and to brag about how close you were. It was not a touch to comfort and affirm nor to threaten. It was the reaching out in faith, a saving touch. Jesus knew that, for He felt power go out from Himself through that touch.

The woman came forward, trembling, and confessed what she had done. "I knew if I could just touch the hem of Your cloak, I would be well. I am! I was healed the instant I touched You!"

It is much the same today. Not everyone who touches Jesus is changed. There are the curious, because religion often makes the news. There are the interested who say, like one author, "I dig Jesus. He's cool." Some are truth-seekers, and they think maybe Jesus has something for them. A few, convinced of their need, simply touch Him in faith.

That's how we're changed.

MaryMartha

Art from http://lavistachurchofchrist.org/Pictures

Changes

Today at a divisional meeting of the organization which employs me, my supervisor announced some reorganization of our workgroups. Hoping to reassure us she said, "And this won't change"—but then she added, "until it does." Doesn't this confirm what people in general believe: There is nothing as certain as change!

Changes are happening in our lives all the time, so gradually that we don't even pay attention on an everyday basis. We are aging just a little bit at a time, we are adjusting to a new family member or the loss of an older one, or we are challenged to learn a new job or leisure skill. It sometimes happens that all of a sudden we realize a great change has taken place almost without our being aware. "I'm nearly retirement age!" we marvel, or "I can't believe Grandma G has been gone a year," or "I thought I would never learn this, but it's simple now." We usually can accept this kind of change as being part of life. Living things change.

Often we find it harder to deal with the changes that come suddenly, with little or no prior warning. They may be quite small, really, but they upset our routine, require us to redirect our energies, and tax our composure. A detour requires us to change our usual route while a road is being repaired. A change in office or workstation means adjusting to other surroundings and perhaps other employees. The church's small group of which we are a member begins to meet at a different time. We break a finger or a tooth, pay more for postage stamps, or someone rearranges the furniture. Can we accept these too as being part of life? Facing these changes with equanimity helps us grow into the kind of persons who can face the greater challenges.

"Change and decay in all around I see; O Thou who changest not, abide with me!" ("Abide with Me," Henry F. Lyte, 1847)

MaryMartha

Art from http://www.sxc.hu/

Recovery Specialists

A few weeks ago, this area of our state endured a really cold winter blast lasting several days. Night temperatures were below zero and daytime's were only a few degrees above. The water company warned customers to protect the pipes in their homes and businesses, but for some people that caution was too little or too late.

On my way home from work one afternoon, I saw two large trucks parked outside the home of a neighbor down the street. "Recovery Specialists" was lettered on the vehicles, and I re-constructed the scenario. Pipes froze and burst during the extreme cold, then when warmer days returned so did the flow of water: soaking the floor, dripping through the ceilings perhaps, ruining carpets and damaging the owner's possessions. What a mess!

I have been thinking about the ultimate recovery specialist. Jesus said, “The Spirit of the Lord is upon me, for he has anointed me to bring Good News to the poor. He has sent me to proclaim that captives will be released, that the blind will see, that the oppressed will be set free, and that the time of the Lord’s favor has come.” (Luke 4:18, 19) The world needs a recovery specialist. As first created, it was good; God declared that it was. But because the people He formed in His own image had choices, the possibility of things going wrong existed. And they did. Knowing this would happen, God planned from the very beginning to provide the way to recover what was damaged. He would send His Son.

Not only the world in general, but people as individuals need the recovery specialist. We need the Good News of salvation that Jesus brought. We need release from our bondages, understanding for our blind spots, freedom from the things that overburden us. We need to experience God's favor, seeing Him through the Son as our loving Father. We are not equipped to do this on our own. We need to call in the "specialist."

Bend down, O Lord, and hear my prayer; answer me, for I need your help. Protect me, for I am devoted to you. Save me, for I serve you and trust you. You are my God. Be merciful to me, O Lord, for I am calling on you constantly. Give me happiness, O Lord, for I give myself to you. O Lord, you are so good, so ready to forgive, so full of unfailing love for all who ask for your help. Listen closely to my prayer, O Lord; hear my urgent cry. I will call to you whenever I’m in trouble, and you will answer me.

Teach me your ways, O Lord, that I may live according to your truth! Grant me purity of heart, so that I may honor you. With all my heart I will praise you, O Lord my God. I will give glory to your name forever, for your love for me is very great. You have rescued me from the depths of death. (Psalm 86:1-7, 11-13)

He is always ready to respond. No extra charge for nights or weekends.

MaryMartha

Scripture quotations are taken from The Holy Bible, New Living Translation, copyright © 1996, 2004. Used by permission of Tyndale House Publishers, Inc., Wheaton, Illinois 60189. United States of America. All rights reserved.

Art from http://wwwlsxc.hu/

Reading a Good Book--or The Good Book

Today I checked out from our local library a graphic novel. No, perhaps not what you are thinking: a story full of explicit sex and/or gratuitous violence and vulgar language. The new meaning of "graphic novel" is an illustrated story in comic-book style. They are not all equal, just as novels that have no pictures are not all equal. There are so many in the bookstores and libraries now that I wanted to see if a graphic novel was worth my time. I have the preconceived opinion that nothing will beat words, but we'll see.

"Graphic" doesn't mean what it used to mean. Our language has undergone lots of other significant changes over the years, so it is no surprise that numerous committees and even some individuals have spent years translating and/or paraphrasing the Bible, attempting to make it more easily understood and thus more relevant. I'm hoping we don't go so far as "The poor in spirit . . . the merciful . . . the pure of heart are really rockin'." But if teens don't get the term "blessed" and think "happy" isn't what they want, maybe someone will come up with a version that speaks to them.

Actually, with a little searching just now, I found that someone has done just that. Rob Lacey has written "The Word on the Street," published in the UK in 2004. One would not use it for careful reading or study, but many consider it very attractive to introduce youthful newcomers to the Bible. A bit of his style from Genesis:

"First off, nothing . . . No light, no time, no substance, no matter. Second off: God says the word, and WHAP! Stuff everywhere!"`

From the Big Ten Rules:

No. 1: "I'm your god . . . I get total priority. You won't have any other gods distracting you or taking your attention away from me. I'm the only God. No other god's worth squat."

And a wise one-liner from Solomon: "Don't talk to a mirror and expect to lip read the answers to life." (Did you recognize Proverbs 3:7?)

There is also a graphic Bible for teens and young adults, or even younger children who are good readers. I should have known! And yes, the Library has some books of the Bible in graphic form. I'll read them next!

The big black King James Version of the Bible is not one of the Trinity (or part of a Holy Quaternity, either). If the Word is presented accurately in teen-speak or modern English or colored cartoon-style drawings, is that not a good thing? The Apostle Paul said he wasn't too concerned about the motive people had for preaching the Gospel—good, bad, or indifferent—just so it was preached. (Philippians 1:18) Might he suggest today that the words with which it is presented don't matter as much as the message?

"Let the reader understand."

MaryMartha

Art from www.wpclipart.com