July 2022: a new blog

 

the commute to New Orleans is a killer….no doubt about that. but I’m lucky and get to time it out well. unlike my grandpa and dad and many (mostly) men who’ve done this brutal drive day after day 5 days a week in all sorts of crazy weather. but the reward of working a long day are views that soothe my spirit no matter how many time I’ve seen them. the skies, the water, the ever changing colors… it’s never safe to take pictures while driving! and it’s mostly a waste of time! I can’t capture it. But that doesn’t stop me from rolling down the window again and clicking away with my phone. The hot heavy air rolls in….humidity tangible. I doubt we’ll ever have rampant fires over the swamps here even with the increasingly high temperatures: there’s water everywhere...

it's been almost 2 years since I've officially blogged. no great loss:) This drive home is just one of the many things that have changed in the world in that time. overall, this career change...this role of chaplaincy is a Good change. lots of other changes are pretty troubling. much instability in our world, our country. in communities. in relationships. our caregiving situation, Mom's health. 

I think the intensity of hospital work, much of it palliative care - suits me. maybe because for 1 thing realities are stark here. Less gameplaying, less room for foolishness. More space for telling the truth about the precarity of life (as i heard someone phrase it.) More room for acceptance and grace here, too....

one of the first visits of this day included singing "Pass Me Not Oh Gentle Shepherd" with a struggling patient (her request.) my last visit with a man of Hindu faith tearfully sharing words of prayer from his tradition (at my request). I see how all the chapters of my life have prepared me for this work....at least for this season. this season of living in this Louisiana landscape for longer than I could have imagined. living in as much light as I can find...

better stuff

facebook feels predictable to me these days: outrage. conflict. preening. it's too much.

so I'm turning it off and concentrating on better stuff.

today I listened to yesterday's Dr. Ury sermon: "An Indwelling Justice". such a good message and important for these days of cultural upheaval. I wonder how we can impact the culture if we're not actively deciding to love people - choosing to use whatever gifts and time we have to be "all in" vs. hiding away somewhere in our piety and privilege, talking endlessly of ideas more than we're making a difference. I was so struck by the words he shared from Catherine Booth about what sharing the gospel takes: "Here is the principle laid down, that you are to adapt your measures to the necessity of the people to whom you minister; you are to take the Gospel to them in such modes and habitudes of thought and expression and circumstances, as will gain for it from them a hearing."

what a woman of impact she was! I need to learn a lot more about her, I've decided:) of course I looked up the quote and read some more on her, including this: 

"four qualifications of a consistent witness for Jesus:

– The witness must be good – someone whose character matches their words.
– The witness must be faithful – someone who personally knows the truth and is willing to tell the whole truth; the convicting and healing truth of the gospel.
– The witness must be reliable – someone who is willing personally to go to those who need to hear the message; someone who accepts personal responsibility rather than merely sponsoring others to go.
– The witness must be courageous – like Daniel who was not ashamed or afraid of the consequences for his devotion to the Lord. A good witness must be willing to speak out for God whatever the cost."

being a worthy witness: so much to ponder! so I pondered some on a walk this evening:)  Louisiana is not known for Fall colors, but these lovely fall evenings are good for the soul. Being able to enjoy these timed right walks is a blessing of these unsettled days for me....

we can always be part of the solution in our culture, however small our roles may seem. But we have to actively engage! we can look at others with love, not distain. we can look at ourselves honestly, with grace. we can walk out of whatever closed background, place of hurt our stories include and allow our forgiven hearts to be restored - to see and be seen in the real world. Lord, make it so.

~ Daybook: January 26, 2020 ~

it's that time of year....for resolutions and new beginnings and all that. And i see i didn't blog even one time in 2019 : not a great loss to the world, but still. I'd like to get back to it now and then : this daybook format is the easiest and fastest structure to try and do that, so here we go.

 I'm definitely in the midst of a "new beginning" : I've either discussed with you or you've seen on fb  that I've entered into a CPE program (clinical pastoral education) so i won't elaborate here. This 1st week has been intense and challenging. i feel pretty confident that i can do this, at least theoretically. but I’m not sure I can balance learning in my 40s with being a caregiver and driving an hour into New Orleans to do it: so I guess we'll see how this all works out. sigh.

Outside my window.... it is a dreary, rainy, and gray Sunday afternoon. it is winter after all. i enjoy the seasons and i'm enjoying the cold, knowing it will be hot as hades soon enough. 

I am drinking...Coffee. Comfort for my heart...

I am listening... to the Gaither Vocal Band. just hearing their song "we are the stars, we are the sand" this afternoon : beautiful!

I am planning... so many things. too many for my small mind to manage. and my heart: it keeps stretching and growing. Even when I feel overwhelmed and inadequate: grace fills in the spaces....

In the kitchen... there is kingcake:) i love this time of year:)

Around the house... I am determined to bring some order. things have gotten out of hand and the pressure of disorganization hangs over my head....

I am missing... my work friends. More than we realize, i think, we become accustomed to doing life together and it's an adjustment for me to not be seeing some of the same supportive faces every day....

I am wearing... pajamas. it's pretty early in the afternoon, but I've already taken a shower and i'm determined to be asleep by 10pm so i can be up earlier than i'd like for morning driving...

I am thankful.... for my church family. our pastor was back today after being away for 2 Sundays - it was good to have him back! I was moved this morning by the loving, sweet spirit in our congregation. we have been through some stuff...and God has been good to us.

I am looking forward... to being in Florida in less than 2 weeks with some of my dearest friends!!!

a quote that's speaking to me: 
“Millions long for immortality but don't know what to do with themselves on a rainy Sunday afternoon." (Susan Ertz).

i could pontificate on this for awhile;) but the basic question is this : 'what is it you plan to do with your one precious life?' (Mary Oliver). Life moves so quickly : ”normal” can change in a second...restlessness and sadness sometimes drive us into new paths: these are the thoughts I am contemplating.

A peek into my life:

early morning drive a few days ago....

incomplete thoughts on a Sunday....

I’ve been playing piano for Catholic masses for a very long time now....@ 17 years I think.

Like so much of my life, beginning this role was unexpected.....and has lasted longer than anticipated.

Every now and then I evaluate why I keep doing this....I must be getting something out of it, right? besides the money, I mean......although that Has been much of it....for awhile being a lowly musician was my only source of income of any sort....it’s still the easiest way I have of earning needed funds.

there are other reasons, too, of course.

The bottom line is that I like doing it. And sometimes doing what you like is important.

this morning I noticed something: maybe it’s happened before and I just noticed it better today.

Most full masses start by singing (or reciting if there’s no music) the Gloria. I’m no good at the history here.....I’m a church girl (of course) so I do know where these words originate.....

but I’ve no idea how long this has been happening in the church. I know a Long time.....it seems to be part of every classical mass I’ve ever sung.

The musical setting can change (and there’s all sorts of dynamics involved in that, too). I happen to like the musical setting (Gokelman/Kauffman) we started using in the diocese I play within several years ago...

from my (limited) understanding, the Gloria serves as a sort of call to worship....its setting the tone for Why we’ve all gathered here in the 1st place ~ it’s not a creed, exactly.....it’s not declaring Why we believe certain things....but it Is a purposeful and participatory setting of ones heart gaze on Who we’ve gathered for....

the words go like this:

"Glory to God in the highest,

and on earth peace to people of good will. Lord Jesus Christ, Only Begotten Son,

Lord God, Lamb of God,
Son of the Father,
you take away the sins of the world, have mercy on us;
you take away the sins of the world, receive our prayer;
you are seated at the right hand of the Father, have mercy on us.

For you alone are the Holy One,
you alone are the Lord,
you alone are the Most High, Jesus Christ,
with the Holy Spirit, in the glory of God the Father. Amen.”

this is what I noticed this morning:

I’m exhausted all the time these days (I guess that goes without saying) : this service time has been moved up 1 hour and begins at 8am...That. Is. Too. Early. For. Me. to be getting up on a Sunday morning after working all week (and often Saturdays, too) but the time change has worked well, actually, since my parents need me more on Sunday mornings now.

Sometimes.....often.....I'm pretty slumped in my posture (and in my spirit) at the piano. But as I made it through the opening parts of the Gloria today I found myself sitting up straighter.....my back felt more strong and I had a sense of body/spirit engagement....I realized I was listening to the words, the praise.....and both my body and my heart were responding.

Did I stay this way the entire service?

Probably not. 
i probably became distracted at points.....settled back in my chair during the homily, mind wandering...that's ok, really.
it's the story of life : we can't always stay energized,inspired, alert spiritually and physically.
we especially can't if bowed down by care and weariness.
But these moments of inspiration and invigoration matter : and i'm thankful when they happen.

"And ye, beneath life's crushing load, whose forms are bending low, 

who toil along the climbing way with painful steps and slow, 

look now! for glad and golden hours come swiftly on the wing. 

O rest beside the weary road, and hear the angels sing! 

(Edmund Sears)

Laundry on Sundays...

"Light Wash" (Andrew Wyeth)

Sundays are not altogether restful....in fact, they're far from it. I find myself often thinking about ways I can make things better -  more restful for myself : making more simple meals is one way I can do that....saying no better is probably another way I could. There are SO many things to get done, that when I "just sit" I can start feeling like I've wasted good work time.....I've just about cured myself of that guilt. ("should" mentality dies a hard and slow death:)

I have some fairly clear ideas about how I wish Sabbaths could be: and mine do not measure up to my ideals....

I'm not even going to record those lofty ideals here! today, I'm thinking about the mundane :  how the chore I do normally get around to on Sundays is laundry. It's easy! and necessary! it just takes me organizing myself a little bit - organizing the baskets the way I want them (note, I'm not inferring that I actually fold all the clothes!:) And to start the new week we can (- at the least -) have some clean clothes to wear....

I've felt lately that my soul needs a little washing up....it's feeling rather dried up and weary; exhausted from living and doubtful of certainty: if I could throw it quickly into the washer and dryer and have it come out sparkling new, full of renewed hope and purpose - I would.

But I can't. It doesn't quite work like that.

But some things do work: the mundane, normal Sundays rituals of reading Scripture, singing hymns, prayer (and repentance), purposing to listen to the preacher....and to God....and allowing the Holy Spirit to wash clean and renew my spirit can go a long ways in providing peace. Of course that can happen all week long : but if you're anything like me - sometimes it doesn't.

Today the pastor referenced these verses and I read (and heard ) them again (and I needed to hear them!):

Romans 8:31-39 (Message) "So, what do you think? With God on our side like this, how can we lose? If God didn’t hesitate to put everything on the line for us, embracing our condition and exposing himself to the worst by sending his own Son, is there anything else he wouldn’t gladly and freely do for us? And who would dare tangle with God by messing with one of God’s chosen? Who would dare even to point a finger? The One who died for us—who was raised to life for us!—is in the presence of God at this very moment sticking up for us. Do you think anyone is going to be able to drive a wedge between us and Christ’s love for us? There is no way! Not trouble, not hard times, not hatred, not hunger, not homelessness, not bullying threats, not backstabbing, not even the worst sins listed in Scripture.........None of this fazes us because Jesus loves us. I’m absolutely convinced that nothing—nothing living or dead, angelic or demonic, today or tomorrow, high or low, thinkable or unthinkable—absolutely nothing can get between us and God’s love because of the way that Jesus our Master has embraced us."

These words help my faith....and leave my heart feeling a little lighter....

Blogging has fallen away for most of us...and I've been thinking that most of us rarely have an original thought anyways:) But these are my thoughts today...and i guess i should go fold some laundry now.

~ Daybook: July 2nd, 2017 ~

I am missing... blogging. Long ago in another life (it seems) I had more time and space for thinking & writing..i seem to have lost both...and the social media landscape has changed everything anyways...i'm going to try and do this daybook thing quickly...before all my evening running around...so my verbosity will be limited:)

Outside my window.... it's very, very hot and humid. i'm ready for Fall!!

I am drinking...Coffee (of course!). it's Sunday afternoon after all. I've pretty much stopped drinking diet drinks, as much as that pains me....i can't risk any more drain on my cognitive skills....I'm sticking with water and coffee;)

I am listening...to my parents listen to gospel music:)
currently, i'm loving, loving 2 Cd's : Buddy Greene's "Someday" and Brooke Fraser's "flags".

I am planning... on going back to the gym. a bad foot has kept me out of exercising for 2 months now...that 's been not good for both my physical and mental health.

In the kitchen... I'm struggling. i feel like most of my meals are thrown together. i honestly can't feel too badly about it...it is what it is.

Around the house...also struggling. i really, really, really want to start getting rid of things...everything! i'm feeling weighted down by stuff.

I am going.... to too many hospitals.

I am reading...not enough. the only thing i'm sticking with consistently...slowly...is Jan Karon's Somewhere Safe with Somebody Good. It's good for my heart. 1 more book in the series!! and maybe a new one? I've been toting around Hillybilly Elegy (J.D.Vance) for months now and not finishing it...i plan to finish it! 

I am thankful.... *that our church has called a good pastor. praying for a good transition. 

*For good support from a few old and new friends...

I am looking forward... to this July 4th holiday:) God Bless America and all! but i'm mostly glad for a day off and i plan to sleep in as late as possible. I am grateful for this country and that our founders created a brilliant system of checks & balances: especially important in these days of authoritarian foolishness.

a quote that's speaking to me: 

"When you lose your capacity to care what other people think, you've lost your ability to connect. But when you're defined by it, you've lost your ability to be vulnerable." (Brene Brown)
~ i love facebook. but one thing that troubles me about it is how there seems to be the motivation to "out-spiritualize" one other (as my friend Jody recently phrased it.) (or at least this happens in my fb circles!) I'm not just throwing stones here...I'm trying to learn myself what seem to be the never ending lessons of deep connection and true vulnerability. and i don't think growth can happen here if we're always overly conscious of how we might "appear" to others. I am trying to give others...and myself...grace in this area.

A peek into my life:
this is not really a peek per se....but it's a quote and photo that's stayed with me since i saw it posted by "The Lettered Cottage". 
this is Hard Work...my soul longs for more of these places of unarmed grace.

2017 : Balance?!

This is me blogging. *Shock - Awe - Unbelief* Welcome, 2017. Goodbye and Happy to see you Gone, 2016!!

A couple of days ago, in preparation for a group we are beginning at the agency where I work, I read through some material we will be using. The last part of the "Intro"section (from Griefwork : Healing from Loss (Zamore and Leutenberg) is written to the facilitator and includes a section entitled:
Create balance in your life between...

• Giving and receiving
• Attention to family and self
• Involvement and detachment
• Feelings of power and powerlessness
• Others' needs and your own needs
• Time spent with people and time spent alone

These hit me like a ton of bricks.

Let it be said that i said ouch to every one of these!!!!

I am doing terribly badly on every one of these scales!!!

and it Does feel as if I have no power over any if it....And to be clear, it's not just a "feeling": in several areas of my life I am reaping the consequences of other people's choices...I am trying to address the messes made by others. Believe me, I have enough trouble handling my own messes, so I'm obviously doing pretty miserably handling those made by others. *smile* but let me move on!

these are all fine things to consider, but the scale that stands out the most to me is "Involvement and Detachment." I've not heard this particular turn of phrase before.....but it nails an issue I've been thinking about a lot. We (are at least I) hear much about boundaries....boundaries, boundaries, boundaries. I'm all for them! I need more of them!! BUT...sometimes I'm afraid we use our "need" for boundaries as an excuse to just not do anything....to ignore needs...to shirk responsibilities....to give ourselves a free pass from doing what needs to be done....to turn aside from what are sometimes actually easy tasks that we're capable of doing...but are sometimes really, really hard painful jobs that call us to step forward in grace into the dark hurts and messy mayhem of life's lowest moments. In other words...we become detached.

But not just detached, we become guarded....more protective of our safety (and sometimes our image) than open to the promptings of the Holy Spirit. I think there's a cost to being detached : the loss of the growing up of our souls. 

without a doubt, there's also cost to over involvement. I feel it very strongly in my spirit and in my weariness. I am trying and I am intending to say No!! better. I have to....for my own sanity and the peace of my household. Especially more No to the things I can't have much of an effect on anyways.

But not at the cost of remaining tender to the needs of people and the way that God sees them.

I'm not exactly sure how to make this happen in my heart....or, practically, how to work this out in the everyday muck of my life. Certainly today's ramblings do not solve anything.

I think the answers lie somewhere in listening more, resting more in the care of the Lord rather than being driven to "prove"anything. Truth is, there's nothing I feel the need to prove much anymore. But I do want my Love to prove strong....steady....focused on what will ultimately matter in the end.