Tonight I went to Wednesday night supper at my church and then, had the Lenten Bible study with our pastor while the kids went to youth choir and youth group. The passage we talked about was Exodus 17.
It became apparent, through our discussion, that the "miracle" that occurred was more likely an incident where Moses went off to be alone for a bit, grumbled a little to God about the people he was travelling with and their complaints about being thirsty, and then, suddenly remembered a way to get water. Striking the stick against the rock to get water was something he would have known to do because he had been a shepherd.
It reminds me of what sometimes happens when I have misplaced something and I finally get exasperated enough to ask God where it is. Suddenly, I think of a place I hadn't looked and lo and behold, there it is!
I got several things out of tonight's Bible study...
1) When there are troubles, the best thing to do is find a way to be alone for a while and talk to God about it.
2) The answers are within and if we get quiet enough to hear God's voice inside, we;ll get them.
3) The "greats" in the Bible are likely to have heard from God exactly the way we do today.
4) Objects in the mirror may be closer than they appear (things may not have happened precisely as described). As Marcus Borg says, I take the Bible seriously but not literally!
5) Given that the Bible we read today was written by humans (all of them men), all of them influenced by their culture, who likely made mistakes and may even have created a few accounts here and there, the miracle of inspiration is that there is a message of continuity that survived all that. We see a God of love and mercy who created us and wants us and we see that God in both the OT and NT!
That's the miracle!
The Bible managed to capture a sense of who God really is in spite of itself!!
Wednesday, February 27, 2008
Tuesday, February 26, 2008
Release of Rejection
Something unusual happened today. I was taking a walk with my son, across the dirt and under the trees, and when we got to the one we think of as the "love" tree, I didn't feel much love. I didn't feel much of anything!
Now, I've not been feeling well these past few days. But taking a walk outside almost always makes me feel better!
I realized that I was feeling sad and began to wonder why. Watching the Oscars made me sad, again, about Heath, but I was aware that that wasn't it, there was more. So I just let myself be and finished the walk. It wasn't until I was back inside that I remembered something that happened recently, an exchange with a friend that hurt my feelings and made me feel rejected!
It hadn't occurred to me when it happened that I would need to heal it, but apparently I did. So I began to work on healing it and several other incidences that have occurred in the past few months came to mind and I realized that they were presenting themselves for healing, too.
In about 15 minutes, I had healed the rejection, infused forgiveness and created the ability to connect again fully with the people who had hurt me (I did this using reiki and the Healing Codes). When I was done, that's when I realized something I think is rather important. I am used to thinking that trauma or really upsetting events lead to closing the heart. But today I realized it may happen far more frequently than that.
Each time we are rejected or hurt we react by closing the doors of our hearts. I'm sure it's an attempt to protect ourselves from being hurt again. But what that does is keep out the love that's in the air around us. From our husbands and wives, from our children, from our friends. From God or the universe. Love is all around, as the Mary Tyler Moore theme goes. But our ability to perceive it, to feel it, will be compromised to some degree, at least temporarily, if we have unhealed wounds, even small ones.
Now, I've not been feeling well these past few days. But taking a walk outside almost always makes me feel better!
I realized that I was feeling sad and began to wonder why. Watching the Oscars made me sad, again, about Heath, but I was aware that that wasn't it, there was more. So I just let myself be and finished the walk. It wasn't until I was back inside that I remembered something that happened recently, an exchange with a friend that hurt my feelings and made me feel rejected!
It hadn't occurred to me when it happened that I would need to heal it, but apparently I did. So I began to work on healing it and several other incidences that have occurred in the past few months came to mind and I realized that they were presenting themselves for healing, too.
In about 15 minutes, I had healed the rejection, infused forgiveness and created the ability to connect again fully with the people who had hurt me (I did this using reiki and the Healing Codes). When I was done, that's when I realized something I think is rather important. I am used to thinking that trauma or really upsetting events lead to closing the heart. But today I realized it may happen far more frequently than that.
Each time we are rejected or hurt we react by closing the doors of our hearts. I'm sure it's an attempt to protect ourselves from being hurt again. But what that does is keep out the love that's in the air around us. From our husbands and wives, from our children, from our friends. From God or the universe. Love is all around, as the Mary Tyler Moore theme goes. But our ability to perceive it, to feel it, will be compromised to some degree, at least temporarily, if we have unhealed wounds, even small ones.
"Music Simply Overtakes Me!"
At the end of our day, Jonathan and I sometimes watch "Little Bear" on Noggin, and he loves one of the "commercials" where someone (a character whose name I do not know) sings a whole song about music. Jonathan invariably sings along and I love to watch him, especially when he gets to the line "music simply overtakes me"! He adds a little Satchmo-style with jazz hands and quite the increase in volume.
This morning, he decided to write a song based on yesterday's social graces lesson on "magic words". Then, he finished a book he has been writing about this year's birthday extravaganza.
I love his creativity!
This morning, he decided to write a song based on yesterday's social graces lesson on "magic words". Then, he finished a book he has been writing about this year's birthday extravaganza.
I love his creativity!
Monday, February 25, 2008
Touching Earth
Another great homeschooling day, although I am still recovering from sitting next to someone with pets during the scrapbooking crop Saturday afternoon.
In the middle of our day, I had a break, for a meeting. The group of us who take turns facilitating Sunday School at church had a meeting this morning. We need to choose a focus for the next few months, but half of us weren't there so we put off making a final decision until next week.
Then, Jonathan had ballroom dance class, followed by social graces class.
Our day ended with a walk under the trees. But this time we were able to get closer then we usually do. Because people use that courtyard area for their dogs and often aren't courteous about cleaning up afterward, we don't go in too far. But the landscaping people cleared it out today and there was rich dark soil to walk on when we got back this afternoon.
So we walked up to our favorite trees, talked to them, infused their energies and connected solidly to the earth beneath us.
I'm glad the day is over, but it had some great moments!!
In the middle of our day, I had a break, for a meeting. The group of us who take turns facilitating Sunday School at church had a meeting this morning. We need to choose a focus for the next few months, but half of us weren't there so we put off making a final decision until next week.
Then, Jonathan had ballroom dance class, followed by social graces class.
Our day ended with a walk under the trees. But this time we were able to get closer then we usually do. Because people use that courtyard area for their dogs and often aren't courteous about cleaning up afterward, we don't go in too far. But the landscaping people cleared it out today and there was rich dark soil to walk on when we got back this afternoon.
So we walked up to our favorite trees, talked to them, infused their energies and connected solidly to the earth beneath us.
I'm glad the day is over, but it had some great moments!!
Sunday, February 24, 2008
My son, Moses!
My church has a kids event every Sunday morning called "Creative Kids". It's a very creative church and the kids are often involved in the service by putting on skits, acting out the Scripture reading or singing a song.
But you never know what the plan is! It's always a surprise after the service begins. Sunday School ends, I take a seat in the sanctuary and then, I see what happens.
Well, this morning, Jonathan ran up to the stage with the other kids and he was carrying a stick. I was just excited to see him up there but then, suddenly realized he was Moses. And what an adorable one!!
Church was good today. But for some reason, I was bored!
It might be because I was so tired. We've been celebrating Jonathan's birthday for two days. And I spent all afternoon yesterday making a scrapbook for him with pictures of him and Shelly. Then, we went to dinner, I scooted him into bed, watched a little TV and had to get up again this morning, if you can believe that! :)
I really didn't want to get up and go to church. But I also did. So off we went!
But my day has been a little off.
Maybe I can catch up on sleep tonight?
But you never know what the plan is! It's always a surprise after the service begins. Sunday School ends, I take a seat in the sanctuary and then, I see what happens.
Well, this morning, Jonathan ran up to the stage with the other kids and he was carrying a stick. I was just excited to see him up there but then, suddenly realized he was Moses. And what an adorable one!!
Church was good today. But for some reason, I was bored!
It might be because I was so tired. We've been celebrating Jonathan's birthday for two days. And I spent all afternoon yesterday making a scrapbook for him with pictures of him and Shelly. Then, we went to dinner, I scooted him into bed, watched a little TV and had to get up again this morning, if you can believe that! :)
I really didn't want to get up and go to church. But I also did. So off we went!
But my day has been a little off.
Maybe I can catch up on sleep tonight?
Saturday, February 23, 2008
A "Heavenly" Friday Five...
From Singing Owl, RevGalBlogPals...
What is your idea of a heavenly (i.e. wonderful and perfect):
1. Family get-together
Plenty of laughter, all your favorite food, no conflict, deep sense of belonging, comfort, safety and security.
2. Song or musical piece
One that feels wonderful as you're singing it! I love to sing and it feels wonderful to belt out a song. Very emotionally satisfying and pleasing!
3. Gift
Something that makes it obvious that the giver knows your heart and soul and loves you deeply.
4. You choose whatever you like-food, pair of shoes, vacation, house, or something else. Just tell us what it is and what a heavenly version of it would be.
A heavenly house would be a log cabin with a waterfront view and big, fluffy trees. There would be fireplaces in almost every room, a garden tub deep enough to sit up in and still be covered by the water, a sleeping porch off the master bedroom, a sunroom, a deep front porch with rocking chairs and a back deck with comfy wicker rockers facing the lake.
5. And for a serious moment, or what would you like your entrance into the next life to be like?
What, from your vantage point now, would make Heaven "heavenly?"
I would like to feel enveloped in the most tender, precious love I've ever experienced, recognize God immediately, know the answers to my own personal mysteries and be infused with joy as I am welcomed by everyone I've ever had to say a painful goodbye to and able to meet the heroes who arrived before me.
What is your idea of a heavenly (i.e. wonderful and perfect):
1. Family get-together
Plenty of laughter, all your favorite food, no conflict, deep sense of belonging, comfort, safety and security.
2. Song or musical piece
One that feels wonderful as you're singing it! I love to sing and it feels wonderful to belt out a song. Very emotionally satisfying and pleasing!
3. Gift
Something that makes it obvious that the giver knows your heart and soul and loves you deeply.
4. You choose whatever you like-food, pair of shoes, vacation, house, or something else. Just tell us what it is and what a heavenly version of it would be.
A heavenly house would be a log cabin with a waterfront view and big, fluffy trees. There would be fireplaces in almost every room, a garden tub deep enough to sit up in and still be covered by the water, a sleeping porch off the master bedroom, a sunroom, a deep front porch with rocking chairs and a back deck with comfy wicker rockers facing the lake.
5. And for a serious moment, or what would you like your entrance into the next life to be like?
What, from your vantage point now, would make Heaven "heavenly?"
I would like to feel enveloped in the most tender, precious love I've ever experienced, recognize God immediately, know the answers to my own personal mysteries and be infused with joy as I am welcomed by everyone I've ever had to say a painful goodbye to and able to meet the heroes who arrived before me.
Thursday, February 21, 2008
Rainwater
My son and I just had a cool experience!
We went outside to collect rainwater. We took a rain walk around and under my favorite trees as part of the cleansing process for my quartz crystal. I also held it under our "love" tree (the one from which we feel a loving energy as we pass by) so that it might be blessed with love.
Speaking of love, I love the smell of rain!!
The sound of it, too! We're watching the Waltons and listening to raindrops.
We went outside to collect rainwater. We took a rain walk around and under my favorite trees as part of the cleansing process for my quartz crystal. I also held it under our "love" tree (the one from which we feel a loving energy as we pass by) so that it might be blessed with love.
Speaking of love, I love the smell of rain!!
The sound of it, too! We're watching the Waltons and listening to raindrops.
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