Some Thoughts

Friday was a very busy day for me.  Usually it’s my day off, but I worked in the morning, sang at a memorial service in the early afternoon, and had a 3:00 meeting in Pleasant Hill.  Not only was I busy, but I seemed to be running late all day, and I HATE being late.  It was definitely a stress-filled day, and I was exhausted by the end of it.

That day made me realize how much I value my day off - my day of Sabbath.  I try really hard to not do anything work-related on Fridays.  Instead, I spend time with my family, I walk or hike outside, I watch some t.v., I read a magazine.  I take time to relax, and to do things that I enjoy.  This Sabbath day is an important part of my week, and I find that I am much more productive (not to mention more pleasant to be around!) when I have that Sabbath time.  It allows my body, mind, and soul to recharge.

Do you take a day of Sabbath?  A day when you take time away from work and school to simply be?  To have fun and relax?  I hope so.  And if not, start!

“And on the seventh day God finished the work that God had done, and God rested on the seventh day from all the work that God had done.”  Genesis 2:2

I have just returned from our middle school mission trip to San Francisco.  We worked for 3 days on projects that help those who are hungry and homeless in the city.  On the last day, we decided to make several (about 50) bag lunches, and distribute them to people in need around City Hall.  We spent about half an hour making sandwiches, and filling the paper lunch bags with all kinds of snacks.  We then drove to City Hall, and roamed a couple of blocks to hand out the lunches.  To my surprise, the kids distributed all 50 lunches in about two minutes - literally.  I barely had time to put money in the parking meter, and the lunches were gone.

That experience really made us think about the enormity of the hunger felt by people in the city.  If we can give away 50 lunches in two minutes in the space of about two city blocks, how many thousands of people did we not help to feed that day?  How many thousands of people wake up each morning with nothing to eat - just in the city limits of San Francisco?  Certainly, we helped many hundreds with our work at Glide Memorial and the Food Bank - but how many more went unserved?  What are we - as individuals, as a church community, as a nation, as a world - going to do about this?

“For I was hungry and you gae me food, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink.”  Matthew 25:35

I live right down the street from the Marin Civic Center, which just happens to be where the county fair began yesterday.  As I travel to and from my house, I really enjoy watching people as they go to the fair.  They are all so happy!  And why shouldn’t they be?  They are about to spend the day eating yummy food, going on fun rides, and listening to great music.  I love to see people having such a good time.  Whatever else might be going on in life, a day at the fair can’t help but be filled with joy.

How do you experience joy in your life?  Even if times are rough, are you still able to experience moments of joy?  May God fill your life with joy today, and all days.

“My lips will shout for joy when I sing praises to you.”  Psalm 71:23a

We just returned from our mission trip to Chicago.  26 youth and 5 adults spent a week doing various service projects, learning about the city, having fun, and exploring our faith.  How to put a week of amazing, enriching, eye-opening experiences into words?  I don’t think you can, though I’m sure I will have many thoughts about our week in Chicago in the days and weeks to come.  For now, I just want to express my gratitude to all who participated on the trip.  Many people said I was crazy when I told them I was planning to spend a week in Chicago with a bunch of teenagers.  Perhaps I am crazy, but I am also extremely blessed.  How thankful I am to have all of you in my life.  I truly see the face of God in each of you.

“A friend loves at all times.”  Proverbs 17:17a

It seems like I have been worrying a lot lately.  Will all of the details for our summer mission trips fall into place?  How will my budget hold up with increased gas and food prices?  Will the paper I have to write be completed in time?  And on it goes.  I don’t usually think of myself as a worrier, but I have definitely turned into one lately.

But, when I stop to think things through, I realize that all of my worrying is really just wasted energy.  Worrying about something really won’t change anything.  Taking action, however, will.  Planning the details for the July mission trip now, instead of waiting until July.  Reducing my spending now, rather than waiting until money runs short.  Writing my paper today, instead of next week.  Yes, this is WAY easier said than done.  Yes, I am known to procrastinate.  But, it’s something I’m trying to work on.  Call it a summer resolution, of sorts!

“So do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will bring worries of its own.  Today’s trouble is enough for today.”  Matthew 6:34

This past weekend, my family and I went to a conference at Asilomar - a conference center in Pacific Grove near Monterey.  It is a beautiful area right by the beach, and we got to spend a lot of time outside.  What made my one year old son most excited, though, was not the pretty scenery, but the PEOPLE!  He had a huge smile for every single person we met.  It didn’t matter who it was - male, female, old, young, tall, short - everyone got a smile from Ben.  Everyone was instantly his friend.  He didn’t have to say anything - his smile said it all.

Watching Ben made me think about how we relate to each other.  It is so easy to be a bit guarded and wary with those we don’t know.  Will I like them?  Will they like me?  Do we have anything in common?  Will we get along?  What if, instead of worrying about all of those questions, we simply approached people with a huge smile?  For that matter, what if we simply opened our authentic selves and lives to each other?  We are all children of God - may we recognize how the Spirit connects us with bonds of love and grace.

“For all who are led by the Spirit of God are children of God.”  Romans 8:14

My sister, Becky, is getting her Masters degree in Occupational Therapy in Chicago.  Last week she called, very frustrated, because she has had trouble getting in contact with her professors when she has questions.  They are slow to respond to e-mails, and aren’t always around during their posted office hours.  They are always very apologetic, saying how busy they are, and how they are having to manage many different activities in their lives.

Does that excuse sound a bit familiar?  Our lives are SO busy, that it is often difficult to keep the many commitments we make.  I know I often have someone miss an event at church because they have a school or sports activity at the same time.  Or, in order to come to a church event, they have to cancel two or three other commitments.  It makes me wonder - how busy is too busy?  Though it’s great to be involved in a variety of activities, when do we simply say, “Enough is enough!”  

I wish there was an easy answer to that question!  It is my hope, though, that the activities you choose bring you joy, not stress, and allow you to truly live life, rather than simply going through the motions - from one activity to the next.

“I came that they may have life, and have it abundantly.” John 10:10b

I recently got a “Twitter” account.  I’m still figuring out what Twitter is, but as far as I can tell, it is a way to update people about what you are doing.  “Going to a Mariners game tonight” one of my friends from high school wrote this morning.  “Watching kiddo sing and bang on the old laptop” another friend posted yesterday.

When I initially heard about this site, my first thought was, “Who cares?”  Who cares enough about me to want to read that I am currently choosing the music to sing in worship on Sunday?  But, after thinking about some more, I am beginning to realize that Twitter has a wonderful ability to connect people and create community.  All of the people I follow on Twitter live in other towns, and I don’t regularly see them - but I feel like I am a part of their lives because I can read their updates.  Instead of “Who cares” my reaction now is, “Isn’t it great that people care!”  Yes, people are interested in what I am doing and thinking at any given time.  Yes, I do want to know about the joys and sorrows my friends are experiencing with their work and family. 

This is not an advertisement for Twitter, but rather, a reminder to cherish community - in whatever way works best for us.  God’s spirit truly unites us all.

“If one member suffers, all suffer together with it; if one member is honored, all rejoice together with it.”  1 Corinthians 12:26

My 11 month old son Ben seems to be learning new things each day.  It’s so fun to watch him conquer tasks, which just a couple days before seemed impossible.  His most recent favorite thing is to crawl to the piano bench, hoist himself to a standing position, shimmy over to the keyboard, reach as high as he can, and play the keys.  Once he finally reaches the keys, he beams with the joy of having accomplished the task.

Lots of things are very challenging for the little guy, but his curiosity and his persistence usually win in the end.  It seems that all babies are like that - born ready to tackle whatever challenge is put in front of them.  Do you still have that spirit of accomplishment?  Do you persist through a difficult task until it is finally complete?  Do you still beam with joy when you learn new things, or figure out a puzzling problem?  May we not lose the tenacity - or the joy - that we had when we were younger!

“Let us run with perseverance the race that is set before us.”  Hebrews 12:1a

Many kids I know have either just finished, or are about to begin spring break.  It always amazes me how busy people are on what is supposed to be a break!  The time we spend on break really reflects how we tend to live our lives - always in motion with something to do/study/learn/play/etc.  When I find myself getting too over-scheduled, I try to find some time to be still and quiet, and to simply be.  To do nothing.  To sit and be with God - letting all the other distractions and commitments wait a while.  How important it is to refresh ourselves - mind, body, heart, and soul - but how difficult it can be!  Give it a try this week, and see what happens!

“Be still, and know that I am God!”  Psalm 46:10a