OH WHAT FUN

There are so many ways to have fun but one of my favorites is called:  EMBARRASS YOUR HUSBAND AND KIDS.

Over the years, I have become quite accomplished in this area.  Sadly, this game only works when they are actually embarrassed.

YOU ARE WEARING WHAT TO CHURCH

Hubby would not walk into church with me the morning I did the children’s story dressed like a clown.  He actually shrunk down into the pew when I stopped beside a totally bald man and polished his head.  (At that time, hubby still had hair so I could not polish his head.  Oh my, that would have sent him through the floor.)  The bald man, on the other hand, took it in stride.

It takes a lot for me to embarrass him now.  He even helps set up pictures when I take Norman Frog on vacation with us.  (For any that do not know, Norman is a stuffed frog that has his own Instagram account.)  He has, pretty much, gotten used to my antics and I am not sure what it would take for him to say, “Honestly, Mary.  You just had to do that didn’t you?” 

TALKING TO STRANGERS

I talk to everyone.  It does not matter if I know them.  Why miss out on a good conversation with a stranger while standing in line at the concert?  Or on the plane?  Or on a cruise?  Or at breakfast.  This used to embarrass our little boy to death!  I would hear a sigh and then the question, “DO YOU HAVE TO TALK TO EVERYONE?”

Well, not now.  He has become my clone.  Our son and I went on a cruise and I swear this kid who thought I was being “nosey” quickly knew half the people on the ship.  As we walked around, he would nod to someone and tell me they were from Canada or Texas or they worked for Amazon or some other fact about them.  No longer could I use talking to strangers to get to him.  I must figure out a new way to get under his skin.

STANDING OUT IN A CROWD

My voice can get a bit loud and, over the years, I have heard, “Mom, everyone is looking.”  Our daughter was and, still is, the easiest to embarrass.  Last Saturday though, she never even blinked.

We were in an antique store in Michigan and she saw a table she liked.  It was then that she made a mistake.  “Mom, will you guard the table while I go ask about it?”  Silly girl!  You see, I found another person who enjoys life.  This seemingly normal woman strolled by the table and I told her, “I am guarding this for my daughter.”  And – are you ready?  She said, “Oh, I should act like I want it.”  As daughter was returning, we began:  I think I like this table.  “No.  My daughter is asking about it and I am holding it for her.”  There is no sold sign.  I want this table.  “There will be a sign as soon as she gets here.”  She is not here now.  “Yes she is.  Tell her this is sold.” 

Embarrassed?  Not in the least.  She smiled at both of us, knowing it was a performance for the embarrass you daughter game.  Drat!  What fun was that?

I DO NOT KNOW THAT PERSON

The embarrass your family game can be fun but sometimes people do not want to admit they know you.  They are embarrassed.

“You also were with the Nazarene, Jesus,” she said.

But he denied it.  “I don’t know or understand what you’re talking about,” he said. ….. Again he denied it. ….. “I don’t know this man you’re talking about.”

Mark 14: parts of 67 -71

QUESTIONS OF THE DAY

Have you ever been embarrassed to admit you know someone?

Are you embarrassed to admit you know Jesus?

EMOTIONS

A group of six women.  Sitting around a table.  Talking.  Those words brought an image to your mind didn’t they?  To that image add a bit of food and a bit of wine.  Now you have the monthly meeting of the W W & W --- WISE WOMEN AND WINE.

The third Thursday, of almost every month, we discuss and the topics have been fantastic.  And before you scoff at this, let me assure you that 99% of the topics are serious.  We have discussed:

• What makes up a community?  (If you think this is a fluff discussion, think again.)
• The death penalty
• Other people’s pain changes our perspective (Let it sink in… tough discussion.)
• School dress codes, abortion, family, separation of church and state
• Almost every subject on ProCon.org

This month’s topic is emotions.  When “emotions” popped into my strange mind as a discussion topic, I thought, “Oh, this will be easy.”  I even printed out four questions and two discussion starters.  I WAS READY!!

Then I made the mistake of googling one simple phrase:  The Pros and Cons of Emotions.  Warning:  Never google unless you want your life to get complicated.  Suddenly a simple topic became … less simple.

One place listed 15 emotions.  Not to be outdone, another listed 57.  57?  There is even a chart showing where 14 emotions are felt in the body. 

I found a debate titled “Emotion is the basis of all decisions.”  “This should be good,” I thought.  Wrong.  I am not a dictionary!  Of course, this educated debate made me laugh, when, after all those words I had to look up, one person ended with:  So would a pilot whose plain --- yes, plain. 

After reading 12 Pros and Cons of Emotional Intelligence, I decided:

• Emotions can help or hinder decision making
• Emotions can be there when you are born or can be learned
• Emotions can be used to help people or to manipulate people

WRAP IT UP

Emotions --- what are we to do with them?  Oh my goodness!  Why did I not go here in the first place?  Silly me!  I used google when I should have used the Bible.

Jesus’ life was full of emotions.  He felt empathy, compassion, happiness, sadness, anger, love, and grief.  He wept, sighed, and groaned.  He was surprised and amazed. 

But – BUT – Jesus did not fear.  He was not anxious.  He did not worry.

Emotions:  What are we to do with them?  Read the Bible.  The answer is there. 

SPOONS, FORKS AND A HIDDEN TREAT

If you know me, you realize I am not a “fancy” person.  I wear jeans.  I do not wear the latest fashions nor carry a $3,000 purse.  My hair is my hair, complete with a stubborn cow lick.  My not so straight fingers look just like my mother’s.  They are what they are, but this means I do not have elegant nails.  Most will agree, I am pretty outspoken.  All this is okay, because all this mixes together and makes ME.

So how did I end up dining at a table like this? 

There were four forks, two spoons, and three knives.  There was a water glass and five – yes five – wine glasses.  There were two napkins rolled together – and they stood up.  I knew right away I was not at my kitchen table.

So how did I end up dining at a table like this?  We were invited to dine at the Chef’s Table.  And dine we did. 

Never fear!  I allowed my chair to be pulled back and trusted that it would be there when I sat down.  I waited for the napkin to be placed on my lap.  I listened as each course and wine pairing was explained. 

I waited for the appetizer and knew which fork to use.

The tomato soup was served and I used the correct spoon.

Two more courses were served.  We were now at four courses and four different wines.  The evening was going splendidly.  Throughout the entire meal – after each course – we knew we were getting closer to the final course:  DESSERT!  We had heard about this dessert and were looking forward to it becoming a reality.

The wine was poured and discussed.  The dessert was placed in front of us. 

  And then …..

It was worth the wait! 

:   :   :   :   :   :   :   :   :   :   :

And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look!  God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them.  They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.  ‘He will wipe every tear from their eyes.  There will be no more death’ or mourning or crying or pain, for the old order of things has passed away.”     

…showed me the Holy City, Jerusalem, coming down out of heaven from God.  It shone with the glory of God, and its brilliance was like that of a very precious jewel, like a jasper, clear as crystal.  The wall was made of jasper, and the city of pure gold, as pure as glass.  The foundations of the city walls were decorated with every kind of precious stone …jasper …sapphire …agate …emerald …onyx …ruby …chrysotile …beryl …topaz …turquoise …jacinth …amethyst.  The twelve gates were pearls.  The great street was of gold, as pure as transparent glass.

Revelation 21:3-4, parts of 10-21

My goodness!  And I thought that little bit of chocolate with ice cream and caramel sauce was something to look forward to.

AT SEA

If you are reading this on Friday, March 8, your feet might be on solid ground but mine will be firmly planted on the deck of a ship.  I am sailing the high seas with our son.  There have been numerous mother/daughter adventures, but this is the first mother/son get-away. 

There were supposed to be a grandchild or two tagging along but work, school and life took that option away and we decided to sail away.  Just the two of us!  (Hubby gets queasy if he stays in the shower too long.  Not quite that bad, but he does not do boats!)

I love cruises.  Someone else cooks.  Someone else cleans the bathroom.  Someone else --- oh, someone else does everything!  It is fun to be pampered!  It is fun to see a new part of God’s world.  It is fun to spend time with someone you have loved since the moment you laid eyes on them.

Having been on a cruise before, I sorta know what to expect.  They will want to see that lovely passport picture.  They will take pictures every time you stick your head out of the room.  (They are sure you will want to purchase each and every one.)  There will be food and more food and more food and more food.  There will be noise!

But, there will be water so blue it is black.  There will be a cozy spot to read that no one else has discovered.  There will be sunsets and sunrises.  There will be excursions to islands and the experience of meeting people.  There will be laughter and there will be exhaustion. 

There will be time together – mother and son – to talk, to play games, to eat, to laugh, and to just be. 

And I am very thankful!

Every good and perfect gift is from above,

coming down from the Father of the heavenly lights,

who does not change like shifting shadows.

James 1:17

This time with our son is truly a gift – a perfect gift!  And I realize all of my adventures are gifts.  Come to think about it……EVERYTHING in my life is a gift from God.

And I am very thankful!

WISE DECISIONS

I often write down snippets when I am reading a book, watching TV or when something pops in my head.  Never know when they will come in handy.  Never know when they will end up in my blog. 

The church we attend had a very special service last Sunday and will have one as equally special this Sunday.  Because we were on vacation and not there, I can only imagine the emotions involved. 

This first snippet is my own:

Hanging onto the past till you have no future

You see, there were two churches, one block apart.  Both churches were built and provided a place of worship.  Both churches hold memories.  Both churches --- saw a decline in attendance.  Leaving behind two denominations, these churches became one fellowship --- but continued to meet in both churches. 

As it became clear that maintaining two buildings was becoming a burden instead of a blessing, this congregation bravely decided that hanging onto the past till they had no future was not an option. 

The second snippet is from the book The Giver, by Lois Lowry: 

Guide the wisdom for the present by memories of the past

Memories of the past --- Memories of the past do include the weddings, the baptisms, the funerals, the fellowship …. BUT memories of the past also include why the churches were built.  The churches were built as a place to worship God.  As a place to pray with a friend.  As a place to cry and celebrate.  As a place to prepare a meal and then join in making that meal disappear.  As a place to hear and study the Word of God. 

The memory of why these churches were built is the wisdom that guided the move for the present and into the future and united members in the decision to work hard, move forward, and continue as one strong body meeting in and maintaining only one building. 

AND NOW

Beginning this coming Sunday, a special service will move the church toward tomorrow. A church united to stand in a small community as a light to those that seek.  As a home to those that believe.  As a place to worship a loving God with song and prayer and sermons and study and, every so often, worship through fellowship over a pot of really good chili.

Urbana Yoke Parish -- You done good!!!