KNOCKING

What is that noise?  It stopped.  No, there it is again.  What in the world could it be?

And then I see it —- a bird.

That crazy bird would not stop.  It would walk back and forth.  It would look in the window.  It would peck at the window.  It would fly up. 

I walked to the window and it would fly away.  Then it came back and didn’t care if I was there or not.  I pulled the blind down and thought that would work.  Nope.  Started flying into a higher window.

It was getting very annoying.  It was making marks on the window.  It did this for hours.  Plus I had a sinus headache!  GO AWAY BIRD!

The bird was landing on the roof area over the fireplace.  I put aluminum foil over that area. 

It might look strange, but the bird must be afraid of the aluminum foil.  It is gone.  It is quiet now.

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“Behold, I stand at the door, and knock: if any man hear my voice, and open the door, I will come in to him, and will sup with him, and he with me.”               Revelation 3:20

When it was finally quiet, I wondered if that is how we treat Jesus when he knocks at the door of our home, our church ….  our soul?  What do we do to chase Him away?

Do we keep the door closed hoping He will get tired and go away?  Do we draw the blinds so we cannot see Him?  Do we tell Him, by our actions and beliefs, that we do not want Him in our church?  Do we put down a “go away” mat?

How do we act when Jesus is knocking at the door to our home, our church … our soul?

BUBBLES

I love to blow bubbles.  They float higher and higher.  The colors swirl.  They pop.  You can even blow bubbles in the winter.  They start freezing, turn white, and shatter.  Oh yes, I love to blow bubbles.

There must be a couple gallons of bubble stuff in the garage and I always have a bubble wand handy to give away.  Kids love bubbles! I guess this means I am still a kid.

Through the years, bubbles have been my “go to” to settle the kids down and to help release my stress level.  Bill used to say if he came home and saw me sitting on the steps blowing bubbles, he knew to go around the block again.  He knew my day had not gone as expected.

I have a bubble theory and used it often when our kids were having a bad day.  You know those times — they cannot settle down.  They will not listen.  They want to calm down but have themselves locked into a mood.  And I would start blowing bubbles.  They would watch and then, without realizing it, they would start chasing the bubbles.

When I volunteered with CASA, family visits could be extremely stressful.  The parents were trying to establish a better relationship with their child/children.  The children never knew what to do or say.  And all the time the visit supervisor is taking notes and the CASA lady is observing.  Yes, family visits can be extremely stressful and can quickly fall apart.  I always had bubbles.

MY BUBBLE THEORY — This is my theory.  There have been no research studies.  No university has published my work.  This theory has evolved from personal experience, but it works.

Think about it.  You have had a really bad day.  Your mind is exhausted and your body wants to shout ENOUGH.  Grab the bubble stuff.  Take wand in hand.  Take a deep breath.  Blow.  And, slowly, as you take the next deep breath and the next deep breath, your body starts to relax.  (Those deep breaths begin the process.) Inhale.  Exhale.  Inhale.  Exhale.  Now, you might be thinking, “I don’t need bubbles for this.”  Yes, you do!

The breathing slows your body down but the bubbles are the key.  They float away.  They distract you.  They seem to carry your worries, anger, and frustration higher and higher.  And the children? No kid can resist bubbles.  They forget why they were angry.  Sisters and brothers chase bubbles instead of fighting.  Soon, they are breathing deep — inhale, exhale, inhale, exhale — as they blow bubbles and watch them float away.

Will bubbles make your problems go away? No.  Bubbles will slow you down and help you focus.  I have seen bubbles pull a child out of a meltdown.  I have seen a family blow bubbles and, slowly - one deep breath after another - find common ground.

I have sat on the back step blowing bubbles.  Inhale.  Exhale.  Inhale.  Exhale.  Watching each bubble float away, until I could put the lid back on the bubbles, stand up, and thank God for the invention of bubble stuff.

You need to buy some bubbles, because I am sure everyone will want to test my theory and there will be a shortage.  Store shelves will be empty.  Husbands will be giving bubbles to their wives for Mother’s Day and wives will be putting bubbles on the list for Father’s Day.  Parents will be giving their children bubbles and children will make sure their parents have an unending supply.  Teachers will have bubbles in their classroom. 

INSTRUCTIONS: Open the bottle.  Take out the wand.  Inhale.  Exhale and blow bubbles.  Look up.  Repeat.

Oh, did I tell you that while you are blowing bubbles is a great time to have a talk with God?

 

 

LOOK AROUND

“So, Mary, you liked the sound of the waves when it was really foggy?”

Did I ever.  It was way cool! 

“I am glad it gave you pleasure.  While you were gone, what did you smell?”

Smell?  Well ….. Hamburgers on the grill.  Oh, and the bread the Monk’s baked.  It had been cold and the flowers were not out yet.  Now that you asked, I don’t remember many smells.

“What about taste?”

The key lime pie!  It was more like a cheesecake and melted in my mouth.

“What did you touch?”

The cold water in the pool.  Some sunshine to warm the water would have been appreciated.  Getting in that pool was a real test of determination.  Once in, it did feel exhilarating.  Some people stuck their toes in and quickly pulled them out.  Of course, kids jumped right in. 

“What did you see?”

Wow.  Not that could be a long list.  Where do I start?  The sunrise and sunset blessed each day – except when there was all that fog.  The waves.  The children playing.  Watching people.  The alligators.  But, we could also see sorrow.  Hurricane Sally left people with damaged homes and those blue tarps meant there was much to be done.  Many businesses and churches were still closed.  Seeing sorrow is hard.

I have a feeling there is more, to our conversation, than having me look back at our adventure.

“Of course.  I want you to do me a favor.”

I would like to say, “Wow, God wants me to do him a favor.”  What I am thinking is, “Oh no.  Here it comes.”

“Do not fear.  I love telling people that:  Do not fear!  I want you to tell my people to look around.”

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God has surrounded us with amazing wonders and we do not notice them.  They blend in with our life.  Our routine.  Our normal stuff.

AMAZING WONDERS SURROUND YOU

You do not have to drive miles and cross the state line to be amazed.  You can find God’s wonders in your day-to-day life.

Where are you right now?  Close your eyes and listen.  What do you hear?  Birds?  The sound of cars?  The freezer?  The voice of a loved one or friend?  Maybe you hear the sound of weeping or the sound of a hospital.  Take a minute – listen – what do you hear?

Step outside or, if that is not an option, sit down and look around.  What do you see?  Trees?  Grass?  Flowers?  The color of the walls?  Books?  Slowly look, not a quick glance.  What do you see? 

Stay put!  What do you smell?  This is the hardest one.  Soooo, use your imagination.  How does it smell when dinner is cooking?  What does a baby smell like?  How does it smell during and after a storm?  What does a barnyard smell like?  What do you smell?

The next is taste.  What do certain things taste like.  A perfectly cooked steak.  Chocolate.  Coffee.  Pancakes.  Liver and onions.  Your favorite food.  A kiss.  What taste do you like?

And finally touch.  Walk around and touch a few things.  How do things in your normal, everyday life feel?  The feel of taping on a keyboard.  Clothes coming out of the drier.  A flower.  Touching the hand of a loved one.  A hug.  Holding a real book.  Washing your hair.  What can you touch?

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God has surrounded you with amazing wonders.  He has placed them right in the middle of your routine, normal, day-to-day life.  They blend in but you can notice them. 

Listen, look, smell, taste, and touch.  You   notice and you will realize you are surrounded by amazing wonders.

 

 

PACKING AWAITS

I am writing this on Sunday, March 28, 2021. It is 7:30, in the morning, and I am sitting on a balcony, drinking coffee, and looking out at the Gulf of Mexico. I will make this cup of coffee last as long as I can. When it is gone, I have to start .... packing.

Emotions are funny things. Packing to come to Alabama was fun. We were going on a new adventure — two months in a condo. Two months... we had never been gone two months and we had never rented a condo. How would it feel to be gone that long? Will hubby survive? He is doing this for me and it is way out of his comfort zone. But, now, he is ready to pack. He is ready to go home.

Me? Not so much. Yes, I miss our home, our family and friends, and our church, but I will miss waking up each morning and hearing the waves. I will miss sitting on the balcony watching the sky and water change, as the sun says good morning. Sometimes I sat there in a very heavy sweatshirt because even Alabama can be cold, but it sure beat the 8 below zero back home. I will miss opening the door, in the middle of the night, and being amazed at how the waves sound when the fog moved in. I will miss hearing the roar of helicopters and the Blue Angels as they fly over. (I still want to ride in a black hawk.). I will miss new friends we have made.

I was finger talking (aka texting) with a friend and told him: Never fear.. I can put stuff back in boxes and suitcases. Yes, I can come back to reality, but I sure have enjoyed the change. I think that is what I miss in retirement: Change. Something new. We have moved often (compared to some) and each move was a change and challenge. I have enjoyed the change from routine and the challenge of doing something new.

I am sure you are tired of reading my morning thoughts, so I will wrap this up. Not exactly sure how. There is no big message. There are no big words of wisdom. Or maybe, just maybe ...

There is nothing wrong with routine. There is nothing wrong with being comfortable in life. There is nothing wrong with knowing what tomorrow will bring. Or maybe, just maybe ...

By being open to a new adventure, by getting out of a set routine, and by being willing to unlock the door to your comfort zone, you might —

• See lightening over the water and hear the waves during a storm
• See the stars as you swim in a pool at night
• Watch an alligator laying in the sun
• Have strangers become friends
• See how others live and work
• Read without feeling like you should be doing something
• Be amazed as an osprey flies by with its dinner
• Wonder how the water can change color

Packing awaits. Today everything we do not need for the drive home will be packed and put back into the car. The condo will become impersonal and tomorrow we will head home. But I head home a different person, with a new perspective.

And when, we arrive home and I close my eyes ... as I go to sleep in my own bed, I will hear the waves and be blessed with the memories of this adventure.

 EASTER MEMORIES

A new Easter dress — how wonderful to put on that new dress and feel special.  It would become the “Sunday” dress.  Back then we had play clothes (they could get dirty), school clothes (changed into play clothes as soon as we got home), and church clothes (barely plural, usually two outfits that were reserved for church).

Easter Candy — there were no big baskets of candy.  We put a napkin in the bottom of a pie pan and each of us put our pan in a secret place.  We knew the bunny would find it.  Sure enough!!  One chocolate bunny (but not always) and jelly beans.  When I became a mother, my kids never knew there were black jelly beans.  I love black licorice..  To save any confusion as to what pan had the most red jelly beans, I would sort their candy into piles — green, green — red, red — yellow, yellow — white, white — and the black ones into my stack.  I do think they had baskets a couple of years, but the pie pan worked for me so it worked for them.  Besides, baskets cost more than the candy.

Easter Cantata — Christmas and Easter meant the choirs kicked it up more than one notch.  You will find this hard to believe, but I was in the youth choir.  If you have ever sat next to me in church you will know, without a doubt, that the youth choir HAD to allow all youth the opportunity to take music in hand and sing. I always wondered if they changed that rule after the experience of me being in the choir.  The cantata was full of wonder, as it went from the shout of “Give Us Barabbas” to the dark sound of the Cross to the triumphant “He Is Risen.”  The Easter Cantata transformed the voices of our church choir into the sweet sound of angels.  And, of course, the Cantata was over in plenty of time to get everyone home to check on the ham roasting in the oven.  

Easter memories ... but, what I remember most about Easter, has been passed down from the memories of others and now rests in my soul.

I KNOW JESUS IS THE CHRIST CHILD, THE SON OF GOD.

• ““But what about you?” he asked. “Who do you say I am?” Simon Peter answered, “You are the Messiah, the Son of the living God.””     Matthew‬ ‭16:15-16‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I KNOW JESUS WAS ABSOLUTELY AWARE OF WHAT HE WAS TO DO WHILE ON EARTH AND HE TOLD HIS FATHER, “NOT MY WILL, BUT YOURS BE DONE.”

• “Then he took a cup, and when he had given thanks, he gave it to them, and they all drank from it. “This is my blood of the covenant, which is poured out for many,” he said to them. “Truly I tell you, I will not drink again from the fruit of the vine until that day when I drink it new in the kingdom of God.””       Mark‬ ‭14:23-25‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• ““Father, if you are willing, take this cup from me; yet not my will, but yours be done.” An angel from heaven appeared to him and strengthened him. And being in anguish, he prayed more earnestly, and his sweat was like drops of blood falling to the ground.”     Luke‬ ‭22:42-44‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I KNOW HOW TO FIND GOD AND I KNOW MY ROOM IS READY.

• “Jesus answered, “I am the way and the truth and the life. No one comes to the Father except through me.”     John‬ ‭14:6‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• ““Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me. My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you? And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. You know the way to the place where I am going.””     John‬ ‭14:1-4‬ ‭NIV‬‬

I KNOW MY CHIRST DID NOT STAY IN THE GRAVE!  I KNOW MY CHRIST GAVE US ALL A JOB!  I KNOW MY CHRIST IS IN HEAVEN!

• “In their fright the women bowed down with their faces to the ground, but the men said to them, “Why do you look for the living among the dead? He is not here; he has risen! Remember how he told you, while he was still with you in Galilee: ‘The Son of Man must be delivered over to the hands of sinners, be crucified and on the third day be raised again.’ ””  Luke‬ ‭24:5-7‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• “Then Jesus came to them and said, “All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.””   Matthew‬ ‭28:18-20‬ ‭NIV‬‬

• “When he had led them out to the vicinity of Bethany, he lifted up his hands and blessed them. While he was blessing them, he left them and was taken up into heaven.”   Luke‬ ‭24:50-51‬ ‭NIV‬‬

Easter memories ... but, what I remember most about Easter, has been passed down from the memories of others and now rests in my soul.

MAY YOUR EASTER BE BLESSED AND MAY YOU ALWAYS HAVE THE LOVE OF CHRIST IN YOUR SOUL AND IN YOUR LIFE.