I reserve the right...

I reserve the right to post as many quotes as my heart desires. If I'm boring you to tears, I apologize; you may reserve the right to not read my blog. :) Anyway, reading a terrific book "A Live Coal in the Sea" by Madeleine L'Engle and came across the following -

"Why are we so compulsive about phones? Because there have been too many traumas, too many urgent calls. The more people we love, the more vulnerable we are, and the more likely to rush to answer the phone..."

I can take care of your kids but I'll kill your plants

For unknown reasons, I always kill plants. Several times since I moved into my own place I've bought these lovely plants, hardy plants, easy to take care of plants, that would flourish in anyone else's house. But, in my house, without exception they die. I think it has something to do with the fact that I tend to forget they need water. It's not intentional - the plant sits on the counter and I just don't see it and then one day I gasp, "oh my goodness - that plant needs water and I'm the one who has to give it water." By then, it's usually too late or bordering on too late and I have another plant ready for the dumpster. I've given up; I see beautiful plants that I would love to buy and have in my house but it's only a matter of how many days before it dies so I pass longingly by and buy a book (I haven't killed one of those yet.) So, to get to the point of this post, remember how Tommy gave us a beautiful poinsetta? After I commented to Fairlight on how beautiful it was, I followed up with "And we have to at least keep it alive for one week so Tommy can see it here when he comes to the party. We should be able to handle just one week." That was last Saturday. Last night I'm sitting at the table, eating dinner, chatting with Fairlight, I look over in the corner and all of a sudden it hits me. "Fairlight, that poinsetta is alive and we're going to kill it! Have you watered it or anything? I totally forgot it was there." "Well, I thought about it last night but I didn't remember long enough to do anything." Needless to say, the poinsetta received a drink of water but I felt ridiculous. This gorgeous flower has been sitting in the dining room since last Saturday and the first time I even notice and remember that it needs care is Thursday night at dinner. Plainly, I'm oblivious to the care and feeding of plants. Do not, however, be concerned should you decide to leave your children with me. I am more than competent with children. I have yet to kill a child who was in my care; perhaps it's because when they get hungry or thirsty they yell. I wonder what it would be like if my plants could do that...

Influences

When I was an older teen, I devoured every book authored by Francis or Edith Schaeffer that I could get my hands on. Their philosophy and theology subconsciously shaped me in ways that it's taken me years to fully recognize and appreciate. I still love their books and if you haven't read anything by either one of them, I'd encourage you to choose one and read it. Anyway, I'm currently reading Affliction by Edith Schaeffer and the following quote is from it.
"We are not carbon copies turned out of a machine. We are not mass-produced in a factory. We are individuals with significance in history, so immensely important that no one else can live our lives or die our deaths for us. No one else can have our joys or bear our pain for us. It is not possible for anyone else to win our victories for us in any area. Satan attacks us individually, and we must as individuals cry out to God for help in defeating Satan as he tries to put a wedge between God and us. When Satan attacks believers, he is trying to put a barrier between an individual child of God and God the Father. Satan attempts to get people to curse God, to blame Him for their troubles, as well as to stop loving God. Satan indirectly attacks God by a direct attack on one of God's children. The victory for God against Satan is when - one by one - God's people continue to love Him and trust Him in the midst of unchanging circumstances." Edith Schaeffer

Emmanuel's redemption

"God with us. Emmanuel. Jesus left the place where he was loved and everything he had and chose to spend the day with us in his perfect world that we had messed up. He saw beauty in things that were broken and people who were discarded. He redemmed us. And then he taught us how to reduce ourselves for others. Reuse the mess we had created to redeem each other. Recycle his words and share them with everybody."
Siri Mitchell

Tommy Part II

This morning I was out the door at 8:25 on my way to "scoop ice cream" (that particular reference is for any of my friends from TTU - for the rest of you I was going to interpret). I opened the door and found a beautiful poinsetta accompanied by a note. It was from Tommy, the older man who lives downstairs and it was precious - "You know, one has many blessings from Almighty God in one's life. I do believe that, at this Christmastime my greatest blessing is - to have you two as friends. Tommy" I've been in a bit of a funk the past couple of days and also I've been feeling generally lost and purposeless. Knowing that Fairlight and I have deeply touched the heart of this dear man brought a smile back to my face. We are here for each other, for community, to be Jesus to one another. I'm stunned that such a small thing in our eyes, inviting a neighbor to a Christmas party, has had such an effect. I feel guilty thinking of all the times in the past two and a half years we almost did something for Tommy or Earl and it motivates me to keep my eyes and heart open to the people around me and follow that small voice that suggests I reach out. I'm not sure what I'm supposed to do next month or next summer or next year but maybe that's not as important as genuinely loving others wherever I am. Maybe there isn't some great plan with tremendous results just the everyday incarnational ministry of love.

Death

"We will die. All of us. Everyone. We know this. But it will always feel like a surprise." David Crowder

I'm going on a date

My roommate and I have decided to throw a Christmas party. We've talked about it other years but this year we're actually doing it. (I promise this is relevant to the post title just be patient.) Anyway, we made a guest list and printed invitations. Two of our neighbors, Tommy and Earl, are absolutely the most delightful old men. They check on us, chat with us, advise us, and generally have a wonderful way of making you walk taller and smile bigger. So we left invitations in the clips outside their apartments. Tuesday I was gone all day and late at night when I arrived home a lovely note on formal stationery was waiting in our clip. "I am honored to be invited to your open house on 16 December. I am pleased to accept same. If you like, I will be happy to help out any way you wish......" and on in the same charming tone inviting Fairlight and I to dinner with Earl and him. Absolutely precious. Tommy lost his wife a few years ago and practically every time I talk to him he'll tell some story that involves her - how he proposed, what she looked like, how she picked out their houses, how they were married more than forty years, vacations they went on, etc. Earl is one of the most giving, happy people I've ever met and he keeps Tommy company going down to his apartment to check on him and just sit and chat. I never fail to feel better after an encounter with either one of them. I hope whoever I marry ends up someday being such a delightful old man. Anyway, I guess I'm drawing you in with false pretenses but we are going on a "date" to one of the finest restaurants in town where Tommy has his own table and waitress. God is good to show His delight in me through "someone with skin on." My heart is warmed by our friends and humbled when I realize how much just being friendly and listening means to two lonely men in an apartment building. The gift of presence is the best gift we can give anyone and when God came to earth that is exactly what He did for us but that's another whole post. Sorry if I'm totally rambling and not making sense - too much racing through my mind and not enough sleep. :)

Quote of the day

Posting quotes is a convenient way for me to keep up with them, especially when I'm too lazy or too busy to get out my quote notebook and write them down. So...today's installment - "Good relationships don't just withstand skepticism, they're better for it."

Choosing to believe

Driving to school this morning, I was listening to "I Believe" (lyrics below) from Natalie Grant's Christmas cd. Last December, I listened to this song with overflowing eyes and gritted teeth, the "I believe" searing my heart after the tragedies of last fall. The only hope, the only possible redemption of this broken world is "Emmanuel - God with us" and ultimately, that is why I chose to keep believing. God at a particular moment in history became man, God is with each one of us in the middle of every difficulty and that is what gives meaning to this mess. This Christmas peace reigns in my heart. Doubts will assault again but I'm learning to let "I believe" be the rhythm underlying my life.

"I Believe"
Natalie Grant

In a land far away time stood still long ago
There were shepherds in fields or at least this is how the story goes
Woman with child and an inn with no room
Born in a manger foretelling a tomb
This is how the story goes but it's more than a fable
More than a fairytale and more than my mind can conceive

Chorus:I believe the wisemen saw the baby boy the angels called the son of God
Heaven's child the great I Am
Born to take away my sin through nail pierced hands
Emmanuel has come I believe

Two thousand years still the story lives on
God's gift to us sent to earth
Wrapped in flesh His only son and the heartbeat of heaven
Confounded our wisdom but it's still the simple truth that set me free
Precious child how can it be that God's great plan for history
Would send you to a lonely tree that you would come for one like me?

I believe in a cross
I believe he came for one he came for all
Heaven's child became a man gave his life for me in spite of all I am
I believe, I believe
Christmas lives in me I believe

Quote

"Great relationships take form when they are stretched to the breaking point and do not break." Philip Yancey