Monthly Archives: March 2015

Not sure how this happened . . .  glad it did.

Our son was off to youth group tonight.  In between two activities he needed a food/nutrition break (the sugar filled chocolate bars I offered him did not impress him).

Home he came.  We ate the most marvelous pizza (thanks to the kindness of one of our parishioners who filled our oven and house with the aroma of love!).  We then texted the youth leader to see where to meet them.

The adventure begins . . . the youth group was on a prayer mission.  They regularly visit people in our congregation and just pray for them – a short 10 minutes which seems to carry an impression of eternity.

The meeting place was planned for just across the street from us.  I accompanied our son and was invited to join them while they prayed.  As we were exiting the apartment building, I was asked by the youth leader if there was anyone else we could pray for.

I had seen another parishioner in the common area.  So we stopped and chatted with her and the others surrounding a games table.  After introductions, and a proper pause before leaving, the youth leader asked if the group would like us to pray for them.  There were immediate prayer requests and we all prayed..

Now, this was probably the first time I’ve been with a youth group and we have prayed for “strangers.”  May this increase! 

Not a bad example for the rest of us older types!!

Almost 10:00 in the morning and not a mouse is stirring.  Of course, snow fell over night and I doubt their tracks would be expected on a day like today.

But then, no other tracks are showing!  The driveways are still covered with a fresh skim of white.  My wife’s tire tracks (on her way to work) are the only driveway disruption I can see from my front window.

What makes this Saturday a day of rest?  I’m not sure. 

Perhaps the melting of spring (what we call “breakup”) has forced many oil companies to slow down.  Their heavy trucks can no longer drive rural roads.  Moving into a maintenance mode means an “easier” work week.

Perhaps a farming community is just awaiting spring planting season.  They are ready – now the ground, skies and snow must respond in like fashion.

Perhaps sports tournaments and finales are in the midst of a hiatus as we await the next season.

Perhaps Saturday actually is a weekly day of rest.

Whatever the reason, I’m enjoying a slow start and rejoicing in a new day!

Today I was trimming my beard. 

This is a new activity for me.  I notice things as I peer into the mirror.  Particularly that the hair on one side of my head is straight.  On the other side the fulness of the follicles is noticeable (OK, I used the alliteration for emphasis, even though the strict word definition doesn’t quite hold up the illustration – if you get this, welcome to the geek world of grammar and lexicography!).

I mentioned this to my wife.  Something about how one side made me look much younger than the other.

She made the point – somewhat nicely.

“You’re still old.  Doesn’t matter which side you look at!”

Clocking the moments can be helpful.  As each second ticks by we have an opportunity to move in a direction we desire.  Or not!

The thing about close examination of each step is that we can become discouraged with our own progress, realizing we have no other path to explore – our rut is so deep we need help to see another side.

That’s where small steps become important.  If we could just climb a little bit up the wall of our ruts, we might arise enough to see another path.  If we could just invite another to walk with us whose sightline is greater than ours, we might be encouraged with hope.

When we become obsessed with the realization of how wrong things are going, we can become as obsessed with measuring how wrong things are going.  We may not know how to change things, but somehow we figure if we know how wrong things are, that will lead us to the next step.

Not so.  Measurement is best used when there is a direction we are headed.  When we are not experiencing a new direction or guidance, constant measurement merely plunges us into despair. 

A good argument for finding a companion who can be our director or guide!  These people can be live and living but even dead guys can be helpful.

Set your steps today to find or strengthen your direction!