Question One!

Part of my "official training" as a spiritual director had my path cross the path of Rev. Dr. Frederick Schmidt. Dr. Fred has done and continues to do so much for the Kingdom of God. On top of everything else, he is an Episcopal Priest. Dr Fred lost his brother in January to a brain tumor. His brother's name is Dave. 

Dave asked the hard questions about spirituality and the church. While Dr. Fred was one of my professors, he talked about writing a book called The Dave Test. It is now out and his blog is taking some time, in the next 10 weeks, to ask some question to see if it passes The Dave Test. So if I feel like it, I'm going to ask us to think about those questions too.

Taking the Dave Test during the Holidays

Question One: "Can I say life sucks?"

Illness, job loss, divorce, anniversary of the death of a loved one, these are a small showing for things that can and do happen around the holidays. Suffering doesn't take a holiday. These experiences are, by nature, isolating. They cut us off from what and who we have known. I mean think about it, how many people are going through a divorce in your church? Do you know? They usually stop going to church. 

During the holiday's we assume that everyone should be sweep along in the holly jolliness of it all. How many times have you heard someone say "Oh, get over it, it's Christmas!" "Can't you just get in the spirit of the season?" Hang on a minute…let me think about it…."Can I just say life sucks?"

Sometimes I think we forget Jesus was born in the shadow of Herod's raging paranoia! Children, baby boys, were being killed by huge numbers. But God...

Holiday celebrations that pass the Dave test are honest about those realities and people who can say, “life sucks” they are among the best to celebrate with on those holidays. Why? Well, why not? When we acknowledge that life can be hard, we open ourselves up to possibilities of seeing hope. Hope in the people who have suffered before you and lived through it. We might need to celebrate the holidays without ignoring life's realities. We might want to share our story with someone who needs to hear some hope.

So, can I say that life sucks? Well friends, right now it does. But God….. 

       

Little People!

Things have taken a strange turn around here and I just have to remark...I got a comment on my last post...and I almost started crying. I feel not only seen, but read! Jan and Roger, you are sorely missed by the Workman's from the earlier day's of Emmaus. 

OK, I'm back! 

Listen, the cuke's are gone. I don't know how else to say it. They got a mildew and poof they were gone. Preacher man and I took them out in bags last weekend and then look what happened!

  

That's what the city refers to as Yard Refuge!

What do you think?

Here's another shot.

See how far it is in the grass?

How do I mow under this?

Wow!

This is me walking, pretty cool huh?

So here's what happened, little people moved these limbs from their yard to my yard. You can bet your bottom dollar I already talked with said little people and they have been warned to keep it on the asphalt.

Dang ole tree limbs in my yard anyway...

  

I did this yesterday! 

Roasted Tomatoes!!!

The woman that gave birth to the little people, as infants, instructed me in this loveliness. 

What's a neighbor to do? 

Conclusions!

Got out of the house last night for a little date night action for the first time since before Christmas, it felt strange! Not strange to be out on a date with Preacher man, but strange that I hadn't really been out of the house since it snowed, 12 inches... and we don't have the 4x4 unstoppable Ford Truck anymore! I'm not complaining mind you, I just miss it sometimes! We washed and vacuumed LilWhls the day before Christmas, and she is still sitting in the garage. All I got to say is come spring, the rubber will be hitting the road!!

I have come to some conclusions in the last few days and I'm going to admit some of them to you right now. 

Conclusion #1: God is all about restoration! He wants to restore us to Him and He wants us to be restored to each other. I looked it up and here's what I found: to bring back into existence, use, or the like; reestablish: to restore order. I also know that in order to be restored, sometimes it requires us to be vulnerable. My friend Leigh has helped me with this being vulnerable stuff. Can't say I'm a pro at it, but I'm getting it. I also looked that word up, and here's what I found: capable of or susceptible to being wounded or hurt. Anyone want to sign up for any of that? Well, I did today! I became vulnerable in order to be restored, and you know what? I cried a little and my voice got a little shaky, but I didn't die!! God Rocks!

Conclusion #2: While in seminary, I had the pleasure of meeting and working with this soon to be Preacher's wife. She has had a bazllion knee surgeries, 2 kids, been on Weight Watchers as many times as me and is an awesome writer of blogs. She has started back up with her race training, WW and blogging, which has set a fire under me. So today, Becca, I got Jullian's 30 Day Shred and I'm really wanting to get back out on the road, even if it's walking! So thank you for your inspiration! 

Sometimes, all it takes is to hear about someone else being human to make us want to be more human ourselves! 

Are you being inspired to be more human? To be more of what God is calling you to be?