am

I am many things to many people, as we all are. To some a mother and wife, father and brother, a sister and friend, a mentor and listener, a fellow traveler and a philosopher. I am the reader on the plane or train, the speaker on the stage and the comforter at the bedside of the ill. I am the author of my story. I am to be the light to others and salt of the earth. I am always learning, searching, thinking and doing. I am because He lives.

I am the bouquet of flowers uniquely displayed from my vast jar of knowledge that leaves a fragrance of knowing throughout the room. I am the filled journal pages of detailed and descriptive narratives of letters splayed across the lined paper leaving words of wisdom and stories for others to read and reflect. I am the tasty cookie crumb of shortbread left on the Christmas snowflake plate of wintry days and Christmas now past. I am the echoing laughter of thousands of voices gathered together to celebrate some joyous ocassion.

I am getting older or rather, I am the frost on the window with silver hair, the cry of a lone wolf in the wilderness as I wander the walking paths of the forest alone, the creak of the rocker as I lift my weary bones from the feathered comforter on my bed in the morning. I am the faded black and white photo tucked into the page of a worn book left on the dusty shelf to be discovered by a tomorrow.

I am listening to the commentators list the variants of the COVID mutations as they use the Greek alphabet to name them all: Alpha, Delta, Onicron, Gamma, Beta. I am listening to the pastor deliver the sermon on Sunday morn and know that I am a child of God, accepted in His kingdom, receiving blessings for my life and waiting to live with Him in eternity. God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow. He is the beginning and the end. The authentic “I am” is God, referenced from both the Old and New Testament.

I am the Alpha and the Omega,” says the Lord God, “who is, and who was, and who is to come, the Almighty. Revelation 1:8

Listen to me, Jacob, Israel, whom I have called:
I am he; I am the first and I am the last. Isaiah 48:12

And so, as I am wanting to tell a story, share a bible verse or listen to a friend, I am always becoming the person God wants me to be. Who are you?

jinsei

As we begin yet another linear year, I am again reminded of new beginnings. The old slowly seeps out of yesteryear and leaks its days of years gone by into the past; making way for something different. We are never sure of what tomorrow brings but we do have the hope that it will always be better than what we have gone through. For some, that is greater than others.

Years ago, a friend got me started on a new concept. At the beginning of each year, we would choose, or have a word chosen, for the upcoming year. There are various sites that can guide you. I use Dayspring - Word of the Year to generate mine. https://www.dayspring.com/yourwordquiz

The Japanese have a word: Jinsei, which literally means both everyday life and a lifetime. As I live each day, I take that word of the year and apply it to my life - I see it in word and action, ponder what it means and say it aloud. It is manifested in many forms and as I reflect back over the year, I see where it was evident in my everydays and as part of my life.

God too gives us a lifetime of words to read, stories to remember, verses to memorize, praises to sing, parables to learn from and multiple passages and chapters to reflect on in the bible. Daily bible verses are a source of hope, comfort when we are confused or afflicted and can inspiration and support us through uncertain days. There are verses that help us to sing, rejoice and be glad in the Lord!

We should be starting our day in the Word and building a foundation for our future. Finding a “read through the bible in a year” or reading and sharing a devotion, a podcast, a sermon are all ways that can enrich our days. Are you ready to start the year off with His Word on your lips, a song in your heart and scripture on your mind?

Fix these words of mine in your hearts and minds; tie them as symbols on your hands and bind them on your foreheads. Teach them to your children, talking about them when you sit at home and when you walk along the road, when you lie down and when you get up. Write them on the doorframes of your houses and on your gates, Deuteronomy 11: 18-20

tears

As this 2021 draws to a close, we think back over the past 20 odd months of what’s happened in our world. So many new memories to share as we age. I have been collecting hugs, snuggles and love in my heart for years. Our mother collected spoons, the boys hockey cards and everyone has plenty of photos collected over the years. Wealthy people have art collections and some items just collect dust. And then others collected tears in a jar.

As far away as 400 BC, women would keep the tears they shed for the men who went off to war. Some of the men never returned, but if they did, the wife would present the bottle as a token of love. There were other jars used for oil, perfume, cream or liquids that were kept in these ceramic containters, but the tear jar or lachrymatory, as it was called, was an expression of respect and sorrow for the dead.

There is a legend in Greece of the Tear Jar. Water was precious and giving up any water was considered a sacrifice. Tears that were cried for the dead was holy water and would be used to sprinkle on the sick to cool a fever or on a doorway to keep out evil. Tears were kept in unpainted bottles. Then when the grief was experienced because of a death, the grieving person would decorate the bottle depicting various aspects of that person’s life.

In other cultures, as much as 3,000 years ago, mourners would collect the tears in the bottle and then bury them with their loved ones as expressions of honor and devotion. I can’t even imagine how many tears God has shed for us as humanity. He longs for us to return to him. We cry out to Him. Sheila Walsh said a few years ago that, ‘Tears are prayers that travel to God.”

Even King David spoke of sorrow and tears in Psalm 56:8 when he said, “You have kept count of my tossings, put my tears in your bottle.” God does not forget about our sorrows. He is in the midst of these troubled times. And like the songwriter’s line from many years ago, “Our blessings come in teardrops.” When we shed many tears for our loved ones, our famlies and friends, our neighbors and communities, our country and our world, remember that God is collecting them in His bottle. He is there to comfort us and will save us from hurt, pain, loss and suffering. Not more tears. Praise His Holy name!

What a promise for a New Year! 2022

soundtrack

With Christmas just literally days away, the music in the air, on the airwaves, in the stores has been with us for weeks now. The choirs are getting ready to sing the Christmas carols and we may be even playing our Spotify Christmas favorites. Naturally, there are new songs to hear, but some of us can sing “Away in a Manger” and “Joy to the World” without any prompts! Even the angels were singing the night that Jesus was born.

This season, I pray that my worship of the newborn King becomes the soundtrack of my heart. Let it resound louder than the negative voices in my head, the sound of dissention in our world today and any competing sounds that distract me from the beautiful melody that resonnates in my soul.

As I listen to the roar of the wind yet again here in Southern Alberta, I am reminded of the freight train force that recently devastated a number of communities in the States with tornadoes. The constant hum of today’s force with frequent gusts, fills my ears and I smile as my windchimes tinkle and sway dancing to the wind’s call. Such a contrast - the roaring wind and the stillness of my soul.

Battles rage. Let us praise His name. The storm presses in. Let us hear the angels sing. Hatred. Love. Cry. Sing. Violence. Peace.

Merry Christmas to all and to all a good night.

Suddenly a great company of the heavenly host appeared with the angel, praising God and saying,

 “Glory to God in the highest heaven,
    and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

 When the angels had left them and gone into heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let’s go to Bethlehem and see this thing that has happened, which the Lord has told us about.” Luke 2:13-15

babe

Recently, a new graphic novel came out by Charlie Mackesy entitled, The Boy, the Mole, the Fox and the Horse which is the story of living courageously with kindness and following your dreams. After quickly reading and reflecting on his work, I came up with my own story based on his characters and the familiar Christmas story, but mine is entitled, The Baby, the Lamb, the Lion and the Eagle. Perhaps I will publish it if I can find a suitable artist.

Then there is the classic poem, “Twas the NIght Before Christmas”. There are many renditions and parodies that one can read and chuckle. Again, I always like to play around with words and come up with something a little different and so here goes:

Twas a few weeks before Christmas and all through the streets People were still frightful and didn’t really want to meet. The shopping was done all on-line with such care In hopes that Amazon delivered out there. The children were texting all ready for movies they’d seen While visions of the messages danced on their screens. And mom in her PJ’s and I in my sweats Had prepared our brains - another lock-down - you bet! When out on the deck there arose such a noise. I jumped from the couch and yelled at the boys Away to the window I let out a cry Pulled at the curtains and gasped, “oh my!” The light on the sidewalk of freshly shoveled snow Gave a luster of Christmas lights to objects below. When what to my blurry eyes did I see But a chorus of angels singing with glee With wings of celestials so eager to fly I knew in a moment they would drift to the sky More rapid than transit the angels did appear You thought I’d mention Santa and his tiny reindeer. Didn’t you?

Christmas is more than the big red guy, Christmas lights picked up, strung up and lit up and enough food on the table to feed a small army. It’s really about the greatest gift of all, a newborn baby called Immanuel - God with us. And so as we celebrate, hibernate, congregate this Christmas season, let us remind ourselves that this little baby grew up, became a man and saved us from eternal punishment. If we only admit our sin, believe God sent Jesus to fix our sin and if we confess him as Lord of every part of our life, we can be saved. Feliz Navidad!

For God so loved the world, that he gave his only Son, that whoever believes in him should not perish but have eternal life.(ESB) John 3:16

said

He said. She said. What if I said that I love walking barefoot on the sand by the ocean? What if you said you love to stand in the rain and catch the drops on your tongue? What did our mother mean when the last line she said in her letter to dad was, “I have a surprise for you…” We will never know what was said because they are both gone and there is only the letter. I remember what was said at the funerals as we stood shoulder to shoulder with tears of loss trickling down our cheeks. What will be said of us when we are gone?

The Indigenous, the tribes of Israel and the storytellers said it in words danced around the fire long ago in tales told of stories from the past. In history, the hurtful also pelted words of hate at those who were different; yet there were the compassionate who said very softly in a child’s ear, “I love you.” I have not forgotten words that hurt but have said that I was sorry too. I saw her on the stage as she spoke her words of truth with music resounding in the background, sat in the audience of the theatre or walked through a gallery as we said to one another, “isn’t that beautiful?”

All the words said over dinner or conference tables or said in the dark recesses of the night. What if I said it matters? I have also heard the lies dripping with deceit when some said, “it won’t matter” when it did. They said that they cared, but did they really?

And now here we are with all that’s said and done. The prophets from thousands of years ago said there would be a Savior born. They said he would rescue his people; this king in swaddling clothes. He said he would die, but be raised to life and that he is with his Father but will return. Some said that’s not true. We said, “we believe you.” And so as we prepare our hearts for this season, we remember what was said over 600 years ago to Mary by the angel Gabriel:

“You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call Him Jesus - Immanuel. He will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give Him the throne of his father David, and He will reign over Jacob’s descendants forever; His kingdom will never end” Luke 1:31-33