Thinking about holidays, traditions and family this week made me remember just how blessed I am to have had the chance to know all four of my grandparents. Three of the four of them are World War II veterans and all of them grew up during the Great Depression. Their stories of a different era and the lessons they learned have both fascinated me and enriched my life. As I reflected on my relationship with each of them, I recognized unique threads that each one has woven into my life - threads of faith, hope and love. And while each one wove many threads of each, these are the threads that shine brightest.
Grandaddy C. passed away when I was young - around nine, I think. My memories of him are mostly echos of his booming voice and imposing presence. However, in the short time that I knew him, he instilled in me the hope of things to come. He was enthralled with the second coming and lived in expectation of Christ's return. Young as I was, his example left a deep impression on me and helped me learn that there is more to this life than meets the eye.
Nanny met Grandaddy C. in the operating room when she was an Army nurse and he was a sergeant. They married after the war - and after she resigned her commission so that (she says) he wouldn't have to salute when seeing her in uniform (since she ranked him). Her stories of faith and waiting for God have been inspiring to me in my own journey. From being raised as a farm girl in Indiana to joining the Army and meeting her husband to raising her family and becoming a grandmother and great-grandmother, her life is marked time and time again by God's hand of provision and grace. And the stories that I've heard many times still serve as a reminder that God is good...and often provide many laughs along the way.
Grandaddy H. was also in the Army (or "the service" as he calls it) and served in several countries overseas during the war. He has stories too - stories that he does not often share because the memories are too painful. He served in love during the war and has continued to serve his family with love for many years. He has took a vested interest in each grandchild from an early age and did his best to make sure we saw success. For me, that took the form of making sure I had access to a computer and a piano from an early age. Both instruments have been major factors in my life and he has followed my journey with great interest and provided much encouragement along the way.
Gammy - who waited faithfully on this side of the pond during the war - also loved us well. My memories of her are filled with special holiday traditions, late night "tea parties" with special deserts, Wheel of Fortune and games of Rook. She was the epitome of a gracious hostess and worked hard to make sure that any occasion - major holidays or minor victories - was properly celebrated.
So, as I walked through just my second Thanksgiving without Gammy's gracious presence at the table, and as I made her pies, I prayed that the pumpkin and pecan are just a small part of the continuing legacy of faith, hope and love entrusted to me by my four amazing grandparents.
Saturday, November 26, 2011
Monday, November 14, 2011
Chasing Rainbows
It wasn't a coincidence that I saw the rainbow on the way home from work the other day. No, not on a day when I desperately needed to be reminded of three things. As I was praying for God to help me see, I rounded the corner and gasped. There, arching gloriously across the storm grayed sky shone all seven colors of a rainbow - the first one I'd seen since leaving New Mexico (where such things were a common occurrence). As I continued on my journey home, I began to see that it was much larger than I had originally realized, so I stopped and took a picture and was reminded what beauty can follow a storm.
After a moment of enjoying the beauty before me, I drove on towards home. As I rounded the next bend, I was again taken aback as I realized that this was not just a strip of color, but a full rainbow reaching across the sky seemingly from my house to the distant horizon. I stopped again and stared and was reminded that my God keeps His promises.
As I turned towards home, I lost sight of the rainbow and felt as if I was passing up a precious gift. So, I pulled a u-turn and drove toward the setting sun, hoping to find a better vantage point to enjoy the prismatic colors. As I drove, I realized that anyone approaching from that direction could not see the vibrant streaks of color. As I reversed and again caught sight of my rainbow, I realized that on my drive home I had been uniquely positioned to enjoy the beauty God had set before me.
People driving west must have wondered what that girl was doing on the side of the one lane country road staring at the sky with an ear-to-ear grin that grew even wider as the rainbow doubled for a moment before starting to fade with the setting sun. They could not see the beauty overhead or feel the glory that comes with those thin places where Heaven seems not so far away. And it was only by God's grace that I could - simply because I was where He wanted me at that moment. I didn't see it coming, didn't plan for it and certainly didn't make it happen. But, because I was there, looking up after the storm, I caught a glimpse of the hand of my great, promise-keeping God.
After a moment of enjoying the beauty before me, I drove on towards home. As I rounded the next bend, I was again taken aback as I realized that this was not just a strip of color, but a full rainbow reaching across the sky seemingly from my house to the distant horizon. I stopped again and stared and was reminded that my God keeps His promises.
As I turned towards home, I lost sight of the rainbow and felt as if I was passing up a precious gift. So, I pulled a u-turn and drove toward the setting sun, hoping to find a better vantage point to enjoy the prismatic colors. As I drove, I realized that anyone approaching from that direction could not see the vibrant streaks of color. As I reversed and again caught sight of my rainbow, I realized that on my drive home I had been uniquely positioned to enjoy the beauty God had set before me.
People driving west must have wondered what that girl was doing on the side of the one lane country road staring at the sky with an ear-to-ear grin that grew even wider as the rainbow doubled for a moment before starting to fade with the setting sun. They could not see the beauty overhead or feel the glory that comes with those thin places where Heaven seems not so far away. And it was only by God's grace that I could - simply because I was where He wanted me at that moment. I didn't see it coming, didn't plan for it and certainly didn't make it happen. But, because I was there, looking up after the storm, I caught a glimpse of the hand of my great, promise-keeping God.
Monday, October 31, 2011
Walk Easy
Waiting. Not my favorite word. I prefer words like go, move forward, and take it and run. Such words bring the fresh wind of adventure with them and make me feel excited. But waiting...waiting makes me feel stuck. I've been intensely struggling with waiting for a while now - spinning my wheels until the ruts are deeper than my tires, chomping at the bit until my mouth bleeds - getting frustrated with myself and with God because I couldn't make sense of it all.
Enter Cinnamon - a little, sorrel Quarter Horse mare that I started riding when I sub as a wrangler on the occasional weekend. What started as a working relationship grew into a hobby and I currently ride her at least once a week. Cinnamon is very smart, sensitive and talented. She is also extremely energetic and likes to run - all the time. One day we were out riding in the pasture and I started getting frustrated because I could not get her to walk. She was interpreting my every cue as a signal to move forward. However, that's not what I wanted. I wanted her to slow down, soften up and listen to me. Not that I have anything against running - I too love to run. However, I wanted her to quiet herself and understand what I was asking so that we could not just run but also harness that energy and dance. Every time she tried to rush ahead of me, I would pull her back and breathe, "waaaalllk... easy girl, just walk." And so we walked...and walked... and walked.
And as we walked, God placed His finger on my heart and told me that Cinnamon and I had a lot in common. I too needed to learn to discern the subtlety of different cues so that we could dance. In my rushing I was not only wasting energy that was better spent elsewhere but also passing up the opportunity to learn something greater. In order to attain that, I had to wait - listen and walk easy.
1 Peter 3:4 states that a gentle and quiet spirit is precious to God. I think that His response to our willing waiting is probably along the lines of the pleasure I felt today when, after several weeks of walking, Cinnamon and I started to dance a little. I felt her settle down and listen - she steadied her pace and bent under light pressure from my leg as she played with the bit in her mouth waiting for her next cue from my hands. I thought, "Yes, here we go!" Now, we can start to do great things.
Enter Cinnamon - a little, sorrel Quarter Horse mare that I started riding when I sub as a wrangler on the occasional weekend. What started as a working relationship grew into a hobby and I currently ride her at least once a week. Cinnamon is very smart, sensitive and talented. She is also extremely energetic and likes to run - all the time. One day we were out riding in the pasture and I started getting frustrated because I could not get her to walk. She was interpreting my every cue as a signal to move forward. However, that's not what I wanted. I wanted her to slow down, soften up and listen to me. Not that I have anything against running - I too love to run. However, I wanted her to quiet herself and understand what I was asking so that we could not just run but also harness that energy and dance. Every time she tried to rush ahead of me, I would pull her back and breathe, "waaaalllk... easy girl, just walk." And so we walked...and walked... and walked.
And as we walked, God placed His finger on my heart and told me that Cinnamon and I had a lot in common. I too needed to learn to discern the subtlety of different cues so that we could dance. In my rushing I was not only wasting energy that was better spent elsewhere but also passing up the opportunity to learn something greater. In order to attain that, I had to wait - listen and walk easy.
1 Peter 3:4 states that a gentle and quiet spirit is precious to God. I think that His response to our willing waiting is probably along the lines of the pleasure I felt today when, after several weeks of walking, Cinnamon and I started to dance a little. I felt her settle down and listen - she steadied her pace and bent under light pressure from my leg as she played with the bit in her mouth waiting for her next cue from my hands. I thought, "Yes, here we go!" Now, we can start to do great things.
Tuesday, October 25, 2011
When you can't "click here"
There are some times in life when you just can't Google the answer. Where an internet search will do you no good. In our fast paced, hyperlinked culture that brings a sense of helplessness. Our "crystal ball" has gone dark. What we most want to know is no longer at our finger tips. It brings us to the remembrance of how little we really know.
We are not the omniscient beings we like to consider ourselves. In times like these we remember how little control we really have. It brings us to our knees - where we should have been all along - in front of the only Omniscient, all powerful, all sufficient One who loves us more than we can imagine and who has us engraved on His hand. Here we wait and hope, pray and praise expecting the results that only He can bring - a God sized answer for our God sized question.
We are not the omniscient beings we like to consider ourselves. In times like these we remember how little control we really have. It brings us to our knees - where we should have been all along - in front of the only Omniscient, all powerful, all sufficient One who loves us more than we can imagine and who has us engraved on His hand. Here we wait and hope, pray and praise expecting the results that only He can bring - a God sized answer for our God sized question.
More than that, we rejoice in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance, and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not put us to shame, because God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit who has been given to us. - Romans 5:3-5 ESVAnd then, when we have realized that no one other than God can fulfill our hope, there is none other who can receive glory when the answer comes. So we wait for the victory that is coming.
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Story Bricks
It's been over two years since I've blogged. I never really decided to stop, it just sort of faded into the background during two whirlwind years - an internship and then moving to Texas for my first "real" job. (I'd argue that the internship was pretty real, though!) I've thought about starting back several times, but each time have backed off because I couldn't decide where to start. I was intimidated by the thought of having to write a definitive post about the last two years.
Then, I saw this talk about using social media to tell your story in "bricks" - pieces that make up the larger whole. You don't have to share the entire gospel in one tweet. Instead, you build the bigger story one brick at a time. So, I'm not going to narrate all of what God has done in the last two years on one post. However, I'm going to share some bits and pieces because what He is doing is worth sharing.
I see these bits and pieces as cairns - markers that indicate a significant juncture. They're here as a memorial and possibly to help someone else who finds themselves on the same trail. And, maybe, after a while I'll be able to look back and catch a glimpse of the bigger picture - the eternal story that is being woven by the greatest Author of all time.
So, here's my commitment - one post a week from now until the end of the year. No word count, no theme requirement - just something worth sharing. Then, at the end of the year, I'll reevaluate and decide where to go from there. Here we go... journey on!
Then, I saw this talk about using social media to tell your story in "bricks" - pieces that make up the larger whole. You don't have to share the entire gospel in one tweet. Instead, you build the bigger story one brick at a time. So, I'm not going to narrate all of what God has done in the last two years on one post. However, I'm going to share some bits and pieces because what He is doing is worth sharing.
I see these bits and pieces as cairns - markers that indicate a significant juncture. They're here as a memorial and possibly to help someone else who finds themselves on the same trail. And, maybe, after a while I'll be able to look back and catch a glimpse of the bigger picture - the eternal story that is being woven by the greatest Author of all time.
So, here's my commitment - one post a week from now until the end of the year. No word count, no theme requirement - just something worth sharing. Then, at the end of the year, I'll reevaluate and decide where to go from there. Here we go... journey on!
Saturday, August 8, 2009
Snow Boots and Plane Tickets
I just bought a pair of snow boots and am now shopping for plane tickets, because, apparently one needs snow boots to winter in New Mexico and I want to fly home to visit family and friends before I settle in here for a year. Yes, I am going to stay in New Mexico for a year.
It still has to sink in at times, but I am excited about this unexpected bend in the trail. I've accepted an internship at the conference center I have been working at since May. For 9 months, I'll be the Administrative/General Intern and will have a crash course in finances, budget and all things business and operations. I'm excited to have the opportunity to learn about those things in a practical way. I think the skills I learn will prove very valuable and transferable in many realms of life. Then, next summer, I'll become Rec Staff again and spend the summer as lead wrangler.
I say it's an unexpected bend in the trail because this is not where I saw myself after graduation, up to about 2 months ago. However, that seems to be a common theme in my life lately. I'm glad that God is writing this story and not me because He is making it much more interesting than I ever could. I'm convinced that He has called me here for the next year and am excited to see what it holds. There will be at least 4 other interns about my age and I will get to see more than 6" of snow for the first time ever. These, among other elements, promise an interesting year.
It still has to sink in at times, but I am excited about this unexpected bend in the trail. I've accepted an internship at the conference center I have been working at since May. For 9 months, I'll be the Administrative/General Intern and will have a crash course in finances, budget and all things business and operations. I'm excited to have the opportunity to learn about those things in a practical way. I think the skills I learn will prove very valuable and transferable in many realms of life. Then, next summer, I'll become Rec Staff again and spend the summer as lead wrangler.
I say it's an unexpected bend in the trail because this is not where I saw myself after graduation, up to about 2 months ago. However, that seems to be a common theme in my life lately. I'm glad that God is writing this story and not me because He is making it much more interesting than I ever could. I'm convinced that He has called me here for the next year and am excited to see what it holds. There will be at least 4 other interns about my age and I will get to see more than 6" of snow for the first time ever. These, among other elements, promise an interesting year.
Saturday, June 13, 2009
Told you so...
Well, I wrote at the beginning of this adventure that I am a slacker blogger and it's proving true. I could blame it on a number of things, including that this week has been a huge adjustment curve for me, but it mostly comes down to the fact that I tend to forget to write about stuff.
Anyhow, I have the afternoon off and am chilling at one of the wifi spots on campus enjoying my "Celtic Woman" Pandora station and catching up on my web browsing. I spent the morning on the high ropes course with the rec staff learning rope rescues and the belaying the boy's and girl's camp staff. I really enjoy working the ropes course. It's a lot of fun and a good change of pace. I even got in a ride on the zipline with my roommate (who camps has stolen for the next three weeks). Flying through the air upside down is good for the soul.
Things are going well out at the barn. We served 74 riders this last week, including youth camp track times. It's a much tighter schedule that I was anticipating, but we're working through the kinks and I expect things to go more smoothly next week. This past week, our mornings were slow and we spent a lot of time working on rec staff projects and getting things ready for various activities. Then, it was an early lunch and full steam ahead in the afternoon with two one hour track times and then two one hour trail rides before a late dinner. In the coming three weeks we will be adding camp lessons in the mornings and possibly a few morning trail rides.
My job is never boring! Crazy busy and sort of stressful at times, but I'll take that over boring any day. Besides...how many places can you be both a wrangler and a high ropes facilitator? I'm having fun and looking forward to what the next weeks hold.
Anyhow, I have the afternoon off and am chilling at one of the wifi spots on campus enjoying my "Celtic Woman" Pandora station and catching up on my web browsing. I spent the morning on the high ropes course with the rec staff learning rope rescues and the belaying the boy's and girl's camp staff. I really enjoy working the ropes course. It's a lot of fun and a good change of pace. I even got in a ride on the zipline with my roommate (who camps has stolen for the next three weeks). Flying through the air upside down is good for the soul.
Things are going well out at the barn. We served 74 riders this last week, including youth camp track times. It's a much tighter schedule that I was anticipating, but we're working through the kinks and I expect things to go more smoothly next week. This past week, our mornings were slow and we spent a lot of time working on rec staff projects and getting things ready for various activities. Then, it was an early lunch and full steam ahead in the afternoon with two one hour track times and then two one hour trail rides before a late dinner. In the coming three weeks we will be adding camp lessons in the mornings and possibly a few morning trail rides.
My job is never boring! Crazy busy and sort of stressful at times, but I'll take that over boring any day. Besides...how many places can you be both a wrangler and a high ropes facilitator? I'm having fun and looking forward to what the next weeks hold.
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