Mandalas, prayers, and creativity

Today the Mandala prayer class that I am leading as part of our Wednesday night program will begin to create Mandala’s with either paints or with sand. I am really enjoying this class – and am able to participate more than facilitate. We spend time together, with quiet music, working on our own creative projects, and occasionally having quiet conversation. It is a time, for me at least, to simply be. A time to calm and to center and focus. I think that is why I like “creative” projects – when I work on them they help me to center in a different way than meditation does. These projects, like knitting, help me to touch a part of myself that doesn’t always get to stretch and unfold. And that helps me connect to God in another way.

Many years ago I used to work on craft type creative projects almost every week – like counted cross stitch, etc. But then I changed jobs, work became more demanding and I gave up my “creative” time... I realize now that I was really giving up a part of myself; closing myself off because the freedom and joy I found in creative work didn’t fit well with a job that I found burdensome, confining, heavy... I was unable to reconcile the two, so I simply stopped my work on creative projects. That job certainly was not a job I should have had – but from it I learned an important lesson: just because I may have the skills to do something, does not mean that it is what I am called to do. Giftedness and temperament and strengths also play a role. As does, most importantly, passion – that place where my desires meet the world’s needs. God gives us many gifts and graces, strengths and talents. And through the years we develop many skills, as well. Our passion is the place where these coalesce; where our love for God and for humanity merge with our gifts and graces and skills into a heart-felt desire to bring God’s healing love into the world.

Crocheting and creating with a beadloom are beginning to interest me, and will probably become my next "creative" learning areas. I used to crochet, my grandmother (who is now 100!) taught me when I was a child. I can still do the most basic stitch, but that is all. One day I will learn again, but not yet. The time is not yet, I am still enjoying knitting and have so much more of myself and God to explore through it.

What do you do to stretch and unfold the creative person within? How do you connect with God through the creative?

A great morning of worship

I am so tired tonight – pleasantly exhausted you might say.  Today our youth led worship – planned, organized, and filled the worship leadership roles.  It is much more tiring to help coordinate so many moving parts than it is to simply do it myself… But it’s so much more rewarding to help support them.  And they were fantastic!  Offering prayers, reading scripture, leading children’s moment, giving the sermon, sharing their musical gifts, offering communion…and through it all, rolling with the little changes that seem to happen no matter who is leading (like welcoming a new member!).  And the worship was uplifting and awesome.

Some things were a little different this year – we chose a Sunday during Lent, so their worship planning had to include the Lenten theme and some worship elements that were already picked.  And they worked with that, creating a worship experience that reflected who they are and how they understand God.  In the process, they also decided to ask a few adults to fill roles in both services – so “youth” Sunday had intergenerational leadership.  I think this was a result, at least in part, of their being asked on a pretty regular basis to serve in leadership in worship throughout the year.  How wonderful this congregation is.  And you’re raising some pretty wonderful young people - ones who see themselves as part of and connected to the larger group!

Every year I come away from this Sunday wishing that I had a camera to take snapshots of all the kids - but knowing that taking pictures during worship would make it performing rather than worshipping... And knowing that I don't need a camera to remember the look on Mia's face when she told me she has written the script herself that she wanted to have 2 kids share during children's moment; or to remember the look on Glynis' face when she saw someone coming down the aisle to join following her invitation, followed by the look of seriousness when she extended to him the hand of Christian fellowship and welcomed him into membership; or to remember the faces of the K-2nd grade kids as they sung the Gloria Patri for us; or to remember Glynis as she made herself vulnerable sharing times in her life when she told God "but I neeeed it"; or the look on the congregation's faces as they sang "take me as I am, summon out what I shall be, set your seal upon my heart and live in me"; or... or simply the looks of relief and delight that come following doing something that you know is important, something that stretches you just a little bit, and that is done with people you know love and support and respect you simply because you are God's child.

What a great day!  I hope you were there to be part of it.

Young leaders

I think, as a church, we get it.  We get the fact that the children (of all ages) are not the leaders of tomorrow – but are leaders today in their own right!  I love this church family!  My heart swells with love and pride to see how you honor and respect each child as a person for the gifts and abilities they have now.

Youth Sunday – you know, the Sunday where the kids get to ‘do it all’ – is not as difficult in preparing for as it may be in others places (I say this now as we are on the final 3 day count down)... Because all year long our youth are given the opportunity to read Scripture, lead worship, offer prayers, share their musical gifts, serve others.  The adults ‘in charge’ offer this on a regular basis, intentionally and consistently.  So when it comes time for the kids to take charge of the whole shebang, there’s a lot less prep than you might think.  That means we get to spend time focusing at a deeper level on the meaning of worship – what’s the message, what’s the purpose, how will we accomplish that, etc. Sure, they like different music – wasn’t our music ‘different’ when we were young?  And sure, they want to use it in worship, share it with the adults in their lives hoping you find God in it the way they do – didn’t we want that when we were younger?  Maybe, if you listen closely, you’ll hear a voice in your heart singing:

"And you’ve won my heart/ yes, you’ve won my heart./ Now I can trade these ashes in for beauty/ and wear forgiveness like a crown./ Coming to kiss the feet of mercy/ I lay every burden down/ at the foot of the cross."           ...isn’t that what we’d all like for our children - wearing forgiveness, laying every burden down?  ...isn’t that what we’d all like for ourselves?

If our young people seem confident and capable, that’s because they are.  In part, because they have been gifted with wonderful skills.  And in part, because the adults in their lives (including their church family) support and believe in them, and honor their gifts on a daily basis.  I love this church family.  You are awesome!

mmmm… Thin Mints!

It’s Girl Scout cookie time! Thin Mints are my favorite – especially cold from the fridge. It’s time to buy more milk… How about you?

Over the years I’ve learned to find out what my husband has ordered before I buy any… actually that’s true anytime kids are selling anything. He loves to help them out – which is a great thing. But if we’re not careful we both end up buying something from them and spending way too much. So I’ve learned – when the kids at church are selling cookie dough, gift paper, gift items, etc to raise money for their schools I send them to Mark first and he almost always buys something… and the kids have learned, too, to go to Mark – ‘cause he almost always buys something!

I'll pray for you...

Mark has a friend at work who was diagnosed with stomach cancer several months ago.  He's in his early 30's, married with kids.  I cannot imagine what that diagnosis, what living with this illness has done/ is doing to them.

The folks that work with him decided they wanted to show their support in a tangible way, so they purchased American Cancer Society bracelets to wear while he undergoes chemo treatments.  For the past several months now I have been wearing one of them.  For me it serves as my reminder every day and throughout the day to pray for him - pray for healing, for strength, for comfort - and to pray for others who are in need of healing as well.
I must confess that I like to change the jewelry I wear - I rarely wear the same thing for so long a period... and one day, after about a month, I didn't want to put the bracelet on - "I'm tired of wearing it" was my thought... followed by "just like he's tired of having cancer?"... I felt somewhat ashamed that my commitment to praying for another was something that I'd stop doing over such a trivial matter - which is what would happen without my daily reminder...

When you tell someone "I'll pray for you", do you?  Do you pray just once, or do you continue to pray for them as long as you know they are continuing to deal with their problem?

What would you like others to pray for you about?

Blogging again...

It's been a long time since I last posted - and I'm finding it difficult to get back into the habit again. Thank you to those of you who've mentioned to me that you've noticed my absence.

For a time I wasn't writing because I had some things I needed to work through - things I wasn't comfortable writing about in this space... Then, for the past few months, it's just been finding the initiative to get started, to structure my day again so that I have blogging time... I must confess that sharing of myself in this fashion is not always easy. I write this blog for me, as a way to express my thoughts and feelings - and if others find encouragement from it, or find it thought provoking, then that's a plus. But sometimes I find it harder to write about certain topics or feelings because I know there are others reading - it's difficult taking off the masks that we all wear, and in a very public way. But I find that I am compelled to do so... so thanks for understanding, and thanks for joining me on this journey of faith.

Peace.