Moment of Joy #7: Entering the Lenten Season

The 40 days of Lent that lead to Easter are a time of reflection.  Ash Wednesday is a reminder that we are dust, and to dust we shall return.  Then we endure a long stretch until we celebrate the Triumphal Entry of Jesus into Jerusalem.  Shortly thereafter follows the commemoration of the Last Supper on Maundy Thursday, during which Jesus told his disciples that he will not eat of the bread nor drink of the cup again until all of the faithful have gathered with Him in glory.

The next day we remember the way of suffering on Good Friday.  For Jesus, that Friday was anything but ‘good’ as he was beaten, deserted, and died in the most excruciating of executions.  In fact, the word ‘excruciating’ was coined to describe grotesque and monstrous pain; it literally means, from the cross.

The exultant song of “Christ the Lord Is Risen Today” will be sung in each and every Christian church on Easter Sunday.  For some, the service will begin at sunrise.  Easter reminds us that our hope is not in the things of this world, for they all pass away; ashes to ashes, dust to dust.  Our hope is in the One who came from heaven, lived a perfect life, died as a ransom for the debt that we all must pay, and upended all natural laws by rising from the dead three days after his execution.

Lent is a time when Christians are invited to examine our faith and deepen the commitment to our Lord and Savior.  May you spend some time on each of the 40 days between now and Easter Sunday in prayer, Bible reading, and reflection.  Don’t forget to be quiet and listen for the still, small voice which speaks to your heart.  Draw closer to your Savior this Lenten season.

Joyful Moment #6: Keeping that New Year’s Resolution

As far as new year’s resolutions go, I’ve done pretty well over the past few years.  Two years ago I resolved to lose 25 lbs., and I lost 31.  Last year I resolved to keep the weight off.  I did, and even lost a few more pounds (and then gained a few back between Christmas and January 1).  This year’s resolution?  Get rid of stuff.

When Bruce and I married, neither of us realized the packrat tendencies in each other.  Twenty years later, it’s not as if we awoke one morning to suddenly find stacks of magazines, too many clothes, and more CDs and LPs than we’ll ever have time to listen to.  No, these things crept in gradually, year after year.

When we first married, we lived in a tiny, 4-room apartment that probably totalled 800 square feet.  For our first move we were able to cram everything we owned into the back of our car and a dinky U-Haul trailer.  That was in 1992.  Eleven years and three children later, we moved again.  That time, the move took two of the largest rental trucks U-Haul had to offer, and we left a few things behind!

As I look around my house today, I cringe at the amount of needless stuff I have in my life.  My eye will catch something and I’ll think, Do I really need that?  Am I ever going to use that again?  Is there someone else who could use it?

I’ve already begun to hoe out certain areas.  The Salvation Army has received many bags of clothing, and we’re just barely scratching the surface of 2012.  I have boxes of books yet to deliver to the library for their quarterly book sales, and numerous items have sold on ebay and Amazon.com.  And yet, with an attic larger than the size of our first apartment, I have a long way to go.

You may be wondering what brought on this resolution.  Well, back in November as I was surfing facebook I came across a photo.  It was one of those split-screen photos with starving children on one side and black Friday shoppers on the other.  The emaciated children reached for food while the shoppers, looking annoyed at having to wait in line, stood with carts overflowing with overpriced plastic toys that will be next summer’s yard sale fodder.  The caption of the photo:  Define Necessity.

From the very moment I saw that photo I began to take a mental inventory of my house.  Aside from a few basic necessities, I could live without 90% of what I own.  Does this mean I’m going to get rid of nine tenths of my possessions?  Well, not right now.  But it does mean I am going to make a concerted effort this year to remove the physical items in my life of which 1) I have no need, and 2) someone else could use.  I’m tired of drowning in stuff.

So I have a little challenge for everyone:  Define necessity.  Before you buy something in the store, ask yourself, “Is this a need or a want?”  When you begin to think of building another bookcase to hold your books, think of giving/selling/donating some to make room.  Instead of boxing up clothes which you think you might someday fit into again, think of giving them to someone in need.

You’ll reap the twofold benefit of having a less cluttered home and the joy of giving your possessions a second life by belonging to someone else.  I’ve always gratefully accepted hand-me-downs; in turn, I pass things along to others.  But now it’s time for me to step it up a notch.  A year from now, I hope to report that I was successful in keeping my new year’s resolution, and that my life is less cluttered than ever.

Joyful Moment #5: Nests

Lately, I’ve been considering nests.  Mainly because, now that all deciduous trees are void of leaves, I can see the nests in their branches.  Since we live in a tiny town (population 300, thank you very much), we often travel to the next town over for necessities like gas and Girl Scout meetings.  The eight-mile stretch of road between the towns is countryside–pastures and forests.  When I’m not the one in the driver’s seat, I’m usually scanning the woods and fields for wildlife (translation: I’m watching for suicidal deer).

On our way to church last Sunday, I glanced toward the woods on my right and something very large lifted from the treetops.  Then another something.  As they came closer to our minivan I almost screamed with excitement as two bald eagles soared above.  My husband attempted to simultaneously see the birds above through the windshield and keep the vehicle on the road.  The kids chorused, “Where?  Where?” and then finally saw the majestic birds.  We’ve seen the eagles’ nests before, even met one named Liberty at the Jamestown Audubon Society, but had never seen them in the wild.  So big, so strong, so free.

Just the other day, after a particularly windy storm, I found a little nest under the hemlock tree in my backyard.  It’s now on my back porch.  The kids enjoyed looking it over, pointing out the various items that made up its framework: lots of small twigs and dried grass, a bit of string, some fishing line, a long piece of blue plastic (probably from the frayed edge of one of those rain tarps).   Along the inside, where the babies would have broken free from their shells and their featherless, pink bodies would have snuggled, were layers of soft down and hair.

I am constantly amazed at how the birds make their homes.  I’ve seen the time-lapse video on nature specials, and I’ve watched youtube videos of birds building nests.  It really is amazing to see how the nests are anchored to the branches in such a way as to provide safety for the flightless babies and shelter for the whole family.  We’ve viewed various nests from a safe distance with binoculars, everything from the eagle’s nest as big as a queen-sized mattress to a hummingbird nest, smaller than the palm of my hand.  Each home meets exactly the needs of that particular bird.

A friend of mine recently gave birth.  In the weeks prior she discussed on facebook how she was preparing for the baby’s arrival.  She was cleaning, preparing meals and freezing them, stocking up and organizing baby essentials.  People responded by telling her she was “nesting.”  What an interesting way to describe that unusual burst of energy and desire to make everything “perfect” for the baby’s arrival.

I guess we all have our nests, the places and spaces where we feel at home, safe, secure, and comfortable.  My chicks, still in the nest, sometimes manage to ruffle each other’s feathers, but their hearts are one–with each other and with me and their dad.  When they learn to fly, we will cheer as they leave the nest… but hope they behave as homing pigeons as often as possible.  Even if it’s only to do laundry on weekends during college.  Someday, when my chicks have all flown the coop, Bruce and I will be referred to as “empty nesters.”  When that time comes, we might just start flying south for the winter.

Nests.  So many cliche’s, yet so perfectly accurate.

Joyful Moment #4: Finding Peace Through Patience

By nature, I am impatient.  My mom once joked that I was born a week before my due date and I’ve been impatient ever since.  It sounds funny, but she spoke the truth.  I want answers and I want them now.  If the internet is 5 seconds or more going to my site, I become irritated.  I scowl at myself when I make mistakes.  I’m not a worrier because I know the future is fully known and controlled by my trustworthy God.  But I do wish I could see beyond today and know the reasons behind my current struggles.  Such as, why can’t I be a more patient person?

 

My husband never gets ruffled.  He is one of the most patient people I have ever met (the other one being my dad).  Take, for instance, an upsetting incident which happened this past summer.  I had heard one side of an issue, followed by another.  Then a third party weighed in.  When the truth was known, my protective instincts kicked in and I was ready for battle, impatient to take things into my own hands and settle them.  My husband, however, reminded me that we need to think things through, pray about everything, and act in a manner that would be scripturally sound and benefit all involved.  So, I had to be patient.  I had to wait.

 

I hate waiting.

 

Isaiah 40:31 tells us that if we wait upon the Lord, He will renew our strength.  I might add here that when we wait, we shouldn’t be all fidgety, behaving like kids on a road trip who keep demanding, “Are we there yet?”  We should wait patiently.  This makes me realize that when I wait impatiently, I’m not at peace with myself or those around me.  And if I’m not at peace, I have no joy.  If I’m impatient, I am exhibiting a lack of self-control.  Lack of self-control results in a deficit of love, kindness, goodness, and gentleness.  And if I am lacking in those, how can I consider myself faithful? In one fell swoop, I miss out on all of the fruits of the Spirit.  Galatians 5:22-23 tells me what those fruits are: love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control.  They cannot exist as separate entities; they depend upon each other and provide balance to one another and to my life.

 

So what should I do when I find myself becoming impatient?  Well, I could just give up.  Throw in the towel.  Stomp my feet all the way up the stairs and whine about the injustices of life.  Or… I could recognize that each trial, every struggle, even the really deep potholes in life are there not to discourage me but to make me stronger. To build my character.  To bring me an experience which will someday allow me to provide empathy to someone else as they struggle.  I could choose to see the blue sky through the storm clouds, and rest easy knowing that it can’t rain forever.  I can choose peace.

 

Do I choose to be patient?  Yes.  I don’t always wait the way I should, but past experience reminds me not to stick in my hands in an exasperated rush for answers.  When I do that, I just wind up with a sticky mess.  I’m not perfect; I won’t be until I’m in the presence of my Savior.  But, I am learning to wait quietly for that still, small voice to provide peace and answers.  All in good time.

 

“Cast your cares on the Lord and he will sustain you; he will never let the righteous fall.”  Psalm 55:22 (NIV, 1984)

Joyful Moment #3: Rest

This morning I posted on facebook that my favorite place to be is my bed, and that sleeping is my preferred inactivity.  I can’t help it!  I’m not what you’d call a morning person.  In fact, I’m not a night person either.  I just love to curl up in my bed–sometimes with a good book, but most of the time just happily nestled against my husband, drifting off to dreamworld.  I like to hit the sheets early and sleep late.

The time of year has a little to do with it too.  During the summer, the windows are open and the sound of birds awakens me even before the sun rises.  I stay out in my garden until I can no longer distinguish weeds from flowers, and sit by a campfire until midnight.  Today, however, a cold rain falls.  Wind causes the rain to pelt the (closed) windows on the western side of the house, and falling leaves stick to the wet panes.  My bed now has a winter comforter, and the flannel sheets wait patiently in the linen closet for their turn.  The sun sleeps in a little longer each day as the Northern Hemisphere continues to tilt on our trip around the sun.

Eyes still closed, I awoke this morning to the sound of rain, pulled the comforter up to my chin, and tried to go back to sleep.  Alas, I hit the hay early last night, and my rest tank was full to the brim.  So, I sat up, grabbed my laptop, and started writing.

I love that the human body was created to need rest.  Getting a good night’s sleep is only one kind of rest necessary for good health.  We also need rest for our spirits.  Sometimes the stresses of everyday life creep into our sleep and, suddenly, we can’t even get physical rest!  Someone I know once made the statement that she’s always waiting for the other shoe to drop.  What a horrible way to live!  She can never rest because she’s in a constant state of worry.

Psalm 62:5 tells me where I can truly rest: “Find rest, O my soul, in God alone; my hope comes from him.”  I’m not worried about tomorrow (Matthew 6:34).  I plan ahead, but I don’t wring my hands about the future, because I know Who is in charge.  I’m perfectly happy leaving all of the control in God’s hands, knowing that He will work everything out for good (Romans 8:28).

Rest.  Not just sleep, but true, complete rest.  It does a body & soul good.

Joyful Moment #2

Today’s joyful moment came early in the morning.  While working with my youngest on long division (which always made me cry at her age), she looked at me and said, “Thanks, mom.  I’m glad you’re my teacher.”

Family means so much to me.  My family means the world to me, but consider what the word “family” means–this should be important to everyone.  I’m not interested in how Webster defines the word.  I’m going to tell you the definition according to Carol.

Family (n) A group of blood-related people who love, honor, support, and respect each other.  A place where no one is belittled and everyone is trusted.  May also extend to non-blood-related persons who form a closely-knit group embodying the characteristics listed above.

Thankfully–blessedly–I have a family that fits the definition above.  My parents, sister, husband, brothers-in-law, niece, nephews, and children all embody the description.  This brings me true joy.  I recognize that not every family can say the same, and my heart breaks for them.

Yesterday, a friend called to share some good news.  I rejoiced with her.  With a heavy heart, though, she expressed in one breath that she was thankful she could share the news with me but sorrowful as she cannot do so with her own family.  I can only pray that God will work in the hearts of her family that they may all one day have the same joyful unity I have in mine.

As a child, I sat on the couch at home struggling with math homework.  Long division, fractions, pre-algebra, algebra, geometry were beyond me.  My father–the man with the master’s degree in engineering, the man who served as chief engineer on the design of the USAF AWACS plane, the man who clearly understood everything about math–sat along side of me. Patiently, he helped me learn.  Only once do I recall him lowering his head, sighing, and asking, “Why don’t you get this?”  Yet he pressed on toward the goal, helping me “get it” enough to pass each test.

If I never said so before…thanks, Dad.  You & mom have supported me through far more than numeric equations.  For all of those moments on the couch when you patiently worked through problem after problem, you have both been a Godly example of how family works together, loves one another.

All of those lessons and tears shed were not in vain.  The word family will always fill my heart to overflowing.

 

Joyful Moment #1

I mentioned in a previous post about re-gaining lost joy.  I’m wondering now if that’s really what I meant.  You see, joy and happiness are two very different things.  I know I’ve been unhappy with circumstances over the past few months, but I have not necessarily lost my joy.

Joy is deeper than happiness.

So, with that in mind, I can recognize one epiphany of joy today:  Those who pass away, whether figuratively or literally, I will see again someday.  And when we stand together in heaven, the offenses of this life–whether real or imagined–will fade in the light of eternity.