Working on creative development today. Good to have some uninterrupted time for brainstorming!

Mama!

Four weeks after Easter this year brings us to Mother's Day. Mother's Day is an interesting holiday because we can all relate to it in one way or another. Maybe you are a mom, or maybe you want to be a mom. But one thing is for sure: we ALL had a mom.

For most of us, this Sunday will be a sweet day, a day to thank the woman in your life who raised and nurtured you. It may also be the day when others thank you for the nurturing that you do. But I was reminded last Saturday that there are some who struggle with Mother's Day, and those of you who fall into that category are particularly on my heart this week.

There are those who were not always blessed by the mothers they had. Sadly, some mothers are just not equipped to raise children, and for those who suffered abuse or neglect, Mother's Day can seem hollow at best, and a mockery at worst. If you are one who had a rocky upbringing, you are an inspiration to those around you - did you know that? The fact that you are here, and are doing your best to live a life of meaning and purpose is a testament to your strength of character. And if you know someone who is a survivor, lift her up!

Then there are mothers who have lost a child. I cannot think of a greater sorrow than to lay a beloved child to rest. If you have been through this, you must be the most precious of mothers in the sight of God. One of the first 'grown-up' books I ever read was called "Angel Unaware" by Dale Evans. She and husband Roy had adopted a little girl from Korea, whom they named Debbie. Sadly, Debbie was killed in a bus crash in her teens. Pouring out her grief on the page, Dale Evans wrote a delightful tribute to her beautiful daughter and in doing so, also took a journey of healing through her faith which also inspired million of readers.

You may be someone who has lost your mother. If so, Mother's Day can be a sad day for you. Perhaps it can be a day to think on her and remember the good times. Share a story with your children or grandchildren about her, or do something she liked. Those are precious memories for you, and family history for the younger members of your clan. They will appreciate knowing about their relative, and can then pass the memories of your mother on to the next generation. What better tribute to your mother than to have her seem alive and vibrant to her descendants.

I mentioned that last Saturday I was reminded of those who struggle with Mother's Day.. I was at a friend's Saturday church service and the pastor closed with a beautiful prayer for those who are suffering from infertility. I have friends in this category, and it never occurred to me before how hard Mother's Day must be for someone longing for a child. I cannot pretend to know the depth of your hurt, but the Bible gives us an idea as it tells the story of Hannah in I Samuel, chapter 1: Hannah is praying so hard and with such emotion that the priest thinks her drunk! She tells him, "...I have been praying here out of my great anguish and grief" My prayer for you is that, like Hannah, the Lord grant what you have asked of Him; and if not, that the reason be shown to you and that you can begin to find peace.

There is someone in your life who would love to hear from you on Mother's Day. It might be your mama - call her! take her to lunch, dinner! get the kids dressed without asking her for help! It might be a friend, whose children are scattered all over the country - maybe you can be a surrogate daughter/son today. Or maybe you just need to get clear of the 'mama drama' this year - that's ok, too. Surround yourself with people who love you on every stage of this journey called life and have a blessed Sunday. If you are someone who revels in Mother's Day celebrations, take just a moment and say a prayer for those who are not as comfortable with the holiday. Lifting up our sisters is a great way to honor all of God's Daughters.

Smiles and Blessings,
Sharon

P.S. If you know a single mom, give her an EXTRA BIG HUG!! And, if you're so inclined, a free night of babysitting...

Springtide

It is three weeks since we celebrated Easter. During that time, we have seen the spring rains gently wash over the landscape and blankets of bluebonnets and perky yellow daisy-like flowers spread themselves over the rolling hills. In my son's classroom, two of the eggs have hatched and fluffy little baby chicks peep their greetings to us every morning. In my house, Lily cat is shedding ALL OVER the place. Spring has most definitely sprung, and our hearts feel lighter somehow and filled with anticipation for what may come.

What was happening with the disciples three weeks after the crucifixion and resurrection, I wonder? What was their spring like 2000 years ago? It was probably a beautiful one, with the wildflowers popping up through the rocks and covering the hillsides like an intricately designed carpet from Persia. Perhaps it rained a lot that year. Or, perhaps it did not rain much at all, leaving the people dusty and the landscape brown.

Above all, it  must have been a season of hope for the followers of Jesus. Spring always brings hope; of life renewing itself and going forward. Seeds are planted with the hope they will bear crops. Eggs are laid and carefully tended in the hope they will bear new life. For Jesus' disciples, this particular spring must have filled them with hope like they had never felt in all their springs past.

I just ponder how it must have been to live life wondering moment to moment when Jesus might appear.Talk about hope!! How could they do their daily tasks thinking that Jesus could turn up? Right Now! Right Here! I wouldn't want to leave for even a second! Did they just get so excited and taken up with the possibility that they did nothing else?

It puts me in mind of 9/11. Do you remember how everything stopped? We went up to church and someone plugged in a little TV and we all just sort of remained there; sometimes praying, sometimes talking, sometimes merely watching the story unfold. Nothing else happened that day; people left work early and stayed at church past dinner time. We all wondered, 'What would happen next? Where is the President? Is he o.k.? Are the people in New York, the Pentagon o.k.?' We needed to be together somehow, to hope.

Of course, the disciples had an enormously joyous time of waiting together. The most awful tragedy had turned into the most wonderful miracle! And like us on 9/11, they must have wondered, too: 'Where is Jesus now? Will he come to see us today? What will he say if he does come?' They needed to be together, to hope and rejoice.

What about you? How hopeful are you this spring? Is it a time of happiness, of anticipation for you? Perhaps you are sad and feeling like everyone is happy but you. Or are you feeling nothing special, just life plodding along like it always does?

The book of Lamentations is not one normally associated with hope. Its very name invokes images of sadness, of mourning. But there is a passage in Lamentations that speaks quite joyously about hope. From 'The Message', Lamentations 3, starting with verse 19, it says:

"I'll never forget the trouble, the utter lostness, the taste of ashes, the poison I've swallowed. I remember it all - oh, how well I remember - the feeling of hitting the bottom. But there's one thing I remember, and remembering, I keep a grip on hope. God's loyal love couldn't have run out, his merciful love couldn't have dried up. They're created new every morning. How great is your faithfulness! I'm sticking with God."

Hope is an amazing state of mind. People who have hope can withstand almost anything, no matter the horror. Viktor Frankl and Corrie Ten Boom both survived the unique hell of the concentration camps with little more than hope. If you know someone who has survived cancer or beat an addiction, then you know someone with a doctorate in hope! (Maybe you are that person - if so, you are really quite AMAZING!!)

Don't you just love the phrase - '...I keep a grip on hope.'?  Sometimes it seems like that is all we've got, just a grip. A lot of the time it's a pretty shaky grip, isn't it? But a grip on hope! What a wonderful thing to think on. When our hope is in God, we are able to see his mercies all around us - like the verse says, they are 'created new every morning'. 

Something incredible for you might be just around the corner; a mercy from God created new this morning, special, for you. Maybe you will hear from a friend you were thinking about only yesterday. A prayer might be answered today. Maybe even Jesus could walk through the door. It happened once before, during a Springtide long ago.

If you have not heard the story of Kenny Hudnall, or visited his Caring Bridge website recently, please take a moment to read his story. If you need a 'grip on hope' let this incredible 6-year-old and his family inspire you! Just click on the link to your right.

The Ultimate Betrayal

Those of you who know me well (or have checked my profile) know that I love John LeCarre novels. I am a big fan of all types of spy vs. spy stories, real or invented and I am not fussy about what era they occur, as long as it's a riveting tale. I even like Bond stories, which is ironic, because John LeCarre apparently did not, and began writing his books as a response to what he felt were over-sexed, over-glamorized and downright silly representations of 'The Secret World'. The characters in John LeCarre's novels are decidedly not glamorous; his most beloved spy, George Smiley, is described as portly, stogy, fat...well, everything James Bond is not.

LeCarre fans will debate passionately about what they feel is his best work, but for me, it is 'Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy', a thinly disguised telling of the true story of Kim Philby, the infamous 'mole' in the British secret service. Like Philby, the fictional mole is a member of the privileged British class with an Oxbridge education. It was while he was in school in the thirties that he was recruited by the Soviet Union to become one of its most secret and devastating of agents. He is employed by what eventually became known as MI-5, the British version of our CIA. He rises to fairly high rank and it is well on to 30 years before he is discovered, after betraying all manner of secrets, including the names of some British agents working behind the Iron Curtain, one of whom gets a bullet in the back as a result of the mole's betrayal.

I just happened to be re-reading this right after Easter, and it put me in mind of Judas' betrayal and its aftermath. In LeCarre's story, everyone knows there is a mole, but no one knows who it is, so everybody suspects everybody else. After the mole is revealed, everyone's spirits are crushed. You see, he was one of them. They had offices next to one another, joked at the water cooler, went on 'business' trips together, knew each others' wives. Can you imagine if you discovered that someone in your office, school, church was a mole? And what, I wondered, were the disciples thinking when Jesus said one of them would betray Him? How disjointed and dispirited must they have been! And not only was one of their closest friends a betrayer, but then Jesus was immediately taken from them! The one person who could have made things better was ripped away from them as a result of the disciples' 'mole' and his betrayal.

Have you ever felt betrayed? Maybe on a grand scale, by a cheating spouse or abusive parent? Or on a smaller scale, by a friend who lies or a co-worker who steals from you? Betrayal hurts, no matter how big or small, no matter if it's public or private. It is a horrible feeling, a violation not just of rules but of trust itself. And it is one of the hardest things to recover from; once betrayed it is hard to ever trust again. Perhaps some of the disciples felt this way, too. What confusion, sadness, shock, guilt they must have endured during those three days!

Unlike the characters in LeCarre's story, it doesn't end there for us. We have the empty grave to look to, the power of healing and redemption and peace at our disposal. Jesus returned to His followers several times after His resurrection. He wanted them to know that the story did not end with betrayal and death.

Our stories of betrayal do not have to end there either. There is healing in Him; your pastor or counselor can help you find it. There is redemption in Him; the scriptures promise this to us over and over again. And there is peace in Him; the peace that comes through understanding and forgiveness.

May you find yourself blessed during this Eastertide.

The Easter Doubter

I have always loved the story of Thomas, the disciple. You know, Doubting Thomas. It remains one of my favorite parts of the Easter passages in scripture. I remember hearing the story in Sunday School and in church and at school in Bible class. And it always seemed to me that the story was taught in such a way as to keep me from ever questioning my faith. Much was made of the words Jesus said, "...blessed are they who have not seen and yet have believed." Appropriately so.

However, during my late teens and twenties, I went through a period of doubt. I was a journalism minor, and so learned to question everything I was told, for when you are interviewing someone, you always need to remember he could be lying to further his side of the story. Yes, it can lead to cynicism, but it gave me a valuable tool. You see, I was able to look at both sides of a question and do my best to put aside pre-conceived notions. About anything. Including my faith.

So for a time, I took everything I had been taught in Bible class and looked at it as though I didn't believe any of it. And oddly enough, over time I realized that I really did believe. Yes, there are a lot of things in the Bible that defy earthly explanation; there are texts that seem to contradict one another (just start with Genesis 1 & 2!). But faith is just that - a belief in that which cannot necessarily be proved by human standards, but which you still know to be true, and I realized that my faith was real and strong.

So I have always appreciated that God gave us the story of Thomas, the Doubter. I felt that Thomas got a bad rap, used by pastors and Sunday school teachers to stave off any murmurings of doubt among the faithful instead of thoughtfully addressing those doubts, as Jesus did. You see, Jesus could have rolled out any number of stories from the scriptures about doubters who "came around": Abram, David, Jonah just for starters. Then He could have used those examples to browbeat Thomas into conformity.

But He didn't. He thoughtfully addressed Thomas' doubts. He invited Thomas to touch His wounds. And then He gently invited Thomas to "...be not faithless, but believing."

Of course, in the face of such logic and grace, Thomas believed. Then Jesus does something interesting. He does not dwell on Thomas' doubt. He mentions it, but He instead chooses to focus on the positive - on those who believed without seeing. The only distinction is that those who do this are blessed.

After Jesus left, the disciples went out into the world to tell the story of His ministry, death and resurrection. Can you imagine the story Thomas had to tell? Think for a moment about the setting: a gathering of people, some who might be believers, but also many who were not. They were probably doubters, too. I mean, it is a pretty unlikely story. But then Thomas gets up and tells his tale; of how he doubted and now believes beyond any doubt. Of how he put his hands into Jesus' wounds and perhaps fell to his knees, and said, "My Lord and my God." Can you hear the breathless silence in the room as Thomas describes that moment? How many people were won over by the testimony of this former doubter? Maybe there was a purpose to his doubt.

I now look at my Doubting Thomas period as a blessing in disguise. I can see that there was a purpose to my doubt. No matter what anyone says, I have been on a journey of faith that has strengthened my belief in God. And I know that, while God would have blessed my doubtless faith, He still blesses me for other things. And, thankfully, that He never stopped loving me.

My Room

My wonderful Sister-In-Law sent me this today, and I loved it so much I wanted to share it.

This really resonated with me for two reasons: 1. I am NOT a morning person, and 2. I have had a particularly hard time waking up these past two days due to a combination of Daylight Savings Time and Benedryl. But, I think this will help me out. I hope you enjoy it, too.

Morning Motivation

When I woke up this morning lying in bed, I was asking myself,
"What are some of the secrets of life?"
The answer is right here in my room:

The Fan said.......Be Cool
The Roof said.....Aim High
The Window said.....See the World
The Clock said......Every Minute is Precious
The Mirror said.......Reflect Before You Act
The Calendar said......Be Up to Date
The Door said......Push for your Goals

For now, I'll start with the Fan and the Roof, since I will be able to see them both at the same time!

Have a great morning tomorrow!


(If anyone knows who wrote this, please let me know and I will credit him or her.)

'Sometimes stumbling blocks can be stepping stones.' Rev. Carolyn Barsdale