Transparent

I opened my email and found the weekly prayer list, faithfully scanned into an adobe and sent out through cyberspace by one of the ladies in our Sunday School class. It is just one attempt to keep us connected. Our class has become so large that if we spent the hour sharing prayer requests, we would never get to the bible study. And, then we (or I) would likely forget. It read pretty much like this (names omitted): family, unspoken, unspoken, cancer, illness, marriage, finances, unspoken, cancer, college exams, surgery, family, unspoken, marriage, finances, safe travels, funeral of a friend. Most weeks it is similar. We all share the same struggles. Yet, in my shame I have often written “unspoken” on the list myself. For God knows our hearts, right? And then there is the gossip vine… did you hear what so and so did? Dear Lord, send me friends, real friends to whom I can bare my searching soul, and trust to point me back to you. Give me patience. Heal my body. Heal my marriage. Help our finances. Help us be better stewards of your blessings. Shine your light into the stubborn and hurting souls of those I love. Lead my little son’s tender heart to you. Thank you for the hustle and bustle of this week. Thank you that you love the world so much, that during this season you cause us to shift just a little, and we give each other gifts in celebration of your Son’s birthday.

Kum Ba Yah

Kum Ba Yah

Sunday morning the clipboards go around the room. The steadies are the attendance sheet and the page of prayer requests. The others change week-to week: someone just got home from the hospital and needs hot meals, there is a service project somewhere, and who wants more information about this or that or such and such. This week, it was “social”. Ah, the Sunday School Social. Hmmm.

Monday morning a volunteer scanned the list of prayer requests and emailed it out to everyone. In short order, there was a “reply all” message from our leader. It updated a few details, gave directions, and said, “If you signed up to bring something, BRING IT.”

Yesterday evening, I carpooled with a friend to this poolside party. In spite of directions and the assistance of a GPS, I still almost missed the house. We found a place to park, and were there. A note on the front door invited everyone to “come on in.” We then walked into an enviably tidy and cozy home. I reminded myself that that the owner has grandchildren who are older than my son is (e.g., no toddlers living in the house). We passed through the living room and kitchen, then out the back door. The watchdog just lay still in a corner of the patio and watched us. The neighbor was blaring music. The air smelled of sweat, chlorine, a laden grill, and freshly mown grass. The Tikki Torches burned with citronella. One teenager kept threatening to jump fully clad into the pristine pool.

We refined ladies proceeded to eat more than was decent, from a table replete with all the trappings of a summer cookout. Just when we could not hold another bite, our leader (who has boocoodles of culinary experience) cut the watermelon into the shape of an Easter basket. On this gentle spring evening, we stop long enough so we could listen to and share our current joys and struggles. Every one of us has these things that weigh heavy on our hearts. These are the thoughts that keep our minds spinning like a hamster wheel. We spoke of big and little things: health, births, jobs, graduations, travel, deaths, illnesses, injuries, and even who has the cutest shoes and purses. We had 2 hours of respite from the world. It was rejuvenating to simply sit and chat with women I usually simply see in passing as we run our separate ways.

I didn’t mention earlier that our leader had said in her obligatory reminder email, that we would not stand in a circle and sing Kum Ba Yah – but when it came time to pray and bless the meal, that is exactly what we did. Hear me, hear us, Lord, we need you, Come by here.

Applause

Have you ever felt God smile? We hear a lot of negative. I want to mention something I saw that was very right. My work took me to a place full of hope.

Pine Castle, an Adult Day Program for persons with developmental disabilities, is located in Jacksonville, Florida. My consultant work takes me there and places like it several hours each week. I visited one day in late April, thinking it would be business as usual. I expected to go in, take care of my work, and then move on to the next location. Excitement buzzed as people gathered in the gymnasium. Shortly afterward, a special program was in progress.

The staff of Pine Castle put on a talent show for the clients. There were big wigs, sparkly dresses, synchronized dancing, printed programs, loud music, hand-made stage props, and more. While the lip-sink may have been buzzed off a major cable show, it certainly brought applause from the audience.

I saw hard working adults taking care of other adults. They did more than just encourage a few giggles. They did more than basic supervision. They did more than provide meals, safety, and help with basic personal care. What they did was to give laughter, very loud, bellyaching laughter. I saw the ideal at work: persons with disabilities really being treated like persons, instead of “those poor people.” Caregivers and the cared for enjoyed a couple of hours together as peers.

I am impressed not just by the one assembly on this one day – but by the ongoing commitment to take care of other people. I see it at places such as Pine Castle, New Heights, and the Association Retarded Citizens. There are many group homes, bus-drivers, and other caregivers who are trudging one. They are trying to stick-it-out through recent turmoil in our state that affects the bottom line. Florida is facing serious budget problems. Companies that care for the disabled barely have enough money to pay wages, keep the lights on, and put gas in transportation vehicles. Budget s go down, gas prices go up, and so forth. Increasing regulations ensure more paperwork, but not necessarily that the job is done better. We often hear about these problems in our media.

On this day, for this hour, something was very right.

Season of Lights

It is the Festival of Lights - a time to remember and celebrate God's ability to provide just what we need, when we need it, in spite of what we may think we need.

Last December my husband spent nearly half the month in the hospital. He was on strict bed-rest and a liquid diet, able to walk only as far as the waiting room to hug our then two-year old son. While he was in the hospital, the building containing my small business burned. It was one of those times when I felt I was "walking through" the dark valley. Friends, family, and the silent embrace of the Creator surrounded me.

Fast-forward a year. God certainly did deliver our little family from the trials of that particular season. My husband is much recovered, my business is in a new location, our son barely remembers those weeks of distress when Daddy didn't come home; life has moved on. I am glad to remember where I was then, and be glad for where I am now, so that next time when (that is when not if) I have to "walk through" I will remember to keep on going. God's light ultimately triumphs over the darkness.

Sometimes God gives us just enough so that we complete the work He has given us. When the festival is over, and "real life" has resumed, let the memories of your celebration, and the hope of God's triumphant purity, carry you through.

God Rest Fishy

Dearly Beloved, we are gathered today in the presence of friends, family, God, and our commode to honor the passing of Fishy. Fishy brought joy and life to our home. He kept a constant vigil over our child’s room – never wavering in his post. Fishy was such a favorite, and we regret and are pained that he died such a needless and violent death at the hands of a thoughtless 3 year old; he leaves behind a traumatized partner, Fishette, who barely survived the tragedy herself. Fishy and Fishette were peaceful companions, floating and darting in their gallon tank in obvious contentment. Though there are many others like him, and the world may count his cost to be a small one, his memory shall ever be priceless in all of our hearts. God rest Fishy! (woosh)

I've done it – I have completed a goal I first set my sights on more than five years ago. Since then I've done a lot of living. The kind of real living one does when one is um, “thirty something.” I have had real adult problems and faced them as an adult and survived to be the stronger for it. I won't bore you with my goal or with my problems. I will tell you that I followed through and did it, and on the back end of the trial, climbing out of the valley, it feels very good. So, many thanks to God and to the friends and family placed in my life. And, a pat on the back for myself. More than five years of hard is work now showing tangible results.

I have a little sign at the entrance to my office. It says, “Trust the process.” One foot in front of the other. Time will pass whether or not you use it. Where do you want to be five years from now?

A few more things for your hurricane kit.

Tips From a Tutor

www.ABCLearningResourceCenter.com

We need for children to be able to stay calm both for their own benefit and for ours, so that we adults can go about the business of taking care of problems. In addition to the necessary food, medical, hygiene and other items recommended by your local authorities, you may want for your emergency kits have a variety of things for your children. These items will help keep your children occupied and help give them a sense of normalcy in a stressful situation.

These may include:

• Favorite toys
• A flashlight for each child
• Extra batteries
• Books
• Card-games
• Travel-size games
• Work-books and flashcards for basic school skills
• "Incentives" for behavior, such as stickers and small hard candies.
• Blank composition books for kids to record their experiences.
• Favorite comfort foods (canned mac n' cheese anyone?)
• Child-friendly information about weather and other emergencies. Resources are often available at local grocers, news stations, fire stations.
• Ways to keep in touch with friends and family that kids may worry about.
• "Lovies" (teddy bears or security blankets), duplicates if possible.

Korrin H. Johnson,

ABC Learning Resource Center, Fernandina Beach, Florida