Friday, February 28, 2003

Adrenaline Junkies?
Ricky the Daredevil was how the most recent church newsletter referred to my 13 year old son regarding last week's ski trip. My initial maternal instinct was a deep sinking feeling in my gut, which only got worse when I observed the extreme pleasure Ricky took in this acknowledgement of his extreme activities. Then a little smile crossed my face. A smile of remembered thrills. His mother did own a motorcycle once, and his father jumped out of airplanes. Even his grandmother rapelled when she was in her seventies. I can only pray for good sense to temper his thrills.

Indiana Pacers
Ron won free tickets to see Indiana Pacers! This was part of the Heart Association fundraiser at school. He still claims the Lakers as his favorite team, but informed us that the Pacers just moved up his list. We have never been to a professional basketball game, so this should be fun.

Talent
Rick auditioned for the school talent show and will be singing acapello "Down in the River to Pray" from "O Brother Where Art Thou" next Friday.

Wednesday, February 19, 2003

Colliding Cultures
Use it up,
Wear it out,
Make it do,
Or do without.


My Bible Study group was surprised that I knew this old maxim. I first heard it from Steve Etheridge, a local story-teller, but I remember it because it is on one of my coffee mugs.

My father was a young adult during the depression and my mother was a teenager. I was raised in a frugal home. It tickles me when environmentalists "discover" things that my family did during the 50s and 60s, such as composting, fresh food from the garden, and recycling.

This culture collided with the current consumer culture. As a corporate grunt, time was more precious than anything. What could be quicker than convenience foods with their redundant packaging and throw-away pans?

That's why my house is cluttered. I'm a frugal person living in a disposable society. How's that for justification?

In the 1970s when I started working in the corporate world, our scratch paper was cut from outdated manuals. When I left, we were using sticky notes. Recently I asked a friend for note paper and she handed me a small pad of stapled paper, recycled from the excess paper from their computer. Why not? So I put a basket next to the printer to catch those draft copies, homework notes and other stuff that gets printed on one side and then tossed. Use it up.

Why is shabby chic only chic if you buy it new? Why does my shabby just look shabby? I'm trying to see the chic in it. Do you know how much it costs for aged terra cotta pots? One day last summer, I walked by my potting bench and my eyes were opened to the treasure I had in all the old pots crammed to the back of the bottom shelf. These aged pots were wonderful in my garden. Make it do.

Saturday, February 15, 2003

Crunchy
Do you need to put a label on me? How about a granola conservative?
http://www.nationalreview.com/dreher/dreher071202.asp
My right and left friends share something in common - they care passionately. Those who are lukewarm, neither hot nor cold, I spit out of my mouth. (paraphrase of a letter to one of the churches in Revelations.)

I am only slightly crunchy though: making our own bread, composting, avoiding lawn and garden chemicals, planting thousands of trees. I have yet to keep bees, raise free range chickens, and get off the grid; but I have seriously considered doing so.

Friday, February 14, 2003

ISSMA
Where were you when Columbia disintegrated? I was sitting at Wayne High School listening to Ron sing "Candle on the Water" at ISSMA. Rick had just finished "Do Re Mi." They did very well with their solos and I am proud of them. They have no fear of performing. We went out to breakfast to celebrate, a celebration marred totally by the Columbia accident.

American Heart Association
Ron may have a future as a fundraiser. He raised the most money in his class for the AHA during a school program called Hoops for Hearts. He had a month to collect but he waited until the day before it was due to hit up everyone he knew at church. Thank you so much, dear people at HUMC, for pitching in. I wish you could have seen his face when he brought his prize home.

Happy Birthday, Mom
Mom celebrated her 80th year this week. I honor her and bless her for who she is. First she was Mommy, then Moooother during my teen years and emerged as Mom, my best friend in my twenties. Recently I revert to Mommy when I hug her since that is the most intimate expression of my love for her.

What can I do?
Rick asked me Tuesday night, "What can I do to stop the war and terrorism? What can a 13 year old boy do?" Breathing a quick prayer, I looked him in the eyes, so he knew I was taking this as seriously as he was, and told him I would have to think about it. I'm so glad that he is not five years older for he may have his answer then. My sister and a friend sent me this within the next few days. I had my answer for Rick:

We can do something about the threat of war; both in Iraq and with terrorists. In the Old Testament, God's armies were always led by the priests. When the waters parted in the Jordan, it was the priests' feet which first hit the turbulent river.! In the New Testament, Christians are also referred to as priests...all Christians.

We must, therefore, go in first.

As the possibility of war approaches with Hussein and Iraq, we are asking the priests to step in first.....ahead of our military. Let us be setting up camp for our soldiers' entrance into the conflict. How? By prayer.

Let us be sending in "prayer missiles," "cruise and scud prayers" to target enemy plans. "Patriot prayers" to shoot down incoming threats.

We should be praying for two things: (1) that the enemy leaders become confused, disoriented, and distrustful of each other; that their entire system of attack fall apart, and (2) that in God's wildest ways, these enemies would become aware of His deep love for them and the war Jesus has already fought for them, personally, on the cross.

God had Gideon reduce his army from 32,000 to 300 men!. He then equipped them with nothing but trumpets, pitchers, and torches. What an odd combination to fight off well-armed soldiers. When Gideon gave the command, the Bible says the enemy fled crying and turned on each other...all because God messed with enemy
plans.

Prayers were started for this about a month ago. On CNN last weekend a report came out that although Hussein has nothing to lose, his generals do.

Is confusion beginning to develop? Please pray for God to set the stage for defeat of all those who intend to do harm. When our men and women of uniform arrive on the scene, may they be surprised at how God had camp set up before they ever got there.


My valentine
We have been blessed with a significant deepening of our marital relationship. Perhaps it is because we faced trials together the last few years and are emerging stronger. I am overwhelmed with the love of my husband. This is from James Joyce:

...and then I asked him with my eyes to ask again yes
and then he asked me would I yes...
and first I put my arms around him yes
and drew him down to me so he could feel my breasts all perfume yes
and his heart was going like mad
and yes I said yes I will Yes.