Dear Winter,
I know many of my friends don't understand how I feel about you. I think most of them don't even like you, because some of them have said fairly mean things about you. (And I think more of them are whispering about us behind my back.) But I don't hold that against them. They have a special relationship with Summer, which I also don't understand. How could they prefer sweaty, sweltering heat and ticks and mosquitoes and dusty wind blowing hot and burning their eyes? But I digress. This is my love letter to you.
As I went for my walk this morning, I was glad there was a bit of your chill left in the air. I picked a handful of daffodils, leaping up from bulbs which my mother had planted many years ago, and I was reminded that springtime is when she died, while working in her yard, no less. I don't hold that against Spring, because it does have some nice qualities, but the thought of my mom's passing did make me sad. (And secretly, I do think Spring had something to do with it.)
I notice that I didn't get the leaves raked in the yard at Mom and Dad's house after Autumn dumped them there last year. Autumn, I know there are those who adore you, and your weather can be delightful, especially when you remind that Winter is on the way, but you're so messy. I wish you could pick up after yourself instead of making me feel obligated to do it. My Dad's words echoing in my ears, "You have to keep the leaves raked from around your house, because if there's ever a fire, your house will burn down." Autumn, this leaf situation is your fault.
But I am not trying to assess blame here. I am merely telling you, Winter, how much you mean to me. I may be blinded by your beauty, but you make me feel so comfortable and creative and peaceful. I also realize not everyone thinks you're beautiful, but beauty is in the eye of the beholder.
So, I will close for now, with the acknowledgment that every season is different, and we all have our own reasons for picking a favorite. We're all different, and that's okay, or it should be, anyway. I will be content with Spring, Summer and Fall, but please know, Winter, I am waiting eagerly for you to return. I miss you already.
Love,
Terry
Sunday, March 20, 2011
Sunday, March 13, 2011
Balance
The last few days have been filled with extremes. Certainly in my own life, but in the world as well, as we all know. On Wednesday, I found myself advising a new acquaintance of mine regarding the importance of trying to find balance in life, and I woke up this morning hoping I have found it in my own.
Some of you know I'm the Executive Director at the Avenue Theatre in my hometown of West Plains, Missouri. In the past ten days there were seven different things going on at our little community theater -- seven! That's a record number. With those events, I interacted with hundreds of people, and a full range of emotions came into play at the way various situations were handled (by myself and others), including (on the perhaps not-so-pleasant end of the scale) frustration, confusion, anger, sadness, disappointment. When creative personalities are involved in projects....well, look out; the drama is not always contained on the stage.
The thing about those kinds of emotions, which on the surface seem only to be destructive, is they tend to stick in our memories because they are mentally draining and often consume large chunks of time as we try to "fix" the problems they create. But in spite of chaos, and often because of it, creativity arises. It rises up, and I believe it triumphs.
I've been witness to an incredible amount of creative energy and original thought in the last few days. And yesterday, it registered with me how many young people I came into contact with who have such astounding vision and strength. With a few exceptions, they are from West Plains, most of them still living here, a few living elsewhere but with strong ties to home.
There's the group of elementary school kids who had been working on a play for months, and they performed it for the community last week. They had basically been bribed into it by a teacher and were not originally enthused about performing it, but they had so much fun, that now they want to come back to the Theatre and present it to their classmates.
Then there's our amazing group of Fine Arts Academy students, ranging in age from seven to seventeen from a wide variety of backgrounds, but with big hopes and dreams. There were the dancers and singers in the shows and concerts, brimming with talent and enthusiasm, culminating last night with the young men from "Ha Ha Tonka" who are kicking off a nationwide tour to promote their new album. Of the four band members, three were born and raised in West Plains.
A short film was shot at the Theatre this week, and I was overwhelmed at the level of professionalism and dedication to detail displayed by the young people involved, proudly we can claim most of them as from our small town here in the Ozarks. The creative process, as it unfolded, was inspirational. I was also in contact with young visual artists, dreaming of making a difference, of turning the world upside down.
It seems as though it should have been an exhausting week, and in many ways it has been. But this morning, I am energized. I am filled with joy and hope for the future. I don't claim to know when and how the world will end or even what that might mean, exactly. (Many of the Jews in the time of Jesus missed his message because they interpreted prophecies incorrectly, and I think there may be some of that going on now....just my theory. The return of Jesus might mean something different, might look different, than what Christians have been taught in church over the years.)
What I do know is this: All of us have a limited amount of days on this earth, and to let our minds dwell only on what seems wrong, to focus on the sadness and despair without balancing those feelings with confidence that God can cause beauty to rise out of ashes, is a waste of precious time.
Let's say a prayer for those who are hurting around the world, and celebrate love. Tell a child today how important he or she is and let them know you are hopeful for the future because of him or her. Let us find ways to give consideration for possible changes down the road, while at the same time being careful not to stifle the enthusiasm and innocence of youth by bringing worries about tomorrow into today. Balance, my friends. We're miserable without it.
Some of you know I'm the Executive Director at the Avenue Theatre in my hometown of West Plains, Missouri. In the past ten days there were seven different things going on at our little community theater -- seven! That's a record number. With those events, I interacted with hundreds of people, and a full range of emotions came into play at the way various situations were handled (by myself and others), including (on the perhaps not-so-pleasant end of the scale) frustration, confusion, anger, sadness, disappointment. When creative personalities are involved in projects....well, look out; the drama is not always contained on the stage.
The thing about those kinds of emotions, which on the surface seem only to be destructive, is they tend to stick in our memories because they are mentally draining and often consume large chunks of time as we try to "fix" the problems they create. But in spite of chaos, and often because of it, creativity arises. It rises up, and I believe it triumphs.
I've been witness to an incredible amount of creative energy and original thought in the last few days. And yesterday, it registered with me how many young people I came into contact with who have such astounding vision and strength. With a few exceptions, they are from West Plains, most of them still living here, a few living elsewhere but with strong ties to home.
There's the group of elementary school kids who had been working on a play for months, and they performed it for the community last week. They had basically been bribed into it by a teacher and were not originally enthused about performing it, but they had so much fun, that now they want to come back to the Theatre and present it to their classmates.
Then there's our amazing group of Fine Arts Academy students, ranging in age from seven to seventeen from a wide variety of backgrounds, but with big hopes and dreams. There were the dancers and singers in the shows and concerts, brimming with talent and enthusiasm, culminating last night with the young men from "Ha Ha Tonka" who are kicking off a nationwide tour to promote their new album. Of the four band members, three were born and raised in West Plains.
A short film was shot at the Theatre this week, and I was overwhelmed at the level of professionalism and dedication to detail displayed by the young people involved, proudly we can claim most of them as from our small town here in the Ozarks. The creative process, as it unfolded, was inspirational. I was also in contact with young visual artists, dreaming of making a difference, of turning the world upside down.
It seems as though it should have been an exhausting week, and in many ways it has been. But this morning, I am energized. I am filled with joy and hope for the future. I don't claim to know when and how the world will end or even what that might mean, exactly. (Many of the Jews in the time of Jesus missed his message because they interpreted prophecies incorrectly, and I think there may be some of that going on now....just my theory. The return of Jesus might mean something different, might look different, than what Christians have been taught in church over the years.)
What I do know is this: All of us have a limited amount of days on this earth, and to let our minds dwell only on what seems wrong, to focus on the sadness and despair without balancing those feelings with confidence that God can cause beauty to rise out of ashes, is a waste of precious time.
Let's say a prayer for those who are hurting around the world, and celebrate love. Tell a child today how important he or she is and let them know you are hopeful for the future because of him or her. Let us find ways to give consideration for possible changes down the road, while at the same time being careful not to stifle the enthusiasm and innocence of youth by bringing worries about tomorrow into today. Balance, my friends. We're miserable without it.
Sunday, March 6, 2011
Grace
I read a beautiful piece this week, written by Shauna Neiquist for EmergentVillage.com. She wrote, "If arithmetic is numbers, and if algebra is numbers and letters, then grace is numbers, letters, sounds, and tears, feelings and dreams. Grace is smashing the calculator, and using all the broken buttons and pieces to make a mosaic. Grace isn't about having a second chance; grace is having so many chances that you could use them through all eternity and never come up empty. It's when you finally realize that the other shoe isn't going to drop, ever. It's the moment you feel as precious and handmade as every star, when you feel, finally at home for the very first time." (You can find the link for her full comments on my Facebook wall.)
Those of us who recognize the grace which God has extended to us know he is the God of infinite chances; he never writes off anyone as being beyond redemption and hope. When we rest in the knowledge of God's unconditional love toward us and his boundless grace, we have courage, strength and peace, and it should also prompt us to pass along compassion and grace to every one we meet.
People everywhere, all around us, are hurting. Some pain is emotional, some is physical, and much of it is spiritual. Many feel as though they have no purpose, no hope, no reason to go on, and those who feel that way are often not pleasant to be around. They can be crude, argumentative and difficult to love, and sadly, some of them will never change. But believers are called to extend grace toward all, whether we feel like it or not. Often, we are the only light in someone's dark world. We don't have to be everyone's best friend, but at the very least we should not return an insult with another insult. Surely, we should be able to manage a smile, maybe even a kind word.
Grace is what everyone longs for, even when they don't know it's what they need. And since grace has been extended to us, no matter how badly we have behaved, we need to look beyond the bad behavior of others and see their pain. Those of us who realize how precious we are in God's eyes, must do what we can to make others feel precious and valuable, too. Honestly, most days I'm not that good at it, but I want to learn to lay aside criticism and live a grace-filled life.
Those of us who recognize the grace which God has extended to us know he is the God of infinite chances; he never writes off anyone as being beyond redemption and hope. When we rest in the knowledge of God's unconditional love toward us and his boundless grace, we have courage, strength and peace, and it should also prompt us to pass along compassion and grace to every one we meet.
People everywhere, all around us, are hurting. Some pain is emotional, some is physical, and much of it is spiritual. Many feel as though they have no purpose, no hope, no reason to go on, and those who feel that way are often not pleasant to be around. They can be crude, argumentative and difficult to love, and sadly, some of them will never change. But believers are called to extend grace toward all, whether we feel like it or not. Often, we are the only light in someone's dark world. We don't have to be everyone's best friend, but at the very least we should not return an insult with another insult. Surely, we should be able to manage a smile, maybe even a kind word.
Grace is what everyone longs for, even when they don't know it's what they need. And since grace has been extended to us, no matter how badly we have behaved, we need to look beyond the bad behavior of others and see their pain. Those of us who realize how precious we are in God's eyes, must do what we can to make others feel precious and valuable, too. Honestly, most days I'm not that good at it, but I want to learn to lay aside criticism and live a grace-filled life.
Sunday, February 27, 2011
A Lament
Scripture records Jesus saying, "Jerusalem, Jerusalem, who kills the prophets and stones those who are sent to her! How often I wanted to gather your children together, the way a hen gathers her chicks under her wings, and you were unwilling." (Matthew 23:37) What a heart-breaking verse this is.
It follows on the heels of 36 verses which expose the dangers of Pharisaism, and the "eight woes" which Jesus ascribes to the hypocritical behavior of this sect of men who profess to be the religious elite, but do things such as "tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but . . .are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger." (v. 4) They "devour widows' houses, and for a pretense . . . make long prayers." (v. 14) They neglect "the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness." (v. 23)
Today, the spirit of the Pharisees is alive and well within our governing bodies. For those who would protest that politicians cannot be compared to the religious leaders Jesus confronted, I would like to agree with you, but the problem is a great number of them have presented themselves as heroes of Christianity and have gone so far as to call into question the loyalty and patriotism of those who do not wear their religion on their sleeves.
Throughout the land, we see politicians who are prime examples of "don't do as I do, do as I say," who are not willing to make sacrifices while at the same time they expect the most vulnerable among us to sacrifice all. Anyone is certainly free to agree with the way current budget shortfalls are being handled, but I will warn of this: If we allow our "rulers" to go forward with their plans, the Body of Christ had better be prepared to handle a wave of homelessness, hunger, poverty and despair the likes of which have not been seen since the Great Depression.
We had better thoroughly think through what our country will be like if we allow our elected officials to continue on the path they've proposed. I know what Jesus meant when he longed to gather the children to him and let them be comforted by his love, but the Pharisees were unwilling.The days ahead can be our greatest opportunity ever to demonstrate what the Good News means; I pray we are ready.
It follows on the heels of 36 verses which expose the dangers of Pharisaism, and the "eight woes" which Jesus ascribes to the hypocritical behavior of this sect of men who profess to be the religious elite, but do things such as "tie up heavy burdens and lay them on men's shoulders, but . . .are unwilling to move them with so much as a finger." (v. 4) They "devour widows' houses, and for a pretense . . . make long prayers." (v. 14) They neglect "the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness." (v. 23)
Today, the spirit of the Pharisees is alive and well within our governing bodies. For those who would protest that politicians cannot be compared to the religious leaders Jesus confronted, I would like to agree with you, but the problem is a great number of them have presented themselves as heroes of Christianity and have gone so far as to call into question the loyalty and patriotism of those who do not wear their religion on their sleeves.
Throughout the land, we see politicians who are prime examples of "don't do as I do, do as I say," who are not willing to make sacrifices while at the same time they expect the most vulnerable among us to sacrifice all. Anyone is certainly free to agree with the way current budget shortfalls are being handled, but I will warn of this: If we allow our "rulers" to go forward with their plans, the Body of Christ had better be prepared to handle a wave of homelessness, hunger, poverty and despair the likes of which have not been seen since the Great Depression.
We had better thoroughly think through what our country will be like if we allow our elected officials to continue on the path they've proposed. I know what Jesus meant when he longed to gather the children to him and let them be comforted by his love, but the Pharisees were unwilling.The days ahead can be our greatest opportunity ever to demonstrate what the Good News means; I pray we are ready.
Sunday, February 20, 2011
Contentment, Not Apathy
Last week, after my comments on the importance of contentment, a friend of mine pointed out that dissatisfied people are the ones who change the world, and I absolutely agree. However, I think it's entirely possible to be content on a personal level while being an agitator for positive change. Many of those we call heroes in scripture would certainly fit that description, Jesus included.
Contentment regarding what we cannot change is not the same as being satisfied with leaving well enough alone when it comes to matters of injustice and evil. Personal peace stems from the ability to process what is beyond our control and still continue to lead a productive, balanced life, to be well and whole, not stressed, to find comfort and meaning in the midst of life's difficulties. While I believe this is the very heart of what it means to be a Christian, I also think inner contentment should be the impetus for a life of service.
Jesus gave two great commandments: to love God with every fiber of our being and to love others as we love ourselves. I don't know if it is possible to fully love others as we love ourselves without first being content. If we live in a constant state of agitation, never satisfied with what we have, always wishing our personal circumstances could be better, wanting more possessions and greater wealth, that is not love, it is loathing. An existence at that superficial level leads only to selfishness, not to a selfless life of love.
Once we find contentment, we realize peace which passes understanding is a goal worth attaining. Then, we are in a position to help others find that same peace, and therein lies the difference between contentment and apathy in a believer's life. We first must find joy ourselves, then we are to care so deeply about others, we want them to experience the same blessings we have.
While great injustices have been imposed through misguided religious reasoning over the centuries, many social wrongs have also been righted through movements initiated by the Church or at least propelled by believers. We should not be satisfied with a status quo which favors greed and offhandedly dismisses the downtrodden; our own contentment is not an excuse to sit idly by while others are suffering.
Contentment regarding what we cannot change is not the same as being satisfied with leaving well enough alone when it comes to matters of injustice and evil. Personal peace stems from the ability to process what is beyond our control and still continue to lead a productive, balanced life, to be well and whole, not stressed, to find comfort and meaning in the midst of life's difficulties. While I believe this is the very heart of what it means to be a Christian, I also think inner contentment should be the impetus for a life of service.
Jesus gave two great commandments: to love God with every fiber of our being and to love others as we love ourselves. I don't know if it is possible to fully love others as we love ourselves without first being content. If we live in a constant state of agitation, never satisfied with what we have, always wishing our personal circumstances could be better, wanting more possessions and greater wealth, that is not love, it is loathing. An existence at that superficial level leads only to selfishness, not to a selfless life of love.
Once we find contentment, we realize peace which passes understanding is a goal worth attaining. Then, we are in a position to help others find that same peace, and therein lies the difference between contentment and apathy in a believer's life. We first must find joy ourselves, then we are to care so deeply about others, we want them to experience the same blessings we have.
While great injustices have been imposed through misguided religious reasoning over the centuries, many social wrongs have also been righted through movements initiated by the Church or at least propelled by believers. We should not be satisfied with a status quo which favors greed and offhandedly dismisses the downtrodden; our own contentment is not an excuse to sit idly by while others are suffering.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Contentment
It would appear we're finally getting a break from winter weather, even though the first day of spring is still over a month away, and we all know it's possible there might be a few last blasts of cold before warm weather sets in. Some may know, because I have mentioned it before, I enjoy winter. More accurately, I enjoy every season, including winter, but cold, dreariness is just about my favorite condition of the atmosphere, even though it hasn't always been that way.
One winter, when I was very young, perhaps two or three, I became quite sick. By the time the doctor was called, and he arrived at our house (yes, a house call, I am that old), pneumonia had set in. My father used to say, "You almost didn't make it." Every winter after that, until I was probably at least in sixth or seventh grade, I would be sick and have a horrible cough which lasted nearly the whole season. Whether or not that condition was actually related to the bout with pneumonia, my mother always claimed it was. I didn't look forward to winter because I hated that cough; there didn't seem to be anything to be done, and I usually missed school several times a year because of illness. So, I realized recently I haven't always enjoyed winter, but at some point, that changed. Maybe at some subconscious level, I'm just glad to be alive.
I am sorry for those who must work out in the cold, and I know some people need sunshine or they become depressed, but for most of us, to like winter or not is a choice. I invite you to consider the end result of always wishing for spring to arrive. Those who struggle with winter and live to be 80, for example, will have spent 20 years looking ahead, longing for something different and not enjoying the moment.
Some of my friends may be tired of my "Pollyanna attitude" regarding cold weather, but I will continue to confess my love of winter (while trying not to be too annoying). I'm not trying to scold anyone; I realize excessive snow and ice cause difficulities, and now, with the thaw, we have deep mud around our place, but I believe it is our duty, our calling as believers, to find contentment regardless of our circumstances. Though I am still learning, my desire is to be content in every area of life, because contentment is a basic tenet of all religions, and those who live a contented life, provide a powerful witness to the rest of the world.
One winter, when I was very young, perhaps two or three, I became quite sick. By the time the doctor was called, and he arrived at our house (yes, a house call, I am that old), pneumonia had set in. My father used to say, "You almost didn't make it." Every winter after that, until I was probably at least in sixth or seventh grade, I would be sick and have a horrible cough which lasted nearly the whole season. Whether or not that condition was actually related to the bout with pneumonia, my mother always claimed it was. I didn't look forward to winter because I hated that cough; there didn't seem to be anything to be done, and I usually missed school several times a year because of illness. So, I realized recently I haven't always enjoyed winter, but at some point, that changed. Maybe at some subconscious level, I'm just glad to be alive.
I am sorry for those who must work out in the cold, and I know some people need sunshine or they become depressed, but for most of us, to like winter or not is a choice. I invite you to consider the end result of always wishing for spring to arrive. Those who struggle with winter and live to be 80, for example, will have spent 20 years looking ahead, longing for something different and not enjoying the moment.
Some of my friends may be tired of my "Pollyanna attitude" regarding cold weather, but I will continue to confess my love of winter (while trying not to be too annoying). I'm not trying to scold anyone; I realize excessive snow and ice cause difficulities, and now, with the thaw, we have deep mud around our place, but I believe it is our duty, our calling as believers, to find contentment regardless of our circumstances. Though I am still learning, my desire is to be content in every area of life, because contentment is a basic tenet of all religions, and those who live a contented life, provide a powerful witness to the rest of the world.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
What God Treasures
A couple of weeks ago I read something which has had me pondering joy, what it means to God and what it means to me. From "My Utmost for His Highest" by Oswald Chambers:
"Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don't seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet. . . .How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?"
There is much to be gleaned from those thoughts, but what stood out for me was, if we have forgotten what God treasures, we will not be filled with joy. We know God hates "Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers." (Proverbs 6:17-19) We can discover by reading the Word that God also does not appreciate greed, envy, gossip, worry and complaining, among other things. Where these things abound, joy will be in short supply.
So, what does God treasure? Us. He has declared us to be "His people, a treasured possession . . ." (see Deuteronomy 26:18) That the God of the universe, who is filled with light and love, cherishes and adores us should be the best news we could ever hear. It should fill us with such joy we don't have room in our lives or enough spare time to fret and find fault with others. Because another lesson to be learned here is we should treasure what God treasures; we should treasure one another. Rather than think the worst of other people, instead of creating strife, we can rise to a higher place, a place where love, kindness and joy are in abundance in spite of our differences.
You've probably heard the joke that everyone brings joy to others: some us of when we enter a room and some of us when we leave it. Let's remember what God treasures, and bring the joy in with us.
"Am I as spontaneously kind to God as I used to be, or am I only expecting God to be kind to me? Does everything in my life fill His heart with gladness, or do I constantly complain because things don't seem to be going my way? A person who has forgotten what God treasures will not be filled with joy. It is wonderful to remember that Jesus Christ has needs which we can meet. . . .How much kindness have I shown Him in the past week? Has my life been a good reflection on His reputation?"
There is much to be gleaned from those thoughts, but what stood out for me was, if we have forgotten what God treasures, we will not be filled with joy. We know God hates "Haughty eyes, a lying tongue, and hands that shed innocent blood, a heart that devises wicked plans, feet that run rapidly to evil, a false witness who utters lies, and one who spreads strife among brothers." (Proverbs 6:17-19) We can discover by reading the Word that God also does not appreciate greed, envy, gossip, worry and complaining, among other things. Where these things abound, joy will be in short supply.
So, what does God treasure? Us. He has declared us to be "His people, a treasured possession . . ." (see Deuteronomy 26:18) That the God of the universe, who is filled with light and love, cherishes and adores us should be the best news we could ever hear. It should fill us with such joy we don't have room in our lives or enough spare time to fret and find fault with others. Because another lesson to be learned here is we should treasure what God treasures; we should treasure one another. Rather than think the worst of other people, instead of creating strife, we can rise to a higher place, a place where love, kindness and joy are in abundance in spite of our differences.
You've probably heard the joke that everyone brings joy to others: some us of when we enter a room and some of us when we leave it. Let's remember what God treasures, and bring the joy in with us.
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