The Circle of Life

In recent years, each visit to my parents is a lesson in the realities of aging. This time we are witnessing not only increased physical impairment, but the continuing struggle to make appropriate decisions about living arrangements. Independence is such a valued cultural and family trait that it becomes a hindrance to asking for assistance from family and friends. What I once studied in textbooks is revealing itself through their lives. The joys and pains of this time are real to all that surround them. My prayers are many including that I be more sensitive to all older adults and their families.

A Good Thought: Mother had commented how kind people are to them in public places. Yesterday, when we took them to a restaurant we saw this. Two frail people and two canes seem to bring out the best in people. My parents become everyone’s aging parents.

Travel Notes

After a quick visit with Ron’s brother and family in Indianapolis, we are now in Jeffersonville, Ohio. These road trips give me much time to think about our family and to know that it will be a good adventure. As we re-connect we are fortunate to be able to find joy in remembering days past and to forget or forgive the unhappy times. We are blessed.

Although it is always enjoyable to travel through the mountains, it is that flat, open land canopied by blue sky from horizon to horizon that feeds my soul. The sunset was gorgeous last evening as was the moon that soon followed. How awesome is God’s creation!

The vacation prayers mentioned in my last blog have guided my days. I don’t know the author, but certainly the Holy Spirit directed the writing of them. I think these will stay in my suitcase for future vacation time, also.

Other notes: There are more trucks on US 70 than cars and certainly evidence of how many things that are transported long distances. Know wonder we are known as a gas guzzling nation. Also, Starbucks can now be found near the interstates and pumpkin spice lattes are back on the menu. My travel budget will need to be adjusted.

Spiritual Type Test

As usual, God gives me a sign to slow down when I need it the most. I am in that overdrive mode today as I prepare to be out of town for a week. I have left voice messages, written letters, sent e-mails and made phone calls with various instructions for others. My co-workers will be taking my name in vain on Monday morning. Then, I looked at Perspectives and had to stop to take my spiritual type test. That led me to explorefaith.org, which I found to be most interesting. This is my invitation to you to slow down and explore. Check out the book recommendations and prayers for vacation.

A Pet Peeve

As I retrieved a number of voice messages yesterday, I once again became frustrated by the incoherent, garbled and rapidly recited phone numbers left by the callers. This often required multiple replays to get the correct number. My friends indicate that I am not the only one irritated by this bad habit. Let’s campaign for the etiquette of voice mail to be taught and practiced more intentionally. Please, if you call me, speak slowly as you leave your phone number. In fact, repeat it. Remember I have just had a birthday and my responses are not as quick as they once were.

The Future

This morning I noted this quote by Peter Drucker on Larry Hollen's blog - "The best way to predict the future is to create it." This has percolated in my mind all day as I have read or heard the current news.

As previously noted, Larry Hollen's Perspectives is one of my favorite blogs. Today he continues the discussion of uninsured children. I can’t believe what a deplorable situation we have created. What is the future for our children when they have not had adequate health care?

The New York Times reports today that the proponents of mountain top removal as a method of coal mining have scored another victory so that this practice will continue. In light of the recent mine accidents, I am sure this method seems more attractive as no one goes underground. Our quest for coal generated power goes forth. Are there not other sources of power? Perhaps we could reduce our power needs? What is the future for the land after it has been so devastated?

A commentary by Anna Quindlen in a recent Newsweek presents the realities of a country that is being shaped by immigrants. Those among us that want to send immigrants home need to face the fact that we depend upon them to bolster our economy. She also noted that “immigration is never about today, always about tomorrow.” The work ethic to achieve and succeed for future generations is perpetuated by those who most recently have arrived at our shores.

Lots to think about as we try to live responsible lives.

Another Year

Today is my birthday. I can remember thinking that my grandmother was an old lady when she was my age. I wonder how my grandchildren view me. The good news is that they called me to sing Happy Birthday and certainly were far more excited about this day than I was. However, I have come to realize that it is good to celebrate what has been and wish for the very best in the future. It is a time of thanksgiving and also an opportunity to make some resolutions for the days ahead. Although these thoughts are not original, I need to claim them.

-Nurture relationships with family and friends.
-Practice healthy living.
-Help meet the needs of those I meet along the way.
-Read some good books.
-Glorify God in all that I do.

Teaching and Learning

My days are filled with preparing for a new year of teaching and learning at First Church. To help learners claim the life of Jesus as their own is an awesome responsibility and challenges me to do the very best that I can. What makes a good teacher?

Jesus told of his experiences of God and humankind in stories. Obviously, he had a creative imagination that was fed by the people, places and events around him. His approach was fresh, surprising, new, and unexpected. He must have been a good listener, too. He had a great respect for his audience as his use of parables helped make things clear without being overbearing. He left the conclusions to the ones who heard. He rarely moralized after having told his stories. No wonder that his teaching made a great impression on them, because he taught and preached unlike the scribes (Mark 1:22)

I believe that as Christians, we are all called to teach and that our teaching depends on continued learning. Not all of us are meant to be Sunday school teachers, but we are all called to help one another grow in the faith by sharing our stories that have related us to God.

"May my teaching drop like the rain, my speech condense like the dew; like gentle rain on grass, like showers on new growth. For I will proclaim the name of the Lord; ascribe greatness to our God!" Deuteronomy 32:2,3.

A Joy Ride!

Each time I see this new roller coaster, I have a feeling that it symbolizes my life. One of the joys of my ministry is that I have a wide variety of tasks. However, they often seem to come at one time and I am left with my head spinning. Such is this season of preparation for the coming year of teaching and learning.

For the 7th Generation

In a recent Christians in Education article, I read the following:

"When traditonal Iroquois held their council meetigs, they invoked this declaration: 'In our every deliberation we must consider the impact of our decisons in the next seven generations.' When a vote was taken, an equal vote was cast by one of the communitiy's members who would represent those who would be alive 150 years from now. There was a clear understanding that the decsions we make in the present have an impact for years to come." (Summer 2007 - page 15)

I think of this practice as Ron talks about enviromental issues, as politicians declare their intentions and as church leaders make decisions to meet the demands of the moment. Consideration of the future too often seems minimal. We need to hear the voices of our children and their children when we rape the earth of its resources, perpetuate a debt burdened society and fail to shape a ministry that offers future generations the opportunity to worship and know God. Once again, the past can offer us invaluable wisdom as we look toward the future. Let's heed it!

Grassroots Ministry

Although I value the process that leads to many of our very effective mission efforts, I rejoice at those times when the Holy Spirit seems to capture our imagination and hearts and we respond spontaneously to the needs of others. Such is the case of Nothing But Nets. I just read that in less than one year over $13 million dollars has been raised for the malarial regions of Africa. During the past year, Ed Jackson has led the charge to give Street Reach a better facility for ministry with the homeless in Myrtle Beach. Through her graduate studies, Jeanne Voltz Loomis learned much about the life of homeless children and has shared some of this information with us in a variety of ways. Last week in a report to our Council on Ministries, she spoke of the need for these children to have book bags and school supplies just like other students. As a result, Sunday school classes and individuals are making this happen. No one really asked them to do this. They heard of a real need and acted. These filled book bags will be given to our schools so that children that are homeless will have something to call their own. It is great to know that we are a compassionate people with a vision of the kingdom.

The Study of Ministry

After two years of study to clarify the ordering of ministry within The United Methodist Church, the Study of Ministry Commission has released their final report. Basically, it recommends four more years of study by the church. How very Methodist! This study has been a hot topic in deacon conversations as we feel that United Methodism is still struggling to clearly understand who we are called to be. The full report and comments by Tom Frank can be found on-line. I recommend reading both in their entirety. However, Part V references the matters that pertain to the deacon.

A major issue for many deacons has been not being able to preside at the sacraments. Our role is to assist only. Because I have been allowed to reclaim the historic role of deacon as the one who prepares and invites congregants to participate in these holy moments, I have not given this a lot of consideration. I feel that I have a specific role that compliments the one of the elder. However, although the conversation argues that it would be redundant for both elders and deacons to do celebrate the sacraments and that ordination does not necessarily confer this authority, I am still pondering this interpretation especially as it relates to those deacons who serve as chaplains or parish ministers.

In 1997 the first class of permanent deacons was ordained. (I was one of them.) So, we are still in our beginning stage of finding our place within today's church. Many have welcomed us and celebrated who we are. But, I do know that instead of having a ministry that is equal, complimentary and distinctive, deacons seem to be considered as a second class or subordinate. Just ask any member of First UMC. It is always Ken, Scarlett and Jean no matter what the issue. I have been assured that I will always be paid less than an elder at First. At this point in my ministry these matters are of little personal concern. However, I want to help pave the way for deacons in the emerging church as their role could be extremely important to its evolving understanding of mission.

This study of ministry is still struggling with local pastors like my friend, George. I will be interested in what he thinks about this report.

The commission also recommends doing away with the practice of commissioning deacon and elders. When candidates have met basic requirements they will be ordained. This will be separate from full conference membership. This most certainly will generate much discussion especially among those of us who serve on Boards of Ministry and have just now figured out how to lead commissioned members toward ordination.

It will be interesting to see what the 2008 General Conference does with this report. In the meantime, let the discussion be constructive, informed and theological.

Travel Virtues

Tonight as I was watching Samantha Brown on the Travel Channel I remembered that it wasn’t too long ago that I thought that I would have seen much of the world by now in my life. My mother used to say that if travel was mentioned I would have my suitcase packed. I thought travel would always be part of my life and that it would be just one trip after another. I have always enjoyed experiencing new people and places and let them shape my understanding of the world and its peoples. Although I have had some great adventures, I have not been able to travel to the ends of the earth. I could probably create a rationale for my failure to do this, but the reality is that I have let one thing or another get in the way of this travel. I have let my passport expire and trips to Ohio consume my vacation dollars and to church-related conferences exhaust my time. As a result, in many ways I only know the world through the eyes and ears of others and have my thoughts shaped by their insights. Careful discernment has become a mandate in my life.

It is interesting to note that the younger generation has made travel a priority and have had some life-changing experiences through visiting both traditional and exotic places. Of course, for some of them this has meant dangerous trips to Iraq and Afghanistan. As our children become a more informed citizenry of the world, it is my prayer that to “do justice, love kindness and to walk humbly with God” will be a way of life for them.

Handprints

As I look at my window this morning, I see lots of little handprints, visual reminders of four little visitors in my home this past week. Even though I will wipe away these marks, as always they will leave an indelible impression on me. There have been many other handprints in my life this past week. From time spent with children, grandchildren and Ohio family at Sunset Beach to Dancing with God, Sunday worship and the Council of Ministries planning session, I have had a busy week. All of this has left little time for posting to my blog. However, it will shape my thoughts for weeks to come. Handprints come in many shapes and sizes and I give thanks for each one.