Reconcile The Books

It seems there is inspiration to be found in any number of places. Sometimes unexpected ones!

Yesterday I was reading in a trade magazine I subscribe to. The Editor's column was about "times when we are forced to 'reconcile the books' and start over." One obvious time being the New Year with all it's hopeful and optimistic resolutions. But then she carried it over to an artist she knows who lost all of their current art creations, supplies and business as their studio washed down a river during Hurricane Irene. It follows with the inspiring story of how she started over. Even how this incident "allowed" her to experiment with a new avenue of art she had been wanting to explore.

As an artist, I could not imagine losing all the things I've done and all my carefully gathered supplies in one fateful day.

And it challenged me to think long and hard.....

Not long into this enlightening soul search, I was thinking. Thinking about how so often, when life throws me a curve, I get behind on projects and art work deadlines (self-imposed ones mostly). Just recently, I was feeling burdened by falling behind in an online group where one of my goals (set no doubt during a time of great energy and optimism) is to do something new every week.  I'm now about 5 weeks behind.  So I had already decided to just start over where I am today and let those 5 weeks go...off into the wind...and taking the guilt and "failure" along with them.

Then that still small Voice reminded me.....

The same is true in our spiritual adventure.  We don't have to be burdened with past failures, missed opportunities, errors in judgement, etc.  He has given us a great promise....His own reminder to "reconcile the books and start over".

Lamentations 3:22-24

     The steadfast love of the Lord never ceases;

   His mercies never come to an end;

      they are new every morning;    

   great is your faithfulness.

So I start each day with a blank canvas....what will Abba and I paint on it today? What new adventure shall we explore? I can hardly wait!

Somewhere in the Background

If you follow this blog....you will know that "being still" is definitely a challenge for me.

And yet....my heart hears almost daily....."Be Still"

It comes from unexpected sources sometimes. But the message is the same...

BE STILL

Recently I was having a long-distance "tea" with a dear friend. It was a particularly vulnerable day...things going on that left my heart wounded and feelings barely hanging onto my sleeve they were so in the forefront.

One situation in particular - the one with the loudest "Be Still" written all over it - came up in our conversation. When I mentioned that I was off and on having a time of it...being still and all.

My friend made a simple comment.  Not like a thundering sermon or "Here's what you have to do!" kind of thing.  Just a comment in our discussion.

But it rocked my world!

Her comment: "Just because you are being still doesn't mean nothing is being done."

WHAT?????

I mean really.....could I be any more arrogant????  To think that if I wasn't doing anything then nothing was happening?  Oh sure....I could SAY that I was trusting Abba to take care of this situation and turn things around. But was I really?  If I WAS, would that comment have hit me right in that vulnerable heart???

Just thinking of that every day since our "tea" keeps me humbled before Abba and so much more aware of how feeble my attempts at resolution would be anyway.  To KNOW that He is working...no matter what it looks like....even though it might be somewhere in the background of the situation.....well let's just say that life is much more peaceful.

Oh I still talk to Him about it.  That's because that situation is never far from my thoughts.  In fact, any "down" time....time when I'm not keeping busy with daily adventures...the second I quiet down - it is there.  But now I see it differently.  I see more of His hand working in it and not my stillness.

So I will remain still... (the lyrics of "Be Still My Soul" by the Imperials are in my head....soothing my heart)

I trust Him....completely....quietly......in stillness.

"Longer Then Forever" Friends

"We'll be friends forever, won't we, Pooh?' asked Piglet
'Even longer,' Pooh answered"     --  A. A. Milne, Winnie-the-Pooh

There are few things as sweet as a true friend.

I can only think of a couple of things more precious

My salvation - and my Saviour

My family - especially my husband and my grandkids

Friends are right up there in the top AWESOME blessings from Abba.  I can say that because I am truly blessed with amazing friends.  These are people who go through the battles with us and are there to watch our backs at every turn.  These are people who love us (and trust our friendship) enough to tell us the truth.  They encourage us, weep with us, laugh out loud with us, dream with us...

This is not just some "Oh Hi How Are You" kind of relationship.  When a true friend asks you how you are...they really want to know!! Go figure! And when you ask them...they will tell you exactly how they are without varnish or embarassment.  A trusted love for sure.

Often we stand amazed at our friends and wonder if we are worthy of such love and devotion.  The answer (well MY answer anyway) is always, NO.

BUT they don't seem to care!!  They just keep loving us anyway! How can we not return that love in kind??

And I'm impressed that Abba deals with us the same way.....our dearest and most intimate friend.

Do we deserve HIS love and devotion?  No way.  BUT...He doesn't seem to care!! He just loves us perfectly anyway!

How can we not return THAT love in kind?? 

To love HIM....

When life is just down right horrible from what we can see

When we have lost what we hold dear and love deeply

When we mean well but it all turns out pear-shaped

When we are betrayed by someone we have trusted

When we are powerless to change things we KNOW are wrong

We see these sad and distressing situations and feel a-whirl in a sea of confusion and questions.  But...when we look just a smidge past these things...

There He is........calm.......caring......ready to comfort, although not always ready to explain.....

And often we see a tear in His eye....because He knows we hurt, He knows our confusion, He hears our questions...

And HE knows that He will see it all righted....in His time....in His way.

In the meantime, He just wants us to trust, believe, enjoy and be thankful.......

For HE IS......

He is ALL things.......He is Longer Than Forever....and besides being God of the entire universe.....He has chosen to call us, YES US!! that wonderful word....

FRIEND.

Our BEST Longer Than Forever Friend

Perception

I'm a busy person.  Most likely you are as well.  Places to go...People to see...Things to Do.....

But I have to say I was called up short this morning when I received the following message in my e-mail inbox.
________________________________________________________________________________

PERCEPTION

 THE SITUATION 

  

In Washington , DC , at a Metro Station, on a cold January morning in 2007, this man with a violin played six Bach pieces for about 45 minutes.  During that time, approximately 2,000 people went through the station, most of them on their way to work.  After about 3 minutes, a middle-aged man noticed that there was a musician playing.  He slowed his pace and stopped for a few seconds, and then he hurried on to meet his schedule. 

4 minutes later: 

The violinist received his first dollar.  A woman threw money in the hat and, without stopping, continued to walk. 

At 6 minutes: 

A young man leaned against the wall to listen to him, then looked at his watch and started to walk again. 

At 10 minutes:

A 3-year old boy stopped, but his mother tugged him along hurriedly.  The kid stopped to look at the violinist again, but the mother pushed hard and the child continued to walk, turning his head the whole time.  This action was repeated by several other children, but every parent - without exception - forced their children to move on quickly.

At 45 minutes:

The musician played continuously.  Only 6 people stopped and listened for a short while.  About 20 gave money but continued to walk at their normal pace.  The man collected a total of $32.

After 1 hour: 

He finished playing and silence took over.  No one noticed and no one applauded.  There was no recognition at all. 

No one knew this, but the violinist was Joshua Bell, one of the greatest musicians in the world.  He played one of the most intricate pieces ever written, with a violin worth $3.5 million dollars.  Two days before, Joshua Bell sold-out a theater in Boston where the seats averaged $100 each to sit and listen to him play the same music.

This is a true story.  Joshua Bell, playing incognito in the D.C Metro Station, was organized by the Washington Post as part of a social experiment about perception, taste and people's priorities. 

 This experiment raised several questions: 

       *In a common-place environment, at an inappropriate hour, do we perceive beauty? 

        *If so, do we stop to appreciate it? 

        *Do we recognize talent in an unexpected context?

One possible conclusion reached from this experiment could be this: 

If we do not have a moment to stop and listen to one of the best musicians in the world, playing some of the finest music ever written, with one of the most beautiful instruments ever made, how many other things are we missing as we rush through life? 

_____________________________________________________________________________________

As an artist, these final questions intrigued me. As a skeptic, I went right away to find out if this is indeed a true story.  It is.

I won't be writing much on this post because I so want you to read the Washington Post story in its entirety.  It is lengthy but such a powerful story....with powerful questions and observations.  It brought me to tears more than once as I read it.  Please spend the time to read it all.  I doubt you will regret it. 

(link:  http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/04/04/AR2007040401721.html )

As a daughter of Abba, the deeper meaning and questions of this whole thing rocked my world this morning. 

How often do I not have time for His beauty....in His creation....in His people....in His Word...in His love?

Oh precious Abba, please open my eyes, my ears, my heart to Your beauty all around me. I don't want to miss even one little note, or flower petal, or child's smile.  Because in each beautiful piece, You are there.  I want to see and hear and feel YOU in my everyday world.

Eye of the Beholder

"Beauty is in the eye of the beholder"

My husband sees me in the morning

Groggy, definitely having a bad hair moment

No makeup

And according to him....I'm beautiful!!!

OK...so he needs glasses I think.  But all kidding aside....he really means it and it blows me away.

If he sees the wrinkles, he knows how each one of them was creased into my aging face. Many matching wrinkles he has earned himself in the same battles. 

Battle scars....all warriors have them.

And my Abba has the best vision of all......and He sees me as beautiful.  How can that be?

I read the Song of Solomon and recognize His love for us expressed there.  Beauty often only He can see. In spite of all my scars of fear and worry....He sees me as beautiful.

 Perhaps the true test of real love.....deep, passionate, lasting love.

Seeing the beauty.

In Opposition

This has been morphing in my mind for days now.

How often His ways are opposite....so we are opposite.

A few years back, I did a textile piece entitled "Life Upside Down - and Slightly Off-Kilter"  At the time, it was an expression of just how life's current situation had turned my life upside down and thrown me off-kilter. I had a vision of what my life would be like at that stage of my existence.  And it wasn't THAT!  Days and hours that were my own were then spoken for by many others. My space was no longer just mine. Adjustments were definitely called for...and made. Creating this art was my way of coming to terms with life being the opposite of what I had dreamed

And I remember that so much of His calling is in opposition.

Opposition to what "makes sense"

Who loses his life for My sake will gain it.

Give and you will receive.

The meek will inherit the earth, not the forceful.

Beauty for ashes

How many times His path has lead His children in opposition to the "sense making" path.  I think of the Israelites facing the Red Sea. To them....well....that just didn't make sense at all. Until God showed up.



I want to see God, to face in the opposite direction from the "sense" makers and the fearful.

The prophet Isaiah was told to go and preach to this people. And God told him ahead of time that no one would listen.  THAT didn't make "sense", not an effecient use of time and talents for sure!  But he went...he obeyed. And THAT was his success.

And there are many other examples.

Opposite and upside down....not the "norm"

Don't be conformed but be transformed.  Being opposite with Him is a great thing.  Following Him is often upside down. And we can leave upside down in our wake.

His disciples were known for it.

But when they did not find them, they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too." (Acts 17:6)



When we follow Him even when it doesn't make "sense"....we are in for the ride of our lives!

Given and Taken Away

The Lord gave

The Lord has taken away

The Lord gave back

The Lord took away again

Now the Lord has given again.

The same gift...like some crazy yo-yo or something.

Job 1:21 - the Lord gave and the Lord has taken away; may the name of the Lord be praised!

The giving part...it is so easy to praise the name of the Lord. I can rejoice and give Him all glory and honor and praise.
In my own heart and in the congregation, my community of believers, my chosen family around the world.

Then he takes away that very gift I so praised Him for.  I gave Him all the honor and glory.  I did it all "right"!! But the gift is still gone. Did I miss something? Did I not do enough? Oh I'm more than willing to admit that I have no idea a lot of the time. But I gave it my best...that I know. So what went so terribly wrong?  I struggle so hard to understand!

Then the gift returns!  OH HAPPY DAY!! All praises all round. Everyone who was praying for just this gift are informed..."God answered our prayers!!!" Rejoicing all over the place...around the world!

Then...the gift is gone....again. Surely not....not again..... How can this happen....again?! Why did the darkness and pain return? I can only answer...I have no idea whatsoever. Praising Him now....with the gift gone....not all that easy.  I thought I had cried all my tears before. I'm so very aware that the supply of tears seems endless.

Praise Him??? Oh I understand the concept but in those first days, I'm surprised I can even get up in the morning to face another day.  I cry out to Abba to ease the pain, to change the situation. And in meeting Him I eventually find that I CAN praise Him. Not FOR the situation but IN the situation.  I slip often...He catches me and sets my feet on the path each time...lovingly....with compassion. No reprimand in sight.  He knows our frame that we are but dust. And at times like this I feel dustier than most others. But HE remains solid and steadfast.

And He gives again.  Not EXACTLY the same gift but a gift to remind me that He loves me and can use even me....slipping, broken, inadequate me. This gift I see as a loving "place holder" while the original gift is still missing.  Not a replacement. That original gift could never be replaced. But a chance to see Him still at work. I have only to open my eyes...and my heart.

Oh yes, the pain of the missing gift is still very real and very deep. He knows that. So I also praise Him that only HE can keep that gift in HIS care just now. He hasn't forgotten or given up.  The gift is not thrown on the trash heap.  That gift is in His loving, caring....and powerful hands. 

And I praise Him for He is still the giver (and the taker) of gifts. But even in the taking, He is still my everything.  In fact, even more so. That is always worthy of praise!!