Another quote

I am sort of on a quote kick.  Here is another one that has had me pondering for a couple of days...


Listen to your life.  See it for the fathomless mystery that it is.  In the boredom and pain of it no less than in the excitement and gladness: touch, taste, smell your way to the holy and hidden heart of it because in the last analysis all moments are key moments and life itself is grace.
~Frederick Buechner



All moments are key moments.

All moments are key moments.

This is written by a man who spent the last years of his life in Nazi prisons.  I would like to learn to live each moment this way.

Sometimes I forget.

Many times I think, "If I can just get through this moment, this hour, this day, then I will make it to another or a new key moment."

I forget to stop and smell the roses.

I forget to greet my neighbor and ask how she is doing.

I don't notice the sunset.

I rush through my classes so that I can get to my to do list.

I don't think I am going to attempt to make this something to which I aspire this year.  Tomorrow.  Yes, tomorrow I am going to listen to my life.  Tomorrow I will focus on the moments rather than the to do list.  I will focus on the faces of those I pass by rather than the light that is about to change to red.  Tomorrow I will notice God's handiwork in the mountains, sky, plants, and people rather than running to my car or staring at at screen.

Now, I will go to sleep in peace, trusting God who knows my tomorrow and will walk through it with me, even when I forget the moments.

Back and Forward

Sunrise from my apartment, December 31, 2014

Let the past rest, but let it rest in the sweet embrace of Christ. Leave the broken, irreversible past in His hands, and step out into the invincible future with Him. ~Oswald Chambers. 

This quote struck me as I read it while brushing my teeth yesterday morning, December 31.  What a comforting thought and beautiful image, leaving our past in the sweet embrace of Christ.

Irreversible past.  This is a hard thought sometimes.  But when I think that I can leave that brokenness in the sweet embrace of Christ, I am encouraged.  Because, I know my Jesus is kind and loving and forgiving.

This gives me the courage to step out into the invincible future with Him.  2015 looks hopeful and bright when I think of stepping out with my loving Jesus.

Thankful for the experiences of 2014, the good, the bad and the ugly, which are resting in the sweet embrace of Jesus.  And, looking forward to the invincible future walking side by side with my Savior.

Thank you, Jesus!

Merry Unexpected Christmas!

Christmas day is almost over here in Japan.  It has been a great day!  A completely unexpected day.  Actually, a completely unexpected week!

Sunday was an unexpected when I received a message that my coworker was not feeling well.  By 1PM it was obvious that he was not going to be able to make it to church that afternoon.  Thankfully, we had already planned the themes for advent Sundays, so planning a message in a couple of hours was not quite as difficult.  Everyone at church was understanding and helpful.  We had a good time studying about joy in the story of Jesus' birth.

Monday morning dawned with a snow squall and another not quite as unexpected message.  Influenza had taken down two more of the members of my coworkers' family, putting the count at 3.  I continued with my day off as usual which included tea time with a friend.  God prepared both of our hearts and she offered as I asked her to play piano for our Christmas Eve service at church!

With that unexpected challenge cleared, I was ready to begin preparing for the service on Tuesday.  I spent the day at church, reading, preparing, checking out the programs from the last couple of years, and enjoying delving into the Christmas story again.  My friend came to get the music and help me check the Japanese on the power point.  We had another good time of fellowship.


Unexpectedly, I had just enough cookies left at home to take to my morning exercise friends at the park on Christmas eve morning.  It was fun to see their faces and hear the "Merry Christmas" responses.


Our Christmas eve service was beautiful and full of joy.  I am so grateful for our church, the lovely people, and the wonderful celebration of our Savior's birth.

Following the service, my piano-playing friend came over and spent the night.  We enjoyed fellowship late into the night and basically all day today.  What a blessing to have a friend with whom I can spend a day sitting at the table, chatting, snacking, laughing, crying, and sharing words of wisdom.  An unexpected Christmas was just what I needed!


(Although, I missed hanging out with the Ewing family and look forward to our belated celebration!)

Christmas Books

 I have a pile of Christmas books.  Most years I read several of them.  This year I have gotten through one of them.  And, it is the shortest one at that! "Christmas in Harmony" by Philip Gulley

It is a really fun read, though.  The book is written by a Quaker pastor, and it is about a pastor who lives in a small town shepherding the church where he grew up.  It makes me laugh out loud and makes me pause to ponder.

Here are a couple of quotes from pages I have dog-eared over the years...
God could have sent a lawyer who would scrupulously define the limits of love.  Instead, He went for broke, and sent a child with whom He was well pleased.  And had the good sense to tell Him that.
Christmas, I tell my wife, is not the time to hold back.  It is the bold stroke, the song in the silence, the red hat in a gray-suit world.

That is the problem of theology- instead of bringing clarity, it often raises questions too frightening to consider.

"You know, Sam, having the Nativity scene spread out like that kinda reminded me how we never really see the full picture.  We think we do, but most we're just lookin' at bits and pieces, thinkin' we're seeing the whole thing."

If you are looking for a quick read this Christmas, one that reminds you of the true meaning of Christmas and the messiness of life, this is a book you might like.

Advent Reading

One of my advent readings from Jane Rubietta's Finding the Messiah this week included this:

Dear one, 

I remember. 

I cannot forget you; 

You are engraved on my hands, 

Tattooed on my heart. 

I’ve been watching out for you 

And watching for you 

Every day of your life. 

I remember your pain; 

I know your disappointments, 

Your sadness, 

All the almosts and not- quites 

Of your life. 

I see how you show up, 

Trying to be faithful, 

To cover all the bases before you, 

And that sometimes, oftentimes, 

There’s not enough of you to go around 

And you can’t get everything done. 

And here’s the truth: 

I rejoice in you 

No matter what. 

But in this season of “I remember,” 

You remember, too: 

In your normal day, 

Your normal job, 

I am with you.

Just in Case...

The big reveal!

Well, my thanksgiving blogs got set aside because of some international travel.  In case you haven't heard, I am enjoying my mom's birthday and American Thanksgiving with my family this year!

My sister and I have had a fun time planning this surprise for months!  I am not sure if my parents were more surprised that I showed up or that my sister kept a secret for that long!  

We have been having a fun time talking and laughing, eating and cooking together.  We are also enjoying the anticipation of a gaggle of relatives showing up tomorrow to join in the festivities.

A few have already arrived...

Dinner time

Elevators

I really want to talk about something else tonight, but it will have to wait because I am too tired and it is long! I am excited to share that thankful point soon.

I only have a picture looking down.  I don't have any pictures
of my building from down below looking up!

Tonight as I was coming up to my apartment in the elevator, I thought, "I am thankful for this elevator."

First of all, I am thankful for the elevator because it means I do not have to climb 9 flights of stairs to get to my apartment.  (I only have to climb one.  The elevator doesn't stop on every floor so I get out on the 8th floor and climb up to the ninth.  I don't know; I didn't design it, I just live here!)

Second, I am thankful for the elevator because it fulfills a childhood dream to live in an apartment building where I have to go up to my apartment in an elevator.  I am not kidding!  When I was a kid and we watched the Jeffersons, I always secretly wished I lived in a building with an elevator.  (We didn't watch it often because we had a limited TV viewing allowance/week and had to rotate between favorite shows.)

In fact, when I was in about second grade, I used my birthday money to buy a Barbie house, the one with the elevator, and I was jealous of Barbie getting to have an elevator.

I was raised in a small town in South Dakota.  There are not many buildings with elevators there.  I don't know where I thought I was going to live, but maybe I always knew I was not going to live there when I grew up.

Every place I have lived has had great points, but one of top points of this place for me is the elevator.

There I said it.  Now you have proof that I am just a little bit wacky!