Thoughtful Thursdays

 

"Whatever is true, 

whatever is noble,

whatever is right,

whatever is lovely,

whatever is admirable --

if anything is excellent or praiseworthy --

think about such things...

And the God of peace will be with you.

Philippians 4:8-9

I'll admit to a fair bit of mental fatigue this morning as the week draws to an end.  Two "big things" have been added to all the normal responsibilities of this "Missionary in Residence," and it just seems like there are way more details to keep track of than normal.

All of it, all the happy tasks of it, even the "big things" of it, are good and exciting and moving ahead towards important goals.  Positive outcomes are anticipated.  Beautiful, amazing humans are involved at all levels.  

I just know I'm fatigued when I sit down at my desk to begin the day and --- I've got nothing.  This list is there.  There are certainly a few emails to respond to and some things I could get checked off before my first meeting starts at 8:45.  But my brain is asking for a minute.

I clean off my desk.  This often helps.  Not that it's a huge space to get crazy disorganized with, but just the few extra papers and books tidied up and put away sets a tone.  And, underneath I find this pretty cutout that, quite honestly I can't remember where it came from.

And as I pick it up it reminds me of these words from Paul that have encouraged good mental hygiene for hundreds of years before neuroscience would come alongside and agree.

If my mind is fatigued it could be an indication that even in the midst of the positive I'm fretting a little somewhat a fair bit, okay a lot.  Did I mention the two 'big things?'  Did I mention the details?

So I stop, open my Bible, take a big breath, and just read these words out loud.  

True

Noble

Pure

Lovely

Admirable

Excellent

Praiseworthy

And it does something.  A reset maybe.  A refocus.  Take the pressure off.

And now, with a tidied desk and a tidied mind, I think I'm ready.

But first perhaps a cup of tea.

The weather has finally figured out it's November.

Thoughtful Thursday to you all.

Unfolding Friday

 

I'm trying to press against the urgency for a moment this morning.

It's been a week, and I just realized that I've started and ended pretty much every day in full out 'git er done' mode.  

It's understandable.   There's a lot to 'git' done.  And, when I'm not paying attention, 'full out' is my default setting.

So here's a slightly unfocused shot of what happens when you let 'volunteer corn' do it's own thing.  When something unplanned is left to its own devices.  It didn't try hard.  It wasn't living up to anyone expectations at all.  It had no list of things to accomplish.  It just did its thing in an unplanned kind of way beside the birdfeeder, and now it's this pretty enhancement to our front porch ambiance.  

See where I'm going with this?

I'll get to all that still needs doing.

In a second.

The list has been long and loud this week.

Not everything got checked off.

And I'll just let that be okay.

The important things, the urgent things, the people things....that's done and doing.

And I'll sort it out.

In a second.

I'll organize and reprioritize and reverse engineer all the things.

In a minute.

The morning unfolds slowly this particular Friday.

No sense in pushing.

Or fretting.

"You will keep in perfect peace

those whose minds are steadfast

because they trust in You."

Isaiah 26:3

Don't know what kind of week you've had.

Whatever this Friday is for you, 

I trust you will find your own peace, 

and your own space to just be for a bit.

Sunday's Extra Hour

 

O God, You are my God;

earnestly I seek You;

my soul thirsts for You;

my flesh faints for You,

as in a dry and weary land 

where there is no water.

So I have looked upon You in the sanctuary,

beholding Your power and glory.

Because Your steadfast love is better than life,

my lips will praise You.

So I will bless You as long as I live;

in Your name I will lift up my hands.

Psalm 63:1-4

What better morning to be invited into worship than when it's Sunday AND we have this extra hour! 

Every sunrise reminds me, but maybe even more today.  How essential it is for our humanity to reach beyond itself; to be oriented in something, SomeOne bigger and ultimately powerful, Who is wildly and steadfastly in love with us.  

AND to have the privilege to gather and love Him back, together.  

What a thing!  To come together to worship.  To be reoriented.  To be centered and grounded in the presence of each other and the presence of our God.  

Can't wait to be with my community of faith again this morning.

An Open Thank You to My Friends

 

Iron sharpens iron,

so a friend sharpens a friend.

Proverbs 27:17 NLT

In friendships, I am uncommonly blessed.

Beyond deserving, this.

A rich spread of companions, 

a feast to feed my soul.

There are "friends" who destroy each other,

but a real friend sticks closer than a brother.

Proverbs 19:24

Who would I be without all of you?

A flattened out version of a self, 

un-nourished by your love,

your belief in me,

your different-than-me opinions,

your passions and perspectives.

Faithful are the wounds of a friend;

profuse are the kisses of an enemy.

Proverbs 27:6

Would I even be the me that I have become?

...Am becoming?

You contribute to my soul,

my heart,

my mind,

in ways I cannot appropriately measure

let alone thank you for.

Whoever covers an offense seeks love,

but he who repeats a mater separates close friends.

Proverbs 17:9

All of you.

Each of you.

Oil and perfume make the heart glad,

and the sweetness of a friend 

comes from his earnest counsel.

Proverbs 27:9

The for-a-long-time ones.

The for-a-season ones.

The brand new ones.

All of you.

Each of you.

Whoever walks with the wise becomes wise,

but the companion of fools will suffer harm.

Proverbs 13:20

So rich is my life.

So filled out and robust.

So abundant, as promised.

And for no particular reason today,

I am reminded.

I do not take any one of you for granted.

And that's the truth.

I thank my God every times I remember you.

In all my prayers for all you, I always pray with joy.

Philippians 1:3-4

In the Mystery

"You call me out upon the water

The great unknown, where feet may fail

And there I find You in the mystery

In oceans deep, my faith will stand....

Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders

Let me walk upon the waters

Wherever You would call me.

Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander

And my faith will be made stronger

In the presence of my Saviour."

Oceans - Hillsong United 2013  

We sang it on Sunday morning and it hit hard again.

The image of walking the impossible,

only because we trust Him 

in the mystery of it.

Otherwise we wouldn't dare step out.

I wouldn't.

But here I am, 

taking risks that feel too big, too crazy.

And He's got to come through, else I sink.

And He does, so I don't.

Instead, I find Him there,

waiting with this big fat answer to prayer,

and inviting me to go further,

trust more.

So I do.

Just putting one foot down across the waves after another.

Not because I'm at all brave, 

because I'm not.

But because He's there.

To hear the song.

To read the story.

A Non-Political Political Post

 

Here's a fun little story about e-scooters, city trails and municipal elections.

They're green now.  Those little scooters you can use to get around town.  I've never tried one myself, but when I'm walking along the city trails near our place, there are a few places where they are all lined up ready to go.  Often as not someone passes me on one.

This story didn't happen when I was walking though.  And I wasn't on the scooter myself either.  But it demonstrates something about getting around in different ways besides a car that surprised me.

I was driving from my house close to Belmont and Victoria, heading to a follow-up dentist appointment on Bridgeport just past the plaza but before you get to King Street.  These details will only matter to folks who think maps in their head, but the layout of this is part of the story.

At Belmont and Union, on Union, I had to stop rather suddenly because a man on an e-scooter came zipping out to cross at the crosswalk, still riding on the scooter.  He was going really fast!  That made me notice him, of course, and I'm so glad I did.  He wasn't wearing a helmet, and he looked like he actually could be dressed for office work, with a longer dark coat trailing out behind him.  Against any stereotype of reckless youth, he seemed a bit older to me.  Not as old as me, mind you, but not a wild kid either.  Graying hair, dress shoes.  Just zipping along the city trail on his way to who knows where.

I continued, and, hey, there he was again!  Crossing in front of me at a crosswalk, still on the city trail.  I couldn't help but notice, and also be somewhat impressed that he was making such good time if he was able to catch up to me.

So here's the thing.  He crossed in front of me three more times between our first encounter and my final destination!  The last time was just as I was pulling into the parking lot, and he was continuing his way on up to Waterloo.  That means he was able to make the very same time on his scooter than I did in my van.  All thanks to our city trails, and a willingness to ride that scooter at a decent speed.

Not only was that an interesting and amusing little thing that just happened there, but I also thought it was a good advertisement for the city's provision of both the trails and the scooters.  Whatever efforts are being made to reduce our carbon emissions by encouraging alternate modes of transportation, this seems to be working.  At least for this guy it did.

So thank you City of Kitchener.  And I guess I should say thank you to whatever municipal offices take care of these things.  The trails in our neighbourhood are well tended and pleasant for both walking and riding.  I don't want to take that for granted.

And it makes me realize that, off the top of my head, I have no sweet clue what part of our municipal government does take care of that.  And that makes me realize that I really have very little knowledge of municipal matters at all.  Which brings me to the elections happening this coming Monday. 

I am speaking just for myself here, but shame on me.  As someone who says they want to share the message of Jesus, and believes that His message was all about people being properly looked after, hadn't I better be at least basically informed about what's going on in my city?  Sure, about the trails, but also, and far more importantly, about the people?

Caveat:  In these days where the convolution of religion (with various belief systems) and politics (at all levels) seems more bent out of shape than usual, I am not on a soapbox to press for any specific agenda.  I am a pastor, not a politician, and I make a very clear distinction between those two.  Like I said, just speaking for myself.

But as a citizen, as a Christian citizen, I am seeking to becoming more engaged.  Not just with this election, although there is that.  But with what's going on in our neighbourhoods.  Voting is the very barest minimum we can do.  Informed voting is next up on the list.  Where it takes me from there will be interesting.

Base line is some reading.  And I offer this CTV Article Meet the Candidates as a place to begin.  Do your own research, of course.  Vote your own conscience, of course.

And if you're out on an e-scooter making good time riding around on the trails of the city, good on you!  Slow down a little at the crosswalks though.  And if you're driving around the city, pay attention at those crosswalks.  

Just sayin'.  

Of Rhythms and Rest

 

Friday:  Unexpected fall-vibe bouquet.  Definitely adding to autumn cheer on a rather cool and dampish day.

Saturday:  First since mid August with nothing on the calendar!  Loved the simplicity of the regular domestic rhythms.  Loved the sunshine, and getting out for my walk!

Sunday:  Happily stepped in when an extra person was needed with our children downstairs.  Shaving cream plus the Red Sea story plus kids makes for a highly tactile lesson that reminds us "God's in charge!"  To which we respond, "It's true!!"  Then an afternoon nap, which is a sacred Sunday afternoon practice.  

All of it made for a weekend of welcome rest; a break from the somewhat frenetic energy expended in last week's catch up of meetings and appointments, where I was out and off to something every single day.

This week is the first in a long time that I've blocked off as a "No Meeting Week," needful if I'm to get at the long (and exciting, but still long) list of tasks generated by all those meetings.  

So here's to making Mondays count!

To building good rhythms into our lives.

And the simple joys of autumn living.