Pause.

"Life is a little less sweet. Death is a little less bitter." -- Amish Proverb

Monday morning I got the news that a really good friend of mine from college passed away. She had been very sick (complications from H1N1) for a short time and I had been praying fervently for a miracle for her life.

She & her husband were wonderful people. My life is richer by having them as part of it. They have a beautiful 6 year autistic son.

I am able to read her obituary online. But the tears keep making the screen blurry.
I fumble around with my words as I attempt to let her husband know I am praying.

I found myself squeezing MY husband a little tighter last night.
Stopping to breathe in his goodbye embrace this morning.
Committing once again to live, really LIVE fully in this moment.
THIS very day we have together.
A life lesson that God is continually teaching me.

Better to spend your time at funerals than at parties.

After all, everyone dies—

so the living should take this to heart.

Sorrow is better than laughter,

for sadness has a refining influence on us.

A wise person thinks a lot about death,

while a fool thinks only about having a good time.

Ecclesiastes 7:2-4

Point to ponder

I recently watched a tv interview with Augie Nieto.
Augie is a very successful business man who has ALS.
He was speaking with some youth who were asking for life advice.
He stated:

"Life is a theater. There are a limited number of seats. Choose well in who you let inside your theater. Be especially careful who sits in your front row."

Powerful.

TGIF

Small:
The Poppa (and I, wait! who am I kidding, the Poppa will be doing all the hard manual labor) will be tackling the bathroom repairs/remodel this weekend. Awww, the beauty & allure of DIY. Wanna take a wager on exactly how much trips to Lowes this project will take? I'm guessing probably 4.

Medium:
We raked leaves last Friday. It was great fun. The kids joined in too. A week later & the yard is FULL of them again. Interesting parallel for life right there don't you think.

Large:
My heart is heavy for the families in Ft. Hood. We have a very close, very wonderful friend stationed there & my immediate thought was of his safety. He is okay, thank the Lord!!! I know my prayers join with millions today for the dead & the injured.

Touch

The Poppa currently pastors an inner city church. It is not what we ever expected we would be doing. It's not the dream job of ministry. It certainly doesn't pay well. You won't find our name on the pages of any glossy "Happy Church" magazine. It's exhausting. It's unpredictable. It's messy. It's complicated.

And yet, it is one of the most beautiful places we have ever served.

The small white building sits right in the middle of a very needy neighborhood. Many transient people. Truly, poor people. Disadvantaged would be the PC term these days. Through a continual God-miracle, our church family offers a free meal every Sunday morning. There is no cover-charge or hidden costs. There is no expectation of attending services. Two years ago we hung a small 6x8 sign out front: "Free Breakfast, Every Sunday @ 11:30 AM."

The first week 15 people showed up.
This past Sunday we filled up 74 plates.

These folks have become our people. They have captured my heart in ways I did not know were possible. Awhile ago one of our "regulars" suddenly died. Every woman who works in the kitchen cried the Sunday we found out about his death.

Our people are smelly. Dirty. Sloppy, even.
Some of them reek of alcohol. Sometimes they stagger.
Occasionally, they can be hungover.
But they are OUR people.

I find I love them in spite of these situations. Perhaps even because of it.

God provided a way for us to operate a food pantry. Every Sunday we are able to give every person who comes to breakfast a bag of groceries. (My kids love to "work" the food pantry. Ms. Sherry, the amazing volunteer who coordinates everything allows them to be her helpers. I plan on writing more about my kids & this outreach more later.)

Some Sundays I wash dishes.
Some Sundays I stand in the hallway & help direct traffic.
And when I do, I like to touch each person who walks by.
I pat them on the back or on the arm & tell them that I hope they have a good week. I assure them that we are glad they visited with us. I encourage them to come back next Sunday.

Our people aren't normally touched by society.
They just aren't.

Think about how great it feels when someone holds your hand or gives you a hug. Humans are made to be connected to other humans. Part of that connection is actual.physical.contact.
Skin on skin.

And maybe, just maybe it's a reminder that Jesus is touching them too. That He loves to touch the "untouchables."

Part 1. Our Ministry in 5 Senses

Oh How HE loves us!

He is jealous for me,
Loves like a hurricane, I am a tree,
Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy.
When all of a sudden,
I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,
And I realise just how beautiful You are,
And how great Your affections are for me.
...chorus...

We are His portion and He is our prize,
Drawn to redemption by the grace in His eyes,
If grace is an ocean, we’re all sinking.
So Heaven meets earth like a sloppy wet kiss,
And my heart turns violently inside of my chest,
I don’t have time to maintain these regrets,
When I think about, the way
...chorus...

Well, I thought about You the day Stephen died,
And You met me between my breaking.
I know that I still love You,
God, despite the agony. ...
They want to tell me You're cruel,
But if Stephen could sing,
he'd say it's not true, cause...

Oh how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Oh how He loves.Yeah,
He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves us,
Whoa! how He loves.

"A great cloud of witnesses..."

(image by joelmutia on Flicker)

While I am not in the Catholic tradition of celebrating Feast Days, today I wish I was.

Just this week, my heart hurt a little bit while thinking & remembering our dear friend Rod. I miss that guy. It still takes me by surprise that he didn't get to meet my kids.

I've got a great group of folks waiting for me on the other side. Grandpa M, Claudia, Jonathan, Shera, Granny Yates, Cecil Phillips, GGrandma Maggie Jane, Rod, Lisa, Rita, Grandma M, Bev, Deana.

It is encouraging to think that they are cheering me on.

All Saints Day gives me reason to pause, to reflect and to be encouraged to continue in this race.

Originally written 11/1/07. Names were added to the list with this posting.

Happy Fall Ya'll!