Archetypes

Dave started a new series called Archetypes. It ties different personalities to various spiritual gifts. Each week as Sandbox we debrief but I find it hard to be objective since I love this type of stuff.

Week one, September 13, was the intellectual. The "smarty pants, a thinker, a learner and seeker of truth." Every test or inventory I've taken in the last 10-15 years point me in this direction of intellectual/thinker. Yet when I think of the intellectuals I know like Dave, JVo or Ben, I typically see men. So I began to wonder, can a woman be an intellectual?

Yes, women can be intellectuals. While at seminary I loved to spend hours reading or studying the Bible. (I was single at that time). After I married and had my son, I was asked to lead a Bible study. I hesitanted because I didn't have the time prepare an inductive Bible study from scratch. My life and priorities were changing, I still loved Jesus, I just couldn't spend hours studying or reading.

The other day I got 3 new books from Amazon.com. I couldn't wait to look through them and begin reading. Since I had no time, I took one in the car to skim through while we drove to the store. The kids were noisey, the radio blasting a football game and all I wanted to do was yell "shut up" so I could read. That's when I knew I was truly an intellectual, but it's not fitting into this season of my life!

Being an unfulfilled intellectual is frustrating. I have to snatch brief 10 minutes segments before bed or in a coffee shop to read, but I am learning it's not how much I read and study that is important BUT how I am integrating and letting the truth of what I read shape and form who I am.

There will be a day when I can sit and study for hours, but today is NOT that day. Today as I move through my day as a mom preparing meals, taking care of household business and myself, I will let the Spirit guide me. Conscious of her presence, living my life with peace and joy for the gifts I hold.

check out the archetype series at www.westwinds.org

Who's ever 6 loves more!

This is Allie during our last days in China (5/03). She is the fourth one in from the left. It is tradition for each travel group to get a photograph of their daughters on the red couch at the White Swan. As you can see from the photo this is an adult thing, not necessarily embraced by the kids.

Yesterday morning Allie came down at 6a and cuddled in my lap and began the "game," Who is 6 loves more, she says. "No" I reply, "whoever is 46 loves more, besides you're not 6 until Sunday."

Today is Allie's bday. She is soooo excited. We're celebrating her bday with Grandma & Grandpa, and a few friends. I cannot imagine not having her in our life. I cannot imagine life without her smiles, hugs, secrets, "pinky promises".

I cannot imagine what it must be like to not be able to provide the most basic things for your family. To not be able to provide food for your child, or medicine or a warm, safe place to sleep. I cannot imagine even thinking about giving a child away. My heart breaks when I think about Allie's "China Momma" who has never seen her smile or received one of her special "Allie's squeeze your guts out" hug. I pray peace for Allie's "China Momma."

Pembroke

The other day when we were in Detroit I took Jeff by my old elementary school and the house I grew up in til I was 10 years old.

I can't tell you my phone number or address when we lived in Tipp City, Ohio but I can tell you that info from 30+ years ago.

KE8.1226 or otherwise translated 538.1226
12743 Pembroke
Detroit, MI 48219

Several weeks ago I set up the aquarium with milk weed and some caterpillars. This is all sitting on the kitchen counter so we don't miss a step of this mysterious transformation process. Originally I thought I had 4 larva/caterpillars but it turned out there was a fifth. Two catepillars died and 2 made their "ccccccocoons" (that's how Allie & I say it, always with a smile), and the last one is being transformed right now.

The first butterfly emerged but it's wing was not right. After watching it for seveal hours, I picked up the butterfly hoping if I could get it upright it would stretch out it's wings. Unfortunately even though we had done everything right, the butterfly did not make it.

The second butterfly (seen above) emerged beautifully. I took him outside and for 20-30 minutes he stretched and dried his wings and flew away.

Both of these caterpillars/butterflies had the same environment, same care but one made it and the other one didn't. I've been frustrated with some aspects of ministry lately and my butterflies helped me realize I can't make them fly. I can't make their wings work. I can only provide the environment - safe, nurturing - in which they can grow and do their own work of becoming who God intended them to be - a monarch butterfly.

"Good News"

In the final week of summer my childcare arrangements crumbled. I had planned to work at home but knew that it wasn't the best for me or the kids. I called my parents and asked if they could help. Unless they have an appointment (meaning a doctor!) they always come.

As I left the house that morning I told Jeff to take care of Grandma & Grandpa. If he went fishing with Grandpa be careful walking back to the pond, etc. After a busy day at work, I asked Mom if there was anyway the kids could go home with them and spend the night with them. She said it would work out fine.

I was hesistant to tell Jeff about the plans, thinking he would not want to spend the time at Mom and Dad's. But when I told Jeff the new plans, he said, "Great. Can I go and tell Allie the good news?" I was filled with joy and graditude that my 9 year old son would be excited to hang out with my 80+ year old parents.

First Day of Kindergarten

Allie began kindergarten on Tuesday. She has been soooo excited to start school. I'm so glad that we waited that extra year for her. She is confident and eager to learn and smart!

We play a game with cards and marbles. Luck is involved but there is definitely strategy as well. She keeps beating me and loves to rub it in.

He's Nice

Bill's phone personality lines up with who he is in real life, except bigger! Bill stands about 6'2, he's a big guy. I wasn't totally surprised at how well things went on Saturday. If Bill was a friend of my parents, I knew he would be an OK guy.

My family joked and kidded and harrassed each other like normal and Bill joined right in a bit. For 30 years, Bill promised my dad a steak dinner so that's what we had. He didn't know what kind of ice cream to get so he got 6 kinds to make sure Mom had her favorite. He helped the kids when the frisbee got stuck in the 10 ft bushes. When I told him that he could "yell" at our kids if they were messing around (wrestling on the furniture or something), he replied, "No, I don't yell at kids. I had plenty of that growing up and I won't do that." I sensed an inner peace within Bill.

When we had a few moments alone Bill expressed his gratitude for what I said at the public probation hearing. The attorney general made the comment that they were concerned that Bill would be a threat to the vulnerable people of society - the young & old. When there was an opportunity to speak at the hearing, I shared that some of the dearest people in my life are represented in the most vulnerable groups of our society - the very young and the very old. I said that I trust that my children and my elderly parent would be completely safe with Bill.

It was a good day. A day of celebration and dreams fulfilled. It is another chapter in our family's story. When it was time to leave we were all talking about plans for Thanksgiving and Christmas, where was it going to be, who could come, etc. We got into the car and Jeff said, "That was fun. Mr. Bill is really nice."

These are our stories

Today we are celebrating Mom's 83 birthday. I turned down a chance to see U2 to keep this commitment. Honestly if it had been just us kids getting together for Mom's birthday, I probably would have gone to U2. But this year Mom's birthday celebration is being hosted by my "big brother" Bill, whom I have never met.

Bill was the kid my parents befriended 45-50 years ago. He played softball on my dad's team. Some 40 years ago, Bill murdered an elderly lady and has spent the last 44 years in prison.

This is our family's story. The story of Bill. The story of parents who have journeyed with him, visiting him in prison and sending notes of encouragement, etc. As a kid we would get a letter from Bill and I remember asking Mom who was this guy and the story of Bill was retold. In more recent years, Bill would call on holidays and Mom and Dad's birthdays so we have had a chance to talk to him.

Over the years Bill began to refer to my parents as Mom and Dad. And I began to refer to Bill as the big brother I've never met.

This story is now being told and held by my kids, ages 5 & 9. When they receive a birthday card in the mail and ask "now who is this guy? Bill?" I tell the story of Bill, but extend it to include the story of their grandparents, heros who have faithfully cared and loved the prisoner.

Driving home from school one day the radio was telling about the big NFL player who hit a pedestrian and killed him. I made some comment about how stupid the guy (football player) was and he should go to prison. My nine year old, Jeff pops in and said we have forgiven Bill and he killed someone, so maybe we need to forgive this football guy!

I was surprised by Jeff's comment. He had made a connection between the two stories and knew there was grace to be given. I was humbled by Jeff's comment and again amazed at how the Spirit uses my kids to speak into my life.

These are our stories. These stories should not be lost. Remember do not forget. Remember when God provided, remember when He rescued you, remember when you received grace and mercy. Remember

Story of Kim Phuc

This vivid image from June 8, 1972 is a 9-year-old girl from Vietnam who was severely burned over 75 percent of her body. Her clothes literally melted from her body. Several years ago I saw Kim tell her story of redemption and grace on the Oprah show. Oprah's show also highlighted other children's whose life stories changed the world, such as the little skeleton of a girl from Ethiopia and the child in the "dying room" in China.

Who stands up for our little children? Who protects our children and the children of the world? Who cares for the "least of these"?

Those to whom much is given, much is required.

Life 101

Been a busy and intense couple of days. Nine extra people crashed at our house over Labor Day weekend and then we moved right into the first day of school. New routines & schedules as well as new teachers for the kids.

We have a full plate of new things this fall at the Winds - good stuff but I need to continuously hold "good" things in balance with what is truly essential and best.

We have a new preschool Connection Studio beginning on Sunday (9.13). I am soooo proud of my leaders and the women they are leading. They jumped right in and for months have worked towards launching this new preschool studio that will inspire awe and wonder in our children.

Mom turns 83 on Saturday (9.12) and we will be celebrating her birthday with family. Including this gentleman that has always been a part of my life, yet I've never met. His name is Bill. When he was a teenager, he did some horrible things and consequently spent 44 years in prison. My parents have journeyed with Bill all those years and this past May he was released from prison. I finally get to meet him face-to-face.

Jeff has his first select soccer game this Sunday (9.13).

We have a 4-session parenting class called Nurtured Heart Approach (9.17). So excited to be learning from Greg Gallagher and hanging out with other parents who desire to become better parents.

I am developing and teaching my core leaders the "Same Page" overview for all of wwKids (9.19), then we will begin to offer this core training to everyone who is currently serving and will begin serving in wwKids.

Of everything going on I have to admit that I am most excited about Soul Dig (9.24). I have prepared and will facilitate a 8 month class called Soul Dig. We will meet once a month for 3 hours of centering prayer, lectio divina, art, journaling, etc. It will be highly interactive, yet deeply personal and reflective. I am humbled to be journeying with this group of women. We will end our 7 months together with a 4-day silent retreat in Huntington, Indiana.

Finally the Winds will be adding a mid-week meeting called, The Centre (10.2). This gathering will require weekly childcare arrangements. I'd love to offer a kids' program but I do not have staff or volunteers to do that.

. . . end of October a week's vacation, a trip to the UP fall cottage. It's a sacred place, for me.

The Lord is my shepherd. . . I lack for nothing.

Pure Gift

Yesterday was pure gift. I woke up with a heavy heart & many things on my mind, but God blessed my day.

My gift was non ending:
baking zucchini muffins

riding bikes with the kids
picnic lunch at the lake

buying .25 cent zucchini

sharing an ice cream flurry - 3 ways

a butterfly that sprung from its cocoon, yet did not make it
napping with my son
painting & fishing

Teaching Jeff to use the "good" knife and cut zucchini to put in the food processor. He got 8 cups from 3 zucchini. I realized that I don't give my kids enough "meaningful" responsibility. Jeff was incredibly excited to do this new task. He was capable and compotent and now each time this winter when I make zucchini muffins, I'll remind Jeff about the day he was such a big help to me.

I felt God's presence with me all day.
What a loving gift from a loving father.