Happy New Year!
Wednesday, August 12, 2015
Wednesday, August 5, 2015
Cincinnati, Ohio
National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
We arrived in Cincinnati (http://www.cincinnati-oh.gov/cityofcincinnati/visitors/) just in time to snag some supper before the game, but I saw this imposing figure nearby...
The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center (http://freedomcenter.org/). We didn't make it to the Center this time, but we'll get there the next time we are in town! Check out some of the work that they do (http://freedomcenter.org/get-involved/learn-and-engage)... and this was from their Facebook page...
July 29 at 7:22pm · Edited · The
eyes of the nation are on Cincinnati. Today the Hamilton County grand
jury returned an indictment for murder in the tragic shooting death of
Samuel DuBose during a routine traffic stop just over one week ago.
During that time the DuBose family has called repeatedly for only
nonviolent responses while seeking answers from the criminal justice
system. That answer is now at hand and the family’s continued calls for
nonviolent response to ensure that his peaceful way of life
can be remembered purely should be respectfully honored. At the same
time our community must continue to have open and transparent dialogue
as we look deeper into our nation’s racial disparities and seek freedom
and justice for all. The National Underground Railroad Freedom Center
stands ready to be a convener and provide a safe haven for these
conversations. Our thoughts and prayers go out to the DuBose family
during this difficult time. We echo their call for peace and join them
in their belief that the judicial process will reflect integrity and
yield a just outcome. #SamDuBose #BlackLivesMatter
Monday, August 3, 2015
Lunenburg, Vermont
Watching a Summer Storm with My Cousins
One of my happiest memories from the summer was watching a summer storm with my cousins. My cousin Kathy shared this amazing Scott Thorp picture (scottthorpphoto.com)on her Facebook page and, although this wasn't exactly what it looked like as we looked out from my Cousin Harold and his wife Pat's barn, it's pretty close.
The Dump
...and The Recycling Center
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| Garbage is a monster |
For one small cabin, we generate a lot of trash in the summer. I am so grateful that my handy dandy dump has one awesome recycling center close by! Not only do people leave books and other valuable goodies there to be snatched up and used rather than to sit in a landfill, we recycle just about everything in North Concord, Vermont! Now, when I say "we," I mean that the town has set up an effective system wherein I sort all of my recyclables, whatever can't composted or dumped: plastics, paper, cardboard, aluminum and yes, wait for it... glass! It is such a glorious feeling.
One day during Lent this past year, my English students were writing in their journals about their Lenten devotions. I shared that I had seen one woman's blog about how she was giving up plastic for Lent. As we debated this idea back and forth about how her sacrifice could bring her closer (or not) to God, we brought up pictures on the computer of the various garbage islands/patches (http://response.restoration.noaa.gov/about/media/how-big-great-pacific-garbage-patch-science-vs-myth.html). It is so powerful to see and learn about the devastation of our trail that we leave behind as we consume on a daily basis (http://thehigherlearning.com/2014/06/08/this-19-year-old-has-a-plan-to-clean-up-half-of-the-pacific-garbage-patch-in-10-years-video/).
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| from thehigherlearning.com |
This sight was powerful enough for me too that I finally made the jump away from disposable water bottles and styrofoam coffee cups (How could we do this at church for fellowship hour?) whenever possible to the reusable or recyclable ones. The ECHO aquarium in Burlington, Vermont (http://echovermont.org/) took their conservation efforts to the next level by educating the future generation (with a dash of fear perhaps) about the monster we are creating with our mounds of garbage. For those of us who live on the water, the aquarium's monster that they made out of water bottles was a visual reminder of the essential work that we all have to do. Go to http://rozaliaproject.org/ for more information about what you can do to save the oceans.
In ancestry.com...
"What are you looking for?"
As I listened to Derrick's sermon about John 6:25 - 35 on Sunday, after we had driven cross country from Vermont and arrived back in Nebraska, I was struck by the question that Jesus asked his disciples in John's Gospel, "What are you looking for?" Yes, I am absolutely always looking for the Bread of Life, but immediately, I began to think about genealogy and my obsession with ancestry.com.
In the summer while I am home in Vermont loving and serving my mom, I spend a lot of time trying to fill in the blanks in my genealogy puzzle. I track down cousins and their missing dates while stalking around in cemeteries trying to connect the leaves in our family tree. Sunday's sermon reminded me to ask myself, "what are you looking for?" in all of that data. I guess my answer remains the same... I am looking for the Bread of Life; I am looking for communion.communio or community with others. My family tree boasts some diversity... we don't all look the same or worship alike, but there is this life-giving force that wells up within me when I am with my family- past, present and future. And the irony is... we're all really one family, aren't we? So, for me, this adventure is really about forging connections and hearing the stories. Those stories inspire me to run the race that has been set before me. If I get off track, my family and my Lord, much like Lola our GPS...call me back with Light and Love onto the right path... "Recalculating..."
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| Cousins are family... |
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| We are all searching for something... |
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| from the beginning... |
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| Another genealogy junkie... I learn so much from Henrietta each summer! |
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| And our family continues to grow! Welcome, Bridget! |
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| Friends are family... |
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| Godchildren are family |
Monday, June 22, 2015
In My Father's Chair...
Father's Day 2015
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| My Father's Chair.... |
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| The Father-Daughter Dance... Many moons ago... |
As
I made my way into the cabin for the first time this summer, my Dad’s chair was
sitting in the middle of the room. I remembered
that my brother told me that they were going to get rid of it… unless I wanted
it. It’s not that we needed another camp
chair, but honestly I couldn’t let it go.
In the last 30 days of my Dad’s life, I felt like I lived in that chair,
and saying goodbye would be like saying goodbye to my Dad all
over again. I couldn’t do it. Our Dad was an honest to God reflection of
Our Heavenly Father…forgiveness, understanding, love and acceptance (mostly…
well, except for a former boyfriend or two who shall remain nameless), and on
Fathers’ Day 2015, I can’t help but reflect.
It’s Rick Springfield’s fault really.
There must be something about turning 50
years old that has made me so introspective (or the dozen pieces of Rick
Springfield paraphernalia that I received for my birthday….he is just so stinkin’ wise). Honestly most days I still consider myself
sweet 16, but perhaps it is just being Home for the summer and watching our Mom
struggle with her health issues on a daily basis. I feel my Father with me, and I talk to him
all day long. Sometimes though my prayers and
questions seem unanswered, so, as Rick Springfield said it best, “When the world turns sour/And I get sick from the smell/And
I can't find no comfort there/I climb into My Father's Chair./”
This chair holds and heals me (I
swear), bolstering me up for the challenges ahead and then propels me (quite literally) back out
into the fray of the day. Thanks,
Dad!
I love and miss you, Dad, and I can’t wait
until we are reunited in our Heavenly Home.
It may be a while, so until then, I will climb into My Father’s Chair whenever I need to feel your love.
“My Father's Chair Lyrics”
By Rick Springfield
My Father's Chair still standing
there
All alone since the long night
Now it's three years on and I still feel
He'll come home, we'll be alright
All alone since the long night
Now it's three years on and I still feel
He'll come home, we'll be alright
So
where's this healing time brings
I was told the pain would ease
But it still hurts like the first night
I was told the pain would ease
But it still hurts like the first night
That
night my brother, my mother and I
Were looking up at a distant star
And wishing we could reach that far
And back in the house
And alone for the first time
We told each other we cared
We avoided My Father's Chair
Were looking up at a distant star
And wishing we could reach that far
And back in the house
And alone for the first time
We told each other we cared
We avoided My Father's Chair
I
watch my family, we hold on
We are strong and we'll be alright
The clock continues counting down, all the while
And every child will share the long night
We are strong and we'll be alright
The clock continues counting down, all the while
And every child will share the long night
But
do the spirits meet again
Why am I still so filled with doubt
Is my soul everlasting
Why am I still so filled with doubt
Is my soul everlasting
And
the far distant future
When I knew you'd be gone
Came too fast and stays too long
Why do they leave the weak of spirit
And take the strong
When I knew you'd be gone
Came too fast and stays too long
Why do they leave the weak of spirit
And take the strong
When
the world turns sour
And I get sick from the smell
And I can't find no comfort there
I climb into My Father's Chair
And I get sick from the smell
And I can't find no comfort there
I climb into My Father's Chair
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