Thoughts on Tree Trimming

Seriously, my husband loves that new chainsaw.

      My husband is trimming trees in anticipation of the snow.  The last thing we need is a snow laden branch crashing onto the new roof. My job is to tidy up all the branches. We plan to coordinate a debris burn with the local fire department. All this trimming and hauling got me thinking about the organic metaphors in John 15.
     John 15:1-2 states, " I am the true vine and my Father is the gardener.  He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes."  When I read this my first thought is:  I feel pruned enough, can we stop now?  The last year and half have literally brought me to my knees.  I am ready to do whatever God wants.  So,  I am hoping I can move onto verse 7:   "If you remain in me and my words remain in you, ask whatever you wish, and it will be given you."  Because Lord, I am not even asking for a job for my husband anymore.  I am praying for his highest spiritual good and whatever will serve your purpose. Amen.
    The branch pile is big.  Sweet Jesus, I hope I don't have that much debris in my soul...I don't have enough lifetime left to clear it! I do like the metaphor of clearing out though.  If we clear out the dead wood maybe we leave room for the Holy Spirit to create something new and beautiful.  I can't be sure, but that's my metaphor for today. Peace to you.

John 15:6: "If anyone does not remain in me, he is like a branch that is thrown away and withers."

Ninja Mom and The Very Steep Hill

     I live in the mountains of Utah.  My neighborhood is at about 6500 feet above sea level.  This is excellent news for future road races out of state.  Until that time, my hilly running route serves to fortify my heart and challenge my ideas of what is possible.  "The Hill of Death"  is a centerpiece of my training.

"The Hill Of Death" looking up

     I baptized the hill, The Hill of Death, due to its incredible, icy winter nature. If that hill is icy in just the right way you are going through the intersection whether you want to or not.  It takes some fancy winter driving to stay out of the adjacent field. As it happens, the challenges of driving the hill pale compared to running it.

Easy on the downhill, you can end up in the field below!

     When I run this hill, I become prayerful.  Neighbors are apt to hear phrases like, "Lord have mercy" and "Holy God!" springing from my parched lips. On the inside I am uttering words that would make a sailor blush. So if you see me running, please do not confuse desperation with holiness! This morning when I ran the hill, I started thinking about difficulties in our lives.  Oftentimes, when things are good, I forget to be grateful.  But when things are tough, I become one prayerful gal.
     Suffering is the classic theological question.  How can a good God let his people suffer?  How can good people forget to say thank you?  Challenges make me realize I need help.  Whether it's the "Hill of Death", a health crisis or a family problem, hard times remind me of what's important.
     Do I welcome challenge and suffering?  Hardly. I am not that spiritually evolved. However, I am more aware of the many graces and gifts that come my way.  So I say this: Take on the Hill.  It's okay to swear a little, but hold fast to prayer. Maybe the prayers of our desperate times will become the habits of our lifetimes. 

Snowy Running and Surprise Gifts

     This morning I did my 5 mile run.  It was windy and snowy.  Did I mention it was snowy? As I ran, or rather jogged along, a flurry of thoughts passed through my brain. Surprisingly, not all of my thoughts were weather related. It occurred to me that running is very much like life.

Being swift is good, but Ninjas must also be persistent.

      Ecclesiastes 9:11 reads, " The race is not to the swift."  Excellent news as my sprint would be considered another's jog or walk.  Here, I am talking about running but also spiritual progress.  It takes me a long time to learn a lesson.  In fact, I have encountered the same circumstances many a time before changing my stubborn ways, but God is persistent. Psalm 97:10 reminds me, "for he guards the lives of his faithful ones."  Notice here, it does not say perfect or swift; it says faithful.
     As the snow blew in my face, I thought about the difficulties that come up in all our lives.  Job loss, illness, separation and discord are scattered across our paths.  When these things happen, where does help come from? "I lift my eyes to the hills-where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the maker of  heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip; he who watches over you will not slumber;"  (Psalm 121:1-3) If I really integrate this belief into my being, I will not have cause for anxiety.  The LORD does not sleep and He watches over me.  However, this does NOT mean we will be free from suffering and trials.
      In fact in James 1:2-4 we learn that God sees trials as purposeful.  "Consider it a pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not -lacking anything." If I am honest, I would tell you that I have learned more over the last year and a half than I have in any other time in my life. So much in fact, that I now see my challenges as teachers. Believe me, I would not have said this before. I now understand some of the things that God has been working on all along.
     When you run a half marathon, you have to do the training to be successful. Spirit training demands the same diligence.  As I shuffled up the big hill (twice) today, I thought about the last year.  My challenges are like that steep, imposing hill, painful to go through, but great when you get to the top. Isaiah 40:31 offers encouragement: "But those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength. They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run but not grow weary, they will walk and not be faint."
     I believe this is true and I am glad that His blessing also covers walking.  I may be doing some walking during my half-marathon, but I am grateful for good health. A year ago I could not walk a mile without sitting down.  1 Corinthians 12:4 says, there are different gifts but the same spirit.  Who knows, maybe one of my gifts is perseverance? Be blessed.

Hiking a Middle Rainbow

     The air was misty. I stepped onto the porch and started walking to my car.  The I saw my second rainbow of late. I could see the ends, but the middle was buried in the clouds. I longed to see the middle of the rainbow, just as I long to see God's plan for me.  Addison Road's song, "Change in the Making" really speaks to my current situation:
                                                 This is redemption's story
                                                 With every step that I'm taking
                                                 Everyday you're chipping away
                                                 What I don't need
                                                 This is me under construction
                                                 This is my pride being broken
                                                 And everyday I'm closer to who I'm meant to be
                                                  I'm a change in the making

Ready to hike?  Let's go!

  Genesis 9:12-13 reads :  And God said, "This is a sign of the covenant I am making between me and you and every living creature with you, a covenant for all generations to come:  I have set my rainbow in the clouds, and it will be the sign of the covenant between me and the earth." Our God is the Majestic Creator of the galaxies, the planets and the spectacular beauty of nature. He is also our faithful, personal God.  I have a sneaking suspicion that the miraculous is more common than we believe.   I am hiking a challenging path.  It's steep in parts, but it does have breathtaking views.  My backpack has tissues, lip balm, water, snacks and a photo of my son. There's something rolling around in the bottom. It's round. It's tiny. It's my faith, the size of  a mustard seed.  It may be my most fragile, most important asset.  Tolkien wrote: "Not all who wander are lost."  Carry on.

Don't forget to bring the  faith.

Unexpected Rainbows

   I got up early this morning.  I had coffee with my husband before his job interview.  When he departed, I decided to get out and do my 4 mile run.
    It was a cool 57 F with a thick blanket of fog shrouding the mountains.  I began walking to warm up.  The road was clear but the fog hung like heavy fabric over the nearby meadow. Hmm, I wondered, does the fog cover the mountains?  I stopped and looked up.  I gasped.  A stunning sight was right in front of me:   The fog cradled the bottom of the mountain range and a complete, vibrant rainbow pierced the fog and arched over the neighborhood.   I have never seen such a vivid rainbow.
     The last year has been rife with challenges.  For reasons unknown to me, the rainbow springing from the fog encouraged me.  My husband did not get the job, but I know God is faithful.  Maybe it wasn't the right job for him.  I didn't pray that he would get the job.  I prayed for his highest good and for whatever was best for our family.
     Rainbows occur when water droplets refract sunlight into component colors.  A water drop acts like a prism.   So without some rain, or at least moisture, there is no rainbow.  The difficulty of the last year has yielded unexpected rainbows.  It has given me the opportunity to show my husband how much I love him and believe in him.  My husband has spent a lot of quality time with our son.  To love in hard times is to love truly and deeply.  We have spent more time as a family this thrifty year.  We watch movies at home, play board games,  do projects and laugh a lot.   Water droplets may be prisms for beautiful rainbows, but challenges can be prisms for real love.  I am grateful.
   

I lift my eyes to the hills, where does my help come from?  My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of  heaven and earth.
 (Psalm 121)

     

A Change of Heart

     " I am never coming here again," I informed my husband.  We were visiting relatives for the holidays.  I overheard some angry, alcohol infused comments about our visit.  In that moment, I was full of anger for myself and hurt for my husband.  Righteous anger becomes almost delicious; you are hurt and you feed your anger to keep it alive.  Unfortunately, I am an expert on delicious anger.  I managed to maintain my no visit policy for 5 years.  Then something changed my heart:  My love for my son.

My son makes me want to be a better person

    My attachment to anger kept my son from his extended family.   Proverbs 10:12 states, "Hatred stirs up dissension, but love covers over all wrongs."  There are no Biblical pronouncements that encourage nurturing your anger or holding grudges.  On the contrary, Christ himself spoke at length on the topic of loving your enemies.  A recent reading of Luke  6:32 addressed me directly:  "If you love those who love you, what credit is that to you? Even 'sinners' love those who love them."  Ouch!  Following Jesus is much easier to chat about and write about than to carry out.  I agreed to a visit but with some parameters for success.

     First, our visit would be a short 4 days.  When we left,  folks would still be glad we came. Next, we would stay with different family this time.  We would be close enough to visit folks, but we could take a break if needed.  Finally, we drove our own car so we would not impose on anyone and could depart when we liked.  With theses parameters in place, we were set for a successful visit and that is exactly what happened.

     When we arrived, family ran to greet us.   They were so happy to see us.  I felt some ice slip off my heart.  My son had long conversations with his grandfather.  He played games with his favorite cousin.  His grandma cooked for him; he ate like a king.  His uncle told him police stories.  I read my book and  made polite conversation.  I learned that anger, even justified anger, can be selfish.  I want my son to make family connections.  I want him to know that none of us is perfect, but that we can love perfectly. 

     Following God's will is uncomfortable.  It brings me face to face with parts of myself that I would rather hide.  The success of this visit had nothing to do with my strength and everything to do with my weakness.  If His power is made perfect in my weakness, then my weakness is a welcome  gift.  I prayed for grace before and during our trip.  My prayers were answered ten times over.  As I listened to my mother-in-law talk about reconciliation with her long estranged sister, my heart completely softened.  I was truly glad for them. 

     When the New Testament talks of treasure, it specifically addresses money and worldly goods.  Treasure is also the riches of your heart.  I wanted to nourish my hurt, harden my heart and not participate in any type of healing.  God had other plans.   When we were leaving, my mother-in-law said, " Thank you for coming back."  Those words were a balm to my soul.  I am grateful that my love for my son pulled me out of myself and into a new space.  Now,  I could  receive her words and open my heart.

     

Even Hummingbirds Meditate

     Hummingbirds have very high metabolisms and are incredible flyers.  To stoke their super metabolisms, they eat often.  Their diet consists of  insects and nectar.  These behaviors are easily seen by the casual observer, but the hummingbirds ability to slow its metabolism at rest, torpor, is their best kept secret.
     According to World of Hummingbirds.com,http://www.worldofhummingbirds.com/sleep.php, the hummingbird finds a comfortable roost and commences a type of hibernation.  The bird can lower its metabolism to 1/15 of normal.  An active hummingbird's heart can beat as much as 1200 times per minute.  By contrast, in torpor the little bird lowers its heart rate to around 50 beats per minute.   Breathing slows dramatically as well.  In this way, hummingbirds are able to achieve the deep restoration that they need for survival.  Hummingbirds enter torpor because of their survival instinct,  but humans can choose to enter a meditative state at any time.
      The benefits of  a regular meditation practice are cumulative, but meditation can also be used as an on the spot tool.  This morning I had routine outpatient surgery; I used 20 minutes of meditation to still my mind and calm my pulse rate. It works.
     The web site, I Need Motivation, lists 100 physiological and psychological benefits of meditation.  Some physiological benefits include:  1) lower oxygen consumption 2) decreased respiratory rate 3) increased blood flow and slowed heart rate 4) reduction in anxiety due to lower levels of blood lactate and 5) improved immunity.  If you would like a more formal, informative article on various methods of meditation and how to begin, check this Mayo clinic link: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/meditation/HQ01070/NSECTIONGROUP=2  Finally, The American Mind and Body Institute in Boston has done scholarly and trailblazing research into meditation for 40 years.  Recent work has used the MRI to view the physiological changes that occur during meditation.  You can review a plethora of information at http://www.massgeneral.org/search.aspx?q=mri+meditation&st=0&x=24&y=16.
    Meditation has psychological, physiological and even spiritual benefits.  An unknown author once said,  "Prayer is talking to God, while meditation is listening."   Everyone can benefit from a little more listening.  Be blessed.
   
    .