Press on…

I have decided to kick up my physical activity as I continue to try to break the weight loss plateau that I have been on since Christmas. So this week along with the walking that I do (on avg, 90 min a day) and the stability ball core strengthening (3 times a week, about 15 min each time), I have added 20 min on the elliptical trainer, about 4 times a week.

People keep telling me that I look great and that I could quit losing weight now. But the thing is – I have a goal. And at this moment I am 25 pounds away from that goal (I put on 2.6 pounds at last weigh-in). I want to reach my goal.

At first I was quite down hearted about the plateau that has plagued me for several weeks. But on Monday it hit me that down-hearted-ness was getting me nowhere. If I wanted to break the plateau, I was going to have to DO SOMETHING to break the plateau. It also hit me that if I am as serious about my goal as I say I am, the the only thing to do is to press on towards it.

Paul wrote these words to the church in Phillipi while he was in prison: “I press on to reach the end of the race and receive the heavenly prize for which God, through Christ Jesus, is calling us.” (Philippians 3:14 NLT)

Even locked in a cell, Paul refused to give up on the life to which Jesus had called him. I admire his determination. Often I have felt a lack of determination in myself. I am, at heart, a lazy creature.

But ever so slowly, Jesus is growing me up. And as he does that I am discovering things about myself that I never really knew were possible. I am determined to reach my fitness goals (and it really has become more about being fit than being skinny I. The last few months); I am determined to keep a blog as a spiritual practice – part of my ongoing relationship with the Father, Son and Holy Spirit.

For the first time I feel like I have an affinity for Paul’s phrase “press on”, and I think this new determination will serve me well in the long run.

My friends, whatever you are facing, may God give you the strength to press on, too!

What a privilege…

It is hard to put today into words…there have been so many great moments and I think most of them (from the outside looking in) would appear utterly mundane. But from my perspective, they have affirmed once again that God is at work in our world and that I have the privilege of being there to see Him at work.

In prayers and insights shared today, in a quiet compliment, in the chance to serve, I found the deep blessing of God and abundant life that Jesus promised.

So this is a short post to simply express my gratitude to God for all the good gifts in my life and for the privilege of this call to full-time ministry.

Happy Valentine’s…

So all day Facebook has been lighting up with updates that have to do with Valentine’s Day. Some are quotes about love, some are friends sharing pictures of gifts received, some are comments on dinners shared. It’s been really sweet to see people sharing their feelings this way.

There is a popular thought out there that Valentine’s Day is all about selling chocolate and flowers. That real couples would be best to ignore the 14th of February, in favour of celebrating their love every day. And part of me likes that thought. I certainly like the idea of non-commercial celebrations. But (forgive me if this offends you), often I have noticed a certain smugness in those who ignore Valentines. It’s an attitude that seems to say that they have the best way figured out, and that all those who buy chocolate and flowers, bake dinners, make heart-shaped cookies, send cards, or celebrate in any way are foolish.

As a single girl, who has never once celebrated Valentine’s Day with someone special in my life, I find myself bothered by that. I would really enjoy doing something special on the 14th of February with the man I love. I hope that my future holds some of those celebrations in it. And I hope, when I do get to celebrate that way, no one will think that I need some special day in order to celebrate my love. I hope that those who know me would be able to see that it is simply something I enjoy.

(Now, before I go any further, let me say this: I am not wallowing in self-pity as a single person on Valentine’s Day. In fact, I kept forgetting it was V-Day, only to be reminded again with each new post. And I enjoyed my day immensely.)

But I will say that all the images, quotes and comments have given me a bit of a case of love-on-the-brain. I’ve been thinking about love today. What it means when it is real. How people fall in it and then fall back out of it. How some people never seem to find it and others seem to find it too often.

When I think of love – even in reaction to pink candy hearts or schmaltzy movies or red roses – part of my brain always goes to Jesus. There is a song I adore, written from the first-person perspective of Jesus and it starts off “I have always been a lover, since before I drew a breath. And somethings I’ve loved easy, and some I’ve loved to death.” (Derek Webb, Lover)

Jesus teaches us what love is supposed to look like. Not necessarily romantic love (although I believe He can teach us about that, too), but any kind of love. For friends or family or the stranger who passes you on the street.

Jesus said: “This is my command: Love one another the way I loved you. This is the very best way to love. Put your life on the line for your friends.” (John 15:12, MSG)

What if the whole world learned to love each other that way?

Transitions

I had more than one conversation with more than one colleague today about various transitions we are going through.

For me, my body is in transition as I work toward my goal weight (I am trying not to grumble about the current plateau). My church is in transition as we welcome the Rev. Dr. Bob Spencer as an interim minister and as we continue to search for a new lead minister. My finances are in transition as I work toward a savings goal and a debt reduction goal.

Even the weather is in transition – this winter it has been almost a daily transition from spring to winter to spring again. But in the past week I have noticed the sun feeling a little stronger on my skin and the daylight lasting a little longer (we are only 4 Sundays away from the Spring Forward time change, yay!).

It occurs to me that everything in our world is in a state of transition all the time. Things don’t last. Not to be too maudlin, but from the day we are born we begin to die.

And I guess that is why I love Jesus so much. Because he doesn’t change. He is outside of time, impervious to its slow decay (except, of course, for that 33 year period when he submitted himself to it). He is eternal and the relationship we have with him, if we choose to have a relationship with him, is eternal.

What he offers us – on going life in the Kingdom of God, peace, hope, redemption, love…I could go on – is eternal.

In a world that is always changing and decaying, I find soul-deep comfort in the eternal nature of Jesus.

Feeling wordless

As the title says, I’m feeling wordless…so tonight is a night to post some pics of my favorite canine, Koski, who is currently beside me on the couch, leaning her head against my arm.

With her head on my legs as we settle in for a nap.

 

I woke her up from her sleep and she's giving me the LOOK. 🙂

 

My little snuggle monkey, just before posting this blog.

Celebrate!

Last night I had the chance to be at a friend’s 30th Birthday party. It was a great night out with good shoes, an excuse to wear a pretty dress, good food and an un-freaking-real cake.

It got me thinking about was this decade I’m in. My 30’s have been good to me. I bought my first car. I bought and sold my first house. I fell in love – though it didn’t last. I became a mom to two fur-babies. I have learned so much about who I am in this decade. I have turned the corner towards the end of this decade (turning 37 this year), and I realized, I don’t really want to see my 30’s end.

Now, the reality is that time marches on and my thirties will be a memory sooner rather than later. And I’m also wise enough (I hope!) to know that there will be wonderful things in my 40’s, 50’s, etc.

But I guess last night’s party has me feeling the need to look around and smell the roses a bit. To acknowledge how great these years have been and to enjoy life as it continues to unfold, because time is precious and short. Every day is a gift.

And any chance to celebrate with friends is a chance to acknowledge all the good that God has brought into our lives. So whether you find yourself at a party in the next few days, or sharing a quiet dinner with loved ones. I hope you take the chance to celebrate.

Blessed by colleagues…

Today I had the chance to catch up with one of my peers from my Seminary days. We have kept in touch since graduating (thank God we have lived close enough to each other to find a midway point to meet up every once in a while) and have even been on Study Leave together.

Today we had brunch and spent a couple of hours talking shop. We talked about our congregations, our Presbyteries, our elders, our peers, our hopes and our faith. And it was a blessing.

I am blessed by great colleagues in the ministry. Folks who I can call/text/instant message at any time. Some who I interact with mainly on Facebook, some who I see on a regular basis, some who I speak to on the phone regularly. Every time I have a chance to catch up with one of these folks I am blessed. We enrich each others’ ministry. We pray for each other. We get excited for each others’ successes and we support each other in times of failure.

And I with each of them, I am reminded that we are made for relationship. We are not made to do this on our own. Life in God’s service is beautiful and sometimes terrifying. It is stressful and it is sacred. And we were made to go this road together.

So to Heather – thanks for the time, the chat, the prayer and the friendship. And to all my other colleagues who walk this road with me I say the same.

An unexpected post…

I had planned on blogging about our Wednesday night study at St. A’s tonight. But then I got home and called my Mom…she asked if I’d gotten an email from my Dad. After a bit of conversation it became clear that he had sent it to an old email address. Mom and I kept talking while Dad headed off to the computer…

So when I got off the phone, I received an email from my Dad in which he told me that he had preached on Galatians 6:9 last Sunday, which says: Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. (NIV)

He told his congregation about some expensive sunglasses that I bought at the Catalyst conference in October. Built into the cost of the sunglasses was the cost of one person receiving their sight (through surgery, other medical treatment or by receiving prescription glasses) in the third world. He told his congregation that my generosity amazes him and sometimes makes him ashamed because (in his eyes), I do not become weary in doing good. And he wrote to me that he needs to “pay a lot for for a pair sunglasses so a child gets her sight through surgery.”

The story becomes a little more complicated at this point, because TOMS (the company through which I got the sunglasses and helped someone receive sight) does not sell their eyewear in Canada. And their American site does not ship to Canada. I am working on the details of how to help my father do this good work which will benefit some unknown, but in-need, person on the other side of the world.

What I really want to talk about, though, is how as I wrote a teary email response to my Dad it became clear to me that any generosity I have is really due to the relationship I have with Jesus Christ. It is His work in my life that creates in me generosity and a love for others (known or unknown). And it it is because my parents love Jesus deeply that they did everything they could to encourage faith in me.

So as highly as my father thinks of me (and trust me, I know how big a blessing that is), I am indebted to him and all the ways that he has taught me. I guess you could call my Dad and I a mutual admiration society.

A new thing…

I started a new project tonite. I don’t want to say anything about what it is because I hope it will be a gift for someone who may (or may not!) read this blog and I don’t want to ruin the surprise.

There is something good and refreshing about starting something new. Even though the project is a decent amount of work and will take some time to finish, I like the beginning steps. I like knowing that I am creating something and if I just keep putting one foot in front of the other (so to speak) I will have made something meaningful.

I wonder if God feels that way whenever a new person is born. I mean, we have free will and so it’s not the same as my project (which has no will of its own), but I wonder if God has that same thrill of a new thing begun.

Or maybe God feels like that every time someone begins a relationship with Him – that would be the moment when God really begins to shape that persons life.

New things – whether they are ideas, projects, experiences, or new life – always make me think of Jesus saying to his mother “Look, I am making all things new.” Jesus was broken and bloodied and on his way to a painful death. And even then, he could see the newness in what was happening to the world through his death.

Finally!

After what feels like endless weeks of grey weather (though I’m sure it hasn’t been that long), we finally had a gorgeous, perfect, beautiful sunny day today.

The picture above was the view on the path as I took a second walk with Koski this afternoon. There is something about a day like this after such a long period of dull grey days, that lifts the spirit. It is like a revelation. I thought of a quote from The Return of the King by J.R.R. Tolkien as I walked this afternoon:

‘A great Shadow has departed,’ said Gandalf,
and then he laughed, and the sound was like music,
or like water in parched land.

That is exactly what today was like. And I am struck by the thought of how fleeting these times are. Who knows when the next perfectly blue sky will come? Maybe tomorrow – maybe not for weeks. A day like this is a gift from God, and it ought to be enjoyed and experienced to the fullest.

So I am glad that I got out for almost two full hours of walking today. I am glad that I got to feel the sun on my face and to stare up at that perfect blue sky.

I hope God gifts us with an abundance of days like this. And I hope I am never too busy, too jaded, or too wrapped up in myself to treasure the simple pleasure of a sunny day.