beWARM

The Christmas lights are up at Enza’s house. This was a wise move on the part of our daughter Kristy and her husband Leif, as they are expecting a baby boy to arrive in the next few weeks. New babies don’t allow much time for light stringing.

Our granddaughter Enza, age 3 1/2, was overjoyed to see the twinkling lights, and exclaimed with joy, “Now Santa can find our house!”

Having a grandchild has done wonders for my view of the world. Seeing things through Enza’s innocent eyes, all fresh and new and exciting, has awakened the child in me that I had tucked away somewhere.

Here I am, so amused about these lights. Years ago I would get annoyed when Christmas decorations started to appear, even before the last slice of turkey had been carved.

You know, there was always that one house in the neighborhood that took great pleasure in flipping that switch soon after Thanksgiving, wanting to be the first to welcome in the season – and have one up on the rest of us.

Part of my displeasure stemmed from feeling the mounting  pressure of all the holiday responsibilities. Was I ever going to be able to get everything done – and not still be out shopping two days before Christmas? And how dare they be so organized?

I have since relaxed my standards – and my expectations – about the holidays. I have tried desperately not to get sucked into the wild frenzy of trying to achieve seasonal perfection.

Concentrating on enjoying people has preempted visions of decorations worthy of magazine pages. (I can still enjoy the holidays, even if I don’t pass Martha Stewart’s muster.)

But back to Enza’s lights (which I heartily endorse).

Each of us has a few strings of lights within – those  sunny spots that, when shared, can elicit a smile or brighten a gloomy day. Do we have them readily available, or are they boxed up inside?

We should use them as often as we can… so every day could feel like a holiday. Who needs a special occasion to bring out the best in others?

Think of figuratively flipping the switch on those lights, just when someone needs their spirits lifted. You might just make all the difference in the world to them.

And as an added bonus, the act of doing something nice for someone else is good for the soul.

So…where are you storing your inner lights? And where might you use them if you had the chance? Would you turn them on with a kind word, a special favor  – or even a hug?

If you have hidden them away, seek them out. Dust them off. Get reacquainted with their many uses.

Locate that extension cord, and connect that plug. Use those megawatts to beam out your smile. Light up your house with laughter.

Why?

Not so God will find you. He already knows where you are.

Do it so others will find Him in you…

By the grace of God, on this day our dear friend Milan is celebrating his ReBirthday. Thanks to the miracles of modern medicine,  he received the precious gift of a new liver, 14 years ago!

 For Milan, this was his second transplant, after an earlier one failed – so he knew full well the challenges he would face as he recovered from the surgery.

His wife Jan, also a dear friend, served as his champion caregiver and cheerleader extraordinaire as he regained his health – and his life.

Milan has said that he thinks one of the reasons God allowed him to go on with life was so that he could continue to care for his patients as a cardiologist. (and he is an outstanding one at that)  And speaking of hearts, Milan’s outpours with love and generosity to his family, friends and patients at all times.

It is no easy thing to endure such a surgery – but, if you have faith, and the will to live, as Milan did, much can be overcome.

Here in Santa Fe, our friend David  has a new life for the same reason; he had a  liver transplant  this summer. He too has a cheerful and dedicated wife and friend, Ellen, who delights in the progress he is making as his health returns.

David’s personal mission field is that  of reaching out to those who are struggling with addiction, and walking along side them with encouragement.  His ministry is that of truth – and hope. David has touched many people with his warm and engaging personality.

I wonder how it must feel to come to that definitive moment – before the surgery, when the severity and risks of the procedure become so real…and then the awe, wonder, thankfulness (and naturally, the worry) that arrive upon its successful completion.

How does a person begin a new chapter, a rebirth…a fresh chance at living?  Anticipating  the arrival of the lifesaving organ must elicit much reflection and evaluation – of life as it has been, and of hopeful vision of a new and improved existence.

For those in need of  organ transplants, one’s condition must be of a critical nature to be put on “The List”. Next comes “The Waiting”…in hopes that the right match will arrive…before it is too late.

At this juncture, the concept of  control is relinquished, perhaps to fate in the minds of some;  for others, surrender – to God’s will  -becomes their operative word (no pun  intended).

 Again, by the grace of God, most of us will never have to have an organ transplant – but, if we think really hard, isn’t there some part of us that, could use a “remodel” –  a transformation?

What cerebral “cancers” have permeated our minds, distracting us from the joy and peace we so desire?  Might we need an excision of that spot of bitterness, or a radical resection of that mass of fear and doubt?

Maybe our repressed anger could be assuaged by a few sessions of radiation –  of God’s warm, unconditional  love.

God continually gives us the chance to be “reborn”, by giving us the opportunity to discard destructive habits and attitudes, thereby turning our hearts toward Him.

Once Milan and David  agreed to be put on the liver transplant list, their only option was to wait and hope…and trust.

On the other hand, we have the freedom to choose….and to act on our decisions regarding our self-improvement procedures.

To Milan – we celebrate your many ReBirthdays with the fullest joy. And David, we look forward  to reveling  in your continued ReBirthdays.   We admire the courage and conviction  you both have – and your example.

As we  consider the blessing of  your  lives, we  have  renewed apprecation of our own.

May we all be reborn in the littlest ways each and every day…

And let us be thankful that the choice is ours.

You were taught, with regard to your former way of life, to put off your old self….  to be made new in the attitude of your minds;  and to put on the new self, created to be like God in true righteousness and holiness.  Ephesians 4: 22-24

     Sotto Voce –   (pronounced , sot -toh voh -che) (literally “under voice”), an Italian expression, means to speak under one’s breath. In music, a dramatic lowering of the vocal or instrumental tone — not necessarily pianissimo, but with a hushed quality

Within a 24 hour period this weekend, our musical intake covered a wide spectrum.  There are a myriad of melodies still dancing around in my head, creating new harmonies. First came Donizetti‘s comic opera Don Pasquale, a performance by the New York Metropolitan Opera viewed live in HD at the Lensic Theater.

Even if you are not an opera fan, The HD experience places you in the center of the action, in such a way that is captivating. ( for me, that translates to not one minute of “napping” during the entire performance)

As a bonus, you get to see behind the scenes; between acts, performers are interviewed, and you get a bird’s eye view of  the sets being changed. If you have the opportunity, you should give this a try – at least once. You might get hooked.

Next in the musical line-up…A performance of Stephen Sondheim’s “Company” by Santa Fe REP.  Having seen this many years ago,  observing differences in this director’s staging and character presentation was refreshing, and we enjoyed hearing the familiar songs.  The production was well done – and funny!

Still within this 24 hour period,  more music…this time at church, as a singer…with our amazingly talented worship team leaders,  Diane and John Gibbs.  Enjoying the chance to pour out some of those notes I had injested the day before, I found myself reflecting on the privilege of being able to praise God through music.

Later, when the sheer volume of  “note-intake” continued to overwhelm me, a longing for quietness crept in.  I am a firm believer that silence is a treasure that many shy away from in a world stuffed with aural stimulation at every turn.

Quiet…imagine that.

And envision time spent just sitting with God…enjoying His presence…without any pressure or expectation on His part.

He loves it when we can just be…with Him.

For the past few years, I have made an effort to spend more time in stillness with God.  Most times, I  sit quietly, earnestly trying to empty my mind  – sometimes a trash bin of excess “chatter” – of all distractions.

In other instances, I practice Centering Prayer, which involves repetition of a personal “prayer word”;  when my mind wanders off  ( and believe me, it often does), coming back to that special word brings me back to where I want to be – with God.

The remarkable discovery has been that  taking the time for noiselessness brings added dimension to my day.  The inner tranquility that results allows  the day that I had perceived as crammed with activity to feel broad and expansive.

God, with His all-encompassing peace, has come to the rescue.

When was the last time you experienced complete, total silence – even more than a sotto voce  whisper?

On my first attempt, even a few minutes seemed an eternity.  Now, a twenty minute interval is a luxurious interlude.

Music and theater will always be an important and enriching part of my life.  They are gifts from God, as are all other things of beauty in this world.

To me, though, the most precious….and enduring gift…is the time spent in deepening my relationship with God.

Try out some silence…

It is there…where you truly hear His Music.

My soul finds rest in God alone; my salvation comes from Him. ~Psalm 62:1

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For a secular discussion of the lack of silence in our world, visit this link: http://www.salon.com/books/feature/2010/04/04/pursuit_of_silence_interview

On one of our jaunts about New Mexico, Joey and I headed south toward White Sands National Monument near Alamagordo.  Our well worn New Mexico hiking guide in tow, we pored over our hiking possibilities.

We wanted a challenge, but had limited time. We selected a hike called Dog Canyon, described as “strenuous” because of the elevation gain.  Our book did not elaborate the reason behind the name, but did state that the trail was used by the Apache Indians from 1850 to 1881 as a route of retreat from military forces.

Upon approaching the trail head, our hearts sank a bit. The terrain looked brown and scrubby, rather uninteresting. Knowing that at this point in the day, it was this hike or no hike at all, we resigned to the fact that if exercise was a priority, we’d better hit the trail. When we got tired of huffing and puffing, we would just turn around.

Off we went, with little expectations beyond burning some calories to justify dessert after dinner. The start of the hike was unremarkable.

As we climbed higher, little specks of color began to peek out of the otherwise drab landscape. As our curiosity piqued, our steps quickened.  Patches of yellow desert flowers were everywhere, sprinkling sun-soaked loveliness across the landscape, delighting our eyes.

We marveled at nature’s surprise – and, as always, agreed that God’s creation is nothing short of magnificent.

Being able to condense thoughts into compact form –  a diminutive dialect that can be used when all else fails, is a delicious secret.

We have preserved the memory of that hike in two short words that have become our verbal shorthand for the following:

~Things are not what they seem.
~Don’t prejudge a person or situation.
~Give something the benefit of the doubt.
~Looks are deceiving.
~There is hidden beauty in everything.

In the years following that hike,  when it might be easy to fall into that trap of not looking beneath the surface long enough to give someone or something a chance, the mental image of that day returns.

When that moment arrives, and all other words miss the mark, we smile as we knowingly utter our reminder…

Dog Canyon.

While I know myself as a creation of God, I am also obligated to realize and remember that everyone else and everything else are also God’s creation. ~Maya Angelou~

Though we travel the world over to find the beautiful, we must carry it with us or we find it not.
~Ralph Waldo Emerson ~

When I was in my teens, I spent a great deal of time studying people’s hands.  Perhaps that was because I spent endless hours gazing at my own as I practiced the piano.

Insignificant as they might seem, our hands are our full-time employees. They are the hunters and gatherers, the facilitators, the “executive branch” of our bodies.

My hands aren’t much to look at – kind of short and squatty, but strong, with a wide finger span (very helpful with the piano). I gaze at women who have slender fingers and very elegant hands with wistful admiration.

Okay…so looks aren’t everything. I am grateful for all of the music my hands have made, the countless culinary adventures they have had.  Happy to give hugs, and quick to wipe away another’s tears, they are at the ready in service to others. And oh, the myriad of emotions they can express! (that’s the Italian in me).

My husband Joey has beautiful hands; in my opinion, they are perfectly suited for manipulating microscopic surgical instruments.  His are hands that help heal and restore vision.  They are also the best for holding as we walk or hike together!

The ultimate hand, that of God, has given us life. When our days sail smoothly along, void of  difficulties or distractions, He is tops on our list.

As we whirl around in our daily orbits, we can lose sight of God, maybe even take Him for granted.

And what happens when life knocks us for a loop, when we want to say “why me”  – when we want God to come to our rescue?  When our problem doesn’t have a quick solution, it may seem as if He is missing in action…on sabbatical…or just not caring.

A life without trials or challenges is simply not an option. A wise friend once told me, “God never promised that we wouldn’t have troubles; what He promised was that He will always be with us in times of trouble.”

If we look carefully, we begin to see how God gives us the opportunity to use our past times of challenge to minister to others. We are able to figuratively join hands and hearts through a shared experience, and know that we are not alone.

When we are fortunate enough to get through those tunnels of turbulence and breathe some fresh air, we realize that we are stronger, more mindful of God’s presence, and so very thankful to be on the other side. We survived!

Most important, even though situations or people may disappoint or hurt us, God is always present, feeling our pain, extending His hand to us.

All we have to do is grasp it…

“For I am the Lord , your God, who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you.”     Isaiah 41:13