December Musings

“How can it be December already?” I don’t know how many people I’ve heard say this! It is remarkable how quickly time passes when we are going about our business of daily living. Suddenly, the next big date is here, and we realize all the things we didn’t get done that we had planned to do before now! Maybe I shouldn’t attribute this to all of us, but I bet more of you can relate than cannot!

As I think about the Christmas Story, I wonder if Mary experienced anything like this. I can only imagine that she and Joseph had plans. Even in their day, in that culture, there must have been dreams and feelings like what we know today. Wedding, home, children, all the excitement that comes with engagement! (Luke 1-2).

The big difference is that Mary’s time was cut short. It didn’t sneak up on her like it does to us. An angel visited and she and Joseph’s life was changed forever. Even the trip to Bethlehem seemed last minute as they arrived to find no room available in which they could stay. Today we would say “What poor planning! How did they not get on Google and find a place before they left town?!”

And here we are, six days before Christmas. Whether Christmas is celebrated or not, there is a real presence of the season around us. The stores push aside the common, everyday merchandise to make room for trees and sleighs and decorations from which we can select by theme or color or smell. It impacts all our senses as well as our cents. And, if we aren’t careful, we end up pushing aside the important for the sensory, spending too much time, money, and energy on decorations and gifts, and not enough on those we are doing this all for, including ourselves.

According to www.numerology.com, the number six is a symbol of completeness. Maybe you remember Math classes teaching about Perfect Numbers. Six is recognized as the first perfect number by the Pythagoreans, a Perfect Number being when all the number’s divisors (except itself) add up to equal that number. (I had to look it up!) Hence, 1+2+3=6 is the first Perfect Number. And in the Bible, man was created on the sixth day. It was a good day according to God Himself! (Genesis 1:24-31).

So, we have six days. Let’s make the most of them by reversing the trend. Let’s push aside the busy-ness of the season and focus on the important, our family, our friends, ourselves. Most of what is left to do can be set aside and not missed. Do what is absolutely necessary, but remember, it is absolutely necessary to stop, to breathe, to muse, to love those with you, and to enjoy not just the presents from each other, but the presence of each other! The days are too short to miss the experience of each one.

May this next six days, and the rest of this year, bring a sense of peace and joy to you and yours. And may the New Year be filled with its continued presence.

Practicing presence,

Bev

Interrupted Thanksgivings

There are some sayings I have heard throughout my life…like “there’s two sides to every coin,” or “it’s a double-edged sword” for example. They are often used to describe situations that are somehow contradictory with themselves. Good old Goggle says these “idioms” show us that there are positives and negatives in the world which are often held in the same container.

I never really thought about these sayings in connection with being thankful, but this year is a little different. I am SO thankful to be in Alaska! It is so far away from the rest of my family. The snow is SO beautiful! Uh oh, there’s ice on the road. I really like my new to me car! You mean I must pay for it? Good and bad, positive and negative…in the same container.

Isn’t that the way life is though? A journey that takes us down the road, not just allowing us, but forcing us to choose how we view the scenery. To quote another idiom, do we see “the cup half full or half empty?” Questions that you might say cause interrupted thanksgivings!

The lesson I’ve been learning is that the healthiest position is to see both. There is no doubt a thankful lifestyle is a positive asset, but in that practice, we must acknowledge the hard side and give it the attention necessary to successfully navigate it. It doesn’t mean I’m not happy to be in Alaska just because there are times when I miss being able to hug my grandchildren. Even in the missing there is growing, for which I can be, and am, thankful.

This Thanksgiving, be thankful! But don’t just put on the face. Think about the reality of our containers. Appreciate the easy, mourn the hard, and “in everything give thanks.”

1 Thessalonians 5:18. 

A Time for Everything...

It’s OCTOBER! Can you believe it? There is nothing like the crispness of the air and the falling leaves of autumn to signal that change is in process.

Change is hard, though. We get used to certain ways and we like them! There is comfort and stability in the familiar. We know what to expect and can plan our reactions…at least we like to think we can. But change is not to be avoided. It is all around: in nature, in family, in work, in faith fellowships, and in us.

I find myself turning to Ecclesiastes when I think about change. Chapter three tells us there is “a time for everything.” The Amplified Bible translation says, “There is a season (a time appointed) for everything and a time for every delight and event or purpose under heaven” (verse 1). When applied to change, we find it adds some interesting caveats to think about!

Verses two through eight elaborate:

“A time to be born and a time to die;

A time to plan and a time to uproot what is planted.

A time to kill and a time to heal;

A time to tear down and a time to build up.

A time to weep and a time to laugh;

A time to mourn and a time to dance.

A time to throw away stones and a time to gather stones;

A time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing.

A time to search and a time to give up as lost;

A time to keep and a time to throw away.

A time to tear apart and a time to sew together;

A time to keep silent and a time to speak.

A time to love and a time to hate;

A time for war and a time for peace.”

Every time I read these verses, I have new questions for sure. But I also find much comfort. To realize that the world has its ebbs and flows, just like the ocean tides, seems to provide a sense of stability amidst change.

I often laughingly say that my life is lived with “my feet firmly planted in midair.” While sameness is certainly comfortable and desirable, flexibility and resilience are the foundation for a successful, reasonable (and interesting) life. Learning to relax in the middle of change is not easy. Resting on God’s promises can be challenging as well. I think Dr. Mark Hale’s Godly definition of optimism offers us help in dealing with change. “Optimism is the unwavering expectation that our loving God is working every situation for our future good.” That aligns with God’s Word in Ecclesiastes 3:11 – “He has made everything beautiful and appropriate in its time” (Amplified Bible).

May you find peace, hope, rest, and life in this season of change. 

Promises

Galatians 6:9 (NIV)

Let us not give up in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up.

Romans 8:28 (NIV)

And we know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose.

God has given us many promises in His Word. I find them both reassuring and disturbing! Think about it...if He's promising something as a result of something, it means the something must happen to bring about the need for the promise!

CS Lewis, writer of The Chronicles of Narnia, is one of my favorite authors. The following discussion takes place in The Lion, the Witch, and the Wardrobe. “Aslan is a lion - the Lion, the great Lion." "Ooh," said Susan. "I'd thought he was a man. Is he - quite safe? I shall feel rather nervous about meeting a lion"..."Safe?" said Mr. Beaver …"Who said anything about safe? 'Course he isn't safe. But he's good. He's the King, I tell you.”

We had a canvas on our family room wall with a lion and the phrase "He isn't safe, but He is good" printed on it. It served as a constant reminder that we may not always know what God is up to, but we can count on His goodness. And, we can count on His promises.

As I have been meeting more of you and hearing your stories...and working through the 20 year history of Alaska FCNs, I see signs all throughout of the good you have done and are doing. In so many cases, there are even wonderful examples of harvests. There is no doubt that, over the past few years, COVID-19 has taken a toll on all areas of our lives. But, as we look back to God's promises, we find at least these two important ones that can bring us hope in tiredness and sadness. We know that a harvest is coming if we don't give, and we know that He is working all things for His glory and our good.

Further, He knows each of us, exactly where we are and what we need. His promises are for each of us! Take them to heart!