One of my deepest secrets (at least at work)
Mood:  accident prone
When I first started at Fairlawn there was a survey done by the United Church for all Ministers and workers in the United Church.   One of the questions asked was whether people (clergy et al.) felt free expressing what they personally believed.     The percentage was quite high.   But high in the fearful direction.    It was clear that people felt pressure to not divulge what they really thought or felt.    I know I answered the question that way.  I am not sure whether the fact that a lot of other people felt that way too is a comfort or not.  One thing for sure it was and is sad......One thing I half hide is my taste in music.   I LOVE Contemporary Christian Music. (Not really a secret) but what is a secret is that one of my favourite radio stations would completely freak out a lot of United Church folks.    It is as Christian as it can get!  And I enjoy it.   May not always agree with everything said but at least it doesn't keep its beliefs secret.   I respect that.     My secret is out.   http://www.fm100.net/listenlive.html There's the link.   If it gets me in trouble so be it.   I seem to get in trouble anyway so why not eh?

 

You Made a Difference

Eight of us made a difference.  Granted we didn't alter the course of history.  So we won't be memorialized in history books, but we made a difference.  We didn't stop a war or solve any scientific mysteries so no Nobel prizes await us, but we made a difference.  We didn't event invent something, but we did make a difference.  A huge difference.   We don't really know where or to whom, but we made a difference.  We made a difference in lives and provided the means for a child or two too live another day.  We completed the 30hr famine.   Thank you gang.  You made a huge difference and continue to make me proud!

Authenticly Rude

I have been told I have not got the hang of blogging.   I also have not got the hang of other Internet tools.   My most recent area for learning facebook.  I ask youth (who won't rat me out) such confidential questions as "what the heck is a poke"?   Alas I try, but I don't want to look dumb.  On second thought I don't care if I look dumb.   I like to try things I am a curious little cuss and I am proud of it.   I find the whole world of the internet interesting, challenging and fun.   But it can be ouchy.

 You need a thick skin.  Very recently I discovered facebook.   I have thrown in names and found old friends.  I also have discovered some friends not so friendly.  

It made me realize that manners are manners whether it is the internet or not.  Too often this amazing world is used roughly.  Anonymity seems to turn people nasty.  Actually I don't think it turns people as much as reveals the soul.   I understand not responding to excessive email (although that has never been a problem for me) but a facebook experience caught me a little off guard.   I found someone I knew.   Never had a problem with this person as far as I knew, but when I sent of a quick hello message I was blocked.   I'm still scratching my head but after a few minutes I realized the problem was not mine.   

I quickly realized, because of the anonymity that the internet provides, people reveal who they really are.   If people within themselves have the following....  kindness, gentleness and real confidence in oneself then they act courteous whether on the internet, in groups (another place where rudeness is easier) or in one on one situations.    Oh I realize in serious stocking or harassing a whole different set of rules apply, but in most of our day to day interactions...... being naturally nice comes out of who we are and who we strive to be.  

If we respect and are comfortable with ourselves we are generally comfortable with all sorts of people.  We also have no problem with people no matter where we bump into them.  We can be authentic.  There are no games and if we are meant to get along we will.   Lets face it I can't get some people and they don't get me.  But I hope I will be honest and laugh our differences off and not be rude.  Even in that laughter there is a form of fellowship and that is core of it.   As a Christian acceptance of who I really am and love of others, even those who are rude makes life easier.   It's not a problem to be nice .... to anyone. 

If you don't believe me check out Matthew 5.   It's easier to live that way when you are settled in who you are and when understand who God is.

Little Jump  (youth know what I mean) I like being a Christian.  I like the lifestyle it demands of me and it gives me peace to live at peace with others......... even those who feel the need to block me.   God bless them! In a way they have finally been authentic with me.  I can laugh at our differences.   And that when all is said and done is worth respecting.

 

The Whisper

I think everyone can relate to getting a song in their head that just won't leave.  Like someone humming in your ear it seems to follow you everywhere you go.  You just have to hope it is a song that you enjoy. Every now and then however, a song gets into you heart too.  It resonates through the mind and soul. It may nag, it may comfort, and it may unsettle you or as in my case, inspire you to awe. Recently I heard such a song. One line in particular struck a deep chord.  Are you curious?  The phrase is "The whisper of your call".   

We have all witnessed powerful whispers and whisperers.  A speaker stands up and simply clears his or her throat and immediately a room falls silent.  A mother turns to her child and with a quiet "don't' the child stops the activity because they intuitively know that to proceed with what they are about to do will be perilous. There is more power in these quiet words or the wordless actions than in all the shouts of the angry.  We all run around being busy and often we feel the need to be louder. We become louder because we believe we will not be heard unless we are louder than the next person.  We can be loud in our speech in our actions even in our possessions.  We want to be heard we want to be acknowledged.  Our relevance begins to be defined by how we feel we are perceived.  So we begin to shout.  We shout with our actions, possessions and even voice thinking we will now be heard.  We likely don't even know we are coming across loudly.  Ironically the loader we get the more we are ignored.  The more we are ignored the more frustrated and angry we may become.  All the while the person next to us is in the same boat.  Noisy and feeling unheard.  As one of the apostles said, No temptation (or frustration) has overcome us that not common to everyone else. 

Then it happens.  Someone comes along, stands quietly, and then gently says something or does something.  Time seems to pause, jaws drop and the simplicity and truth of the words or actions (whatever they may be) almost echo in the silence.  The whisper has called, and it is heard more acutely than the shouts of the angry and the frustrated.  Without realizing, this person has mirrored how God deals with us.

God whispers all the time. It is rear that we hear a roar from God.  Even in Scripture God generally spoke normally to those who were called to be prophets.  The communication was often subtle.  Look at Samuel his first direct encounter with God was so subtle that he didn't realize it was God who was speaking.  He kept scurrying off to his boss thinking that's who he was hearing.  It's interesting that in many of the Bibles accounts of God or angels contacting individuals usually they simply spoke. It is ironic that although God simply spoke, the prophets went out to rant and rail.  Could that be why they so often were ignored by the people of God?  

There is power in a whisper.  A whisper catches our attention, makes us freeze for a second when we catch it.  It forces us to listen more intently.  We must concentrate in order to really hear what is said.  God calls each of us, uniquely individually and quietly. God whispers so that we have a chance to hear.  Hopefully, as individuals, as communities and as a country we hear the whisper of God's call and are able to respond.

More Mutterings
Topic: music

I recently wrote in my article in the community life newspaper about a phrase in a song.  The line, whisper of your call comes from a song by Hill Songs called oceans will part.   May aspects of that song make me think.   If you have any inclination check out the song.   It is well worth a listen.

Dona