FOOD FOR THE ROAD

I needed an extra boost to face this day.

Yesterday just didn't work out as planned.  My bank's on line bill pay system was down -- all day.  That threw me for a loop.  Then an expected phone call was late coming in so that our planned 'lunch' out got turned into a blupper.  Whole Foods didn't have anything that enticing so we opted for sausage, onion, and pepper grinders at Costco.  THEN we did the Costco shopping.

Last evening when I was at Spanish class I realized that I was way far behind.  Haven't been studying.  Have almost forgotten what I already thought I had learned.  AND we were confronted with a "Spanish ONLY" scenario which threw me into a panic.  Then on top of that, our instructor announced that an essay would be due in two weeks.  ESSAY???!!!  I can't even put a sentence together for crying out loud.  So, eggs and toast to feed my brain.  Also needed for my first day back to work after all this off time.

I'm going to be really busy.

BACK TO REALITY

And so here we are, post-holiday, floundering with the realities of the world:  the first of the month bill-paying; cleaning out last years financial stuff and filing it away; compiling the January newsletter that is already overdue; posting the schedule for the week and finding it a little crowded; trying to avoid the leftover calories and not being very successful; and on and on it goes.  All in all it seems same ol', same 'ol.

And yet it is not.  There is a difference in the air.  A renewed vigor to meet the challenges.  New hope that we will learn new things; meet new people; share more; be more. 

Our William

January 1, 2011

4:43 a.m.

7 pounds, 11 ounces

happy new year

dawn came

the smile of God

the warmth of God's love

hope for the new day

sonething's gone wrong



GOD'S PROMISE

Spring came to my house today.

I'm accepting it as God's promise that everything is going to be okay.

Thank You, God!

BEATITUDES

Oh, no, I thought, NOT the Beatitues.  NOT gentle Jesus meek and mild, NOT poor in spirit not all that old stuff.  This is going to be boring and awful.  What happened to The Radical Jesus concept that was advertised for this soup and discussion series for Lent?

Pat Spoor wasn't going to let it happen though.  Not the the tired and true.  What do you want to get out of these discussions? she asked.  One reply was, I want to know the radical Jesus.  Another was interested in sharing the meaning and interpretation of scripture for TODAY'S life -- what is it meaning for us RIGHT NOW.  And yet another, a male person, was interested in hearing the feminine interpretation and meaning -- from the time of Jesus, and for now.  Interesting.  Each of us coming to the table with different expectations and desires and yet open to all.

We read The Beatitudes round the group, one verse at a time.  Then we spent quite a while discussing just what it meant to be "poor in spirit" and just what was "spirit" anyway.  The offerings were varied and heartfelt.  We went on to talk about the grieving of loss and what was comfort; and what it meant to be 'meek.'  Words, words, words and how they struck each one of us in a different way.

Then a homework assignment.  Assignments actually.  Watch the media.  Notice where the thoughts and meaning of the Beatitudes fit today's circumstances.  AND read on into Matthew -- through chapters ten or eleven -- and be aware of how the Beatitudes were the teachings and preaching of Jesus. 

Next soup supper at Grace Episcopal Church, Norwalk Tuesday, March 2 at 6:30 p.m. 

Do come!!