“also that everyone should eat and drink and take pleasure in his toil — this is God’s gift to man.” Ecc. 3:13

Today, I took an extended lunch to not only get a haircut but get a pedicure done.  I can remember a time when I would never dream of doing such an activity during the work week and certainly not during a lunch break.  But a few things have changed my perspective.

A few weeks ago I went on a retreat that was built around ministers and their spouses in which we explored not only the roles we all are involved in but the sometimes devastating and harmful impact it has on us – physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually.  It was a very impactful retreat that brought into focus some things that I knew in my head but did not necessarily carry out in my life and in my heart.  I came away from that retreat with a renewed commitment to not only self-care but to be more self-aware of when enough is enough and tend to matters of heart and family.

Another thing that has changed my perspective is observing colleagues and acquaintances suffering from physical illnesses, weariness, mental fatigue and in some cases just plain old “going off the rails” in their behavior or actions.  As servants to God’s people we are always on call, always involved in someone else’s life and their problems and that does not include the day-to-day activities of keeping a church or ministry afloat.  A year ago, when I became quite ill with acute bronchitis, my doctor put me out of work, out of the church and told me to rest.  I started to object when he said something that really stuck, “that’s the problem I have with you preachers, you don’t get enough rest”.  I didn’t object to his demands but instead humbly took my excuse to my job and to my Elder and sat out for almost a week while I took meds and recuperated.  Those words have been resonating in my mind ever since.

So today, while thinking about someone I am deeply concerned about, in what from the outside looking in, may be a mental or spiritual break or just going off the rails, while dealing with my own brand of crazy on my job, while realizing that ministry is not for the faint of heart, I recognized a moment when I needed to step off the life wheel for a moment, sit in a vibrating chair and let someone else give me a pedicure and take a moment to enjoy the rewards of hard work.

What I once would have considered to be a silly and extravagant expense, I now view as a necessary cure for maintaining my mental, emotional and spiritual health.  Today it is a pedicure and a few moments on a sanctuary called my back porch to enjoy the evening breeze, the next time it might be a trip through the art supply store or swinging on a hammock or any other activity that I once viewed as frivolous and extravagant.  The bottom line is we all need to take a few moments more frequently than we probably take, to step away from the pressures of life, ministry, calling etc. and drink in the good things God allows us to experience.  It is His gift to us and the last time I checked, not accepting a gift is just downright rude.

I am convinced now more than ever, that God has given us a cure for stress, fatigue, burnout, illness and going off the rails.  It is the simple remedy of enjoying our lives, the simple pleasures and maybe even a pedicure at lunch time – not when we’ve reached our ropes end, but on a regular basis, a little bit at a time.  A few small doses along and along will be far more effective than waiting until we are beyond repair.  What is your cure?

In our area at this time of year, hydrangea bushes are starting to come into full bloom.  These popular bushes come in a variety of colors from a pale yellowish white to a deep purple, with shades of green, lavender, pale blue and pink in between.  We actually have two growing our yard, one a luscious light blue and the other a fledgling of a bush with pale greenish blue blooms.  My next door neighbor has some growing near the property lin that are a rich deep purple.  They grow well in our area because the uphold under heat and can thrive in the shade.  One thing we understand is that depending on the type of soil they are planted in, they may or not maintain the color that we originally planted.  It seems that based on the types and quantities of minerals and acidity in the soil, hydrangeas will change their color.  It’s all in the soil.

This reminds me of a parable Jesus tells and explains in Matthew 13 in which he describes how a sower drops seeds into the ground and based on the type of soil the seeds land in, they either grow to an extent then die or finally planted in good soil they thrive and produce an increase.  The seed represents the Word of God and the soil represents our hearts/our willingness to receive the Word of God.  Sometimes the Word will land on rocky soil and can’t take root.  Other times it may land in thorny or weedy soil in which case the seed grows but eventually gets choked off by the thorns and weeds.  But the seed that lands in rich and fertile soil, will grow and thrive to the point of being able to bear more seed/harvest.  It’s all in the soil.

So if you are growing hydrangeas and you want the blooms to be a certain color, you must be sure that you provide it with the appropriate minerals and fertilizer to make it happen.  if you want to grow in Spirit you must be sure that you provide a heart that is receptive, eager and open to listen to what the Word has to say and then respond appropriately.  It’s all in the soil.

“When i consider thy heavens, the work of thy fingers, The moon and the stars, which thou hast ordained” Ps. 8:3

To the untrained eye or for those who believe they don’t have a creative bone in their body, creativity may seem like random activity.  It may seem like a potter is making it up as they go, the artist is picking paints at will, the dancer is just moving to the music or that a writer just knows what words to put together, but in fact what one sees in these activities is the product of hours, days, months or years of careful consideration of how to portray something that inspires the artist, craftsman, dancer, musician, writer or creative mind.  Part of the process involves altering the plan sometimes in the moment of creation.

As of late, I have been fiddling around with making decorative wreaths as a means to creatively express myself when time does not allow for more complex works of art.  Often the piece begins with a design element that inspires the whole and before the first piece of ribbon, floral or item is applied to the wreath form, I have imagined it in my mind how I want it to go.  Sometimes, in the process of putting it together I realize that I may not have thought something out thoroughly, or the actual production is missing an element, a color, a texture or there may be something I thought would work well does not fit or can be manipulated the way I thought it would be.  This is where skills and experience work together in the creative process to complete an intended outcome.  I am not satisfied until I have matched the physical with the imagined and then I am able to step back and say, “yes!”.

David, in writing this Psalm is praising and contemplating the creative God who put the world together.  I like to think maybe these words came to him on a hillside one night while tending sheep.  Whatever the reason, he calls to mind how God’s creation was formed in Genesis 1 and 2.  To read that narrative, creation seems to be a series of random commands, “let there be light…let the earth bring forth grass…let the earth bring forth the living creatures…let us make man” – but an examination of nature, all the ecosystems, the universe, the seasons, the human body, etc. will reveal that creation is anything but random.  Everything is connected together and serves a purpose for another element of creation.  If one is to believe that God created the world, then one has to also realize that another of God’s attributes is intellect, thoughts that carefully considered the results of each component of creation and that same intentional creative process placed us in the life stream of the universe, designed for a purpose and destiny.  “And God saw that it was good”.

“And when he had sent them away, he departed into a mountain to pray.”  Mark 6:46

I had the opportunity not too long ago to rise early, enter into prayer and devotions with a group of others and then begin to ascend a mountain trail.  As a group we reached a beautiful stopping place but then was challenged to go even higher.  I really didn’t know what I was gettig myself into and honestly at a couple of points along the trail I questioned the wisdom of my actions.  My conclusion on the matter was I had gotten too close to the top to turn around and a sense that the work was worth it.  When we made the last ten or twelve steps on rocks and roots to arrive at the top, my breath was taken away with the beauty, the serenity and the sense of accomplishment.

As we paused to take it in, I reflected on how much mountain tops factor in to unique and life-changing moments for biblical figures.  Abraham passed an immense faith test on top of a mountain and met Jehovah Jireh (Gen. 22:14), Moses received the Ten Commandments on a mountain top (Ex. 20:1-17), Elijah was encouraged to return to the work of a prophet at the top of a mountain (1 Kings 19:8-18), Jesus prayed on the mountain (Mark 6:46) and the disciples met Jesus on a mountain to receive the Great Commission (Matt. 28:16-20).  These are just a few examples.  Why?  Perhaps it is because on the top of a mountain puts one in a place of solitude and quietness that gives God room to speak clearly.  Perhaps it is because God recognizes that only the few chosen will persevere the tests that takes them to the mountain top.  Whatever the reason, God seems to hold an affinity with giving mountain-top experiences that transform us and if we will press our way to that place, whether it is a real mountain or a figurative mountain, one thing I know is it is well worth it.

Build houses and live in them; and plant gardens and eat their produce.

Take wives and become the fathers of sons and daughters, and take wives for your sons and give your daughters to husbands, that they may bear sons and daughters; and multiply there and do not decrease.” Jeremiah 29:5-6 (NASB)

 The world is all in a tizzy this week as the long-awaited baby of Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of Great Britain brought forth their first child. I has been a bit of daylight in a news stream that is dismal and discouraging. We have come to live in a time where all the news on the networks is “BREAKING NEWS”. We are inundated with mass shootings, political intrigue, natural disasters and overall negative information. Even newscasters seemed eager to share a story that could make us all smile and be in awe if only for a moment. If we allow it, the news will give us no hope for tomorrow and a sense that God has abandoned us and this world. The fact of the matter is that dire times are not new to this world for nothing is new under the sun (Ecc.1:9) and in the time of Jeremiah, the people who were living in captivity felt much the same way.

This message that Jeremiah sent to the captives in Babylon was meant to encourage them to go on with their lives while they waited on God’s timing of release. He is telling them to live in the present moment, enjoy the good things that come in this lifetime and to conduct themselves as though the promise was already happening. The truth is that while the news feeds would have us live in gloom and doom constantly, there is a whole lot of life and joy going on that doesn’t get the news feed attention. People are getting married, babies are being born, victories are being won, seasons continue to cycle around, life accomplishments are being rewarded and celebrated all over this world. It is true that in this period of time between Christ’s first and second coming, we are told in the Bible that there will be “wars and rumors of wars…famines…earthquakes” (Matt. 24:6-7) and much of what we see today reminds us of this. But we who trust in God, know that there is a promise of an eternal glory. While we are waiting, we will be wise to take Jeremiah’s advice.

For every time you hear about a negative news story or incident, I challenge you to seek something positive to reflect on. It will not necessarily change the world, but it will certainly change your attitude. For me this week, as a mother and a grandmother, I choose to reflect on the giddy and happy faces of two new parents that have brought a beautiful boy into this world that all the world has been anticipating. I remember my own emotions at holding the miracle of life in my hand and it causes me to smile.

“For He grew up before Him like a tender shoot, And like a root out of parched ground, He has no stately form or majesty that we should look upon Him nor appearance that we should be attracted to Him” Is. 53:2 (NASB)

AND

“The axe is already laid to the root of the trees, therefore, every tree that does not bear good fruit is cut down & thrown into the fire.” Matt. 3:10 (NASB)

My neighbor took the time to cut down some trees in her yard that I guess she felt like were either becoming a nuisance or threat to her property.  One of the trees was a beautiful flowering pear tree.  Every spring it budded beautifully but in the summer the pears were small and the squirrels would quickly roll them away when they hit the ground for food.  The other morning I noticed that the stump was bringing forth new growth and I realized that her cutting the tree down was not enough to eliminate it.  My mind ran to the two texts above.

Isaiah was describing Jesus prophetically as one who would come out of the root of Jesse which was a description of his physical bloodline through Mary.  He was by blood a descendent of David, the one to whom it was promised Messiah would come from.  The indication in the text is that the shoot is coming out of a place that by all physical practicality should not produce any sort of growth or blessing.

Matthew was describing John the Baptist’s testimony and preaching in the wilderness when Jesus came to be baptized.  He was declaring that God had already sent the One who would judge the sins of the world and the means he used to describe Jesus was one of taking an axe to the root of sin.  John understood that if one wants to get rid of a tree, a weed or any other nuisance plant you have to get it out by the root.  If not, the root will spring forth new growth but in this case not the good kind of growth but sin.  Unless we get to the root of sinfulness through Jesus Christ we are merely doing a temporary fix to the problem.

My neighbor (I believe) was trying to get rid of a tree but because she failed to go to the root and stump grind it out, the tree is now rapidly taking on new growth and will replace the old tree.  Sin works the same way, unless we apply Jesus to the heart of what causes the sin and only treat the symptoms, sin will crop back up often in a new way and in a more flourishing way.  On the other hand, Jesus was the intended descendent of David to bring salvation to the world.  Even though, the family tree of Jesse may have been taken down to a stump, nothing could stop the fact that Jesus would still come forth as a new shoot of growth.  The stump may not be worth looking at and may seem like more of a nuisance than the original tree but the benefit is far greater and more flourishing in God’s hand.

Once again, God shows me through nature, His intention, grace and mercy and depending on which side of the fence we are on, the tender shoots coming out of this stumped tree can be viewed either as a blessing or a curse.

The other day, I left a device at home that is normally connected to my cell phone.  When I finally got the two together, the phone and the device were not automatically connecting as I supposed they would.  In an effort to get them to sync, I accidentally did an option to pair the device with the phone as though it was brand new.  The end result was that a lot of my data in the device was wiped clean and re-set to zero information.  I knew it was a mistake when I did it, but I couldn’t stop the process.  I started to get frustrated but then realized that my cell phone was still holding the data.  Even so, I liked the convenience of reviewing a month’s worth of data on my device without my phone.   Then I decided to take the high road about the situation.  What seemed inadvertent may have been subliminal.  Better yet, what if God was trying to speak in the middle of my frustration?

Everything needs a re-set from time to time.  That is the purpose of seasons, rest and new beginnings.  God gives us a re-set every morning we are allowed to open our eyes and see a new day.  His mercy is everlasting.  When our devices are not performing correctly, often all that is needed is for us to power it down and re-boot which re-sets some of the settings and gets it back up and running.  So often we get frustrated with re-sets for the reasons I mentioned above; it means we have to start again when we don’t want to or because of the inconvenience it all.  So this is where I paused with myself and began to meditate upon the things that I need to re-set in my life.

We spend so much time wrapping up in the unimportant, stressing about things we cannot change, overthinking the obvious, worrying over details and generally getting too wound up.  This little inconvenient re-set, caused me to re-set my thinking and consider the direction of my life, my commitment to myself and pursuing my dreams.  Thank you Lord, for a re-set.

“Holy, holy, holy! Lord God almighty!

Early in the morning my song will rise to thee” AME Hymnal #25

I saw this today and my heart began to sing.

“She openeth her mouth with wisdom;

And in her tongue is the law of kindness.” Prov. 31:26

I was walking one morning and saw this beautiful camellia tree.  I was struck by it’s beautiful symmetry and the way the pedals had fallen in a perfect circle around the trunk.  For some strange reason, I viewed the pedals as words, kind words and words of wisdom that land on the lives of those around us.

Jesus taught that on the day of judgment, everyone will be held accountable for the idle words we speak and that by our words we will be justified or condemned (Matt. 12:36-37).  That has always been a strong warning to me that we are to be careful about what we say and to be mindful in speaking life and wisdom rather than following along with and contributing to gossip, lies and slanders.  So when I saw this tree I envisioned the pedals as those words that speak good things, encouragement, wisdom and hope and leave a positive mark on the lives to whom and for whom those words were spoken.  The Proverbs woman was known for many positive attributes but I think it is her wisdom that caused the praise of others to fall upon her.  I can imagine that her words were as pleasing as this shower of flower pedals on the ground.  They were as sweet as the scent of flowers.  They were wisdom tempered with kindness making them soft and gentle to the ear and for the eye.

If we could envision what our words would look like to others, would they be like these beautiful flower pedals or would they be dried and crackly leaves?  Would they be soft and gentle or prickly as briars?  This was a moment early in the morning when I was given pause to consider the nature of my words and how they may be perceived.  I’d like to think they are as beautiful as these pedals but I am reminded that I need to be careful with every word that proceeds out of my mouth.  I am also reminded that my words come from the heart and the nature of my words is a reflection of the nature of my heart.  If I want beautiful words I have to have the beauty of God within.  If I want to speak wisdom, I have to have wisdom.  If I want to speak gently, then I need a gentle spirit within.  The power of our pedals (words) is something that can speak life or death and if I expect to speak life, I have to have the life of Christ living on the inside.  That is the power of our pedals (words).