Eclectic Waters

Lyndsay digs through the newspaper. Throwing it to the side she nears the bottom of the box. Suddenly her face scrunches up. All eyes are on her as she pulls a brown rotting banana from the box. “That’s digusting!” Her face scrunches into a tighter ball as she turns it in her hands until she finds Justin’s scrawled writing, “Keep digging.” Throwing it at Justin her face loosens in laughter.

She digs deeper into the box for her real present.

I do not take for granted that I love my family and am loved by them.

Last night my Dad played the song ”The Minneapolis Blues” for us despite my Mum’s protests. In it a dutch singer crows lyrics such as, “She had the face of a fish and the shape of a frog…” We began to dance and I’m not going to pretend it was a pretty sight. My parents won the quirky dance award, but us kids were not far behind. 

This morning I was rough-housed awake, by Lyn and Rach of course with their sharp chins. “We’re not being rough, we’re cuddling.” Yeah right! I was trying to continue sleeping until the kink in my neck from the air mattress subsided. It didn’t.

Our Christmas day consists of opening gifts from each other (we open gifts from other people on Christmas Eve), and then lolling about all day. Reading, drinking coffee and tea, having the Christmas meal with a glass of red wine, watching a movie together and then lolling about some more. We are also in the habit of taking a stroll together to combat the overwhelming laziness of the day. This evening Rachael and Lyn took off first around the lake near our house followed by Mum and Dad. Justin and I weren’t going to go, but then, armed with I-pods, we changed our minds and took off running around the lake 3 times. So much for being lazy.

I hope you had a good Christmas and that whether you were alone, with family or with friends - that it was a good day with sparkles, like the fairy dust of Tink, of love.

do you remember that time we were in the boat and Jesus came walking on the water? I can’t believe you actually got out of the boat. I remember thinking, what a stupid thing to do. But you did it and you actually walked and then you started sinking and I thought, I knew it was a bad idea…

I remember when you were all telling me Jesus’ had risen, and I thought you were all crazy or trying to trick me. There was no way I was going to believe unless I saw it. I wish I could have seen the expression on my own face when he appeared in front of me. I remember putting my fingers to the scars on his hands. I couldn’t believe it…

Remember the time…

So often I, Deanne, read the Bible and feel overwhelmed by all it implies and by the seeming perfection and loftiness of the commands and lifestyles of the disciples. These men built their lives around preaching and sharing God’s word.

But there is a flawed side to each person Christ picked.

I can’t wait to be in heaven, looking at my life, and instead of the guilt and shame I often associate with reflecting on my life — it might actually look more like the above conversations. Like the OM get togethers where we laugh at past mistakes, mistaken judgements and unplanned circumstances.

Remember that time I doubted you Lord –

Remember when I was angry –

Remember when I thought my life was over –

Remember the choice I thought was the right one –

and then swoop, in the blink of an eye, the camera pulls back — filling the screen with a larger perspective and suddenly -

the story is not larger than life,

its life is contained in the shaking of heads,

the telling over steamed coffee in the company of friends,

we all have stories,

and the tragedy that once filled my lungs and the guilt at not being the perfect version I though I should be -

dissipates as I laugh with my Savior at my never ending blunderings

and accept His acceptance of me.

—-

He came into this flawed world — embracing and living in it, experiencing what we experience so we could have a High Priest who could identify with our suffering. He loves us, blundering limited flawed fools, however good our intentions may be,

and He intercedes for us - the Holy Spirit intercedes for us in the Spirit when we do not know what to pray - and the Father sent Him out of His love for us.

With all three of the God-head on our side, who, I ask again, who, can stand against us?

Taken from his email to OM members
“Whether it is loosing pounds or privileges, the process of loosing seems difficult, and often may keep us from the satisfaction of enjoying what we’ve gained through loosing…

“Peter’s journey with Jesus started when he and his friends pulled their boats up on shore, left everything and followed him. Later in the journey Peter became conscious of his loss. “We have left all we had to follow you!” The implied question surely is: And what have we gained?”Obsession with our ‘loss’ often limits enthusiasm about the gain.
“The process of loosing may be real and difficult, and is unique for each individual – but it is time to realize that we gain through loosing. It’s time again to reflect on all we gain!”

What is something you something you have gained through loss?