today's challenge ...

getting back to our missional track, here's another challenge from Len Sweet's 'So Beautiful Study Guide'. 
*Using a concordance, search for passages containing the word "go".  Record your impressions of the importance of being missional. What do you believe you could do personally that would stretch you in this area?
let's grow as Christ's disciples in the world.  In Dr. Sweet's words, "Scram.  Get out of here.
Go BE Jesus."*

memories ...

today's friday five game from rev gals is a walk down memory lane.  the bonus question of a song to sum up a memory is what really caught my eye, so had to play!  here's what sally asked ~ how would you respond?  your reflections will be enjoyed by more if you're willing to share in the comments (:
This year Tim and I have planted and nurtured a vegetable garden, and I have just spent the morning preparing vegetables and soups for the freezer, our veggie garden is producing like crazy and it is hard to keep up with, that said it'll be worth it for a little taste of summer in the middle of winter :-). That got me thinking of the things I treasure, memories are often more valuable than possessions. How about you, can you share:
*  A treasured memory from childhood?  particularly remembering my father teaching me to ride a bicycle.  not only the laughable memories of that evening, but the resulting gift of freedom.  i was now independent.  able to venture farther afield and was blessed to live in a rural town where that was possible.  out gathering brown-eyed-susan bouquets from roadsides, discovering a wider world in my explorations.  yes, a well treasured memory...
*  A teenage memory?  learning to drive!  yes, another step of freedom and how beneficial not only to the time but my future.  living rurally it was a necessity that's stood me in good stead wherever i've lived.  huge gratitude to my dad for supporting me in providing the car and opps to practice !
*  A young adult memory?   excellent opportunities offered for positions requiring responsibility - stretching me, challenging and allowing the growth needed in different areas.  thinking of the period of time i served as librarian of the church.  purchasing, cataloguing, culling old stock from the shelves, loaning, stocking shelves, 'hiring' help - probably more accurately 'recruiting', marketing, and expanding.  good memories of times that added strength to my confidence and capabilities as a young woman.
*  A memory from this summer?  definitely would be my daughter's wedding!  a gift of relationships, a gift of time, a gift of family, a gift of beauty, a gift of memories ... lovely!

*  A memory you hope to have?   grandbabies??
*  Bonus- a song that sums up one of those memories ?
one that seems to actually fit all of mine would be crosby, stills, nash 'teach your children' ...
You, who are on the road must have a code that you can live by.
And so become yourself because the past is just a good bye.
Teach your children well, their father's hell did slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams, the one they fix, the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.
And you, of the tender years can't know the fears that your elders grew by,
And so please help them with your youth, they seek the truth before they can die.
Teach your parents well, their children's hell will slowly go by,
And feed them on your dreams, the one they fix,the one you'll know by.
Don't you ever ask them why, if they told you, you would cry,
So just look at them and sigh and know they love you.

*  and what of your memories?  meaningful memory songs?  care to share? 
we'd love to listen !

trust...

i've been experiencing interesting days of discovery, since returning from the mission, to find doves - otherwise not so attractively known as pigeons - had moved into the available space of my 10th floor balcony.  In my naivete, at the time, i didn't remove the 2 eggs in the nest.  In the intervening time, that naivete has been completely

replaced with worldly wisdom regarding dove eggs and nests.  i have already removed a further two within this past month without remorse.  but by allowing those first 2 eggs the opportunity to hatch, i have gained some amazing opportunities myself. 

i have enjoyed the upclose views of the little hatchlings in their wet yellow feathers.  watched those yellow feathers be filled in with the deep charcoals, greys and softest white down.  and just now seeing the beginnings of the translucent plum and green around the neck.  i've seen them go from cowering against the tyndal stone of the wall to hesitantly venturing into the open.  then in these past couple days, they've  begun to test their wings.  hopping from one foot to another fluttering every God given feather as they try to gain lift.  and finally, though barely reaching it, yet still they have - flown to the rail along the balcony's edge.  there they perch with claws struggling to keep their unsteady hold before they turn back around to try a wobbly flutter to the comfort of solid ground - balcony in this case.  almost big enough but not quite ready for freedom's flight. 

fascinating.  it's my daily exploration.  where are the babies?  what are they doing?  then stepping in to chase off offending larger doves that are interfering with the babies nest area.  both for the sake of the babies and preventing any further babies!  two has been enough of a nature lesson, thank you so much.

but it has had value also in recognizing the nature and necessity of process.  from the idea in the egg to the current stage of development has taken weeks.   nothing happened over nite.  yet the parents continue to hover over them, overseeing their every attempt and encouraging them in it.  they do this grasping thing with their beak on the young one's beak to pull them out further into the open.  then they flutter up onto the rail and soon the young one does too.  leading by example.  maybe that's where it comes from!  successfully too.  participating in that leading.

i don't know how much longer til the big leap off the rail, but i do know it will be in the fullness of time.  as with every advance in this development process.  as with all things when we allow H Sp to lead.  when H Sp is allowed to lead, things develop on and in time.  God knows ends from very beginnings.  and knows how to bring things to fulfillment.  initiating then fully participating in the process. 

the question is, are we willing to wait?  

are we willing to trust?