Sojourn

Last week I wrote about earth just being temporary as we travel to our true home in heaven.

The word “sojourn” stood out to me shortly after I posted on the blog. I like the sound of that word – sojourn.

Sojourn means “to stay as a temporary resident; to dwell for a time, a temporary stay.” The word originated from old French and dates back to the 13th century. Its roots go back even further into Latin for “spend a day there.”

But don’t think being a sojourner means you are off easy and don’t need to work. A sojourner has a purpose and a passion.

On June 1, 1843, Isabella Baumfree changed her name to Sojourner Truth. She told friends, "The Spirit calls me [East], and I must go. ...the Lord gave me Truth, because I was to declare the truth to the people."

Later she wrote, “Sojourner means traveler and truth means being real or genuine. I felt that God had told me that my mission in life was to tell people the truth about women’s rights and slavery.”

Sojourner Truth was a feisty, not afraid to speak up woman. Here is another great quote from her:

“I am not going to die, I'm going home like a shooting star.”

We are all sojourners.  Just spending some time here before we complete our final destination.  How does that impact how I live?

A sojourner worries less. The weight of this world is easier to let go when I know I won’t have to carry it forever.

A sojourner knows the final destination. I can enjoy the scenery, the trip, more knowing someday I will safely arrived.

A sojourner knows my fellow travelers are also on their paths, but we will all meet up again at one grand party/reunion eventually.

Sojourn will be a word/concept I will continue to ponder. 

How does that word impact how you live?

A Promised Friend – Lectio Divina

If you love me, show it by doing what I've told you. I will talk to the Father, and he'll provide you another Friend so that you will always have someone with you. This Friend is the Spirit of Truth. The godless world can't take him in because it doesn't have eyes to see him, doesn't know what to look for. But you know him already because he has been staying with you, and will even be in you!  John 14: 15-17 (The Message)

You will always have someone with you.

Lord what a gift – Your presence – You instill in us.

 I cling to that promise that You will always be with us, Lord. You won’t leave us orphaned. You stay with us throughout our journey.

I thank You for Your companionship - by going before me, beside me, behind me, and within me.

I read the other day, "Sit with God as you might with the ocean. You bring nothing to the ocean, yet it changes you." Sean Caulfield.

Your presence is like the water, like an ocean to me. Surrounding me, nourishing me, carrying me throughout this life.

I cannot ignore that in this passage Your promise to send “another Friend.”

Your gift of a companion to walk with me, not just like a guard or someone who is fulfilling his job impersonally, but a friend who an ally, a partner, a soul mate overwhelms me.

Today I pause and give thanks for Your constant presence and boundless love as a helper, an advocate, and a friend.  Thank you Lord.

Accepting Myself – Quote of the Week – Thomas Merton

"Finally I am coming to the conclusion that my highest ambition is to be what I already am. That I will never fulfill my obligation to surpass myself unless I first accept myself, and if I accept myself fully in the right way, I will already have surpassed myself."

Thomas Merton

Borning Cry – Beautiful Hymn by John Ylvisaker.

  My daughter Valerie sang “Borning Cry” at Esther’s funeral this week. Our good friends, Jim and Nancy accompanied her with flute and piano. 

What can I say? I cried. 

A beautiful song with powerful message!

Drink in the love of God today through this hymn:

I was there to hear your borning cry,

I'll be there when you are old.

I rejoiced the day you were baptized,

to see your life unfold.

I was there when you were but a child,

with a faith to suit you well;

In a blaze of light you wandered off

to find where demons dwell.

When you heard the wonder of the Word

I was there to cheer you on;

You were raised to praise the living Lord,

to whom you now belong.

If you find someone to share your time

and you join your hearts as one,

I'll be there to make your verses rhyme

from dusk 'till rising sun.

In the middle ages of your life,

not too old, no longer young,

I'll be there to guide you through the night,

complete what I've begun.

When the evening gently closes in,

and you shut your weary eyes,

I'll be there as I have always been

with just one more surprise.

I was there to hear your borning cry,

I'll be there when you are old.

I rejoiced the day you were baptized,

to see your life unfold.

Heading Home to Heaven

Where is your home?

My experiences lately keep bringing my thoughts back to the concept of home.

My husband and I talked about “home” several years ago when a good friend, close to our age, died. Where did we want to be buried?

We no longer had roots to our hometowns. 

We lived in this small village for thirty years now. Though we landed on this geographical place on earth for quite a long time in our adult journey, is this our real home?

When I watched this morning the devastation of homes by tornadoes in the Midwest. I then remembered the huge destruction of homes in Japan from their tragedies.

Suddenly people were homeless. Their physical, temporary structures they called “home” disappeared.

Home – where is our real home?

I sat and held the hands of my friend as she died last week. I watched her body fade away and her spirit rise to heaven. She is truly home today. 

She is no longer in a place that is temporary. No longer homeless.

The Gospel this past Sunday was one of my favorites and often used in funeral services:

Do not let your hearts be troubled. You believe in God; believe also in me.  My Father’s house has many rooms; if that were not so, would I have told you that I am going there to prepare a place for you?  And if I go and prepare a place for you, I will come back and take you to be with me that you also may be where I am. -  John 14: 1-3 (NIV)

I like the Billie Graham quote, “My home is in Heaven. I’m just traveling through this world.”

I think Billie is right: our real home is in heaven. Jesus told us in John 14 – He is preparing our home for us and will come to take us there.

Don Moen’s song If You Could See Me Now gives me comfort this week:

Our prayers have been answered 


I finally arrived 


The healing that had been delayed 


Is now realized 


No one's in a hurry 


There's no schedule to keep 


We're all enjoying Jesus 


Just sitting at His feet

If you could see me now 
I'm walking streets of gold 


If you could see me now 
I'm walking tall and whole 


If you could see me now 
You'd know I've seen His face 


If you could see me now 
You'd know the pain's erased 


You wouldn't want me to ever leave this place 


If only you could see me now 


My light and temporary trials 


Have worked out for my good 


To know it brought Him glory 


When I misunderstood 


Though we've had our sorrows 


They can never compare 


To what Jesus has in store for us 


No language can compare.

Where is home?

I guess my feeling of homelessness is normal while we live on earth. We are just transient travelers through this world.

I know my loved ones who have finished their journeys -my parents…my friends… others who have touched my life  - are now in heaven – at home.

Do you ever feel homeless on this earth? 

Trusting God – Lectio Divina

Lord a long time ago you gave me a breath prayer:

In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.

So often when nothing else works,

When my trying and striving fail,

When circumstances overwhelm me,

When people let me down

Or worse I disappointment myself:

I whisper, “In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.”

Help me know the only action I need to take is to let go and put all my troubles into Your hands.

Soothe me with your loving lullaby:

In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.

In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.

In you, O Lord, I will put my trust.

What Do You Cling To? - Quote of the Week – Thomas Merton

“Our great danger is to throw away things that are excellent, which we do not understand, and replace them with mediocre forms which seem to us to be more meaningful and which in fact are only trite.” 

Thomas Merton. 

Fruit Lovers’ Devotions to Go – Book Review

Reading a daily devotional feeds the soul and feeding on God’s word each day is an essential spiritual practice for our walk with Him.  But do you ever just plan don’t have time for your morning routine?  I sure have had that lately and feel a parchedness in my soul and a disconnect from God.

I lived through a series of difficult nights and early mornings helping a dear friend through major health issues.

Then this week my husband and I left at 5 a.m. to take another friend to the hospital for early morning surgery.

My morning time with God has disappeared.

Except for one bright moment:

Author Beth Bence Reinke sent me her pocket size devotional to review. Little did she know she sent it to me just at the right time, as I desperately needed a way to communicate with God in a quick and easy fashion.  Her words provided nourishment just when I most required them.

Fruit Lovers’ Devotions to Go is unique in several ways. 

First it is pocket size, so it fits easily into a purse or pocket. Its 30-day inspirational set of devotions is perfect for on the go and hurried times.

Secondly Beth is a registered dietitian, so besides including nutrition for the soul she has added delicious fruit filled recipes.  Mmmmmm, good!

She writes:

“Fruit is mentioned almost two hundred times in the Bible. Words and phrases such as ‘fruitful,’ ‘fruit-bearing,’ and ‘fruit of the spirit’ are used through scripture to describe a fulfilling, abundant life. I hope these devotions give you fresh, fruitful insight and inspire you to become fruit-filled in body and spirit. Remember… just add fruit!”

Her stories will feed your heart and provide fuel for your day. I know her words certainly helped me through the hectic times.

This book would be a great gift to give to a harried parent or someone needing a quick dose of encouragement.

Fruit Lovers’ Devotions to Go is available currently as an e-book through Amazon. It is also available in paperback at this site.

Looking for good nourishment for your body and your soul? Take in Fruit Lover’s Devotions to Go.

Priceless Friendships

Friendship - I have been thinking a lot about that word this year.

The etiology of this word comes from Old English combining obviously the two words – friend and ship. Friendship is the deep, close, trusting relationship between people traveling together on the same journey, on the same ship. 

No matter how difficult or fun, unexpected or routine, long or short the trip is, friends make all the difference.

The Gospel a few weeks ago – one of my favorites – told about two people traveling together on the road to Emmaus, sharing their confusion and sorrow. Another friend joined them for their journey too.

Then this quote struck my heart this week:

“It takes a long time to grow an old friend.” John Leonard

Developing and maintaining friendships does take time, but the result is priceless.

Friendship can hurt too. We dig deep in our hearts to forgive, to give more when we feel depleted, and to just plain hold hands and be present for one another.

My prayer of gratitude this week is thankfulness for friends:

·      My best friends from sixth grade who can still remember what I wore the first day as a chubby, frightened student in a new school.

·      Friends from college that even after these many years we can still laugh and when we get together, it is like we have never been apart.

·      Thank you to friends who have left me or in process of leaving me for a better place. I can’t wait to hug you all again in heaven.

·      Friends who encourage, pray, and inspire you to keep writing when you think no one will ever want to read your words. Then transform themselves into more than a critique group, but prayer partners. Even though we live hundreds of miles apart, we hold each other’s hearts in our hands.

·      Others who have shared their adult journey with me – marriage, parenting, struggles, and joy. Friends joined together in prayer and worship.

·      And online friends – though we have never met, I feel we share something very deep – our intimate thoughts, fears, and experiences. God connects over cyberspace through friendship.

God created community and gave it to us to help us survive the rough spots, thrive in the good times by helping others, and arrive alive in celebration of our joys.

One of my favorite quotes:

In everyone's life, at some time, our inner fire goes out. It is then burst into flame by an encounter with another human being. We should all be thankful for those people who rekindle the inner spirit. Albert Schweitzer

Thank you, dear friends, for rekindling my spirit.

Note to Readers

Dear Friends,


I won't be posting here the week of May 9 as I am helping a dear friend through some difficult health issues.


Thank you for your understanding and hopefully I will "see" you next week.


Jeanie

Our Slow Hearted Walk with Jesus on the Road to Emmaus – Lectio Divina

Then he said to them, "So thick-headed! So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe all that the prophets said? Luke 24: 25 (The Message)

So slow-hearted! Why can't you simply believe …

Lord I know you never leave us. You are with us every moment, every breath we take.

I know.

My mind accepts this.

But I have a slow heart. 

I have heard that one of the longest distances is between the brain and the heart. Though only 18 inches – faith takes a lifetime to travel and take root in our souls.

Come walk with me on my journey to Emmaus, Lord

Pry open my ears.  May Your words burn in my heart and set it aflame in faith.

What can’t I simply believe? 

Be my pacemaker, Lord, and set my heart to beat in rhythm with You.

I do believe. Help my unbelief.  

My Favorite Story about Mothers -"When God Created Mothers" by Erma Bombeck

When the Good Lord was creating mothers, He was into His sixth day of "overtime" when the angel appeared and said. "You're doing a lot of fiddling around on this one."

And God said, "Have you read the specs on this order?" She has to be completely washable, but not plastic. Have 180 moveable parts...all replaceable. Run on black coffee and leftovers. Have a lap that disappears when she stands up. A kiss that can cure anything from a broken leg to a disappointed love affair. And six pairs of hands."

The angel shook her head slowly and said. "Six pairs of hands.... no way."

It's not the hands that are causing me problems," God remarked, "it's the three pairs of eyes that mothers have to have."

That's on the standard model?" asked the angel. God nodded.

One pair that sees through closed doors when she asks, 'What are you kids doing in there?' when she already knows. Another here in the back of her head that sees what she shouldn't but what she has to know, and of course the ones here in front that can look at a child when he goofs up and say. 'I understand and I love you' without so much as uttering a word."

God," said the angel touching his sleeve gently, "Get some rest tomorrow...."

I can't," said God, "I'm so close to creating something so close to myself. Already I have one who heals herself when she is sick...can feed a family of six on one pound of hamburger...and can get a nine year old to stand under a shower."

The angel circled the model of a mother very slowly. "It's too soft," she sighed.

But tough!" said God excitedly. "You can imagine what this mother can do or endure."

Can it think?"

Not only can it think, but it can reason and compromise," said the Creator.

Finally, the angel bent over and ran her finger across the cheek.

There's a leak," she pronounced. "I told You that You were trying to put too much into this model."

It's not a leak," said the Lord, "It's a tear."

What's it for?"

It's for joy, sadness, disappointment, pain, loneliness, and pride."

You are a genius, " said the angel.

Somberly, God said, "I didn't put it there."

— Erma Bombeck (When God Created Mothers)

National Day of Prayer - Thinking about Prayer

May 5 is the National Day of Prayer. Its mission is to mobilize prayer in America and to encourage personal repentance and righteousness in the culture.

Many communities will host local celebrations and ecumenical services praying together for peace, guidance, and wisdom to live in today’s world.

Ever think how we learn to pray reflects how humans learn language?

First others speak for us, modeling the words so our brains and mouths can begin to comprehend how to work.

Then we learn prayers written by others and possibly recited down throughout history: Now I lay me down to sleep, the Lord’s Prayer and a favorite grace to say at dinner time.

Then we venture out on our own, trying to tell God what we want and what we think we need. “Me-me-me. It’s mine,” says the toddler.  Or “Life’s not fair and I want it now,” says the teen.

Later we learn to say please and thank you with prayers of gratitude and praise.

Do we ever fully learn to surrender all of our hopes and dreams and release them into God’s hand for His will to be done? That takes a lifetime.

Don’t forget wordless prayers too – just resting in the light of His love and presence. Reminds me of watching a person slowly slip from this life into the next – silent prayer lets the ego die and new life emerge.

I have lots of favorite prayers but will leave you today on this National Day of Prayer with one I really like by John Henry Newman:

Dear Jesus,

Help me to spread Your fragrance everywhere I go.

Flood my soul with Your spirit and life.

Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly,

that my life may only be a radiance of Yours.

Shine through me, and be so in me

that every soul I come in contact with may feel Your presence in my soul.

Let them look up and see no longer me,

but only Jesus!

Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shine,

so to shine as to be a light to others;

the light, O Jesus will be all from You;

none of it will be mine;

it will be you, shining on others through me.

Let me thus praise You the way You love best,

by shining on those around me.

Let me preach You without preaching,

not by words but by my example,

by the catching force of the sympathetic influence of what I do,

the evident fullness of the love my heart bears to You.

Amen.

God’s Response

My world changed on June 5 2009. Kyla Eve Rummel was born, my first grandchild.  I wrote on this blog shortly after that grand day:

Did you hear it? That loud whooshing noise last Friday, June 5th?

At the exact moment of my new granddaughter’s birth, with her first intake of air, Kyla Eve stole my heart. Love for this new child swiftly gushed into my core and changed me forever.

Whoosh! Love exploded triggering a chain reaction. Every instinct inside me wants to protect her, love her, and see her daily.

Whoosh! My arms ache to hold her, to touch her.

I watch her now as a toddler, exploring the world, learning new words, and embracing each moment as newly discovered treasure.  

You may have read in one of my past blogs how I got my grandma name, Amma.

On the silent retreat I attended last week, I read Robert Wick’s book, Crossing the Desert. In this book Wicks tells about the ancient desert fathers and mothers in the 4th century who provided guidance on how to live. The book companioned me on the retreat on many levels including providing me with a grandmother name.

A desert mother was called Amma. Amma refers to a wise woman, a play on words for me since my last name is Wise. And Amma nurtured the spiritual formation of others – the key role grandmothers have in the lives of their children and grandchildren. I am Amma.

People warned me that Kyla may change my name. She would be only one I would give that privilege to do that. And with her 2-year-old independence, she did just that.  I am now Ammie.

On Easter as we finished dinner with Kyla and her parents, I was chatting away about something and she looked at me and said with solemn clarity: “Silly Ammie.” How could such a young ‘um have such wisdom and insight about her silly Ammie?

Just the thought of Kyla makes me smile.

I think God must feel the same way about us. His nature to protect, love, and nurture us. 

His deep desire is to have a relationship with us no matter how we squirm from His arms and run away.

His openness to however we call Him: whether it is in anger, love, or desperation. Whether we cry out: Lord, Father, Mother or when no name comes to our lips and we dwell in wordless wonder.  

I wonder if He takes pleasure as He watches us explore His creation.

Just the thought of Kyla makes me smile.

I wonder if God smiles when He fixes His loving gaze on us.

God’s First Temples: Trees: Quote of the Week

A few minutes ago every tree was excited, bowing to the roaring storm, waving, swirling, tossing their branches in glorious enthusiasm like worship.  

But though to the outer ear these trees are now silent, their songs never cease.  Every hidden cell is throbbing with music and life, every fiber thrilling like harp strings, while incense is ever flowing from the balsam bells and leaves.  

No wonder the hills and groves were God's first temples, and the more they are cut down and hewn into cathedrals and churches, the farther off and dimmer seems the Lord himself.  ~John Muir