Twist of Faith

With a heavy heart, I went to visit a saint from our church late this afternoon when I heard she had had a stroke and was in the hospital.  She's a person who worked tirelessly in our clothes closet giving a bit of dignity (and style) to our local community.  Visiting in her nursing home is always an uplifting experience. Today was no different.  I was told her son had left just minutes before I arrived and he must have selected the channel she was watching/listening to. As I sat beside her for a while, we listened to beautiful music (that I wish I could link to right now) that was playing through the television. I held her hand. I asked her simple questions thinking that her ability to communicate was diminished. I was wrong.

After a few songs, I told her wanted to say a prayer for her.  As I prayed, her tear-filled eyes looked directly into mine.  My eyes and cheeks filled to overflowing. And God became flesh and was dwelling among us. Not in me. Not in her. But, in us.

She had tried to say several things during our visit, but I couldn't make out what she saying. Her speech was slurred and unintelligible until I concluded the prayer.  With tear-puddles in her eyes, she said, "thank you." I said, "I love you." She said, "I love you too."

And God made a home among us.

Is this a good idea? Do people still read blogs or has Twitter and facebook limited how much of a person's thoughts someone night read? I just might try this and see.

Digesting the good food and thinking about heading to the beach tomorrow. Early to bed for the littlest Newell.

I went to the bookstore today looking for resources to help me plan a possible marriage enrichment seminar later in the summer.  This is what I walked out with and why.

"Trading Places" by Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott...This looked like the most interesting of all the books in the marriage enrichment section.  Plus, we had a video lesson preview pack at the church that was just sent back before I previewed it and these two folks seem be in a place to comment well to married persons. Furthermore, I think I ran across them while I was a campus minister, but I can't remember. Anyone read them?

"The Promise of Paradox" by Parker Palmer...I love anything by him and this is a re-print of an earlier work that I had not read. I like the idea of working through paradox and Christianity.  Like he says, my life is full of paradox. This should a interesting and a blessing. This may the beach read in a week.

"Marketing Your Church to the Community" by Peter Metz...It's hard to find something good when using the words marketing and church together. I am always highly suspicious of stuff like this, but hopefully not too cynical to learn something.

"Weavings" (May/June 2009 Issue)...A great resource for spirituality that I haven't used in a while.  The theme is "Cling Always to God."  It even has a centerfold artistically saying "To cling always to God and to the things of God - this must be our major effort, this must be the road that the heart follows unswervingly." (John Cassian) Not swerving is a necessary discipline.

Who knows? I might even read these books.

Here's what on the playlist for today...and yes, it does lean toward some U2 since I've not been listening for a while.

Even Better Than The Real Thing, U2, Achtung Baby
Walk On, U2, All That You Can't Leave Behind
Full Force Gale, Van Morrison, Best Of Van Morrison
All At Once, The Fray, How to Save a Life Rock
15 Step, Radiohead, In Rainbows
No Way Back, Foo Fighters, In Your Honor [Disc 1]
Separate Ways (Worlds Apart), Journey, Journey: Greatest Hits
Move Along, The All-American Rejects, Move Along
I Still Haven't Found What I'm Looking (Live), U2, Rattle And Hum
Jesus Christ, U2, U2 Medium, Rare & Remastered

40 minutes of treadmill, elliptical, and stationary bike