Increasing & Decreasing

He must increase, but I must decrease. —John 3:30

John the Baptist knew what they were saying about him... "Think must be the Christ.... Look at all he's doing." So, he knew he needed to stop it. "No. That's not me. Jesus will be coming. He is greater."

But, do we do the same? When someone says, "Look at all she's doing!" or "Look at... her work, his art, her architecture, his school," do we correct them? "No. That's not me. It's Jesus working through me." The Message paraphrases 1 Cor. 12:7 this way: "Each person is given something to do that shows who God is." Isn't that amazing and beautiful? Our very work as intended decreases the focus on us and increases our and others' focus on Him. I can't think of a more beautiful blessing! To point others to the Lord with the work we do! But we must be careful... as Lucado puts it, "When you're full of yourself, God can't fill you."


Both Increase

3 You will be blessed in the city and blessed in the country.

4 The fruit of your womb will be blessed, and the crops of your land and the young of your livestock—the calves of your herds and the lambs of your flocks.

5 Your basket and your kneading trough will be blessed.

6 You will be blessed when you come in and blessed when you go out.

7 The LORD will grant that the enemies who rise up against you will be defeated before you. They will come at you from one direction but flee from you in seven.

8 The LORD will send a blessing on your barns and on everything you put your hand to. The LORD your God will bless you in the land he is giving you.

9 The LORD will establish you as his holy people, as he promised you on oath, if you keep the commands of the LORD your God and walk in his ways. 10 Then all the peoples on earth will see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they will fear you. 11 The LORD will grant you abundant prosperity—in the fruit of your womb, the young of your livestock and the crops of your ground—in the land he swore to your forefathers to give you.

12 The LORD will open the heavens, the storehouse of his bounty, to send rain on your land in season and to bless all the work of your hands. You will lend to many nations but will borrow from none. 13 The LORD will make you the head, not the tail. If you pay attention to the commands of the LORD your God that I give you this day and carefully follow them, you will always be at the top, never at the bottom. 14 Do not turn aside from any of the commands I give you today, to the right or to the left, following other gods and serving them. -Deuteronomy 28:3-14

Great blessings are promised for those who follow and obey..just as the following verses in the chapter include curses for those who don't. However, some of the blessings are of an 'increasing' nature. Notice the promise that "The Lord will make you the head not the tail... you will always be at the top, never at the bottom." God will lift you up... you will increase, if you are increasing Him by upholding all of His laws and carefully following them. So, while some of my mathematician friends could describe it in more sophisticated terms, I'll just say that both increase concurrently.


We Decrease

66While Peter was below in the courtyard, one of the servant girls of the high priest came by. 67When she saw Peter warming himself, she looked closely at him.
"You also were with that Nazarene, Jesus," she said.
68But he denied it. "I don't know or understand what you're talking about," he said, and went out into the entryway.[b]

69When the servant girl saw him there, she said again to those standing around, "This fellow is one of them." 70Again he denied it.
After a little while, those standing near said to Peter, "Surely you are one of them, for you are a Galilean."

71He began to call down curses on himself, and he swore to them, "I don't know this man you're talking about."

72Immediately the rooster crowed the second time.[c] Then Peter remembered the word Jesus had spoken to him: "Before the rooster crows twice[d] you will disown me three times." And he broke down and wept. -Mark 14:66-72

However, the opposite is true when we look at Peter's denial. We often read this and try to imagine that we're not like Peter. How could he do such a thing? Yet, it often reminds me of my sinful nature. When I worry (fail to trust God completely), when I pass by someone who needs my care/attention/love, when I speak harshly to someone, etc, isn't that denying what Jesus would have us do and who Jesus is... in a certain way? And when we do this, we attempt to decrease Jesus. He doesn't really decrease, mind you... but we are making less of a big deal out of the biggest deal in the universe! And the result- we decrease... Peter results to weeping, and we must go before the Lord and confess that once again, we thought of ourselves to highly and of Him too little.

But with more Jesus, there will be more blessing and more fulfillment for us. That doesn't mean everything will go perfectly... but the joy and peace that He can give is only available when we see Him for who He is- great and powerful and perfect and holy, and thus we increase His place in our lives.

"You've Got Mail" on Bravery...

Birdie: So, Dearie, what did you decide to do?

Kathleen: Close. We're going to close.

Birdie: Closing the store is the brave thing to do.

Kathleen: You are such a liar.

Birdie: You are daring to imagine a different life. Oh, I know it doesn't feel that way to you now. You feel like a big fat failure. But you are not. You are marching into the unknown, armed with...nothing.

Kathleen: Well....not nothing.

Brad Gets the Blessing

Dec. 21

It seemed like ages since I had seen him, but then it always did. I was so excited to see Brad again. And when I saw him arrive with the others, he was even more wonderful than I remembered him! I gave him a huge hug and the two of us couldn't keep from smiling. We went down to the carousel to claim the luggage, and I got to hear what had been happening recently in the past few busy days.

Probably one of the hardest things on that day was to let meu amor sleep. I just was so excited to be with him that I had to fight myself to let him doze off as we waited for his luggage which was arriving on the following flight and then again on the trip home. How time can at once stand still and speed by, I'll never know.

But, when we got in the car, we had at least a little while before exhaustion overcame Brad. And I was all smiles, when he told me how much he enjoyed the banana bread that I had made especially for him. When we stopped at the roadside fruit stand, I couldn't help it any longer. Brad was asleep in the back, the only way that I figured I could really manage to allow him t sleep. But I missed him too much... so I leaned over, ran my fingers through his hair. He woke up gently, and a soft smile slowly crossed his face, so I leaned across the back of the front seat and gave him a gentle kiss. "Mmm," he said. "What a wonderful way to wake up." And it seemed that way to me too. Perhaps I was waking up to a dream instead of waking up from a dream. But somehow kisses are the sweetest when the space between them has left us longing.

As we entered the house, everyone (Mom, Jerry, even Tessa) greeted Brad with the warmest of welcome. They had already gotten to know and love Brad on several occassions (at Emily's wedding, in Sedona). But, I'd venture they loved him at least on some level before then. They loved him when they learned how wonderful he was for me and how happy he made me. Every story I'd tell him about our Sundays together, our drives, our hikes, our walks in the evenings... made them smile. And they loved Brad already through the many stories they heard.

I had pleaded with my mom to only make a little meal to hold us over. I love cooking, and I love cooking for the ones I love; but, this past semester had left me with little time to make anything for my love. And I really wanted to do just anything I could to show my great love for him, to show how happy I was that he was there. And honestly, I was and still am quite indimidated by the girls in his family. They're all the best homemakers every: sewing, cooking, cleaning, organizing. I'm sure I could never compete, but I was dying to at least try to convince Brad that I'd really try for him. My mom helped, since it was her kitchen and she knows where everything is. And we made "chicken lisa" with couscous, salad, and edamame... along with some brownies for dessert.

When we were almost finished, I again couldn't stand it any longer. My love was here in my home... I just needed to talk to him. Before sending him up to his guest room, I'd put my Christmas gifts for him on the bed. Simple but heartfelt. I wrote him 3 poems and made 'coupons' good for things like hugs, kisses, dinner, dessert, a night out, cleaning the dishes, etc. And when I brushed his arm and woke him up, he again smiled. We sat there with each other talking, and his smile told me even more than his words how much he loved my small, simple presents. Perhaps that's what I love so much about Brad. He loves the things that really matter... the heart of the matter.

Why Georgia ~ John Mayer

I am driving up 85 in the
kind of morning that lasts all afternoon
just stuck inside the gloom

Four more exits to my apartment but
I am tempted to keep the car in drive
and leave it all behind

Cause I wonder sometimes
about the outcome
of a still verdictless life

Am I living it right?
Am I living it right?
Am I living it right?
Why, why Georgia, why?

I rent a room and I fill the spaces with
wood in places to make it feel like home
but all I feel's alone
It might be a quarter life crisis
or just the stirring in my soul

Either way, I wonder sometimes
about the outcome
of a still verdictless life

Am I living it right?
Am I living it right?
Am I living it right?
Why, why Georgia, why?

So what, so I've got a smile on me
but it's hiding the quiet superstitions in my head
Don't believe me
Don't believe me
When I say I've got it down

Everybody is just a stranger but
that's the danger in going my own way
I guess it's the price I have to pay
still "Everything happens for a reason"
is no reason not to ask myself

If I'm living it right
Am I living it right?
Am I living it right?
Why, tell me why
Why, why Georgia why?

Words~ Dana Gioia

The world does not need words. It articulates itself
in sunlight, leaves, and shadows. The stones on the path
are no less real for lying uncatalogued and uncounted.
The fluent leaves speak only the dialect of pure being.
The kiss is still fully itself though no words were spoken.

And one word transforms it into something less or other—
illicit, chaste, perfunctory, conjugal, covert.
Even calling it a kiss betrays the fluster of hands
glancing the skin or gripping a shoulder, the slow
arching of neck or knee, the silent touching of tongues.

Yet the stones remain less real to those who cannot
name them, or read the mute syllables graven in silica.
To see a red stone is less than seeing it as jasper—
metamorphic quartz, cousin to the flint the Kiowa
carved as arrowheads. To name is to know and remember.

The sunlight needs no praise piercing the rainclouds,
painting the rocks and leaves with light, then dissolving
each lucent droplet back into the clouds that engendered it.
The daylight needs no praise, and so we praise it always—
greater than ourselves and all the airy words we summon.

Praise Song for the Day

Praise song for the day.

Each day we go about our business, walking past each other, catching each others' eyes or not, about to speak or speaking. All about us is noise. All about us is noise and bramble, thorn and din, each one of our ancestors on our tongues. Someone is stitching up a hem, darning a hole in a uniform, patching a tire, repairing the things in need of repair.

Someone is trying to make music somewhere with a pair of wooden spoons on an oil drum with cello, boom box, harmonica, voice.

A woman and her son wait for the bus.

A farmer considers the changing sky; A teacher says, "Take out your pencils. Begin."

We encounter each other in words, words spiny or smooth, whispered or declaimed; words to consider, reconsider.

We cross dirt roads and highways that mark the will of someone and then others who said, "I need to see what's on the other side; I know there's something better down the road."

We need to find a place where we are safe; We walk into that which we cannot yet see.

Say it plain, that many have died for this day. Sing the names of the dead who brought us here, who laid the train tracks, raised the bridges, picked the cotton and the lettuce, built brick by brick the glittering edifices they would then keep clean and work inside of.

Praise song for struggle; praise song for the day. Praise song for every hand-lettered sign; The figuring it out at kitchen tables.

Some live by "Love thy neighbor as thy self."

Others by first do no harm, or take no more than you need.

What if the mightiest word is love, love beyond marital, filial, national. Love that casts a widening pool of light. Love with no need to preempt grievance.

In today's sharp sparkle, this winter air, anything can be made, any sentence begun.

On the brink, on the brim, on the cusp -- praise song for walking forward in that light.

Naturally...

There was a child went forth every day,
And the first object he look'd upon, that object he became,
And that object became part of him for the day or a certain part of the day,
Or for many years or stretching cycles of years.

The early lilacs became part of this child,
And grass and white and red morning glories, and white and red clover,
and the song of the phoebe-bird,
And the Third-month lambs and the sow's pink-faint litter,
and the mare's foal and the cow's calf...

-Walt Whitman


I like to play indoors better 'cause that's where all the electrical outlets are.

-A Fourth-Grader in San Diego


I'm convinced that everyone must read this book! With changing times, our children (and all of us really) are much less connected with nature in a deep and personal way. Reflecting on the importance of nature in my own childhood, I believe we owe it to our children and ourselves to rekindle our intimacy with our natural environment.

Natural Places that were Meaningful to Me as a Child (and now!):

Royersford:
~Victory Park
~Valley Forge Park
~The Caldesac
~School Playgrounds- fields of various kinds
~COB Yards
~Elmwood Park Zoo
~Sara the Bear
~Climbing trees in my yard
~Dad's garden
~Schuykill River
~Runs (from Winter Track)
~Blanche's Hill
~Mr. Goodrich's field
~Riding bikes everywhere!

Camps:
~Camp Susquehannock- the lake, the animals, the woods
~Camp Swatara- the rock pile, the Appalachian Trail, the lake, the pine forest, the tree house, the outdoor sanctuary, the campfires
~Gettysburg- the old Duncar meeting house, the rolling hills

Ocean City, NJ:
~the beach- walks, playing in the sand, playing games- whiffle ball, paddle ball, pickle
~the boardwalk- walks, runs, riding bikes, people watching
~the ocean- swimming, jumping waves, boogie boarding, skimming, playing

Vacations
~Trip across country: many National Parks- Yosemite, Yellowstone, Sequoias, Petrified Forest
~Alaska- Denali, touching a glacier, grizzlies up close and personal
~Guatemala- Lake Atitlan, emerald fields, coati and monkeys and quetzales
~DR- brilliant greens, Campamento de los Jovenes, plantations
~PEI- red cliffs, singing sand, beautiful dirt paths, red roads, quaint towns, quiet beaches

Places I've Lived:
~Juniata- the cliffs, the Peace Chapel, the campus, Blair Park, Rails to Trails, "the mountian", Goat's Path, the rope swing, Raystown Lake
~Harrisburg- the river, Allison Hill, downtown
~Mexico- marigold fields before Dia de los Muertos, El gran piramide, Pico de Orizaba, 500 escalones, the beaches, the Alameda, los Portales
~Boston- Gardens, Commons, Davis Square, many lovely campuses for strolling, Mystic Lake, the dog park, Gould Farm
~Brazil- Running up to the Cristo, the orchards, the waterfalls, Pao de Acucar, fruit trees, humming birds
~Lancaster- Market, playing in the snow with excited Burmese and Somali kids, F&M fields, farms, running to Lititz


Such a beautifully rich childhood spent outside in and with nature! I for one hope that my children and my children's children and my children's children's children may learn to value nature, of which we are all a part. May we learn to live a little more this way.

What I'm Not Saying

It's what I'm not saying

That makes the most sound.

Though my lips do not move,

And your ears do not pound.

My heart sings a song,

And the lyrics resound,

"Listen to what I'm not saying,

For therein truth abounds."

~from the heart of Katherine Annette O'Donnell

The Best Christmas Present Ever!

My Refrigerator Decorator!

In church, I usually feel that I am given so much by the community of believers, the lesson, the scriptures, the word, the music, the communion with God. But today, I was given a special gift by a very special friend... Karen. She drew a picture of myself and her, a heart, a cross, and a dove... and she wrote both of our names. The gift was even enclosed in a lovely little envelope. But, it's just too beautiful to keep there. I know just what to do with that heartfelt artwork. It's going right on my refrigerator!

Mom, I was wondering if you could remind me what I was like as a child...

As I remember, you were an avid reader who loved to share what you had learned from books or stories or poetry.

You were always thoughtful before speaking- never would you blurt answers or ideas before taking time to consider all angles / situations / people, etc.

You have always been soft spoken person and an extremely good listener to friends, family and even to those who you recently met.

You enjoyed games- board games, not the computer or video games. You liked playing the board games as a family group with no other interference- no phones, tv or music. It was time to specifically play the board games - or even to build the wooden block structures. You did not like to confuse the game time or build time or bake time.

Just like on your dinner plate--the potatoes, the veggie, the meat / fish and then the other veggie. Sometimes rolls or bread or croissants were introduced to your mouth while on one type of food- but, rarely. You enjoyed the meal time with talk of the day, family, school, etc. Again, you would never want music or external noises to interfere with the special family meal time.

Many times on Sundays you would want to share about the Sunday School lesson.

You liked to hear stories of your grandparents and uncles and their families.

You did not want frills- you loved common everyday items- from food to clothing to games to movies. You NEVER made a Christmas List. You would always respond with the answer "SURPRISES" when asked what you wanted for Christmas or your birthday.

You were deliberate about beginning your homework asap. You enjoyed the bonus of time to do free reading when all work was done and there was time to spare.

You loved learning to play the piano and to sing in the church choir, as well.

You have always been a friend to be trusted. Your closest friends are probably those who have recognized your trust and loyalty and have reciprocated the same to you.

You have always enjoyed food preparation. You have especially enjoyed making foods and giving them to others as a part of your generous heart.

You had unique "likes"...blueberry muffins without the blueberries, for example. (I guess it was your first tendency to create your own recipes from recipes known as common to others.)

You loved listening to Baba talk about her life, her home and her family. It was the same with Aunt Helen. And, both of them knew how sincere you were about asking them about their lives. Sincerity is a characteristic in you that is clear to anyone who spends time talking with you or watching you live and seeing the choices you make and have made.

You are a gentle hearted person. I remember the Spring City Pool swim teacher telling me how gentle a lady you were as a little girl. And, she loved that about you- it drew her into wanting to teach you to swim well.

You were silly about silly things. You giggled when laughs were appropriate and your laughs and giggles were contagious to others.

You never talked badly of anyone and seemed always uncomfortable if you felt someone was being treated unfairly.

You shared toys. You were a peace maker when the competitive spirit reached others. You were "the fair one." If competition became the reason for the game, it was over for you. You played games and with toys for the fun of it.

In sports, you enjoyed the games but never at the expense of making others feel badly or less than they should be- individual sports seemed better as each competed with their own times, skills.

You loved preparing for school presentations- from speeches to posters to computer demonstrations. You worked fervently to do your best and knew the feeling of "a job well done." But, you never boasted nor claimed victory - your work was best seen on your face when you were pleased with what you had accomplished.

Your teachers enjoyed you in their classrooms. You were recognized as a mature young person with a keen sense of right and wrong and a sincere desire to do well in school.

You always made your bed. You always took care of your clothing- properly hanging the clothes and setting them out for the next day of school. You liked being in your own bedroom as much as you liked being in the family room- but it was clear that you needed both spaces and enjoyed both spaces.

You liked crafts and hands on stuff. Seekers crafts were always fun as were the camp crafts at Swatara and Susquehannock.

I really love you and I am so happy knowing that you love me, too.

mom

**Inspiration for this reflection upon my childhood was inspired by Parker J. Palmer's book A Hidden Wholeness. On a journey toward living a less divided life, Palmer suggests looking back to our childhood for our natural born gifts. He notes that as we grow older, we fear vulnerability and attempt to please others which often leads to hiding these gifts.

Re-Orientation: Read My Culture

After returning from Brazil, I never expected to experience re-entry shock. I'd done this out-of-country thing before. I am now finally recognizing that the "jeito brasileiro" I've picked up has made me a "weird" kind of American.

"Jeitinhos"

1. Be friendly. When you see a friend... stop and talk to them. No matter if you're in the middle of a run or running late. They are priority.

2. Be welcoming. Always invite everyone to your house. If you mean it, invite them 3 or 4 or 5 times. Then it's a real invitation. If you haven't invited someone to your house, they are not really your friend.

3. Be "modest". Wait for people to insist on serving you something, giving you something, inviting you somewhere, or to stay. In this vain, you always say you have to go before you are really ready to go... at which time the host responds, "No, it's early."

4. Be generous. If someone says they like something, give it to them. If someone doesn't comment on something you have, give it to them. If you have something to give, give it. If you don't have something to give, give it anyway. If you have anything in front of someone else, offer to share or give it to that person.

~These are the ones that occur to me at the moment. There are undoubtedly more. I'll add as I think of them.~

Lovely Late Night Latte

Friendship is born at that moment when one person says to another: "What! You, too? Thought I was the only one." (C.S. Lewis)

Last night over a latte/tea with Reena and Kristin, we opened our hearts to each other and my own heart echoed more than once the sentiments of Lewis. I'm glad to know I'm not "the only one" and ever grateful for my wonderful new friends.

Be Thou My Vision

Be Thou my vision, O Lord of my heart
Naught be all else to me, save that Thou art
Thou my best thought by day or by night
Waking or sleeping Thy presence my light

Be thou my wisdom and Thou my true word
I ever with Thee and Thou with me, Lord
Thou my great Father, I , Thy true son
Thou in me dwelling and I with Thee one

Riches I heed not nor man's emptly praise
Thou mine inheritance now and always
Thou and thou only first in my heart
High King of heaven my treasure Thou are

High King of heaven my victory won
May I reach heaven's joys, O bright heaven's Sun
Heart of my own heart whatever befall
Still be my vision O Ruler of all

Beautiful Song from my Morning Run

Your love is better than ice cream
better than anything else that I've tried
and your love is better than ice cream
everyone here know how to fight
and it's a long way down
it's a long way down
it's a long way down to the place
where we started from

Your love is better than chocolate
better than anything else that I've tried
oh love is better than chocolate
everyone here knows how to cry
it's a long way down
it's a long way down
it's a long way down to the place
where we started from...

Puppy Pleasures

German Shepherd Pups!

Is there anything more adorable? Tiny little nose, wide-set eyes, big ears sticking straight up... and tilting their heads just slightly as if they're trying to figure you out. And they probably are!

Just the other day, coming back from a run, I saw one playing "fetch" with a tennis ball and his 'pet' (as they would say in "One Hundred and One Dalmations"). Of course you know I had to go over and say "hi" to my new adorable friend.

Anyways, Patten completely made my day! I hope I see him again soon!

The Gift of Youth

Since I've been reflecting a lot on gifts lately, I thought it only proper to take a minute and be thankful for the gift of my new Iraqi friends, especially my young friend Rota.

I've said it before, and I'll say it again. Children are such a blessing! They help me to remember what's really important ("one more" race to the playground), to appreciate the small things (Eric Carle puzzle books), and to not take myself so seriously (ribbons placed on my head). Yesterday my visit with my friends completely made my whole day.

I echo the sentiments of Rota who said as I left, "I miss you." Walking away from their home, I missed them already!

Two Sinatra songs on the theme, because I'm a dork:

You Make Me Feel So Young

Young at Heart

Three Cups of Tea

"The first time you share tea with a Balti, you are a stranger. The second time, you are an honored guest. The third time you become family." (derived from a Baltistan proverb, Greg Mortenson)

What a beautiful blessing. After a somewhat stressful confusing and lonely week, I shared a cup of tea with Yanfei and Michael. While it was only the first time, there were three cups of tea between us. More importantly, we listened to and cared for one another with a wonderful friendship-building conversation. So refreshing in a culture that has lost so much of this personal connection.

Wealthy Poverty

The Situation: Loneliness

"According to Mother Teresa, it is among the wealthy that we can find the most terrible poverty of all- loneliness." (Shane Claiborne, Irresistible Revolution)


The Alternative: The Simple Way

Each of us is created for community, and in the image of community. And yet everything in the world tries to rob us of this Divine gift.

The life of the simple way is the story of that struggle to love and to be loved.

The most radical thing we do is choose to love each other... again and again.

If you are a seeker of the Way, may our story feed you hope... or at least keep you from making all the same mistakes.

"Life in community is no less than a necessity for us, an inescapable 'must'... all life created by God exists in communal order and works toward community." -- Eberhard Arnold

Let Your Life Speak

"True self, when violated, will always resist us, sometimes at great cost."

"Before I can tell my life what I want to do with it, I must listen to my life telling me who I am."

"Ask Me," William Stafford

Some time when the river is ice ask me
mistakes I have made. Ask me whether
what I have done is my life. Others
have come in their slow way into
my thought, and some have tried to help
or to hurt: ask me what difference
their strongest love or hate has made.

I will listen to what you say.
You and I can turn and look
at the silent river and wait. We know
the current is there, hidden; and there
are comings and goings from miles away
that hold the stillness exactly before us.
What the river says, that is what I say.

Excerpted from "Let Your Life Speak: Listening for the Voice of Vocation" by Parker J. Palmer. Copyright (c) 2000 by Jossey Bass, Inc., Publishers, a company of John Wiley & Sons, Inc.

I miss you, Amanda...I wish we could be 26 together.

Give a Girl a Chance

Girls Can Change the World