Matthew 6:20-22 (New International Version) 20But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. 21For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also. 22"The eye is the lamp of the body. If your eyes are good, your whole body will be full of light.
On New Year’s Day I had some time to take a long walk outside in the snow and wind. The sun was out so I took it as an incentive to get outdoors. As I bundled up to head outside, my great nephew Eli came up to me and said, “I want to go walk with u Auntie Tara.” I was somewhat surprised by his desire to go out in the cold, but I got his snow pants and gear and bundled him up to prepare for the winter chill.
He commented on how he walked funny in his snow pants, he pointed out all the Christmas decorations on the houses we passed, he said “Appy New Ear ady” to a woman shoveling her walk and when we returned to Grandma’s yard he invited me to make snow angels “Wit me”. Spending that small amount of time with my nephew reminded me of how fast time flies for children. One day you are toddling alongside your parents and the next moment you are asking for the key’s to your parents’ car. On New Year’s Day, the Archbishop of Canterbury gave a message about the importance of treasure. He did not speak of bonds, savings accounts or even balancing a budget. He spoke about the treasure that is found in the heart and life of each and every child.
‘Jesus said where our treasure is, that's where our hearts will be. Our hearts will be in a very bad way if they're focused only on the state of our finances. They'll be healthy if they are capable of turning outwards, looking at the real treasure that is our fellow human beings.’ -The Arch Bishop of Canterbury, January 2009
Just like New Year, children hold hope, dreams and promise of what can be for the future. When I think back on the best thing about my New Years day of 2009, I don’t think I’ll remember the food we ate. I do know that I will remember my walk with Eli. In that short hour, he opened my eyes to beauty I would have missed if I had not taken the time to see things from his point of view.
In 2009, I hope that I become better aware of the treasure of children. For parents and grandparents, time seems to be going so fast. Sometimes, slowing down can be hard, but it’s necessary it we don’t want to miss the important things - the beautiful things.
People are the real treasure, not the balance in our checking accounts. Our eyes need to be open in the year ahead to the treasure and light of humanity that surrounds us. At the end of the day, my nephew was kissing me good bye and I thanked him for going on a walk with me. He replied, “I have fun with you today Auntie Tara.” Remember the treasure of children; they open our eyes to the most beautiful things in the world, each other.
On Sunday January 11th, I will be formally installed as the youth minister at First Lutheran Church in Jamestown NY. There will be as casual reception in the parlors following the worship service. The installment will mostly be a series of questions asked before the church as a whole. Thankfully, I already know my answer - "With God's help, I will....".
It would be wonderful for friends and family to attend this event. If you would like to come, please visit the link at Facebook for the event and sign in. If you are not on Facebook, you can check the info below and leave your note here in the comments.
It's peculiar how something like this makes a person consider the road it took to arrive at one place or another and all I can say is, it would not have been possible without the faith, love and support of my family, friends, students and mentors and God who gave of themselves and gave me the opportunity of serving in ministry. Thank you for your support and may this change be one that affirms our universal calling to a relationship with God and each other. With God's help, we will.
Hope to see you all there! Tara
Event Info: Date: Sunday, January 11, 2009 Time: 11:00am - 1:00pm Location: First Lutheran Church Street:120 Chandler Street City/Town:Jamestown, NY
The word “Beloved” was one that I kept bumping into in books, music and other sources. The most impacting source for the word came after waking from a nightmare and looking to my Bible for some comfort. In Deuteronomy 33:11, I found this verse:
“Let the beloved of the Lord rest secure in him, for he shields him (her) all day long, and the one the Lord loves rests between his shoulders.”
A few days after this experience, I had the word tattooed on the inside of my wrist as a reminder that I’m loved and cared for. On doing some further research on the word, “Beloved’, I found that at one point it also meant to be able to “see love” as well as be a recipient of it. Seeing love, receiving love and giving love are so important to all of us, I thought what better a reminder to myself and those around me.
For all the change in life it is important to remember that you are beloved! May this new year be filled with many opportunities to see, receive and give love.
For more info on the shop where I had this tattoo done visit In The Blood Tattoo and ask for Jesse.
I'm so happy to say that I managed to blog every day for the month of December 2008 thanks to the help of some great fellow bloggers, meme's, and a personal desire to write more regularly.
If you have some thoughts, suggestions, or ideas concerning my blog please feel free to comment. I hope you enjoyed reading it this month as much as I enjoyed writing. As for blogging all of January... I still thinking on that one.
My friend Amanda made a great review of 2008 in her blog, "Life in a suitcase" and so decided to follow suit with an adapted review of my own. Here goes 2008...
1. What did you do in 2008 that you'd never done before?
I finished my BA degree. I was laid off for a few months. I wrote, recorded and printed my first album. I had an article published online and a poem printed in a book. I ran a 5k and went to California for the first time this year too. One full year with book club and the friends that attend it - thanks for the time and thoughts you share on Tuesdays!
2. Did you keep your new year's resolutions and will you make more for next year?
I resolved to make some improvement on my health and followed through. That is a road I continuing to go further on.
3. Did anyone close to you give birth?
My friend Brian's wife had a baby girl a few months ago and I had the pleasure to meet the baby this last week. How do kids grow so fast?
4. Did anyone close to you die?
Albert - a friend and co-worker from the Salvation Army in Warren, PA. He was a very sweet gentle man who worked very hard and loved people sincerely.
William - my friend and hair dresser that I just met in July of this year. He died suddenly in November from a heart attack. The salon and my life is not the same without him.
Aunt Carol - passed away a few weeks ago after a long struggle with cancer. I will always think of strawberry shampoo when I think of you.
Kalauah - My sweet dog that lived to the age of 16! She was a member of out family that extended beyond our immediate household. We enjoyed her unconditional love and presence in our home for almost twelve years. To be honest, I still find myself waiting to be greeted by her every day when I come home and open the back door.
I went to northern California to attend an outreach conference and visit some emerging churches and communities at the beginning of March.
6. What would you like to have in 2009 that you lacked in 2008?
Greater focus on creative and writing projects as well as the time to work on them. More fun time with my family. Consistency and stability in my vocation. Greater commitment to spiritual disciplines.
7. What dates from 2008 will remain etched upon your memory, and why?
January 27th - The first Kiln gathering. It was so exciting to have a great mix of people there. The music and creative teamwork was great.
February 28th - Arriving in sunny San Jose after departing from snowy NY. What a contrast!
March - Easter week and the Artist Share Gallery that was set up in the Lake Lodge. It was the most memorable holy week due to the people that shared art and life that week.
April 19th - The beginning date of the recording process with David Trusso, James Reed and myself. Thank you guys for making a creative dream come to reality!
May 8th - meeting Lowell Avery and discussing outreach and ministry. It was great to have conversation and prayer with someone with such a heart for all people.
June 7th and 8th - my graduation day from Empire State College after years of working at it and hosting Ian Mobsby to come to Jamestown for a conference on his book, "The becoming of G-d" - it was exciting to have all his insight, humor and personality here with us in small town USA.
July 27th - my last day leading worship, preaching and serving with Westminster Presbyterian Church. Thank you for giving me the opportunity to grow as well as setting me free to grow some more.
August 2nd- Going to Pittsburgh to the Church Basement Road Show and seeing everything through my son's awe filled eyes. I recall him saying, " Wow Mom, why can't church be like this every day?"
September 19-23 was the World Vision AIDS exhibit that took place at the Ice Arena in Jamestown NY. I was so blessed to be a part of the team to help all week at this well received exhibit.
October 21st - My first day at First Lutheran. I recall butterflies of newness yet assurance that I was in the right place. Thanks to all who encouraged me through my job search and beyond.
November 16th - Helping to serve communion that day in the contemporary service, I was overwhelmed with the feeling of belonging. Also, October 30 to November 3rd when attending the NYWC in Pittsburgh. There were so many speakers there that were speakers and friends that I'd made in the last year or so. Thank you all for being open to making friends with me. Thanks to Libby, Jodi and Karen for spending time with me there too!
December was full of so many good things - I learned a great deal my first Christmas here at 1st Lutheran, I enjoyed the holidays with my family and I'm excited for the year to come! 8. What was your biggest achievement of the year?
Running in a 5k is a big deal to me - I trained from April to August and did not come in last. Yeah!
It would probably be a tie between Lost or The Hardest Part both by Coldplay. There was so much creative and personal investments as well as changes on 2008 that the bitter sweet words just seem to fit. Here are the lyrics to 'The hardest part' as well as the video to Lost...
And the hardest apart Was letting go not taking part Was the hardest part And the strangest thing Was waiting for that bell to ring It was the strangest start
I could feel it go down Bittersweet I could taste in my mouth Silver lining in the clouds oh And I I wish that I could work it out
And the hardest part Was letting go not taking part You really broke my heart And I tried to sing But I couldn't think of anything And that was the hardest part
I could feel it go down You left the sweetest taste in my mouth You're a silver lining the clouds Oh, and I Oh, and I I wonder what its all about [x2]
Everything I know is wrong Everything I do it just comes undone And everything is torn apart Oh and thats the hardest part Thats the hardest part Yeah, thats the hardest part Thats the hardest part
Happy New Year world - 09 is full of possibility!
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Discomfort is the way the things I avoid, push past the boundaries I try to restore. Comfort is dinners with friends through all time with platters of cookies and a glass of good wine.
Discomfort is wanting for what I don't have and comfort is knowing what I have is already grand.
Discomfort pushes me to grow like a mile uphill, comfort is the running shoe that holds my arch still.
Discomfort and comfort, I need them both. One to console and one to press on. While discomfort is a challenge, comfort gives me hope.
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I've completed to excellent and very different books in the last week. One is 'Speaking of Faith' by Krista Tippett and the other (which I started and finished on Sunday) is 'I'm proud of you' by Tim Madigan.
I first came across the word: ubuntu in Tippet's book where she explains it from South African friends perspective as suggesting "HUMANITY: Ubuntu says - I am through you and you are through me. To the extent that I'm estranged from another person, I am less than human." ( Tippet pg 182).
In Madigan's book, he defines Ubuntu as: "I am because we are... my identity is such that it includes you. I would be a very different person without you." (Madigan, pg 7)
There is the idea of "No man or woman is an island.", in the philosophy of ubuntu - but there is more going on with the word than saying we are not solitary. Ubuntu reflects the balance of relationships within community, along with all the challenges that come along with them.
Both of these books have a great deal in common in the fact that they are expressions of how people relate to each other, as well as pushing beyond people's relational limitations or boundaries.
I'm so amazed when in reading a book and feel the book has choosen me. It's even better when a word like Ubuntu unexpectedly pops into my life through more than one source. Usually, that means there is something I sincerely need to learn from it's idea or a challenge that I need to stand and face.
My understanding so far of Ubuntu is a great reminder that in life we all need each other. In my hurry to get a job done, sometimes I plow through on my own in order to reach my goal. In the perspective of ubuntu, flying solo won't cut it. There is a suggested feeling from the word that although life and work may not faster in a team, we all are more human when we work together.
Ubuntu means: humanity, connections, partnership, and relationship. Ubuntu needs to be a way of life - my life and yours.
For more on the concept of ubuntu from Nelson Mandela, watch this video:
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