The unpredictable life of ours

 I struggle to remember what day of the week it is (It's Monday- today- and I thought it was Saturday or Sunday).
Many of you know that my husband- David- has been working in Denver since last December. He would usually come home on the weekends or, I would go up there and spend time in the "big city". Now though, things have changed and he will remain in Denver till sometime in June.

We are trying to find ways to keep connected. Zoom, phone calls, Whats App are all good, when the connection is stable. Yesterday, we took a virtual walk together. He around the hotels where he is staying- with empty parking lots, and me, with our grounds. Even though our grounds are pretty dry, at least he was able to see something other than concrete!

This morning I grabbed a couple of books, made a pot of tea and read to him from a book by Bob Goff. "Live In Grace- Walk In Love" ~ A 365- Day Journey. When I finally figured out what day of the year this is (97), my jaw dropped when I saw the passage. I want to share with you now.

Day 97. EVIL ALWAYS LOOKS LIKE IT'S GOING TO WIN- RIGHT BEFORE IT DOESN'T!!

"We know that in all things God works for the good of those who love him, who have been called according to his purpose." ~ Romans 8:28

I have a bit of a bias for predictable movies. I want the hero to win and the bad guy to get his just desserts. I want the complicated love story with the uncomplicated ending. I want the asteroid destroyed before Earth gets obliterated.

But even with these kinds of films, there's always an unpredictable turn. The hero is caught in the inescapable chamber, The couple falling in love hurt each other in ways that can't be mended. The bomb designed to save Earth malfunctions during the countdown.

I love these kinds of movies because I think they're an accurate reflection of life. We all know life is unpredictable. The unexpected diagnosis, the lost job, the lost love. Things rarely, if ever, turn out the way we think they will or should. For various reasons, in unexpected ways, life messes up our plans, and that can make us feel unhinged and directionless. What we were counting on evaporates before our very eyes, and we are left empty-handed and empty-hearted.

I think God is the best screenwriter and knows exactly how to land your story, how you will move through the tension and the challenge toward the truth in your life.  Just like in the movies, we already know GOD RESCUES ALL OF US IN THE END! Even when it looks like evil is about to win, we know Jesus rose from the grave, kicked death in the teeth, and gave grace the last word.

Don't give into fear just because life took an unpredictable turn. We already know how the story in each of our lives is going to end.

What's unpredictable in your life right now? How are you responding to it?

All the highlighted words were from day 97 by Bob Goff.

WOW! I don't know about you but out of all the unpredictable scenarios that I could think of, not once did I think of something like this Covid-19.  I thought maybe the dog would get sick on the weekend or, I would need a plumber- again- on the weekend  And, if I am being honest, the first two weeks I was alright but, then when further restrictions were put into place, it knocked the breath out of me and I started feeling directionless and a little suffocated. I haven't felt unhinged yet- unless you consider trying to play, "for a cookie, name the capitol of Arkansas" with my dogs. For the record, my German Shepard said he didn't care and to give him the cookie and no one would get hurt!

But, I read Bob's words again and again and looked at the words, "don't give into fear". How many times have we read that in the bible? "Do not be afraid" or, "fear not". 365 times from what I have read and heard. 365 times!! One for each day of the year!! And, yes, that is easier said than done these days. We are uncertain what is going to happen and, let's face it, for people that like to plan, that are extroverts, that like to be in control- this "uncertainty" has the ability to knock our socks off and to make us feel directionless. I was talking to a friend of mine in Denver and we both exclaimed that if we don't learn something from this or, because of this, by the time this is over then we wasted a gift from God. It's difficult to think of this pandemic as a gift and, I'm not saying that I am there...yet. I hope you know what I am talking about. It is a time for us to figure out what is really important. It is a time to learn from one another. It is a time of devotion. It is a time to divinely worship God. It is a time of joy and sorrow. It is a time for love and forgiveness. But, right now- it is time for bed!

Good night and God bless-
Pamela Nelson-Serafini

I came across a favorite poem today and wanted to share it with you.  Daffodils by William Wordsworth.

DAFFODILS - 1804

I wandered lonely as a cloud

That floats on high o’er vales and hills,

When all at once I saw a crowd,

A host of golden daffodils -

Along the lake, beneath the trees,

Ten thousand dancing in the breeze.

The waves beside them danced, but they

Outdid the sparkling waves with glee;

A poet could not but be gay

In such a laughing company.

I gazed and gazed, but little thought

What wealth the show to me had brought.

For oft when on my couch I lie,

In vacant or in pensive mood,

They flash upon that inward eye

Which is the bliss of solitude,

And then my heart with pleasure fills

And dances with the daffodils.

Gratefulness in the waiting

Good morning-
First off- I would like to say thank you to Cheri Holder, Lynn Chase and Linda Bounds for helping me figure out how to get on this as a contributor! Turns out- if you are reading this and trying to figure it out yourself- there is and invitation email that Pastor Andrea sent out on March 17th. You accept the invitation and go from there. Whew! Turns out old dogs can learn new tricks! LOL!

This morning I opened up The Bible Promise Book of daily devotionals that Julie and Leslie had graciously given me last year for my baptism. 

"The Lord longs to be gracious to you; therefore He will rise to show you compassion. For the Lord is a God of justice. Blessed are all who wait for Him!" Isaiah 30:18 NIV

"But they who wait for the Lord shall renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary; they shall walk and not faint." Isaiah 40:31

"The prayer is: Father, please strengthen me in my waiting times. I don't always understand Your schedule, but I know it's perfect. Amen" the bible promise book

These are trying times to be sure but, I see this grand opportunity for us to come together, not just in our community but, our nation, the world! This is a rare window for us to figure out what is truly important in our lives. It is a time for courage and compassion. It is a time for forgiveness in ourselves and others. It is a time for all nations to work together to find a way to stop the virus and find a cure. It is a time to love one another as Jesus would.

God's peace and love to all of you-
Pamela

Slipped Disc | Believe it: Orchestra plays Beethoven 9th from their homes

My daughter in-law sent this today.  She had sent a text after midnight last night and we both discovered neither one of us was sleeping.  We shared thoughts with each other and talked about the changes happening in our lives.  I felt better after our visit and eventually fell asleep ... my prayers that all of you are sleeping well, eating healthy and continue to wash hands. ❤️

Vicki Rienks shared this wonderful post:

I Spent a Year in Space, and I Have Tips on Isolation to Share

Take it from someone who couldn’t: Go outside.

 

By Scott Kelly

Mr. Kelly is a retired NASA astronaut who spent nearly a year on the International Space Station.

Being stuck at home can be challenging. When I lived on the International Space Station for nearly a year, it wasn’t easy. When I went to sleep, I was at work. When I woke up, I was still at work. Flying in space is probably the only job you absolutely cannot quit.
But I learned some things during my time up there that I’d like to share — because they are about to come in handy again, as we all confine ourselves at home to help stop the spread of the coronavirus. Here are a few tips on living in isolation, from someone who has been there.
Follow a schedule
On the space station, my time was scheduled tightly, from the moment I woke up to when I went to sleep. Sometimes this involved a spacewalk that could last up to eight hours; other times, it involved a five-minute task, like checking on the experimental flowers I was growing in space. You will find maintaining a plan will help you and your family adjust to a different work and home life environment. When I returned to Earth, I missed the structure it provided and found it hard to live without.
But pace yourself
When you are living and working in the same place for days on end, work can have a way of taking over everything if you let it. Living in space, I deliberately paced myself because I knew I was in it for the long haul — just like we all are today. Take time for fun activities: I met up with crew mates for movie nights, complete with snacks, and binge-watched all of “Game of Thrones” — twice.
And don’t forget to include in your schedule a consistent bedtime. NASA scientists closely study astronauts’ sleep when we are in space, and they have found that quality of sleep relates to cognition, mood, and interpersonal relations — all essential to getting through a mission in space or a quarantine at home.
Go outside
One of the things I missed most while living in space was being able to go outside and experience nature. After being confined to a small space for months, I actually started to crave nature — the color green, the smell of fresh dirt, and the feel of warm sun on my face. That flower experiment became more important to me than I could have ever imagined. My colleagues liked to play a recording of Earth sounds, like birds and rustling trees, and even mosquitoes, over and over. It brought me back to earth. (Although occasionally I found myself swatting my ears at the mosquitoes. )
For an astronaut, going outside is a dangerous undertaking that requires days of preparation, so I appreciate that in our current predicament, I can step outside any time I want for a walk or a hike — no spacesuit needed. Research has shown that spending time in nature is beneficial for our mental and physical health, as is exercise. You don’t need to work out two and a half hours a day, as astronauts on the space station do, but getting moving once a day should be part of your quarantine schedule (just stay at least six feet away from others).
You need a hobby
When you are confined in a small space you need an outlet that isn’t work or maintaining your environment. Some people are surprised to learn I brought books with me to space. The quiet and absorption you can find in a physical book — one that doesn’t ping you with notifications or tempt you to open a new tab — is priceless. Many small bookstores are currently offering curbside pickup or home delivery service, which means you can support a local business while also cultivating some much-needed unplugged time.
You can also practice an instrument (I just bought a digital guitar trainer online), try a craft, or make some art. Astronauts take time for all of these while in space. (Remember Canadian astronaut Chris Hadfield’s famous cover of David Bowie’s Space Oddity?)
Keep a journal
NASA has been studying the effects of isolation on humans for decades, and one surprising finding they have made is the value of keeping a journal. Throughout my yearlong mission, I took the time to write about my experiences almost every day. If you find yourself just chronicling the days’ events (which, under the circumstances, might get repetitive) instead try describing what you are experiencing through your five senses or write about memories. Even if you don’t wind up writing a book based on your journal like I did, writing about your days will help put your experiences in perspective and let you look back later on what this unique time in history has meant.
Take time to connect
Even with all the responsibilities of serving as commander of a space station, I never missed the chance to have a video conference with family and friends. Scientists have found that isolation is damaging not only to our mental health, but to our physical health as well, especially our immune systems. Technology makes it easier than ever to keep in touch, so it’s worth making time to connect with someone every day — it might actually help you fight off viruses.
Listen to experts
I’ve found that most problems aren’t rocket science, but when they are rocket science, you should ask a rocket scientist. Living in space taught me a lot about the importance of trusting the advice of people who knew more than I did about their subjects, whether it was science, engineering, medicine, or the design of the incredibly complex space station that was keeping me alive.
Especially in a challenging moment like the one we are living through now, we have to seek out knowledge from those who know the most about it and listen to them. Social media and other poorly vetted sources can be transmitters of misinformation just as handshakes transmit viruses, so we have to make a point of seeking out reputable sources of facts, like the World Health Organizationand the Johns Hopkins Coronavirus Resource Center.
We are all connected
Seen from space, the Earth has no borders. The spread of the coronavirus is showing us that what we share is much more powerful than what keeps us apart, for better or for worse. All people are inescapably interconnected, and the more we can come together to solve our problems, the better off we will all be.
One of the side effects of seeing Earth from a the perspective of space, at least for me, is feeling more compassion for others. As helpless as we may feel stuck inside our homes, there are always things we can do — I’ve seen people reading to children via video conference, donating their time and dollars to charities online, and running errands for elderly or immunocompromised neighbors. The benefits for the volunteer are just as great as for those helped.
I’ve seen humans work together to prevail over some of the toughest challenges imaginable, and I know we can prevail over this one if we all do our part and work together as a team.
Oh, and wash your hands — often.

Blessings, 

 

Cameron C. Simmons, M.S. 

Assistant Director of Admission

Undergraduate Admission

Pronouns: he, him, his (What’s this mean)

DU Alumnus 2016 BA, 2017 MS

303-871-3963 | cameron.simmons@du.edu | www.du.edu/admission

 

A prayer shared by my sister-in-law Kyuri Doeden:

May we who are merely inconvenienced

Remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have no risk factors

Remember those most vulnerable.

May we who have the luxury of working from home

Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making
their rent.

May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools
close

Remember those who have no options.

May we who have to cancel our trips

Remember those that have no safe place to go.

May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market

Remember those who have no margin at all.

May we who settle in for a quarantine at home

Remember those who have no home.

As fear grips our country,

let us choose love.

During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,

Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.
Amen.

The PUZZLE shared by Jill Wilson

Jill sent this to me and I thought it was great.  ENJOY and be encouraged!!

The Puzzle of Life   We all want answers: “How long will this pandemic last?” “How many will die?” “Will I get it?” “Will my loved ones stay safe?” “Will I lose everything?” “What will life look like on the other side?” The sad and hard truth is that no one really knows the answers to any of these questions. Maybe that’s why some of us are drawn to diversions like assembling jigsaw puzzles where the pieces do eventually fit together. Last week, I remembered a puzzle of Paris that I had bought the previous year and never opened. I was saving it for the “right time” and amidst the fears and uncertainty that ramped up last week, it was definitely the right time for me to work on that puzzle. 1,000 pieces depicting a city that I had never visited yet remained on my “bucket list.” Lots and lots of seemingly identical pieces of windows and tree branches. For a while, the challenge was an enjoyable diversion. Assembling the border was fairly easy. Figuring out the sections clearly differentiated by color brought a sense of satisfaction. Then, came the hard part. The part when all the remaining pieces looked alike, and I kept wondering “what was I thinking? How will I ever put this puzzle together? There’s no way I will be able to finish this.” At one point, I pulled out a hammer for comic relief, wanting to hammer pieces together when they didn’t “quite fit.” Instead, I stepped away and quit trying to force- fit the pieces together. Took a walk. Savored the beauty of spring and set about noticing countless remarkable details in the world around me. When I returned to the puzzle table, I had a fresh perspective. A new mindset: a hopeful resolve that I could figure it out. Within a few hours, I had completely assembled the indomitable puzzle! What a picture of life during this season of utter confusion that puzzle provided. Yes, I want answers. Yes, I want life to smoothly fit back together. Yes, I see a picture of how I’d like things to be. But life seems completely overwhelming. Nothing makes sense. What did God teach me through the puzzle? -Not to give up. -To continue to look for possibilities and fresh ideas of how to tackle problems. -To step away and take a few deep breaths when stuck. -To notice details. -To realize that when the answers come, bit by bit, things fit together smoothly. Using a “hammer” or forcing solutions (or relationships) that aren’t really right will only lead to disappointment. -To continue looking for solutions, even when they take a while to become apparent. Most of all, I am reminded that while I don’t see the big picture, the Lord does. These verses from Proverbs 3:5-6 keep running through my head: “Trust God from the bottom of your heart; don’t try to figure out everything on your own. Listen for God’s voice in everything you do, everywhere you go; He’s the one who will keep you on track.” In these days of uncertainty, when we have so many more questions than answers, I pray that you will continue to seek God and look and listen for His answers. My precious father had a song that was the anthem for his life. For 93 years, my dad's deep faith enabled him to face life’s challenges and cope with numerous physical infirmities without losing his hopeful and encouraging spirit. Here is Josh Groban’s rendition of his favorite song: “When you walk through a storm Hold your head up high And don’t be afraid of the dark At the end of the storm There’s a golden sky And the sweet silver song of the lark Walk on through the wind Walk on through the rain Though your dreams be tossed and blown Walk on, walk on With hope in your heart And you’ll never walk alone. You’ll never walk alone.” What was the hope in my dear dad’s heart? The same hope that sustains me, even when the puzzle pieces of life don’t seem to fit together: the hope provided by Jesus Christ, the anchor of my soul.   “We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.” Hebrews 6:19   If you've never taken the time to write letters to your loved ones, now's the perfect time. The price for the PDF version of the Leave Nothing Unsaid workbook has been reduced by 50%. Click on the box below if you're interested.   Leave Nothing Unsaid Online Store As an author, speaker, and coach, Jody Noland brings an infectious passion for writing words of encouragement. Her greatest joy comes from helping others leave nothing unsaid to the important people in their lives.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/travel/travel-board-games-coronavirus/2020/03/19/86c43980-687e-11ea-abef-020f086a3fab_story.html

This, I thought was very cool.  Board games that let you travel without getting on a plane!!  And there are endless jigsaw puzzles that people are getting into.  It's fun to get creative!!

Good  morning,

I watched this interview yesterday https://tv.apple.com/show/umc.cmc.1xr8rwhaw9pkks7bvzy44dezt?ign-itscg=80098&ign-itsct=atvp_oprahtalks_gen_gen with Oprah and Pastor Wintley Phipps.  It was all about the Covid-19 and offers spiritual advice during this time.  It was very moving to me, especially the Pastor's message, which basically was do not let fear take over.  It is a message of Hope, of praying for peace and of gratitude, giving thanks for what we have and looking for..........what can this teach us?  What opportunities can we gain from this?  Not taking for granted things that we have and a chance to be close and strengthen our relationships with our loved ones.  AND his singing of Amazing Grace at the end of the interview will floor you!!  If you can't tune into the interview, here is another link to his singing of Amazing Grace.

 http://mentors.usdreamacademy.org/checkout/order-received/2510/?key=wc_order_3HX9ARzRvqsjl

Amen!!!

Thanks be to God

Prayer for a Pandemic

May we who are merely inconvenienced

Remember those whose lives are at stake.

May we who have no risk factors

Remember those most vulnerable.

May we who have the luxury of working from home

Remember those who must choose between preserving their health or making their rent.

May we who have the flexibility to care for our children when their schools close

Remember those who have no options.

May we who have to cancel our trips

Remember those that have no place to go.

May we who are losing our margin money in the tumult of the economic market

Remember those who have no margin at all.

May we who settle in for a quarantine at home

Remember those who have no home.

During this time when we cannot physically wrap our arms around each other,

Let us yet find ways to be the loving embrace of God to our neighbors.

Amen.

~ Author Unkown

A really wonderful sermon I read today from Nadia Bolz-Weber. Enjoy!

https://nadiabolzweber.substack.com/p/be-not-afraid-um-yeahok

Wednesday March 18th

Dear friends,
What a time we are in---unprecedented for the all of us who are for the first time dealing with such a global crisis.  As most of you know I do not have a single social media account like facebook so I am working, getting news from primarily newspapers (online), making adjustments, and praying like crazy.  How are we going to help one another?  How am I and the followers of Jesus going to be Christ to the world?  A few weeks ago in a sermon, I quoted someone who said we are not called to be advertisements for Christ but representatives of Christ....  I've really been reflecting on that.  If this was year 35 CE, what would Jesus be doing and saying?  And is that not what we are to be doing?
So my question for today is:  How are you doing that?

The Shock of Suddenly Stopping

I have been thinking a lot about how this abrupt stoppage (or at a minimum, significant interruption) to our daily routines will affect us as a society. The last time something like this happened to me it was merely personal, but I still feel its effect every day. It is hard to fathom it as a universal experience. 

Those of us whose schedules just became blank have some real time on our hands. Time to catch up on all those things we’ve been saying we really want to do but have no time for. Like, now, I can paint that picture I’ve been thinking about and list some stuff on Ebay. And clean out the garage. And organize the mud room. And eat more healthily. And read all those books. And, now, I’ll find out how serious I was about wanting to write something deep and profound and share it with the world.

Something happens when we are surprised with a fresh slate. It changes us. Maybe we will not actually do all that stuff that’s been flying around in our heads for years, poking at our brains whenever we come up for air, telling us that that is where our real lives can be found. Maybe we will instead take a new path with previously unconsidered steps and hoped-for outcomes. I do know that envisioning a different future after such an experience can be both rejuvenating and exhilarating, but also terrifying because there is no going back. The prior path seems obscure and less compelling.

I hope that this period of frustration of purposes, discombobulation, and reorientation results in whole new, engaged lives for each one of us - that it forces us out of our ruts, and pulls our heads up out of our regular feed bags. I hope we gain a better sense of where we are in the course of this life, and can focus again on what it is we were put here to do today and the rest of our lives, or at least until the next surprise. And I hope you all remain healthy and strong wherever this moment takes you.

Monday March 16th

Dear friends of Zion's,
We are trying something else new during this pandemic!  Lynn Chase had this great idea based on her life long discipline of journaling- let's connect with one another during this time here on this blog.  Maybe share your thoughts and feelings about being separated from church/people, share your hopes/fears, your prayers?  Let's stay connected!