Monday, May 30, 2011

A Prayer for Unity

Our daughter, Michelle, and her friend, Saúl, think that God might be calling them to marriage, even though he is from Puebla, near Mexico City - an $800, 7-8-hour flight, a different culture, a different country requiring passports and visas to visit, a different primary language. There are many circumstances - both have studied and spoken the other's language extensively, both love Jesus and want others to know Him, both feel the other's strengths complement theirs - that make them believe this way. Pete, on the other hand, believes that it is unwise to minimize the support of a big, strong, Christian, loving family - which each of them has - unless there is a clear sign from God showing that He wants this - a sign we haven't received, or at least haven't recognized.

I'm ambivalent and can see each point of view, but am sure that to marry without your believing father's wholehearted blessing is a dangerous move. Saúl's parents are sad to think of him possibly leaving the country, but believe that as he is in prayer, the Lord will direct him and they will support whatever decision he makes.

Last weekend the four of us - Pete & I, Michelle & Saúl - had a two-hour meeting and concluded with a commitment to pray daily for unity, and not to make a Plan B. We are stepping out in faith, believing that the God who parted the Red Sea and "holds the heart of the king in His hand" will not find it too difficult to change the minds of one or more of His children who are sincerely seeking His will, and bring us all to complete agreement as to the best course of action. We also brainstormed a number of "next action" options, and will pray about them, remaining open to an opportunity the Lord brings that we haven't thought of.

So far, so good. What is surprising me is the almost-universal reaction - deep skepticism - from strong believers in (presumably) a faithful God active in this world through His Holy Spirit. Until today, when my good friend Maggie affirmed that "this is a bold, risky step of faith - but that's what steps of faith ARE," the most common question was, "What if it takes a long time?" Others told Michelle, "Unity doesn't mean uniformity with your parents," and still others told Pete, "You've got to put your foot down."

I'm convinced that when Paul pleaded with "Euodia and Syntyche to agree in the Lord" (Phil. 4:2), he wasn't hoping they would agree to disagree. And I'm quite sure that when our Lord Jesus prayed "that they may be one" in John 15, he didn't have in mind the kind of "nonconformity" we have in the Church today. I'm thanking God for giving us the faith to proceed thus far, trusting that He will bring us to real unity, planning to testify to His faithfulness after that, and hoping to find more folks who will come alongside us, believe and pray with us to that end.

P.S. Tonight at prayer meeting our pastor was very encouraging, and another pray-er was awed by the commitment to unity of the young adults in this situation.

Saturday, May 21, 2011

Amazing Technology

The other day Joel was showing me the Android phone he gets to use for work. Its voice-recognition technology converts the user's speech into a text message. Joel said, "What should I tell it?" and when he repeated, "My mom is amazed by the technology," the phone wrote, "My mom is amazing technology." It's even smarter than I thought!

I had emailed senior pictures of Joel, Daniel, and one of them together to a church youth director for a slide show. The email had been returned "undeliverable" because the pictures were too many megabytes for the server's allowance. I tried again with just Daniel's picture, and then forgot about the whole thing. While we were in town, the youth director had emailed, asking Joel for a senior picture within the hour. We weren't going home, and none of Joel's senior pictures had been posted on Facebook, and there was no one home to send something, so we were stumped - until Joel asked, "Have you sent my picture to anyone?" I wracked my brain and didn't think so, but Joel could access my email and I never delete any Sent Items, so he looked in there - and found the message that had been returned! He forwarded it on to the youth director, problem solved - AMAZING TECHNOLOGY!

Tuesday, May 17, 2011

Lots to Do

I don't have time for any philosophical thoughts this week, because our graduation and confirmation party is Sunday! We try to do double duty when we can, so the family doesn't have to make two trips in one month for celebrations. Since Sarah's Confirmation is on Sunday, we are having Joel and Daniel's Graduation ceremony and open house on Sunday as well. It also has the benefit of saving money. :)

I'm so thankful that Michelle is home; she is so fast at what she does that I couldn't have a better helper. Yesterday we all accomplished the following:

finished the power point "slide show"
finished the picture poster
finished the guessing game
selected pictures for the photo album from 2011
ordered the pictures online
scoped out the church and found the stuff we will need
practiced a flute lesson and a piano lesson
cleaned out the car, inside & out
tidied up the main floor
threw away 27 things
weeded the perennial bed
dug up the daylilies by the house
made dinner & cleaned up the kitchen
coordinated rides to town
did a task in the barn
tilled the garden
practiced graduation speeches
several more things that I can't remember now

And this was all before and after a trip to town for Sarah's practice and watching Joel's softball game - his team won, and he had some nice hits, good base-running and excellent play at shortstop after he settled down.

We also got to see Saul Cuevas, a Riverside friend, who was in town with Youth Encounter, performing at Central Christian School in Willmar. I wonder if our nephew Joey recognized him?

Thank You, Lord, for the energy necessary to do what we have to do!

P.S. Today I didn't delete the completed list, so here's what we accomplished today:

x K - blog

x K - crop pictures for albums

x 9:30pm - critique grad talks

x check bathroom supplies

x ALL - **Haul stuff up to church:

x ALL - fold clothes & put away

x 9:25pm ALL - sign confirmation cards & grad cards

x A P - **4 chores

x A P - *praise music into folders

x A P - *water seedlings

x S A P - *wrap grad gifts if they arrive

x S A P - TUE:**print confirmation cards

x K - **Find VASES?

x K - **Katie gift card mailed to her

x K&A - *get maple syrup from Susan

x M - **"proofs" from photographer matted & on posters

x P - Philip practice recital piece

x S - **make bread

x S - *wrap any confirmation gifts that we already have

x S - Sarah practice flute

x **check lib due list

x check obits

This was all before 2:20, when we left for an orthodontist appointment, running a bunch of errands, a softball game, a baseball game, and a track & field competition. Daniel pinch ran in the bottom of the last inning and scored the winning run! What a thrill!


I'm beat! Good night!

Sunday, May 8, 2011

School Sports - A Mixed Blessing

Well, are school sports a blessing or a curse? I know two teens who would say "a blessing": Daniel and Sarah! I also know a mom who would say: "a mixed blessing." Yesterday Sarah had a game at 5. I got done with a meeting at 4, rushed home, showered while making a salad to eat at the game, packed up all the stuff and Andrew & Philip, stopped at a grocery store to buy some water and extra food for hungry ball players, and arrived at the high school at about 5:30. After some confusion wandering around between the 2 games in progress (no Sarah), we discovered that her game had been moved to Swansson Field (back in town, near the grocery store, about 10 minutes away). I finally arrived at the correct game, only to realize that I'm a jinx! I still haven't seen the team play well (which they have done, just not when I'm around). They were ahead 5-2 when I got there; lost 9-5. Sarah spent the night with a friend on the team because their bus left for a tournament at 6:30am. When we picked her up last night (at 9:00pm!), she was red as a lobster - she'd been in the sun all day - and so exhausted she felt sick. Today she's been lying on the couch all afternoon and still feels tired. But does she want to play again? What do you think??? It's been great to watch her enthusiasm and skill. She plays third base all the time, and made several outs yesterday. She also mastered the art of bunting and laid down 3 good bunts, as well as walking, striking out, and getting a couple of hits. So it's all worth it! To Mom? I guess so...