Griffin's Texting Birthday

I’ll never forget that day. 

It was a Friday

And my sister was in labor with her first child. 

I was in divinity school at the time and

I had become good friends with someone who texted a lot. 

Until that point in my life, I had texted no one. 

On that day, though,  

19 years ago, 

At the hospital, waiting for Griffin to fly into the world,

I sent my first text to my text-loving friend,

And I haven’t looked back since! 

 

In those early days,

Text messages had a 130-character limit.

You paid to send and receive text messages

And so texting could be rather expensive. 

But I didn’t care.

It was new. 

And it was fun. 

And it allowed me to keep in touch with people without talking on the phone!

 

Now, I can’t imagine my life without it!

 

It’s amazing what a simple text can do.

An out of the blue thinking of you, 

A conversation easier to write than to say,

A joke,

A prayer,

A meme,

A picture,

From upstairs,

From across the country or world,

A text can literally change the course of someone’s day. 

A text can literally save someone’s life.

And a text is not hard to send.

 

No more 130 character limits.

No more tapping on the number 2 three times to get the letter C .

No more pay as you go. 

Just a qwerty keyboard for most

And an opportunity to influence someone’s life for the better for all.

 

I know.

Texts can be harmful too.

Cyber bullying is real and harmful and must be watched. 

But today, 

On my Griffin’s 19th birthday,

On this day that dramatically changed my life, 

I want to extol the goodness of texting 

And encourage you to use it for good. 

 

God—

You have given humankind the ability to think of cool things like texting. 

It blows my mind that written 

Words can invisibly fly through the air 

And make it to somewhere else

In a moment’s time. 

Thank you. 

Now, let us use those moments and texts for good. 

Amen. 

 

The Loving-Kindness of God

 

We worshipped through lessons and carols at church yesterday. 

This was somewhat counter-cultural since most people have long since put up their Christmas decorations and music. 

But it was a lovely service that included a lot of beautiful Christmas music and 

Some of the most beloved scripture passages of all times. 

 

Just before the official lessons and carols began, 

Pastor Ann led a portion of the service that served as the prayers of the people. 

I was following along and offering my solidarity in prayer 

Until she almost finished. 

She prayed, 

“(We pray for) all who do not know the loving kindness of God,”

And my eyes filled with tears.

We often pray for those who are lost or hurting, 

Those lonely or unloved,

Those sick or dying, 

Those poor or marginalized. 

We even sometimes pray for those who do not know Christ. 

But something about those words yesterday--

Something about not knowing the loving kindness of God--

Stopped me in my tracks.

 

As Pastor Ann continued praying,

I got lost in a litany of names and lives.  

I know so many people who view God as a God of harsh judgment and punishment. 

I know so many people who have experienced hatred, manipulation, and control in the name of God and can therefore not understand God any other way.

 

Truth be told,

I used to be one of those people myself.

I thought of God as a being in the sky, with a long beard and clipboard, keeping record of wrongs, and waiting to strike when too many transgressions occurred.

 

But that’s not God. 

God is love.

And the story of God and God’s people demonstrates this love time and time again,

Especially in Jesus’s life. 

 

So I pray for those who do not know the loving kindness of God. 

I pray that, somehow, they will know loving kindness toward themselves, 

And that that understanding will transfer to God, the origin of Love,

Then back to self and then back to God

In a never- ending cycle of love.

 

Amen. 

A New Year's Resolution (Of Sorts)

 

Tuesday was Barb the Great’s birthday.

I always spend the day with her to celebrate

And Tuesday was no exception.

Except it was. 

 

I drove up to Barb’s midday. 

we had lunch and then we drove to Starbucks to get the most expensive free birthday drink we could think of.

Afterwards, we went to a plant store and looked at plants for ourselves and our loved ones. 

When I tried to send a plant picture to my sister, I noticed that I didn’t have signal. 

Figuring that I was just in a dead zone, 

I was annoyed,

But I didn’t think too much of it. 

When we left the store, though, and I still didn’t have signal, I began to realize that something was weird. 

I restarted my phone, 

As one does when there are technological issues, 

And I got a message that said

No SIM card detected. 

That’s what I knew that something had gone really wrong.

Barb said that the same thing had happened to her awhile back and that she had to go to the Verizon store to get it fixed.

So she told me to go.

Immediately.

So I went.

Immediately.

 

Without cell signal,

I felt weird.

I worried that I would wreck or break down and not be able to contact anyone.

I worried that someone would need to contact me and not be able to reach me.

I worried that I would lose my way and not be able to get directions. 

I couldn’t listen to my music or a book. 

I couldn’t mindlessly check my texts or Facebook when sitting at a stoplight.

My normal creature comforts had been taken away and 

I was all out of sorts. 

 

But it made me think.

I think maybe we’ve become too connected,

Or at least too dependent on the possibility of instant connection.

I think maybe we’ve lost the ability to sit and wait and be bored. 

I think maybe we’ve succumbed to a culture of fear that plagues us with thoughts of what if

If we’re not instantly connected.

And I think maybe we would grow a little if we could live counter culturally 

And put our phones down.

Some. 

I think maybe I could anyway. 

But I think that doing so will be very very hard.

 

I got a taste of it, 

by accident, 

on Tuesday

And I didn’t like it.

But I survived. 

And I think maybe I can survive a little each day

With a few simple modifications. 

 

I’m not going to make any promises.

I’m not going to make any resolutions. 

But I am going to try, 

To be counter-cultural and not let fears and what-ifs control me, 

Especially around technology, 

Which I know we need,

But that can too easily take over our lives. 

 

I’m thankful that my SIM card issue was an easy fix. 

I’m thankful that I got back to Barb in time to have her birthday dinner. 

I’m thankful for technology and all that is allows us to do. 

And I’m thankful for the ability to grow and change. 

Especially when it makes us better. 

 

Amen. 

Proud

 

I’m proud of myself. 

I have successfully scheduled to use up all of my credits at Massage Envy 

So I can cancel my membership! 

 

When I joined Massage Envy, 

I was living in Columbia, SC, 

Where a franchise location was convenient. 

The membership fee was also less while  

My salary was more. 

 

While in SC, I faithfully received my monthly massages and easily used up my credits. 

Then I moved home. 

To Harnett County. 

Where a franchise location is not convenient. 

 

For awhile, 

I was able to keep up with my massages

Because I was driving to Raleigh for therapy with Joe the Counselor. 

I called it therapy night. 

I would first see Joe for mental therapy, 

And then I would go to Massage Envy for body therapy. 

 

Then life happened. 

And Covid hit. 

And I stopped going to see Joe in person. 

And my massages started accruing. 

 

At one point, I had 27 credits! 

If I would have cancelled my membership, 

Then I would have lost all of those credits and a lot of money. 

 

So I went into action. 

I gave away as many massages as I could. 

And I went on in the freeze plus program, 

Where you pay a discounted rate to keep your membership without accruing more massages. 

I scheduled massages every week possible and I even got facials! 

 

And now, 

If all goes as planned in January,

I am out from under my membership 

And I can cancel without losing money. 

 

So I am proud of myself. 

I have worked hard to accomplish a daunting goal of luxury. 

 

In addition to the membership, 

I have spent way too much money on gas and tips,

But I have done it.

 

And so I celebrate 

This small victory at the end of 2024 

And I hope to be a better steward of my money in 2025. 

 

What about you?

What small, or large, victory can you celebrate at the end of 2024? 

And what do you hope for 2025? 

 

Whatever it is, 

Even if it’s just surviving,

I celebrate and hope with you 

Because we’re on this journey together, friend,

And goodness abounds. 

 

Amen. 

Peace

 

In 1867, Henry Wadsworth Longfellow wrote the lyrics to the carol, “I Heard The Bells On Christmas Day,” after his son was injured in the Civil War and his wife died when her dress caught fire. Walking down the street on a cold winter’s day, Longfellow heard Christmas bells begin to play…and he penned this poem:

 

“I Heard the Bells on Christmas Day

Their old familiar carols play,

And wild and sweet the words repeat

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

 

I thought how, as the day had come,

The belfries of all Christendom

Had rolled along the unbroken song

Of peace on earth, good will to men.

 

And in despair I bowed my head:

"There is no peace on earth," I said,

"For hate is strong and mocks the song

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

 

Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

"God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

 

Till, ringing singing, on its way,

The world revolved from night to day,

A voice, a chime, a chant sublime,

Of peace on earth, good will to men!”

 

I don’t know about you, but I get it when Longfellow writes,

“And in despair I bowed my head:

‘There is no peace on earth,’ I said,

‘For hate is strong and mocks the song,

Of peace on earth, good will to men."

 

And I get it when he writes,

“Then pealed the bells more loud and deep:

‘God is not dead, nor doth he sleep;

The wrong shall fail, the right prevail,

With peace on earth, good will to men."

 

I get the journey from joy to despair and back again.

I understand walking through heartache and grief,

Questioning everything I’ve known to be true,

But deciding, in the end, to rest upon peace.

 

Friends: Peace is not the absence of conflict but the presence of Love.

And even when life is difficult—

Political upheaval, wars raging, people dying, children suffering—

Love, God’s love, is there.

 

Amen.

Regardless

 

A decade ago, my dad read something that profoundly impacted my life:

“I love you regardless of how well you’re performing.”

That one statement worked its way into my consciousness

As a statement

From God to me,

From me to God,

From me to myself,

From me to those I love,

And from me to those I struggle even to like.

It became a prayer that I prayed over the people in my life—

a mantra that I repeated until negative thoughts began to turn positive and

All I remembered was that we’re all human and walking this journey together.

 

Sometimes loving people regardless of how well they’re performing is challenging—

Especially around the holidays.

Sometimes we want people to be more vulnerable than they are.

Sometimes we want them to be more outgoing or friendly than they are.

Sometimes we want people to be more capable than they are.

Sometimes we want them to be more giving than they are.

We don’t mean to do it.

But sometimes we want people to be who they are not.

Which is not fair to them…or us.  

 

Oh God,

This Holiday Season and beyond,

Help us to love people for who they really are

Instead of who we want them to be.

Help us to see people as your good creation

Instead of who we have made them to be.

And help us, God, daily to

Remember, say, and believe,

In all its many forms,

“I love you

Regardless of how well you’re performing,”

Until we truly believe it and live it

In all that we say and do.

 

Amen.

My Sister's Birthday

 

Today is my sister‘s birthday.

A few weeks ago,

I posted a note about quotes that have made an impact on me.

My brother got two quotes, but Dana did not get any.

She joked with me about that,

And I felt bad about not including her, 

But then I started thinking about it, 

And I realized that when I think of Dana,

I don’t think so much about specific words,

Rather, I think about a life lived to the fullest.

 

Dana is happy soul.

She loves to entertain and throw a good party.

She and her husband open their home many times a year for gatherings and get togethers 

That bring together people from across all walks of life.

There is always food, fellowship, and laughter 

And a sense of community that comes only from someone like Dana who genuinely cares for and sees the best in people.  

 

On one hand,

Dana lives spontaneously,

Always remaining open to the moment and 

To seeing what goodness can be pulled from it. 

On the other hand, 

Dana is the party planner mentioned above,

A webpage designer and administrator,

And a communications guru for topics from education to politics to the Raleigh Recorder Society. 

Yes, recorders.

The little instruments that you most often think of as torturing music teachers and elementary parents across the country.

My sister is a recorder expert,

And she makes the instrument enjoyable to hear. 

 

Dana is also a proud beekeeper and honey producer

Who will talk about bees with and provide a honey tasting for anyone interested.

One of my favorite images of Dana is of her being late for a family function because bees were swarming. 

I don’t remember the details of the story. 

All I know is that it captures my sister perfectly: 

Living in the moment with a fluid sense of time

While passionately caring for others, 

Or in this case, bees! 

 

So join me in wishing my sister, Dana,

Whose very life encourages me 

Even when a specific quote does not, 

A very Happy Birthday! 

 

Dana: You are loved!

And seen. 

And valued.

Today and every day. 

Happy birthday!