Potatoes and Hope

I love to cook! You might not believe me as you look at this picture of the potatoes from the pantry… but I do love to cook!! I knew the potatoes were in there, and I like to use potatoes in my cooking, but I kind of forgot about them. Then one day, I wanted to make something with potatoes, and I knew I had potatoes, so I went to the pantry to retrieve them… I have never seen potatoes in a pantry quite like these!! I was so taken by them. They had sprouted roots which had poked through the bag in search of nourishment for growth.

First of all, I think the potatoes are beautiful, so I took pictures of them. Then, being the frugal soul that I am… I chose a few of them, broke off the roots and used them for what I wanted to make. And finally, I got to thinking about the rest of them. It didn’t mean much to me until I was reading today in Isaiah…

Isaiah 61: 1-3 says:

The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is on me,
because the Lord has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners,

to proclaim the year of the Lord’s favor
and the day of vengeance of our God,
to comfort all who mourn,
and provide for those who grieve in Zion –

to bestow on them a crown of beauty
instead of ashes,
the oil of gladness
instead of mourning,
and a garment of praise
instead of a spirit of despair.

They will be called oaks of righteousness,
a planting of the Lord
for the display of his splendor.

As I look at these potatoes in light of Isaiah 61, it makes me think about how I love people. I can say that I love people, but until I reach out and love that person, in action, those are only words. For example: Look at the potatoes.

The potatoes have potential to be beautiful, to be useful, also to be planted. However, I forgot about them. That doesn’t mean I don’t love potatoes, I just did not pay attention to them for a long time. When I finally saw them… their roots were searching. They searched so far as to break through the bag and keep going. They were almost beyond the point of being useful as potatoes, and they were ready to be planted as seeds. However, if I had completely forgotten about them, they would have either shriveled up and died eventually, or they would have begun to rot and become a stench in my pantry… Then I really would have noticed them. Rotten potatoes reek!!

Aren’t we like potatoes? We are searching for fertile soil in which we can be planted and become trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord. That path is so much nicer and makes much more sense when we are noticed by others who can help us to be beautiful, useful or planted.These potatoes challenge me to follow Isaiah’s mission as posted above… to reach out to the poor, the broken
hearted, the captives and prisoners, those who mourn and grieve… and to help bestow upon them a crown of beauty instead of ashes, the oil of gladness and a garment of praise so that they will be called trees of righteousness, the planting of the Lord… That God himself may be glorified.

What greater beauty is there than to share who God has created us to be with others, so that He may be glorified and we may become more like Him.

Potatoes Hope

Southern California Sunshine

I have not posted for a while, forgive my absence.I’m in Southern California right now and I must confess that when I come back here, I remember that California is in my blood. I was born and mostly raised here and I love the sunshine. I didn’t realize how much I love the sun until after I’ve been in Seattle for a year. I love the rain too, but when it happens every day for so many days that you forget when it started, it begins to get to you a bit. I never thought it would, but I admit it does.

When I flew in to California, on Wednesday, I could sense the sun through the windows. When I got out of the plane, I could feel it, smell it and it put a comfortable smile on my face. It just felt like home. I have lived so many places, but I think California sunshine always feels like home because I spent the majority of my childhood here, came back for College, and have recently also lived here a bit as an adult.

Many things have been gnawing at me for the past couple of months and this visit has been a good one in the area of clarification. I feel as though some light has dawned in these cloudy rooms of my mind. How just like God to bring me sunshine and the comforts of home at just the same moment when light shines in my wondering as well.

California Sunshine

Happy St. Patrick’s Day

I wanted to share a prayer from St.Patrick that we went over in my Wednesday night home group and a friend from Costa Rica just sent it to me as well… be blessed!!I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

I arise today
Through the strength of Christ’s birth and His baptism,
Through the strength of His crucifixion and His burial,
Through the strength of His resurrection and His ascension,
Through the strength of His descent for the judgment of doom.

I arise today
Through the strength of the love of cherubim,
In obedience of angels,
In service of archangels,
In the hope of resurrection to meet with reward,
In the prayers of patriarchs,
In preachings of the apostles,
In faiths of confessors,
In innocence of virgins,
In deeds of righteous men.

I arise today
Through the strength of heaven;
Light of the sun,
Splendor of fire,
Speed of lightning,
Swiftness of the wind,
Depth of the sea,
Stability of the earth,
Firmness of the rock.

I arise today
Through God’s strength to pilot me;
God’s might to uphold me,
God’s wisdom to guide me,
God’s eye to look before me,
God’s ear to hear me,
God’s word to speak for me,
God’s hand to guard me,
God’s way to lie before me,
God’s shield to protect me,
God’s hosts to save me
From snares of the devil,
From temptations of vices,
From every one who desires me ill,
Afar and anear,
Alone or in a multitude.

I summon today all these powers between me and evil,
Against every cruel merciless power that opposes my body and soul,
Against incantations of false prophets,
Against black laws of pagandom,
Against false laws of heretics,
Against craft of idolatry,
Against spells of women and smiths and wizards,
Against every knowledge that corrupts man’s body and soul.
Christ shield me today
Against poison, against burning,
Against drowning, against wounding,
So that reward may come to me in abundance.

Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me,
Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me,
Christ on my right, Christ on my left,
Christ when I lie down, Christ when I sit down,
Christ in the heart of every man who thinks of me,
Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me,
Christ in the eye that sees me,
Christ in the ear that hears me.

I arise today
Through a mighty strength, the invocation of the Trinity,
Through a belief in the Threeness,
Through a confession of the Oneness
Of the Creator of creation.

St. Patrick (ca. 377)

St. Patrick’s Day

I Made Friends with the Elephant!!

I did it!!! I made friends with the elephant who lives above me! It was a beautiful thing, really!! If you have no idea what I am talking about, you can read the first post about the elephants, here.

I came home one day last week, and I was getting out of my car. I noticed that at that very moment, the mom elephant was getting out of her car as well!! This was my chance!!! It was an awkward moment when you decide whether or not you will take the chance being given to you, or not!! Well, I said hello and she responded!! Then we were basically walking to the same place, since she lives above me. So I broke the silence and asked her a question. She responded again, amiably even!! This was going well!! She then asked me a question and we were actually having a conversation, Woo Hoo!! Then… as we got to my door and she turned to go up the stairs, I asked her name… She told me and then asked mine… We both said it was nice to meet the other again. Then we said goodbye… just like friends would, it was great!!

You know what else?? I haven’t had a headache since!! This may be a coincidence, or maybe it is the result of getting over myself and taking a step in the right direction!! The elephant now has a name and she’s a nice person!

Elephants Friendship

Coming into Our Space

I had an interesting experience yesterday with my nephew. He is 8 months old and the cutest little boy in the whole wide world, at least we think so!! I get to take care of him every day and I love it!! Being a stay-at-home Auntie is a unique and good thing!

Yesterday, we were hanging out at home, Jack in his space, me in mine. He began to get a bit fussy, so I turned to see what was up. He wasn’t going to be consoled, so I came into his space. I sat down with him in the play area and he soon calmed down. It was as if he heard me consoling him from my space, but he didn’t understand or believe it until I came into his space. Once I was there, he didn’t even really stay with me, he rather, just wanted to know that I was there and willing to be with him. He began to play, always looking back to see if I was still there with him. We interacted and he was happy. He played on his own and he was content to turn and touch my leg every so often.

He stood up to reach new heights and looked back at me to see if it was okay to reach there. It was like he just needed me there for comfort, strength, understanding and guidance. But had I stayed in my space, only verbalizing my love for him, he never would have understood. He would have stayed by the side of his space, immobile, crying and longing for me to be a part of his existence. As soon as I came in, he was comfortable and confident to explore his own existence, assured by my presence.

I learned a bit more, yesterday, about why Jesus came into our space.

Space
Jesus