Tuesday, May 29, 2012

and summer begins!

memorial day week-end.  a time to remember those who served our county to protect our liberties.  and a time to pray for -- and work for -- peace!  and summer begins!

usually one begins 'spring cleaning' during, well, spring.  memorial day week-end is set for barbecues and the start of summer.  but it seems i have been cleaning all spring long -- and honestly, i don't have all that much stuff.  but i will admit, i have a winter and a summer wardrobe; and in my house, i have the luxury of having two closets; one for hot weather and one for cold weather.  unfortunately, i also have the luxury of having saved cool and hot clothing in various sizes for years, placed on hangers from largest to smallest.

this spring has afforded me an opportunity to get rid of some of my larger sizes.  i've been 'honored' with a "million steps" badge for my consistent walking -- now over 100 consecutive days.  who knew getting a gift card could be such an incentive to "get healthy"?!  Actually, I haven't had to purchase clothing as I've dropped pounds, so I guess having set up my closets based on weather-by-size actually has been another gift! 

so, frequently this spring, if you had been a hidden camera, you would have seen me trying on clothes, and re-organizing; sorting by 'not yet', 'almost', 'just fits', and 'i feel frumpy in this' (and the frumpy ones get placed in a paper grocery bag for our clothing closet).

so, i've been in and out of my closets this spring, shall we say, a lot!  imagine my surprise, then, when i discovered a box of yet-to-be-warn walking shoes!  I couldn't have been that un-observant, could i?  (i guess i was!) i don't even remember purchasing them!  or did the shoe elf bring "just what i needed"?!

honestly, i had been out shopping the 'memorial day sales' this week-end, trying on up-teen pairs of shoes, and trying to find the best pair at the right price.  so when i walked in to my winter closet on monday (memorial day), and there they were ... ready to be used!  i felt the whoosh of a mighty wind!  and i SO needed a new pair of exercise shoes; some of you will remember my blog about my 'squeeking' tennis shoes this winter ... well, they have just about lost their squeak, their grip, and their functional laces!

and, thus, summer begins.  new walking shoes that came like the rush of the mighty wind; a 'pentecost' gift -- the birthday of the church, when we began to share the good news with enthusiasm!  now, i have brand new pair of walkers to do my good news walking...probably not what the holy spirit had in mind, but none-the-less ... 'these shoes were made for walking, and that's just what they'll do' (ok, how many people remember THAT song?!).

my goal for the summer is to keep cleaning and getting more healthy, with the hope that one day, thought i may still have two closets, they won't be filled to over-flowing  because i have too many clothes in various sizes!  rather, they will be for casual and work, and 'sunday best'.  i guess i'll have to talk about my ties another time!

may you find the spirit rushing you to share and live the good news this summer, as well as finding space to be renewed and strengthened.  i even found time to set out my summer table and chairs in my cozy backyard, enjoying a good book as the sun was setting . . . . may the spirit blow you my way for a relaxing cup of iced tea this summer . . . . you'd be most welcome!

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

the top 10 reasons to be in merced . . . .

i could come up with more than 10 reasons to be in merced  . . .  but i'll just give you my top 10.  after finishing six years here (united methodist pastors are appointed (assigned) for one year at a time, and the end of june marks the ending of my sixth year).  so, i've come to appreciate the central valley.  here are my top 10 reasons:

     10.  Location, Location, Location.  what other community could greet you with a sign that says, 'the gateway to yosemite'?!  while we may be about 2 hours away, hwy 140 passes right in front of the church.  and what a beautiful backyard to have -- a national park; perhaps even the 'best' of the national parks!  in the central valley, we are 'on the way' to the coast -- just about 2 hours from monterey; 3 hours from san francisco; two-ish hours to south lake tahoe; and about 4-ish hours to mickie and minnie!  in california, one has to drive to get anywhere; chances are, merced is 'on the way'.

     9.  We Have Shopping!  ok, we have a costco, a target, a koles, and a walmart, and lots of grocery stores and a farmer's market at least twice a week.  and have you ever eaten a merced strawberry from a road-stand?  we rarely have to go out-of-town, but when we do, modesto is only 45 minutes away to the north, and fresno is an hour away to the south.  some great restaurants as well...every mexican restaurant hosts their own unique salsa! 

     8.  We have All Kinds of Weather!  while we are not in the snow country, we are close.  we celebrate all the major seasons; cold and fog in the winter -- so cozy up to a fire with a good book; cool nights and sunny days in the spring and autumn -- a great time to walk; rain, sometimes ; a necessity of life.  and the summer is hot, with more-often-than-not a cooling off for the evening.  no hurricanes or tornadoes,  and very few earthquakes; a great time to sit out on your boat or swimm at lake yosemite.

     7.  People; 80,000 and (slow) growing.  merced does not grow hand over fist, but we have a rich diversity of cultures and ages.  and there is an appreciation of diversity here.  we even have political diversity.  and we have room for you!

     6.  Building Opportunities.  we have growth opportunities in industry, and a willing work-force.  while the economic down-turn left gaping holes in our landscape, holes can be filled, and we are in a place to receive such growth ... so tell your investors!  have we got a deal for you!

     5.  Merced is Family Friendly.  we are a community that is well-planned, with neighborhood parks, plus recreational/sporting areas, and walking/bike paths.  our streets, for the most part, are accessible and cars generally 'share the road'.  this is a community for people of all ages.  we were also written up in the aaa magazine not long ago!

     4.  "Let Us Entertain You."  'playhouse merced' introduced its upcoming season that will include a 'premere presentation'.  this friday opens its final production, 'the music man'.  outstanding talent comes from all over the valley to participate in this great community theatre.  we also celebrate 'shakespeare in the park', as well as host two movie theaters.  our historic theatre has just completed its remodel and is a site to behold.  and our community also boasts 'kttyland', and a wonderful museum, as well as a cultural arts center.  golf anyone?  we have quarterly 'art hops', and fundraising events that pull the community together to support numerous causes.  you really won't be at a loss for what to do!

     3.  Neighborhoods.   merced has great neighborhoods.  i live in a fairly quiet northern neighborhood near the community dog park.  while crime happens here like in every community, i feel safe walking around my neighborhood, in the wee hours of the morning and even late at night.  many houses are filled with college students who, for the most part, actually do more studying than partying.  and my neighborhood is infused with the rich diversity i mentioned in #7.  there are still homes available which are 'move-in ready'.  merced could be a great place to invest your time and energy!

     2.  Education!  we are a community that honors education.  we are home to a long established community college, and the latest u.c. campus.   not many communities of our size anywhere in the united states can boast having two college campuses.   and we look forward to our newest state-of-the-art high school opening for the 2013-14 school year. 

     and now the #1 reason.  Faith That Nurtures Your Soul!  the united methodist church of merced, is one of the most progressive faith communities you'll find in the area.  we are a reconciling community, meaning that we welcome divergent thoughts and lifestyle; so as you grow in your faith and spiritual development, you'll find a welcoming atmosphere here.  this is just the best place for me to be at this time in my life; warm and caring people; justice minded; learning to reach out and exploring what it means to be 'evangelizing' in this day and age.  while i was away in florida, the church functioned without me!  that is not always the case.  we struggle like everyone else in this day and age, but there is much kindness shared here.  if you're in merced and you are looking to grow your faith and be of service, you are welcome here!

so, there you have it.  merced.  the place to be ... for me, one year at a time.

Tuesday, May 15, 2012

when its all been said and done

when its all been said and done . . . when general conference with its disappointments is done . . . what else is a pastor to do?  go to disney world!!!

and so i did.  what a treat.  i've never been, of course, as this was my first experience in florida.  and even with allergies, away i went, at the break of dawn until the closing hours, walking my way through the magic of life without responsibilities. 

the picture is of the 'fantasia' version of mickey mouse, when he tries to be the sorcerer's apprentice.  it has to be my all time favorite mickey version.  epcot was having a garden experience, so this is what i saw!  epcot is amazing, and i highly recommend going to experience it at least once!  i enjoyed all four parks, however; each with their own uniqueness.  this was a wonderful way to end a world-wind event like general conference.  in fact, i ended up playing 'catch-up' so much when i returned that i never was able to post a blog last week.  go figure.  i'm sure you probably all understand what it is like to run out of time!



 if you have never been to florida -- i'm told it really isn't the south; it is its own state of being! -- you'll know the concept of 'hot and humid'.  but, it makes for a wonderful paradise setting for flowers; you will see hibiscus all over the place; very tropical.  these happened to be just outside my room.

after having been surrounded by a 'world full of people' at general conference, however, i expected disney world to have a similar feeling.  not so.  i was reminded once again what 'white priviliage' brings in the form of what people can afford and not afford for vacation. 

while we still live in a flat-line economy, what i noticed was how few cultural/ethnic-minorities there were in disney world.  european visitors, but not a lot of people of color.  lots of strollers (they have 'stroller parking' everywhere you go) and a lot more scooters.  and lots of school-age children ... i only had the summers off for family vacations.  i'm so old!!!


but at the end of the day, there is no more magical thrill than to watch fireworks and the reflection of 'the castle' in the water.  i really like this picture; not that i'm a great photographer or anything, but it is interesting to me.  and it does allow me to remember that 'when you wish upon a star', no one wishes for harm or hatred, but peace and renewal and all good things.  that perhaps is really the magic of what disney brings to our world; an opportunity to let the real world slide by for a while, so that joyousness can happen.  even when overly tired children cried (do children really stay up all vacation time until they are just beside themselves with tiredness -- ok, i was a parent once of tiny children, but there comes a time with 'naptime is best' -- even on vacation!) i said a prayer of thanksgiving ... i'm so glad i'm beyond that age of young parenting!  and i said that prayer without guilt!!!  it is the beauty of being able to get away from it all ... something we all need; a time of renewal, a change of pace, and a reminder that all work and no play makes the world 'un'-magical!

and so i returned to merced; safely, and my desk and computer ready to have me back.  i appreciated that the merced church folk were able to be cared for by others while i was away, and that neither me nor they had to worry about 'what to do'.  i am blessed by serving with wonderful people who aren't dependent on me, but who are self-sufficient, and genuinely care for my welfare, as i do for theirs...amen!

on another note, i also share my thanks for the prayers and concerns for our community on mother's day with the discovery of a homicide victim whom i found in my neighborhood while out walking before worship.  i was grateful to be able to come to worship and pray with the community for the family of this (at that time) unknown victim, and to be able to pray for the welfare of our community and world and we yearn to be a people of love and peace.  we've still got so much work to do in that area.  may we be faithful to live toward a loving world of peace. . . . 

Tuesday, May 1, 2012

being a world-wide church . . . .

general conference is in its second week; we've moved from legislative sections to plenary sessions.  i am reminded constantly how difficult it is to be a world-wide church.  we're called to make disciples of jesus christ for the transformation of the world ... and yet, we continue to find that that phrase means different things to different people.  we are not a church body that can agree.  and we are not a church body that will admit this fact.  how ironic!  what do you do when an idea that is a 'no brainer' for some becomes that basis for 'sin' in another persons' thought? 

well, for the united methodist church, it seems, we tend to become more legalistic and constrictive; so note the sign to the left; some push back; others become devastated, and still others work tirelessly to extend the table, to find the opportunity to be in dialogue and listen; we call this in the united methodist church, 'holy conferencing'.  campus ministries were evident last night, offering the kind of hospitality that post moderns do ... i keep wondering how long it will be until they find themselves wondering -- "why in the world am i in a church that constricts and is not grace-filled?"


and so i head back to be a page again for the afternoon session; to have interpreters 'clean up' the interpretations of the real words.  the god i worship could not possibly be pleased.  in worship, we have symbolic images that appear; i found this visual engaging and spiritually moving; what do you see in it?  is there a possibility that god's grace will find its way into the future of united methodism?  will the spirit of god be able to soften all our hearts?  will we be able to truly see and experience 'the jesus in me' who meets 'the jesus in you'?  i hope so; i truly hope so!  truly, being a world-wide church is a challenge; and jesus MUST be here somewhere...take time this week to sit with someone and be in a 'holy conference' yourself.  be open, be welcoming, and find the opportunity to extend and receive grace. . . .