Up2Me: Feeling rotten?

Craig and I at Frazier Falls

I love waterfalls. Often, though, they’re not just along the roadside but tucked into an isolated canyon at the end of a windy road.

Such is true for Frazier Falls, about an hour from our home deeper and higher into the Sierra than our mountain valley, which sits at five thousand feet. We drive the long stretches and the switchbacks until rock walls finally reveal their treasure, the 180-foot plummet of Frazier Creek into the canyon.

Twice this summer I visited the falls, once with my friend June and once with most of our kids and a handful (or rather shouldersful) of grandkids. After the long drive, we hiked the half-mile trail — up, down, and around. Along the meandering path a prism of wildflowers decorated the rock crevices, inspiring our camera close-ups. And then…finally…the falls.

They did not disappoint us. The winter’s sixty-one feet of snow (yes, you read that right: 61 feet) in the Sierra provided a payoff for falls followers unmatched for almost sixty years.

The snow plant is a rare Sierra find.

But we got another payoff as well: several snow plants still remained along the trail. The chlorophyll-less, bright red plant grows in high elevations under pine trees and is a stunning surprise in shady forest spots. Interestingly, it gets its nourishment from a shared fungus from the pine trees’ roots — beauty growing from rot, seemingly.

Oh, but isn’t that what our Lord does with our lives — create beauty from our rot?

In fact, he is in the business of transformation.

Water to wine.

Cripple to whole.

Burdens to forgiveness.

Sometimes I wonder why my own path to snow-plant-like transformation takes such a circuitous route. Life’s flowerlike attractions — fleeting pleasures that don’t satisfy more than moments — seemingly distract me on a regular basis.

I’m just thankful for grace and that I can fix my “eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith” (Hebrews 12:2). Without his graceful, transforming power, I’d have no hope that my rot will some day be a thing of beauty.

Up2Me: Feeling rotten?

Up2Me: Feeling rotten?.

Up2Me: Falling into place

Are the things on your To-Do List falling into place?

If Loose Ends were a Facebook entity, I would not be clicking [Like].

I am a hater of loose ends. I love it when my To-Do List becomes a To-Done List. I don’t enjoy dwelling on problems. Conversely, I’ve noticed that a strength of mine is problem solving.

Right now, though, there are WAY too many things on my To-Do List. Broken lawnmower. Lesson plans. Car that doesn’t work.

Lately, the To-Do List has jumped off the counter and has started messin’ with my theoretically sacrosanct Hour of Power when I walk and pray. I don’t like that…and I don’t like myself if that occurs more than a couple times during the week.

However, if I’m absolutely honest with myself, I know that there’s a lot of time I have let slip away from my day — mostly involving out-of-control digestion of anything and everything online.

I came Facebook-to-Facebook with a passage from scripture that I’ve never been too fond of, mostly because I tend to identify with Martha. A friend posted this:

“’Martha, Martha,’ the Lord answered, “you are worried and upset about many things, but only one thing is needed. Mary has chosen what is better and it will not be taken away from her.’”

In particular, the word needed jumped off the page, because I’ve been worrying about how I will ever be able to get everything done when I return to teaching in a week, given that my days this summer have been very full. Clearly, the Lord is teaching that the only essential things in our lives — the only needed things — are those that would draw us to him. Study. Prayer. Reflection.

Yes, I tried to fit “Facebook” under reflection. No, it didn’t post.

Because prayerwalking in the mornings will make sure I’m getting what I need on a daily basis, I will return to that routine when school starts. And so that I can get up at 5 a.m., I will have to do the following:

• Cut back online time
• Grade papers only until 8 p.m., so I’m not editing mental essays as I try to drop off to sleep.
• Head to the bedroom by 8 p.m.
• Turn the lights out at 9 p.m.

I [Like] that To-Do List.

What’s yours for the fall?

Up2Me: Let’s all go back to school

Parents love it. Kids hate it. And teachers are starting to have their usual nightmares–you know, the ones where we forgot to put on clothes before we went to school (#1 nightmare, my friends report).

It’s that season of the year again: Back-to-School Time!

I’m still three weeks out from the first day of school, but already I’m preparing handouts and all sorts of torture for my 11th and 12th grade English students.

Commas. Nominative and objective pronouns. Essays. Literary analysis.

Poor kids. They think they’ll be ready with their mechanical pencils and divider-organized notebooks…and those new back-to-school digs. But then mean old Mrs. McHenry will make them write a full page in their composition books right from the get-go.

[Imagine the theme from Jaws playing…]

You and I may not be literally going back to school, but we might have intentions to begin deeper study in God’s Word or prayer disciplines. We also may be planning to get a regular exercise or prayerwalking routine going after the spontaneous comings and goings of summer.

Just as the seasoned Paul encouraged his disciple Timothy to “be prepared in season and out of season,” we also can get prepared for our back-to-school season. Here are some suggestions for beginning new disciplines:

#1 Get Your Supplies. If you’re thinking about a new walking routine, maybe you’re due for new shoes. Typically, if you’ve put about 500 miles on a pair of shoes, they’re broken down enough in terms of support to call for a new pair. Other weather-wise clothing might be appropriate for the colder months ahead. Or maybe you need a new reading schedule to challenge you. Plan ahead for new routines–don’t expect that they’ll just fall into place.

#2 Set Your Schedule. Just as school kids have a new schedule and have to get up earlier, get into a routine that plans for success. Determine what schedule will work most consistently with your lifestyle. I’m going to go back to a morning routine after having walked during the evening this summer. That means that I’ll be setting my alarm earlier, so that also means I’ll need to get to bed earlier.

#3 Eat a Healthy Breakfast. In the same way we want our kids to eat a healthy breakfast, so that they’re more attentive and responsive in the classroom, we know it’s a better routine for us as we’re striving to eat in a healthier pattern.

#4 Listen in Class. I’m also determining to listen more as I prayerwalk. Certainly, I will be praying for the things on my mental list as well as for those whose homes and businesses I pass, but I am determined to listen for God’s personal word for me each day.

#5 Do Your Homework. It’s important that I pray each day, but it’s also important to spend time in God’s Word. I read and then reflect in my journal, which helps me process what I’m reading.

I’m determining to do my best in school this year–as a teacher and as God’s student.

Up2Me: Blueberries in the cupboard and other misplaced affections

Oops! How'd they get here?

I was sure I hadn’t finished all the blueberries. They and Greek yogurt have been my summer splurge for breakfast this summer — sweet companions that keep my tummy happy.

But the blueberries were in none of my fridge hiding places — not in the cold cuts drawer, not behind the salad dressings, not tucked in the fruit drawer under the strawberries. That poor cousin, instead, would have to do.

After a great time studying Proverbs and brainstorming new writing ideas, I resigned myself to kitchen detail, putting away the dishwasher’s contents. And there in the dish cupboard above the bowls was the half-filled container of blueberries.

Senior moment. Good thing none of the family was around. Most of those people still think I’m able to leap tall buildings with a single bound. I’d like to keep that impression going for a while.

Don’t you hate that, though? Where is my handbag? The pen I was just using? My keys!?!

Oh, I’m famous for losing keys at school. It’s a daily occurrence. I usually find them in the ladies’ room, but they could end up about anywhere else in the school. I should wear them around my neck!

Misplacing things and forgetting where we’ve put those necessities in life such as keys may drive us absolutely crazy for many painful and seemingly wasted minutes, but there are more important things to remember on a daily basis.

- To kiss our spouse and say “I love you.”

- To hug our children and encourage them with a kind word.

- To spend time with God in his Word and in prayer.

I could keep going, but you get the idea. I can tend to rush into my day with the aim of checking off all the to-do’s on my list. Instead, the people in my life are much more important. I don’t want to misplace my affection and attention onto a cupboard shelf, close the door, and miss the opportunity to be sweet companions for the day.

How about you? Who are your sweetest summer companions? And how will you “remember” them today?

Up2Me: Feeling like a wreck?

We experienced a large dose of God’s saving grace on July 11 when Bethany walked away from this wreck with a couple scratches on her hand and some aches. Fortunately, it was a single car accident — she overcorrected and the car flipped and rolled. She landed upside down and crawled out on her own. 

I hate those phone calls.

“Mom, I have good news and bad news. Bad news, I got in an accident, but good news, it’s in the same place where I hit June’s car a couple weeks ago.”

“Mom, I got in an accident, and I think we can get it fixed.”

“Mom, I got in an accident, and I just need to know what tow company to use.”

My brother-in-law Kenton, who raised three kids, told Craig and me when our kids were starting to drive that they would eventually be in an accident…and you just had to pray they would be all right.

The apostle Paul closed his letters with something like this: “The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you” (1 Thessalonians 5:28). He must have had fatherly instincts: all those churches were filled with his children.

Thank God for the blanket of grace that covers my family and me. It’s a night-night I never want to give up.

“Amazing grace! (how sweet the sound)

That sav’d a wretch like me!

I once was lost, but now am found,

Was blind, but now I see.”

John Newton had been a slave trader before writing what may be the most famous, most beloved hymn ever. I have read that he was haunted by the memories of sights and sounds from his slave ship. Oh, I do hope that he died in peace, believing that grace covered all his mistakes.

I cried for days after my daughter’s wreck. I kept thinking of parents whose children had not survived such accidents…and I wept for their loss.

Every single day is an opportunity to do life over with God’s blanket of grace. For that I am thankful, as I would be a wreck without it.

Up2Me: Feeling powerless?

Daughter Bethany and I created a little rock garden in our back yard -- complete with resident gnome -- no weeds allowed.

I’d been avoiding it all weekend, the eyesore patch of weeds in the corner of my front yard. I knew the job would be tough, because many of the weeds were nearly waist high and would challenge my middle-aged, weak arms, legs, and back. But by the end of Sunday — after my fortifying nap — I was armed and ready for the battle. I would win the Weed War!

Even though I’m a pretty strong-minded person, I feel like a bowl of feathers some days, scattered by even the lightest wind. A stray comment. An indifferent look. Even a fleeting feeling that I don’t matter.

I feel powerless at times for the simple, daily struggles that face me.

I have good company, it seems, as Asa, one of the kings of Judah, felt similarly: “Lord, there is no one like you to help the powerless against the mighty. Help us, O Lord our God, for we rely on you, and in your name we have come against this vast army. O Lord, you are our God; do not let man prevail against you” (2 Chronicles 14:11).

Asa had a successful reign until his 41st year when he apparently forgot God’s faithful protection for those many earlier years and aligned himself with ungodly reinforcements.

As I age, I want to grow MORE trusting in the Lord who has provided for me for oh so many years — I don’t want to become more fearful, more insecure.

As I warred with the weeds in my yard last night, I used everything I had and drew upon God’s reserves when I was ready to quit. At one point, I pulled so hard on one weed, that I fell over on my bottom. Thankful that no one was passing by at that moment, I laughed out loud, energized by the silliness of my situation.

Everything important in life is worth fighting for. That includes relationships with my family and other loved ones, my faith, and my health.

So…once in a while I put on my boxing gloves and give it my best. I don’t want weeds taking up space in my life.