Drenched. . .

This past weekend I went to camp with the great group of kids in this picture. We had to take the picture indoors because it was pouring down rain outside as we prepared for departure. Then, we traveled by van to a nearby town where, in the still-pouring rain, we moved ourselves and our stuff to their bus so we could travel together.

After driving for a bit over an hour, we arrived at camp where it was still raining. We checked in, carried our stuff through the pouring rain to our cabins, considered if we were dry enough to go on without changing, and headed back to the gathering spot for opening worship and fun and games.

It was FUN! And as the rain continued to fall through the evening, the night and the morning, we continued to have fun. By early afternoon we had stopped noticing that it was raining and that we were wet. The rain ceased to be a factor in the experience.

I've been musing about why the kids were so mellow about the rain. I'm sure the counselors were sick of the rain, but they never mentioned it except to point out that a place might be slick, or that a camper should put on a jacket. Our counselors just kept on showing love and joy and patience and kindness and peace and goodness to the campers. The rain simply wasn't a factor.

What if, when the young people of our church came through our doors, they were so immersed in love, joy, peace, patience, kindness and goodness that the stress and the pain of ordinary life stopped being a factor? What if everyone spoke to them kindly and respectfully as if they were peers? How would they respond? How would they treat others?

I can't predict with absolute certainty but I can report that on our travels back from camp we had no bickering, no complaining, and lots of happy singing and laughter. When asked if they wanted to go back another time there was a unanimous YES! And when they got off the van there were lots and lots of hugs.

This might just work on adults as well; after all, who doesn't like to be treated with respect and to have love and kindness poured out on them? It might take a bit more time for the grown-ups. They have a lot more defenses to wash off before the love can get through, but love is pretty strong!

I wonder where I can get a barrel of this stuff . . .

Bless the Beasts and the Children

Wednesday, October 4^th is the Feast of Saint Francis. St. Francis believed that he could see God in all of creation, and particularly in animals. It’s a great day to gather the family together and give thanks to God for creation, and to ask God’s blessing upon the animals: pets, livestock, and even the birds and other wildlife. We are enriched by all of them - what better reason to give thanks!

Here are a few ideas you may want to try in your household:

• Gather all the family members, including the pets, and have every human lay hands upon the pet. One person prays, giving thanks to God for creating such a rich variety of animals and specifically for the love and any other gifts (service, protection, laughter) that each particular pet brings to the household.  
• No pets? Gather the family to give thanks for the backyard wildlife. Before the sun goes down walk together around the back yard or even the neighborhood, taking note of all the creatures (or evidence of them) that you see: birds, squirrels, worms, butterflies, vultures, deer, rabbits, or raccoons. After your walk, gather to pray. Give thanks to God for the wonders of creation and name all the animals you saw or thought about on your walk.
• Artsy-craftsy folks? Have everyone draw pictures of their favorite animals, cut pictures out of magazines, or turn thumbprints into critters. Then use the pictures to make a collage and give thanks for God’s great creation, specifying the animals you made into art.
• Farm families know the value of their animals, but do you ever stop and give thanks for the blessing of their contributions to your table and your bank account? Gather the family in the barn and praise God together for this source of goodness in your household. Name the cows and the chickens and the goats and the dogs - whatever livestock inhabits and contributes to your household. 
• Live alone with a trusted pet companion? Take some time to really consider how God has blessed you with your pet. Pause to give thanks to God for the many aspects of your blessing.

Integrating time with God into the everyday events of your life will help you, and other members of your household, to see God’s constant presence and the blessings upon us. Building cues into our lives that remind us of God’s love and faithfulness will make us more grateful and happier people - and the same is true for kids.

     So celebrate the pets this week! And pay attention to what else makes your heart swell with gratitude! 

Serving Breakfast

The Gospel of John ends with a peculiar tale. After Jesus' resurrection, the disciples returned to Galilee. Once there, as could be expected, they went fishing. And after a long night with nothing to show for it they are headed back to shore when someone on the beach suggests they put their nets into the water on the other side of the boat - and as the nets filled, so did their hearts and they saw that it was Jesus. Peter, ever exuberant, jumps into the water and runs to shore to see his beloved Jesus. The rest return in more normal fashion to find that there is bread, and fish cooking on the grill.

I wonder if the disciples thought about the breakfast or if they were so overcome with joy to see the one who had come back to them that the breakfast was merely an afterthought. I wonder if following the "Last Supper" with the "First Breakfast" was intentional symbolism on Jesus' part. One phase of the relationship ends there, with the breaking of the bread, and then begins again as he breaks bread and cooks fish over a charcoal fire. A new day as it were - a breaking of the undesired fast of time apart. I don't know. 

I don't know -  but I love that Jesus wraps his relationships in meals. And I love that in these crazy, busy, over-stuffed days of the 21st century people still sustain their relationships over meals. After too many hurried encounters between friends, someone usually says "Let's grab lunch. Soon!" and after a few failed attempts, they usually do. And that meal begins another day in their relationship.

At the church I where I currently work, we serve breakfast to elementary and high school students every Wednesday morning. That's because each Wednesday is a "Late Start" day of school here and for many of these kids, parents still have to show up for work even when school starts late. So we open our doors at the usual school time, and a lovely team of cooks serves up breakfast: a warm and sweet and filling breakfast. After the dishes are cleared, we share updates from the week just passed or worries about the day ahead. We might play games or make a craft or just fiddle with some play dough. Those breakfasts are the source of our relationships with many of these kids, and they know us because we break bread together. We are a special kind of family. Like Jesus and the disciples, no blood ties us together, yet we are bound by love and warm food. May they learn to recognize Jesus in the breaking of the bread with us.