I Can't Hear You.

I am a low talker. Seinfeld episode where the woman keeps speaking too quietly caused dear D to point and cackle. But it was friend and hero-wordsmith, MH who pointed out that my signal was not even being picked up on his radar, the Human Ear. Time to speak up.

Meanwhile, I notice a simalar volume issue with none other than
Lord God Almighty.
Come on now, speak up a bit.
And slower.
Use shorter words, perhaps.
Enunciate, would ya?
A public speaking class would do us both some good.

Or maybe, just maybe there is a problem with my ear.

My youngest child is a KGB agent.

I am finally putting the pieces together. It is beginning to make sense.

My youngest is actually a foreign agent trained in thought control, mind torture and manipulation. Nevermind he is 2 and 1/2 feet tall, sucks his thumb and carries a red blanket with him everywhere. That is just his cover.

If something is up, he wants it down. If it is open, he wants it shut. If it is Mom, he wants Dad. If it is Dad, he wants Mom.

I am not sure what he wants with us. Do we unknowingly hold information critical to his government's takeover ? What could possibly be behind the crying and whining and dissolving into tears every few minutes ? We are holding on by our teeth trying to wait him out. BUT HE IS STRONGER.

Meanwhile, he has D and I writhing in agony and begging for mercy several times a day. But mercy does not come. None. Relief only comes when he turns on his amazing full facial smile ... then the world is set right again and he probably makes a call to Headquarters from his wooden block phone to tell them : " Mission accomplished. Parents are worn down to a nub,". Is this something I report to the FBI ?

Via Crucis 2006

Click here for slide show of Via Crucis 2006 ( thanks Greg Brekke )

It was a thing of beauty. I am sorry if you missed it

but it will be back in 2 years.

Via Crucis was an experiential Stations of the Cross that Vineyard Central put together in collaboration with several other area churches and artists. Each station was beautifully put together and each offered a way to put yourself onto the road to the cross.

( The above piece was done by artist and musician Jesse Mooney ) .

It was cathartic to write my confessions anonymously on a wall. I knelt on the rocky road to pray where Jesus had walked and fell ... the words about how God uses failure and falling in our lives spoke to me. I stumbled down the dark rocky road to the cross, losing my footing into the thorns more than once. I sat, hushed, in the tomb and watched the sheets covering his body begin to lightly rise and fall ... new breath entering his body. I forgot to give up Lent for Lent this year, but visiting Via Crucis was by far my favorite way to celebrate the resurrection.

Spring has Sprung.

Love Spring. Love it.
I love any tree that is flowering. Bare feet in the grass. Opening windows. Cleaning the dregs of winter out of the house. Warm breezes blowing through the curtains and fistfulls of daffodils being brought into the kitchen every hour or so ... " for yoooo Mom, ". It doesn't get better than this.

Spring couldn't be here at a better time. I've recently walked with some friends through some significant losses. Most days I don't feel very connected to their greif or mine. It comes out in other ways ... grouchy cabin feverish trudging around the house, wishing someone else would pickup the slack. Yes, it is a great time for Spring this year.

All winter here in our neighborhood, we hunker down indoors. After so much isolation I begin to forget about our neighbors. But here we all are again, opening windows and doors, sitting on porches, cutting grass and weeding ... it is a time ripe for connection and conversaton. A great time to ask God what He is up to and how I can join in. Hopefully, He will not ask me to do something Odd like get to know them better or let them know me.

I know our neighbors are struggling through life just the same way I do. Anxiety, fear, addictions, depression .. God, let this season be full of Your presence in all of our lives. If there is somthing You want me to say or do, please speak clearly and slowly, because it takes me a long time to catch on. Spring couldn't be here at a better time.