Finding My Way

Like everyone else, I am trying to find my way during this unprecedented time of an international pandemic.  Here in Des Moines we have been out of school for three weeks now.  We learned last week that we will not be going back to school during this school year.  We will be moving to distance learning, though we don't yet know what that means.

I am retired from the classroom, but I still work at the same school where I taught.  I am now in my thirtieth year.  I work as an AmeriCorps reading tutor.  This was my fourth year on an AmeriCorps contract.   I knew this would be my last year in this position, so I had already been thinking a lot about what I wanted to do with my time in the future.  This wasn't quite the way I had expected this year to unfold. But it definitely is an opportunity to practice and explore a more relaxed version of retirement.

I also volunteer at the Greater Des Moines Botanical Garden.  The Garden is closed as well.  However it is spring and I have been taking time to start seeds, plan my garden, and begin clearing flower beds.  Instead of trying to fit that in with working at two places, I can work at it a little each day, at least when the weather cooperates.

Strawberry plants I ordered arrived, and I planted them in a raised bed.  Unfortunately we went from 60 degrees to 26 in a matter of 2 days, so I covered them with tarps and screens.  Today we are back up to 63 degrees, and hopefully they will flourish.  I have never grown strawberries before.  A lot of my seeds are beginning to sprout and grow, and it does make me happy to see them. I have started tomato, peppers, and zinnia seeds so far.

Usually I live alone with my two little dogs.  My mother and her dog, Abbey, are staying with me right now.  That definitely helps to alleviate the feelings of isolation.  It also cuts down on the worrying I would be doing if she was staying at her own place.  Along with companionship, I am cooking more and eating healthier than I might be doing if I was here alone, 

Yesterday my church streamed the church service online. It was Palm Sunday, so we even had communion.  That is cranberry/cherry juice in that cup, not wine. My son, who lives in Madrid, Spain, watched the service with me.  I just loved seeing the notification that he was watching too.  Afterwards, we used Facebook Messenger Video streaming, so we could talk to and see each other.  It was such an amazing way to start my week, and it is something we had not done before.

I do feel there is good that can come from this time.  I am learning a lot about what makes me happy as I spend time here at home. As I watch the news, I am so grateful that I have a comfortable home, and that I have food and the things I need.

Staying at home, demands that we be creative with solving problems.  I am shopping on line, using things I already have, and being more creative with materials on hand, instead of running to the store to buy more.  This afternoon I picked up my grocery order.  I never thought I would be so excited to get groceries.

Gratitude for Today

• I love my home and my neighborhood.
• I am enjoying spending more time with my dogs.
• I love walks with the dogs, and they sure love it too.
• I am getting excited about growing things in the garden.
• I am communicating more with friends and family.
• I am using things I have instead of buying new.
• Mom and Abbey are here and I do not have to worry about them.
• Technology makes it possible to keep touch with my kids.
• I love the creative music videos that people are creating and posting on line.  

Hope

I flipped on the television this morning and was channel surfing when I saw an advertisement for an Emergency Food Supply.  It was running on one of the Christian stations.  It caught my eye, because just the week before I had seen a large display of these same buckets at Sam's Club.  Costco also featured them in an ad.

The Emergency Food Storage bucket as featured in the Costco Wholesale flyer.  3/23/17 - 4/17/17.

The speaker on TV was talking about how important this was to have not just because of weather emergencies, or power outages, but because of the coming Apocalypse.  What?  My first reaction was what is the matter with these people?  Isn't that God's choice, not ours?  Are these people trying to bring an apocalypse about?  I just don't understand!  Furthermore, why are they cultivating fear, and then trying to make money from it?

Then I went to church.  Today's sermon was called Receive Reconciliation, and in his message, Pastor Dave was talking about how divided we have become as Christians.  How we judge one another, and limit ourselves to a group that shares our same views, rather than reach out and share and communicate with those who believe differently.  You know, like I had been doing just an hour earlier.

Once again, I came to church in need, and received an important lesson which will help me through the coming weeks.  Our scripture was from Romans 5.  I especially like verse 2-4,

Because of our faith, Christ has brought us to the grace in which we now stand, and we confidently and joyfully look forward to the day on which we will become all that God has intended.  But not only that -- we even rejoice in our afflictions!  We know that affliction produces perseverance, and perseverance, proven character; and character, hope.

So I choose hope!  I choose to keep working to make this world a better place, by doing whatever I can to be kind and caring.   I choose not to live in fear.  I choose to try to be a better person who takes the time to listen and understand others.

Later in the day I met my sister to walk at Copper Creek.  It was a breezy but glorious day.  When I told her about the ad for the the Emergency Food Supply, she reminded me that this fear seems to be cyclical.  There was a great deal of talk about the end of times at the millennium just 17 years ago, and again a few years ago when we reached the end of the Aztec calendar.  I had forgotten about all of that.

I am grateful for hope, I am grateful for my church and Pastor Dave, and I am incredibly grateful for my beautiful sister, Jacci.

I really loved the greeting that we began the worship service with:


                                       "He drew a circle that shut me out--
                                         Heretic, a rebel, a thing to flout.
                                         But Love and I had the wit to win:
                                         We drew a circle that took him in!"                                                                                      --Edwin Markham

I choose hope and love, and everything that goes with it!

My Church

I am so grateful for my church.  I have been a member of Urbandale United Church of Christ for about twenty years. That includes most of the past 7 years when I was absent, with the exception of a few Christmas Eve services.  I had gotten selfish with my time and drifted away, until this past summer when I began attending again.  I was feeling a void in my life, and the inspiring messages of Pastor Dave and our members have certainly filled that.

I was raised as a Disciple of Christ, and attended Highland Park Christian Church for many years.  It was my daughter, Lisa, who led me to Urbandale UCC.  She began attending after she graduated from college.  My son, Michael, and I would join her on Sundays that she was participating in presenting part of the service.  I remember her suggesting that I transfer my membership, and I remember my response, "I don't think so!"

Within a year, I did join.  I love this church because it is a thinking church.  I love this church because it is an open and affirming church.  I love this church because it is made up of people who believe in kindness and love.  I love this church because it is open to anyone who wants to be part of it.

In these troubled times, I am thankful to listen to a sermon that reminds me that there is hope and love in this world.  I am thankful to be reminded that Jesus never said it would be easy, but we must stand up for what is right.  Thank you Pastor David Sickelka!  Thank you, fellow members of United Church of Christ!  I am thankful to be back, and I am very grateful to be part of this congregation.

Photo #172/365: Stained Glass

This week I am attending a staff development class with others from my school. Our class is being held at Plymouth Congregational Church. I have been to other meetings at this church, but this is the first time that I have spent an extended period of time here. I have always loved stained glass, so when I noticed these windows from the outside, I took some time to explore. They are the windows of a small chapel located just around the corner from our classroom.