Unrecognized Hero

She opens her mouth in wisdom, and on her tongue is kindly counsel. Proverbs 31:26 NAB

I paid particular attention to the documentary that played repeatedly this week on the life and movement led by Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. I was surprised to learn that such a large number of people, from various backgrounds, played roles in paving the way to the Civil Rights Movement that changed so many lives. I began to reminisce about the stories my mother and her siblings shared about the life of one individual who quietly played a role in this happening.

  She raised her children during the Great Depression and her life was a difficult one with little money and few luxuries. She had to wash clothes in a creek, cut wood for the stove and fireplace. She cooked meat and pork that she often had to slaughter herself.  She plowed, planted, and had to cook and can enough food to last through the winter months. She did all of this with little help from my grandfather, who for many years had a severe drinking problem. 

 

Even with her consuming schedule, Grandma Leslie was always willing to help others outside of her family, such as nearby neighbors. Prior to the Civil Rights Movement and long before whites and blacks socially interacted, grandma brought food to a black community near her home. She also made sure that the families of the small community of Mauvilla were warm in the winter months. When family members died, she was there to offer her sympathy and home cooked meats, vegetables and desserts. As a child, my mother recalled attending a funeral with Grandma and being the only white people in attendance.

I never heard my grandmother comment one way or another about her appearance or any one else’s. She had a way of looking beyond the human body into one’s soul. She did what she did, because she genuinely loved people. Her life had a long-lasting effect on everyone that met her and while her name does not appear in any of the history books, it is certain to be found in the book that really matters…The Book of Life.

Michele

The Chase

 I said in my mind, Come now, I will prove you with mirth and test you with pleasure; so have a good time [enjoy pleasure]. But this also was vanity (emptiness, falsity, and futility)! Ecclesiastes 2:1 AMP

 In the movie Smokey and the Bandit, Jackie Gleason stars as the cantankerous Sheriff Buford T. Justice. He spends the majority of the movie on a high-speed chase after Burt Reynolds who plays the role of the cool and debonair Bandit. I have always admired the Sheriff’s passionate perseverance and his determination to catch the Bandit. I will never forget this famous line where he says, “I’ll chase you in hot-pursuit to the ends of the earth.”    

“Chase” is an interesting term. It is the name and theme of a Bible study written by Jennie Allen* that our group is starting tonight.  As I looked over the introductory section, one of the first questions is, “what do you chase?” I thought for a long time about what I have been chasing for 52 years. Then I decided to look at each decade and analyze it:

1-10     Friendships, good family relations, a good time…

Teens   Friendships, love, a good time…

20’s     Education, career, a family, a good time…

30’s     Family life, financial stability and then some, comfort, a good time…

40’s     Family life, financial stability and then some, comfort, a good time...

It looks like the common denominator is a good time?   The truth is, I never wanted to be a stick-in-the-mud, but one day I got a glance from another angle. I was in my late forties when a friend and I were planning a trip (another good time) and she made a comment that caused me to re-think my current course. We were discussing a possible cruise with some mutual friends. She said, “I don’t think we want to go with them, they are religious and not fun like us.” I remember that this comment haunted me and while I didn’t make immediate changes, it was the start of a new, exciting chase. I came to realize that the only way to find a lasting good time is by chasing God.

 I have a long way to go in this new chase, but my prayer is to meet my maker and have Him say, “I loved your passion and determination in your hot-pursuit to chase Me to the ends of the earth.”

Michele

*Jennieallen.com/blog

Wait, Wait, Wait

 Pray continually (I Thessalonians 5:17 NIV).

 Have you ever watched people as you stand in line at a convenience store or post office? Many people sigh with much impatience; others are consumed by whatever intrigues them on their cell phones.   Have you by any chance glanced at folks while you wait at traffic lights?  Some are listening to music, another looking in the mirror, while others are checking their email or text messages.

Waiting, waiting, waiting… it is a bothersome part of life. An article I recently read, “How Do You Spend Your Life” offers some interesting statistics. If you live to the age of 60, the average person will spend 5 years waiting for such things as traffic lights to turn or delays in lines at the bank or grocery store.*  Now that is a lot of waiting!

A friend sent me a text message this morning about something she read that relates to our wait time. It is written by Ashley Kappel from the Daily Guidepost and says, “Remind me Lord, that fifteen minutes in traffic, on hold or in any line is simply a Guilt-Free excuse to spend time with YOU.”

At the beginning of each year we consider New Year’s resolutions to make changes in our lives such as: losing weight, eating better, exercising, watching less television, etc. I realized that I have never considered making changes to the time I am forced to waste while I wait.  So this year I am going to make a change in my “wait time,” by converting it to prayer time. I believe that this small change in 2013 to my one month of wait time can make a monumental difference in my life.  I might not be thinner in 2014, but what I once considered as annoying delays in my busy schedule will hopefully transform to divine blessings instead.

Michele

 *   www.live-adventuously.com/how-do-you-spend-your-life

Laughter Is Good Medicine

“A cheerful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones." (Proverbs 17:22 NIV)  Something that the Bible proclaimed thousands of years ago, authorities in the field of science are confirming the importance of a cheerful heart and the positive effects of laughter to our mental and physical health. "The researchers say that laughing apparently causes the endothelium, the tissue that lines blood vessels, to expand, which increases blood flow. Laughter may also improve arterial health by reducing mental stress, which constricts vessels and cuts blood flow. ‘A healthy lifestyle’—researcher Michael Miller tells—‘would include 30 minutes of exercise three times a week, and 15 minutes of hearty laughter each day.’"[1] Our family experienced a good bit of laughter during our recent time together over the Christmas holiday season. One specific incident started as no laughing matter really, but has ended up offering a cheerful heart to all we’ve shared it with since. Several weeks ago my son, who was married a year ago and lives in Birmingham, called and mentioned that his wife had been sick and throwing up, but was feeling better assuming that it was something that she had eaten. In my eagerness to become a grandparent, I mentioned it to my husband, who is more eager than me. I asked if he thought it may possibly be morning sickness. I didn’t want to jump the gun, but I was sure to be on alert during their upcoming visit to Mobile. On the second day of their visit, we went to church early and my daughter-in-law came home and napped for awhile. My husband and I exchanged looks in the kitchen in hopes that she was tired because she was carrying our new grandchild. I was sure that an announcement was soon to come. On Christmas Eve we were exchanging gifts. I was sitting aside, without my reading glasses, opening a gift from my son and daughter-in-law. As I opened the small package, I found a tiny silver Pandora charm. I couldn’t believe it. It was a baby bootie.  I thought What a clever way to make the announcement – a brag charm… I yelled “What is this? What is this?” Everyone in the room stared at me. My son walked over in a state of dismay and said, “Mom, it is a Christmas stocking charm.”  I said, “What? I wanted a baby bootie and in 9 months, I wanted a grandbaby.”  Everyone in the room burst out laughing and couldn’t believe my crazy mistake. The story has brought much laughter to all we’ve shared it with and I am thankful for a wonderful family to enjoy and build memories. The Good News Version perfectly relates the importance of laughter to our overall health and wellbeing. It says, “Being cheerful keeps you healthy. It is slow death to be gloomy all the time.”   Michele

 

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[1] The Week magazine, March 25, 2005. Cited on Parables, Etc., December 27, 2012.

Where Is Jesus?

 For to us a child is born,
to us a son is given,
and the government will be on his shoulders.
And he will be called
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,
Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace. (Isaiah 9:6 NIV)

I wondered if the color-changing icicles around the perimeter of the house and the brightly lit green wreaths on each window were the final touches to the home located at the top of the hill in my neighborhood. Each day for almost two weeks, new decorations were added to what was beginning to look like Clark Griswold’s house from the movie Christmas Vacation.

 It started with a few lights and a snowman. The next day a white Christmas tree and miniature Eiffel Tower were added. After that more lights and a train became visible. The day after, Santa and a few colored lights appeared. I could hardly wait to walk the dogs each night to see what new Christmas trimming would be on display next. Once it was all garnished, I realized that there was no manger, no sign of Christ amongst the festive ornaments.  As I continued my walk, I begin to look at each yard I passed in search of Jesus or any resemblance of the holiday’s origin. I found very little, just two angels in the midst of some reindeer and snowmen.

Then it hit me, I too had nothing in my yard other than a couple of lit Christmas trees on the porch and wreaths with red bows on the front doors. I laughed at my quick act of judgment for something I was clearly guilty of as well.  It’s interesting how we are eager to criticize and ready to change the world, but somehow have a way of removing ourselves as responsible partners. All day I found myself haunted by the words of Leo Tolstoy, “Everyone thinks of changing the world, but no one thinks of changing himself.”   

So I decided that even if it was small, I wanted to add something to our outdoor display as a visible reminder of the reason behind this glorious Christmas season.  I placed a painted canvas on an easel and set it on the front porch with the trees and wreaths. It was the perfect addition and said it all: AND HE WILL BE CALLED MESSIAH…

Michele

Chips, Churches and So Many Choices

 

“Yet for us there is but one God, the Father, from whom all things came and for whom we live; and there is but one Lord, Jesus Christ, through whom all things came and through whom we live.” I Corinthians 8:6 NIV

Let's see, is it the ranch or nacho cheese flavored chips that my son likes? And does my husband prefer barbecue or sour cream and onion kettle chips? Well, at this point I'm overwhelmed with the variety of choices now available when grocery shopping. Where are the original, authentic chips amongst this assortment?

In class last week I remember feeling similarly overwhelmed when learning about the variety of Christian denominations. I'm currently taking a theology class on the Reformation. As part of the class lesson the professor attempted to diagram a church denominational tree. She started in 1054 with the split of the east and west producing the Catholic Church and the Eastern Orthodox. Along the way, individuals seeking change peaked their heads above the conventional establishment, but most lost them in the process.

The 16th century marked the rise of the Lutherans, Anabaptists, Calvinists, Anglicans, and more. Over the next several hundred years these faiths splintered. By the time we got to the modern era, hundreds of denominations existed. In America, almost all the mainline churches have splintered offering their own collection of choices.

Last week, my niece sent me a text to share her new walk with God. I invited her to go to church with me, but she politely refused saying that she was looking for a non-denominational church. My oldest son and his wife made the same decision a year ago. According to the Baylor Survey on Religion, non-denominational churches are the fastest growing in America. Maybe it's no surprise that when assessing the denomination assortments their ancestors have created, the youth shake their head and opt for no label.

Like the variety of chips and other items at the grocery store, there is obviously a place for this array of denominations and even non-denominations. After all, behind each of our differences is the authentic and original life of a humble carpenter who came some two thousand years ago to offer each of us an abundant life here on earth and an eternal one afterwards, for those who choose to believe and follow him! Does it really matter what denominational difference we prefer? Isn’t the common denominator of our Lord Jesus Christ enough?

Dear God please help me appreciate and respect all my brothers and sisters that worship in Your name.

Michele

The Five-Star Restaurant

In everything I did, I showed you that by this kind of hard work we must help the weak, remembering the words the Lord Jesus himself said: “It is more blessed to give than to receive.”Acts 20:35 NIV

 

Several months ago, my sister and I started volunteering on Fridays at a restaurant called The Ransom Café. It is a unique restaurant that rotates several locations in the Mobile area. They added my sister’s church to their Thursday/Friday lunch schedule and this is when we became aware of the outreach and decided to become involved. The Ransom Café offers a variety of soups, sandwiches, pizza, salad, and desserts. It differs from most restaurants because there is no set charge; you pay what you can, enabling the homeless, elderly, and those down on their luck a place to get a warm meal for no or little cost. The idea is that those who can afford to pay will kick in a little extra to help those not quite so fortunate.

 

My sister and I generally take orders, pass out drinks, soups, desserts, clean tables, and visit with the customers. I realized last week that The Ransom Café has become something much more than a restaurant; it is a community all to itself. These are few of the stories from last week:

 

Mary * is a frail elderly lady that comes each Friday and generally eats a small bowl of soup and an ice water. We serve sweetened and unsweetened ice tea, but Mary was cold and wanted some hot tea. My sister was missing for a few minutes and the line was building. I looked up to see where she had disappeared; she was carrying a cup of piping hot tea that she had heated in the back which is something we normally don’t offer. This was a small gesture, but one that reminded Mary of her importance.

 

Jane comes in often and when I apologized about forgetting her name last week she reminded me that I could just call her “marathon woman”because of her love for running. She slowed my fast-pace talk down to remind me that she is deaf and my lips moved way too quickly to follow. She is currently out of work and is diligently looking for a job, but this short lunch break gives her a few minutes to share the love of her favorite sport and enjoy a nice meal.

 

Kevin brightens everyone’s day. He has so many physical problems that his mother told one of the volunteers, that it is too many to name. He has a hard time walking and a difficult time speaking, but he is always laughing and smiling. His mother works at the church and every week he gets his food to go so he can eat it upstairs with her. After Kevin’s food is ready, one of the volunteers grabs it and they race to see who can reach the top stair first. It is a small weekly game that both he and the volunteer look forward to.

 

John comes in almost every Friday. He doesn’t seem so happy and is a bit confrontational. He has been known for sending food back as if it didn’t match his order and he was at a five-star restaurant. This week my sister and I were taking a break and eating with our parents. John was getting an order to go when, all of a sudden, all of the volunteers came out of the kitchen clapping and singing “Happy Birthday” to him. I’ve never seen such a smile, his face lit up and it was obvious that he was genuinely touched.

 

My sister and I started working there to bless others, but the blessing has been ours. It is truly the highlight of my week. All of my problems seem to erase when I start taking orders and God always perks me up, even if I am struggling underneath. This must be what our Lord meant when he said, “It’s more blessed to give than to receive.” Maybe John was on target all along … The Ransom Café truly is a five-star restaurant.

Dear God, Thank you for the opportunity to experience the blessings you tell us about in your word.

 

Michele

 

*All of the personal names have been changed.

www.ransomcafe.com