Healing and the Huntington

I've been pondering brokenness lately and my recent visit to my favorite place, the Huntington Library and Botanical Gardens, provided a visual which captured my musings...

This place offers not just the beauties of the Southern California climate, but has brought in and nurtured many other trees, plants and flowers to set on display, inviting visitors to gaze in wonder at the natural beauty that fills the earth.

But on Friday, my visit was different than any others. Due to the current wind storm in Pasadena, there were still very evident signs of the damage wreaked by the 40-60+ mile per hour winds. This is normally the place I go to get away from the chaotic mess and noise from the rest of SoCal because it typically looks like this:

[photos from here, here, and here]

But Friday, it looked more like this:

[photos from here and here]

It got me thinking about how much I try to keep up my own "gardens", if you will, by highlighting the beauty, pruning where needed, emphasizing the appearance of it all. And I realized how unexpectedly a wind storm can happen upon us and cause so much destruction... so much evident destruction that no one could possibly get it all cleaned up in a short amount of time. I began looking at the trees that had fallen, where branches had been broken and things literally were uprooted and I thought to myself: this is no easy or fast clean-up process. This sort of recovery takes a long time. It takes time to clear the brush and debris that have accumulated. It takes time for broken limbs and bent trees to grow and lose their damaged looks. It takes time to heal. Nature's lesson captured my attention because I see brokenness around me. I see trees uprooted and fallen. I see broken branches and piles of debris in my life and in the lives of those around me. And I want to quickly dispose of it and get things back to normal -- where they will look pretty again. But, I was struck by the reality of the process of true healing and reconstruction. It tames time. And there is beauty in the process of healing and new growth and even the clean-up of it all... even if it's not noticeable just yet.

Randy and I often sit back and ponder why it is that we do what we do -- our work at studying, teaching about and bringing awareness to issues of injustice and areas where the Bible's compassionate responses are called for; and my training in learning to sit with another in their journey of faith, offering a listening ear to them and the Holy Spirit with them as they discern how God is leading them, where God is working, where healing might be needed, among other things. We see both of our disciplines being vitally engaged with one another because, as I deal with people more on the personal level of exploring their experience of God and gently offering a hand in leading them deeper in relationship with our gentle Lord, Randy brings in the much-needed corporate expression of promoting justice and peace to the community and the world. The work I do one to one is often what brings people to a deeper awareness of how they can contribute their life and skills to the hurting world around us. To grow in confidence that one is truly loved and valued by their Maker gives that much more freedom to offer sacrificially to the needs of others. May the God of healing and reconstruction encourage us in our brokenness today and the days to come.

Sugar Cookies

Today, I was brave -- all the kids age 2 and up in the building (except one) came over to make sugar cookies!

Most of them had never decorated Christmas cookies before, so I got to be the first to introduce them to this fun American tradition. I did my best to have everything ready before they came to minimize the chaos...

 

And then the fun began! This was the first time the boys came...

I think the boys enjoyed it as much as the rest of us. :)

 The (almost) finished product...

Fun was had by all while the cookies baked.

And the cookies came out great, thanks to this fantastic recipe from Real Simple. But after an hour and a half of 10 kids between the ages of 2 and 13, we were ready to show the parents the fantastic cookies we made (well, at least the ones we hadn't eaten yet...)

Musings from a Spiritual Director in training...

Given the nature of my training and confidentiality as I become a spiritual director, there are many things that I must be careful about in regards to sharing the wonderful things I see in the young women that I sit with.

And, if I could...

... I would tell you how quickly my heart connects with the heart of a young woman who walks in and shares her story -- both of pain and joy, blessings and loss.

... I would tell you about an extremely gifted young lady who has always been told that her gifts of creativity and expressing herself through art weren't spiritual enough to be used by God.

... I would tell you how damaged young hearts are from being told they weren't good enough, smart enough, thin enough, "Christian" enough... and the joy it is to listen as they begin to trust that maybe... just maybe the voice of our Loving God says otherwise.

... I would tell you how desperately a dear one longs to experience God, but feels she's too stained by past mistakes to even have God's full attention.

... I would tell you about one who came carrying the heaviness of addiction, but who is slowly learning how to unload these burdens at the foot of the cross and in whom I've seen huge steps of progress in becoming whole in Christ.

... I would tell you of multiple young women who were neglected emotionally by their parents, abused by some of the people who were thought to be the most "safe", and have realized the anger that rises up as they think of guardians who watched the damage being done... ending in a realization that they are struggling to reconcile God being "good" with all that has been so hurtful in their lives.

... I would tell you about young women who are hearing the voice of God and yet are just now beginning to learn that they can trust this inner voice of the Holy Spirit -- that God indeed is communicating with them and drawing them ever deeper in intimacy with him.

... I would tell you about the yearning in these young women to have a reason to hope and trust in a God who is Emmanuel -- God with us -- even when they don't always experience his with-ness.

... If I could, I would tell you the depth of each of these stories so you could see how intricately God has worked and continues to work in their lives in order to bring freedom, wholeness and intimacy with him. 

Being a spiritual director to these sweet girls has been a source of immense joy as I continue to be honored with seeing and hearing about sacred moments between them and our God. Thank you for praying and caring for me so that I can minister to these precious daughters of the Lord Jesus.

Putting our resources to work...

At North Hills Church, Randy has completed one of three school quarters of his ministry internship. What did his internship consist of, you might ask?

Well, it was a smattering of things, but the focus was putting the Biblical Global Justice resources to good use for an adult education class on Sunday mornings. We had two short series.

Here was what we covered with our adult crowd:

Session 1:
Week 1 -- Intro to Biblical Global Justice (explores how/where the theme of justice and righteousness threads its way through Scripture)
Week 2 -- The Hermeneutical Circle (a sort of grid through which we look at these issues, looking first at clarifying the situation that is (both sides of the story), then conceptualizing what ought to be, and approaching confrontational moves toward what should be)
Week 3 -- Human Trafficking
Week 4 -- The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, part 1 (hearing from the Palestinians and about settlements)
Week 5 -- The Israeli-Palestinian Conflict, part 2 (hearing from the Israelis)



Session 2:
Week 1 -- Intro...
Week 2 -- Racism
Week 3 -- U.S. Healthcare, part 1 (not focused on the issue of being for or against a national healthcare system)
Week 4 -- U.S. Healthcare, part 2 
Week 5 -- Topic chosen by the class: The Occupy Movement
Week 6 -- Violence


We are always interested in other topics of interest. Share your ideas! :)

Sisterly Birthday Weekend

One of the greatest gifts God has given me is my family... especially my sisters.

Thanks to our wonderful Auntie Nikki, we got to spend a beautiful weekend together

in Santa Barbara celebrating a milestone birthday. [The above was a view from our room]

  
We ate great food, celebrated one of the most wonderful women I know, 

and shared in hilarious laughter.

She has inspired me in faith, in creativity, in fashion, and in motherhood, to name a few...

We even got to visit Super Buzzy -- 

a fantastic fabric store that Stef has followed online for years.

They just opened a retail store two weeks ago in Ventura -- talk about perfect timing! 

So we went in for a little browsing.

 

  
Stef could barely contain her excitment... 

I [somewhat creepily] captured her much-anticipated chance to handle the fabric, 

and then auntie, Tiff and I made silly faces while we waited for Stef to finish her shopping.

 Adventures in downtown Ventura continued... 

reminiscent of vacations from our childhood when Grandma Sachi 

and Auntie Nikki frequently joined in the family fun and making memories with us.

  

We followed our cravings for wings...

 ... and walked the pretty lit streets of downtown Santa Barbara.

We finished our fabulous weekend with brunch at the hotel before parting ways.

 

I <3 these women!

Celebrating the season of Advent

"Advent"... is a word that I knew very little about until the last couple of years. My Christian upbringing may have included an emphasis on this early Church tradition, but it's only become more meaningful to me recently...

Thanks to my spiritual director friend Kristi, yesterday I had a chance to engage in the deeper meaning of Advent. Traditionally, the four weeks of Advent focus on four names or characteristics of God: Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Eternal Father, and Prince of Peace. To read more, click here. (Spiritual director and friend Larry Warner's website... a great resource)

 

Here are some pictures to give you an idea of how Kristi helped other retreatants and I enter into experiencing the theme of "Unto us a Child is Born" ... entering into the expectation, anticipation, preparation and longing for our Savior King's coming.

 "Where do you see the characteristics of God as Wonderful Counselor in the Christmas story?"

"We know God personally and are known by God, yet we do not understand God fully, for God is incomprehensible"... He is the Mighty God.

-- a question and quotation from the morning session

Space to reflect on Jesus as the great Prince of Peace... 

Looking at the contrast of peace versus conflict.

Lord, may your peace come to earth and good will be to all women and men.

A chance to embrace the story of Christ's birth... 

and to realize that "just as the wise men lay their gifts of beauty (gold, frankincense)

AND their gifts of sorrow (myrrh) at the feet of Jesus, 

by faith, to the best of [our] ability, 

[we can] offer these gifts today to the One who is called 

WONDERFUL COUNSELOR, 

MIGHTY GOD, 

EVERLASTING FATHER, 

PRINCE OF PEACE."

There were moments to remember the connection between the cradle and the cross... 

Jesus was born in order to live a life that he would willingly lay down for us.

 

And some yummy cookies to enjoy as we finished our journey of being "alone together" for the day...

Thanks to Alison's recipe [found here].

May you enter more fully into the season of Advent this December.

And, if you're curious, Kristi's website has more information on how to pursue God further through the quiet, stillness, and rest spoken of in Scripture. She also holds regular reflective retreats that are open to all. Check it out here.

Merry Christmas!

Uncle Bob or Mr. Miyagi?

  It's funny how a phone call can change your entire mood for the day... Today I received one such phone call -- from my Uncle Bob. He's been a spiritual father figure and hero of mine for most of my life. There are so many reasons why, but here are just a few:

 *He looks kinda like Mr. Miyagi... Seriously, one of the coolest movie stars ever, right?! (I know you see the resemblance -- photo from here)

But, seriously...

*He went to Fuller Theological Seminary (where Randy and I currently live and Randy is working on his Masters of Divinity) to pursue a Marriage and Family Therapy License, which he now uses on the mission field...

*He became a missionary while I was still in grade school and sort of paved the way as a Fudenna who pursued ministry/missions... (now, I'm the only other "missionary" in the family)

*On one of his furloughs he came to visit me in my junior high school -- he even helped coach my volleyball team as a way of connecting with me and my friends...

*Then in high school when I was a chaplain in charge of coordinating weekly chapels, he was home again on furlough and spoke in one of my chapels!

*Just over two years ago, my sister and I felt the time was right to visit him in South East Asia (always a dream my siblings and I have had) and he opened his home and life to us for two weeks, inviting us into ministry opportunities to the native people he has been working with and showing us the beauty of his country...

*Some of my dearest memories of time spent with him have been due to my being the one to tell him sad family news because I was the only person who could do it in person... Those moments are beautiful because of the way we could share our grief with one another and prayed for one another and our loved ones...

*He's a gentle and humble man who has cried with me, prayed with me, and modeled to me what it is to follow Christ in a truly sacrificial way. His ability to speak boldly and with confidence, yet from such a soft-spoken demeanor has always been a blessing to listen to and learn from.

Today when I hung up the phone, I sat for a few moments just to offer a grateful heart to the Lord for giving me such a wonderful family member and spiritual friend. I pray God has placed people in your life to be for you what my uncle has been for me.

Articles on Occupy Wall Street and Federal Programs that help the Poor worth further reflection...

"Why Blacks Aren't Embracing Occupy Wall Street"
washingtonpost.com

See also: Gallup's latest poll on support for "Occupy"
www.gallup.com

and

New Poll: Majority of White Evangelicals Oppose Cutting Federal Programs that help the Poor
www.sojo.net

*These are recommended by Randy as food for thoughtful musings.

scarcity of U.S. healthcare? and free prescriptions for people with low income...

 Since September, we've had the privilege of leading an adult education class at our church, North Hills Church in Brea. We love getting more involved in this community and have felt God's hand involved in each step that we take towards partnering in ministry with Pastor Doug, Brenton and the rest of the wonderful people there. Pictured above is Randy on our very first week of the class... (No, we didn't teach the parenting class... we left that to professionals.)

The last two weeks we've discussed the topic: Scarcity in U.S. Healthcare. After last week's more informal intro to the topic, where we shared personal experiences -- both positive and negative -- with the more current healthcare programs in place, today we dove into some Biblical teaching and dialogue about the problems with scarcity of access, finances and a few other main things.


We always enjoy it when Dave Gable (former National XA Director) sits in on the class. He never ceases to contribute insightful and authentic thoughts to the discussion, especially today as we looked at the story of the Good Samaritan in comparison to thinking Biblically about caring for the needs of the less fortunate along our paths. Might we learn anything from the Good Samaritan that could apply to our thoughts on healthcare for all humans? (We really aren't trying to get political here -- just thinking about real life people who struggle to get the bodily care they need for one reason or another.)


I realized that God has blessed Randy and I in a few ways that might benefit others to know about:

•  With my current preexisting conditions, prescription coverage is hard to come by, so I've resorted to applying for patient assistance programs and have now received free brand-name medicines straight from the manufacturer. Try googling the manufacturing company of a prescription you are on to see if this could help you out. For an example, click here.
• We have also sought more information on public and county health clinics.
• Also, if you aren't the one dealing with a struggle getting proper healthcare, think of a practical way you can help someone access healthcare or finance the healthcare they need. If there is a single mom in your church or neighborhood, why not offer to watch her kids while she goes to an appointment? 
• I hope to add more and more ideas to this list in the future, but that's all for now.

Cajun Cookin' & Thanksgiving

I woke up to the sound of Randy cooking a Cajun dish -- rice dressing -- and listening to Zydeco music... at one point he was dancing Zydeco style around the kitchen because his dressing tasted SO good!

It must have been the most peaceful dinner preparation on a holiday that I have ever experienced. The food was ready on time... I think it was all warm when we sat down to eat... The bird turned out great -- juicy and moist... The pies were great, too!

                                   My nieces & nephews made napkin rings:  

As well as a paper turkey centerpiece:

It was a fun day to spend time with our dear family who have had a rough several weeks... and to share our friendship with Bill & Mary -- long time friends and supporters -- with my sister and the kids. We laughed a lot at Mary's jokes and the kids' creativity. The girls made drawings and then bedazzled them with pretty jewels. We even had most of the dishes washed and put away by 5pm.

Happy thanksgiving to all! 

things we are grateful for:

• our marriage -- the laughter and love we share 
• the opportunity to continue ministering to college students through chi alpha and the Dikaios project -- spreading awareness of God's compassionate and righteous character in relation to the injustice and suffering in the world today
• our prayer and financial supporters -- every month we are grateful for the partners you are in the ministry that we do
• our opportunities to pursue master's degrees at great schools and among lovely people
• our families -- especially videos of nephews dancing to funky beats and failed attempts at snapping to the music
• our friends -- old and new, near and far; especially when skype makes it possible to chat with a dear friend in Italy for a few moments... just long enough to walk away feeling loved and cared for
• our church community -- the warm embrace we've had to join in doing ministry with a fantastic pastor and amazing staff
• and for the moments of connection we savor -- where we find companionship with one another or a loved one, moments of prayer and connecting with God, moments of seeing God's awe-inspiring creativity in nature, moments of hilarious laughter over silly things, and moments of being present with a family member or friend amidst sadness and pain...