TGIF Moment

                                             A. Laska

Apparently the three kings have given up their camels and upgraded to a Passat this year...

Monday Meditation

                                       Photo by:  Alisa Laska

"The holiest of all holidays are those kept by ourselves in silence and apart; the secret anniversaries of the heart."  

~Henry Wadsworth Longfellow, "Holidays"

Broccoli, Band aids and Multi-Tasking

The other day I cut my thumb pretty badly.  I'd been working in the kitchen to cook a meal for my family while also thinking about the million and one other things I needed to do.  I quickly grabbed the broccoli, a cutting board and a knife.  I sliced it quickly, not really paying too much attention.  Probably thinking about my Christmas card photos.  I looked down and realized I had not only sliced through the broccoli, I'd sliced through my finger as well.  

My first thought was annoyance.  I'd have to stop what I was doing to deal with my cut finger.  Ain't nobody got time for that! Especially at Christmas.  

I dealt with the cut and continued to cook dinner.  It was only later when I realized that I have two similar scars near this cut.  I couldn't believe it when I saw that.  I have cut this same thumb three times in almost the exact same spot!  (One of them was an unfortunate incident with a muffin pan.  Don't ask.)  

It made me realize how much we really aren't paying attention in life.  We are so often busy worrying about the next thing or trying to multi-task that we forget about the thumb right in front of us.  (Sometimes literally!)  

This season, lets remember to relax and do one thing at a time.  Breath.  It will all get done.  As Sir Richard Cecil aptly stated:  "The shortest way to do many things is to do only one thing at a time."  

A Gift for Jesus

My son's recent preschool picture made me crack up laughing. Of course he would draw a car,  his current obsession.  Second only to trains, of course.  (I also think it looks a little bit like a sheep, which could be symbolic...just sayin'...)  It also made me think.  Don't we all bring our fascinations and interests, personalities and quirks as we bow before the Lord?  We bring him all of us.  Our favorite things and our challenges.  

What gifts would you bring to the Lord?  If I went along the lines of my son's thinking, I'd bring movies, books, pizza and ice cream.  Going a bit deeper with it, I'd have to think about gifts and talents that God has blessed me with.  It is those gifts he gave to me that I in turn give back to him as I serve and adore him. 

What gifts do you bring to the baby Jesus?

Perseverance:

Noun
1. Steady persistence in a course of action, a purpose, a state, etc., especially in spite of difficulties, obstacles, or discouragement.

2.  Continuance in a state of grace to the end, leading to eternal salvation.*

As an English geek, I love looking up the definitions of words.  As I was thinking about what to title my blog, I came across this definition and I was captivated by it.  The idea of steadily persisting in spite of difficulties or discouragement seems a lot like my life lately.  

"Continuing in a state of grace to the end."  Isn't that so true?  How much we need God's grace each and every day.  We must live in a constant state of grace.  Wrestling with the difficulties and challenges.  Walking beside God, yelling at him, being held by him.  Figuring it all out with friends and companions on the journey.

In my blog, this is what I'd like to pursue.  Meeting joy in the everyday challenges of life.  Persevering through humor and moments of grace.  Looking for God's love, strength and hope through it all.

*http://www.dictionary.com/browse/perseverance?s=t

Pancakes?  Why pancakes?

As a mom, I help my kids make tons of pancakes.  My son is a connoisseur of sorts. His current obsession is chocolate chip pancakes.  He could eat them every day if I let him.  However, he once told my friend that she was putting in too many chocolate chips.  We laughed because, really, can you have too many chocolate chips?

The thing about pancakes is that they are messy.  Whew.  I have spent many a Saturday morning cleaning up flour and pancake spatter from my kitchen counters, walls, stove and floor.  Not to mention my clothing.  Pancake batter never really goes away.  It will show up when you least expect it.  Such as at church when you stand up to sing and you look down and see a huge spot of it on your shirt...

Pancakes are messy, but they are worth the mess.  After all the measuring, pouring, watching, waiting and spatulaing, you end up with something really good.  Something sweet.  And who doesn't like to start the morning with something sweet?

Life can be a lot like pancakes.  Most of it is hard.  We have daily challenges that we must navigate through.  Some expected, some out of the blue.  Some weeks it feels like all we have are challenges.  Like we always have the spot of batter on our shirt and we just can't seem to get it out.  Other days, we are enjoying the sweetness of the final product.  Hanging out at the table with family or friends, talking, laughing and enjoying life.

Pancakes are messy, and so is life.  I say, let's walk together through it and meet joy wherever we find it.  In the mess, in the grace, in the mystery that is life with God.  Will you join me for some pancakes?