Valentine’s Day

Men don’t get Valentine’s Day.  Really we don’t.

We say we do…

...but who are we kidding?

We do it anyway though.  Even though we think it is a money-making racket, and we don’t like being told what to do.  Why?

Because Valentine’s day isn’t important to us… but the cause it celebrates is.  The person we choose to spend it with, is.

A lot like choosing to celebrate Christmas or Easter, even though the world makes it about presents and sweets.  Because the reason behind it is still important to us.  And just because we celebrate Jesus every day, doesn’t mean we can’t make an extra effort to remind ourselves what He did for us on those special days.

So I hope you are celebrating V-Day today, even if only a little bit.

Because sometimes we need to celebrate what is important to us, regardless of who’s idea it is.

P.S.  Dori and I are doing well, and will be spending our first Valentine’s Day together tonight.  Otherwise this post might have been 129.7% more cynical than it was.

Faith & Writing #9 – Big Write/Little Write

I love to write by hand.  I enjoy it because it feels good.  I enjoy it because it feels like I am writing, not just working.  I enjoy it because I can do it any time or place.

That last one is a biggie.  I write in an A5 notepad with a hardcover and ring spine, so I can flip it open and pen a few words whenever the notion takes me.  I write in queues, I write in traffic jams, I write in boring meetings, or just wherever I may be. 

This is what I call the “small write.”

It is a lot like prayer.  I don’t wait for a special time and place to pray.  Wherever I am, when the notion takes me, I shoot off a quick word to God.  I tell him how I am feeling, and ask him for help with something.  Or just say “Hi, it’s me.”

But I also like to write at set times.  Like for at least 30 minutes in the morning before I start the day.  It helps me to get the nights thoughts out of my head, and onto paper.  So I commit to an hour of writing in the morning.

This is what I call the “big write”.

I do the big write every day, regardless of whether I feel like it, or whether I have anything interesting to say.  I just write.  Because I need to make a habit of writing if I want to call myself a writer. 

The big write reminds me why I want to be a writer, and the small write reminds me that I am a writer.  I can’t live without both of them.

In the same way, I start each day with set prayer.  I pray at set times, like lunch, or at night, as well.  Even if I don’t feel like praying, or don’t feel like I have anything to say.  I pray, to remind myself that I am a Christian.

The set prayers help me to want to pray throughout the day, because it starts the day right, and keeps me focused on who I am.

“Small prayer” makes my life a Life of Prayer. 
“Big prayer” makes me want a life of prayer.

Faith and Writing #8 – Be a pen

I read an interview with Mother Theresa once, where she said “It is his work. I am like a little pencil in his hand. That is all. He does the thinking. He does the writing. The pencil has nothing to do with it. The pencil has only to be allowed to be used.”

I like that.  It remind me not to get too full of myself, and to remember that while God has a use for me, he is still the one who does the hard work.  I just need to remember to go where he leads me.

The quote refers to us as pencils, but I think pens are also a good analogy.  Some writers, like Athol Fugard use a pen only once.  Each time he starts a new play, he starts it with a fresh pen.  Once the play is finished, he “retires” the pen, and it is framed in a place of honour.

I think it would be easy to get into this mentality.  “My work here is done, let me rest and enjoy the praise of a job well done.”  Expect that that’s not what pens are for.  They aren’t trophies, or decorations.  They only serve their purpose when they are writing.

And that that’s not the sort of pen God uses.  He likes fountain pens.   Once a pen has been used for a while, it starts to run dry.  If you kept trying to use it, you would damage the paper, and the pen.  So if that happens you need to stop using the pen.  Except God doesn’t want to stop using us.  He doesn’t want to damage us, or the paper.  So he offers free refills.  Like an old fashioned pen with the ink-reservoir, we are always able to be easily re-filled. 

So what sort of pen are you?  The sort that fights the hand that holds it?  The sort that takes pride in it’s writing?  Or the sort that says “Use me up, and refill me.  I am here to spread the words you give me, because that is my purpose as a pen.”

That is all for today.

Why I have been scarce lately

Once upon a time, a few short weeks ago, I was swimming along, minding my own business…

 

 

…when I met another Fish.

Her name was Dori, and yes she is a natural blue.

 

 

 

So over the weekend we sort of officially hooked up.

I like fishing.  Sometimes you get some interesting catches.

Oops

The Conversion of St Paul

We started the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity by examining the Confession of St Peter, who was one of Jesus' strongest supporters.

But of course no story of Unity, or our faith, would be complete without mentioning one of his biggest detractors; Saul of Tarsus.

As he neared Damascus on his journey, suddenly a light from heaven flashed around him. He fell to the ground and heard a voice say to him, "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?"
"Who are you, Lord?" Saul asked.
"I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting," he replied. "Now get up and go into the city, and you will be told what you must do."
The men travelling with Saul stood there speechless; they heard the sound but did not see anyone. Saul got up from the ground, but when he opened his eyes he could see nothing. So they led him by the hand into Damascus. For three days he was blind, and did not eat or drink anything. Acts 9 : 3-9

Peter was a simple fisherman.  Paul was an educated man.
Peter was a disciple.  Paul hunted disciples.
Peter spent three years with Jesus.  Paul never met him in the flesh.

Then Ananias went to the house and entered it. Placing his hands on Saul, he said, "Brother Saul, the Lord—Jesus, who appeared to you on the road as you were coming here—has sent me so that you may see again and be filled with the Holy Spirit." Immediately, something like scales fell from Saul's eyes, and he could see again. He got up and was baptized, and after taking some food, he regained his strength.– Acts 9:13-19

Jesus called them both to share the message, even if he had to strike Paul blind for three days to get him on board.

Whoever we are;  whatever we have done; HE has a use and a plan for us.  We just need to be open to it.