NOW

"For a long time it had seemed to me that life was about to begin- real life. But there was always some obstacle in the way. Something to be got through first, some unfinished business, time still to be served, a debt to be paid. Then life would begin. At last it dawned on me that these obstacles were my life." -Father Alfred D'Souza

An acquaintance (more like a ghost) published this followed by apost about his happiness.

It is too rare that people take time out to just be happy.

Christ taught us to live in the present. For me this is a challenge. I am very future oriented and have a wierd little nostalgia that pops its head up from time to time. I wish someone told me when I was young that I would remember all the stupid stuff I did and that I would be aware of it as I went through life. Perhaps I would have made some better choices. Perhaps.

There are so many things I have to learn. Like listening. And smiling more often. And just being happy and remembering all the really amazing things I have now that I have never had before.

This week I started as the "team leader" for the "green gadgets" at our VBS. They are 4 and 5 years old. Already I think these kids are the greatest and I am excited to see them every week. They renew me. I know how innocent their world is.

Begin the Beguine

"Now when Elisha had fallen sick with the illness of which he was to die, Joash king of Israel went down to him, and wept before him ... So Elisha died, and they buried him. Now bands of Moabites used to invade the land in the spring of the year. And as a man was being buried, lo, a marauding band was seen and the man was cast into the grave of Elisha; and as soon as the man touched the bones of Elisha, he revived, and stood on his feet." (2 Kings 13:14,20-21 RSV)

A long time ago I heard this and I liked it. Particularly the idea of touching bones and being blessed because of it. Touching a dead, inanimate thing, which still holds the power to bring blessing. It reminds me of gratitude.

So the name, maybe this cold inanimate thing, Elisha's Bones, can bring blessing to who reads, who writes, or maybe it recounts a good thing, in the midst of so much of the opposite.