HandiCapable

Last night my family watched the Disney movie, ”Prince Caspian,” together. While it isn’t as good as the book, I still love it. I love Reepicheep and the D.L.F., and of course Aslan… and mmm, Ben Barnes makes a great Prince Caspian! I can’t wait for the next movie to come out - “The Voyage of the Dawn Treader.” They better not change much about that one, because it’s my all-time favorite Narnia book.

Anyway, I was thinking about the spiritual significance of “Prince Caspian”… there’s so much - and even more in the book than in the movie. But one of the things I was thinking about last night was how Aslan and the Kings and Queens of old had been gone for hundreds of years, and it seemed nothing magical and wonderful had happened in Narnia. After the trees stopped dancing, and the stories were reduced to heiroglyphics on the walls of tombs, the Narnians wondered if any of it was true, if Aslan was really alive and cared about them at all. If he was and he did, why was he silent?

But of course, he was alive, and he did care. He didn’t explain his silence, but when the Narnians admitted they could not win the war on their own, he came to their aid.

It’s hard sometimes to hear and read about the stories of old, when the Spirit moved, people were healed and came to follow Christ in droves, when Jesus was tangible. People - even Christians - wonder why he doesn’t show himself the way he used to. And those whose “faith” is based on emotions or things they can see begin to doubt it was ever real to begin with. But I think God allows us to choose who we will depend on. Do we try to live independently, trusting our own strength, intelligence, finances to get us through each day? If so, we are defeated. How much better, to surrender our pride and look to Him who overcomes!

I am constantly amazed by my brother, Kevan. He has a way of being able to look at the heart of people in the most genuine way. He’s not freaked out by people’s looks or their past, or even their personality. He completely disarms them with his transparency and natural joy. He volunteers at the downtown prison every week, but he doesn’t do it like it’s some saintly thing he does sacrificially. He just enjoys being there, getting to know the guys in the prison, and sharing life with them. Tonight I went with him for a special “Moravian Love Feast” they were having in the chapel, and I got to see how much a part of their community he is. The prisoners came up and patted his shoulder, shook his hand, laughed and joked with him, and told me how much they were thankful for him.

 And I imagine Kevan’s ministry looks a lot like Jesus’ did… personal connections, continuing relationship, genuine love. I want that kind of ministry too, though it doesn’t come as easily for me. I’m still working on it, and God’s still working on me.

It feels so good to finish a big project and have it behind you, doesn’t it? I feel like I’ve accomplished so much tonight, just because I completed a 6-page paper two days before the deadline. It seems an incredible feat, because I’ve toiled and stressed over it for the past week. But I saved it, emailed it off, and now it’s done. I wonder how God felt when he finished creating the world? We know he rested on the seventh day, and I bet he breathed a sigh of relief and joy. He’d made something very good, and now he could spend the rest of eternity watching it grow, change, decay, and be reborn. I think I’ll rest tomorrow after a job well done.

A few weeks ago, my friend Shannon told me how disappointed she was after studying the book of Ruth with her small group. She said she’d always thought that it was a romantic story, but now she just thought it was a legal issue lacking passion. So being the good friend I try to be, I promised to re-write the story for her in a way that was romantic.

 As I started my research and read the book again, I became so convinced of its natural and original romance, that I felt like there was no way I could improve on the story! Here is what I found (you may want a Bible handy):

RUTH:

She gave up the prospect of being a wife and mother again, to adopt a new culture and faith, and take care of her mother in law. (Ruth 1:16-17)

All she had to do was accept the grace and blessings Boaz wanted to give her during the harvest (sounds a lot like the gospel, right?) (Ruth 2:23)

Naomi wanted to set Ruth and Boaz up, and so Ruth got all dolled up to look her very best, and spent the night at his feet, hoping he would love her enough to let her stay and not cause a scandal (Ruth 3:3-14)

BOAZ:

Before he knew who she was, he was attracted to her. He noticed her among all the girls in his field, and asked about her. (Ruth 2:5-6)

He didn’t want her to go anywhere else to work. He was generous in providing for her and was very protective of her. (Ruth 2:8-22)

He was impressed by Ruth’s character (Ruth 2:11-12, 3:11)

Can you imagine?! Here he has already demonstrated the kind of man he was, and the kind of husband he would be - the kind who would take care of his wife and family.

When Naomi sent Ruth to him, he listened to her and was generous to her. (Ruth 3:15)

Boaz wanted to marry Ruth, but since they were both noble characters, he had to be shrewed in his interactions with the closer kinsman and do things according to the law. That’s why he mentioned the land first. (Ruth 4:2-4).

I think he knew the kinsman would want the land but not the woman, because if he took the woman, he would have to take the name of her first husband. The land wouldn’t be his to take credit for, it would be Ruth’s husband’s. The kinsman didn’t love Ruth, he just wanted wealth and power. This comes out when Boaz reminds him that it’s a package deal and he changes his mind. (Ruth 4:4-6)

Can’t you hear the giddiness in Boaz’s voice when he announces what he has gained? (Ruth 4:9-10)

He took the property so he could get the girl, rather than the other way around. He had a lot of property anyway, and he was endangering his estate just as much as the other kinsman was. But he didn’t care - he gave up his own name, own power and wealth, to have Ruth as his wife. WOW! That is totally romantic…

So I couldn’t improve on the story… I am so in awe of this woman who was willing to give up everything - even romance - to follow God, and this man who gave her love and security and safety, and who used his wisdom and strength of character to win her in the end.

Just this morning my mom and I savored Panera’s cherry pastries with a hot cup of tea. Oh so good, and definitely a must for cherry lovers. And thank you to Rahim for the recommendation of mixing cherries with almonds! Sounds wonderful!

 I’m reading this book right now called “Soul Revolution,” by John Burke, and it has me thinking a lot about my daily interaction with God. I’ve been rolling with God for about 20 years now, and I can honestly say he’s my best friend, and I am aware that he is always with me. Friends like Kathryn can tell you that I love to spontaneously pray whenever and wherever it occurs to me that prayer is needed. And I have a feeling people think I’m talking to myself sometimes, which may look slightly crazy. But I know I’m not talking to myself! I know I have a real relationship with a real God who loves to hear from me and respond to me. Yeah… I said respond. Why am I telling you all this…? Oh yes, I remember.

John Burke’s book is about this 60-60 challenge he presented to his church congregation: Intentionally engage in conversation with God every hour of every day for two months (every 60 minutes for 60 days). It’s practicing being aware of the presence of God. Pretty cool idea, I think. It’s a challenge I want to try. In fact, I started today… and failed. I remembered probably 1/3 of the day, and kept thinking, “Oh, man! I’ve gone a whole three hours without talking to God!” Kinda funny, when you think that the average Christian ticks “5-minute quiet time” off their to-do list every day and is satisfied. The thing is, I don’t just want to check off QT like it’s on my list of chores. Relationship isn’t like that!

So I’m gonna keep trying… maybe I’ll get a timer, like the book recommends… In the meantime, it’s kinda cool to see my attitude change in just a few hours. I long to talk to God, and I miss him when I don’t.

If anyone else out there is reading this book or trying the challenge, talk to me. I’d love to know how you’re doing, and maybe what you’re learning from it, too.

I believe life is like a bowl of cherries. My friend, Casey, bought me a very large bag of fresh, plump cherries the other day, and I’ve been enjoying them every day for lunch and late evening snacks. Today I crushed some up in a bowl of vanilla yogurt, creating my own pretty pink dessert that I ate while my brother Kevan read Tolkien to me. The irony of munching on a bowl full of cherries hit me today, especially as I had to weed out a few that had gone mushy and were beginning to rot. I realized cherries (the real kind) don’t last very long and should be enjoyed when they are the sweetest. And so my metaphor of life and cherries remains true, and I continue to expand on it as I learn and grow:

Life is sweet, despite the pits… but it is not forever - we are given only this moment in time. So drink deeply of its richness, savor its goodness, and remember even the pits serve a purpose - they help us grow, they create opportunities for new blessings, and they remain to keep count the many times we’ve experienced God’s faithfulness.