I had a moment on Sunday at church that reminded me the Holy Spirit is working in and through us - in ways we can't ever predict. 
 
     Recently in worship we presented a Spark Story Bible* to every family
with children in preschool-second grade. It was great seeing the families come up to the front and handing them a bible. The kids held them tight as we blessed the families in their reading of God's story together. I have been a leader in ministry at Faith Lutheran Church for years. I love putting in the hands of parents the bible and other resources that will encourage and foster faith conversations at home with their kids. 

     Over the years I have seen a variety of reactions in parents to the support and resources we give them. They are always positive but also sometimes a little apprehensive. Many parents are nervous about being asked questions about God and faith that they feel they may not be able to answer. When we gave out the bibles this last time, I faced a reaction from a parent I had never seen before.

     At Faith, we have a little pocket of African refugees who have joined our community and are slowly
but consistently integrating into a culture that is very different for them. More and more people know their names and talk with them on Sunday mornings despite a considerable language barrier. I have gotten to know these families because I volunteered in the nursery last year to watch the youngest children while parents attended ESL classes in our church basement.

     The day we presented the story bibles to the families, I noticed that one of the African families did not come forward to receive one even though they have a preschooler. (I am still learning how to best communicate details of Sunday School and church with these families.) After worship I caught up with the mom and her son. When I said, "I have something for you. It is a bible for your family." Her son's eyes lit up! A book! For him! But her face looked troubled and worried. I told her, "This is for you to read to your boys." I knew in that moment she was thinking that her English reading skills are still developing and she struggles with that. Would she be able to read it? I opened the Story Bible for her and showed her the large type with the simple but well told bible stories. Her face changed immediately - from sadness to joy. In her own soft-spoken way, she exclaimed, "Yes!"  She realized she would be able to read many of these stories to her sons.

     My heart filled. I felt her joy. It is the same joy that all parents feel when they can teach their children the things that are important to them. The same joy one feels when they know they are part of a community. And it is also the same joy we all feel when the Holy Spirit surprises us and reminds us we are divinely connected.

     I pray these Story Bibles will bring many moments of joy to all the families as they read of God's great love for us.

 ~Pam

 *I highly recommend the Spark Story Bible. It includes 150 stories from both the Old and New Testaments. Even though the stories are written for young readers and listeners, they maintain their emotional integrity and are a powerful testimony to God’s saving love for all creation. Because of this, the Spark Story Bible is a welcome addition to families and classrooms with older children as well.

    I was feeling blue and a friend reminded me or maybe it was even scolded me, "Are you doing your art?" Hmmm…just like when someone reminds a loved one..."Are you taking your medicine?!"

     I have been in a funk.
I am doing all the right things: exercising, eating right, taking my days off from work, playing with the dog, reading good fiction...
I also am truly finding fulfillment in my work. This very busy fall has been filled with overflowing creative energy and enthusiastic leaders.

     So...why am I in this funk?
I look out and see that others are hurting. People I know personally and all those people and nations that fill the news. It all weighs heavy on my heart. I don't think the answer is to not watch the news. I live in the world. I am a part of the world. But I need some perspective, a way to be in the world but not of the world.
How can I remember the life-giving peace that is around me and yet not let it insulate me to the hurt that is also there? The answer to this question for me is re-membering the creative life-giving spirit that is in me.

     I recently stood at the edge of Lake Michigan - shoes off, toes in the water. I found a way to filter out the noise of the traffic and hear only the water and the silence that surrounded me. My vision was filled with the perspective of the infinite; all the things I cannot see and all the things that are beyond my control and understanding. And yet standing there acknowledging my lack of control, I felt peace. A peace that passes all
understanding.

     So after my friend’s gentle scolding, I got out my art supplies and made this collage. The words are cut out from just one section of Friday's newspaper. They are all the things that are heavy on my heart. Yes they are bold, but I am also surrounded by the peace I felt that day in creation. The water below has the mantra "Be Still" from Psalm 46. The sun/moon image contains a quote from Pope Francis from the same day’s paper: "accompany them in mercy."

     This physical creative "doing" has helped. I feel that same peace I felt on the beach. My jaw has unclenched. I feel a returning balance.
It is time to go back out and be in the world.
Keep doing all the things that bring me life.
And not forget to do a little art!

~Pam