Missing in Action

Yes, I know, it's like I disappeared into thin air, slid off the edge of the planet, was kidnapped and held captive for 15 months, or simply let blogging slip out of my routine. But I'm back! What prompted my return, you may ask, or you may not, but I will tell you anyway! It wasn't one thing, as is often the case with any reslove, i.e. starting a diet, exercise regime, stricter study habits, etc. Eventually you just get tired of procrastinating, someone says something that convicts you or encourages you (thanks, Mark!) and suddenly you just do it! By the way, for anyone that is interested, I'm rejoining Weight Watchers next week. That's long overdue, too! Feel free to ask me if I did, because I could easily put it off! Is there something you're putting off that you really should do?

Here Comes the Bride, Again!

Weddings seem to be a prominent theme in my writings these days, but hey, it is the season! On Saturday, we attended a very unique wedding held at an equally unique setting.

The ceremony: Held at the Dingle! (for you non-Haligonians, a lovely park setting on the North-west Arm, overlooking the water.

The bride: Stephanie Rowsell

The groom: Phil Prendergast

The reception: Held at the St. Mary's Boat Club, a beautiful marina overlooking the same pisturesque body of water.

The details: Of course, the bride was radiant! The groom - handsome! We have come to love Stepahnie and Phil and it was a joy to be part of their special day. She was attended by five lovely bridesmaids and her matron of honor, and three adorable flower girls. He had four grooms men, a ring bearer and a bell ringer comprising his share of the bridal party.

It was a delightful ceremony rich with the presence of God as these two pledged their love to each other and committed to keep Christ at the center of their relationship. Instead of the traditional unity candle ceremony, they did a very unique thing with sand. The bride's mother and the groom's mother came forward, each carrying a glass container of sand, collected from the beach where each lived; the places the bride and groom knew as home, at least in recent times. The minister then held out a larger glass cylinder into which the mothers slowly poured the sand from their jars. Of course, the symbolism is clear.

The day was sunny and warm with a playful breeze - picture perfect for a summer wedding. The Boat Club was enchanting with its light, airy decorations and the sounds and smells of the nearby sea.

I came away from the day delighted to have spent six leisurely hours with the love of my life! (Note: Since my husband is a minister, a wedding is normally a working event for him as he officates the ceremony. He has performed hundreds of weddings during his years in ministry, but we believe this may have been the first one we have attended at which he was a guest only.) Once again, it was an opportunity to silently renew my vows to him and to give thanks in my heart for the twenty-four years that we have happily enjoyed together since our walk down the marriage isle. We met some lovely people and had rich fellowship with the other guests at our table while enjoying a delicious meal.

There was a strong sense of family and tight friendships which permeated the day's festivities, as well as a keen awareness of the rich spiritual heritage both the bride and groom had come to this day with. What a wonderful foundation for the life they would begin together that day.

The older I get, the more keely aware I am of the treasure I possess in my close relationships. Those friends, both new and old who are there for you "through thick and thin"! Family who have nurtured and supported you, loved you unconditionally, yet held you acoountable to certain things, when necessary. What would we do without them? Who can navigate this journey of life without others there to cheer them on, to shoulder their burden and pain, to celebarte their joys and accomplishments? I guess I'm just not a loner. I love people to much; I need people too much, to ever try to go it on my own. Will people sometimes let you down? Ocassionally. Will people ever be plain annoying? For sure. But so will you! Is it better to make the investment inspte of the risks? I believe so! I'm grateful for the many people who enrich my life. I could fill pages with their names! I celebrate each one today!

Her Cmes the Bride!

She was radiant! Her hair was swept up on each side with pearl combs, a nosegay of flowers nestled in an antique doilie, tied with sheer ivory ribbon, rested in her lap. Her groom waited with quiet expectation as she was wheeled into the room. Warm and loving smiles adorned the faces of all who attended.

It was a bitter-sweet celebration, however, as the bride was recently diagnosed with terminal cancer and isn't expected to live long. But I have an idea that these fianl days, whether they be many or few, will be some of her happiest and most cherished.

I listened to them say their vows. "In sickness and in health" took on new meaning. My husband (the officiating minister) pronounced them husband and wife and the groom leaned over to the wheel chair where his bride sat and ever so tenderly kissed her. Then his hand went up to her thin, dark hair and he gently stroked it as his eyes, moist with emotion, seemed to be preserving in his memory her fragile beauty.

I wish the newlyweds well, and pray for more happy days together than anyone dares to dream. I also say to my husband of nearly 25 years, " I, Rosalie, continue to take you, Dean, to be my lawful husband; to have and to hold from this day forward; for better, for worse; for richer, for poorer; in sickness and in health; and forsaking all others keep myself only unto thee, for as long as we both shall live. Let not but death part me from thee". No one knows the number of their days. Days like today, strengthen my resolve to make the most of every day, to not harbour grudges, to let go of the petty things that can consume us, to tell the people I love that indeed, I do love them, to look for opportunities to surprise people with kindness, to take time every day to talk to God, and listen for His voice through prayer and the Scriptures. These things really matter and yet, sometimes my energy is expended on things that really don't matter at all.

How's your perspective on thinngs? Now is a good time to mend fences or scale back on work to spend time with your kids, to surprise your wife with flowers (it doesn't need to be a huge bouquet! A singe rose speaks volumes), to resist nagging your husband for even one day, to call your mother or father on the phone. I hope you make the most of today!

The Gateway to the Kingdom

The classic devotional book My Untmost For His Highest, written by Oswald Chambers, which I have used in the past as a supplement for my spiritual development, has captured my attention and my heart in a new and fascinating way of late! It's as though I have never read it before! Like these truths are completely new thoughts to entertain as I continue this pilgrimage toward my eternal home.

Take today, for instance! If you have this literary gem tucked away on a shelf somewhere I encourage you to get it out and take a read, or you can access it online.

Today Chambers opens with this brief statement from Scripture "Blessed are the poor in spirit." Matthew 5:3 and then he issues this warning:"Beware of placing Our Lord as a Teacher first... What is the use of presenting me with an ideal I cannot possibly come near?...I must know Jesus Christ as Saviour before His teaching has any meaning for me other than that of an ideal which leads to dispair. But when I am born again of the Spirit of God, I know that Jesus Christ did not come to teach only: He came to make me what He teaches I should be."

No wonder people are frustrated with Jesus' teachings!

Chambers goes on to say,"As long as we havce a self-righteous, conceited notion that we can carry out our Lord's teaching, God will allow us to go on until we break our ignorance over some obstacle, then we are willing to come to Him as paupers and receive from Him.... The bedrock in Jeus Christ's kingdom is poverty, not possession ... a sense of absolute futility - I cannot begin to do it. Then Jesus says - Blessed are you. That is the entrance and it does take us a long while to beleive we are poor! The knowledge of our own poverty brings us to the moral frontier where Jesus Christ works."

Once again, I am reminded, It is NOT about me! How foolishly we struggle on our own sometimes when God's help and power lie at our disposal! Christ isn't saying, 'Do this!" Rather, "Let Me do this through you!'

The old adage, "Let go and let God" seems a fitting admonition!

There's No Place Like Home!

Technically, I am on vacation! Last Tuesday marked the beginning of two weeks of holidays for us. I had been looking forward to it more than any other vacation, ever, I believe. For several reasons: 1. It has been a while since we had a two week block of time to do whatever we wanted. Even vacation can come with expectations and obligations (family one should see, work around the house and yard that should be done, etc) but this was going to be two weeks to go where we wanted and do what we wanted. 2. We were more weary than I ever remember being leading up to a vacation. Again, perhaps because last year's vacation got eaten up with family obligations during dufficult circumstances but also because this has been a busy Spring preparing for our daughter's wedding and deciding to paint through the entire house just a couple of weeks before the wedding! (Thanks to the many friends who helpded!)

However, our original plan to spend some leisurely days at the cottage - -walking, reading, resting, etc. then doing a short tour of Maine with my Mom, got altered somewhat and we find ourselves apart this first week. My husband flew to New York to be with his grandmother who will be 90 years old this September. How can you say no to one of the most influential women in your life?! I opted to stay at home to welcome the newlyweds back from the honeymoon and help get them moved to Sussex and into their first home - an adorable little duplex with character and charm. What a delight that was for me.

So, instead of being at the cottage this weekend I found myself here at home and wondering where I would go to church this morning. You see, since both my husband and I are pastors, going to church is also going to work! To attend your own church while on vacation is like going to shop at the store you work at. And yet, when I thought of going any where else, I just couldn't see how I would enjoy it any more than our own church. I was excited to see my friends, to participate in worship together with Steph and the Praise team, to hear Pastor Janel preach. And so, my daughter and I quietly slipped in just as the service was beginning. I didn't go early to help with set-up like I normally would. I didn't stay behind to help tear down. But I did worship and hear from God and visit with dear friends. I laughed with some and cried with others as we shared the details of our recent lives together. I could have gone to any church in the city or beyond, but truly there is no place like home.

I hope you have a church family that you enjoy being with each weekend. I'd love to hear about them. If you don't, I'd enjoy talking to you about that, too!

I'm Too Young to be a Mother-in-Law!

Where has time gone? Wasn't it only yesterday that I, myself, walked down the long isle of the church, my father at my side; my mother sitting in the front row, eyes glistening, smiling so tenderly. It was October 11, 1980.

Saturday, May 14, 2005 - just ten days ago, I sat on the front pew of First Baptist Church and turned to watch as the bridesmaids elegantly made their way to the front of the sanctuary to meet the grooomsmen. There was a brief pause in the music and then the organ, in all it's magesty and splendor, rang out the regal tones of the Wedding March. I rose with the rest of the congregation and saw her framed in the stone arch of the door way, her dad at her side. She took my breath away and my eyes involuntarily welled with tears and my heart swelled with a rush of emotion. Oh, the many thoughts that danced across my mind in those momnets it took she and her dad to travel the isle of the church to meet her anxious groom. My mind went back nearly 25 years to my Mom, in her front row seat at my own wedding. Did she have some of the same thoughts I did?

I looked at Sarah as she continued by her dad's side, and thought, "She'll always be Daddy's little girl. She will always have her place in our hearts. It has only expanded to include this handsome young man who has captured her heart and given to us the son we never had but always wished for."

The entire days was wonderful! I tried to process it in slow motion, drinking in every detail; knowing that much of it would seem like a blur just hours later. And it did! But I can still see her face as she walked the isle, holdinging her dad's arm. I can see the tender, nervous, adoring look on her groom's face and still smile as I recall the several premature attempts he made to come down off the platform and receive her from his soon to be father-in-law. His dad, who was also his best man, reached out and held the back if his suit jacket to keep him in place until the appropriate time. It was cute. It showed just how eagar he was to take this woman to be his wife. I can still hear the clarion tones of her voice ring sweetly throughout the sanctuary as she sang to her groom, "Arise my love, and come away". Ah, she not only looks like her dad but has been gifted with a voice - pure and rich and calm like his. I can still hear the resolve in both their voices as they pledged to love and cherich each other, letting nothing but death seperate them. I can still see the look of joy as they exchanged their first kiss as husband and wife and the excitement on their faces and spring in their step as they left the church to greet awaiting family and friends. I can still see them as they entered the recpetion site. The words to a pop song blasted out in youthful fashion, "She is beautiful! She is beautiful!" And she was. I can still see her dancing her first dance with her husband; see the dreams in her eyes. I can still see her dad and she as they glided across the dance floor oblivious to anyone else. He was whispering to her. She was crying. A teneder moment meant only for them. A letting go and a final holding on. I can still see the happy couple as they left the house and headed for their bridal suite to enjoy their first night together as husband and wife. My heart held so much happiness and hope for them. These pictures will remain etched on my mind and heart forever. Anything else that happened that day - the glitches and oversights - they don't really matter.

The newlyweds would come back to the house the next day, joined by family to open gifts. Things would be forever different and yet not that different at all. For she will always be our "Sis" and home will always be here for them and nothing could ever change our love for her and time is quickly expanding the place this new son holds in our hearts. They will always have our support. We will remain their most loyal cheerleaders! We will always welcome them home and delight in their phone calls. We we celebrate their accomplishments and comfort them in their disappointments. We will joyfully remain their parents, while recognising they are their own family now, as well. And our role will take on new dimensions.

Twenty-five years from now, if she finds herself blogging about her own daughter's wedding, I pray their love will be deeper that they ever dreamed it could be just ten short days ago. As they look back over the years that took them to this event, and remember the joys and sorrows, the tirals and tirumphs that marked the path to this season in their lives, I hope they expereince the pride and happienss we have as we have wathced our daughter marry her Prince Charming. I am blessed beyond measure to have my handsome prince still at my side and to be the mother of two extremely beautiful and gifted young ladies! I wish for the happy, new couple, a double portion of the blessings we, their parents have enjoyed in our twenty five years together.

"Hold tight to each other and to the Lord, and remember, we will always be here for you!"

Ah, A Fresh Page with No Spots on It!

It's nearly the end of April and we woke this morning to a messy mix of ice pelets and snow. At the time of this posting we have a light blanket of snow forming over our landscape. This could be depressing, given that Spring is slow enough coming as it is here in the Maritimes. But, it reminds me of the opportunites each new day holds. In the words of Miss Stacey, teacher of the famed but ficticious Anne of Green Gables, "Each day is a fresh page with no marks on it." A blank canvas on which we can write. I want to pillow my head tonight and know that this day counted. That amid all the mumdane yet essential "to do" item like getting our taxes completed, putting out garbage, cleaning toilets, etc., I will accomplish something of eternal significance. It may be as simple as a kind word to a stranger as I go about my business, a listening ear on the phone to a friend, holding back a harsh or critical word ready to spill out on an innocent family member.

I'm currently reading the book, The Purpose Driven Life, by Rick Warren along with approximately 70 other adults from our church. The potential for life change during this 4o Day adventure is enormous! I encourage you to pick up a copy of the book and read it with a friend or find a church that is conducting a 40 Days of Purpose campaign and get involved in a small group. Anyway! I leave you with this quote from the book. It's an excellent prayer to begin any day with: "God, whether I get anything else done today, I want to make sure that I spend time loving you and loving other people - because that's what life is all about. I don't want to waste this day."