My husband and I were just talking about the sad events of the last week. I mentioned that somone was in custody from the shootings in Dallas. My ten-year-old overheard the word custody.
Mom, did they catch the guy who burnt the churches? No, not yet. Oh, was it the terrorists? Did they catch the terrorists? Um. No, that was something else. Wow. There are a lot of them running around loose right now. And she went back to reading her book. Yes. Yes my dear. There are lots of people right now caught up in all kinds of anger and hate. Honestly part of me wants to rail and yell and kick and write snarky comments on posts that don't line up with my personal talking points. I am mad that my children know about arson and terror and snipers and racism. I'm depressed that my daughter took it all in stride. What kind of world are we living in that a ten-year-old is momentarily sad but not at all shocked at the news? Mostly I'm heartbroken for the moms this week having to tell childen that their father is not coming home. I do not presume to know what those mother's are going through. I don't know what it is like to send my spouse to work in a uniform that could get him killed. And I have never had to talk to my girls about how to deal with the people who judge them based on the color of their skin. Since I do not know I am not going to say how they should respond. However. I do know that in total my anger makes the world worse. When I yell or honk or snap - others around me spiral that direction. I really don't want to raise kids that make the world worse. And so as simplistic as it sounds I choose love. I am going to hug my children. I am going to tell them about Martin Luther King Jr. and Ghandi and Mother Theresa. About how the world changed because they refused to hate. I am going to read them the words of Jesus about loving your enemies and visiting those in jail and respecting the authorities. I am going to deliver cookies. Never underestimate the power of cookies. I am going to thank anyone I see in uniform. I am going to forgive those who hurt me even when its repeated. I am going to pray. I am going to stand in my neighborhood and speak up when people are hurt or hurting. I am going to listen respectfully when I don't agree. I am going to assume the best and smile at strangers. What about you? Better or worse? The ten-year-olds are listening.
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My ten year old went to art camp last week. The camp is taught by a crazy talented woman I've known my entire life. As children we stood together on the stage after camp and sang "The B I B L E. Yes, That's the Book for me" and a goofy song about how "the life of a frog is not very cool because frogs don't get to go to Sunday School". It stuck with me. Last night we went to the art show. It was held in a great old warehouse downtown. Tall white walls, apple juice and cookies. My favorite project was the self portrait cartoon. Cheerful. Nice study in proportion. The girl with the pink tutu makes me grin. I love my daughter's project. The big blue eyes and cheerful freckles are a good nod to her spunky personality. The wide smile is either a good indicator that she's a happy person or it is a self aware reflection that like her mama she does not ever stop talking. Her photo has more depth and detail than the portrait. But if you really want to get to know my daughter you are going to have to share a cup of tea with her, stay up late giggling in the night, ask her about how to cartwheel and spend some time watching Star Wars and painting. Really if you know her, the art is more fun. A big circle of knowing.
That circle of knowing gives a good way to introduce one of the features here at Quirky Faith. Every Monday "That's the Book" will be a post reviewing a different book of the Bible. My blog post should function like my daughter's cartoon portrait. Fun and cheerful and big picture. I'm hoping it makes you want to read the actual book. And the whole point of the Bible is to have a tool to get to know God. The Bible is actually a collection of 66 books written over 1500 years by roughly 40 different people all inspired by God. I've thought a lot about what this book means to me and why I care that other people know it. I am not a Bible scholar. There are many qualified teachers and preachers who can break down the Greek and Hebrew and give you the doctrinal truth better than me. I'll try to let you know where to find them as we go. But I am passionate about sharing with you how I see the Bible. Not in a "chase you down the street let me beat you with this weapon" kind of way. More like "Hey! Oh my goodness! All my good friends; did you hear that the gourmet restaurant down the street is giving away free coffee and chocolate and pasta and all we have to do is show up so come with me right now and let's go eat!" After all, the Bible is the Bread of Life. So come along. Next Monday. Fun like camp. I'm hoping it sticks with you. That's the Book. I posted this originally five years ago. Reading it today reminds me that I am older. I might be a tad more protective of my kiddos this year but I still really love that peanut salad and freedom. Keep the extra regulations. Give me freedom. So today - eat well, hug your friends and family and say thank you to anyone who has served in the military for freedom is never free.
My daughter is currently tucked into bed beside me. She's snoring. When my husband gets home tonight he'll carry her downstairs and tuck her into her own bed. In the mean time, I'm enjoying listening to her. I'm also mentally unpacking the Fourth of July. We started the day by running two miles and then walking a mile long parade route. This was good because in the afternoon just about all I did was eat. The resident chef makes these amazing peanut, cilantro and onion noodles. I think I had four servings. I had potato salad and macaroni salad. They were both homemade so of course I had to have seconds. I had a piece of Rhubarb pie. Tart! Yum! I had chips and salsa. It was made with red, green and yellow peppers with lots of onion. I had chicken, one thigh smoked and one leg grilled. I had lettuce wraps. Those have lettuce so those probably don't count on any sort of calorie chart. I had summer pasta with orange slices. That has fruit so that really doesn't count either. I only had a couple of pieces of licorice. My daughter smelled like sunscreen. She spent most of the day alternating between a kiddy pool and a slip-n-slide. The kids were finally talked out of their swimsuits and into warmer clothes. The sunscreen and pool water maintained a stronghold in their hair. My sister reminded me that when we were kids we had a slip and slide at Grandma's house. Grandma made it out of black garbage sacks. She held them in place with bricks. Added water and a squirt of dish wash liquid and we were set. The danger of sliding too fast and skidding over bricks just added to the fun. My husband smelled like fuses and fire. We lined the children up at the end of the day and watched the big kids - er - our husbands blow stuff up. Several times we moved the kids back a few feet. At one point one of the fireworks fell over and started randomly shooting sparks at our kids. The kids stood there. The parents all shouted. We ran and dodged and grabbed. No one got hurt. Later, one little guy said his favorite part of the night was when the fireworks were shooting at them. I smiled. I worry sometimes that we bubble wrap our kid's lives too much. Clearly not on this day though. That might be one of the reasons I love the Fourth of July. It's about celebrating freedom. I'll take the risk of danger every day if you'll give me more freedom. Welcome to Quirky Faith. I'm Mindy. While it is accurate to say I'm a Christian I don't typically introduce myself as such. People expect Christians to be mad or judgmental or scared. I'd rather be unexpected. Fun and goofy. Faithful and joyful and full of hope. Quirky. Mostly I have this crazy notion that God built me as an encourager and He expects me to get on with the job.
I grew up in a Christian home. Dad, Mom, Me, little sister. Dog that kept running away. Church Sunday morning, Sunday night, Wednesday, Bible study. Sounds boring, I know. It wasn't. My mother has eyes that sparkle with fun ideas and my Dad always says yes. And church. Wowsa. Seriously good fun at the potlucks, parades, camp, Vacation Bible School, mission trips. You name it. We did all of it. I prayed a classic prayer of salvation as a three year old and marched forward with confidence in Jesus. Then I went to college. And wondered aloud if it was all true. My wise mother told me she understood. She told me to read, and talk and figure out what I believed. She advised that I not do anything I'd regret if it turned out I was all in. She prayed. So I paused before jumping ship and I watched. Mostly I watched my aunt. I watched as she got news that her husband had cancer. I watched as she received word that her 7 year old had leukemia. I watched as she walked through hospitals and hair loss and bone marrow transplants and two funerals and widowhood. And I watched as God and grace and hope and love and laughter were still there. The whole time. So I prayed a messy sobbing and honest prayer and said to Jesus that I'd love to follow along if He'd still have me. I wonder sometimes where I'd be if my aunt had given up, gone bitter, angry or scared. I'm grateful she didn't. Angry, scared and bitter are not good tools for building a life. Or a church. Or a nation. If you aren't a believer but you are curious feel free to come on in and watch like I did. Or join in and ask all those questions about things that church people say and do. In fact, I'd love it if you would email me questions - big ones or small. You certainly won't see perfect. But I'm hoping you'll see grace. Lots of grace. If you are a part of my faith family - Come along. Be encouraged. Time for some quality control. Send me an email if you find any typos. In fact, I'll make it a contest. First one to email me with a typo to fix gets a coffee on me. As in I'll buy you a coffee. Actual coffee dumped on me is a regular occurence already, we don't need more. UPDATE: Goodness. My friend Sarah is a speedy editor. She wins coffee! Keep sending my typos and I'll keep buying coffee. |
About MeI love Jesus. I think my two daughters can change the world. I think you can too. Past Posts
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