Friday Fun

Taken from the March issue of Reader's Digest by Frank Ferri:

MY GPS VOICE IS>>>

Simon Cowell: This entire trip has been simply ghastly. You missed two turns, and your sideview mirrors weren't adjusted properly. And the worst part was the singing to the radio. Just awful. You're no longer in the driver's seat. In fact, I'd be surprised if you returned next week--because you'd probably get lost again.

Jack Bauer: I don't have a lot of time. You're to have to trust me. The country's fate is in my hands. So please, listen to me. The Walmart is on the left, 2.6 miles up the road. Today's the last day for the rollback prices on that wicker hamper you want, so grab it and go. Then we have some business to take care of.

The Biggest Loser trainers: Come on! So you're lost. Are you gonna cry? Don't you dare reach for that glove compartment. I know that's where you hid your Twix bars. Just take a breath. Pull over. Do some stretching. Get back in. And let's turn around and get back on track! There's a weigh station on the right.

Mellow Monday

Now in the season of Lent, my thoughts have become more mellowed and reflective. Our church is acknowledging the five sorrowful mysteries, and has requested various writers and artists to share poetry and photography that reflects these points of Lent.

When I reflected on the first mystery of Christ's agony on the cross and the fruit being a true sorrow for sin, I had to ask myself some pointed questions. Do I recognize the agony that Jesus went through on my behalf? Do I agonize over my own sin, or am I flippantly throwing it at God, feeling entitled to His grace? What brings me sorrow? Do I feel sorrow for the choices that turn from God or does it more come from my own circumstances, disappointed dreams, or even my own physical appearance or desires?

How does "my cross" compare?
Out of those questions and more came this poem:

In Pitiful Contrast


.....................That’s Not Fair
.....................You just don’t
.....................Understand me.
......................Why should I?
.....................It’s not my fault.
Of all the nerve. I deserve better than that.
Who does she think she is anyway? That’s
too much to expect. It’s just unforgiveable.
Ask me if I care. It’s not my responsibility.
......................He has no right
.....................to ask that of me.
......................I don’t have time
.....................for all this. I just
.....................can’t take all this
.....................anymore. I’m too
...................tired…too busy…too
..................Well, what about me?
.................What about my needs?
.................I couldn’t help it. I just
...............couldn’t take it anymore.
...........Why that? Why now? Why me?


And this prayer/poem accompanied it--beautiful.

O Lord,
The house of my soul is narrow;
enlarge it that you may enter in.
It is ruinous, O repair it!
It displeases Your sight.
I confess it, I know.
But who shall cleanse it,
to whom shall I cry but to you?
Cleanse me from my secret faults, O Lord,
and spare Your servant from strange sins.

~St. Augustine of Hippo

This season, may our Lord continue to work in you what he began, drawing us closer to Himself in truth, righteousness, and mercy.

music

I know you all have one of those songs... you know those songs that connect to everything you are thinking, feeling, and experiencing at the moment. And if you are anything like me, you have several of those songs--relating to various stages of life, relationship, spirituality, and emotion.
Over the years, Bebo Norman has written lyrics that continue to make me say, "Yeah, you get it." What I love about his lyrics resounds in the authenticity of them. He isn't afraid to talk about dark days or struggling moments. He's real. What a guy.

A few days back I pulled out a CD of his, Try, that I haven't listened to in quite a while. But as it was a college favorite, I decided to see what it would do for me. And this song, "Disappear," reverberated. I wish I could copy the music link for you. You can get on Lala.com and listen to it, but here are the lyrics.
On a day like this I want to crawl beneath a rock
A million miles from the world, the noise, the commotion
That never seems to stop
And on a day like this I want to run away from the routine
Run away from the daily grind that can suck the life
Right out of me I only know of one place I can run to
Chorus: I want to hide in You The Way, the Life, the Truth
So I can disappear And love is all there is to see
Coming out of me And You become clear
As I disappear I don't want to care about earthly things
Be caught up in all the lies that trick my eyes
They say it's all about me I'm so tired of it being about me¦
I would rather be cast away
Separated from the human race
If I don't bring You glory
If I don't bring You glory.

Emily Dickinson
There’s a certain Slant of light,Winter Afternoons
—That oppresses, like the HeftOf Cathedral Tunes
—Heavenly Hurt, it gives us
—We can find no scar,But internal difference,
Where the Meanings, are
—None may teach it — Any —’Tis the Seal Despair
—An imperial afflictionSent us of the Air
—When it comes, the Landscape listens
—Shadows
— hold their breath
—When it goes, ’tis like the Distance
On the look of Death —