Category: Spiritual Reflections

We attend a fairly large church in Minneapolis that has approximately 400+ people.  It’s quite different than the previous church I attended which has 25-30 members.

So ~ it’s no wonder that trying to adapt and fit into a “group” has been challenging, especially when these groups seem so tight knit.

One day it was announced that one of the members of the church was transferring to a smaller church which is closer to where we live. I hadn’t even know it was there ~ a new church plant.

So one day we decided to attend this church just to check it out.

This church plant rents space from another church but signs were visible as to where to go. The greeter was quite friendly and pointed us in the direction we should go along with handing us a church bulletin.

When we arrived at the entry to the sanctuary, there was a Bible study class in session so we decided to wait until that was finished.  That’s when we met the Pastor who was also friendly.  He told us that the church had mailed letters to the surrounding area inviting people to attend and he wasn’t sure why we hadn’t received one.

Soon enough the service started and everything went as planned per the bulletin handed to us.

Right after the closing song was sung, a child of about three came over to where we were sitting and handed me a handmade card.

It brought such a huge smile to my face.

Smaller churches certainly have a more personal feel to them.  Hmmm … wonder if we should continue attending “where everybody knows your name.”

Thoughts?

This roadrunner looks large, so how can this man hold it in one hand?

Well, as you probably have guessed, he’s not holding it in his hand but the photo is taken as if he was.

This New Mexico Roadrunner Sculpture is actually 20 feet tall and 40 feet long.  It was built by artist Olin Calk back in 1993.

At first glance you can’t really tell what it’s made of, can you?

So, let’s take a closer look …  But, before I show you a picture that has a little more detail, see if you can take a good guess just by looking at the picture below.

Are you guessing?

It’s hard to tell from afar, isn’t it?

Let’s take a look at it’s beak ~  what do you see?

Here’s a closer look at the tail section ~

And a few more pictures for you to view this interesting sculpture ~

From ironing boards, shoes, keyboards and crutches, this roadrunner is made up of a lot of what people would consider junk or garbage.

It reminds me of humanity.  Sometimes we look at people from afar, see them at their best and really want to get to know them.  Once we get closer though, we see that they are made up of the same thing everyone else is made up of ~ basic human needs, put together as best as possible (although in some instances not put together very well at all).

The question we have to ask ourselves is: Do we want to get to know them better in spite of their weaknesses and flaws (recycled lives as it were) or would we rather just drive by and hope we find someone who doesn’t have so much stuff crammed into their life.

It’s not really a tough choice if we remember that we have struggles and flaws also.  Our desire, need and hope is that someone “out there” will give us a second look in spite of all we have been recycled out of ~

Humanity is not always at it’s best (especially the closer you get to someone) ~ that’s a given.  I’m not always at mine either.  Seeing past the outer core of people isn’t easy yet sometimes the best reward is when you dig deeper and are able to experience their (and your own) potential.

” … The Lord does not look at the things people look at. People look at the outward appearance, but the Lord looks at the heart.”  1 Samuel 16:7

It’s Friday evening.  My body and mind slow down in preparation for Sabbath.  It used to surprise me that this happened ~ the calmness that occurs as Sabbath draws near. I look forward in anticipation to this rest and can’t imagine life any other way.

Settling into bed as the evening draws on, I choose a Christian playlist on my iPod and wirelessly play the songs on the Bose speaker. Ahhh ~ the sounds of nature.  No words only music.

Turning off the light, I kiss my husband goodnight and wait the 5 minutes it takes for him to fall asleep.

Lying back in bed, I close my eyes and start to silently pray. Everything is dark.

Then it happens. As if I’m watching the beginning of a Star Wars movie, I feel myself being propelled through space. Darkness and movement. I’m moving quickly but I don’t feel afraid.

I see light. Suddenly a man sitting on a throne with a crown on His head is directly in front of me. I can’t make out His features.

Silently I tell myself “This can’t be God for no man has seen God and lived.”

Quickly realization strikes: “It’s Jesus!” my mind says.

And just as quickly as it appeared, the vision disappears.

I close my eyes tighter to see if I can make it reappear but it doesn’t. Then I fall asleep.

The next day I remember what I saw, what I felt.

Oh Jesus ~ the things you do to remind me to keep my eyes on You.

Five jumbo jets flying in formation.

When I looked at this video it reminded me of our spiritual lives as we “study to show ourselves approved” like the pilots studied to perform this maneuver.

But there are times when we, like the pilots, can’t “see” what’s around us. The pilots heard a voice telling them to “go” and they moved out in faith and trust just as we must do at times.

God is always showing us the way. We just have to listen.

I hope you enjoy the video.

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