Venting

I do not usually vent on my blog, because I want it to be positive, uplifting, filled with hope.   At the moment, I feel like venting.  So be it.

Yes, I do generally enjoy really great health, with no major health issues or medication,  with one exception.  Like many Americans, I suffer from digestive disorders such as acid, heartburn, etc.

For a while, I managed that with Tums.  In time, the problem was eliminated with a prescription from the doctor.  Eventually, when I did not have a doctor, I relied on an over the counter medication, which was equivalent to my prescription,  until the word came that those were really bad for you.  So I decided to stop taking them.

That meant that I really had to completely change my lifestyle, which I did with some success.  That means eating dinner early, not eating too much,  watching what I eat,  no alcohol, no chocolate, and so on.

All of those lifestyle changes did not completely change the fact that I would still have the digestive distress, though it was much less disruptive.   The next step was to try and identify what the triggers might be.  I read on-line about what a number of possibilities are.  In the end,  it seems that the culprit is most likely wheat!

I do not believe that I have an intolerance, just a sensitivity. I do not get sick, just uncomfortable.  It has been really challenging to completely eliminate wheat from my diet.    If I were given a choice of the one thing that I most wanted to eat in all the world, it would be bread!  Bread, pastries, crackers, muffins and so forth.  Those are no longer in my life!   I grieve for wheat!

I grieve for wheat,
its rice cakes for me;
No more donuts or toast.
It's the crunchy things
not there for me that
I really miss the most.

Crackers and chips
and crispy things,
are not allowed for me.
It's apples and oats,
bananas, or in a
smoothie, all three!

Oh,  cookies, how I miss thee!
How I grieve for wheat!

Only the pain keeps me away
from the loaf of bread I want today.
Upon a muffin I would gladly pounce.

And yet, with my wheat-less life,
I do not lose an ounce!

An Unexpected Gift

I met a retired pastor named Rev. Doug Deer at a church event back in October.  Not long after that, he called me to ask if I might be interested in doing some pulpit supply at a church where he was preaching.  Doug was having some health issues, and wanted to step back from some of his work there.  After giving it a little thought, I agreed to accept two Sundays a month.  I began preaching at Groton City United Church of Christ in December.

Groton City is a small country church, as Doug described, in the middle of a corn field.  There is really no corn, but it is surrounded by agricultural lands and farms and a few houses.  There is no city.  Many of the parishioners are farmers, or former farmers.  What they really wanted was their own pastor.  And as it has turned out, much to my surprise, what I really wanted was my own pulpit!

The church is small with a congregation of around twenty five on a regular basis.  It reminds me of the churches of my childhood.  I am totally at home there!

Since all of this happened, Rev. Doug Deer has passed away from a serious heart condition.  I am so very grateful to him for calling me.  It was unexpected.

I have always loved preaching.  You could say that it is my passion.  Other aspects of ministry---meetings, denominational expectations, finance, building and grounds, are less appealing to me.  Groton City has none of those demands.

What is so surprising to me is what a joy preaching is at this point in my life.  Like never before!  I think perhaps that is because worship is the primary focus. I do not have to attend district or conference meetings.  I do not have to report every detail of attendance and finance in statistical reports.  I can simply relate to the people and enjoy worship, which I do indeed.

I feel like an athlete who has returned to my sport after a long absence, and am now doing that sport for no reason other than the sheer thrill of it!

Perhaps the most important benefit is for Gerry, who has always so loved my preaching!  He is happy now.  He feels at home there.  He is delighted, as am I.

What an unexpected gift!  And I am so very thankful!

Body Image Issues Reverse

When I was in my early twenties,  I decided to go on a drastic,  (medically supervised) weight loss program.  The plan allowed 500 calories a day.   The result of that was an amazingly quick, and considerable weight loss of 50 pounds in three months.   It was so drastic, that there were actually people who did not recognize me when they saw me after not having seen me for a while.

Of course, that was very thrilling,  or at least it would have been, if I had been able to process it;  if I had been able to see that change in the mirror.  But I could not.  When I looked in the mirror, surprisingly, I saw what I had always seen.   My mental image could not comprehend the new image in the mirror.   Because of that, for a long time, I continued to wear baggy cover-up clothes--nothing form fitting or touching my body.   It took many many months, if not longer, for my mental image to catch up with the reality of the mirror image.

Fast forward.  Now I am a senior citizen.  I gained most of that weight back over time, mostly in the past 20 or so years.  I gained and lost weight a number of times, through four pregnancies, and so forth.   I could probably be called a yo-yo dieter,  though I am less interested in diets these days than in eating healthy, nutritious foods.

But I have recently become aware of a strange phenomenon. When I look in the mirror these days,  I see the body of a much smaller person.   By what the scales tell me,  I am a much larger person than what my mental image suggests.  It seems as if my body image issues have reversed themselves.

Once, I could not see the smaller person I had become.  Now I do not see the larger person I must be. I'm not sure which one of those I think is better.

While I may not be the ideal size or weight I would like to be,  I am comfortable with my body, and in my own skin.   Most of all, I am extremely grateful for the wellness and health I have enjoyed thus far in my life.

That is worth infinitely more than any number on any scale!!

Palm Sunday

Ready for Palm Sunday and Children's Message

A Message for Children

Many hundreds of years ago, Jesus was preparing to go to the city of Jerusalem.  He entered the city in a very simple way--on a donkey.

People were happy to see him.  They were shouting  "Hosanna" which means, "Save us, Lord!

Many spread their coats on the road.  Others cut branches from the trees and spread those on the road.  That's why we call this Palm Sunday.

There's another kind of palm.  Can you think of what that is?   We all have one.   Even two!

Yes, the inside of our hands.   It is always with us.  In a few minutes, I am going to ask the congregation to wave their palm frond with one hand, and wave their other palm, too. The children and I  will wave our palm branches in both hands.   Whenever people are happy and excited, we often raise our hands and cheer and yell.  Right?

But before we get to that part,  I want to remind everyone that the palm we have in our hand is always a reminder that we can be God's hands helping other people.  We can help them up if they fall.  We can encourage others.  We can give a pat on the back, or a warm handshake or a hug.

So we can praise God with our palm branches today, but we can help others any time!

So here is our cheer.   The children and I will do the first part, and the congregation will give the response.

Children:  Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!

People:  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!

One more time:  Hosanna, Hosanna, Hosanna in the highest!

People:  Blessed is he who comes in the name of the Lord!