Who?

I have been reading up on some of the musings of others and somewhere along the way read the line...from a minister

"It's not about me...It's about God.

Repeat it five times.

When we live in a world that is often about me, mine, and more mine, too often we forget about what is really important and we let our lives spin around our own words and worries and not see what we do and who we are as part of a larger whole.

And it is that way you see we are pieces of the present time each of us with gifts and skills to share and ready to carry another's burdens and to have someone else take ours when we are overwhelmed. We are part of something bigger than ourselves. That old saying, "no one is an island" still applies. When we come to understand ourselves as part of a larger system of action and activity then it is easier to be peaceful in a moments fretting.

I have started prayers...Dear God, in the great scheme of things, --filled in a concern-- and then said but to me this is important right now --

I am reminded of the woman who came to the first lookout at the Grand Canyon and looked out over the chasm and said, "Ok what's next?" The rest of us stood there, not even the most magnificent view to be had in true Awe. Wonder at the amazing creation and God the creator and we as human beings here for so short a while and the vastness of God's time and and and

Let's keep ourselves looking out--going in for prayer--and then going out into the world.
That's what Jesus said. Go, therefore and make disciples
not...Stay here let them come to you and see what happens as you wait.

"Mission means the proclamation and manifestation of Jesus' all-embracing reign, which is not yet recognized and acknowledged by all but is nevertheless already a reality." Transforming Mission --by David Bosch

God abides and I thank God

Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2008

NYC etc

3,500,000 population in the Whole state of Oklahoma
8,270,000 population in New York City

We had a good day in New york city, John's step counter said that we walked over 5 miles. I'm not surprised. My feet today told me so is morning and mushy flip flops felt good for the walking we did today.
We took a bus to NYC then subway to the Trade Center area walked on the promenade toward the Statue of Liberty across the river, chose not to stand in LONG line for a crowded like sardines ride over to the statue itself. Then walked to a place where they have 'bargains' and then took the subway to Times Square, walked to where we stood in line to get tickets for a play. Got tickets to Spamalot - Monty Python walked around times square and found a little pastry pizza deli shop and had a great hot sandwich and coke then walked and walked around some more then sat in one place on a tube/seat and the tried to see if this man who passed by was really someone I knew, nope, then walked around some more and found a place where they had great cokes and then the theater opened and we went in. We had great seats, laughed guffawed, and laughed. What a funny play and the music and talent of the actors was amazing. The theater was small and you could see the faces of the actors so well. Eric Idle the writer and the song writer is a genius. Anyway it was great fun. at 10:30 when it was over we walked to the bus station and got on the 11:30 bus for home. We got back to Bethlehem at 1:30, drove thru Dunkin'Donuts and got breakfast sandwiches and ate them when we got home just before we slept ... laughing again at some of the favorite parts of the Show.
Today, Sunday rather calm. The church across the street has a contemporary service at 9:00 and traditional at 11.
We got John's phone fixed at the Apple store... and are home not assembling a bookcase.
home tomorrow.
God is good and we have enjoyed our time here. So very much.....
Happy almost birthday Martha Elizabeth...
God abide
Bobbie G. McGarey
@2008

?Crash?

Morning. I was sleeping well dreaming it seems when I heard a huge crash. I went to investigate since we are staying with our daughter I really didn't know what to expect. I went on to her sun porch to see her cat, Minerva sitting there looking at me. He (the story of naming is too long for now) looked at me...as if to say " Hello..Well since you are awake could I trouble you for food and water?" I laughed a little as he followed me from bowl to sink to food back to his eating spot. mmm good..apparently

I was reading tonight as I was getting ready for bed about the Kingdom of God and how Jesus' life not only for told of it but said it was here and now. A car flew by on the street in front of her house. I thought I must have exaggerated the speed as it seemed to be doing 80 on a city street. Apparently not as four police cars came not long behind it with lights and sirens on. Two and then two more..... someone had done something bad and was trying to get away. All of them flew thru the light and up the hill and I could hear their sirens for a while... Who knows...But some one's day isn't going well.

There are times it seems when things and concerns chase us no matter how fast we try and run away. Have you found this true? And when we finally figure out to face them and deal with them brings us the greatest peace we do and resolution most often follows.

I don't know the problem that the first car was attempting to escape. I do know there was to be a reckoning soon. God bless them all that they may find peace.

God abides even in the racing ..
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2008
currently in Bethlehem.... Pa

Drifting

In a time where things are often so programmed it was a joy to spend yesterday afternoon just drifting down the river in an innertube. The Delaware river where we were was clear and just cool, not so cold you were chilled but cool enough that the warmth of the day could be enjoyed.
The most fun part was being with our daughter. She's so wonderful and it's almost her birthday.
She has put up with us well and we are not easy sometimes. The river was a reminder too of how John and I would spend time together in AZ floating down the Verde outside Phoenix..well actually phoenix has grown right out to where we used to go tubing.
What can we do in days that are busy to enjoy one another.
I know we often amused ourselves as a family with simple things. Riding Bikes, playing cards, watching movies, laughing through it all.
We are richly blessed. We know that..
Happy almost your birthday dearheart.
God abiddes
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
aka Mom
@2008

How do we live lives and allow ourselves to drift now and then so to gain perspective? Sigh

Full Moon

As we were driving home from dinner tonight we all were taken by the full moon. It may be a day past full but it is such a clear night that it was really beautiful. The weather here is cool. I remember when I was a camp counselor near Altoona PA that the august shift came just as we were leaving each year. There would be this change and the hot was never quite as hot as it was the week before. We would still have warm days but it was a different feel.
Oklahoma on the other hand still has the potential for warm days/hot days ahead. I hear they 've had a good deal of rain since we left. My yard and plants will be happy.
You be happy too and enjoy the moon when you get a chance.
sing along....Oh mr moon, moon, bright shinny moon won't you please shine down on me.. Oh mr moon moon bright silver moon hiding behind that tree. ..and then there was something about a possum.
Whatever may the moon light in your sight bring you a smile wherever you are this night.

God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2008

36th Anniversary

John and I celebrated our 36th anniversary today we had a delightful day with our daughter having the afternoon off. We spent the time together and had such fun.
We both feel very blessed to be together, to be healthy and to still enjoy so completely one another's company. We were so young. We have worked on this.
At our wedding before we walked down the aisle after the pronouncement we had a part that we read together...about our thanking those who had brought us thus far and thanking God for God's love for us and promised to serve God by serving others. We didn't have any degrees beyond college at that point and hadn't really figured out what was 'next' for us.
We moved into the little house that was the guest house behind John's folks home. It was a great little home and we loved our time there. We were finishing some graduate work but hadn't decided where that would take us.
Since then we've lived in Nashville, Morganfield Ky, Bryan Tx, Logan, Utah and Duncan Oklahoma. We've traveled to India several times, to Bali, Java, Hong Kong on the way to India, Singapore on the way to India, Austria on the way to India, Germany, France on the way to India... We've made multiple trips across the country. Loved family and lost too many and treasure all the rest.
We are so blessed because that is just the beginning.

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2008
Still reading the book on mission in the Christian church it is powerful and evocative. look for more reflections on it soon.

Bethlehem

I had a good flight -- 2 flights from OKC to Bethlehem--PA.

I had some reading along with me "Transforming Mission-Paradigm shifts in theology of mission" and read this passage which gave me things to think about...
Mission remains an indespensible dimension of the Chrisstian faith and that, at its most profound level, its purpose is to transform reality around it. Mission is that dimension of our faith that refuses to accept reality as it is and aims at changing it." " The church's involvement in mission remains an act of faith without earthly guarantees." That was sufficient to think about on the flight.

The first leg my very chatty seat mate who happened to sit next to me as we waited and who talked and talked and talked. He was pleasant enough but well I know so much about him. (I know way too much about his family and his family of origin and his kids and...) He was bumped up to first class. He was also pilot and it was a courtesy. And the good part of that was I got two seats! I moved over to the window and looked out at the farmlands of OK or KS or Missouri and fell asleep before we crossed the Mississippi But I woke about 15 minutes from Detroit and looked out on one of the most beautiful cloud formations as the sun was glancing over the top of them. It looked like the rolling ocean or fields of snow. I wanted my camera which alas was 5 rows behind me in the overhead. But it's etched in my memory. Oh it was amazing and so very very peaceful. I made the 20 minute between flights in due course and even had time to grab a sandwich and a very expensive Iced tea. And to my absolute delight the tea was brewed and delicious.

I had a nice woman beside me on the second part of the flight. We didn't talk much in the 59 minute flight. It was a moonlit night and the PA cities nestled in their valleys were pretty.

I could see my husband and daughter waiting at the end of the security area. Yeah!

It seems we are all to ready to panic about things when really most of the time everything works out great. I hope your day does too.

May your daily mission be fulfilled.

God abides
bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2008

Uproar People

I wrote this in 2004 seems it still applies now and then...what do you think?

Uproar People
In the movie Hanging Up one character describes another as an Uproar Person... someone who wants all the attention and the world isn't good unless they are the center of attention and that happens by keeping everything else around them and everyone else around them in an uproar. What a way to live!

What would be the opposite of that? Perhaps a Jesus-like-person = JLP. Someone who brings order in chaos, healing to dis-ease, wholeness to brokenness, joy to discouraged, peace to the lost, and mercy to all.

But then, I hear you ask, what do we do about/for the uproar people? They are still stirring the water, splashing their uproarness on everyone around. What about them?

Jesus said, pray for your enemies, those who persecute you, and move on. You don't have to fix them. Your prayer raised to God will bring to them the healing that they need. You yourself even in the midst of their roaring can be the calm. (Trust me when I say that when you do this at first an uproar persons roaring will get louder because they don't think you've heard them...) But you have raised their need to God. You have set it out of your hand to fix. And you respond, as best you can as the JLP you were created to be.

That is not to say you don't work for justice, speak for those who have no voice, or ignore the hurtfulness of others actions in the world. It is to say that you release it all to God's good grace and trust.

deep breath now...
Peace peace peace
hope hope hope
joy joy joy
love love love
See, that's better already.
God abides

Bobbie McGarey
@2004/2008

Why didn't I stop

As I drove to work today I saw out of the corner of my eye about 10 egrets along a little farm pond. I saw them, enjoyed what I glimpsed... but I didn't really stop to enjoy it...why not...? That's hard to know because it was a most peaceful spot and picture.
I could have taken a picture too... but I didn't stop...I just kept driving and got to work when I should...
But If i had... what might I have been able to take with me in a deeper sense?
We rush and rush ... Well the group "ALABAMA' sang these lyrics some years ago...
I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

Don't know why I have to drive so fast
My car has nothing to prove
It's not new
But it'll do zero to sixty in five point two

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

Can't be late, I leave in plenty of time
Shakin' hands with the clock
I can't stop
I'm on a roll and I'm ready to rock

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why

Oh, I hear a voice
That says I'm running behind
Better pick up my pace
It's a race and there ain't no room for someone in second place

I'm in a hurry to get things done
Oh I rush and rush until life's no fun
All I really gotta do is live and die
But I'm in a hurry and don't know why


Let's think about that.... and S L O W down...
God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2008

What if's and O my Jesus God

There are times in our lives when we have to live with the 'what-if's of life... and sometimes when those what-if's turn sour they become an O My Jesus God....
The disciples just hollered Lord, save us.
What can we learn from these times? We can either learn to stir and spin and spin x10 ... or we can sigh and say what is-is. And gather that spinning energy to deal with the what-if's when they are named.
Still spinning seems so much more fun.
I mean there are times when we want to say..just wake me when it's over... but then ...what would we miss? Sometimes pain to be sure. Sometimes laughter because there's nothing else you can do...
Can you tell I'm spinning a little? ya betcha can. But I'm trying my best to find a center and breathe and let the world around me slow down.

Oh perhaps I need to read the scripture for this week again...the disciples in a boat in the storm...

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2008