rogue waves

Last summer I was on the beach with my son and grandchildren lying comfortably soaking up the sun and delighting in the sound of the waves. All of a sudden there were screams and a "rogue wave" washed over us, our cell phones, our cameras, our towels etc. etc. As I read a bit more of Annie Lamott's book, Help, Thanks, Wow, this morning she mentioned the term "rogue wave." She used it as a metaphor for some of the crisis that hit us in life. Those crisis hit us unexpectedly, washing over us, sometimes destroying important parts of our lives. But if we are mindful and careful, our lives can recover. We can return to some peace. We return to that peace when we make some changes, when we ask God to be with us as we work on the changes.

When we were swamped and soaked last summer by our rogue wave, we thought all those belongings were probably destroyed. But my daughter-in-law knows alot about fixing stuff. She placed the cell phones and cameras in bags of rice and sure enough the next morning, the rice had absorbed the water and the cameras worked. The cell phones were not as lucky but daughter-in-law knew how to exchange parts from old cell phones into the newer ones and we really lost only one phone.

That is how our recovery from any of our challenges happens. We find someone who helps us with the repairs, helps us learn new ways of living, and we ask God to be with us in this. We smile when the new ways begin to give us peace.

Does a rogue wave challenge you in your daily life? Does it destroy your peace? Where can you begin to make the changes to lead to a different way of living? Have you asked God today to be with you in the changes?

Blessings-Penny

honesty

A relative who is reading my recently published book, Filling the God-Shaped Void, said she was surprised at my acknowledgement of some of my drinking behavior "for all to see." Since there are some rather critical family members in our extended family, I will admit to some misgivings about their response. But the bottom line is that people who care about me already know the worst. Those who might delight in the nitty gritty are probably those who talk about me no matter what.

The reason those of us in recovery share the honest facts is that it helps us to "own" the behavior. It is part of what keeps us in the process of recovery...to remember how bad it was..and that we don't have to go back there.  We also know that sharing those facts let's others know they are not alone. They are not the only people who have done stupid, hurtful things. When we are in the middle of the guilt and shame, it feels like we are the only ones who have ever done that.

And the message is there is hope...hope for a better life...hope for a new way of being and living.
When we feel no hope, when there is guilt once again over breaking our promise to change, we remember there is a better life. God promises that and promises He is with us in all the mess.

We write about it and we talk about it and we ask God to remind us that He is with us---always.
Have you asked God today to remind you that He is right there with you?
Blessings-Penny

Covenant

I love the word covenant. It has such a strength to it. A "covenant" seems so much more encompassing than a "promise."
We have a friend who started and is in charge of a spiritually grounded, junior high school in Richmond, Virginia. The Anna Julia Cooper School is for children from low income families in a very challenged area of Richmond. The mission of the school is to provide a quality foundation of educational and social  learning to prepare these students to succeed in their further education and social roles. The mission of the school is within a strongly spiritual framework. The students are selected with diverse scholastic records and home situations.
Each parent of the selected students must sign a "covenant" that they will actively participate in their child's educational and social progress.
Doesn't that use of the word "covenant" frame a beautiful, rich context? It seems to me to be more than a promise. It indicates a promise within a relationship with God. God formed covenants in the Old Testament. The life, death and resurrection of Christ forms a new covenant with us. These parents form a covenant with the school for the health and growth of their children within their relationship with God.
What if all of our promises were framed within a "covenant?"
What if we understood our "promises" to be held within our relationship with God-in "covenant"?
Would that make a difference-even in the promises we make to ourselves?
What promise have you made to someone else or to yourself? If you thought of that promise as a "covenant" made within your relationship with God, would that expand and deepen its meaning?
Blessings-Penny

Debates

There are so many big debates going on in this world. Debates I really have no deciding vote in-gun control, cabinet nominations, abortion rights (in Ireland particularly), debt ceiling limits, Super Bowl or Academy Award picks.  I have clear opinions but nobody is really asking me---so I guess I can save some energy by not getting too wound up. But friendly discussions help and feeling informed calms me down.
I read an op ed piece that talked about gun control and people's opinion that nothing could change about that.  It reminded the reader that years ago we said nothing could be done about a number of things...things like integration of schools, smoking in public places, drunk driving, wearing seat belts, gays in the military. And look at how far we have come on all those issues. The article further said that laws were enacted which helped move those issues. The laws  made a commitment from the culture that we were no longer going to accept those destructive things in our society. Change came slowly-very slowly at times and none of those changes are total or perfect. But as a society we have made progress. As a people we have moved forward on those issues.

We can move forward on this issue of gun control. I am so pleased Gabby Gifford and her husband have taken a leadership role.
Let us pray that politicians make the choices that move us forward---that they hear the voice of peace.
Blessings-Penny

Power of addiction

We visited family over the holidays and I came away, once again, with fear and awe at the power of addiction. One family member spent 3 months in jail in the fall for his second DWI. While in jail he was clean and became involved in leading bible classes.  He is on probation and has a suspended license. However he continues to drive. He is drinking again and takes "the back roads" to avoid arrest. If he is convicted of another DWI he will spend 2-5 years in prison. He will lose his business.
Another family member was diagnosed with Hepatitis C in the fall, probably contracted from her continued drug use and/or her sexual activity. She has been in treatment for her drug abuse several times.She sabotages medical appointments with excuses for not attending and has not entered treatment for her Hep C. Treatment would involve being completely drug free. Hep C can be a fatal disease if not treated. She is a single mother with a 12 year old son. She attends church services irregularly.

For me these tragedies are a reminder once again that this relationship with God is fundamental for ongoing recovery. However this relationship needs continual attention. We cannot move away from it and return to the old people, places and things. For these relatives returning to their old people, places and things without a strong emphasis on their daily relationship with God allowed the power of the addiction to reenter and consume their lives. Without our constant daily, sometimes moment by moment, awareness and attention to God's grace and mercy in our lives, the addiction will regain its foothold. Our losses will be unimaginable.

What will you do today to remind yourself of God's grace and mercy in your life? How will you ask him to strengthen your commitment to a new life?
Blessings-Penny