Category Archives: Learning from our past

Learning or Leaning?

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This week I’ve been thinking a great deal about someone precious to me, someone I love dearly, my sister Mary. We’ve all heard the expression, “You can’t out-give God.” I can say the same about her.

Hard workerMary is a giver. She never “arrives” anyplace without something special to give, a flower, a small package, a framed photo, cupcakes, or any number of other things. She’s creatively thoughtful and not just with material gifts. Her greatest giving is of effort: a willingness to sit with someone who’s hurting or to serve others by chauffeuring, making a meal, or running errands. That gift of effort also demands time, and Mary cheerfully gives big chunks of that to others, even if it means quietly setting aside her own agenda.

Youthful sistersShe’s my older sister (not by much), and ever since childhood I’ve followed her around, counting on her to have the good idea or take the lead. For example, when I was three and still sucking my thumb, my parents tried to solve the problem by pinning my pajama sleeves over my hands. Mary had a better idea and took off the pins. No wonder I wanted to stick with her.

Now that we’ve grown up, had 14 children between us, and lived separately for more than 50 years, you’d think I could maneuver through life without leaning on her, but no. I’m still calling for advice, still loving time with her, and still appreciating when she comes up with an efficient plan to reach goals… even my goals.

She’s forever organized, the kind of person who doesn’t lose track of her phone, her keys or what’s written on her calendar, and while I’m often caught scrambling, she brings calm to every storm. After decades of watching her give to others, I’m still hoping some of it will eventually rub off on me.

Mary is an excellent example of doing what God wants us all to do. He set the original standard, then sent Jesus to model what earthly servant-leadership should look like. Mary takes time to study the life of Jesus and learn from him what she’s supposed to do. But beyond that, she’s willing to actually do it. The result is a demonstration of what faith in God looks like on an everyday basis.

???????????????????????????????When we gravitate toward people like Mary, in the process we’re actually leaning toward the Lord, because godly people have become godly only by living close to him first. Their counsel is a reflection of him, and their actions mirror the behavior of Jesus. I didn’t deserve such a fine sister, but I sure am glad to have her.

“Remember your leaders, who spoke the word of God to you. Consider the outcome of their way of life and imitate their faith.” (Hebrews 13:7)

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1. So thankful for answered prayer about the nausea! Today I had none and ate normally!
  2. Pray I will feel real gratitude for each good day God gives.
  3. Praise for the many cards and letters I’ve received, some of which I re-read today. A great blessing!

Us Oldsters

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The writer’s conference I’ve been attending this week is full of stories, and not just the ones all of us hope to write. Each attendee comes with a life-story of her/his own, some with longer chapters than others. As I sat in the back row of the auditorium in tonight’s general session, I realized most of the 150 people there were “of retirement age.” Many, like me, were older still.

Wondering why, I settled on several reasons: (1) younger people are running faster in the rat race of life and aren’t free to attend; (2) small children keep families closer to home; (3) tight budgets prohibit spending on conferences.

WritersBut maybe being older just means there are more stories to tell. After all, we’ve witnessed hun- dreds of answered prayers, weathered lots of life-altering chal- lenges, and experienced God’s rescue again and again. As a result, we’re ready to get our stories “out there” to encourage others. But are we too old?

As we’ve been sitting through classes, meetings, and editor-interviews, we’ve learned that no matter how old we get, God always has new plans for us. Many a would-be author has “launched anew” at a writer’s conference such as this, encouraged by speakers and other writers to share what God has taught them over the years.

Red pencilThat’s not to say it’s easy. When editors mark up our manuscripts with red pens, it can be demoralizing. We get tempted to call it quits and spend the rest of the conference in our rooms.

But if we’re willing to accept criticism as help, and follow through on corrections, we’ve moved one step closer to doing what God wants us to do with what he’s taught us.

Many conferees are out of their comfort zones here, enduring stressful meetings with editors, eating unfamiliar foods, sleeping in stripped-down dorm rooms, and struggling to walk the long distances between buildings (several using canes). But they’re here anyway.

Most of us are getting weary now that we’re at the half way point. Our brains have been stretched, and we’re all talked out. Sleep is short, and new experiences are draining. No matter how old or tired we’ve become, though, when God supplies a new beginning, he provides the energy to complete it. Though the devil keeps whispering in our ears (“You’re too tired, too old, too non-professional…”), we have to close him off and keep going, pursuing what God is calling us to.

We may be “of retirement age,” but we’ll never retire from following God’s lead.

“My life is worth nothing to me unless I use it for finishing the work assigned me by the Lord Jesus.” (Acts 20:24)

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1. I thank the Lord for a slow-paced day in Michigan today.
  2. Please pray against my rising dread over Monday’s chemo. I get nauseous just thinking about it. Pray I’ll get better at taking one day at a time.

The Right Emphasis

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This week I’ve left home to attend a writer’s conference in Wheaton, Illinois. It’s being held at Wheaton College, my alma mater, and being back here is a mix of past, present, and future.

WheatonMuch has changed on campus since I graduated in 1967, but its “bones” remain the same. Two dorms and the off-campus housing of senior year are as they were, and last night I enjoyed a miles-long walk while reminiscing, picking out the rooms I had called home and the places I’d spent so much time. At the end of my walk I sat on a park bench in the center of campus and tried to process it all.

Park BenchPart of looking back is dealing with regrets. Did I make the most of my opportunities? (no) Was I serious enough about studying? (no) Did I separate from best friends to make time for new ones? (no)

But the past is past, and those books are closed. Instead it’s wise to focus on the present, my reason for being on campus this week. This conference is a place to hone the craft of writing, to meet people who love it as much as I do, and to learn of new opportunities. That turns me toward the future.

M & BMost people struggle to find a good balance between what has been, what is, and what is to be. I think of Mary and all that’s happening in her present. Occasionally she wonders if doing something different in her past might have avoided cancer (no). Yet now she faces a worrisome future.

The Bible speaks to our predicament of wondering how much to invest in our personal past, present, and future. The most concise summary is in 1 Corinthians 13:7 where it says that love bears all things [the past]… hopes all things [the future]… and endures all things [the present]. In other words, it’s ok to dip in and out of all 3 time periods, but when we do, we should put the emphasis on love. What does that mean? The phrase just before verse 7 tells us.

It says that love rejoices in the truth. So we can ask ourselves, what’s the real truth about my past? My present? My future? We can choose to love the good in each time frame and rejoice in those truths, letting God take care of all the rest that might bother us.

That goes for me at the Wheaton writer’s conference this week and for Mary, as she faithfully follows through with the treatment at hand.

Jesus said, “Blessed are all who hear the word of God and put it into practice.” (Luke 11:28)

Praising and Praying with Mary

  1. I’m thankful for a full day with daughter Stina working on wedding plans.
  2. Please continue to pray about my feeding tube pain, which inhibited my walking today.