February 2007

Dear Friends,

We had a great Christmas at my house. My brother flew up for a short visit, and he and the girls and I played games, sang songs, ate out frequently, and reveled in new Christmas presents. My mom got Rebekah a new children’s cookbook, so we cooked a a lot, and even set the kitchen on fire briefly – no damage, just flaming meatballs in the broiler put out with the handy fire extinguisher (thank you, Building & Grounds team!) which then left flame retardant in the newly homemade spaghetti sauce, but no worries (see above, ate out frequently). And just for the record, I was the one supposed to be watching the oven, not Rebekah. She’ll be telling that story on me for years.

Yes, it was a happy season, and I enjoyed our special services at church, New Year’s plans, Epiphany kings and Martin Luther King pageants at school. And guess what? I AM SO GLAD THERE ARE NO HOLIDAYS COMING UP! Honestly, wasn’t it a relief to get back to “normal,” if we can call it that? Everything was off schedule while regular duties piled up; the kids went stir-crazy and we were all crabby from lack of sleep by the end. Right now I’m taking a breath and trying to get caught up before Lent gets here. We call this Ordinary Time in the church calendar, when we lift up the Ordinary weekly Sunday worship as holy and sacred just like the High Holy Days. I guess that makes these Low Holy Days, but they’re all holy. And right now I’m thanking God for ordinary days, just as I thank God for Christmas, Easter, and all the other days. It reminds me of something I read in Wayne Dyer sometime last year, in which he claimed to enjoy all kinds of weather. He never complains about being caught in a cold, bitter rain, or sweltering in the humidity of summer sunshine, because they’re all part of the holy creation, and without the cold we can’t appreciate the warmth or vice-versa. Besides, it does no good to be unhappy with the weather; we can’t do a thing about it. What is it Reinhold Niebuhr says? God grant me the serenity to accept the things I can’t change. Dyer says don’t just accept them, enjoy them! I’ve always been one who enjoys all four seasons equally, and I’m glad to see each arrive, but after I read Dyer’s comment I tried an experiment. I stopped joining in with the comments like, “Boy, what awful weather we’re having today,” or “Isn’t it gloomy? I sure will be glad when the sun comes out.” Instead, I made up my mind to enjoy some raindrops on my face or shadows in the afternoon. And you know what? It helps. A LOT. One really does become less bothered, and pleased to see whatever weather awaits. It’s like the ages of my daughters. I hear people saying, “I’ll be so glad when Junior is more grown up,” or “I miss when my daughters were babies.” Not me. Not even a little. I loved having babies. I loved having toddlers. But I wouldn’t go back. I’ve loved whatever age they’ve been (please, no one write in and say just wait till they’re teenagers; I don’t want to hear it).

So if I can do it with the weather, the church calendar, and my kids, I wonder what other areas of my life that bug the heck out of me could be turned around? Simply by deciding that certain things are what they are and can’t be changed, what if I make up my mind to enjoy them instead of complain about them? My Great Dane is old and arthritic, but she’s much mellower than she used to be. I can’t have bread, it upsets my tummy, but you know, these rice cakes are actually pretty good (OK, that one took me months of practice, but I really do believe it now). Will you join me in appreciating the holiness of all God’s creation? Less complaints, more positive affirmations – and let’s see what we can change for the better in our lives.

Love and light,

Martin

To read Martin's letters from past months, please click here.