Getting Organized -- Playroom, Update 3

 With a week to go, we're getting there. We've donated stuff, put stuff away, sorted stuff, trashed stuff, hung stuff.

We are on track with the minimalist game and are feeling like there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

Still not a usable room, but it feels like it might get to be one.


 Just need to keep the energy up and not get distracted. That's happened before. Then we'll need a sustainability plan for the organization of the room so it doesn't go back to the way it was. That's probably going to be a real challenge. Ideas welcome!!

                             

What organization projects have you been working on?

Previous posts on this:


Getting Organized -- Playroom
Update 1
Update 2

Today's Impressions (Our Mission Trip)

It's "Transformation Tuesday" for the website of the youth conference I volunteer for. Thanks to a terrific fellow worker, the new site looks great. Check it out: CYCOP.ORG.

Here in New Orleans, I am seeing signs of a different type of transformation. We toured the Lower Ninth Ward and saw many new homes, including several built by the Make It Right Foundation. They'll float if the waters rise again! Learn more here: http://www.archdaily.com/259629/make-it-right-house-morphosis-architects.

We visited the memorial, right next to the bridge that the residents could have left but were stopped from crossing the bridge. They went home and climbed on their roofs to wait. In the 1, 000 died in the lower ninth ward.


So much is going on here. It's wonderful and yet sad. So much was lost, so many people died.

One place we visited was Burrell's. Mr. Burrell has opened a barbershop and grocery store. He has plans to open a laundromat and an internet cafe. These are the only such services in his neighborhood. He told us that if he is the only one doing it, he'll build up the area on his own. We were overwhelmed by his story,


What examples of transformation have you seen lately?






CYC is an amazing experience of Christian community and discipleship training for high school youth. This year's theme is "Maximum Impact: Life Transformed by Christ." We meet two weeks in August on the southern coast of Maine. If you're 14-18 years old, join us!

Jordan's Creche: 2015 Edition

Each year since he was about four, it has been our tradition to allow my son to arrange our Creche to his liking on the first Sunday in advent. Actually, we were late this year. We forgot, which was weird. But he did it on Tuesday of the first week.

I really don't know what to say about the creche this year. It is certainly different. The manger bed is outside the stable, on the left, empty and awaiting the baby.  Joseph is next to the stable on the right and Mary is in the right front corner. Everything else is wherever in no order. It is not as chaotic a jumble as he once did; the one described in Jordan's Strange Creche and  A Broken World ... Seeking Peace but it's certainly not as ordinary as Jordan's Creche for this Year.

It's simply unusual.

Well, very unusual.

But it's fun and shows the uniqueness of my teenage son. I am keenly aware that the time for this tradition is running out. It may be that Jordan is only home for the beginning of advent two more times. Then, we'll need to look for new traditions.

It's bittersweet. It's something to savor.

What are your holiday traditions? 

Jordan's Strange Creche
A Broken World ... Seeking Peace
Jordan's Creche for this Year 
Creche 2014 Edition

Organic Change

Change is inevitable

This is true for both people and groups.

I have been reflecting on the idea of change within institutions and organizations. Someone asked me what the relationship should be between tradition and positive change, and I said that I felt that tradition is important because it holds a group together and that change should be organic.

What is organic change? It is a group making adjustments to it’s way of doing things as new ideas, needs and purposes come to the forefront. Perhaps the emphasis of the group will alter in some way or maybe new people will bring about a change in style. Organic change is a community moving forward together.

Organic change comes from within the group, and is often “grassroots” in origin. Wise leaders who wish to make changes will build a base of support before moving forward. I am aware of one situation in which new leaders significantly changed an important tradition against the wishes of the majority. Their tenure was short-lived, by their own choice. When they left, the group immediately reverted to the old tradition, which had served them well and is still doing so. Another organization, a camp, had a long tradition of holding a fall gathering with traditional harvest activities, camp music, games and food. Part promotional event, part fundraiser, the event had been a highlight for decades. But then attendance began to fall and enthusiasm to wane. Over several years, adjustments were made to the program, but there was no real energy for it anymore. Only long-time attendees were still participating and many of them only for tradition’s sake. So the event was dropped and something new was tried. There was little protest. The leaders had their eyes on their constituents and knew the time was ripe for change.

Sometimes a change from within a group is imposed by circumstances beyond the organization’s control. A tragedy such as a central building burning down will, if a group is healthy, stimulate sudden change that is still organic in nature. I know of a school that that lost both it’s building and sponsorship near the end of one school year but opened in a new place with new leadership the following fall. They had to alter some of their traditions to fit their new space, but they remained a vibrant educational community.

Tradition is important. It keeps us connected to the past and to the history of the community to which we belong. It can have both spiritual and social benefits as it allows people to know what to expect in a given time and place. Used rightly, it can point us to God.

But traditions do change. Transformation and renewal can require that. If we prayerfully take our direction from God and watch the pulse of the community to know we are moving forward well this, too, can point us to Him.

May we blessed by both tradition and positive change.

What examples of organic change are you aware of?

Song for Sunday: Another Year is Dawning

Today is my last day is a 49 year old. Tomorrow I will be a half-century old. 

This song has been on my mind. Our church sings it each year at our New Year's prayer meeting and it really is meant for that season. However, I find it -- or more of an impression of it, I suppose, rather than the specific words -- in my thoughts as I approach this "landmark" birthday. It does sum up my desire. I would like to do better about being "with God." I want to be more mindful that our time here is     "training for holier work above." I want to make progress in praise, rest, leaning on God and witnessing for his love. I want to be more intentional about these things. 

I didn't make New Year's resolutions this year, but those sound like a good list. I'll need to make them quantifiable if I want to track my progress. This is just a start.

Anyway, here's today's "Song for Sunday."

Another Year is Dawning

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
In working or in waiting, another year with Thee.

Another year of progress, another year of praise,
Another year of proving Thy presence all the days.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace;
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face.

Another year of mercies, of faithfulness and grace,
Another year of gladness in the shining of Thy face.

Another year of leaning upon Thy loving breast;

Another year of trusting, of quiet, happy rest.

Another year of service, of witness for Thy love,
Another year of training for holier work above.

Another year is dawning, dear Father, let it be
On earth, or else in Heaven, another year for Thee.

                                                        ~Frances R. Havergal

So you can hear the tune, a video of it being sung in a church service:

What songs do you like at times of transition?

Adapting

Flexibility is key when your traveling, especially when your traveling to cultures and places very different from your own.

We are adjusting -- to heat and crowds, old buildings, cold showers that are a nozzle in the wall of the bathroom, heavy traffic and a lack of seatbelts. All kinds of things.

We are adjusting, too, to a last minute change in the composition of our group because of a sudden illness that kept two from flying with us from LA. It'll change what we are going to do,  but God will make a way for us to be useful, I am sure.

We were met at the airport by the head of the seminary and his colleagues who drove us to the guest house and took care of our bags. They have dinner planned for us tonight at the school and also told us that they will give us a tour of the city tomorrow. This was totally unexpected and we are very grateful. Not all the things we have to adapt too are difficult.

Our flight was loooooong but even Jordan handled it fine and we had no problems with luggage, customs, security and all that. We made all our connections despite a delay out of LA. We arrived here late, but all was well.

We are getting our feet under as and recovering from jet lag. We look forward to adventure!


What are you adapting to?

Transistions

So I haven't written in a few days. It'll  probably be a few days 'til I post again. Crazy storm coming. Even canceled the CYC Reunion....and I was looking forward to seeing my peeps from Conference. Oh, well. Safety is more important. I think we'll have a game of RISK at my house.


Any way....... I have decided to write that devotional for Christian knitting circles and individual knitters that I have been posting about. Here is another entry for it:


I find that switching colors on a knitting project is tough. It seems that that is the time I am most likely to make a mistake. When adding a new color, I often drop a stitch or mess up the pattern. It takes a little work to get back on track. I have learned to be extra-vigilant at these points.

It can be like that in life, too.

When things change, it can be difficult. Even good changes like marriage, the birth of a baby or moving into a new house are stressful.

It's helpful to remember this and watch for signs that stress is affecting us or our relationships. It can lead to irritability, short-temperedness, depressed mood and even ill health unless we are careful.

Added prayer and meditation can be useful at these times. Connecting with our Creator can help us at all times, even times of severe stress.

Keep watch and pray!


Lord, grant us your peace and direction in times of transition. In Jesus' name. Amen.

Transition....

I began attending Youth Conference 34 years ago in 1979. Back then, the conference bumped Labor Day weekend so that yesterday would have been the last day. I still think of this as when the conference should end.

Now, though, conference is “early.” It actually ended two weeks ago today. We held our Graduation service, a barbecue and the traditional closing circle on Saturday, August 18.

This was my last Graduation Service as Academic Dean of the Conference, so this coming year will be a different one for me. For the first time in nearly two decades, I will not be part of the Planning Committee. I also know that I will most probably not be at conference next August.

I am definitely feeling a sense of loss in all this. I have been at 30 conferences in the 34 years since I started. I’m not worried – the conference is in good hands—but I am sad that I will not be a part of it. I think of all the first and second year students who I worked this year and last year – I’ll be missing out on watching their growth. But whatever year I moved on, that would be the case. There are always more special kids, more deep connections.

Graduation was emotional at points. The Third Year class was amazing – they brought energy to the service, they showed that they had really bonded, and they seemed to have fun. I nearly lost it when, after it was announced that I my term was up, they sang to me and then to the Dean who was also moving on. (Actually, everyone sang to us, but they started it.) That’s something I will carry with me into the next year. I feel like I made a difference to someone.

Hopefully, I’ll be back to CYC sometime soon. For now, I remember…

When have you moved on from something that was important? How have you worked through the emotions?

Retiring the 1942

The phone number ending 1942 was in our family ever since we moved to this town. It's easy to remember --all my childhood friends still knew how to call me at Mom's. And it was my mother's number right up until she died. Today, we retired it.

When my husband, son and I moved into my mother's house, we brought our phone number with us. We were moving within town and it was portable. It only made sense to keep it.

Still I feel a bit nostalgic about the old number, silly as that may seem. It's part of the transistion, the moving on and all the change that has happened in the last few months. For some reason, I will have a fond memory of that old phone number.

So, good-bye 1942. You served us well for a long time. (and if you are one of the people who knows it, only use my number now.)


Have a blessed day, everyone. :)