My prison-chaplain husband found a poem on his desk the other day. It was unsigned, and we presume it was written by an inmate. Inmate poetry is plentiful, as you might imagine. He brought it home for me to read, thinking it exceptional and knowing I love poetry. I, too, found the poem's imagery remarkable and beautiful. I decided to share it. If I ever learn who the poet is, I will give credit where it is due.

Mother Laura from Rev Gals shares the Friday Five this week. She says, "We are right in the middle of a move--only twenty minutes away, but we're still a mix of busy, excited, nervous and surprisingly full of grief about what we're leaving, for me at least. So this week's Friday Five asks about your experience of the marvels and madness of moving."

I'm typing in the lobby of a motel, so this will be short.

1. How many times have you moved? When was the last time?

17., if I counted correctly Two were before I married. The other 15 were after. The USMC and the ministry will do that to you. I HATE HATE HATE moving. I should be really good at it by now, but I am not. The last time was five years ago when we moved ourselves and my mom into our present home. It was our first home where the kids had not lived, and now mom is in the nursing home. Strange feeling to be just the two of us in our little house, sometimes. Not bad, just sometimes strange and a bit sad.

2. What do you love and hate about moving?

I hate almost everrything about it except for two things. Fresh paint, usually, and the chance to downsize at least somewhat.

3. Do you do it yourself or hire movers?

Hire movers? Is that possible? I must find out about this phenomenon.

4. Advice for surviving and thriving during a move?

I have never thrived through a move so I cannot tell you. Survival was a bit easier if I made sure to have a box with bed linens for each bed, and a few essentials for the kitchen. Those get unpacked first. That way, you can at least sleep when you finish hauling furniture and boxes.

5. Are you in the middle of any inner moves, if not outer ones?

Yes. It is difficult to describe. I am feeling change every day. Some is good. Some is not. I'm waiting to see what comes of all this.

Bonus: Share a piece of music/poetry/film/book that expresses something about what moving means to you.

Everything in my life makes me think of a song. I usually start singing "On the Road Again."

Happy Friday, all!

Last night a friend and I went to see Celtic Woman (I always thought it was women, but it's woman.)

It was beautiful. Beautiful lighting, costumes, voices, dancing, instruments, arrangements, settings. Any word I use to describe the show will sound campy and cliche, but I will just say it was wonderful, earthy, ethereal, transporting, graceful, uplifting, moving, stirring....oh, I'll stop. If you love or even vaguely like Celtic music, or you like amazing vocals, lighting, drumming....well, if this show comes to your area, you do not want to miss it.

They were great. Go see them.

Your Score: OWL

You scored 19 Ego, 13 Anxiety, and 13 Agency!

Hey, I don't think I am greater than other people!

Sally from Rev Gal Blog Pals offers this Friday Five:

It was an interesting council. I've written before about City on a Hill (COTH). The director, Diane de la Santos, is pictured above with one of the men who has been blessed by this inner-city ministry center. He is the step dad to the little boy pictured, Trevon. They lost all they had in a house fire, except for his Royal Ranger uniform (which he is wearing) and his Bible. This young boy sang beautifully for us, and we all stood to our feet in a standing ovation. It was an amazing and moving moment.



Even more amazing was what happened next. Some readers of this blog might think, based on previous posts (here and here), that I believe there is no place anymore for a "sinner's prayer." Such is not the case. Sometimes it is just what is needed.

My husband, Ken, heard the dad (whose name I'm sorry to say I forgot) say quietly to Diane at the end of speaking to us, "I think I'm ready for Jesus now." I didn't hear him, but as they exited the stage Ken headed out without a word. I didn't know why till he returned, wiping his eyes. "I just had the privilege of praying with them" he said, adding, "I asked if I had heard him correctly, and did he say he was ready now for Jesus--and he said I had heard right. And so I led him in a prayer and--I watched a visible change come over him, and his son too."

A few moments later we watched as many pastors and others came to the microphones to pledge to COTH, who has been financially struggling. A projected shortfall of almost $150,000 was erased, or will be, in minutes.

God was in the room.

At the closing session, our outgoing superintendent, Arden Adamson, asked Larry Liebe, the superintendent-elect, to come try out "the chairman's seat." He then challenged all of us to put "character first." Symbolically he turned the leadership of our district over to Larry by handing him a relay race baton. Then Larry, who has been the director of our Youth and Christian Education department for a long time, shared his thoughts with us.

These two men could not have more different personalities, in my opinion. I love both of them.
I'll miss "Brother Adamson" and I'll watch with interest, and prayers, to see what changes come.

Tomorrow Ken and I head to a not-too-distant location for the 75th annual council of the Wisconsin/Northern Michigan District of the Assemblies of God (a mouthful, isn't it?) . It's two and a half days of business, speakers, an ordination service, a banquet or two, worship times, and connecting with old classmates and friends.

Every year it seems that it is raining, snowing, blowing or sleeting at district council. Or all of those at once. We all want to shed our sweaters and don our spring duds. Well, at least this year we are staying in the same hotel as the council, so we won't be running around outside and dodging splashes of muddy ice water.

Among other business, we will be selecting a new district superintendant. Lots of change is ahead, I think. I pray it is good and healthy change. We shall see.

Gotta go pack. Back in a few days.

This morning was cold, grey and windy. I refused to put on a coat. I did have on a sweater but I just couldn't bring myself to struggle into a coat, much less gloves. So I was cold. And not happy about it. I am tired of being cold.

I arrived at church early to do some setting up.

As I pulled in the parking lot I spied, perched on a snow bank by the back door, a ROBIN! He was shivering in the cold, his beak was chattering, and he had a distinct blue tinge, but he was hopping across the steps.

Maybe spring will come, after all?

I get to host the Rev Gal Blog Pals Friday Five this week.

Lingering effects of a cold have me watching more television than usual. There appears to be a resurgence of the old daytime staple--the quiz show. Except they are on during prime time, and a great many of them offer the chance of winning one million dollars.I think it started with Regis Philbin and "Who Wants to be a Millionaire?" but now we have a half dozen or so.

My husband and I started musing (after watching "Deal or No Deal") about what we could do with a million dollars. I thought I'd just bring that discussion into the Friday Five this week. It's simple. What are five things you would want to do with a million dollar deposit in your bank account?

1. I would pay off our mortgage. What a relief that would be! On SO many levels!

2. I'd bring my mother back home from the local long-term care facility, and I'd hire someone full time to care for her here, among her own things, in her own bed, looking out over our yard, birds, stream, and so on. They would cook southern dishes and look through pictures and be very patient when dealing with her increasing difficulty speaking.

3. I would share with my kids. For Kris and her family, I'd pay off their mortgage and bribe them to move to Wisconsin. (Just kidding...kind of.) I would establish some sort of trust fund for Trinity. For our son, Josh, hmmm, I think I would make some sort of deal to pay for him to return to college as long as he got reasonable grades. The boy (who is not a boy, but a man of 30) needs to get his butt back in school before it is too late.

4. I'd invest wisely so it would grow. I would then use enough to have a comfortable retirement, but the rest would fund causes that have the power to change lives.

5. I would quickly send a sizable sum to one of those causes. David and Beth Grant, Assemblies of God missionaries founded Project Rescue. Project Rescue seeks to free children and young women from India's forced sex trade--the "new slavery." They are doing wonderful work, but the need is vast and the resources are scarce. Several centers are operating, but many more are needed.

I could go on and on and on....