23rd Psalm: Past, Present...and Future

Past...

I've mentioned the 23rd Psalm in a few posts. It was my late husband John's favorite scripture and lifeline. When he passed I found those prayer cards everywhere. So when I hear those words, I think of him in a special way.

Present...

This is a blog about the words that change me. Words have power. And the 23rd Psalm says exactly what I believe about God and His purpose in my life.

So a few weeks ago, when this Psalm happened to be in the readings at church I could feel a tear gliding down my cheek.

Those words. They speak to my heart. I feel them deeply. This is some of what they mean to me:

Abundance. Protection. Comfort. Purpose. Mercy. Eternity. Love.

And then I saw her. The woman in front of me wiping tears from her eyes too. Her young daughter grabbed her arm and whispered "What's wrong momma? What's wrong?". She just shook her head.

Nothing. Nothing is wrong.

It's just those words.

Future...

I never forced my daughter to visit her dad's grave. And so when she finally went this year she was a little shocked to see my name on the headstone too. What can I say. They said it was cheaper and easier to do it all at once while they had the stone in the shop. And when I had to chose the words there was no question. Under our names, under the words Father and Mother, the cities of our birth, the dates...

The Lord is my shepherd.

(join me at the water cooler at ethos...**edit**no..."join me at the watercooler is NOT on my headstone...I just can't seem to put this line under the embedded video below!! for great techie stuff, that I really have to read, GO TO THE WATERCOOLER!)

Remembering Vasi on Palm Sunday

I think it is appropriate to post this picture again for Palm Sunday and to remember cousin Vasi who passed away February 28, 2008.


It is amazing how our perspective of someone's life changes when they leave this world. The last chapter is written, the book is finished and we finally see the completed story as a whole.

Vasi had just turned 72, celebrated his 50th wedding anniversary in December and enjoyed 7 years of retirement. He died quickly of a heart attack. On the surface he seemed gruff and tough, but he worked hard and took care of his family well.

On one visit, a few years ago, we sat under the grape vine arbor behind his house, surveying a garden filled with wonderful vegetables and fruit trees and he shared the wisdom of a man with simple tastes: "All I need to be happy is a barbecued pork chop!"

During the funeral at the local Greek Orthodox Church, I cried during the gospel reading:

...When I was hungry you gave me food...Whatever you did to the least of these brothers you did to me...

I remembered how Vasi brought groceries to my mother when she struggled after my father died. He put a new roof on her house, gave her his car and found my brother a job. He did these things quietly. And we were very grateful.

I believe my father is finally able to thank him. I really believe it.

The girl in this picture is his daughter Jenny. Her and I were born on separate continents within 5 weeks of each other. Shortly after this picture was taken in Greece she came to Canada and from then on we were inseparable as children. Today we hold the same job titles at different non profit organizations. Funny how that worked out.

So today on Palm Sunday as I think of Jesus riding through the streets on a lowly donkey I will also remember Vasi; a humble and hard working man who cared.

“With the Saints give rest, O Christ, to the soul of Your servant where there is no pain, nor sorrow, nor suffering, but life everlasting.”

Aionia I Mnimi
May Your Memory Be Eternal

Happy Birthday

Saturday my friend Marilyn gave me a copy of the BBC series "Long Way Down". It was her birthday but she gave me a gift. "Long Way Down" is the chronicle of Ewan McGregor's journey from the top of Scotland to the cape of South Africa by motorbike.

Today would have been John's 57th birthday. And that was essentially his journey too.

He lived and worked in South Africa and Saudi Arabia before coming to Canada from Scotland. So this documentary vividly showed me elements of his life before I knew him. The winding roads of Northern Scotland and the wicked humour of the Brits. The dust and heat of the desert. The lush terrain and beaches of South Africa. What a great way to remember him today. Thanks Marilyn. I watched all 6 hours. Twice.

The 23^rd Psalm was John’s favorite verse, the one I found on prayer cards in his lunchbox, his pockets, his truck and by his bed after he left this world so suddenly.

The LORD is my shepherd; there is nothing I lack.

In green pastures you let me graze; to safe waters you lead me;

You restore my strength. You guide me along the right path for the sake of your name.

Even when I walk through a dark valley, I fear no harm for you are at my side; your rod and staff give me courage.

You set a table before me as my enemies watch; You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Only goodness and love will pursue me all the days of my life; I will dwell in the house of the LORD for years to come.

~New American Bible version

Lent

Simple instructions for Lent:

PRAY. FAST. GIVE. REPEAT.

Several things inspired me this week and this picture was one.

And these words:

The maker of wheat says...I am the Bread of Life.
The maker of grapes says...This is My Blood.
The maker of water says...I will give you water and you will never thirst again.
The maker of light says...I am the Light of the World.
It is incarnational theology and it will rock your world.~Robert Evans

I heard the words in a different way.

I will be posting less for Lent.**

See you Holy Week.

I'm going into the desert.

**EDIT** I will be posting less of my own writing and more of what inspires me for Lent.

Are you ready for Christmas?

That’s the small talk question leading up to Christmas. It is understood that we are referring to the traditional holiday presents, the food preparation, the travel arrangements, the home décor. In years gone by those were my main concerns too. I had lists, lots of lists and systematically checked them off. Life is different now. My preparations are much simpler.

So this year I am preparing in a different way. I’ve been thinking about this baby that will be born on Christmas Day and His Mother. I remember a friend who took her son to his Grandmother’s church and after seeing the story retold asked “Is this a true story?” And being a gracious yet honest person (who had questions herself) replied, “Millions of people in the world believe it to be true”. I am one of those people.

So this advent I am thinking about Mary and the preparations she had leading up to the birth of Jesus. What was she thinking? Was she scared? Was she happy? The angel told her not to be afraid. She must have needed that angel.

Having a baby is life changing. Giving birth to the Savior of the World, the Son of God….I would have been scared. Everything is going to change. Nothing will ever be the same, yet she stepped forward.

In my own small way, I want to step forward and be ready to accept change. That is how I'm preparing for Christmas: to be ready to accept what the future holds. Life is always changing. Nothing will ever be the same as it was. I’ve got to be ready.

I take great comfort in the words from today's daily readings. To hear them click here or on the Daily Scripture Readings in the sidebar. This will redirect you to a podcast site.

Each word seems written just for me….even though I know it really is for everyone…

Strengthen, the weak hands, and make firm the feeble knees.

…Be strong do not fear!

…they shall obtain joy and gladness, and sorrow and sighing shall flee away.

The Lord upholds the orphan and the widow…

Be patient beloved until the coming of the Lord…

Anxiety

"... do not be anxious about your life, what you shall eat or what you shall drink, nor about your body, what you shall put on. Is not life more than food, and the body more than clothing?
... do not be anxious about tomorrow, for tomorrow will be anxious for itself. Let the day's own trouble be sufficient for the day.
~~Matthew 6:25,34

When I read this scripture I looked up at God and said "You gotta be kidding me??" Anxious about food?? I can't remember when I was NOT anxious about food. Food has hurt me and hurt me bad. One of the things I discovered was that about 30% of Celiacs are overweight, experiencing INTENSE food cravings due to malabsorption of nutrients. So you are overeating and starving at the same time. I won't even go into all the places I hurt and the painkillers I've taken in the last 5 years. Sometimes I felt like every meal is a round in the ring with...whoever is the best boxer right now....

But now that I have said that....at Thanksgiving (the Canadian one in October, not the US one this week) I told myself life is not all about my food problems. Holidays are about people. So that is when I spoke to Mrs Twist and found out she is 99 years old. I have been seeing her for at least 10 years and had never made an effort to speak to her. I could explain by saying these are large gatherings and she is a quiet lady. But it's no excuse.

So now that I know how to eat I can actually think about it less and concentrate on life. OK God...I finally get it...

Adoration and Christening Words

At about 2:15 am I listened to this...

Father's Love Letter

The Father's Love Letter contains the best words for a christening or baptism I have ever seen. The words are available on a card which can be downloaded for giving right here.

Every week I see people coming to this blog from all over the world looking for: christening words, a good word for a christening, a father's words for a christening. These are definitely wonderful words.

For words that I wrote for a christening click here.

Please leave a comment if you found these words useful or if you find other good words. Click on words from you to leave a comment below.

My Journey --The Word at the Door

"Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child, he is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
~Matthew 18: 3-4



When I was a child I was an early reader. I spent a great deal of time at the library. My earliest memories involve books. My mother said I always had a book in my hand and never played with toys. So when someone came to the door selling Bibles I realized this was a book I had never read. My mother gave me a dollar and I bought my first bible. I was 10 years old.

I loved this book immediately and started reading it aloud to my constant companion, my cousin. She has no recollection of this so I guess she wasn’t really listening. Anyway, when a friend at school told me about her church I asked if I could go too. I had been baptized in the Eastern Orthodox Church but my family did not attend. So I started going to a United Church.

Thinking back I realize that The Word came to me. Knocked right on my door. What a strange thing to be a 10 year old bible thumper reading scripture out loud. Ummm…maybe I should be podcasting…or writing a series of books about Little Evangelical Alexsandra...

I understood these words

Today I experienced something very beautiful. I went to a French Church to attend the funeral for the father of a friend. Even though I didn't understand the words it was poignant, lovely and filled with God's Grace.

One reading was said in English and it began "God is love..."

The priest spoke with love. I could tell that he knew this man as he related anecdotes and moved close to the family. I could see them nod their heads and at times people chuckled at the stories. People also cried. I heard the word sacrifice a number of times. "Le grande sacrifice..." The sacrifice a father makes for his family, the sacrifice a man makes for a friend. As I sat there listening to words I could not understand I could see the Cross and I realized my faith is built on love and sacrifice.

Love...

Sacrifice...

These are the words I understood.
God bless you my friend and God bless your father.

The 23rd Psalm

I found prayer cards everywhere when my husband died. They were in his lunch box, his pockets, his van, on the nightstand. They were all the 23rd Psalm. I think he would have liked this child's version. Thanks to MCT for sharing it.