Late Spring

The ancient one opens leaves in frost and sun.

Celebrating better health and good news from the medical folk, late spring finds me in Capitol Reef National Park, Utah. David and I join Quakers from the Utah Fellowship of Friends for a long weekend. It is late April and the night temperatures drop, even destroying the apricot crop. The days are in the 40s or 50s and windy. We hike in the morning. Afternoon we share news. Then glories, luscious potluck dishes and singing. Night comes on and the full moon rises over reefs.

This ancient tree captures my attention. How old is it? Surely it is more than one hundred years. It was probably here before the pioneers settled in this valley in the 1800s. Their fruit orchards still stand and are well attended. The apricots were lost this year when the temperatures dipped to twenty-three degrees two days before we arrived.

What lessons are there for me this late April?

New growth

my hope embraces

the mysteries

of the ancient one.

Good news, congestive heart failure is ruled out and the echocardiogram shows that my heart has strengthened in the last fourteen months. It is Parkinson's. my spiritual mentor at play. The diaphragm muscles are affected and I go into shallow breathing yet The Holy One who created us all, also created an incredible brain that can make new circuits. Are we open to learning to follow inner guidance, even when the specialists think that there is nothing to be done? Research show that the brain is able to develop new paths. In this case, it is the C Pap machine which is developing the new path to regular, normal deep breathing.

Alleluia.

Gnarled beauty continues

bringing joy

and blessings.

Blessings of Letting Go

This last week has been a struggle, new health issues, congestive heart failure, pulmonary problems, in addition to living with Parkinson's and my on-going facing of "Letting Go."

My body takes charge and tells me,
you must stop now and rest." It tells me to let go of responsibilities and commitments.

"How dear Lord am I to do this? What does all this mean in letting go? How am I to participate in the life of community?"

I prayerfully reflected on passages from the book of John and received comfort, peace and guidance.

The story of Nicodemus and Jesus telling him that he must be born anew. "Beloved Creator, help me to listen, that the Spirit is my guide. Letting go of being active is so hard. Letting go of commitments and responsibilities is such a challenge. Thank you for directing me to let go of leading a workshop at the FGC Gathering this summer and showing me ways to cut back on leadership with the Parkinson's Support Group I started. You were with me from the beginning, leading and blessing the establishment of the Support Group. You show me how I can prepare members on taking on the tasks I have shouldered." John 3:7-8

"I am happy to take refuge in you and experience your loving care and being with me." Psalm 33(34):8, 18

The story of the five barley loaves and two fish. "You show me that the little I have to offer after letting go is enough. I am still able to plant seeds, and to listen deeply to others. In listening deeply to others, you touch their lives with hope and love." John 6:5-11

The disciples saw Jesus walking on the water to come to them. "It is I; do not be afraid." he said. "Jesus, you are with me through my struggles of letting go and still living. You are with me even when I despair. Thank you." John 6:16-21

I woke this morning with the delightful guidance to invite members of the Support Group to come to my home to help get the mailing out.

In Meeting for Worship, I was shown that only when I let go will I be able to attend to the writing that only I can do. "Please, dear Lord, lead me on."

Blessings from Judy

Eldering Story by Anonymous

Anonymous said...
Judy, what a lovely post about eldering. RichardM, my husband, has been trying to get more people to discuss eldering as well. I think my first experience with eldering was the day an older, grandmotherly looking woman approached me at a pot luck, and said, 'I hear you're moving, is there a meeting, maybe you'll start one'. My response was total bafflement, I was only a relative newcomer to Friends. That was 23 years ago. We are in North Carolina and similar to you, there was a worship group here, and we were sufficient catalyst to get the meeting to weekly meeting for worship. We have over the years become the elders of the meeting. This past summer, the meeting was clear to appoint us both elders. (there has been a great deal of coming and going in membership over the years within the meeting and previous members were against appointing elders). Today after meeting we spent some time with a new attender at meeting who is very new to Quakerism and hopefully answered his questions. (Another form of eldering). Within our Yearly Meeting, eldering is a regular practice, at least at the Yearly meeting itself. I am still surprised when I am thanked for my work as elder. I hope I am a vehicle for God's work.MaryM
March 30, 2008 8:58 PM Anonymou, Thank you for your story. It helps me understand how we are being lead to eldering. Not something I thought I would be doing.
Blessings, Judy

What are your stories on eldering?

Will T.'s post on "Growing Together in the Light: Ministry, humility and community" helped me to recognize that I have taken on the function of elder in an isolated unaffiliated worship group.

The question that kept coming to me and still does - Don't experienced Friends have a responsibility and obligation to encourage, support, teach people, new to friends in situations of isolation, what Friends practices and discipline are?

The situation is that when my husband and I moved from the midwest to Idaho, we discoverd a Friends Worship Group in our new home. The WG was unafiliated, isolated, met for worship twice a month, and worship was always silent. There were four individuals who made up the group, a member of Friends and three people who wnted to become Friends.

I asked if we could meet weekly? With that question I was beginning to take on the role of elder, although I didn't realize it. During the eighteen months that have followed, I continued to ask questions such as: how do you make decisions as a WG? What can we do to make ourselves more visible in the larger community? Do you want to be affiliated with the Society of Friends? What does it mean to be a Friend?

Personally I struggled with what I was doing. I felt like I was being pushy. I wondered if I was bringing about conflict in the group because the one Friend was resistent to any change, and the others wanted to move on. Many times I wanted to slip into the woodwork, but I couldn't, the question of responsibility would raise its head.

What has happend in the eighteen months? We are now under the care of Logan MM, Utah. People feel prompted to speak in meeting for worship. We are connected to one another. We laugh and enjoy one another. While the one Friend has difficulties with the movement, she is still with us. I am now teaching Quakerism 101.

What is your experience in eldering? What was the opening that resulted in your eldering? With your permission, I would like to publish your stories to my blog.

Blessings, Judy

Growing Together in the Light: Ministry, humility and community

Growing Together in the Light: Ministry, humility and community

Come Lord Jesus, Come

blank pages
waiting
come Lord Jesus,come

Parkinson's is a wise teacher. I've not wanted to learn, at times. Layers are pulled back and lessons are presented about "Letting go." How to stop the basic drive I have to push forward no matter how tired I am? no matter how debilitated?

waiting
listening for deeper places
wondering, stopped

no matter how much I want to keep going? no matter, no matter? Yet, a new teacher comes, chronic progressive bronchitis. My body speaks loudly and I have to pay attention, no more pushing, or keeping on going no matter what.

considering
blessings
in disguise

There are new blessing here to claim - blessed quietness and the Presence of One who loves and fills me with peace.

spring snows
on the pavement
a yellow jacket

Forgiveness and Blessing

This elderly pastor has been housebound for 7 years after having a stroke. Now he has received a wheelchair and will again be able to travel the 2 miles to church. Santa, Cameroon. Noel F. Minneapolis, Minnesota.

During the Lenten season, I've been focusing on "forgiveness." For many Christians today is Good Friday. For me the heart of Christianity is forgiveness and blessing.

Here is a question for you: What is the difference between forgiveness and blessing?

Please share your thinking, feelings, stories relating to this question in Comments.

Blessings,
Judy