Whitacre's Virtual Choir...

I heard about this video on an NPR Report. Eric Whitacre put a request on the internet for anyone to sing a part to a piece he composed, video their singing, and then upload it onto YouTube. Then, a volunteer took all the videos and assembled them into this most amazing choir... an internet virtual choir. Here is Lux Aurumque (Light and Gold). (He has a second one called Sleep ... just as amazing.) Enjoy ...

Snow! And, answered prayer...

Yep! It's snowing! Praise be to God! For over a month I have been praying for snow. When I first knew I was heading to Honey Rock for a couple of months, Rob Ribbe (Director) said that if I wanted snow I better start praying because there wasn't any! That was mid-December. Well... it's here... and it is beautiful!

I can hear the horses whinnying in the barn paddock, the scraping of shovels on the broomball court, and ... the stillness of the snow. Funny how if you really listen you can hear snow. If you think about it, that's what prayer is like too. If we really stop and listen, we can hear God answer our prayers.

Earlier this month in devotions I shared what I learned about three Hebrew words for prayer: tefilah, kavanah, and barukhah. (If you are a Hebrew scholar, please excuse the spelling... I found a number of versions for each one and so used the one most repeated.)

Tefilah is the practice of prayer and covers all kinds of praying: thanksgivings, petitions, praises. If I have this right, tefilah is the practice of prayer that teaches us Who God is and who we are in relation to him. That's why it doesn't matter what kind of prayer it is because any kind of prayer declares, "You are God! and I am not." We give thanks to God because he is the source of all life, of all things. We ask God because he is the only one who can help us (I learned that from Natalie Sturm when she was 4 years old!). And, we praise God because he IS goodness, kindness, life, love, peace, joy... you get the picture. So, tefilah calls us to practice prayer.

Kavanah is the mindset of prayer. This involves the intent and concentration of our mind and heart in prayer. And, because prayer teaches us about God and our relationship with him, kavanah is about asking and expecting an answer because we are his children and he loves us. This reminded me of many psalms that declare thanksgiving to God for his answer even though he hasn't given it yet. Kavanah is the mindset in prayer that declares, "You are God! I thank you that you heard my cry and saved me... or, sent help... or, answered me, etc."We thank God before we have the answer because we know he will, because we know he is God and he cares for us.

Barukhah is the prayer of blessing. From what I read, a Jew is to bless the Lord 613 times a day. So barukhah is a constant meditation on God and could be considered prayer without ceasing. "Blessed are you, O Lord God, King of the Universe for __________." ... our daily bread, snow, laughter, healing, forgiveness, sisters, fireplaces, friends, Butterfingers, Uggs. Just fill in that blank 613 times a day. Ann Voskamp's 1,000 Gifts is a great example of this. Barukhah is prayer that blesses the Lord, gives him thanks and praise. I read that barukhah means "knee" and can mean "humility". So, 613 times a day, bend the knee and say, "Bless the Lord for he gives us new life."

There are many things for which I will continue to pray, but right now I bless the Lord for the fire in the fireplace before me and ...

If you don't get what this is about look at the post from January 17th.

What does 14 below have to do with it?

Photo: dailycamera.com

So, this morning I noticed that within 10 seconds of walking out our lodge door my scarf built up frost from my breath. My pink cowl was dusted with white crystals! As I passed the ski shack thermometer I glanced at the temperature: -14. Yep. 14 below zero. I don't want to know what the wind chill was. One of the guys on staff said that today's temperature gives a new definition to cold. And, one of the women holding her cheeks said that it felt like little needles prickling her face as she walked to the dining hall. It is (spell this out) C-O-L-D... COLD!


There are a number of ways we all react to this C-O-L-D! Some people hunker down into their jackets and hats and scarves and with hands stuffed into their pockets they plow forward, hardly noticing anyone or anything around them. Others complain about it... how cold it is and wait until the very last moment before braving the walk... or should I say sprint to the next building. Then, there was one I saw, and I kid you not, who just wore a turtleneck and hoodie... no gloves... as she did her work w-a-l-k-i-n-g! from building to building. And then, there are some who just go about the day with the attitude, "Yes, it's cold but we can't do much about it." These folk keep us light-hearted about the C-O-L-D, helping us see that we can't really do anything about it but bundle up and do the work we need to do and be careful about being out in it too long. Regardless of how we choose to respond to this COLD, we go about our work and stay warm as best we can.

As I thought about this, I realized that this is a metaphor for how we face challenges:

1. We hunker down and plow through it, just wanting to get through it, get it over with not noticing anybody or anything along the way.
2. We complain about it, waiting for the last moment until we have to do something about it, and then get through it as quickly as possible. Probably, again not noticing anybody or anything along the way.
3. We ignore it and just walk through it, not noticing the challenge but at least noticing there are others along the way.
4. We acknowledge the challenge and accept that it's there. We may make light of it but are aware of the people and things happening as we walk through it. I venture to say here that in this response, we may even help each other along the way.

Apologies. I lost the website to credit this photo.

I'm discovering that this sabbatical of mine is bringing challenges that I didn't anticipate. But, like the C-O-L-D I have a choice as to how I will respond to them. Choice number 4 will take the chill out of the challenge, its prickling needles, and will give me the chance to learn and grow. It will also give me traveling companions should I need help remembering to laugh and love along the way.

Life in Narnia... I mean Honey Rock...

Where are Lucy and Mr. Tumnus?
Lanterns aglow to help us find our way in the night.

One walk to the Dining Hall.
Long Lake is in the background between the evergreens.

A balmy 33 degrees! The colors show what wax to use for your cross-country skis.

Brrrrrroomball. Remarkably eveyone is on his or her feet. Well, except for the goalie below...

Yes, 33 degrees and he is sitting on the ice in a t-shirt. Ah... youth!

Friends in the barn

These photos were taken on my walk today. It is now snowing and we hope for a couple more inches to help with the ski trails and make it safe for trail rides and sleigh rides. I can hear the cheers from the broomball court from my apartment. With four groups here there will be cheers all day and late into the evening.

Walk by Faith and not by Sight

Just before I came to Honey Rock they drilled a new water well for the lodge where I am living. Before they drilled the well the water coming out of the tap had the look of a rusty rain barrel. One look and you thought, "I'm not drinking that!" But, the fact of the matter was that it was perfectly safe to drink. No one drinking that water would have anemia... full of iron, it was! Anyway, the new well put out beautifully crystal clear and cold water. Perfect! It was just what was needed. Then, last week they tested the water. You guessed it ... undrinkable!

In fact, so undrinkable we weren't even supposed to brush our teeth with it! (For those of you who have traveled to places where getting any bit of water into your mouth is not a good idea... you get the picture. Kathie? Kyle?) Oy!

So, for the last few days I have been hauling a couple of gallons of water just for drinking and brushing my teeth. Two days ago, they added chlorine to the water to correct the problem, but in so doing we were not to use any water for any reason for 24 hours. Writing this is making me laugh. Imagine not being able to use the water in your home. 

For the 20 or so folk who share this lodge with me, I have not heard one bit of complaining. Instead, we have all found ways to live with it. Like me, some are hauling water from other buildings. Others are buying filtered water in town. And, others are trekking in the sub-zero early morning temps to another building to wash up and brush up and get ready for the day. Thankfully, this morning we are able to at least wash up with the water, but still no drinking. (It's going to be about a week before the water can be tested again to see if it passes the test for drinking.)

So, what does this have to do with walking by faith and not by sight?

Not knowing the condition of the water, if someone were to set a glass from the old well in front of you and one from the new well, which would you choose? Exactly! We would all go for the new well, even though it's not good to drink! OK, I can't speak for you. I would go for the glass of clear water.

I've been thinking about this journey we are walking - this life in Christ. There are times that something "looks" exactly right, exactly what we think is the best plan and way forward... when in fact, it's not really good for us. In reality, it's the way that "looks" just a little suspect (sometimes more than suspect!) that is exactly the thing that is good for us and ... in reality ... the best plan and way forward.

Three possible ways forward have come to my attention, three "glasses of water", three ministry opportunities. When I look at these three opportunities, two of them look like that rusty glass of water and only one looks clear. Hmmm. Is that clear one God's good for me? Or, could it be that one of the cloudy ones is really God's good for me? Hmmm. The only way forward is to walk by faith and not by sight. This is where prayer comes in - seeking God's grace and guidance and listening for his voice and prompting. It also means I need to be honest with myself. I don't want to jump into something because I'm fearful that something else may not come. I don't want to accept the "clear glass" because it looks good - according to what everyone is saying is good. It also means listening to faithful friends and intercessors who give me wise counsel and are looking for God's work in my life.

So, right now, I'm thankful I do not need to drink from any one of these "glasses of water" just yet. But, what I can do is wait and watch and pray and do what is in front of me today... which may mean going and hauling another gallon of water.

Ice Canoeing & the Way Forward

This is what the "waterfront" looks like here at Honey Rock.
Can't see the water? It's that large flat tundra looking area covered with snow. There is ice on top of the lake but it isn't frozen solid... yet. So, while there are still places where the ice is thin and will break, the Honey Rock Winter Staff offer something called Ice Canoeing. Just like canoeing, two people set out onto the lake and the person in the bow chips away through the ice while the person in the stern has most of the responsibility to propel the canoe forward.

One of the students described her experience where she and her "stern-woman" were going along nicely but the way became increasingly harder. Finally, it was dead stop. She said that with great gusto she attacked the ice chipping away with her paddle. She could see there was a way up ahead... surely if she just kept at it. At one point her stern-woman asked if maybe they should just turn back. "No!" she replied and with greater determination chipped at the ice. Exhaustion began to creep over her. Her hope began to wane. Then, from a direction she didn't expect she heard a large CRACK!!! From somewhere beside and behind her the ice broke open and they were able to make their way to flowing water ahead.

This student likened this experience to how she goes at a task or even walks through life. No matter what the challenge, she is going to do it! She is going to make it work, get through, succeed! She doesn't like to give up. She saw this as her working along with God to tackle the hard things that come at her in life.

When I heard her tell this story, I thought of my own walk. There are many times I keep at something... chipping and chipping away, working so hard to make it work. But, all I really need to do is remember to take a breather now and then because God is working with me to "break things open," most likely from a direction that I may not know about. My "chipping away" is still important... but perhaps, I don't need to go at it so hard. Maybe I need to look around and see how and where God is working so that I can get through to the flowing water... to the place where we - God and I - are moving together.

During this time of waiting and watching for signs ... for my way forward ... I want to remember that. I want to remember that while I work I need to look up and look around to see where He is working to open the way.

Adding a comment...

A few of you have emailed saying you couldn't add a comment to the post. To comment, you should be able to click on "comment" at the end of the post, type in your thoughts, and then click on "publish". It should add your comment to the post. If it doesn't work... hmmm ... it may be that you have to sign up to receive the blog by email. You can find that on the upper right column of the blog.

If you are still having trouble adding a comment, please contact one of those who have made a comment and perhaps they can give you some pointers?

More later...

Following the Signs

I arrived at Honey Rock late yesterday afternoon. The only way I made it was by following the signs. When I saw this one I thought to myself that this is what my next couple of months are going to be about ... following signs. But how?

Yesterday I read in God Calling,"You must pray. The way will open. God cares and His plans unfold. Just love and wait. Love is the Key." Then, today I read, "Cultivate silence. 'God speaks in silences.' A silence, a soft wind. Each can be a message to convey my meaning to the heart, though by no voice, or even word." 

Pray and wait in silence. 

God knows my requests, my concerns, my hopes and dreams. He knows that I am waiting and watching for His signs that will point me in the direction I am to go. And, in this time at Honey Rock I am to love and wait as He unfolds His plan, I am to cultivate silence and listen as God speaks.

So this evening, I invited the staff families to a short time after dinner to listen to the story of the wise men who followed that sign sent by God - the star! - to find the new king and worship him. We talked about what Epiphany was and is for us - that Jesus is our King and Priest and Prophet who shows us the way of the Kingdom of God. And, then we went outside and lit sparklers. OK, so we were a bit noisy but we heard God speak in those sparkling lights and the lights that filled the heaven above us - literally the starry host. One little girl said to me that the frankincense and myrrh candle smelled like hot chocolate and ice cream - those are the gifts she would have given to Jesus. If this is loving and waiting as God unfolds His plan... I'm in.