Ringing the Bell in Memory & Honor

The Governor has asked every church in our state to ring their bell 26 times at 9:30 am in Friday - a week following the tragedy in CT. 

Of course we want to do this......but would you believe that we have no way to ring the bell as of today?

On the first Sunday of December,  the rope to the bell broke. I asked a child to ring the bell to start off worship and when she pulled on the rope it rang once and then snapped. The rope dropped through the small chiseled hole in the ceiling.  We both were surprised. With a limp rope in her hand, she looked at me sheepishly as if she wasn't sure if I would scold her for pulling to hard. "Wow! You are strong!" I exclaimed. We laughed together and worship began without the toll of the bell.

"How can we reattach the rope" I asked John Davis and Bob Watson. They investigated to see if the rope could be reattached or if it would need a new rope, etc. The best solution was to get up in the tower (again) and install a new rope. Sounds easy, except that the tower is 60 feet high. It is easy to get to the roof of the church, but still a climb into the "portico" where the bell hangs. 

A smart mother of three told me to call the fire department. A neighbor suggested we use the cherry picker that she is renting in January when they "undecorate" the neighborhood Christmas Tree. John said he might have a friend with a ladder in the meantime. None of us want to send John up on a 60 foot ladder. None of us want to wait for the safer solution of a cherry picker in January. So we go back to the suggestion posed by the mother of three children under age 5. She was right. Call the fire department.

And in light of the Governor's call to communities, we all felt that the fire department would be more than willing to come out. The Fire Chief has said he is coming out tomorrow with the ladder truck. 

When we gather on Thursday Night as a community for the Olivet Tree Lighting and Community Dinner, we will  have a time of ringing the Bell  as well. At about 6:30, we will conclude our dinner with the tolling of the bell. 

Then on Friday, at 9:30am, we will join others around the state and possibly the nation in this solemn act of remembering.

Where ever you are, remember to go outside and listen for the bells.

The Nightmare of Yesterday

            Yesterday I was like most every parents across the nation -  hurriedly getting the children to school. Dealing with their excitement about a Friday so near Christmas vacation. Talking to other parents about the many things we must do to get ready for Christmas. Stressing but enjoying the hustle of a holiday coming up.
            But by the afternoon, everyone one of us were changed. The day began like any other; with certainty.  It ended in uncertainty.

We started the day trusting the world, trusting that Christmas would be like any other. The day ended with my own questioning of God and humanity. 

It was the worst shooting, they said, in our nations history. In talking to my friends, we all questioned the safety of our own community and schools. The day started with confidence but by the end of the day, we wondered if safety was just an illusion.

            As I held my children last night, it felt unfair that parents would not be able to do that because of this unspeakable act. As I went to bed, I had tremendous heart ache for a world that our children now live in. Our world was probably never completely safe but now all I could picture is the school now instituting not just fire drills and tornado drills but shooter drills as well. Even down to the age of kindergarten. Juli was so afraid of fires in kindergarten because of those fire drills. What fear would be upon Sophia if we now had the added discussion that a shooter may enter her cheerful kindergarten class?

Like most people, I went to bed after seeing so many images of panic from that horrible scene in Connecticut. Later that night, I awoke from a nightmare. I can’t explain it completely but at the center of the deep sorrow I felt was a closet. Yes, a closet.  When I awoke I was crying about the closet where I hide the Christmas presents (and other surprises) for my kids through out the year. I was crying because I thought about the closets that these parents must have. The gifts planned for their children to find under the tree this year. The smile that they expect that is so joyful at that young age when they believe in the miracles and joys of this world.

Every parent has a closet. Literally and figuratively we have a place that holds those experiences we look forward to sharing as a family; the smile that you count on seeing, the joy that you count on when they one day will score a goal, or graduate from school. The tragedy of yesterday is not just the loss of life, but the loss of a future. In my unsettling dream, this closet became meaningless as I realized it was the death not just of a person, but of a future. A future for the child and a future for the parent who had her closet robbed forever.

            As your pastor, I want to tell you that I am still rattled by the tragedy. I still cry when I read more about it. But I am also still seeking God’s comfort and peace to make sense of this massacre. I keep talking to God and asking why. I keep talking to God asking what can we do. Perhaps you are in the same place. Perhaps you have lost a child and are in a much deeper pain than I as you can relate to these parents even more.

            What I do imagine though – is that if I, an earthly flawed human parent have a closet of unknown gifts of joy for my little girls, than certainly our heavenly parent must have this also. I do not know what is behind the door. On this side of the door, there is pain, fear, distrust and sorrow. But our Heavenly Father has promised us peace on the other side. I must place my trust in Him for he has a future for each of us that cannot be robbed from us. May this keep our hearts in expectation of his peace even in the midst of turmoil and confusion.  

Fair Trade Items and Human Trafficking

At our meeting today of the United Methodist Women, we learned about how much human trafficking occurs in the United States. We think that human trafficking is something that mostly happens in other countries where kidnapping occurs. But our group learned today that it is common in the US that humans, especially children, are trafficked as well.
Based on a book by Nita Belles titled "In Our Backyard" we explored the many dimensions of this very disturbing truth that most of us do not even know happens. The book explained how we can impact this in a simple way: We can purchase Fair Trade Items which will help reduce the commerce. That may not seem like it would make a difference, but it does. Thanks to the women who met this morning to discuss current events, missions, and how we can make a difference in the world.

Under the Authority of A King

A church sign in our area posted "If God is your co-pilot... switch seats!"
Who is in the driver seat of your life? Who is really in charge?
I like to think I can answer that question confidently, without hesitation: "Jesus is in charge. He has the wheel." But even though I know He is the ruler of the universe, I still arm wrestle him for the driver's sear.

Being a Christian means we surrender to the authority of Jesus as the Lord of our life. We call him King. We call him Master.
Surrender is not easy.  Most times, I  call him Master, make my petition known, say Amen and then immediately start worrying if things will turn out ok.  Yes, the King is in charge but my lack of faith is revealed in how quick I am to think that I may need to take the wheel and drive things forward a little bit.

Last week,  I had a surprise reminder of his Lordship. Our women's group handed out brown paper grocery bags for the donation drive for the women's shelter. This was a fine use of the bags. No problem except that I realized another group was counting on having bags on hand for our annual Christmas Bazaar. With no more bags, I would certainly need to remember to follow up with several people about getting another set of paper bags in time for Saturday. For days,  I would suddenly remember this loose end on my to-do list and then forget to follow up. Finally,  I prayed a short prayer to God to not let me forget these bags. (Yes, it is silly, but somehow God still puts up with me)

The surprise came when a stranger walked into the church foyer and looked around like she didn't know where to turn. I saw her and asked her if she was looking for something or someone. She said, "Oh, I happened to be cleaning out my garage and I discovered all these brown paper grocery bags. Do you want them? I hate to throw them out." I couldn't believe it. Here a total stranger offers up the exact thing we needed at exactly the right time.
I said, "Bags?! Actually, yes! I have been praying about bags for days!" I am sure she thought I was kidding. But I meant it. She went to her car and brought in enough bags to replenish our stock two times over.  I smiled as I realized that King Jesus was telling me chill out and let him get the glory. King Jesus was showing me once again that in the Kingdom of God, our needs are met in surprising ways, through unsuspecting strangers, blessings and more. A reminder once again that God is not my co-pilot. He is my King!

Blessing of the Oysters

A dozen of us met at church for a blessing of the oysters - we gathered with song and then headed to the end of Store Rd. to the site of our neighborhood oyster sanctuary. Len Zuza brought out a cage of oysters that were ready to be blessed and "planted" or added to the existing reef.

After a prayer that these oysters may be fruitful and multiply, that they may provide habitat and clean our water, each child got to toss an oyster in to the creek.
Two of the older kids got to row out in a dingy with Len to the floating dock where the majority of the oysters were strewn. The big excitement of the project was that we discovered the mud crabs who live in the oysters - unlike large blue crabs, these tiny guys don't pinch when picked up. Thanks to Len for taking time to introduce us to this amazing mollusk.

Ministry to Mollusks BEGINS!

HANDS- ON OYSTER SERVICE PROJECT 

Wednesday, August 15

10am at Olivet Church

 Help us return oysters to the reef!  Be prepared to get wet and dirty. Life jackets will be required for persons under age 8.

We will walk to the reef together and populate them with oysters provided by The Southern Maryland Oyster Cultivation Society.

BLESSING OF THE OYSTERS
 Sunday August 19 at 11am worship service

Hot as Haiti - God Squad Week 2

The temperature at Olivet this morning was already record highs as the cars began pulling up with women unloading their sewing machines, irons and fabric to begin a day of sewing cool sundresses for the children in Haiti.

Perfect weather to illustrate how cool and refreshing the simple dress will be  in a country of extreme poverty and heat.

The girls modeling the dress loved them, too. It's a joy to see them excited to wear them - because if our girls like them, the girls we send them are bound to like them, too.

Our "scriptural theme" at Olivet this week is based on Jesus' commandment to Love Your Neighbor as yourself. The Whole God Squad took the commandment into their own expression of what it means to love your neighbor. Over 30 people joined today to love neighbors in different ways near and far.
The Sundress Project was co-ordinated by Marian Underwood who stumbled across the idea several weeks ago. This project sends love to girls in Haiti - a far away neighbor.

Another portion of the God Squad loved a neighbor in the nearby town of St. Leonard with some much needed lawncare - and she responded in love by cooking a delicious lunch.

The youngest segment of the God Squad reminded us that neighbors are not just people - neighbors sometimes have fur. This group completed their clothing drive for The Spot Thrift Store that uses proceeds to spay and neuter dogs and cats to prevent over-population.

A full day of loving our neighbors far and wide! Good work God Squad.

Ministry to Mollusks?

When a pastor hears the word "sanctuary," the thought is of pews and an altar.
But today, when Len Zuza of the Southern Maryland Oyster Cultivation Society visited me at the church and spoke freely about Olivet's sanctuary, he wasn't referring to our centenial building. 

He was talking about two oyster reefs in the Olivet neighborhood that are a sanctuary for cultivating oysters.

It turns out, that our church is a sanctuary to more than just people. The Olivet Church is positioned between two creeks -St. Johns and Mill Creek.  Both of these creeks were identified by Len as a suitable spot for an oyster sanctuary. Len paddled around in his kayak and poked the creek bottom until he located spot that could be sanctuaries. Not every place in every creek is suitable - and our neighborhood has two spots that are doing remarkably well!

How uncommonly cool!  Olivet is not just a sanctuary for people to grow in God's grace, but it is also a place where oysters find sanctuary as well! 

Like people, oysters have a hard time find a safe place for growth in their most vulnerable times. Yet, like people, oysters need a sanctuary - a place for weathering the elements of life together with others.

What about a ministry to mollusks? I have begun to wonder. 

If we help oysters thrive, then the oysters will help the marine life thrive and improve the quality of the water. An oyster reef is a metropolis of sea life, a primary habitat for skilletfish, crabs and more.

We found that out when our youth group went with Rachel Dean and Jason Williams on the Roughwater boat last month. (picture on right) We met a very cute crab that Rachel told us loves to live on an oyster reef. Oysters clean the water through filter feeding.  A single adult oyster can filter 50 gallons of water per day - that is about the size of one of our new rain barrels. One little oyster can do a whole rain barrel of work in a single day.

A ministry to mollusks is a ministry of protecting the vulnerable and delighting in the way that God uses the least likely of creatures to do great things.

I pray that others will take interest in starting a new ministry to mollusks. They are  our neighbors and they are God's creation.

God Squad Introduction

Not Bored At All

Summer is no time to sit around. It is a great time for relaxing and resting - but by the middle of the summer (and we are just past that marking point) kids complain that they are bored.
Well, no one complained of that today as 15 of us jumped into serving God and neighbor.

After reviewing Genesis 1, we discussed how we might care for the world in our own backyard. Kim led the group to decide on local projects that we could start right away. Cleaning up the road, planting flowers, cleaning up our flower beds at church and decorating rain barrels was just the start.

The Earth is the Lord's and everything in it. Psalm 24: 1

 The kids even came up with ideas on how to re-use items they found in the church. An old ribbon was added to a mason jar to make a planter. Plastic planters were turned into a much nicer looking ash tray for outside the church hall. Recycling, repurposing and reducing our impact on the earth was a great way to care for God's creation.

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On our road clean up, we found wild blackberries at the end of Olivet Road. They aren't all completely ripe yet, so keep your eyes out for them when you are taking a walk.

Glad to say that we hardly found ANY trash on Olivet after the bridge - our neighborhood really cares and keeps the environment clean. What a blessed place.

God Made It - We Care For It

"God Made It -We Care For it " Isn't this essentially the starting point of our biblical understanding of what the world is and how we are to live in it? All the earth is the Lord's - God calls it all Good - and we are to care for it. Last month, we took a ride out on the Roughwater with Captain Rachel to learn about the environment and the nautical life that exists right outside of our church, on the creeks behind and around Olivet. We examined the Oyster reefs, emptied eel pots, crab pots and even got to see a toad fish up close. God's creation is amazing.

 This week, our church began a multi-generational lesson on God's love for God's creation involves the whole community. On Tuesday, the children's chapel participants went on a nature hike before worship and then gathered in church for a kid-friendly worship service on Genesis 1. They concluded their time with arts and crafts and prayer. The toddlers (and even us old people) got much joy from singing "He's Got the Whole World In His Hands" - a crowd pleaser, for sure.

The God Squad is prepared to make a difference in the environment in our own neighborhood. We will install a rain barrel later this week and  hit the road for a neighborhood road clean up. Be on the look out for the God Squad - and if you don't see them in action, you will certainly get to hear about it on Sunday morning at church.

To Church by Boat

In 1912,  Rev. Heavener served as pastor of both Solomons & Olivet Methodist Episcopal Churches. He and his family would travel by boat from Solomons to Olivet in order to deliver the sermon in our then brand new sanctuary.

This year, the sanctuary turns 100 years old and to commemorate the occasion, the pastors took a boat to church as a reenactment of our past.

Thanks to the Calvert Marine Museum for the gift of a complimentary ride on the Tennyson - Thanks to Bunky's for allowing us to dock near Solomon's Church - and thanks to the Wilsons for allowing us to dock at their home in Olivet, where we concluded our trip with a breakfast and worship service on their back deck.

The history of our churches really came to life as we approached each church from the water, seeing our steeple while out on the river. Indeed, it brought great meaning to one of Olivet's favorite hymns "Let's go down to the river to pray"!

God Squad this Summer

Our churches mission statement “From Olivet, We Follow” allows for diverse freedom of expressions in how each of us can be the hands and feet of Christ in the world. I am delighted to see how God has inspired a small group of teens to follow Jesus into the world as the God Squad. The God Squad project is one that helps all of us pattern our daily lives after Jesus by serving God and neighbor.

The God Squad was developed out of the small group of teen girls who meet, under the leadership of Andrea Saglimbene, every Tuesday evening for Bible Study, worship, prayer and spiritual encouragement. In April, they met with me and shared a desire to widen their impact on the community and make a difference in their world. The girls designed t- shirts and called themselves The God Squad and will begin advertising their services of housecleaning, simple gardening and a neighborhood beach clean-up.

I see these girls dispelling cultural stereotypes that teen agers are lazy or uninterested in making a difference in the community. I was impressed at how they want to get to know the older people in their church and neighborhood. This summer, our whole church will launching their project that draws together multiple generations as God’s hands and feet in mission.

Once announced in church, adults stepped up and wanted to join the God Squad. Carl Zimmermann, Kit Jones, Kim Blackistone, Marge Browning, Jason Williams and Rachel Dean all have terrific talents and skills that they will be bringing to the summer mission efforts. Rachel Dean and her brother Jason Williams offered to take groups out on the water for a lesson on ecology as well as prayer and Bible Study. Marge

Browning and Kim Blackistone have been coordinating local mission teams that will help out neighbors in ways yet to be determined (talk about being led by the Spirit!) Carl Zimmermann has agreed to help with the more skilled areas of need. Kit Jones will be coordinating a mid-week, mid- morning playgroup that introduces Christian teaching through worship, song and bible stories. Several young moms and grandparents are looking forward to bringing their babies, toddlers, preschoolers and kindergarteners to the Children’s Chapel that will start Tuesday morning, July 10, 2012.

The God Squad Project has been the inspiration of the Holy Spirit that descended upon a small group of teen girls. Their vision has inspired Olivet to take a big step in initiating a ministry to serve others locally. May this summer be a blessing to our community, the people we serve, and a blessing to the witness of God’s love in the world!

  Rare View from Inside the Bell Tower    

   Thanks to John Davis for this great photograph looking out over Mary & Ray's House.
John climbed up the steeple to investigate the history of our church bell, as it has been an oral tradition at Olivet that the bell was once on a ship. The only way to know for sure was to see if there was an inscription on the bell. John said he would be willing to climb up and look.
   When he got up there, he read that the bell was from Morgan Iron Works, and listed as having been a bell used on a steamboat called Ferryboat Rhine dating to 1852. It is 60 years older than the church building! 

Putting "Faulty Thinking" To Bed

Faulty Thinking.  Stinkin' Thinkin'. There are many names for it but essentially it is any of the negative "tapes" we "play" in our head.
 I first heard of it at an AA meeting fifteen years ago. A long-time sober alcoholic described the kind of negative thoughts that led up to his falling off the wagon.  "I'm a loser." "I never get things right." and eventually"Well, every time I try I fail, so why try?"  The next thing he knew he had given up the commitment to sobriety and was back on the bar stool.

Stinking Thinking is not just a problem with addicts. All of us carry on internal conversations. What we tell ourselves becomes our lens for viewing the world. Our self-talk becomes reality as we believe what we say about ourselves, even if it we never speak it aloud.

As a mom, I have watched my own kids develop faulty thinking at a young age.  My pre-school daughter already has learned to lament the stereotypical "No one likes me, everybody hates me, I should go eat worms." When she is in that "faulty thinking" mode, it is as if there is no convincing her otherwise.

I have learned that to change faulty thinking,  we must intentionally tell ourselves positive messages. We must re-program ourselves. I came up with a little song for my daughter to the tune of "Are You Sleeping" that gives her simple, repeatable phrases about God's love for her.
Tonight, as she was in bed, trying to fall asleep, I heard her from outside the room singing this song.

To the Tune of Frere Jaques

Jesus Loves Me,

Jesus Loves Me.

I Love God,

I Love God,

Holy, Holy Spirit.

Holy, Holy Spirit.

Amen. Amen.

I am not a child psychologist. I am clearly not a hymn writer. I'm just a mom and a pastor. I had a problem so I came up with this little song.

You could change the words to fit your child's theology. Maybe "Holy Spirit" is too fancy for your three your old - so substitute "Always Always With Me" or some other sort of thing. If your kid is like mine, she will add new verses of her own. I heard her throwing in "Mommy Loves Me" after a while, for instance. Whatever anchors her to the Love of God - mommies and daddies are those anchors for children.

In other faith traditions, this little song might be considered a mantra, words that are repeated to bring about inner transformation. As a Christian, the Bible invites me to set my mind on things above, not on things of this earth. (Colossians 3:2)  Stinking thinking, therefore, is not for Christians. We are supposed to set our minds on the love of God, although human nature will want to tug on us to believe life is hopeless and miserable.

I wanted to share this because someone else may need help with calming an anxious child - May the peace that passes all understanding dwell richly in your child's heart!

Just Another Day at Olivet

US Navy Blimp Over Olivet

Olivet Church looks to be an ordinary place - a little church in a quiet neighborhood. But God continues to surprise me with extraordinary blessings wrapped in the "ordinary packaging" of a country church.

It's quiet here, but many visitors drop by. Just today, a stranger was walking down Olivet road taking pictures. He stopped in to tell me he was sightseeing all the way from Scotland (not the one by Point Lookout, either!).Then there are the visitors who circle our sky - like the US Navy blimp that spent quite a long time in our neighborhood last week.
Simple miracles happen at Olivet all the time. For instance, there was the Miracle of Pickles. A kindergartner heard the cries of a cat coming from beneath the church. He and his grandma discovered that a cat had become trapped and couldn't get out.    With the help of church members who cut him an escape hatch, the friendly cat named Pickles was rescued.

Pickles' story began the week before, when I was praying for dirt so that we could fill-in a gap under the church. Miraculously, a bulldozer
appeared. It was heading to the end of Olivet Road to move dirt from the site of James Dodson's old store.    The driver offered us a pile of dirt for our hole. What a gift! It seemed to be sent from James Dodson himself to meet the needs of the Olivet Trustees!

The Hole Filled In with Dirt

The only problem was nobody knew Pickles was napping beneath the church, he never knew his entrance way had been blocked. It took a little boy, almost five days later to discover him. He is now safe and the hole is closed up.
This week's miracle is just as exciting. Our Governing Body launched a fundraiser for the renovation of the church hall and set up an on- line giving website. Within three days, contributions started coming in as we posted the requests to facebook and email. To date, we have over $2,000. Inside this newsletter, read more about this initiative and what is involved.
Olivet was named for the holy spot outside Jerusalem where people encountered God. Here at Olivet, we also encounter the holy. In simple, ordinary ways, God reminds us that his love for us is always a miracle.

Baskets: Not Just for Easter

Gift Basket Ministry - Pouring Out God's Love for Others

It began with the question, "What more can we do to show God's love?"

How many times have you been praying for a person or family - and after sending cards, lifting their names in prayer at worship, you just want to express in more ways how much God loves them? And how much the church loves them too!

This happened on two separate occasions this month - when several church members finally came up with an expression of God's love that could be tailored just for the person. "Let's put together a gift basket with tokens of love (the prayer cloths, the pocket crosses, for instance) from Olivet."

In March, two families going through difficult times became the recipient of these unique Olivet baskets filled handmade crafts, prayer blankets, gift items and more. Each basket was prayerfully put together as people in the church were invited to contribute an item. We recieved an outpouring of items - girl scout cookies, hamemade prayer cloths, candies, Olivet pocket crosses, inspirational refrigerator magents, kids bubbles, toys, blankets, lotion and more.

Would you like to take part in this outreach?

We would love to see it continue! Here is how you can get involved.

(1) Be a Contributor on Call - tell the church office secretary Bonnie that you would like to be called upon when a basket is being created. You will be told to pray for the persons and invited to give an item of your choice, bringing it in to the church.

(2) Provide a Basket - Do you have baskets that you would like to donate for this ministry. Bring it to the church so we can use them for future occasions.

(3) Provide gifts - Do you do a particular craft that might be nice to include? Or have gift items in your home that might be nice to include in a gift basket? Handmade items, new gifts, tea towels, or other non perishables can be brought to the church office.

(4) Name a Recipient - Do you know someone who needs to be showered with love and care? We have had so much joy putting these together, we would love to assemble more baskets - all we ask is that deliver it yourself on behalf of the church. Every basket will include a handwritted letter from the pastor ion behalf of your congregation.

Thanks to Food Lion for their recent contribution of $20 Food Cards - this was included in the recent gift basket for a local family in need.

We’re not ashamed to have this confidence, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, who has been given to us. Romans 5:5

Video Testimony

Watch the personal story of Bob and Eva who were told that Bob was going blind. Doctors said he could try a cornea transplant, but with much risk. After three transplants (one failed) He regained 20/20 vision in one eye and 20/40 in the other.

In this 10 year experience, a pivotal moment came for him when he surrendered over to God the "outcome" and just prayed for strength to make it through.

Both Bob and Eva describe how God answered the prayer and gave them strength - a strength that came through the many people, friends and family who helped them - as well as the 3 organ donors who made the greatest sacrifice so he could see.

Baptism Giggles

Ever notice how sometimes what you picture in your mind is not what turns out? Creative ideas are risky. Will it be a great idea? Or will it flop?

In planning the baptism of Killian Stangl, I pictured something quite lovely.. I proposed to the parents that all the children remain at the altar for his baptism. After all, some kids have not been baptised and others don't remember it because it happened in infancy. Here was a chance to see it up close.

Looking back, what did I think the kids would do upfront exactly? Watch quietly? With halos and harps? Soon into the service, I regretted my decision. They were giggling, wiggling, splashing in the water, whispering how cute the baby is.. and I thought "Oh no, what I have I done?"

Later Megan and Craig posted their son's baptism pictures and I saw what my stress had blinded me to at the time: Joy. Joyful awareness on their faces. Yes, they were wiggling. In some photos, my daughter is a complete blur of movement. But on the face of each is an awareness of something special. They have joy in seeing. They are glad to be in the front row!

What I forgot is what most of us forget - the joy of our sacraments, the joy of new life in Christ. The desire to be on the front row of what is happening in church! I too am inclined to sit in the back pew (although I hardly get the chance).

Like a typical pastor (or parent), I reacted to the kids by wanting to limit or contain the children's response. I remember what He told people like me, long ago, when they scoffed at kids and pushed them away from Jesus. He said, "Let them come to me! Don't get in the way." Children remind us to take joy in the world and to delight in the sacred.

Yes, sometimes what we picture in our mind is not what happens. And thank goodness for that! The unexpected lessons are the most memorable and probably the best ones God has for us!