Drop In A Bucket.

Part of my time at the Seminary has been to volunteer in the library.

I have been given so many gifts here that I wanted to give back a little

bit.  Since they are moving the campus to Amsterdam there is

much work to do downsizing the library.

In my imagination I had a big idea of what a help I could be in this.

But I have been assigned, like a monk, a small tedious job that I

cannot really mess up but has no use for any brain.  I have been

given the task of removing files from the computer of "discarded"

books and periodicals.  It is literally removing, through a three step

process, computer records, sixty records at a time.  I need to

check as I do this that these records are not assigned to the system

in another place.  My hand and shoulder hurt from the hours of clicking

my mouse.

My second task is to take the old card system-shelf list and tear out

the cards for some of the thousands of books given, sold, discarded.  The

library has to downsize by more than half of their collection.  So on I

go book by book on the shelves, throwing out what is not there.

When I think about the "few" hours I have been able to give, and the

enormity of the mountain of work, I sigh.  My little service is the

proverbial drop in a bucket. 

And yet, I think about that some more.  Like the Monks with the

begging bowl, accepting the work you are given to do, even though

for a short time, can be a teacher.  Being grateful daily about what

is being offered to you, be it help or work or food, is a teaching.

I accept that this is not great work, but necessary work.  I accept

that for this week I have been given a task, not of my choosing and

not considered important work, but a helpful drop. 

That is really what we bring to the world is it not?  Our attitudes, our

hands and our hearts.  And in the scheme of the world's time and

generations, we are like a breath, right?  So this week my breath

has deleted computer files, and some other dear person's breath has

been spent lecturing, some others healing and the circle continues.

Each of us, has to decide how best to serve as that drop of water

in a the very vast bucket.  I am truly thankful for this opportunity to

"vaya con dios."

Joanne

Second Chances.

Chapel last week was about second chances.

This week it is on Psalms.  Well, five of the Psalms. 

Yesterday we read the Psalm and then talked about the story of the rich young ruler who comes

to Jesus with his questions about salvation.  He offers Jesus proof of his good life, his obedience

to the rules of the faith, his knowledge of the Torah, his confidence that salvation will be a cinch.

Jesus tells him to sell everything and give to the poor and salvation will be his.

A young male student from Hungry in broken English, suggests that we consider this idea and

then a question.  He reminds us that this young ruler came to Jesus happy and then scriptures

tell us he leaves sad.  He wonders aloud if we come to Jesus happy only to leave sad, because

we too have idols in the way of salvation.  What might stand in the way of us serving God?

Do we leave our conversations, our time, with Jesus, happy or sad?  Do we dare to give God more

or less?

I also leave wondering if the rich man ever decided to give away all and follow Jesus?  I wonder

did he get a second chance?  Did he seek a second chance?

Do we?

Joanne

Traveling.

Traveling on the weekend on European highways to Slovakia and Budapest.  I am struck

once again by Americans' preoccupation with safety.  As I traveled in a car at regular speed of

140-160 Kilometers, which translates to 80-90 miles an hour on the highway with semis and

other cars.

And I was worried about flying the long distances.  It is all about experience.  Perhaps

that is why they say: experience is a great teacher.

I am definately "vayamos con dios".

J 

Monastery.

On the weekend I have enjoyed traveling to Slovakian Monastery.  You will hear more

about that.  But the questions I had raised interesting perspectives.

During Communism, these Monks really had two options:  play the game that was asked

of them by the Secret Police and pledge your allegiance to the Sovereign State OR

be jailed and/or killed. 

The first choice one must renounce their allegiance to God and to faithful living and in the

second, one must face prison or execution. 

I wonder how these Monasteries have survived.  I wonder how Christian witness has survived.

I wonder about the choices we make every day without thinking that they are choices.

Mostly I give thanks.

J

Control.

So besides getting lost on my own in City Centre, I have had many,

many lessons about CONTROL.  Things that are outside my control here,

are too numerous to even list, but I want to talk about two:  communication

and food.

First of all I thought myself so smart, I brought the cheap Vodafone that I

purchased last year on study leave in Ireland.  I researched and found Vodafone

in Czech Republic and so off I go to discuss a new sym card and charger

to make phone work here.  I am feeling so competent.  I am forgetting language.

Big forgetting.

I find the store, last week without getting lost, (proud moment indeed) and I

enter the store with phone in hand.  There is one receptionist in a store

very much like our cell phone stores in the states, that is able to speak in

English.  I ask her if it is possible to buy a sym card for this phone that will

work here and ask about a charger for Czech electrical compatibility.  She

assures me, yes, it is possible and arranges with another salesperson to

do the necessary computer maneuverings to make it all work.  I pay for both

the "little computer chip" and the charger and off I go.  So proud of myself.

But as we all know pride goes before a fall, right.  Well, indeed yet another

lesson in humility.  I return to apartment and place sym card in the phone, and

charge it.  It takes hours as the phone has been off and idle for over a year.

Amazingly it holds a charge and I try to call my dear patient husband.  (Whom I have

assured that I have the problems of communication solved.)  But I try the phone and

in Czech a voice on phone asks me, (as I find out much later) what network I want to

use.  Obviously, I do not know the question being asked or how to answer it.  So,

even though I have working sym card and charged phone, because of language,

I do NOT have a usable phone.  I cannot communicate once again.  Ugh.

Turns out the phone cannot be used.  Period.  Now I am mad at myself for throwing

good money after bad as it were. 

I am sure there are many lessons here, but the main one that I am hearing is that

there are many things outside of our control.  You can get angry and sad, or

you can smile (Grin) and bear it.  How you grin and bear it, is the real question?

And perhaps the most important answer.

So, one little sentence about food.  In a foreign country it is very hard to have

control over what you eat, even when you are paying for it.  Besides the language

there is the whole social-food etiquette, eating what you are served, availability of

certain foods, etc.  In all seriousness....I encourage everyone of you to get on your

knees and give thanks for the food you have access to every day, from Walmart, to

Tops, to Wegmans, to Aldi's.  Give thanks.

More soon......

J