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

Centre City.

Thursday, April 18

Today, I have gotten lost for two hours in the Central City.  Even with a map I am lost.  Keep

looking at the names on the buildings and streets, there are two names really and I believe

I find my bearings only to go around in different circles.  I have blisters on the bottoms of my

feet which is a new experience that makes it that much more painful, to be lost.

I find a Cathedral and go and sit down in the cold, out of the sunny heat.  I am tired and

frustrated and feel kind of stupid.  I feel I should be able to find my way.  To make matters

worse this particular Cathedral is not on the map.  I wonder, how can that be?  I think about

what it means to be safe?

It is an interesting thing to be in a situation where you have absolutely no choice but to

keep trying.  I cannot "phone a friend" as it were and ask for the answer to my question.

I cannot speak to the police as most do not know English.  I have seen no offices of

Tourism or "help" desks, so after my rest in the church, in the cold, I have to go back

out into the sun, the heat, my blisters and being lost.  I stubbornly refuse to panic.

And I keep hearing Gail in my head, "Vaya con Dios", go with God.  I remember that

I am not, even now, alone.

After two solid hours, I find the bookstore and the Cathedral that I had set out to find

in the beginning.  I am elated.  I want to sing and dance but cannot do that in public

here without getting arrested as a crazy tourist.  I enter the town square and realize

that I am one of thousands of tourists and pilgrims in the Centre City, finding my way,

looking at art, soaking in the culture, hot, sweaty and tired.  But still I learn.

Even now I am grateful once again. J.

Good Morning Church,

This y thing is so weird, it is like typing in slow motion.  I am concentrating very hard.  Mostly I usually type without thinking of the keys,  Just proves you can teach an old....well you know the rest....but when teaching, you must go slowly.  

So, I have not watched any t.v.  None, zip.  There is one in the flat in which I am staying, but why turn it on when I cannot speak or understand the language.  James has told me on the phone about the bombing in Boston.  Truly there are no words that give full witness to this kind of action.  We can only pray for those families who grieve, for the perpetrator, for our own actions that exclude or reject, for our country. 

 It says something about our culture, our country, ....yes even us, when violence becomes the way we live together.  It begs the question: how are we as Christians real peace-makers?

Yesterday, I literally spent the whole day reading, reading, reading and writing outlines and notes and taking a long walk in the woods.  It felt good.  Thank you for this gift of time away.  There is really something to this time being totally away.  There are times that I get so many ideas, I cannot write fast enough.  God's creative Spirit is wonderful.

The other thing I learn again, here, is how to live with less.  We, (me and you, living in U.S.) take so many things for granted (like dryers and cars and big grocery stores, bigger homes).  If we were less concerned about things, perhaps we could have more time for family and friends and care of each other?  Maybe more room for God?   As I walked by the park, (going for coffee) on Tuesday, it was full of people just sitting and visiting.  When was the last time you sat on a park bench and just thought.   No agenda, no expectation, no hurry?  I tried it for a while.  Strange and wonderful!  When was the last time zou (oops) took a walk with friends?  Or by yourself?

The wonderful parts of my days: amazing coffee, incredible views, ancient cobblestone streets, old churches, flowers of spring, and did I mention, great coffee:)

This morning I have woken to the news in Texas.  How incredibly sad and scarey.  Our hearts, joined together, go out to these people in thought and in prayer.  

As I finish this and prepare to hang up my laundry to dry, it is 9:30 here, which means it is 3:30 am there.  You are all still sleeping, and I picture our Little Brockport "Sleepy Hallow"  Village with only the lights of the 24 hr. laundry lit.  I pray for you all.  Even as you sleep.

When you wake......vaya con dios!

J

Hello from Europe.

Hi.  I have survived my travel, barely, will not bore zou with details of late flights etc.  The z and the y are in different places on Czech kezboard so zou will see me using z for y verz frequentlz in mz letters to zou.  I will have trouble relearning to type with entirelz different kezboard in two weeks time.  But I will trz.¨

I do not have wifi and now I will have more trouble writing my blog.  I will send you as much as I can on borrowed computer.  Pictures will be more difficult and may have to wait until I get back.

I wake in quietness in mz, my...arranged flat. It is unsettling to do everzthing alone.  It is good for me to experience this again. This first week is for reading and writing.  I usually have a theme for mz studz leave......(study leave)...but this year it is not a theme so much as a project.  To read, to write and to plan mz, (my), entire zear, (year) of preaching.  It gives me a goal and a direction.  Next week I will be at the Seminary and have chapel everz morning and work in the library....meet new friends, listen to stories of faith from people living in verz, (very) different places and cultures.

Already, the traveling, negotiating for mz needs reminds me again how big this world of ours is, how the differences between us are small and what unites us in our humanitz are the things that matter most.

Before I left, Pastor Gail from Ogden, wrote to me a note and her last words to me were:  Vaya con dios.....Go with God.   That is the plan for us all.¨

Maz (may) zou (you) go with God in zour life this day.

(if nothing else, this computer will slow me down and make me concentrate.)

I praz, oh my, I will pray for you,

while zou are prazing for me.:)

Joanne