Blessed.

I generally get my blogging material from people I meet or from my friends and funny things they say. Since starting to leave, there has been too much good stuff to blog!

This weekend I made a new friend in Chicago. I was spending the day downtown, getting my Indian visa. Well, there is something inherent in the government of India that I think is designed to kill your soul through frustration. Some would allege my soul wouldn’t be so frustrated if I planned a little bit, but to that I reply “details are for shmucks.” And, of course, India decided to outsource the visa application but they didn’t say clearly where one should go to get this visa application turned in. I did all the steps, but still found myself trying to figure out where to go, which pictures to have, etc. Somehow, two taxis and an hour of meandering later, I got my Indian visa! 

Afterward all I could think was one word, “COFFEE.” So I walked towards the nearest likely place- and on the way passed this guy, sitting, holding a sign: “Hungry. Thank you! God Bless!” I looked at him, and the Holy Spirit spoke; “Hey! Do you like coffee?” “Lots of sugar.” he replied. So I grabbed some Seattle’s Best, and walked back. Three sugar packets weren’t enough, he put in about 10 total. We sat under the Old Navy awning and talked for a couple hours. My friend has a daughter he can’t see, likes house music (which was born in Chicago apparently) and horror movies, lost his job and now ‘hustles’ for $18 a day so that he doesn’t have to sleep on the streets, but can stay in a hotel a few blocks up until he gets a job. He asked me where I lived and I told him “Grand Rapids.” He laughed. That’s where he says he’s from when he can’t get money and needs a ‘bus ticket home.’ He kept calling his life “my situation.” He said “you want to know what’s degrading- THIS is degrading” as he pointed to his sign. I hate that it’s so rare that someone sits with him, so rare that he gets 50 cents without people asking “what are you going to use my money for?! are you using drugs?!” I hate that as we sat no one looked us in the eyes. Worst of all I hated that he thanked me so much as I left, when I was the one who was given a gift. 

As we were talking another man who is homeless came up said to me “This isn’t a game, this is our lives.” Yeah it is… and that opened my eyes to something else. No one gave us any money in the whole time I was sitting there. My clean clothes and big purse kept him from earning even 50 cents in two hours. He sacrificed to sit and talk to me. We are blessed by our friends who sit and talk to us, giving up their time so that we can know Jesus among them. I always want to stay connected, not necessarily through a ‘ministry’ but by these true moments, to why I have chosen the life that I live…. because this life is a blessed life.

Pajamas at Pilgrim Manor.

This morning I got up for work, and really wanted to wear this dress. It’s all a part of one of my life goals, which is to wear everything in my closet. Problem: too short for a business office, even though we’re pretty casual. (Not quite Word Made Flesh casual) Solution: wear slacks underneath. Problem: blue slacks packed. Solution: pink linen pants that are sort of see through so also never get worn. Result:

I came into work and went to get a cup of coffee. Unfortunate timing, six or seven managers/peer employees were gathered around the office of the coffee maker. So I walked in, and she looks me up and down. “Wearing your jammies today?” hahaha. Hilarious. Well, then everyone jumps in “haha, nice pajamas!” The only thing I could come up with was “This is Nepali style!” “Oh is THAT what they call it now.” (I work with comedians apparently.)

So in a very rare moment of self-conscious fashion awareness, I went back to my office thinking “oh great, they think I would wear pajamas to work, this is too casual.” I almost went home to change but then figured “no big deal, no meetings, I’ll just make it through and never live this down.” I forewent my second cup of coffee and thought I’d hide out all day in my office working on some last minute projects.

Nope, I forgot, we had our monthly all-staff meeting with all our employees gathering together, housekeeping, laundry, nursing, etc. I came in and sat down, fully expecting a few more comments from the comedians. They didn’t fail me, but at least everyone was talking so hopefully none of the other employees who know me as the ‘Greenie’ noticed where I was sitting.

Next thing I know a powerpoint slide comes up “Liz is leaving us for the mission field! We’ll miss her!” and a CAKE. They bought a cake for all the employees in honor of me leaving. To the sound of applause, I had to stand up, walk across the dining room and cut the cake to serve to all the employees. My face was beat red. I mustered all my dignity and walked over to the cake, all of a sudden from behind me I hear my manager on the microphone:

“If you like what Liz is wearing, she’s starting a boutique. (hahahaha- collective laugh) Seriously though folks, pajamas are not appropriate work attire (hahahah- collective laugh).”

I slowly turned around, holding the knife for cake cutting, which I raised in the air and gave him the death stare.

“… and we tease because we (pause) love her!”

I was so moved, it was a really considerate and sweet thing to do. I’m sad to leave these wonderful people!

The moral of this story though is that you should never declare a “casual hippie day” for yourself a week before you leave your job.

Simple Spirituality.

 

This is awesome! Look for this in early July, or pre-order a copy. I am excited to see Chris sharing his heart and spirituality with the world. I haven’t read it yet, but I did get to see the cover a little bit early! I think it’s great that it has coffee on the cover because if you don’t know (and you probably do), Chris is obsessed with Starbucks coffee. Like we’re talking dark, triple shot espresso and water. SICK. It must be an Enneagram type 8 thing. 

If you have Facebook, he also has a fan page for the book, so you should join that as well. It’s on my profile! 

Tattling on YOU.

So I’ve been told that I have very distinct phrases and hand motions by several people before…. I guess I say “whaaaaat?!” in a certain way that cannot be replicated accurately over my blog. That makes me laugh because I didn’t even know I was saying it until today. I am aware of many variations of please- “puh-leeeze,” “pluz, pluz” with the hair flip, “sidenote!,” “alrIGHT,” and some of the sharper hand motions I do, also I guess some dramatic faces. I think I got all of those from someone, it might have been you.

After a bit of reflection; here are some of yours:

- Kara’s trademark story telling, always with that moment of fear where she says “and I was like ‘Oh gosh.” or she’ll also say “ok!” in a certain way during her stories.

- The way Calvin points, when he flips one hand and has the other arm crossed, so he’s propping the flipped hand up.

-My sister Hannah spent approximately two years of her life walking around with her hands drawn into her body, she even took ballet class like that. It made me NUTS, she doesn’t do it anymore, just thought I’d put that up here to embarrass her.

- Mai puts her hands out like jazz hands very distinctly, and sometimes does a little hop.

- Pete: “LIZ.” “Are you kidding me?!”

- “That’s inTENSE.” - Jesse

-My friend Bethany says crazy stuff all the time, but especially “GIRL!” “Lizzy!!!!”

- Ah, James… as you know I quote him all the time, and he also has an explosive laugh and a very distinct inquisitive “Liz, what the heck?!” face.

- Angi is super dry and we share a comedic view of the world, we always think the same things are funny. So she has a certain way of telling stories that I imitate. I think I also got the resting the hand on the nose from you, right?

- My bro Keith does this really awkward “har har har/yuk yuk yuk” that I have always sought to emulate whenever someone makes fun of me; it can be translated as “i don’t care what you think anyway!”

- In writing, Chris‘ CAPS and “~~.” As Brent said; “Where does he even find those squiggles on the keyboard?!” ~~~ must be a MAC thing! ~~~

- Calvin: “crazy.” “dude!” “oh man.”

-Kristin V has this way of moving her hands when she talks that I’ve gotten into, it’s like a circular type motion with the right hand. She also has a ‘Tim look’ whenever Tim says something ridiculous that cracks me up every time.

- Silas: “Word of warning.” He wrote that once to me in an e-mail and ever since then I’ve been saying it to people.

-LTF: “embarrassingly laborious” “Jesus, why don’t you treat me better?” “rampantly judging”

-My Dad is very well documented in quotes; some of his better ones he might not appreciate me leaving on the worldwideweb. But “bwahahah!” or any sort of gloating (especially during games) I get from him.

-And I’m really sorry to be so typical and unremixed, but Andrew and Ericka; “eh” and “aboot?” When we talk I pick up the Canadian accent where you make statements sound like questions.

On a sidenote… Word of warning. This may be inTENSE; but if you have ever danced in front of me, your dance moves are also well-documented. I don’t want that to deter you dude, but oh man, watch out because I will imitate you. Crazy. Bwahaha!

My Friend April.

Beauty.

Thank you for sharing this…

Stuff.

When I went to Nepal in 2005, I bought a lot of stuff. Crazy amounts of stuff. Jeez! Serving the poor sure was expensive back in those days.

This time my mom asked me, “what do you need for your trip overseas” and my list was five items. I mean, I might think of more… but it’s amazing how much you DON’T need for four or five months overseas. Here are some examples of things you might think you need but actually don’t:

1. Tevas. Yes, folks, it’s true. If our friends in Asia have lived their whole lives Teva and Chaco free, so can we. 

2. Seven pound NKJV Bible. (long story)

3. Band aids and immodium. (especially not the immodium- ask me that story sometime)

4. Waterproof fleece jacket.

5. Silver mirrored salwar suit. 

6. Fanny pack.

7. Homeschool jumper. 

8. 15 Servant Team books, plus Gloria’s. Thanks to whoever wrote that list.

 

Things I discovered you should take:

1. Make up.

2. Jewelry.

3. Hair dreading wax

4. Bathing suit. (Or you’ll be stuck searching the streets of Colombo, Sri Lanka, for a bathing suit not made for a Sri Lankan sized woman)

5. Hiking backpack.

6. Shorts. (Just for in the house, ok!)

7. Tracy Chapman cd. Preferably with the song ‘Fast Car’ on it.

 

The one thing I did take that I cannot find anywhere and am really sad about was a pair of long black linen pants from Target. So if you a pair somewhere, will you send them to me?

 

 

I would LOVE to hear your packing stories… hehehe.

Together.

This video needs no introduction. Simply… gorgeous.

Transition.

After I sent Kara and Calvin off on the airplane yesterday, I started a new journal. I feel a lot of new beginnings… saying goodbye to the remnants of the Nepal community in the States. Making a decision to end up in Omaha and not in Nepal, finding roommates and starting to pack up the little apartment in the city, among other things. It’s good… this period of transition is essential, it’s like being engaged. Kind of rough but necessary. 

Over and over I think about the rich young ruler. I wrote a support letter about this passage, but I keep finding new depths in that statement “Sell all you have and give to the poor.” When these people that I love so much- whether it’s the Nepal community, Lara, or Laura, or April in Romania, or Ericka/Andrew in Ottawa, or Lisa or Chester, or any dear friends around the world leave my life or I have to leave them… I feel like I’m that rich young ruler. I want to keep you all near me. I want to be able to text you at any time or call you whenever. But even you I have to give to the poor, I feel like I’m really having to do that constantly. When you read that passage, or intense verses like this, it seems like this doesn’t really make sense. I asked Jesus about it… “What do You mean? Your burden feels so heavy to me sometimes, I don’t understand this.”

He said a bunch of neat stuff, and it went something like… “I have freely given you so many things… all these I ask you now to give back to Me… Are you willing to sacrifice your community to serve My Beloved poor? Give them to me… my poor need these people more than you do. I will give you My Hand to hold instead… Remember that I always want good things for you. When I break your heart it is the best thing for you…

Find your rest by gazing at My face, and reflecting on My mystery. My yoke is one of authenticity and prayer, it is beautiful and a privilege to carry… My burden will bring you deep joy.” 

I still don’t really understand what all that means, but it’s something to think about… 

WMF Bull Riding Contest, I Mean Board Meeting.

I was commissioned last night at the Board Meeting, it was really beautiful. Phileena shared a sweet reflection on St Francis and St Claire of Assisi and some of their connection to our history in Word Made Flesh. It connected me so much more to the San Damiano cross. I am also reading about another one of our patron saints- Mother Teresa, Come Be My Light. I just finished it and have some thoughts but I’ll save those for a full post.

My Mom, Dad, Grandma and baby sister Lu all came this weekend on the drive (which was notably shorter minus the ’side trip’ two hours into Illinois to Rockford). It is so good for our communities to meet each other. My Grandma said that being at the board meeting was the difference between trusting what was behind the curtain and having the curtain open. Since we, as the movement of Word Made Flesh, live and minister in our community, I’m realizing how much we need to connect people to real faces, real Enneagram types, real stories and jokes ‘behind the curtain’ of our language and lifestyle celebrations.

Chris‘ devotion on Saturday morning was on the humanity of Christ. He made the comment that we’re often practicing Christian gnostics… we always defer to the divinity of Christ and don’t recognize His real humanity. What was Jesus like as a human? We stuff Him into our faith traditions… I know I do that. I’m excited to dive into this more. 

We definitely revisited the dance party this time in Chris and Phileena’s living room. Actual quote: “You should have seen Ben Miller in November! He had record pit stains!” - Caleb. Hahaha. New moves were created, most notably by Chris and Phileena. I cannot even describe this over my blog. You must see it in person, seriously.  It. was. legendary. 

There were kids! So many great, great kids this weekend. Finley came upstairs to say goodbye and kissed everyone, including me on the lips. Oh my gosh, he is a favorite.

I’m super excited and humbled to be able to move in with Marcia and Brittany when I head out to Omaha in November… folks, this is my chance to finally break into the cult, I mean college group, of Taylor University! Seriously though, they are willing to commit to community with me, all my idiosyncrasies and coffee addictions included. I love their collective way of being, it’s awesome.

And, just so you know… There was bull riding. Yes, there was a mechanical bull and many members of the WMF community demonstrated their practical life skills in riding this bull. There was a moment, as we were screaming “Go Word Made Flesh! Serving the poor!” while our International Director of Advocacy flew head over heels off the mechanical bull that I most deeply resonated with Phileena when she said “You’re our people.” Oh yes, community. 

Did you ever have one of those days?

Where you realize halfway through the second loud chorus that you’re belting out “I’m Dreaming of A White Christmas.” In May. Out loud. Unintentionally.

AND, your officemate is sitting right next to you.