Day 77

Scripture: Ps 72; Ps 119:73-96; Romans 13:1-14; Luke 8:16-25


Scripture standout: Ps 119: "³ Your hands made me and formed me; 
   give me understanding to learn your commands."

Romans 13: "“Love your neighbor as yourself.”^[b] 10 Love does no harm to a neighbor. Therefore love is the fulfillment of the law."

Luke 18: "²² One day Jesus said to his disciples, “Let us go over to the other side of the lake.”So they got into a boat and set out. ²³ As they sailed, he fell asleep. A squall came down on the lake, so that the boat was being swamped, and they were in great danger. ²⁴ The disciples went and woke him, saying, “Master, Master, we’re going to drown!”
   He got up and rebuked the wind and the raging waters; the storm subsided, and all was calm. ²⁵ “Where is your faith?” he asked his disciples."


Morning thoughts: The program that is bringing all the kids over for medical treatment and respite, Solace for the Children, is a wonderful organization in too many ways to count. In addition to helping plant seeds of peace in a country that is skeptical of American ways, the program helps our children experience other cultures and people and is a six-week long lesson in "loving your neighbor as yourself." It is a lesson in having faith — and not freaking out when the storm rolls in. I was just laughing at the story from Luke because that is totally me. There have been many times during the planning of the Solace childrens' trip that I have wanted to say "we're going to drown!" Last year, we didn't have even half of the money raised within weeks of the children's arrival — and there were visas, tickets and everything else to buy! "Love Her," the woman who stilled the screaming baby in the hospital last week, was unfazed. She had faith it would all work out. And it did. This time, there was some trouble with the kids' visas. Again, my first reaction would have been to throw my hands up. And this morning, I hear that it's all going to work out just fine. Where is my faith?


The Deed/The Day: Funny, I can easily say "trip to doctor's office to learn how to screw Ashraf's pins" as the deed. But it didn't feel deedful. He is so grateful, helping Ashraf feels so neutral. Ashraf is happy to be in the states and for his surgery. I am happy we have an extra room where he can stay and recuperate. Too easy. Not to mention, the doctor said one more week until pin-screwing. Whewwww!

Day 76

Scripture: Ps 61, 62, 68:1-36;  Romans 12:1-21; Luke 8:1-15


Scripture standout: Psalm 62: "⁷ My salvation and my honor depend on God^[c]; 
   he is my mighty rock, my refuge. ⁸ Trust in him at all times, you people;
   pour out your hearts to him,
   for God is our refuge.
 ⁹ Surely the lowborn are but a breath,
   the highborn are but a lie.
If weighed on a balance, they are nothing;
   together they are only a breath. 


Romans 12: "Do not think of yourself more highly than you ought, but rather think of yourself with sober judgment, in accordance with the faith God has distributed to each of you. ⁴ For just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, ⁵ so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others. ⁶ We have different gifts, according to the grace given to each of us. If your gift is prophesying, then prophesy in accordance with your^[a] faith; ⁷ if it is serving, then serve; if it is teaching, then teach; ⁸ if it is to encourage, then give encouragement; if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead,^[b] do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."


Morning thoughts: As so often happens, examples of deeding and living out some passage jumps out of the morning newspaper. Today was a story in the sports section. I don't usually read the sports section, but a story caught my eye. It's about the owner of our local running store. He's launching a campaign to save the cross-country running programs in the local public schools. Void of funding with budgets slashed to bits, sports programs in our schools are at death's door. Doug Alred, this tall lanky guy trying to run a small business and nearly every running event that occurs in Jacksonville, is fighting for young runners. He wants to raise nearly $70,000 to keep the programs intact. His actions remind me of hte passage above — about how we all have strengths and gifts, and as a community we share them in different ways. Me? I like to run, but I don't have the passion or interest to launch a fundraising campaign like Doug does. For some reason, I guess my passions are more related to ailing Afghans and gathering people. Not sure why either.


I have a little saying from the funeral of one of my friends right above my desk: "Hide not your talents, they for use were made. What's a sundial in the sahde?"


The Deed/The Day: Pin. Care.

Day 75

Scripture: Ps 56, 57, 64, 65;  Colossians 3:18—4:18; Luke 7:36-50


Scripture standout: Colossians 4: "⁵ Be wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity. ⁶ Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you may know how to answer everyone."


Morning thoughts: I think one of the hardest things about deliberate deeding is keeping myself in tune, present and in the zone. It is very easy to enter a setting or situation with my focus keenly locked on my own issues, problems and thoughts. How often do I zip into the grocery store or the carpool line or a meeting thinking about 10 other things — and not on what's right in front of me? This happens daily 100s of times! I have to snap myself out of it constantly! And the only way to do this is to tempt myself with the carrot that if I can just look around and absorb others and what's happening around me, that I might have an extraordinary opportunity — "to make the most of every opportunity" — to be a blessing to someone. But I will tell you that does not come easy, after even 75 days of being conscious of it.


The Deed/The Day: Ashraf came home today! Long day, ups and downs on pain, but he's in bed snoring now. Now that we're on the "other side of the mountain," I am reminded how challenging a challenge is — but how much better you feel to have done it. That's where I am now. (knock on wood, because this is only the beginning!) Another bag came in for Chuck today — he has such nice neighbors!

Day 74

Scripture: Ps 31:1-16; Acts 7:55-60; 1 Peter 2:2-10; John 14:1-14


Scripture standout: John: 14: "¹⁴ You may ask me for anything in my name, and I will do it."



Morning thoughts: Lord, please give me a day when I can wear my pajamas all day, watch a Housewives of whatever city marathon and eat things that are bad for me. I am feeling the heat of summer "I'm boreds" and "what's nexts." Three more days of school can make a mother wish she had a kitchen staff and a personal assistant.  Now, off to the hospital to relieve some people who have been sitting with Ashraf nearly around the clock. Then on to a piano recital, and trumpet concert...then a cast off on Monday. Does NeNe Leakes worry about life's details and events? 


The Deed/The Day: Isn't it funny how a day changes. I woke up this morning wanting to be more like NeNe Leakes and less like myself and in my life. This morning's perspective was all about how my day was all about everyone else, and not at all about me. It was all about Ashrafulla's hospital stay, Marley's Dorito needs, Ben's piano recital, Ben's trumpet recital, Ben's desire to go to the Village Inn. I grumped through a good bit of the day. And now that it's in the rear view mirror, I look at it through a new lens. What a privilege of a day it was! How wonderful that Marley could eat Doritos and not through a feeding tube. What blessings that Ashrafulla is doing so much better in the hospital. How proud I am of Ben's musical accomplishments. Village Inn? Well, I don't have much to say about that. But it's amazing how tainting sour morning thoughts can be. 

Day 73

Scripture: Ps 55, 138, 139:1-23; Colossians 3:12-17; Luke 7:18-28(29-30)31-35


Scripture standout: Luke 7: "²⁸ I tell you, among those born of women there is no one greater than John; yet the one who is least in the kingdom of God is greater than he."


Psalm 138: "⁶ Though the LORD is exalted, he looks kindly on the lowly; 
   though lofty, he sees them from afar."

Psalm 139: "⁷ Where can I go from your Spirit?
   Where can I flee from your presence? ⁸ If I go up to the heavens, you are there;
   if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. ⁹ If I rise on the wings of the dawn,
   if I settle on the far side of the sea, ¹⁰ even there your hand will guide me,
   your right hand will hold me fast."

Morning thoughts: Ashraf's surgery was successful and he is an inspiration to me and others! This polite, quiet, reserved, upright and respectful young man faced this journey with poise and patience and love. Even though he's sitting in his hospital room thousands of miles away from his family and friends — with a big cage around his left foot — he still smiles, says thank you and holds it together. I can't even imagine.


The Deed/The Day: Uggh. I bitter-deeded today. After coming home from the hospital — where basically everything from Ashraf was "it's ok" or "I'm fine" or he's over there trying to knock back a hot pocket pizza and green beans without making a face — I found my own children who had many needs. Their needs were different. They didn't like dinner. They were bored. They asked what I was making them for dessert and could I bring them their dinner in the den? I met their needs, but not with a happy inside.

Day 72

Scripture: Ps 40, 54, 51; Colossians 3:1-11; Luke 7:1-17


Scripture standout: Colossians 3: "⁹ Do not lie to each other, since you have taken off your old self with its practices ¹⁰ and have put on the new self, which is being renewed in knowledge in the image of its Creator. ¹¹ Here there is no Gentile or Jew, circumcised or uncircumcised, barbarian, Scythian, slave or free, but Christ is all, and is in all."


Luke 7: "

Luke 7

The Faith of the Centurion

 ¹ When Jesus had finished saying all this to the people who were listening, he entered Capernaum. ² There a centurion’s servant, whom his master valued highly, was sick and about to die. ³ The centurion heard of Jesus and sent some elders of the Jews to him, asking him to come and heal his servant. ⁴ When they came to Jesus, they pleaded earnestly with him, “This man deserves to have you do this, ⁵ because he loves our nation and has built our synagogue.” ⁶ So Jesus went with them.   He was not far from the house when the centurion sent friends to say to him: “Lord, don’t trouble yourself, for I do not deserve to have you come under my roof. ⁷ That is why I did not even consider myself worthy to come to you. But say the word, and my servant will be healed. ⁸ For I myself am a man under authority, with soldiers under me. I tell this one, ‘Go,’ and he goes; and that one, ‘Come,’ and he comes. I say to my servant, ‘Do this,’ and he does it.”
 ⁹ When Jesus heard this, he was amazed at him, and turning to the crowd following him, he said, “I tell you, I have not found such great faith even in Israel.” ¹⁰ Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well.


Morning thoughts: Last night's interfaith discussion centered greatly around the promise of humility. One message I took away from it is that whatever faith you practice, humility must play a role or the faith becomes more about the person than God. I really like that story about the Centurion. He had his own beliefs and lorded over many, but still felt unworthy to have Jesus even come into his home. The best part of the story is here's this guy — all high and mighty — acting as a servant to his servant.


Today, and for the next week or so at least, a group of Solace volunteers and host families and Afghan families will be servants to Ashrafulla. The surgery he is having this morning will change his life in so many measurable, positive ways. But it would not happen without the servant's hearts of many — including the doctors and hospitals who are humbly donating their time and expertise.


The best thing is, I get to spend a good portion of the weekend in the hospital. Hospitals are full of deeding opportunities, and I am excited to seek them out! 


One quick word on having a servant's heart: it's not easy. Just this morning, I'm grumbling and feeling sorry for myself. I stayed up late to wrap things up at the forum, I have work to do, I'm trying to figure out getting kids from Point A to B this morning, figuring out birthday party deliveries, packing lunches, making breakfast, not to mention worried about surgery day for Ashraf — and I don't want to do any of it. I'd much rather sleep in — like the rest of those ninnies upstairs who are STILL sleeping. David has some "over exertion condition" of some kind, so he's sleeping it off. And here's poor me, schlepping the day's worries around before 6;30 a.m. Sometimes, like this morning, I'd simply rather not deal with any of it. Nice servant's heart, eh?


The Deed/The Day: There was plenty of deeding surrounding Ashraf's surgery, but the biggest deed was one I witnessed — took note of, and learned from. The waiting room at Wolfson was full and loud. We set up camp in the middle of it all — Ashraf's possee. We were right behind a woman and her cranky two-year-old and 9 month old. Hours clicked passed, and this poor little boy got crankier and crankier. As one might expect a two-year-old to do, he exploded several times into crying fits that made everyone's ears just shudder. Being that it was a children's hospital, he was in good company. But still, his prolonged and high pitched wales were beyond grating. Friend who I'll call "Love Her!", because I do, stood up from her seat. She's a good mama and a tough gal when she needs to be. I thought for sure the cranky two-year-old was about to get a piece of her mind — or maybe the mother. But "Love Her!" approached the mother gently and asked if she could talk to her son. I don't know what "Love Her!" said but she got him to stop screaming. Not once, but three times! And the last time, she scooped this baby up onto her chest and he immediately fell asleep there — for two hours more. Sometimes, when people are cranky and beside themselves with anxiety or fear — a warm smile, kind words, a genuine embrace and place to rest is all they need. I won't forget her actions ever.

Day 71

Scripture: Ps 50, 114, 115; Colossians 2:8-23; Luke 6:39-49


Scripture Standout: Luke 6: "⁴⁶ “Why do you call me, ‘Lord, Lord,’ and do not do what I say? ⁴⁷ As for everyone who comes to me and hears my words and puts them into practice, I will show you what they are like. ⁴⁸ They are like a man building a house, who dug down deep and laid the foundation on rock. When a flood came, the torrent struck that house but could not shake it, because it was well built. ⁴⁹ But the one who hears my words and does not put them into practice is like a man who built a house on the ground without a foundation. The moment the torrent struck that house, it collapsed and its destruction was complete.”


Morning thoughts: I know and love many people who don't have a faith, period. That is their life, their choice, their deal. But sometimes my heart gets heavy for them when life produces "torrents" that strikes their homes. I can hardly imagine how it feels for someone to think they have to figure it out, fix it and rebuild it all on their own and without guidance, support or affection. I have one friend who has been pelted with torrents for the past couple of years. She's standing outside her collapsed house still trying to figure out exactly how it happened and what she's going to do about it. That must feel like such a lonely, frustrating place!


On another note, Jacksonville has its first black mayor. Voters across the city voted this week to send a message of progress — and to defy a good ole boy appearance that defined this town in the 1960s and 1970s. I have no idea if our new mayor is going to fix our house, our Jacksonville. But I am astounded and grateful voters are giving him a chance to try.


A third note: All Saints' first Interfaith Forum is tonight. I am very excited about this, there has been warm community support for it.


Last note: This is Ashraf's last full day with a club foot. His surgery is tomorrow morning. Please pray for this very prayerful Muslim boy who is full of joy, respect, manners and gratitude.


The Deed/The Day: All deed efforts honed in on the Interfaith Forum at church. It went really well. Almost a full church — pews lined with worshippers of all flavors. It was a blessing.