Day 45 Easter Eve

Scripture: Ps 31:1-16; Job 14:1-14; Lamentations 3:1-9, 19-24; 1 Peter 4:1-8; Matthew 27:57-66


Scripture standout:


Ps 31: But I trust in you, LORD; I say, “You are my God.” ¹⁵ My times are in your hands;"


1 Peter: "¹ Therefore, since Christ suffered in his body, arm yourselves also with the same attitude, because whoever suffers in the body is done with sin. ² As a result, they do not live the rest of their earthly lives for evil human desires, but rather for the will of God...⁷ The end of all things is near. Therefore be alert and of sober mind so that you may pray. ⁸ Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins."


Matthew 25: "⁵⁷ As evening approached, there came a rich man from Arimathea, named Joseph, who had himself become a disciple of Jesus. ⁵⁸ Going to Pilate, he asked for Jesus’ body, and Pilate ordered that it be given to him. ⁵⁹ Joseph took the body, wrapped it in a clean linen cloth, ⁶⁰ and placed it in his own new tomb that he had cut out of the rock. He rolled a big stone in front of the entrance to the tomb and went away.⁶¹ Mary Magdalene and the other Mary were sitting there opposite the tomb."

Morning thoughts: We have not gotten into the whole burial planning phase yet. But as I understand it, there is quite a bit of thought that goes into it. And I don't think it's cheap either, especially when you're making space for kids and siblings. It is a morbid thought, but I suppose one day down the road we all have to consider it — and pay for it.

Don't you know Joseph from Arimathea had a PHAT burial situation all planned out for himself? He had created some sort of modern-day mausoleum for himself out of rock. He was a wealthy man, so certainly this tomb was FAAAAAAAncy. That tomb was probably supposed to represent all the success he had achieved in his life, and likely would have held others in his family upon their passing. Yet, he loved Christ. And no matter how fancy that tomb was, it would be for his Lord's body — not his own. How unselfish and inspiring.

A friend shared an inspiring story with me this morning about this very thing — giving up something big for someone else. I have to put it out there. Her boy is like one of ours because he's always around, always up for joining in and just so darn sweet (JSDS) — we all adore him:

"Outside the dollar store we ran into a man who asked for money and I told him I was sorry I couldn't give him anything (usually I never have cash).  JSDS says I have some (!), and I thought oh no, I had no idea what he had in his pocket.  He pulled out his money and handed it to the man and the man thanked him.  We got in the car and after a moment of recovery and a word of thanks for such a moment I asked him how much he gave the man.  He said, "a dollar".  I said oh, that was nice.  He said that is all I had.  I told him that was great and so sweet and HE said, "Jesus said if you have a lot you should give a lot but if you have a little give a little, so I gave a little".   More praise goin' up for God's work in JSDS' life! :)   I told JSDS God is growing his faith everytime he responds to his calling like that."

The Deed/The Day: Well, I am wrapping things up again, where I began: with low-hanging fruit. Today an old man in an Oldsmobile peeked out from a shopping center parking lot in an attempt to turn out onto the busy road I was barreling down in Beast Master. Instead of pulling a "not on my watch old man" and getting home three seconds earlier, I let him in and waited very, very, very patiently as he made his careful turn. 

Then, a caught a whopper — the Big Kahuna. Dad and I took a trip to the Riverside Arts Market and on our way home, passed a woman whose car was broken down on the I-95 on-ramp. The old me? She would have kept on going in the end. She would have given the gal a sad look, maybe thrown out a mental crossed-fingers and kept on going — because surely, she would have convinced herself, the woman was fine and was probably getting help. But I stopped. The nudge was gentle, easy. I got out and walked over to her car. It was a hot day. Gal-in-a-Broke-Coach said she wasn't sure what happened, but her car wouldn't start. Darn if she hadn't just taken it in, she lamented. Her two kids were in the back seat, but they were not yet at disgruntled and rude phase. She couldn't think of anything she needed. She had just called her husband, he was on his way. A nice-looking, well-groomed little guy with prissy, metro-man gestures — translation, fabulous company — stopped his car, too. He called the roadside assistance folks, they would be there in a few minutes. GIABC told me thanks. Thanks for stopping. At that point I knew — without convincing myself our talking myself into it or wincing because I didn't know for sure — she was OK, and I could leave. 

I truly don't think I would have done that six weeks ago. Happy Easter!

Day 44 Good Friday

Scripture: Ps 22; Isaiah 52:13—53:12; Hebrews 10:16-25; 5:7-9; John 18:1—19:42.

Scripture Standout: Hebrews 10: "²⁴ And let us consider how we may spur one another on toward love and good deeds, ²⁵ not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching."

Morning thought: Funny how once again, things are ending where they started. First it was the pancakes. Now, it's this verse. Way back when in the Dark Ages, when I contemplated this little Lenten experiment, I wondered whether blogging about trying to be a better do-gooder was self-serving in some way. My greatest fear was that someone would think it was show-offy or look-at-me-ish or Sue-promoting. I shared this concern with Friend-Who-I-Wish-I-Saw-More. She understood, thought about it, asked me to explore my intentions and then shared two verses with me. They have very different messages. The first was the one about how you should do your good deeds in private:

“When you give a gift to someone in need, don’t shout about it as the hypocrites do – blowing trumpets in the synagogues and streets to call attention to their acts of charity! I assure you, they have received all the reward they will ever get. But when you give to someone, don’t tell your left hand what your right hand is doing. Give your gifts in secret, and your Father, who knows all secrets, will reward you.” (Matthew 6:2-4 NLT)

The second verse she shared was this one, the one we're reading today from Hebrews. Let us spur one another on toward love and good deeds.

I have been reviewing the past 40+ days to find markers of this experiment's results. I'm trying to find correlations between verses I read and deeds that transpired. I want to see if there's a connection between Prayer, Silence and Scripture — my biggest desire is to yield some "scientific data" that will prove beyond a doubt that deeding is a really, really great thing for humanity. But proof might be impossible to nail down. I think to really answer that question, to prove the impact of this experiment, you have to see how that ripple affected the deeded person. And "follow up" is something that is rarely possible, if not impossible, to discern. I will never know, for example, how that lady at the Dreamette felt when she got a free ice cream cone. I will never know if that woman at Walgreens felt any kind of reprieve when I helped her reach something on high shelf. I'll just never know how an act of kindness, a deed, affected a bigger picture. Only God knows that, I suppose.

One other note: waking up early to study, have silence — and blog — can ONLY be achieved sanely in the early morning hours. It has taken me two hours to write this between the near constant "Mom?"s and "Can you?"s and phone calls and "I'm bored"s and "You Never Play With Me"s and intermittent garble from the television and all the well-intended but ANNOYING interruptions that are part of a Day Off from school. Lesson learned? Get it done before anyone is up. I slept in this morning, and am regretting it.

A final thought this morning. Another journalist who was ill died yesterday. The paper shared her final story, which is so timely. Here 'tis:

Longtime Times-Union religion writer Barbara White died Wednesday. In the last weeks of her life, she wrote this, her final column.

I was 14 when I heard God tell me that he loved me. After I got over the awe of knowing God loved me, I had no idea what to do about it.

It was a Saturday afternoon at Bartram Girls School, where I was a boarding student. I was alone in the library. It was quiet. I asked myself, “What do you do when God says he loves you?” I had no answer.

The next day they packed us all on the school bus and hauled us off to an Episcopal church on Hendricks Avenue where we sat glumly in a pew and waited for church to be over. (Years later a woman my age said she had been in the congregation and thought we were from an orphanage because we looked so sad.)

That morning the minister announced that confirmation classes would begin soon for those who wanted to join the church. I said, “OK, that’s what you do. You join God’s church.”

A week ago, I am now 81, a young woman asked me what I would like to say to Christians. There are so many different possible answers but the one that came to my lips was, try to find out as much as you can about the God who says he loves you.

She asked how would you go about that? I said read the Bible with that as your intention. Not to analyze or figure out what it means to you or the history of it. Just see what it tells you about this God who declares to me and to his chosen people and to all who would come that he loves them.

Start out with a favorite passage, something that you are familiar with that is meaningful to you. What does this tell me about God who loves me? If you are the kind who makes notes, make a note of what it was.

Look at everything in the world that God created and see what it says about him as a lover of all mankind, of individuals. 

Look at your life, your joys and sorrows, your pains and passions, and ask God how he can love all of them. And, what he wants me to do with them?

This is not a quick study. So while you’re doing other things, ponder, ponder, “Who is this God who loves me?” Make it personal, keep it personal. When I have been able to journal, which is sporadically, it’s one of the things I try to note. What am I thinking about God right now? What do I understand about him now that I didn’t understand before?

During crises in my life I have learned a lot about myself. I have learned things that made me wonder how God could possibly love me. Whether I can answer that question or not, he still does love me despite the awful things I found out about myself.

It’s been the most pleasure-giving study. How can it not be a pleasure to examine the love someone has for you. When you can trust it, rely on it, know that it’s true, know that it’s deeper than you can understand and that it will always, always, always be there.

As I approach the time, in days or weeks, to go to be with him, I am at rest and at peace in this knowledge. I don’t know anything else that can give you this rest and this peace.

You say bon voyage when someone sets out on a long journey. I don’t know what you say when you set out on this task of knowing the God who loves you, but have a wonderful time. I did.

Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/columnists/2011-04-22/story/final-column-understanding-nature-divine-love#ixzz1KGoEX1rI


The Deed/The Day: I went on a bike ride today with Marley. That doesn't sound like a deed, does it? But it was. She wanted to do something "wis" me. Really badly. And you know what my reaction was? I was annoyed. I was bothered because I had work to do, and lots of people around me needing things — and here were all these vacationing, Good Friday-ing people in my midst. The work I had to do would require about 2 hours of uninterrupted concentration, and that was in short supply. Everytime I focused, Marley loomed beside me at the computer. "I want to do something wis you," she sulked. I asked her what her friends' mothers did with them. Were there things they did together? Was I missing something? I mean, I can be a pretty fun mom — but I also have to gitterdun. And I know my friends are in similar situations. She had no answers. But she insisted. She wants to do something wis me. (in fact, just as I'm writing this...I'm being asked for popcorn. KE$SHA's on, hello! Can I berrrrrring the popcorn in to her? Grrrrrr.) My deed? I shut my computer. We hopped on our bikes. We rode 2 miles to the Peterbrooke Chocolate. We sweat, a lot. And it was fun. Sometimes, people just want your attention. Sometimes, people just want to be wis you. Isn't a deed giving yourself, your time, to someone who just wants to be — WIS you?

Day 43 Maundy Thursday

Scripture: Ps 116:1, 10-17; Exodus 12:1-14; 1 Corinthians 11:23-26; John 13:1-17


Scripture Standout: "¹² When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. ¹³ “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. ¹⁴ Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. ¹⁵ I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. ¹⁶Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. ¹⁷ Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them."


Morning thoughts: I have never gone to a Maundy Thursday service before. We're going to go tonight and see what it's all about. Washing someone's feet is the ultimate act of servitude, I wonder how it will feel to be the washed. Actually, I know how it feels because I am partially addicted to getting pedicures. Having my feet washed and rubbed and coifed is like heaven for me. Underneath the rumbling of the vibrating massage chair and the sounds of other women yacking, pedicures often make me feel a little "unworthy." How can you not when someone is bent over your feet scraping the muck and hard places from your dirtiest body parts?


The Deed/The Day: Washing someone's feet is a humbling event. Through all of this focus, I can't help but be pensive and sad tonight. Washing a fellow All Saint-er's feet tonight was not a deed. It was — a requirement of my faith. And if felt right. Before going to church tonight, I read that a longtime local journalist who I admire, is now in hospice. She has been battling cancer for some time, and has bravely chronicled it in a public way. After reading a short note on the paper's online edition that she was at the hospice stage, I felt so — compelled. A short note to her about how much I admire her came out quickly and easily. I pressed send. A near immediate expression of "thanks for caring" was received from the person who promised to share it with her tomorrow. What a sad night.

I Can't stop! I can't help it! Day 40 & 41

Now I have formed a habit. And maybe it's a good one. For good measure, and because I am a creature of routine each morning between my run and coffee and breakfast preparing and every other thing I do every single day, I will continue to take notes on the days' scripture reading and the deeds that transpire. I missed a couple of days, but I made quick note of them below:


On Monday, this was my scripture standout:  Romans 9: 19 "One of you will say to me: “Then why does God still blame us? For who is able to resist his will?” ²⁰ But who are you, a human being, to talk back to God? “Shall what is formed say to the one who formed it, ‘Why did you make me like this?’”^[a]21 Does not the potter have the right to make out of the same lump of clay some pottery for special purposes and some for common use?


On Monday, this was the deed that transpired: To make it to the school carpool pick up line on time, you have to get aggressive about making left hand turns at a particular signal. I was ready and wheeled Beast Master quicky and sharply to the left (she was practically up on two wheels!) — determined, like many other moms in mini vans and suburbans, to gather my precious loot on time. Then there she was. An old lady with a walker, attempting to cross the street I had raged onto. There were other determined mothers behind me, too, so I had to think fast. But I gave Beast Master a "whoah, whoah girl," slowed, then stopped and let the limping lady pass. Guess what her T-shirt said? It was a little rainbow with the words "New Beginning" printed underneath. I'll say.


On Tuesday, this was my scripture standout: Romans 10 "⁴ Christ is the culmination of the law so that there may be righteousness for everyone who believes."


On Tuesday, this was the deed that transpired: I cooked a big dinner and no one ate it due to several circumstances between Boy Scouts, a Powder Puff Football Game and turkey hunting. I let it go, and put it in the fridge. Also wished my sister-in-law safe travels and to relax on her upcoming vacation — she needs it! Maybe people like knowing that other people are thinking about big things on their horizon?


On Wednesday, today, this was my scripture standout — one of my all time faves and definitely a number two or three on that Casey Kasem Top 40 hit list: Hebrews 12

 ¹ Therefore, since we are surrounded by such a great cloud of witnesses, let us throw off everything that hinders and the sin that so easily entangles. And let us run with perseverance the race marked out for us, ²fixing our eyes on Jesus, the pioneer and perfecter of faith. For the joy set before him he endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. ³ Consider him who endured such opposition from sinners, so that you will not grow weary and lose heart."


OK, and I liked today's Forward Day by Day devotional very much, too. Thought it really fit in to this experimenting with do-gooding challenge. It is gut-wrenchingly sad, but something to contemplate this Holy Week. Here 'tis:

John 13:21-32. After saying this Jesus was troubled in spirit, and declared, “Very truly, I tell you, one of you will betray me.”

Jesus was human, too. We focus a lot on Jesus’ divinity. When the fact that he knew what it was to be human slips our grasp, his understanding seems like something cerebral and not visceral.

At the root of my humanity lies a potentially insatiable self-centeredness. Given its way, it can become unquenchable. Nothing, not even the richest of imagination, will put out its fire. This “what’s in it for me” mindset is at the root of all my problems and is where my fears live. From those fears come anger, greed, intolerance, and a host of other shortcomings.

It is no accident that all religions point to the forgetting of self, because all religions know salvation lies in self-forgetting.

Jesus knew what it was like to be human. He had to. Not like someone who’d studied it in college and now saw it in the person across the desk from him. No, he knew it like someone who had felt it all the way down to the marrow of his bones and had ached from it.

He knew it like I know it, and that gives me hope.

On Wednesday, today, this is the deed that transpired: I pulled an exciting one today — a real winner in the world of deeding. I took Ben to the Dreamette after school, 'cause Hop-a-Long's leg's broke and all. The Dreamette is one of these 1960s-era standalone ice-cream treat stores where you can get milkshakes or towering soft-serve ice cream cones. It's the kind of place where people with the sugars — don't belong. At the Dreamette, it's cash only. I paid for Ben's ice cream and the slid the change back to the girl behind the window. I asked her to use the change to pay for the next person's ice-cream! As we were leaving, I saw a woman approach the ordering window. I smiled inside, even though I could not order the peanut butter chocolate fudge sundae milkshake that I desired with every fiber in my stomach. That was super fun.

Day 39 Palm Sunday in Review

Prayer: Yes, with the "right-on'ers" at All Saints on this glorious Palm Sunday
Scripture: Yes, ""
Silence: Yes, " "

The Deed/The Day: I am uncomfortable starting conversations with people who are 1) quiet and new to a scene and 2) gravely ill. Knowing this about myself, I pursued two such exchanges today. Two wonderful scenarios unfolded and perhaps deeds came from them in some way. In my mind, I'd like to say the person who was new to the scene felt a little more at home and the person who is fighting an illness was able to share some of the the challenges she and her family are facing. And guess what? I got a lot out of both conversations, too! Everyone likes to share things about themselves — deeding definitely includes providing opportunities for others to talk. Is listening one of the most important deeding tools out there?

Words of encouragement/advice: Deeding is not a "Christian" thing or a religious-nut thing. I believe it to be a humanity thing. Too many smart people in our world and throughout history believe this — why shouldn't I?:


"No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted." — Aesop


"Teach this triple truth to all: A generous heart, kind speech, and a life of service and compassion are the things which renew humanity." — Buddha


"Do all the good you can and make as little fuss about it as possible." — Charles Dickens


"Only a life lived for others is a life worthwhile." — Albert Einstein


"It is one of the most beautiful compensations of this life that you cannot sincerely try to help another without helping yourself." — Ralph Waldo Emerson


"I hope you will judge yourselves not on your professional accomplishments alone, but also on how well you have addressed the world’s deepest inequities…on how well you treated people a world away who have nothing in common with you but your humanity." — Bill Gates 


"Each time we stand up for an ideal, or act to improve the lot of others, or strike out against injustice, we send forth a tiny ripple of hope, and crossing each other from a million different centers of energy and daring, those ripples build a current that can sweep down the mightiest walls of oppression and resistance." — Robert F. Kennedy


"When I do good, I feel good; when I do bad, I feel bad. That is my religion." Abraham Lincoln 

Final thoughts: There is so much about this experiment that I want to share. But like a good reporter, I want to review my notes. I want to do a thorough study, and offer a comprehensive report. Tomorrow is the "40th Day." This week is Holy Week. When my perspective is clear, I'd like to tell you exactly what I learned from 40 Days of Doing Unto Others. I want to tell you what happened when I focused on daily prayer, scripture and silence and looked for deliberate opportunities to do good deeds and be more aware of God's daily "nudges" in that direction. That may take a few days — the 40th day of this experiment may take a bit. But I'll get back with you pronto. Until then, enjoy the reflective time that Holy Week and Easter offers. I have enjoyed purging this 40-day experiment's challenges, gifts, successes and failures. Thank you for joining me on the journey!

Day 39 — Palm Sunday

Scripture: Ps 31:9-16; Isaiah 50:4-9; Philippians 2:5-11; Matthew 26:14—27:66


Scripture standout: (This is just funny to mer personally given our moth issues of late, and the fact that I love to have new frocks and garments, especially ones from New York. Sigh.) Isaiah 50: 8" Who is my accuser? Let him confront me! ⁹ It is the Sovereign LORD who helps me. Who will condemn me? They will all wear out like a garment; the moths will eat them up."



^{Phillippians 2: 5 "5} In your relationships with one another, have the same mindset as Christ Jesus:⁶ Who, being in very nature^[a] God, did not consider equality with God something to be used to his own advantage; ⁷ rather, he made himself nothing by taking the very nature^[b] of a servant, being made in human likeness."



Morning thoughts: That's the crux of this whole experiment, I believe. Can I "take the very nature of a servant"? Can I put everyone else before myself as much as possible? Through habit, prayer and meditation can I embrace that mindset?


Ya'll that is tough. But I am working on it. And I suppose it's something that I'll be working on every day for the rest of my life!


Today started out where this whole experiment began — pancakes. Marley had a friend spend the night. They were giddy with excitement as they produced "The Unofficial Harry Potter Cookbook," page 41 — Big Fluffy Pancakes recipe. Marley beamed. "Mama. Mama. Will you make Big Fluffy Pancakes tomorrow? Will you wake up early and make them for us?" "Of course," were my parting words to the girls last night.


This morning, I woke up early and by-passed the Bisquick for the flour and baking soda and sugar and all the other ingredients these Big Fluffy Pancakes called for. I mixed and stirred and poured — I was a mom on fire this morning! I slugged two cups of coffee. I flipped pancakes while cooking bacon and hot biscuits for Limping One (his breakfast request). I was super mom! Yes! But... I began to notice that the Big Fluffy Pancakes I was making looked more like brown, flat splat. I kept cooking.


When I produced the big beautiful breakfast and the high stack of Big Fluffy Pancakes to the kids, Marley looked at me square in the eyes and said, "These don't look like Big Fluffy Pancakes, Mom." She rolled her eyes. Sighed. She huffed, even. Limping One explained to me that the biscuits I had been making lately tasted "kinda doughy."


It is not always rewarding being a servant.