A Personal History of Coffee and Me

Somewhat fascinated with the huge, blue-speckled pots on the church kitchen gas stove, I asked, "What's in that?" as I watched an egg being dropped in each. The earthy odor from the boiling pot lingered as the circle ladies, with aprons tied around their waists, made ham salad sandwiches and cut pieces of cake from donated pans.

It boiled in an old tin pot in our farm kitchen each morning (without the egg). Dad and Mom had it for breakfast, mid-morning with a sweet roll, and if any was left-over, it was sometimes served the following morning. (Waste not; want not.)

I'm sure I must have ventured a taste of it while growing up; however, my next memory occurs in college. I was now of age to drink the bitter drink. It went especially well with the sweet rolls served each morning in the cafeteria. It also was effective in keeping me awake when I needed to study for those dreaded exams.

When a teacher, the work room had a large pot with a spigot. Cups were hung above it with identifying names. I used the Styrofoam cup instead, filling it half full, not yet addicted to the caffeine.

I'm not sure when it became part of my routine to drink it each morning, and, without it, I was less like-able, less- productive, less- everything.

When I ran a Daycare out of our home, I would escape to the local Kum and Go very early in the morning to pay for a cup of High Octane and sip it on the way home along with a creme-filled donut.
Talked about an energy-boost.

After the kids left the nest, I met one of them at Star Bucks and let them order my Joe. It was a first and last experience, My jittery-ness lasted throughout the day; I had over-dosed.

When I acquired my one-cupper, I thought Java Heaven had arrived. Nothing like a fresh brew coursing through my veins to start the day.... just my cup of tea. The creme-filled donuts no longer appeal to me. A bowl of cereal, an egg and toast, or cottage cheese and fruit may be the morning fare. However, the cup of coffee still joins me for breakfast. It stays beside me as I read a daily devotional. Along with being thankful for morning birds chirping, a gentle breeze playing with the tree leaves, I thank God for a good cup of coffee.

The Cheese Stands Alone

The phrase comes from a children's song and game, "The Farmer in the Dell". A number of children stand in a circle with one child, who plays the farmer, in the center. The farmer chooses a wife, the wife chooses a child, the child choose a nurse, etc. as the children sing and walk in a circle. You get the point until the last person in the circle is "the cheese stands alone."

Although we played this on the school playground, usually supervised by a teacher, one can understand why it is no longer played. "The cheese stands alone" is a way of saying you don't fit in. You're by yourself. You're not one of us.

Even though we try to plan activities that are inclusive for all children and adults, we each have felt like the cheese. Rejection by someone or a group, isolated by a family member who no longer wants contacts, not getting an award that you felt entitled to, making our own stupid mistakes, ending up somewhere we realize that we don't belong for whatever reason, we know what it is like to be the cheese standing alone.

In the anthology, Summoned, each protagonist--Emilie Fischer or George Turner, James, Norma, Jacqueline, Adriel--found themselves in circumstances where "the cheese stands alone"--either because of life circumstances or because of their own misguided decisions.

Even Jesus, in the Garden of Gethsemane, was abandoned by his own disciples. However, He knew His Father would never leave Him. Hebrews 13:5 reminds us, "I will never leave you nor forsake you." And, also, "The Lord is my helper; I will not fear. What can man do to me?" Hebrews 13:5-6

Even though rejection at some level happens in our lives, we can know that Jesus wants us to keep moving forward in faith. We are each created in His image. Because of the message of the cross, we can be strengthened; we are not the cheese standing alone, in spite of what others do or think and even in spite of our own, sometimes, thoughtless or misguided decisions.

Give God the glory.

Check out the anthology, SUMMONED, on-line at amazon or barnes and noble sites to discover how these protagonists survived real-to-life experiences and understood that their lives were a part of a far-reaching narrative--possibly something bigger and beyond their imaginations. 

HIDE AND SEEK? You can't do both...

HIDE AND SEEK?... YOU CAN’T DO BOTH

You may have heard the phrase, “You are only as sick as your secrets.” What we choose to hide are usually weaknesses, or the things that are shameful. It is these feelings of shame and weakness that open us to Satan and more sin. Ugh!

If I want to be stronger in Christ, I need to seek, seek, seek.. seek his love, seek his guidance, seek his glory. How can I do this when hiding?

God created each of us to be free. Being free in Christ liberates us. It is not a binding feeling. It is a freedom that brings contentment, peace.

It is His will, His way. Go and get it! However, going and getting may mean giving up the place you like to hide, or what you want to hide.....So, going and getting may also mean leaving, giving something up, letting something go… This is where you are supposed to be. This is what you are supposed to be doing. You can’t do it alone. He doesn’t expect you to. Run from your hiding place to the safe place Christ provided and yell out “I am free in Christ because of the cross,"  and, then, and only then can we do what we are called to do....

O LORD, you have searched me and you know me. You know when I sit and when I rise; you perceive my thoughts from afar. You discern my going out and my lying down; you are familiar with all my ways. Before a word is on my tongue you know it completely, O LORD.... Where can I go from your Spirit? Where can I flee from your presence? If I go up to the heavens, you are there; if I make my bed in the depths, you are there. If I rise on the wings of the dawn, if I settle on the far side of the sea even there your hand will guide me, your right hand will hold me fast. Psalm 139

Remembering Mom

It's interesting how certain smells, sounds, and sights can quickly take you back home. The smell of bleach, the clunking of pots and pans being removed from the cupboard early in the morning, a tire swing, an ironing board, and a lemon meringue pie only served on Father's Day and a wedding anniversary.

As the years have passed since Mom's death, I have tried to dig up memories of her when I was growing up. Most of them picture her in the kitchen preparing a meal for farmhands, or under an apple tree--her apron full of fruit, or rocking the latest baby brother in her arms after summer dinner time.

Mom working with her own dad before marriage.

When in college, Mom sent letters weekly. Roommates would be astonished at their length, 6-10 pages on both sides, with the routine details of her and Dad's lives. As I write this, it occurs to me where my need to put words on paper comes from.

When the youngest children were out from underfoot, she tackled the grove--picking up dry sticks and fallen limbs to make a pile for burning. The grove had never looked so cared for.

As I look back, older and wiser, I understand that her own work ethic provided one for me along with a sense of perseverance, stamina, and unconditional love for family. It's interesting the things that are passed down from parent to child--things that are not pounded into our heads, things that we just get because we were there, in the presence of someone special.

I miss her even more as time passes.
I'm not sure why. I didn't expect this.
Maybe, it's the understanding that underneath it all, there's something greater going on.
And, we each are a part of this.
Big mystery?

That their hearts may be encouraged, being knit together in love, to reach all the riches of full assurance of understanding and the knowledge of God's mystery, which is Christ. Colossians 1:26

Summoned to Trust....

Last week I took a copy of SUMMONED, my recently published anthology, to my friend at Apple Valley Assisted Living. Inside I had written, "Thanks for inspiring the short story, "'Ramona's Visitor.'"

When I arrived, Ramona was seated at a table with several others enjoying afternoon coffee and cookies. She asked about the book. I pulled it from my bag to show the cover. There were "oohs" and "aahs".

The lady next to me asked what the book was about.
I proceeded to tell her what had inspired the first story, the novelette, Summoned, telling her it was based on a long-ago event that happened near a little town in our state.

"And where might that be?" she asked.
When I told her, she paused, and said, "That's where I'm from."

I had never seen this lady before and here she sat beside me and knew something about the events in the novelette and even the names of some of the people involved.

Do you ever wonder why certain things happen when they do?
Do you ever wonder why certain people come into your life when they do?
Does it ever make you think that your life may be a part of something bigger going on....

It reminds me of the verse I use in the second chapter of Summoned from Isaiah, For My thoughts are not your thoughts, neither are your ways My ways saith the LORD.

At times, these experiences remind me that I need to spend less time asking or pleading with God for this or that and more time simply honoring Him, praising Him, acknowledging His goodness. Then, sit back and dwell in this.

As Jeremiah 29:11 tells us, "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the LORD, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future."

It's about trusting.
Amen

SUMMONED

SUMMONED, an anthology, is now available on-line through amazon.com and barnes and noble links. It contains the novelette, Summoned, six shorter stories, and a poem--each inspired by real-life stories. 

The Anthology includes the following stories:

Summoned

Jacqueline's Story

Ramona's Visitor

Hope

Norma's Class Reunion

Once Upon a Time

Providence

Divine Plan

and...Discussion Questions