Seeing the Face of God

Having moved from the mid-west to the mid-Atlantic, we can hardly believe the amount of rain we get here. My husband, a lover of all weather, is in his element, but the other day as my husband left for work, my 4 year-old daughter declared that "there was nothing beautiful in the rain." I tried to explain to her the goodness of the rain for the earth and the beauty it brought but she wasn't buying it. So I decided some things just couldn't be argued, they had to be shown. Despite a long to-do list, a mountain of laundry, school lessons to begin, I bundled everyone in the car and headed to one of our favorite spots in the neighborhood to search for beauty, even in the rain.

I was not sure what we would find, how hard it might rain, what would happen to the rest of our day, if my plan would work...but it seemed an important lesson for her. The problem was I was not quite sure what the lesson was myself.

I have just finished Olive Kitteridge, the lovely yet sad 2009 Pulitzer-prize winning book, that conveys a world of brokenness where even religion cannot bring comfort: "Hell. We're always alone. Born alone. Die alone" Olive says.  Despite their loneliness and pain, the characters eke out for themselves small moments of love, meaning.  The book was powerful, leaving me with a "book hangover" for days. I found it hard to shake its despair couched in lines of beauty. And when I despair for the world around me, I'm always led to a fear for what my children's lives will become.

I have found a world "charged with the grandeur of God" as Hopkins writes, but what if my children don't see it? What if somehow I cannot communicate or reveal to them who God is in a world "seared with trade; bleared, smeared with toil," a world that "wears man’s smudge and shares man’s smell."

We got stuck in a long line of traffic...the sear of trade and toil...A car cut us off as the lanes merged into one...man's smudge...the road was littered with ugly storefronts and trash waiting to be collected...ahh, man's smell... the winds howled, I became afraid. What was I doing trying to show them beauty in all of this?  Should we just go home?

And then from the back row of the mini-van, filled with food crumbs, straw wrappers, old books, discarded socks, a spare diaper or two, I heard my daughter gasp in awe and seriousness:

"Mommy, I just saw the face of God in the clouds..."

I, of course, do not know what she saw. But I know she found more than beauty. Small-minded, I was hoping for some lovely mud puddles, perhaps some rain dripping from leaves. She saw God. Ahhh, yes, Mr. Hopkins, you knew so well, that even at the brown brink of a morning, "the Holy Ghost over the bent world broods with warm breast and ah! bright wings."

 Upon our eventual arrival to our nature study spot, the clouds parted.

Delighting in their freedom and ability, they ran with abandon,

the beauty of raindrops still sitting on the blades of grass,

 

stillness after the storm.

Liturgical Tea Time for St. Teresa of Avila

This week we will be learning about St. Teresa of Avila, mystic and reformer, born March 28, 1515. Her feast day is October 15th.

From my reading about Teresa of Avila, here are my two favorite quotes for reflection: 

Christ has no body now but yours
No hands, no feet on earth but yours
Yours are the eyes through which He looks
compassion on this world
Christ has no body now on earth but yours.

 --St. Teresa of Avila from the mission of st. clare

The following lines by St. Teresa were found on a bookmark in her prayer book:

Let nothing affright thee,
Nothing dismay thee.
All is passing,
God ever remains.
Patience obtains all.
Whoever possesses God
Cannot lack anything
God alone suffices.

Excerpted from The Church's Year of Grace, Pius Parsch. 



Food for the Tea: St. Teresa Bread but for those who celebrate the church year during a family meal, perhaps a Spain-inspired meal would be more appropriate.
We are going to make semi-homemade donuts which don't fit thematically with the feast but with M's Alphabet Path Letter D

The Collect:

O God, by your Holy Spirit you moved Teresa of Avila to manifest to your Church the way of perfection: Grant us, we pray, to be nourished by her excellent teaching, and enkindle within us a keen and unquenchable longing for true holiness; through Jesus Christ, the joy of loving hearts, who with you and the Holy Spirit lives and reigns, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

The Scripture:

Romans 8:22-27
Matthew 5:13-16
Psalm 42:1-7 or
Psalm 139:1-9

Learning about her life:

Biography for Children

Biography Notes by James Keifer
Biography from the Carmelite Sisters
Her book Way of Perfection
Her autobiography

My focus for the children's time will not be to glorify Teresa's life but to show how her life points to Jesus. I hope that they will see a women, who though beautiful, witty and popular, gave her life to God, desiring a vivid sense of His Presence in her life. If they were older, we would talk more about the complexities of her attempt to do this through a strict and perhaps extreme devotion, but for now I will just share the broader point that she was willing to live humbly and simply to avoid the distractions of the world. Although Teresa's spirituality is not my own, I hope my daughter will be especially captivated by Teresa's work in and for the church.

Activity Ideas:

Create your own bookmark with Teresa's words or the Scripture of the day. This would be good copywork for those who can write but for my little guy I will just write the words and he can decorate the bookmark.

Here is a coloring page from Waltzing Matilda

Hymn Study: We will continue to study, memorize, and sing the Sanctus.

Also note it can be difficult in researching Teresa online to not confuse her with St. Teresa the little flower, and Sister Teresa of Calcutta--Mother Teresa!

Welcoming our first cold morning!

This was our first chilly morning--43 degrees! I know, I know, if you are from warmer climates, it sounds terrible. If you are from the wintery north that has already had snow, it sounds balmy!

For our first brisk morning, I planned a hearty, easy-to-make Baked Oatmeal. I appreciate that I can stick it in the oven, then get everyone dressed and when we arrive, a nice hot dish of oatmeal is waiting. The big kids added milk to make it more of a cereal. The baby, who especially loved it, ate it more like an oatmeal bar.

• 3 cups rolled oats (I used quick cooking oats and it was ready in 30 minutes)
  
• 1 cup brown sugar (I cut to half a cup and it was still sweet)
  
• 2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup dried, fresh or frozen berries (we did frozen blueberries!)
  

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
2. In a large bowl, mix together oats, brown sugar, cinnamon, baking powder, and salt. Beat in milk, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla extract. Stir in fruit. Spread into a 9x13 inch baking dish.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 40 minutes.  

Enjoy!

 

Early Morning "Date-Night"

It seems the time we have alone is so rare now. Good Husband and I.

Three little ones demand our attention continually. Limited babysitting funds go to adult dinner parties, work function, church meetings. Most often, we are weary at the end of the day and fall into bed, asleep within minutes.

And so today, we woke up early. Rather, I pushed you out of bed with a groan and downstairs we went. The living room was chilly and dark and we sat in the quiet under an old afghan made by an auntie long gone. You fell back to sleep while I put the coffee on--a slow start to our Early Morning "Date-Night."

But as we sipped our coffee and the day awakened, we found each other again. Neither of us were ever much for conversation early in the morning and so we enjoyed the company and rare quiet in a house of three children, four and under. Of course, our talk started with them as it usually does, who could resist when they seemed so lovable, snug asleep in their beds, first night in their winter pajamas.

But as the caffeine woke us up, we moved on to more serious things. I shared a sense of failure, you comforted me. You shared a worry, I comforted you. I shared a vanity, you understood. And amazingly, the children slept. Children who wake each other every morning around 6:30, slept till 8:30.

A gift of grace just when we needed it.

And so we even had time for more--more time to plan and dream, more time to laugh, more of each other.

I was reminded of why I love you, of what we care about, of who we are.

I was reminded of the old days (we've been married 10 years now, dating since 96, 10 years no longer seems long!). Days we spent in coffee shops browsing magazines, reading books, writing papers, pretending to grade our students papers, but mostly chatting.

And here it is: all that we dreamed up then, we are living now. House, work, children, community, a way of life...

We had so much time then but didn't know it. Now it so easy to think of the waste during those years, urged by a culture to take the time for ourselves, for our education, "to get to know each other." Why didn't we save more money then? Why didn't we start having children earlier? Why did we spend so much time in coffee shops? And yet those days are so far gone; the questions, the looking back, unnecessary.

And so we, much like the very first couple must no longer look back but continue on hand in hand:

They looking back all the eastern side beheld
Of Paradise, so late their happy seat,
Waned over by that flaming brand, the gate
With dreadful faces thronged and fiery arms:
some natural tears they dropped, but wiped them soon;

The world was all before them, where to choose
Their place of rest, and providence their guide:
They hand in hand with wandering steps and slow,
Through Eden took their solitary way.

Yes, much of our plans and dreams have come true. But we too know that this is not Eden. We do not have enough time with each other. We do not have enough money for babysitters. We fall into bed too tired. We have failures and worries and vanities.

But unlike that first couple, we have a Love that does not let us go. The Gospel message rings true. Our weak and broken attempts to love are drawn up into Himself until it overflows, more than we ever thought we could give to each other, to our children, to our community. And His Love is enough.

The steps are still wandering and slow, but they are never solitary.

Remembering William Tyndale

I posted some of my ideas for celebrating the life of William Tyndale, but here are a few more!

I was planning on making this recipe from 1500s England (the recipe is all over the web so I'm not sure of its accuracy or original source?!), but we've had a long day of schooling and an even longer doctor visit for C's 1 year check up and flu shots for all. So we stopped at my favorite Italian bakery for some fun treats!

Opening Prayer

Lord, give to your people grace to hear and keep your word
that, after the example of your servant William Tyndale,
we may not only profess your gospel
but also be ready to suffer and die for it,
to the honour of your name;
through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord,
who is alive and reigns with you,
in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and for ever.

or

Almighty God, you planted in the heart of your servant William Tyndale a consuming passion to bring the Scriptures to people in their native tongue, and endowed him with the gift of powerful and graceful expression and with strength to persevere against all obstacles: Reveal to us your saving Word, as we read and study the Scriptures, and hear them calling us to repentance and life; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.

Scripture:

James 1:21-25
John 12:44-50
Psalm 1 or
Psalm 15

Spend time teaching about Tyndale's life as the children fill in the coloring pages:

Perhaps for next year: 2 DVDs on his life: One from Gateway Films or a cartoon version, preview here

Unit Study free with $13 purchase: from Soli Deo Gloria Resources

For older children and adults: John Piper's Sermon on Tyndale: read or listen

And John Piper's Book Filling Up the Afflictions of Christ The Cost of Bringing the Gospel to the Nations in the Lives of William Tyndale, Adoniram Judson, and John Paton

Hymn Study: We'll then continue practicing the Sanctus, scroll down until you see the S129 by Powell!

Reflections on Psalm 106, Reading for the Daily Office.

Psalm 106 (ESV, but at times paraphrased from my journal):

1 Praise the Lord!
Oh give thanks to the Lord, for he is good,
for his steadfast love endures forever!
2 Who can utter the mighty deeds of the Lord?

6 Both we and our fathers have sinned...

7 We did not consider...
We did not remember...
the abundance of His steadfast love...

8 Yet He saved us.

45 For their sake He remembered His covenant,
and relented according to the
abundance of his steadfast love.

47 Save us, O Lord our God,
that we may give thanks to your Holy Name.

And so I attempt, as the Psalmist, to consider, to remember the abundance...

• For the 4 people asleep upstairs right now; snug in their beds, resting in the peace of your protection.

• For the 12 students who gathered around our table yesterday for Christian fellowship, prayer and to know You more through the work of your Church.

• For 1 large ham, gift of parents, that we shared with these new friends. It brought much happiness: full bellies and hints of home. God's provision comes through others and it brings delight.

• For 5 little pumpkins (as the song goes) which bring beauty to doorstep and root us in time and place. 5 little signs that it is now we delight in cool weather (but not too cold!) hearty meals, wool sweaters, pumpkin pie.

• My own big green chair crammed into corner of dining room so that I may have "my own space" to read, write, pray. Here I learn more of who He is and in that light, who I am too. Chair, purchased on the cheap from our church's furniture thrift shop, blessing to me and to others--100% of profit goes to missions.

• For 1 new day about to begin. Though it is still dark, the birds have begun their song. Perhaps they are praising His name too and passing onto each other the sermon of St. Francis, yesterday his feast day. St. Francis loved all of God's creation, seeing His handiwork as proof of His love and spoke thus to the little birds:
  

"My little sisters the birds, ye owe much to God, your Creator, and ye ought to sing his praise at all times and in all places, because he has given you liberty to fly about into all places; and though ye neither spin nor sew, he has given you a twofold and a threefold clothing for yourselves and for your offspring. Two of all your species he sent into the Ark with Noah that you might not be lost to the world; besides which, he feeds you, though ye neither sow nor reap. He has given you fountains and rivers to quench your thirst, mountains and valleys in which to take refuge, and trees in which to build your nests; so that your Creator loves you much, having thus favoured you with such bounties. Beware, my little sisters, of the sin of ingratitude, and study always to give praise to God." qtd. at Catholic Culture

May we too my little sisters (and brothers) see God's abundance and provision in the midst of our daily lives and give praise to God.

Thank you also, Albany Intercessor, your faithfulness to Morning Prayer and the lectionary has been a great encouragement to me.
Thank you Barb at My Daily Round, your faithfulness to your gratitude journal has also encouraged.
And, of course, Ann whose1000 Gifts Multitude Mondays, have encouraged so many.

Tuesday Tea: October 6th William Tyndale

Just wanted to give you a heads up that this Tuesday's Liturgical Tea falls on William Tyndale's Saint day. I'm excited for my children to learn about "The Father of the English Reformation," the man who made the English Bible accessible to the people.

This hero and martyr of the faith is an example for us all as the Collect for his day states:

"Lord, give your people grace to hear and keep your word that, after the example of your servant William Tyndale, we may not only profess your gospel but also be ready to suffer and die for it, to the honor of your name; …"

And since he is such an important man in the history of the Protestant faith I think as Anglicans it is a day we should be sure to remember!

I love this story from James Keifer:
In 1537"...Six copies [of Tyndale and Coverdale's translation of the Bible] were set up for public reading in Old St Paul's Church, and throughout the daylight hours the church was crowded with those who had come to hear it. One man would stand at the lectern and read until his voice gave out, and then he would stand down and another would take his place. All English translations of the Bible from that time to the present century are essentially revisions of the Tyndale-Coverdale work." What a joy it must have been to hear the Word of God in your own language, perhaps for the first time!

As an English teacher and lover of the History of the English Language, I've also enjoyed researching this saint to teach my children:

It is surprising that the name of William Tyndale is not more familiar, for there is no man who did more to enrich the English language. Tyndale is the man who taught England how to read and showed Shakespeare how to write. No English writer -- not even Shakespeare -- has reached so many. According to a recent exhibit co-sponsored by the British Library and the Library of Congress: "Contrary to what history teaches about Chaucer being the father of the English Language, this mantle belongs to William Tyndale, whose work was read by ten thousand times as many people as Chaucer."

From The William Tyndale Gallery

He coined the following phrases we still use today:

• let there be light
• the powers that be
• my brother's keeper
• the salt of the earth
• a law unto themselves
• filthy lucre
• it came to pass
• gave up the ghost
• the signs of the times
• the spirit is willing
• live and move and have our being
• fight the good fight

Do you have any ideas to make this man's life and his heroic deeds come alive for children? Any interesting food ideas for our tea?

I'll try to post any more ideas over the weekend. Let me know what you think!

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Two links on beauty

Two links on beauty one for surrounding ourselves with beauty in our day and the other for seeing it in ourselves.