A Few of My Favorite Things: Top 7 Blessed Church Moments of 2012

2012 has been a rough year personally and for our nation – a year fraught with violence and conflict, tinged with the red of the rage of others.  How I long to be shed of it.  But in bidding this year farewell, I am trying to remember that there were good things too.  So I am compiling my own personal list of favorite things of 2012 – the things big and small that lifted my spirits.

Top 7 Blessed Church Moments of 2012:

1. Chocolate communion – a time when we get silly with Jesus and it is fabulous.

2. Sitting with – I do a lot of sitting with – and there is always blessing to be found – there in the silences and the whispers and gentle prayers.

3. Bible study – Rosalee gave me such a gift the other day – saying, “You make us delve deeper, you make us think.”  Teaching – never my particular gift – is always a challenge that leaves me feeling wanting – thus to hear that this thing I so struggle with is a blessing is its own blessing to me.

4. Those in the body who take care of me – some may not even know they’re doing it – the ones who call just to say ‘we love you’ . . . the ones who send the special cards of caring . . . the ones who listen when I need someone to listen . . . lunches and shared confidences . . . the entrusting of so much to my care – the confidence that I’m up to the job . . . the wrestling ones who challenge me and my faith as they struggle with their own . . . the ones who always have a smile and a gentle hug . . . the ones who think I know something they might like to know as well . . . the givers of gifts – just because . . . the ones who pray with and for me . . . the ones who make sure I know what I need to know . . . the ones who step up to help when help is needed . . . it’s all of you, really, and I love you all so dearly and am so blessed to be loved by you . . .

5. Singing our joy – loudly, boldly, softly and tentatively . . . and amazingly often in complete harmony – surely God rests there.

6. Walking our woundedness together – for we are surely the walking wounded.

7. Thanksgiving Eve – as we shared our gratitude, many speaking of family, and my own family walking in, grandson Rowen first, my gratitude there before me on two spindly legs, followed by the generations – four, all in one place.  Holy ground indeed.