You, Only Better

Not a few readers have written with concern that Minister Mom was getting too religious. Friends, lest we forget...I AM minister mom, am I not? Heh.

The beauty of taking time away is that it reminds you there is much to discover. Travel opens the mind's eye to new and different experiences. A new language, new food, a new culture. I find that when I am plucked out of my comfort zone, I see once again what makes me tick and what is important to me.

For example, I now know with certainty that I do not transition well. Anticipating a journey, while exciting, makes me nuts. Once I reach my destination and unpack my toothbrush. Voilà all is well. Phew.

Here, in this ancient place where history seems more alive, I also find myself awestruck as I walk ancient cobblestone streets, and climb cathedral steps that have been there since 1400. It puts one's little life in quite a bit of perspective. It reminds me that my journey, however nerve-wracking, has been made possible by those who have walked before me.

Here in the birthplace of the Protestant Church, the true spirit of those who were inspired to protest for the love of God is quite alive and well. And, as I take in the beauty of a country that takes beauty quite seriously I am reminded that traveling always brings you back home again.

Back home where you discover you're still you, only better.

There is not one blade of grass, there is no color in this world
that is not intended to make us rejoice. John Calvin

Praise Be The Pilot

Seeing that a Pilot steers the ship in which we sail, who will never allow us to perish even in the midst of shipwrecks, there is no reason why our minds should be overwhelmed with fear and overcome with weariness. John Calvin

Ah, yes...I guess I would have been far less fearful of our journey over here had I been mindful of the above quote.

How much easier would life be if we took care of what was in our control, and let go of what was not. And instead, opened ourselves up to receive the love and care that is there for us always.

Somehow, being in this beautiful place and watching the children discover, observe and marvel over every little thing makes it much easier to remember. No time for weariness...only Glory! AMEN!

Exceeding Expectations

However many blessings we expect from God, His infinite liberality will always exceed all our wishes and our thoughts. John Calvin

It is truly a good and gracious thing to be surrounded by the spirit of a man who sincerely believed that life, granted us by God, was a full-disclosed gift.

Today, walking through several small villages to the Jardin Botanique with the children was a gift. That they enjoyed all the newness, observed the beauty, language, cultural differences, the flowers and the animals with nary a complaint...wow.

Yes, however many blessings we may expect, God does ALWAYS exceed our wishes.

Praise The One from whom all blessings flow, I think it is going to be a wonderful vacation.

Gone Fishin' - A Chance To RE-FORM

Well, maybe not fishin'...but I'll be blogging live from the Land of Calvin. And, to be sure, I will be knee deep in thoughts of RE-FORMATION. Three weeks in Switzerland should be good for the body, the family and the soul.

Even more, we're here in time to celebrate Calvin's 500 birthday! Yipeee.

I'll leave you with thoughts to ponder from the man himself.

"Therefore the godly heart feels in itself a division because it is partly imbued with sweetness from its recognition of divine goodness, partly grieves in bitterness from an awareness of its calamity; partly rests upon the promise of the gospel, partly trembles at the evidence of its own iniquity; partly rejoices at the expectation of life, partly shudders at death. This variation arises from imperfection of faith, since in the course of the present life it never goes so well with us that we are wholly cured of the disease of unbelief and entirely filled and possessed by faith," -- John Calvin, Institutes of the Christian Religion, III.ii.18

The Tipping (the scale) Point

Its PARTY season!

This week, being the last week of school, sports, clubs and anything else we forgot to celebrate, has been a frenzy of pizza, ice cream, and treats of various shapes and sizes.

As I washed some kind of inedible cupcake frosting out of the car seat and my son's hair I realized that THEY too are crying 'uncle'...ENOUGH...

Hubby and I have been horrified at the amount of food and the occasions for food that have been pumped into our children since they entered the public education system. It is frightening, upsetting, out of control and seems to be entirely disconnected from the reality that there is a childhood obesity epidemic out there.

If the school is offering all of this "food" what lesson are they teaching the children? On the one hand the school sponsors wonderful programs like "Read It Before You Eat It" to encourage children to recognize various items on food labels and to shun certain ones. In the next breath they condone the shoving of corn syrup, and hydrogenated oils into their cute little faces. Condone, in the sense that they allow all these parties to take place ON SCHOOL PROPERTY at SCHOOL FUNCTIONS.

Don't even get me started on the lunch room offerings. That is another entry waiting to be written.

Well, at least I'm not alone in my concern.

The other day, I read a terribly written article in the NY Times about a mother's fight to quell the junk food craze at her children's public school. The money quote:

"I thought I was sending my children to PS 9, not Chuck E. Cheese"

Unfortunately the article took an important message and ended up vilifying the messenger.

Apparently, the mom is a bit too 'nasty' and has been seen only as a pain in the you know what.
Luckily, there is another group out there called Moms Rising, who is petitioning congress to update the USDA's schools nutrition standards. HERE is a link for a petition you can sign BEFORE JUNE 24 to encourage congress to take selzer off the list of Junk Food items. Why is it on there? Because it has no vitamins. That is why your children can have juice at school, but not selzer. Duh.

I encourage you to log on and sign the petition. Do what we can nationally...it has to be a start.

On a local level, I plan to write a very kind, helpful letter to the various boards, committees and clubs that sponsor all of these parties. My message: There are many, many ways to celebrate without serving food. Children like to share their thoughts and ideas with adults who will listen and are interested. Children like to play party games and enjoy one another's company. Children like to dance and be silly and play charades, hear stories, act them out. Many children, girls especially just love 'hanging out' with older teachers/mentors and chat.

In the end, I think the goal of all these parties is to enjoy and celebrate children and their accomplishments. And well we should! I think it is time to reconsider how we do this and what messages we give to our children when we do.

Finally, on the matter of tipping points: As I was lamenting this past week over it all, I received an email from an old friend announcing the launch of her new, enviromentally friendly

PLANETBOX. A lunch box that can make healthy fun...and tells schools where they can put those 'lunches' they serve! Check it out!

Know Hope.

Clearly, I Need To Get A Clue

Today's news proved me massively wrong on the whole Iran as Hope thing...the country seems to be imploding with no hope in sight as a matter of fact.

I'm sorry to have been so wildly wrong, for the madness there is unspeakable. But my prayer will continue:

"But let justice roll down like waters. And righteousness like an ever-flowing stream." Amos 5:24

The Age of Aquarius?

A supporter of reformist candidate Mir Hossein Mousavi jokes with her friends as she displays a banner to passing motorists during a campaign street rally in Tehran yesterday. (Ben Curtis/ Associated Press)

Surely, every generation believes that it is at the forefront of radical change and transformation. Each age much feel that the times, they are a changin'.

Having been so involved with the transformation that seemed to occur to put Obama in place, I cannot help but notice and be intrigued, interested and energized by the massive change that seems to be sweeping Iran in this past week. All I have to go by is NPR constant reporting and what I have been reading about the aftermath of yesterday's unprecedented election.

Those who wish to be heard can no longer be silenced by an oppressive government, corruption and scandal. They are standing on rooftops shouting and thousands upon thousands are twittering in the absence of any other allowed form of communication. Technology is leading the way for the masses to demand massive change...sound familiar?

I can't imagine the higher ups in Iran bargained for that.

Looking at images and reading twitter from many young Iranian reformers wearing 'green'...I'm thinking that the unlikely candidacy of a young man with a familiar name who became President half way around the world wasn't just a bit inspiring.

Then peace will guide the planet and love, love will steer the stars....