When Facebook is on the Altar for Lent

Lent in Olde English, means "spring."

It's Latin equivalent, quadragesima, means "40th."

I'm always curious about the etymology of religious words we throw around.  Lent is a tradition in many churches of fasting for the 40 days before Easter, commencing on Ash Wednesday and finishing on Good Friday.

My church is not on the list of churches that observe Lent, but personal fasting is encouraged, and I happen to think Lent makes sense.  To fast in honor of Christ's 40-day fast in the desert and to prepare my heart for Holy Week, I have often chosen to observe it.

I did not abstain from a food this time around.  I decided to lay Facebook on the altar.  I miss it.  It's part of my daily morning drink coffee, read e-mail, check Facebook routine.  I want to know what my friends are up to, because their posts will often be the basis of conversations the next time we meet.  I want to put my little thoughts and activities out there and see what friends will say.

But let's get real and confessional.  I like controling my virtual image.  I like to think you're saying, "Oh that Jill, she's so witty and fun."  I can present myself anyway I'd like, but I can never flesh out the real me in two sentences of a  post.  Facebook often saves me from the hard work of real relatinoship.  It even competes for my time to have my real face in the real Book.  

Pretty much the same thing goes for blogging.  I'm creating an image, and even though I try to dig deeper and be honest, I'm still in control of the information you read. 

I'm not sure God likes it.  Like so many things, it's a virtue and vice.  It connects and disconnects.  It's a ministry and an idol.  It's real and pretend.  It's thumbs up and thumbs down.

And not surprisingly, I caved twice and checked people's status updates.  I allowed myself to post my blog links out to FB, and much of the time I used to spend on it was redirected to working on my blog and browsing Pinterest.  How quickly we swap idols.  

But fasting is NOT about celebrating an accomplishment.  It's about recognizing and owning our personal deficit.  When you realize how hard it is to give up something you love but you try anyway, your roots grow a little deeper and your arms stretch a little higher and you know more of God and more of man.  

Spring Fever Requires Redecorating Therapy

Every March, and particularly THIS March, with it's frigid grip and snow-frosted lawns, I want to go on permanent retreat at the Assisi Heights convent, which rises like a medieval haven on the Rochester skyline.  Seriously, let's scrap homeschooling, menu planning, treadmills, and all housewifely duties, and run to the cloister of sweet nuns on the hill!  

Spring fever, my husband diagnoses.  My next best therapeutic solution:  redecorating.  

"Honey, may I redecorate the den?"

"Will it help you survive?" asks dear husband.  

"Absolutely."

"What will it cost?"

"Paint and curtains is all I need (and a few decorative doodads, but I'll try to shop from other rooms and not go crazy.)

The rules I try to follow for home decorating:
1.  Define your style with words.  My words include warm, cozy, whimsical, vintage, classic, purposeful, meaningful.
2.  Know what style you are not.  These words include sleek, modern, sparse,  trendy, expensive, matching, formal, proper.
3.  If you don't love it, get rid of it.  
4.  Repurpose unusual items whenever you can.  
5.  Shop first at Goodwill, garage sales, and consignment.  
6.  Never pay full price at Hobby Lobby.  If it's not on sale, I make my girls go through the line and ask for the 40% discount on one item.  You just have to ask. 

Breakdown for den redo:
Paint from Home Depot 
Curtains and candle from Hobby Lobby  
Curtain rod from Target  
Starburst mirror from Target 
Overhead light from Lampplus.com    (we both have never liked the light quality from our current ceiling light.  I'm excited to get the new light up when it arrives.)
Lamp from Target   (I tried a $4 one from Good Will, but it was broken.  I tried, though.)
Ceramic owls and little shelf from Good Will  
Side table, cigar boxes, and other tchotchkes from around the house  FREE


Here is the reveal:

My daughter scraped off a Wall Words saying, but left the word "fail."  It used to read "Where words fail, music speaks."  She thought this was funny.  Anyway, here are the colors I painted the den when we built the house in 2004.  They were very denly.  Rusty red and goldy suede.

New colors:  Perfect taupe and Antique leather.  I love the contrast with the oak woodwork.  I have written so many songs in this room, on this keyboard.  Someday, I'll have me a baby grand in here!

This was my inspiration piece.  I love everything about it...the colors, the whimsy, the owl.  I printed it off the internet onto cardstock (my apologies to the artist.)  If I could find it, I would buy it. I reused the frame.  I have several of these mat-less frames from Target.  The background color becomes the mat.  Cool.

More owls and a rustic table I borrowed from another room and painted orange.  I like the owls next to my Bible and journal.  God's Word is where I go for wisdom and my journal for reflection.

My reading nook.  I already had the lamp, chair, blanket, and footstool.  I have my quiet times here, with a nice view of the blasted snow.  But soon, I'll be viewing perennials and blossoming trees and lilacs!  Hallelujah!

My hubby made this ukulele out of a cigar box.  He bought a bunch of cigar boxes in the process, so I got them out of the garage and put them to use.  No cigars were smoked in this process, although I once tried one in college.

My ugly ceramic owls from Goodwill.  I painted them orange and wah-lah!

This was a gift from my dad.  He hand painted the frame.  I love it!

This is the view from the entry way of our house.  It makes me happy :)  You would cringe if I opened that closet door.  It is a mess of music, art supplies, and office supplies.  A task for another day.  

We built the house in the craftsman style, and though sometimes I dream of a beachy, cottage-y, shabby chic style, I enjoy working with this style, too.  I don't know if my husband could live with white slip covers and conch shells, anyway.  Plus, they might seem a bit out of place in Minnesota.  I'll leave them in my dream home on the beach....

So I'm curious, how do YOU counteract SPRING FEVER?

The Story that Haunts Me

Aside from the Bible, I don't recall being truly haunted by a story until Les Miserables, written by Victor Hugo in 1862, adapted to a stage musical in 1980, and most recently filmed for the screen in 2012.  I was so fascinated by the movie that I am listening to the audio book.  Considering the original book is 1500 pages long (22 discs,) I chose the abridged version, which is still 11 discs.  My friend told me that Hugo devoted 60 pages to describing the Paris sewer system among other digressions.  I'm happily enjoying the abridged version.

Les Miserables is a story about all manner of love and hate, of national war and inner conflict, of anger and joy, wealth and debt, and ultimately of redemption, and I mean REDEMPTION.  It dovetails perfectly with the gospel of Christ.  The story is an epic interplay between justice and mercy, between law and grace, respresented by its two main characters: Jean Valjean and Javert.  

Christ implores us to go beyond justice to mercy.  He calls us to love our enemies, to care for the poor and free the oppressed.  Jean Valjean, trying to escape his criminal past, converts to Christianity in both heart and philanthropic deed, but cannot escape the hunt of Inspector Javert, who is convinced he is doing God's work in seeing that justice is wrought and Valjean is returned to prison.  

Our whole family is enamored with the story and has had many discussions about its themes.  The 9 year old has only listened to the soundtrack as I explained the story, but the rest of us have watched the movie at least once.  The conversations matter.  Though we are not criminals and police, we are lawbreakers and judges. Everyday, we break God's law.  Everyday we make judgments about right and wrong and which path to choose.  Everyday we express or withhold love and mercy and grace.  Everyday we receive those things from Christ.  

We debate if Javert is bad or if he is just doing his job.  We debate if Valjean is good since his whole identity is a lie and he is always running from the law.  We discuss how the brokenness of the world sadly relegates people to class division and helplessness and how revolution can be so hard and heartbreaking. 

There are parts of the movie that are difficult to watch...rape, prostitution, war, death.  But if you sanitize the story, there is no great redemption, only another opportunity for the good Christian to live with his head in the sand.  These sins are not glamorized, as Hollywood often likes to do, but are treated as the disgusting and awful things that they are.  That is how I want my children exposed to these transgressions...by my side, in the context of Biblical worldview and gentle guidance, with a backdrop of some of the most beautiful and haunting melodies I've ever heard.  

This story takes place 200 years ago in a foreign country with a political and social structure that is far removed from us.  But it is ultimately universal in spirit and truth and I highly recommend it as Christian edification.  And if you come to our house, I can just about guarantee that one of us is going to break out in a chorus of "Do You Hear the People Sing!"  Just go with it.

When Your Dog is Dying

 Bullseye's first day with us

The sun is glaring off the snow and yesterday's rain has crystallized on the sidewalk in intricate patterns.  I know this because I have spent a good part of the day sitting with my dog, Bullseye, in the snowbank.  He is dying and prefers to keep his watch in the yard rather than be inside.  So I have joined him, telling him what a good and loyal friend he has been.  Reminding him of the time he protected our yard from the snarly badger and still wears the scar.  Letting him know that I'll have to start sweeping the kitchen floor again, since he won't be around to clean up the crumbs.  Thanking him for shepherding our children for almost 9 years, and for never failing to entertain us with his repertoire of fancy tricks for treats.   

The vet say he has pancreatitis, which means bile is leaking into his system.  He has stopped eating and is very weak.  He can't even keep water down.  

Our loyal friend

Bullseye loving Ginger

A year and a half ago, a little, starving, limping kitten wandered into our yard.  Bullseye immediately bounded over to her and began to lick and snuggle her.  Soon after, she joined our family.  Today, she is staying near Bullseye, occasionally rubbing against him.  I think she remembers what he did for her and wants to return the kindness.

Playing along with the kids

The children are handling it in their own ways.  The youngest is shedding many tears and talking about what it will be like in heaven for him.  Our middle child is trying to hold back the tears, but she snuck him out for a walk earlier, as we watched from the window.  He made it to the mailbox.  When they turned around, she was crying, which made my husband break down.  My son has been distracted, acting in 5 performances this weekend at the local theater.  He will have to process this later.  I have cried my tear ducts dry.  

Bullseye's favorite person in the world, my mom, came to visit him this morning.  He even followed her inside the house, accepting her tears and tenderness, if not her pocketful of treats.  Thank you, Mom, for loving your grand-dog so dearly.

As our hearts break for Bullseye, we heard that our niece, Brooke, is in labor with her long-awaited first baby.  And so I pulled out the Bible and read from Ecclesiastes 3:

There is a time to be born and a time to die...a time to weep and a time to dance.

Money, Sex, Power, and the Pope

I was part of a conversation last night that included two lovely Catholic women who were abuzz with the news that a new pope had been selected.  The whole papal selection process has been interesting to watch on the news, with the conclave of red-robed cardinals gathering in the magnificent Sistine Chapel, amid all the secrecy and pomp, and the providential seagull perched on the smokestack.  I especially love the interviews of the various priests, who've been overflowing with eager exuberance.  I remember one particular comment made by a bishop when asked if he would prefer a pope who had great organizational and political skill or who was a great evangelist.

"Always the evangelist," said the grinning man. 

Pope Francis

Known for simplicity and humility

My interest in all of this will wane but for one thing...the religious writings of the ancients, who were, surprise, all Catholic brothers and sisters.  My children and I just wrapped up our study of ancient Rome and will finish the year with a study in Medieval and Renaissance times.  Catholic religion mingles with every aspect of this study, from the rise of the Church to the Crusades to the growth in monastic living.  It's fascinating and often heartbreaking.

Over the years, I've read many writings of the ancients, mostly excerpts selected by one of my favorite authors, Richard Foster, a contemporary Quaker author, professor, and contemplative.  Mr. Foster has taught me how to gently reflect on these writings in the books "Devotional Classics" and "Spiritual Classics."  He is so smart and authentic and thoughtful.  

While I appreciate many modern day authors, I especially love the enduring quality of writing by people like St. Augustine, the prodigal who did not return to Christ until his 30's.  This is why he could write the timeless phrase, "I am restless til I rest in Thee."  

These men and women took on the three great ethical issues of human life:  money, sex, and power.  They did this by taking the vows of poverty, chastity, and obedience.  Church history sadly shows that these besetting sins are not completely inescapable, but I appreciate how the  Catholics recognize them and attempt to deal with them.  My personal faith allows me to rest in God's grace and to live in His power, but as Mr. Foster aptly observes:

We too must give an answer to how we will live in relationship to the three great issues of life.  My own answer, in brief, is this:  in response to the issue of money, we learn to live in simplicity; in response to the issue of sex, we learn to live in fidelity; in response to the issue of power, we learn to live in service.  What would your answer be? -Richard Foster, Spiritual Disciplines