Today is the first anniversary of the death of a friend of mine (in Dallas).  It reminded me; when you know of an anniversary like this, please realize that it’s important – very important – to the family.  Please don’t let the day pass without saying something to the family – just let them know that you remember.  If you’re worried that you don’t know what to say, just remember… less is more.  Be sure to use the person’s name – the family will be glad to hear it – I bet it’ll even make ‘em smile (at least on the inside:)

I hafta say something about that absolutely devastating earthquake – problem is… I have no idea what to say – I mean… I just can’t even wrap my brain around that one – it’s just too big – sooo overwhelming.  It’s much easier to just not think about it – outta site, outta mind.  It’s not even in our own country, so why even concern ourselves, right?  No, wrong!  We are on the same continent – we are on the same planet – we are brothers & sisters in Christ!  But what can we do – I mean… really… what CAN we do?!?!  Our government is doing something, which represents us, so we could say we ARE doing something, right?  Well… kinda, but not really.  Personally, I feel like all I can really do is pray, but that’s not much, right?  Wrong!  Prayer can move mountains!  Nature can move the earth – you know… make it quake, but prayer… prayer can move mountains!!!  I invite you to join me prayer – just right there where you are – right now – just take a deep breath (or two, or three) – really deep breaths… and pray that God would bring about a calm in Haiti – that people there would feel hopeful – that they’d know clearly what their next step should be – that they’d have the energy (and guts) to do it.  “God, I pray, in Jesus’ name, for the people in Haiti – not as a group, but as individuals – my brothers & sisters in Christ.  I pray that they would begin to calm down so they can focus on what to do now.  I pray that they would feel like there’s hope for their safety and care.  Father, help each person to have a pretty clear idea of just exactly what should happen next – they need to know what they need to do, to help themselves & to help each other.  When these people look around, surely they’ll notice someone worse off than themselves (that’s true for all of us, and I believe that in helping others, we help ourselves – it gives us purpose).  Oh, and then God, please give these people the energy they’re gonna need, and the guts it’ll take, to do that, which they should do – not just to sit there, but to be proactive.  God, thank you for what all you’re gonna be doing in their lives, for them.  You are so much bigger & better than that ole earthquake was big & bad!  Amen

It’s freezing outside!  It may be freezing on the inside too…  If you’re like me, you prepared – the best you knew how – for this freeze we’re having – then hoped for the best – no broken pipes, right?!  Well, I’ve got a broken pipe – fortunately, it’s on the outside of the house – the thing is… (although uninsulated) it’s inside a covered area so I couldn’t see it – that’s why I didn’t prepare it for this freeze – my oversight – nobody’s fault, but mine, right…  You know, I think we, humans, can be like that.  On the surface, we’re prepared to meet the public whether it be at the store or wherever, but on the inside… have we prepared – have we spent quiet time with God preparing for the day and what it may bring?!  We might look good on the outside, but we may not feel good on the inside.  Whose fault is that?  I don’t know – it may not be anybody’s fault – not even our own, but if it’s anybody’s fault, it’s likely our own, for not having adequately prepared our mind, heart, and soul.  Oh, you can bet we’ve spent time preparing our bodies – we work out, we have our hair done, our nails – we dress up, etc.  But we may skip preparing what’s inside altogether.  That just doesn’t make sense!  Does it?  Hey, I’m guilty of it too – I aint pointin fingers – no, I’m lookin in the mirror.  I’m with you – we’re in this together.  Let’s agree to spend some time each morning with God – just some nice quiet time, to get the day started off right, ok!

One evening last week, I walked to a neighbor’s home for dinner – this is a longtime friend who had invited me for a homecooked meal – it was a lovely evening, which included enlightening conversation and plenty of laughter – good ole belly laughs!  On top of their grand piano was a rather small Christmas tree – it was pretty – don’t get me wrong – it just wasn’t what I expected – I expected the usual tall tree.  After quite a while, I actually asked if that was their tree, or if they had already put up their (real) tree.  They explained that since they’re ‘empty nesters’, this is their tree.  They further explained that it’s decorated (only) with their most favorite ornaments, many of which their (adult) children made when they were small children.  There were some beautiful heirloom ornaments, which were breakable – you getting the picture?!  I’ve thought of that special little tree several times since that night.  I’ve wondered – in a way – if it’s more special than mine.  Mine is a seven & a half footer – you know the one…  All my favorite ornaments are on the tree, many of which were homemade by my (adult) children when they were, but small children.  It includes some breakable heirlooms – probably a lot like yours…  But on my friend’s tree, every ornament on there is very special; whereas, on my tree, my special ornaments are mixed in with a lot of other (pretty) ornaments.  My friend’s are like showcased; whereas, mine are like hidden in a way.  But my tree is literally head & shoulders above their’s.  Come to think of it, their’s is about seven & a half feet tall (including the height of the piano).  Hmm…  But my tree looks real (even though it’s not).  ‘Course, their tree really is real – they cut it themselves – then they stripped it of its leaves and painted it a shimmering silvery/gold – it really is beautiful – it’s just different – it did not meet my expectations, but then… it may have actually exceeded my expectations – that is… when I open my mind (to something non-traditional).  I suppose it’s possible for something to exceed your expectations without even meeting your expectations – that is… if your mind is open (hint hint)!!  I’ve been thinking… is it about the ornaments, or is it really about the tree?  When you look at mine, I guess you notice the tree first – you’d have to walk closer and kinda zoom in to focus on the ornaments.  Theirs… you don’t – you just kind of immediately see it all, and I hafta admit… it did indeed feel special.  Mine may look more special, but theirs felt more special.  I’m thinking that means theirs is more special.  I don’t know… maybe mine’s more beautiful, but theirs somehow felt more special.  It certainly made an impression on me.  Okay… my point to all this is; I believe the tree represents our life & the ornaments represent our life-experiences.  So… how does an ornament get to be special rather than just another pretty ornament?  Perhaps it’s when (and if) it touches you deeply:)  I’m not sure…  But I do know this; when people look at me, I don’t want them to be impressed with how tall my (non-existent) pedestal is… I want them to feel deeply touched:)  Do you kind of see what I’m trying to say?!  It’s not about height – it’s not about beauty – it’s about life-experiences, especially the ones where we purposefully do for others, which is really what I’m about (in being a funeral director)!  When people think of me, they’re surely not gonna say I’m tall, dark, and handsome – and that’s okay - I would much rather they feel that I’m someone special in their life - I’d like ‘em to say I gave of my life so that their experience with the death of a loved one was made a bit easier than it woulda been otherwise.  I can live with that.  In fact, I guess you could say I live FOR that!!!  Yep, I think I know what to do now, and I’m predicting a Happy New Year:)