Tuesday, March 26, 2013

Moving Easter Stones


Many of us are familiar with rolling stones, rocks, and/or boulders around. You can’t dig in the dirt around Dahlonega without encountering them. Every landscape design either involves incorporating them or removing them. Do your post-hole diggers look like mine?  The thin blades that enter the ground are bent from trying to bore through rocks?  I have been to many of your houses. You and I both use these wonderful, multi-sized rocks as landscaping borders for flower beds, ponds or trails.

 
Unfortunately some of us live towards the top of a hill. We could talk for days about the perils of trying to roll, cart, drag, push or coerce these rocks to the places we want them.  My back aches at the memory.  My hands have the scars and callouses to attest to the jagged edges. My knees…………well you have seen me hobbling around the last few weeks.   Moving stones should be left to Takeuchi,  John Deere, Kubota, or  Massey-Ferguson.  Each rock on my property comes with a story of how it was turned from obstacle to art.

I am not sure of the geological circumstances that embedded so many rocks in our precious soil, but here they are.  Sometimes we find them out of place and need/want them moved to a more advantageous location.

The stone in front of Jesus’ tomb has become a metaphor for all that might entomb us.  The seeming ease at which the giant stone was rolled from Jesus’ tomb opens us up to the possibility for hope.  Whatever stone/rock/boulder that binds us can, through the grace of God, be moved.  The stones/rocks/boulders that frame the paths of our lives are reminders of the power of God to heal and restore.  Here’s to moving stones, Here’s to Easter Hope!

Friday, March 22, 2013

Yes Ma'am

       It was supposed to be an exciting time of discovery, new friends, new challenges.  It turned out to be a disaster.
       During the summer after 4th grade my family moved from Memphis TN. to Chicago Ill. Having grown up in the south I was excited about snow in the winter, baseball games at Wrigley Field, learning to play Hockey, and being on a new family adventure.  The end of the summer marked the beginning of school. I had met a few friends in the neighborhood, but was looking forward to meeting my classmates, teachers and trying to navigate 5th grade.
       Did I mention that I had grown up in the south?  It didn't dawn on me to check with my friends about dress codes.  I proudly showed up the first day of class in my jeans with rolled up cuffs, dress shoes and white socks!  I had no idea why the kids lining the hall were laughing that morning.  I was aware when I got to class that other kids seem to know something that I didn't. But it was later that day that finally one compassionate soul told me that white socks and dress shoes was what everyone was laughing at.
        If the white socks weren't bad enough, I found that my vocabulary was a source of entertainment as well.   At the beginning of the class the teacher asked me a question to which I proudly responded "Yes Ma'am". Did I mention I had grown up in the south?  The roar of laughter was deafening. I thought for a moment that a couple of kids might have injured themselves falling out of their desks on to the floor. "Yes Maaa'aaaam"  I was mocked.  "Yes Ma'am's" followed by more laughter repeated all over the room.
        All summer I had looked forward to the first day of school. I had imagined all kinds of scenarios as to how the day would play out. Being embarassed, humiliated, made fun of and outcasted was never the future I had dreamed about.  
         My 5th grade school year actually turned out ok.  I made some friends. I never wore white socks with dress shoes again and my "Yes "Ma'am" became less comical as the weeks went by.


For some fun stories visit my friend at:
http://chickendotpie.blogspot.com/

for a great place to stay visit:
www.chimneycreekcabin.com