tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-46673485872165310522024-03-17T20:29:36.842-05:007 Piece PuzzleJust a girl. wife. mom. sister. clergy fashionista.
I'm Learning. Living. Becoming. Transforming. Growing. Loving. Letting go. Journeying on. Returning to God one vulnerable breath at a time. A puzzle of seven with one piece forever missing And, yet, somehow I live!
That's the story...Well that and other randomness, life stuff, clergy musings,
whatever else comes to mind.MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.comBlogger44125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-17263405200395228682023-12-09T10:06:00.025-06:002023-12-09T17:24:09.801-06:00What I Do Know <p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://www.sunherald.com/latest-news/2j38wu/picture282814873/alternates/LANDSCAPE_1140/20231207_vigil_020.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="641" data-original-width="1140" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEinUpBubFzYWF51VUeoex8vf9G21nYrmC-xoi08R0s5N0XtD1sD9cb-kAXWxzFdnp6U7LWKX4rxNTmLD94Ty1gEh4Fgw2BD5O7FbUINeXqzdHwuQnBum10vvc8gl3mhNin7eyFFOCsRt_i1S4D8w4K2TalMOuY7oB-QHcJa2fLzXni93OfRp939myXw0ae3/s320/vigil.jpeg" width="320" /></a><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>Darkness looms heavy over our community. You can feel it like a thick shroud almost suffocating the life out of Gautier.</div><br />It’s hard to see or even breathe when deep darkness like this permeates. In these desperate human spaces where the chaos and confusion of tragedy abound, it is only natural you may find yourself wrestling with the hard unanswerable questions.<br /><br />Questions like “Why?” Why did this happen to three beautiful young ladies, three shining stars of the Gautier community? With so much light and love to give. Such a bright future ahead~ and in an instant it all is snuffed out. <br /><br />If you look a little deeper and ponder a bit more you may even be asking “Where was God when this happened?” Or another way of saying it is “Why would God allow something like this to happen?” <br /><br />If you are looking for answers to tormenting questions that plague us…I freely admit I don't have any good answers. <br /><br /><b>What I do have is a Biblical witness. </b><br /><br />And what I do know is the character of God is incorruptible. <br /><br />I know that God is good, loving, merciful, and trustworthy in all His mysterious, wonder-working ways.<br /><br />I know that we live in a broken, fallen world, where bad things happen and sometimes these things happen to the best and brightest of us. Yet, God’s character does not shift in the turbulent waves of unexplainable human tragedy.<br /><br />Even in the midst of great human suffering, I know God is still a good God. <br /><br />I know God is so good and loves us so much that He chose to leave his rightful place in Heavenly Glory. God chose to step down into our tragedy and mess and was born a helpless baby in a filthy barn to two unwed parents. <div><br /></div><div>Christ’s willingness to limit himself by time and space and human need is evidence that he truly is Emmanuel, a God who is with and for us. <br /><br />I know that we also have a God that knows what it means to suffer. I know that Jesus was “despised and rejected by men, a man of great sorrows, and familiar with suffering.”<div> Isaiah 53:1<br /><br />I know that we have a God that knows what it means to grieve and knows what it means to lose a dear friend. The gospel writers tell us that “Jesus wept” at the news of his dear friend Lazarus' death.<br /><br /><b>Jesus wept. Real tears. Birthed from real human heartache. </b><br /><br />I know that even Jesus did not want to go through the hardship of this life and asked for there to be an easier way: “Father, if you are willing, please take this cup of suffering away from me. Yet I want your will to be done, not mine.” Luke 22:42<br /><br /> I know even Jesus felt the sting of abandonment. Feeling as if his father turned his back on him: “And about the ninth hour Jesus cried out with a loud voice, saying, “Eli, Eli, lama sabachthani?” that is to say, “My God, My God, why hast Thou forsaken Me?” Matthew 27:46</div><div><br /></div><div>I know that when Christ breathed his last breath -- the temple curtain ripped, the heavens shook, the earth quaked -- and it "was finished." Earthly torment was swallowed up in Christ's body and the reign of death had come to an end: "Where, O death, is your victory? Where, O death, is your sting?" </div><div>1st Corinthians 15:55</div><div><br />And I know that even in this moment where the crushing darkness will tempt you to believe otherwise, I know “that God is working all things out for the good of those that love him.” Romans 8:28</div><div><br /></div><div>I know that moments like this can also trick us into shrinking back into the darkness. Tragedy births the occasion for us to forget we have a God who "binds up the brokenhearted," weeps when we weep, and died to set us free. </div><div><br /></div><div>A God who loves us deeply and cares for us like a tender shepherd. A God who will "never leave or foresake you." </div><div><br />I know that there’s only one place to turn to when we are “hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed.” 2nd Corinthians 4:8 <br /><br /><b>Where do we go in times of trouble? Where do we turn to for hope and help?</b><br />“I lift up my eyes to the mountains— where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth.” Psalm 121:1-2<br /><br /><b>And I know there is an eternal light that outshines any earthly darkness: </b><br /><br />“The people who walked in darkness<br /><br />have seen a great light;<br /><br />those who lived in a land of deep darkness—<br /><br />on them light has shined…<br /><br /> For a child has been born for us,<br /><br />a son given to us;<br /><br />authority rests upon his shoulders;<br /><br />and he is named<br /><br />Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God,<br /><br />Everlasting Father, Prince of Peace.<br /><br />His authority shall grow continually,<br /><br />and there shall be endless peace<br /><br />for the throne of David and his kingdom.<br /><br />He will establish and uphold it<br /><br />with justice and with righteousness<br /><br />from this time onward and forevermore.<br /><br />The zeal of the LORD of hosts will do this.” Isaiah 9<br /><br /><b>Ultimately, there is a choice we all have to make:</b> Will we continue to trust the maker of the heavens and the earth in all things? Will we choose to believe in the Light of Christ and do our part to push back on the darkness?<br /><br />And if the answer is “yes, we will trust God in all things” and yes “we will push back on the darkness,” then what does that look like?<br /><br /><a href="https://www.facebook.com/photo/?fbid=668768802073955&set=pcb.668773568740145"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaqoJo2e2hE3w2FC0Fgg5mAx4Mudf14tFf_QFKtaVQyC2_lagvbuztUliyq1x3d0xP-SC0vrO_KK-17-zBe0crxvUHJeUINi9-eIPH8IdOf8herQavu15uuVtAF5nXZg3MtHW47VSyH5JYrHfrF-1wM9qwbQzsgjrg1hvIcZT7w6ay6vYTUiYCa2GISMy3/s320/vigil%20school.jpeg" /></a><br /><br />“Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness, and patience. Bear with each other and forgive one another if any of you has a grievance against someone. Forgive as the Lord forgave you. And over all these virtues put on love, which binds them all together in perfect unity.” Colossians 3:12-14<br /><br /><b>A Christian witness looks like loving deeper, forgiving quicker, and not taking a single day of this wild and wonderful precious life for granted.</b><br /><br /> But, wait, there's more...We don't have a flimsy wish for things to work out, but we have an eternal hope that God will redeem our past, sustain our today, and grant us a secure eternal future.<br /><br /><b>Our hope is in Christ alone.</b><br /><br />And so, I also know this is not a final and forever goodbye to Sedhari and Kyla, but a see you later. <br /><br /> "He will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and death shall be no more, neither shall there be mourning, nor crying, nor pain anymore, for the former things have passed away." Revelation 21:4<br /><br /><b>Will you join me in prayer:</b><br /><br />God of us all, your love never ends. <br /><br />When all else fails, you still are God. <br /><br />We lift up Tatyana to you and ask for your complete healing. <br /><br />We pray also for one another in our time of need, and for all,<br /><br />anywhere who mourn with us this day:<br /><br />To those who doubt, give light.<br /><br />To those who are weak, strength.<br /><br />To all who have sinned, mercy.<br /><br />To all who sorrow, your peace.<br /><br />Keep true in us the love that binds us.<br /><br />In all our ways help us to trust you. Amen <br /></div></div><div><br /></div><div><br /></div><div>*Photo Creds</div>Photo 1 HANNAH RUHOFF <i>Sun Herald</i><div>Photo 2<i> </i>PGSD </div>MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-70388364608861332092023-09-09T14:22:00.016-05:002023-09-09T15:37:51.748-05:00Call It Like It Is...Is It Digital Trauma? <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6i7VPsezJcmn7ube4n-DKAdyweFqxCWW0wedtj1sUyGsmkCHw49Crewo_gbuNdK8XzqrN7cTTuJeR-VlONxGq-Oz833onZ_rdzTxs4xw6spsJ_oVjVkvHz7I-1REE0BFsVVpGXdbMJJieIc1jwupEKN1vjvezrUjWcRmgVtLBVM2933y7AUzMKvzq_41Z/s1080/digital%20trauma.png" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1080" data-original-width="1080" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh6i7VPsezJcmn7ube4n-DKAdyweFqxCWW0wedtj1sUyGsmkCHw49Crewo_gbuNdK8XzqrN7cTTuJeR-VlONxGq-Oz833onZ_rdzTxs4xw6spsJ_oVjVkvHz7I-1REE0BFsVVpGXdbMJJieIc1jwupEKN1vjvezrUjWcRmgVtLBVM2933y7AUzMKvzq_41Z/w320-h320/digital%20trauma.png" width="320" /></span></a></p><p><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: arial;">In a previous exploration </span><span style="font-family: arial;"><a href="http://www.7piecepuzzle.com/2023/05/the-digital-apple-exposing-mental_23.html">The Digital Apple: Exposing the Mental Health Crisis of Teenage Girls in Our Brave New World</a><span>, I tried to peel back the layers of the digital age's negative impact on our young generation's mental well-being. (I recommend you read it first). I imagine you were just as shocked as I was by the sobering statistics. Yet, with the horrific local news of a 13-year-old taking her life, I’m beginning to ponder if this is not something even </span><b>more</b><span>? Something that deserves a name, a label. Are we experiencing a widespread "</span><b><i>digital trauma" </i></b><span>diagnosis affecting the next generation? </span></span></span></p><div><p></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-8a5f71a9-7fff-08ee-c281-2c861f82d6a7"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To my knowledge, there is not any talks of a psychological diagnosis of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD) directly related to the use of social media or the digital age among our teenagers. PTSD is a specific mental health condition that typically results from exposure to traumatic events involving a real threat to life or physical safety, such as combat experiences, accidents, or acts of violence.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">However, I’m curious if the mounting evidence of a growing mental health crisis among teenagers shares striking parallels with PTSD-esque “trauma responses.” The rising rates of depression, anxiety, isolation, and suicide are undeniable signs of distress. These are not merely the ordinary challenges of adolescence; they seem to carry the weight of what I’m just tentatively calling <b style="font-style: italic;">"digital trauma," maybe "social trauma?" </b>(Not sure, your thoughts are welcomed.) </span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">In <i>"The Digital Apple,"</i> I explored the strong and growing correlation between excessive social media use and the prevalence of anxiety and depression among teenage girls. Instagram, with its meticulously curated and idealized images, emerged as a particular concern, fostering unhealthy self-images and body dysmorphia. Dr. Vivek Murthy, the U.S. Surgeon General, later validated these concerns by categorizing social media's impact as a "profound risk of harm” in his alarming <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/health/surgeon-general-social-media-mental-health.html">19-page advisory report. </a></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><b>I’m wondering if this notion of “Digital Trauma” resonates with you? </b></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">“Digital Trauma Triggers” </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Online Bullying:</span><b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">A Silent Digital Terror </span></b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Online bullying, a silent terror of the digital age, intertwines with this emerging concept of <b>"digital trauma."</b> Aubreigh, a 13-year-old in our community, tragically took her life, leaving behind a heartbroken family. Her mother revealed that online bullying played a significant role in her daughter's loss of hope. Aubreigh's story is a chilling reminder of how online interactions can turn into a fatal nightmare for vulnerable young minds and leave a broken-hearted family to navigate painful grief for the rest of their lives. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Online bullying is not an isolated incident. Many teenagers face relentless harassment and cruelty in the digital realm. The consequences of bullying can be severe, often leading to feelings of helplessness, shame, and despair. For teenagers like Aubreigh, it becomes a "digital trauma trigger," a source of distress that compounds the challenges they already face. I mentioned in a follow-up blog to "The Digital Apple" the recent tragedy of the 16-year-old from our home state who was <a href="https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2023/02/22/starkville-dad-talks-of-social-media-dangers-after-sons-suicide-sextortion/69926741007/">catfished and sextorted</a> and as a result took his life. Again, these are not isolated. There are many more “faces” to this. And upon further research, I discovered as of 2021 <a href="https://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/statistics/suicide">suicide amongst 10-14-year-olds </a>has moved from the third leading cause of death to the second leading cause of death. It is also the 2nd leading cause of death for 25-34-year-olds as well as the third highest for 15-25-year-olds. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Being Triggered By Fear of Missing Out </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Fear of Missing Out (FOMO) is another insidious aspect of the digital age that can exacerbate “digital trauma.” Constantly connected to social media, teenagers are bombarded with snapshots of their peers' seemingly perfect lives. This unending stream of curated images can lead to feelings of inadequacy and unworthiness. When I was 13 I did not know I didn’t get invited to the weekend in Gulf Shores until Monday morning in homeroom when the group returned with airbrushed Gulf Shores t-shirts. Imagine being a teen today: As soon as the party starts there is a literal avalanche of posting, sharing, and resharing. If you were not invited you know in seconds and have to see and re-see the exclusion as a flood of re-occurring reminders. The pressure to measure up and the injury from being left out contributes to the emotional turmoil that defines "digital trauma."</span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Body Image Issues: The Digital Hall of Mirrors </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The digital world serves as a darkened haunted house hall of mirrors, reflecting not only idealized, photo-shopped images but also distorted self-perceptions and body dysmorphia. Young girls, in particular, grapple with body image concerns magnified by social media's portrayal of literally "fake" beauty standards. Comparison culture fuels a never-ending cycle of disillusion, contributing to a sense of inadequacy which is damaging to self-worth. These body image issues are intricately woven into the fabric of "digital trauma."</span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Digital Addiction: The Relentless Scroll </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Digital addiction, a relentless dark companion of the digital age, plays its role in this emerging narrative. The addictive allure of endless scrolling and notifications can hijack the attention and time of teenagers, often to their detriment. It fosters a sense of dependency on the digital realm, disrupting offline life and exacerbating feelings of isolation and anxiety. In that way, our kids are constantly self-feeding their own “digital trauma triggers" and missing out on the connections right in front of them opting instead for the Alice in Wonderland Digital World. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">COVID-19 and Isolation: A Double-Edged Sword</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">The COVID-19 pandemic thrust the world into a new deeper realm of digital dependence. Lockdowns and social distancing measures led to increased reliance on digital devices for communication and entertainment. While technology-enabled connectivity during a time of physical separation, it also deepened the sense of isolation, especially when face-to-face social interactions became rare. And it seems our teens are not coming “back” from this prolonged isolation, but instead falling further and further down the digital rabbit hole. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This idea I’m pondering of <b>"digital trauma" </b>experienced by today's youth is certainly an evolving and growing phenomenon that's difficult to fully unpack and even harder to look down the road and see the fully blown consequences.<b> "Digital Trauma" </b>encompasses the mental and emotional scars left by excessive social media use, the sleepless nights spent scrolling through screens, the isolation felt in a world of virtual connections, the torment of online bullying, the persistent anxiety of FOMO, the distorted self-images fostered by body image issues, the addictive nature of digital devices, and much, much more. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">So, I guess I’m asking you? Are we indeed witnessing the birth of </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"digital trauma?"</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> While maybe it’s not going to get a direct diagnosis of PTSD (at least not yet), I think we are witnessing trauma-like responses directly correlated to the pressures and pitfalls of the brave new digital world. The rising rates of depression, anxiety, isolation, and suicide are alarming signs that something is bad, bad wrong. Call it what you want, we cannot ignore this. These responses are not just bruises left on a tender apple's skin but are becoming hundreds of "little" deep cuts. And eventually, it’s just too many cuts. Rest In Eternal Peace, Aubreigh, a precious child gone too soon. </span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">I don’t want to end on a sour “apple” note. And I must acknowledge there's also a positive side to social media. I love "hearting" my friends' fun stuff, and conducting research online, and of course, you found this because of the "reach" of social media. :D But...there's a dark side, too. So this is also a call to action. I’m ringing the alarm bell. Ding, ding! We must collectively acknowledge there IS a negative impact of excessive social media use and screen time on our young people, regardless if we label it as <b>“digital trauma”</b> or not. For help for parents click here for a follow-up to <i>“Exposing the Digital Apple"</i> I wrote- <a href="http://www.7piecepuzzle.com/2023/05/empowering-parents-action-steps-to.html">Empowering Parents: Action Steps to Safeguarding Youth Mental Health In A Digital World. </a></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></div>MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS 30.4113097 -88.82780572.1010758638211549 -123.9840557 58.721543536178842 -53.6715557tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-65578016389116173592023-08-07T11:17:00.018-05:002023-08-07T14:35:04.588-05:00The Power of Discipline: A Path to Consistent Growth<p><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSd6Z0b30WxTd05D7CNV8AT7aYbWRMbMXPuv-dtOzd3jHXA1TuRIPsFzNn22hSe2cvD-HraV4Dj_Fp4LrZsiYQZi9ly_ipiNc61vO2rBmRB5xC4U7Fb3hpP5hOp9ZxFLZ_6Jro-wshHr5VTKbU-y6ZIGB45ljk227PHaJyQWLG07k_gKx7-VPHjdMD81e/s602/30f286d6f4a56411fe2b098b52a0f631.jpeg" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="background-color: white; color: black; font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><img border="0" data-original-height="602" data-original-width="602" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDSd6Z0b30WxTd05D7CNV8AT7aYbWRMbMXPuv-dtOzd3jHXA1TuRIPsFzNn22hSe2cvD-HraV4Dj_Fp4LrZsiYQZi9ly_ipiNc61vO2rBmRB5xC4U7Fb3hpP5hOp9ZxFLZ_6Jro-wshHr5VTKbU-y6ZIGB45ljk227PHaJyQWLG07k_gKx7-VPHjdMD81e/w263-h212/30f286d6f4a56411fe2b098b52a0f631.jpeg" width="263" /></span></a></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-5f38c64f-7fff-e151-c5d7-9bec728477f0" style="background-color: white;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Discipline is the cornerstone of personal development and success. It is the conscious choice to adhere to a set of principles, actions, and routines consistently. As the quote recently circulating on social media aptly puts it: "Discipline leads to habits. Habits lead to consistency. Consistency leads to growth." This beautifully captures the essence of how our thoughts, words, and actions are interconnected in shaping the trajectory of our lives.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">When we cultivate a disciplined life, we create habits that shape our behaviors and define our character. These habits, in turn, pave the way for consistency, which becomes the driving force behind our growth and progress in various aspects of life. But it all begins in your mind: thoughts become words that manifest into actions that all intertwine to create a powerful cycle that shapes our reality.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">An ancient proverb declares: </span><span style="font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">"Watch your thoughts, they become your words; watch your words, they become your actions; watch your actions, they become your habits; watch your habits, they become your character; watch your character, it becomes your destiny."</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">This cyclical process underscores the profound connection between our thoughts, words, and actions. It starts with our thoughts, which form the foundation of our beliefs and values. These thoughts then find expression through our words, influencing how we communicate and interact with others. In the pursuit of growth and positive change, our thoughts are paramount. Eventually, our words turn into actions, shaping our behavior and contributing to the habits we form. In turn, these habits reinforce our beliefs, completing the cycle and solidifying our worldview. Paying close attention to the negative thoughts on auto-repeat throughout your day is vital, as they have the potential to shape your reality in a way you probably do not desire.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Discipline serves as the catalyst for developing positive habits. By consistently making intentional choices aligned with our goals and values, we lay the groundwork for a habit-forming process. Whether it's approaching your day with<a href="http://www.7piecepuzzle.com/2017/11/wake-up-be-thankful.html"> <span>“Five Things You are Thankful For,</span></a>" trading in doom scrolling for micro-learning, getting back to the gym, or making table time a priority, discipline provides the structure needed to instill these behaviors into our daily routines. As these actions are repeated over time, they become automatic responses, transforming into habits that become an integral part of who we are.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">But it's also going to take some time. And we've been duped with this "21 Days to A New You" garbage. The time it takes to form a habit can vary from person to person and depends on several factors. The commonly cited figure of 21 days to form a habit originated from a misinterpretation of a <span><a href="https://www.crossfitinvictus.com/blog/really-take-21-days-build-habit/">study conducted by Dr. Maxwell Maltz</a>,</span><span> </span>a plastic surgeon, in the 1950s. Dr. Maltz noticed that it took about 21 days for his patients to get used to their new appearance following surgery. However, this observation was not related to habits but rather to psychological adjustments.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">More recent research suggests that the time required to form a habit is more variable and can take anywhere from 18 to 254 days, with an average of around 66 days. This finding comes from a study published in the <a href="https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/abs/10.1002/ejsp.674"><span>European Journal of Social Psychology in 2009.</span><span> </span></a>The researchers found that forming a habit depends on various factors, such as the complexity of the habit, individual differences, and the level of consistency in performing the behavior.</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;">For simple habits, like drinking a glass of water before you coffee or doing a few minutes of stretching, it might take a shorter time to become automatic, possibly within a few weeks. However, more complex habits, such as regular exercise, daily devotions, or resisting the constant social scroll, may take longer to become ingrained.</span></p><br /></span></span><div><span id="docs-internal-guid-67de28d7-7fff-7b11-68a5-f0e13ad78fed"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">It's important to note that forming a habit is not solely about the number of days it takes but also about consistency and repetition. The more consistently a behavior is performed, the more likely it is to become a habit.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Once habits are firmly established, they facilitate consistency in our daily life. Consistency is the key to progress because it ensures that we stay on track despite challenges and distractions. When we engage in positive habits consistently, we enhance our productivity and performance, leading to more significant achievements in additional areas of life. Growth in one area promotes growth in other areas!</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">And you are going to grow! Growth is the natural outcome of disciplined habits and consistent efforts. Adhering to our principles and maintaining positive behaviors, set us up for incremental improvement and progress. Growth occurs in both tangible and intangible ways, from achieving career milestones and acquiring new skills to developing emotional resilience and nurturing meaningful connections. It is through this process of continuous growth that we can reach our full God-gifted potential and create a life of purpose and fulfillment.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">The passage from 1 Peter 1:13 - "Therefore, preparing your minds for action, and being sober-minded, set your hope fully on the grace that will be brought to you at the revelation of Jesus Christ" - offers valuable insights into cultivating discipline. It emphasizes the importance of preparing our minds for action, which involves being intentional and focused on our goals. By being sober-minded, we develop clarity and avoid being swayed by distractions or temptations. Furthermore, setting our hope on the grace of a higher calling in Christ provides motivation and strength to persevere, even in challenging times.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Our minds are the starting point of this transformative journey. It is within our minds that we must first make a conscious decision to make the changes we know we need to make. Discipline then becomes the gateway to building habits, consistency, and finally growth. By consciously choosing our thoughts, words, and actions, we shape a new reality and create a positive cycle of development and progress. Embracing the power of discipline enables us to cultivate habits that lead to consistency, propelling us towards growth in all areas of life.</span></span></p><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Are you struggling in an area of your life? Embrace the power of discipline to overcome daily struggles and ignite positive change in your life. With self-awareness, commitment, and support, you can embark on a transformative journey of growth and unlock your preferred future.</span></span></p><br /></span></div><div><span><span id="docs-internal-guid-819fcff1-7fff-a62a-0a32-26caffacc9d9"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-size: medium;">Disclaimer: Mental health is a critical aspect of our well-being, and it's essential to recognize that while discipline and positive habits can be empowering, they may not be sufficient for individuals wrestling with depression, anxiety, or mental illness. Seeking professional help, such as therapy or counseling, is a vital and courageous step towards healing and support. Remember, it's okay to ask for help, and there is strength in reaching out to professionals who can provide the necessary guidance and care. Your mental health matters, and you deserve the best support on your journey to well-being and growth.</span></span></p><div><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="font-size: 12pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div></span></span></div>MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-42378254786408174182023-08-01T22:22:00.044-05:002023-08-02T06:51:31.507-05:00Adapt, Migrate, or Decline: A Call To Be Transformed<div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b id="docs-internal-guid-ec7f7677-7fff-558a-0aaa-ecddeca1c3ad" style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7jLwidoPwwqTVw4W1uBnyW1eUy15NvZe4J7SA1gG8JuJUt5yQ5_IJyNRJLUQqo2oHog1najdDBaxqLeNFjFYVs8kFh9C2_qd5Remkj266n7y69uV8fE9FQwH-1k0tgDrDVdk5_wMjpEu18QscqFRZB0WudihMS-daPZBt3QvPIPd-62L1gEx7ireb0mQ/s620/PKZXL2LFDRGSBBXQX7YIQJC26I.webp" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="400" data-original-width="620" height="206" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgE7jLwidoPwwqTVw4W1uBnyW1eUy15NvZe4J7SA1gG8JuJUt5yQ5_IJyNRJLUQqo2oHog1najdDBaxqLeNFjFYVs8kFh9C2_qd5Remkj266n7y69uV8fE9FQwH-1k0tgDrDVdk5_wMjpEu18QscqFRZB0WudihMS-daPZBt3QvPIPd-62L1gEx7ireb0mQ/s320/PKZXL2LFDRGSBBXQX7YIQJC26I.webp" width="320" /></a></div><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;">"Adapt, migrate, or die" is a multidisciplinary concept emphasizing the necessity for entities, including religious institutions like the church, to embrace change or face the risk of becoming irrelevant or extinct. As organizations and individuals confront changing circumstances, the ability to be flexible and open to new approaches, whether through adaptation or migration, becomes crucial for maintaining vitality and impact. In the context of the church, "adapt, migrate, or die" serves as a reminder of the imperative to address the challenges and shifts of the contemporary era to remain relevant and meaningful in the lives of congregants and community. </div></span></span></span></b></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><b style="font-weight: normal;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></b><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">In our rapidly changing world, the church faces significant challenges that demand our attention. With declining attendance and a growing societal hunger for genuine community and connection, we stand at the crossroads of "Adapt, Migrate, or Decline." <i>(To be fair the Church-big "C- has been here for a while. COVID just made this more clear and also accelerated the rate of decline.) </i>Some within our United Methodist denomination are opting for migration as a viable option. However, both maintaining the status quo and migration present their own set of potentially unforeseen challenges and consequences. I’m not so sure we are fully unpacking the ramifications and risks inherent in couching our issues as simply do we “stay or go." </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">While we are expending precious energy and resources on deciding to “stay or go,” the</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> church </i></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">is declining. Not just </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>The United Methodist Church</i></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">, but </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>“the church.</b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">” Churches of all denominations are grappling with a decline in attendance as societal and cultural shifts impact the church’s relevance in communal life. In this strange digital age, people are yearning and hungering for meaningful connections and authentic community experiences. But is the church delivering? We could be…The church has the unique potential to provide a safe haven for individuals seeking genuine relationships. We have the “answer” to what the world needs…We have Jesus. By nurturing a sense of belonging and fostering authentic connections to Jesus and each other, churches could become vibrant centers of belonging and support.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But we are not even addressing this because of our internal (and ugly) disputes. The fracturing within the United Methodist Church has left many congregations wrestling with daunting decisions. Migrating away from the UMC body and becoming independent or joining a brand new denomination on the surface appears to be an “escape” from our current denominational woes. However, migration, while possibly offering temporary relief, cannot serve as a "magic bullet" for the challenges faced by churches today.</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Scraping the UMC cross and flame off your church sign and </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>claiming</i></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> nothing (or everything) is changing is not going to cut it. We have a much bigger problem than are you</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> First United Methodist Church of BackBay </i></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">or </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>First Church BackBay</i></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">. Your sign is not going to reach unreached people for Christ. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"> The Public Religion Research Institute's </span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.prri.org/research/religion-and-congregations-in-a-time-of-social-and-political-upheaval/" style="background-color: #fcff01;"><span style="color: black;">recent study</span></a>, "Religion and Congregations in a Time of Social and Political Upheaval" </span>reveals that participation in houses of worship continues to decrease. PRRI reported 28% of respondents now claiming to "seldom" attend religious services, compared to figures of 22% a decade ago. Furthermore, 29% of respondents now state that they "never" attend religious services, up from 21% ten years ago. The COVID-19 pandemic appears to have exacerbated this larger trend. In 2019, 19% of Americans reported attending a religious service once a week. However, the percentage of those attending weekly has now dropped to 16%, with only 13% stating that they attend "a few times a year." </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Churches that resist change and opt to stay the same risk losing relevance and ultimately facing death. </span></span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">To avoid this fate, churches must open their hearts to the ongoing, oftentimes painful, work of transformation. </span><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">Just "staying" UMC without adaptions that lead to a passionate pursuit of unreached people and creative spaces for healing, growth and community is not enough, either. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><br /></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; font-family: arial; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Migrating from one denomination to another (or no denomination) brings its own set of challenges, such as restructuring governance, lack of accountability and connection, the collateral damage of a church torn apart, and potentially shutting the door on the very people Jesus is wanting you to reach. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Are churches that choose migration preparing to adapt as well? Because no church is going to escape the need for innovation and inclusivity. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not to mention the trail of tears that “migrating” churches are leaving behind. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">What I keep circling back to is there is nothing remarkable or even holy about church schism. And this certainly is a terrible look for those on the outside peering in. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Apostle Paul admonishes believers to be “like minded. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit. Rather, in humility, value others above yourselves." (Philippians 2:3-4)</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">John Wesley cautions against causing division within the church body and equates internal conflict to "rending the seamless coat of Christ" to illustrate the damage that can be done when Christians are in opposition with one another. </span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What about Jesus? He could have asked his Father for anything at all as his embodied mission was drawing to a close, and unity is his request: “I pray also for those who will believe in me through their (the disciples’) message, that all of them may be one, Father, just as you are in me and I am in you…so that they may be brought to complete unity. Then the world will know that you sent me and have loved them even as you have loved me.” (John 17:20-23)</span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If your church voted to cohesively “migrate” at say a 90+ percentage, I suppose migration is your best path forward. But what we are witnessing in many disaffiliating churches is something much more complex. Much more messy. With much more injury to the body and damage to our witness. Something that smacks of schism. This at least should be carefully weighed prior to moving forward in a migration attempt. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">At the heart of the church's mission lies the power of Holy Spirit inspired unity in Christian community. Creating a called out gathering not built around a required uniformity, but a shared communal faith. </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;">To survive and thrive, churches must be willing to reinvent themselves while staying true to our core unwavering doctrine. And, yes, the United Methodist Church is a creedal church. We believe Jesus is literally God in human skin and he defeated death and wants us to go, love and serve others in the power and name of the Risen Savior. And placing Jesus at the center as the ultimate change agent is the key to navigating through these darkened and divisive days. <br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial; white-space-collapse: preserve;">We stand on the cusp of a critical juncture. The decline in attendance and the yearning for genuine connections demand action. The choice is: adapt, migrate, or risk irrelevance and decline. Do nothing? Your church is going to die. While migration may offer temporary relief, it's not enough alone. Our hope lies in embracing transformational adaptation. By leveraging this moment of challenge and change, the church can revitalize its mission, embrace innovation, and create an environment that fosters genuine community and connection. By doing so, the church can position itself as a source of support, meaning, and purpose in the lives of those seeking solace in the face of modern complexities.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="white-space-collapse: preserve;"><br /></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Instead of tearing each other apart while the world watches, our </span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>shared </b></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">high calling in Christ should be elevated over all other lesser internal squabbling: “Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age.” (Matthew 28:19-20) In other words--go and "make disciples of Jesus Christ for the</span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i> transformation</i></span><span face="Arial, sans-serif" style="background-color: transparent; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> of the world." </span></span></div>MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-55247707070557233672023-05-25T22:51:00.016-05:002023-08-11T07:46:10.658-05:00Empowering Parents: Action Steps to Safeguarding Youth Mental Health in a Digital World<p></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHMVosFReOtCVa0E3yC4EYkWBNdSTSw5YKtvFVxD-Ffpi9vFtyLVTfmNapF6NGh4WLku2AVR0nlIPDJULHpET-aIUFCghR_pRNo5iVxH6zueNh-N0HoSOp6OfqG3Vq6M4qGHQny3KEt2yoHQ5WWiceanqef2Eu0YutvIF4tgEdlcETrIYcluMYgo_2Q/s4032/IMG_1939.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><img border="0" data-original-height="3024" data-original-width="4032" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhBHMVosFReOtCVa0E3yC4EYkWBNdSTSw5YKtvFVxD-Ffpi9vFtyLVTfmNapF6NGh4WLku2AVR0nlIPDJULHpET-aIUFCghR_pRNo5iVxH6zueNh-N0HoSOp6OfqG3Vq6M4qGHQny3KEt2yoHQ5WWiceanqef2Eu0YutvIF4tgEdlcETrIYcluMYgo_2Q/s320/IMG_1939.HEIC" width="320" /></span></a></div><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">In a recent <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/health/surgeon-general-social-media-mental-health.html" target="_blank">19-page advisory report </a>by Surgeon General Dr. Vivek H. Murthy, the dangers of social media on young peoples’ mental health was highlighted, urging parents to be aware and proactive in protecting their children (1). The report emphasized the detrimental effects of excessive social media use on young people, including increased rates of anxiety, depression, and loneliness. For more on this, see part one posted recently here --> <a href="http://www.7piecepuzzle.com/2023/05/the-digital-apple-exposing-mental_23.html" target="_blank">The Digital Apple: Exposing The Mental Health Crisis of Teenage Girls in our Brave New World</a>. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-b75d974d-7fff-1e3b-0ad0-e36e65bd8c87"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The report also highlighted how challenging raising kids in a digital world is: "Nearly 70% of parents say parenting is now more difficult than it was 20 years ago, with technology and social media as the top two cited reasons (1)." I think we all can agree on this! It's rough out there, parents! </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">But there's hope! To address these concerns, the advisory offered several recommendations for parents, such as setting boundaries on screen time, encouraging open conversations about social media's impact, monitoring online activities, and promoting offline activities and face-to-face interactions. By implementing these strategies, parents can play a crucial role in mitigating the adverse effects of social media and fostering a healthier digital environment for their children.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Taking Action </b></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><i>Specifically, Dr. Murthy’s report gives parents some tools to work with: (1)</i></span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- <b>Create a family media plan: </b>Establish healthy technology boundaries by creating a plan that promotes open family discussion and rules about media use, including balancing screen time, setting content boundaries, and not sharing personal information. By setting limits on screen time and encouraging alternative activities such as hobbies, sports, and face-to-face interactions, we can create an environment where young people feel supported, valued, and connected. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">When my kids were in middle school we had a cell phone “bedtime.” Phones were put to bed on a charger in our bedroom. Of course, this didn’t happen every single night. But we tried to keep this pattern. And I won't lie to you. This was not easy. But I promise, your kid won't hyperventilate (or die) overnight without her phone. They will eventually get accustomed to this. When attempting to implement this strategy: Don't fall for the "but how will I wake up for school without my alarm" trick. Pretty simple. Buy an actual alarm clock for their room. When you <i>really </i>think about it there is literally no reason for a kid to have a phone in their bed with them while they are trying to sleep. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- <b>Create tech-free zones and encourage in-person friendships:</b> Limit electronics before bedtime and during mealtimes to promote better sleep and engage in face-to-face interactions, encouraging children to develop social skills and prioritize offline connections. In this ever-growing digital age, it is crucial to prioritize incarnate relationships and create spaces for in-person connections. Research has shown that regular family meals, such as eating dinner around the table, have a positive impact on adolescent well-being. According to a systematic review of sharing time around a table, frequent family dinners are associated with lower rates of substance use, depression, and eating disorders among teenagers (2). We could all use a 20-minute break from our phones to break bread and talk face-to-face about our day. A phone box where everyone (parents included) places phones is a way to achieve this. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- <b>Model responsible social media behavior: </b>Set a good example by limiting your own social media use, being mindful of what and how you share about your child, and exhibiting positive behavior on your own social media accounts. Ouch. This one stings. Even writing this, I’m feeling convicted for my own excessive screen time. But, it’s going to be harder to set limits on your child’s phone, when they see adults in their circles glued to theirs. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- <b>Teach kids about technology and empower them to be responsible online participants: </b>Discuss the benefits and risks of social media, privacy protection, and responsible online behavior at an age-appropriate level. That digital footprint they (and you) are creating will go with you wherever you go. And it can come back to bite you. Think it won't? How about the rising star that was set to be the editor of </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://nypost.com/2021/03/18/teen-vogue-editor-resigns-amid-uproar-over-offensive-tweets-from-college/" target="_blank">Teen Vogue, </a>but was recently forced to resign after the uproar over offensive tweets she made ten years prior while a student in college (3). </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Engaging in open and honest conversations, actively listening to their concerns, and providing emotional support can help our teens navigate the challenges of the digital age. Taking action also involves promoting media literacy and critical thinking skills. By empowering teenage girls to discern the idealized portrayals on social media from real-life experiences, they can develop a healthier self-image and cultivate resilience. Encouraging them to engage in activities that promote self-expression, creativity, and personal growth can contribute to their overall well-being as well. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- <b>Report cyberbullying and online abuse and exploitation: </b>Talk to your child about reporting options and provide support if they are being harassed or approached by adults seeking inappropriate content. Report incidents to schools, online platforms, or law enforcement. By fostering open lines of communication, a child is less likely to be “catfished.” It pains me to mention this, but right here in Mississippi a <a href="https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2023/02/22/starkville-dad-talks-of-social-media-dangers-after-sons-suicide-sextortion/69926741007/" target="_blank">16-year-old took his life</a> after falling prey to an online sextortion catfishing scheme on Instagram from an IP address on the other side of the "real" world. His father offered this advice to teens: "</span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">Understand there are evil traps set out for you on your phone. There are things out there that are out to get you. Be vigilant." And to parents, he advised, "Don't let your kids go to be with their phones (4)." There are two votes for no cell phones overnight! ;)</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><br /></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- <b>Work with other parents to establish shared norms and practices: </b>Collaborate with other parents to establish collective boundaries and support programs and policies promoting healthy social media use for children. You don't have to go at this mammoth undertaking all alone. Start talking to your tribe! Get a community game plan going with buy-in from parents in your teens' circles. There’s power in a shared approach. </span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The mental health crisis facing teenagers demands our attention and action. To start with, we must not turn a blind eye to the negative impact of excessive social media use and screen time. In addition, by taking proactive steps, we can actively work towards creating a supportive environment where our young people can thrive mentally, emotionally, and socially. In addition by fostering genuine, in-person connections and limiting screen time, we can provide a supportive environment for our young ones to thrive. Let's work together to guide our children through the digital world, lend an ear to listen to their struggles, and create a community that prioritizes genuine incarnate connections. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of our young people and help them navigate the challenges of the ever-shifting digital age.</span></p><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">What about the church? What can we do? Stay tuned for part 3.</span></p><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Endnotes </span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>1. </span></span><span style="text-indent: -36pt;">Richtel, M., Pearson, C., & Levenson, M. (2023, May 24).</span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span> </span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/health/surgeon-general-social-media-mental-health.html" target="_blank">Surgeon General Warns That Social Media May Harm Children and Adolescents. </a> </span><span style="font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span>The New York Times. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;">2. <span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Harrison ME, Norris ML, Obeid N, Fu M, Weinstangel H, Sampson M. <a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4325878/" target="_blank">Systematic review of the effects of family meal frequency on psychosocial outcomes in youth.</a> Can Fam Physician. 2015 Feb. </span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: arial;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">3. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">T</span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Kelly, K. J. (2021, March 19).T</span><a href="Teen Vogue editor resigns amid uproar over offensive tweets from college days" style="white-space: pre-wrap;" target="_blank">een Vogue editor resigns amid uproar over offensive tweets from college days</a> New York Post. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">4. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; white-space: pre-wrap;">“<a href="https://www.clarionledger.com/story/news/2023/02/22/starkville-dad-talks-of-social-media-dangers-after-sons-suicide-sextortion/69926741007/" target="_blank">Starkville Father Speaks out on “Sextortion” and His Son’s Suicide.</a>” The Clarion-Ledger. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></div></span>MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA30.4113097 -88.82780572.1010758638211549 -123.9840557 58.721543536178842 -53.6715557tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-43073188717766050592023-05-23T17:18:00.039-05:002023-09-11T14:23:55.095-05:00The Digital Apple: Exposing the Mental Health Crisis of Teenage Girls in Our Brave New World <p> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCIxSZ4zlmpHp2Bppe_C92BAzuUJEUwgw3isK-K0MioW1O6Pn4kl3K3PnwPzcPNKAAnhDd8I79eDTQVJgobdLI_JNdq4ZsefNffOsI02B3G0Z2LZ3RfrfGf4qeluVfXBkj1gtWmRUW-g7r2Ja8OKC67dR4eJN490eMmjoy1rjIssuZyndUGEN_ioLcQ/s674/shutterstock_600946994.webp" style="clear: left; display: inline; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="450" data-original-width="674" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjXCIxSZ4zlmpHp2Bppe_C92BAzuUJEUwgw3isK-K0MioW1O6Pn4kl3K3PnwPzcPNKAAnhDd8I79eDTQVJgobdLI_JNdq4ZsefNffOsI02B3G0Z2LZ3RfrfGf4qeluVfXBkj1gtWmRUW-g7r2Ja8OKC67dR4eJN490eMmjoy1rjIssuZyndUGEN_ioLcQ/s320/shutterstock_600946994.webp" width="320" /></a></p><p><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Beneath the shiny facade of social media lies a disturbing truth: teenage girls are silently battling a mental health crisis. After being shocked by a recent article in </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/02/17/teen-girls-mental-health-crisis/" target="_blank">The Washington Post</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/02/17/teen-girls-mental-health-crisis/" target="_blank">,</a> I decided to take a deep dive. The statistics are sobering: Nearly one in three high school girls has considered suicide, a 60% increase in the past decade. Additionally, almost 14% of these girls have experienced forced sexual encounters, and approximately six in ten report persistent feelings of sadness and hopelessness, leading them to disengage from regular activities (1). These numbers paint a grim picture of the challenges young girls and teens are facing in our digital age.</span></p><span id="docs-internal-guid-cdd1c8eb-7fff-afb9-2c7b-ef16003aec7c"><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Numerous studies have highlighted the strong correlation between excessive social media use and the prevalence of depression among teenage girls. Among various platforms, Instagram has emerged as particularly detrimental to mental health and overall well-being (2). The incessant exposure to meticulously curated and idealized images on social media platforms can exacerbate body dysmorphia and foster an unhealthy self-image (2). As I was finishing this up, Dr. Vikek Murthy, our Surgeon General, just published a <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/23/health/surgeon-general-social-media-mental-health.html" target="_blank">19-page advisory </a>on the alarming effects of social media with a "profound risk of harm" to adolescent mental health and urges parents to set limits and governments to get tougher on standards for use. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Even as an “old lady,” I feel this in all kinds of ways. It’s so easy for me to fall down </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">a digital rabbit hole and find myself ensnared by the never-ending scroll. Mindlessly scroll...</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">scroll...scrolling through image after image of flawlessly retouched models. And then as I </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">peer into my own looking glass mirror at my “11s” suddenly they look that much more exacerbated. Of course, social media is not the sole cause, but </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">it undeniably plays a </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">significant role in the current mental health crisis facing an entire generation. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Impact of Social Media</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Like prying open the lid on Pandora's box, the influence of social media reveals a realm of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">wonders and perils, enticing us with its allure while concealing its darker depths. As the </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">digital landscape constantly morphs, it unveils new challenges and consequences, leaving </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">us to navigate uncharted territory. Much like the citizens in George Orwell's</span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="https://www.amazon.com/1984-Signet-Classics-George-Orwell/dp/0451524934" target="_blank">1984</a></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> who couldn't foresee the extent of their own subjugation under the watchful eye of Big Brother, we find ourselves traversing a digital realm where the consequences of our online interactions and exposure to idealized images are not fully apparent. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">If you were forced to read <i>1984 </i>in your high school English class, you probably recall Winston Smith, the protagonist, struggling to maintain his individuality (and sanity) amidst a society controlled by surveillance and manipulation. I don’t think it’s a too far-fetched notion that teenage girls today are facing the daunting task of preserving their mental well-being and self-perception amidst the seductive allure of the candy-crusted digital world they reside in. It's as if we are all living in a real-life version of <i>1984</i>, where our perception of reality is distorted by the constant barrage of carefully manipulated images. But it’s 2024. And, hello, here comes AI... It’s all a Pandora’s box of sorts. That we don’t know the full effects of (yet). </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; font-weight: 700; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Role of Screen Time</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Excessive </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">screen time is having a profound impact on the well-being of young people. Studies have shown </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">that prolonged screen time is associated with higher levels of anxiety and depression among </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">young individuals (3). The constant exposure to online content and the addictive nature of </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">digital devices pose significant risks to the mental well-being of our teens. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Research has also </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">found that increased social media use is linked to poorer sleep quality, which further affects </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">mental health (4). Moreover, excessive screen time in early childhood can impede cognitive </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">development and academic performance (5). Additionally, it can contribute to social isolation, </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">hinder the development of crucial social skills, and negatively impact physical health, increasing t</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">he risk of obesity and cardiovascular problems (6). Not to mention how alarming it is to note that 45% of teenagers report being online "almost constantly" (7). I don't want to sound like some freak "alarmist" but the negative effects of screen time on mental health and overall well-being cannot be underestimated (8).</span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Of course, the digital age has brought about tremendous advancements, opportunities, and </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">connections. I mean to be fair you are reading this right now because you found it (or it found you) on social media. And, yes, I love seeing what everyone in my circles is up to. I love “hearting” the flurry of photos of your most recent celebrations. I love staying “connected” to loved ones across the country and around the globe. And, yes, every Sunday you can catch me preaching online because at the church I serve we recognize the importance of providing both an in-person and an online space for people to gather. But…along with all the “great” things about social media, we have unleashed something dark as well. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And it’s our teenage girls that are falling into the darkest shadows of our brave new digital world. At a minimum, I think it is our responsibility, to be honest about the dark side of social media. It truly is "both/and." And shouldn't we be collectively concerned that an entire generation of <i>Alices</i> is falling down the digital rabbit hole into a "Wonderland" filled with both marvels and unforeseen dangers. Honestly, t</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">he current mental health crisis facing teenage girls demands our attention and action. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We must take responsibility for the negative impact of excessive social media use and screen time on our young people. And provide them with tools to navigate the looming digital abyss. </span></p><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Stay tuned for part two–This morphed into something insanely too long for one post. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Part Two will look at what we can do to help our young ones navigate Pandora’s Digital Box. It's live! Follow link ----> <a href="http://www.7piecepuzzle.com/2023/05/empowering-parents-action-steps-to.html" target="_blank">Empowering Parents: Action Steps to Safeguarding Youth Mental Health in a Digital World</a></span></p><div><span><br /></span></div><br /><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"><span style="font-size: 14.6667px; white-space: pre-wrap;">Endnotes: </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">1. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The Washington Post -</span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> <a href="https://www.washingtonpost.com/education/2023/02/17/teen-girls-mental-health-crisis/" target="_blank">"Teen Girls' Mental Health Crisis"</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">2 . Time Magazine-</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://time.com/4793331/instagram-social-media-mental-health/" target="_blank">Why Instagram Is the Worst Social Media for Mental Health</a></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">3, </span><a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8389076/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Longitudinal associations between </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">problematic social media use and depressive symptoms in adolescent girls</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">,</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">4 Journal of Youth and Adolescence -</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/30639033/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"Associations between screen time</span><span style="color: #1155cc;"><span style="caret-color: rgb(17, 85, 204);"> </span></span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="text-decoration-color: initial; text-decoration-style: initial; text-decoration-thickness: initial;">and sleep duration are primarily driven by portable electronic devices: </span></span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Evidence from a population-based study</span><span style="color: #1155cc; text-decoration: none;"><u>.</u></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-style: italic; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">5. Pediatrics -</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"<a href="https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4628228/" target="_blank">Early Childhood Screen Time and Parenting Attitudes and Beliefs</a>" </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">6. JAMA Pediatrics</span><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">- <a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21909435/" target="_blank">"Associations Between Screen Time and Physical </a></span><a href="https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/21909435/" target="_blank"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Activity Among Spanish Adolescents" </span> </a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">7 </span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Vogels, E., Gelles-Watnick, R. & Massarat, N., 2022.</span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/" target="_blank">Teens, Social Media 2022</a></span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><a href="https://www.pewresearch.org/internet/2022/08/10/teens-social-media-and-technology-2022/" target="_blank"> </a> </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #212529; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Pew Research Center: Internet, Science & Tech. United States of America </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">8<a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/well/family/kids-social-media.html" target="_blank"> </a></span><a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2023/05/15/well/family/kids-social-media.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> </span><span style="color: #1155cc; font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; text-decoration-line: underline; text-decoration-skip-ink: none; text-decoration: underline; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">American Psychological Association - "Screen Time Guidelines for Young Children</span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">"</span></a></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.656; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; font-variant-alternates: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-numeric: normal; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also want to note I got some AI help hunting down additional sources. See, it's not a total abyss. </span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 11pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">It truly is "both/and."</span></p><br /></span>MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA30.4113097 -88.82780572.1010758638211549 -123.9840557 58.721543536178842 -53.6715557tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-91519693038532994752022-09-02T13:41:00.027-05:002022-09-03T16:06:32.993-05:00(Separately) Together <div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we pass through the seas of separation. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">You will be there. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">The rivers of division twisting and turning </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">bending into new streams. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">They will not overcome us. <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuHQ330T4TL9QUZVu-rOgL2NvuL7JxdvCMxGuPL_MTEoB2m2exG2Ku2x3CR8pSMhlEsrfitQ5ngO4LbcFATYPaUoLb6FjGB_Tcprs_TuwEa4JiYwidkB5D59DCNKUkMq1XSaAeiKRT-T6sp_1KjQWlbbFQPZ-Lw-kXczpqoQyJ-_7p306yPPXAPEQYA/s2048/Communion.jpeg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: left;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXuHQ330T4TL9QUZVu-rOgL2NvuL7JxdvCMxGuPL_MTEoB2m2exG2Ku2x3CR8pSMhlEsrfitQ5ngO4LbcFATYPaUoLb6FjGB_Tcprs_TuwEa4JiYwidkB5D59DCNKUkMq1XSaAeiKRT-T6sp_1KjQWlbbFQPZ-Lw-kXczpqoQyJ-_7p306yPPXAPEQYA/w150-h200/Communion.jpeg" width="150" /></a></div></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The doubts and fears </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">of the shattered years. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Will not carry us away.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">When we walk </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">through the fire <br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We will not be burned by hot tempered words and sun scorched tongues.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">When the winds and waves </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">crash upon the house we built. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Held together by holy moments</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> and tender memories. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Where generations before us</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">dreamed dreams we lived. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And generations behind </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">us will dream their very own. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">You will be there. </span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Where can we go until this storm subsides? <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Where can we hide from the wind and flame? </span><b style="font-weight: normal;"><br /></b><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Together, we go to our Father’s house. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">His goodness and mercy greet us at the door. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The table is set.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The meal is prepared. <br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We gather and remember once more. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">With joined hands and humble hearts <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We bow low and offer our thanks.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">We do this to remember.</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We remember you are the shelter </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">from every storm.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We remember you are the cornerstone </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">our house was built upon. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We remember it is your table </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">we are gathered around. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Your body that feeds us. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Your blood that frees us. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It is your great love that binds us</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> as sisters and brothers.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Ones and anothers. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We will go to our Father’s house once more. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The table is set. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Jesus is here. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We gather to remember </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Peace is present, </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">but can it quieten our collective fear? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">With questioning eyes gazing; piercing within. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We take an inventory</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> of one another’s perceived sin.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">What does she think?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">What does he believe?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Are you for me or against me? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Where do you stand? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Who told you to do this?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Who asked you to be the judge?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Were we not told to love one another.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">To abide in His sweet love.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">But how can we be one in the Spirit?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">One in Love?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When the betrayer is seated </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">in the chair next to us. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">When the one that dips after us </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">has blood on their hands. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Surely it is not I you speak of?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I am not the one.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Dear Lord, it is my brother. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It is the one sitting across from the other. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Breaking the chalice that holds us together. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Shattering the dreams and traditions</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> of our Fathers and Mothers. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I am not the one.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Dear Lord, no, it is my sister. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Who will not add a chair to your table. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Who will not welcome my sisters and brothers. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Who will not make space for these others. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Surely, it is not me?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">No, it is the one that dipped their hand in the cup.<br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">A cup tipped over and pouring down the altar. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Running down to each seat at Christ’s holy table. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Covering all who gather. </span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Covering even the betrayer.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Forgiving the accuser.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Pouring out on each of us.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">On one and the other. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Who then is the betrayer? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">If not my sister.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Or my brother. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Is it us? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We who have failed to be an obedient church.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We who have not done your will.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We that broke your law.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We that rebelled against </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">your great and abiding love.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We that have not loved our neighbors.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We that have not heard</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> the cry of the needy at our door.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Forgive us, we pray. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Us. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Not that brother.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Or this sister.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Not just you.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Not just me. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Together, we repent and remember. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Is it better that we never came together? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">That we never shared this holy meal</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">on bended bruised knees.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Weary from the journey. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Afraid for our fragile future. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Is it better to never have been </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">than to choose to leave the table. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Forging divergent paths forward as "holy" friends.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">This looks anything but holy to me. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Who then is the betrayer? </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">If not my sister.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> Or my brother. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">You said it. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It is not my brother. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It is not my sister. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">It is me. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I am the one. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">I stand condemned. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Unworthy to take the cup. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Refusing to share Christ's suffering. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Unwilling to break the bread. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The yeast of division has us all corrupted. </span></p><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">And yet in the mystery of sweet communion <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">on trembling knees and with heavy hearts <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">we gather and grieve and remember.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Not because we are justified by our leanings. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Not because we have earned</span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">a place at your table. <br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Not because of our pristine interpretations </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">of your Word.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Who can chain down the living Word of God.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The breath.<br /></span><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The being. </span></div><div style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt; text-align: left;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The I Am that I Am.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">That made a way in the desert.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And cut a path through the sea.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Who can stop The Word </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">that was and is and will always be. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">How then do you know you know for sure </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">what is the heart of the one</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> that can never be fully known?</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre-wrap;">Not Me. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Not I. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Not We. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">So we humble ourselves and</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We gather to remember. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We gather to be transformed </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">by the one who is a holy mystery. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We gather </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">because the master of the house beckons us. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">To be made into One. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">One Body. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">One Bread. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">One Death.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">One Life. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">One Faith.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">One Dream. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">Given to each of us freely </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">by the master that stoops down low </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Leaving his rightful place in glory.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">To be born in a filthy barn to an unwed mother.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Choosing to become human</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"> for each one and another. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The Word made flesh </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">becoming servant and savior of all. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">He bends the knee and washes the dirty feet. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">He breaks the holy bread.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">And shares the shattered cup. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">He forgives the sister and the brother.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">He welcomes the one and the other. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Together, we go to our Father’s house. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">His goodness and mercy greet us at the door. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The table is set.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">The meal is prepared. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We gather and remember once more. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We remember We are</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">called by His name. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Washed by His blood.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">Empowered by the Spirit </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We drink. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We eat. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We laugh. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We love. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We forgive.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We abide.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We dream.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We remember.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">We remember there is a </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A new covenant. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A new dream.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A new vision.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A new day. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A new path.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A new hope.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;">A new future.</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">We remember our journey continues</span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; white-space: pre;">(separately) together. </span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant-caps: normal; font-variant-east-asian: normal; font-variant-ligatures: normal; font-variant-position: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: Arial;"> </span><span style="font-family: courier;">MJ Kirby 9/2/2022 </span></span></p>MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-13284327220808206322021-07-20T19:40:00.071-05:002021-07-21T08:53:49.874-05:00My Tribe. My People. My Mississippi.<p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-size: 12pt; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" dir="rtl" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sqXfWLiqP9ZYOgWIxvkcraG-oV3qWPI_Jp_meri7Zv_Co2dD2DVBNPY7qUNMtPuMJhQJCXBn7CP2_-2BJQ7Vfpfg8zab6n5NfXoqRLZFRD0Jxdz9XTw6JiRgljLKOspgigcv_Ud7HEFU/s2048/IMG_3418.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1714" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg2sqXfWLiqP9ZYOgWIxvkcraG-oV3qWPI_Jp_meri7Zv_Co2dD2DVBNPY7qUNMtPuMJhQJCXBn7CP2_-2BJQ7Vfpfg8zab6n5NfXoqRLZFRD0Jxdz9XTw6JiRgljLKOspgigcv_Ud7HEFU/w168-h200/IMG_3418.jpg" width="168" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br />Get yourself some friends that will straighten your crown (or fix your hair). Where to begin? I’m beaming with pride over Chloe stepping way out of her comfort zone and competing in the <a href="https://misshospitality.net/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; color: black;">Mississippi Miss Hospitality Compeitio</span></a><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">n</span>. And she did it all authentically "Chloe." Thank you to Katelyn Brown for seeing a spark in her and recommending Chloe to the most amazing Local Director ever.</span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2l6KxioevA8bNvm9zGvkii7DRAfiul9zE-MWu_-plVF4x5qrIVFBK_hJYJHsHnVz6j4QFUyE83gZJ44_OdiziagubWQJOpQ-XuytCNoF6Ng0WHsidBt_Hbx3O5vNKGqJsWAkajJVq5Sr6/s647/IMG_3519.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="590" data-original-width="647" height="183" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi2l6KxioevA8bNvm9zGvkii7DRAfiul9zE-MWu_-plVF4x5qrIVFBK_hJYJHsHnVz6j4QFUyE83gZJ44_OdiziagubWQJOpQ-XuytCNoF6Ng0WHsidBt_Hbx3O5vNKGqJsWAkajJVq5Sr6/w200-h183/IMG_3519.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Thank you, Mrs. Janet, for the love, advice, shopping trips, contestant gifts, interview prep, comic relief and much more. The skills and confidence you have gifted my daughter with will last a lifetime. Thank you to Kristen Brock, the Board of Directors, and all the volunteers that dedicate hours into a program that has helped shape young women since 1949. A big thank you to the house moms that took care of our girls. And especially to our earth angel, Pam, for being there for Chloe when she had to make a quick ER visit (She is fine, but that’s always a scary moment). </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCNlP348Lwb1LRLZNDzMexaxXbFDvUTMintdiwdXs-2h5AWo65-QkuQvs_TotHxSxB1TnEw599-g11YMKiGd8GHUdWbSC2MePQFj9QSr5Co79OVpM1AllCf8zUMniAi8c5TOUPQ2_LWkw/s960/IMG_3518.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="640" data-original-width="960" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhmCNlP348Lwb1LRLZNDzMexaxXbFDvUTMintdiwdXs-2h5AWo65-QkuQvs_TotHxSxB1TnEw599-g11YMKiGd8GHUdWbSC2MePQFj9QSr5Co79OVpM1AllCf8zUMniAi8c5TOUPQ2_LWkw/w200-h133/IMG_3518.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">How about all the support and love. Jackson County has shown out! Thankful for all the encouragement and financial support from businesses, leaders, friends, family, anonymous donors, community and church members. In so many ways we are really “one coast.” Since there wasn’t a contestant from Harrison County, Chloe embraced this opportunity as representing “the” Mississippi Gulf Coast. </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeltePSi7aInZMk0W6jqtoMDNNK8LCgihQRxbP_SColyFUBhBoxEsmTUTcJ8-cQWqR59qK-BL14d3Zh9rYSYspigDuQEqY7lx47BFlHts43BVNpsdFbsIXDBf3fid77nQODvpLeFEQReVa/s1296/IMG_3269+2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1296" data-original-width="828" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeltePSi7aInZMk0W6jqtoMDNNK8LCgihQRxbP_SColyFUBhBoxEsmTUTcJ8-cQWqR59qK-BL14d3Zh9rYSYspigDuQEqY7lx47BFlHts43BVNpsdFbsIXDBf3fid77nQODvpLeFEQReVa/w203-h320/IMG_3269+2.jpg" width="203" /></a></div>While enjoying lunch at <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Keg-and-Barrel-12644597782" style="background-color: #fcff01;" target="_blank"><span>Keg and Barrel</span></a> Saturday my Aunt Patty reminded me of the deep roots of hospitality that run through our veins. My great uncle Himbert Sinopoli was the very first Executive Director of Harrison County Tourism.<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"> He has many accolades for bolstering tourism during his time as commissioner. Of course “tourism and hospitality” is a Sinopoli family tradition. I have fond childhood memories of feeding the gators marshmallows at Popp’s Ferry restaurant, my favorite of many famous in a small town Sinopoli eateries. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">One of the many Mississippi facts Chloe (and I) learned while interview prepping is that tourism is our 4th largest industry and continues to grow. <span style="background-color: #fcff01;"><span><a href="https://www.sunherald.com/opinion/other-voices/article249463950.html" target="_blank"><span>Did you know 75 percent of visitors to the secret coast come back.</span></a> </span> </span></span></span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">So invite someone! 20-25 percent of visitors to Mississippi say they are here because of an invitation by a relative or friend. And it's working! </span><a href="https://www.wlbt.com/2021/02/26/study-coast-tourism-performing-among-best-nation/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; font-family: georgia;">Mississippi was the top travel spending market in the US for 2020.</span></a><span style="font-family: georgia;"> We are our very best source of advertising. How about share with others the good Made only in Mississippi stuff and there’s much good stuff to share about the Magnolia State. </span></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><br /></span></span><div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjR9-9sdtANBTdv541vMsDkGw93WHj6JgJStTNcRv-w_6AhcYayAVgeA7uG3qqliMdqu3j_dQzJPR5_ZlNB31W6gnNAR7zHe4Hle7wfdFy6FNsvO_AcX1nQvXX3OBhsgaYPWyotqiaysOp/s2048/IMG_3446.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1435" data-original-width="2048" height="149" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhjR9-9sdtANBTdv541vMsDkGw93WHj6JgJStTNcRv-w_6AhcYayAVgeA7uG3qqliMdqu3j_dQzJPR5_ZlNB31W6gnNAR7zHe4Hle7wfdFy6FNsvO_AcX1nQvXX3OBhsgaYPWyotqiaysOp/w213-h149/IMG_3446.HEIC" width="213" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Perhaps our greatest asset is how deeply we love our tribe: Thank you Tara for showing up to support Chloe. It meant so much to have Mr. Hospitality, Uncle Himbert’s, daughter there. Thank you Aunt Patty, Aunt Angie that flew in from Charlotte, Jill, Marty, Andrea and Grace. Thank you to Susan & Bob and Chloe’s chief benefactor <a href="https://www.facebook.com/ladidaaboutique" style="background-color: #fcff01;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Windy</span></a> and Rob for being there. Thank you Margaret Ann & Ken. Last year's Miss Jackson County and others. And thank you to so many for sending cards, flowers, gifts, love and support. Countless supporters let us know they were tuning in via FB Live and sending their love from across the miles. </span><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">In addition to deep roots and crazy over the top love, Mississippi means connections. It was a sweet surprise to see one of my favorite high school teachers involved in Miss Hospitality. Each year I spent two class periods learning from a master. I did not recognize at the time how “special” this was, but I am indebted to Mr. Michael Marks for teaching me the art of speech, debate and stage. Skills I use every week in my role as clergy. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9drBcXlgG4yQny5Y2Lx6NC1DWGDQYtvvlyIgE-WKNV0jun4C3qfxmE5cel2zDWrlBz6BNT0xrFqkZlRdeQO-nveBDkhXackB5nhxmdP4wMH2R4mLOMh1VFosoqlfWu_ZLSGD-Em-pHwC0/s2048/IMG_3396.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1512" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh9drBcXlgG4yQny5Y2Lx6NC1DWGDQYtvvlyIgE-WKNV0jun4C3qfxmE5cel2zDWrlBz6BNT0xrFqkZlRdeQO-nveBDkhXackB5nhxmdP4wMH2R4mLOMh1VFosoqlfWu_ZLSGD-Em-pHwC0/w148-h200/IMG_3396.HEIC" width="148" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">While at the Farewell Brunch it was another “connection” moment when Angie realized one of the past long time Executive Directors was her KD mom at USM. Ms. Bonnie Warren, Director Emeritus, immediately recognized Angie and they enjoyed a sweet reunion moment. </span><p></p><p><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">The Chloe Kirby Fan Club claimed a local downtown hotspot, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/theporterpub"><span style="background-color: #fcff01; color: black;">The Porter</span></a>, as our pre-pageant hang out space. One night Mark Mann was there serenading the crowd. Many nights many moons ago I spent at Tal’s listening to Mark’s band, <i>Eulogy of the Dog</i>. This past Sunday I preached about “Finding God’s will for your life” where your talents/gifts intersect with your passion and then sharing this unique combo with the world. Happy to see my fellow classmate, Mark Mann, is (still) living the dream. </span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrX_q0Kjjq9qW546X_efTcbYgFFcGn0t4Qj5AD8g-P058E-fo4bxkY_PRVDj0wbk-su1KKj4CCmVTFr6xe3l3ZgPhOZzJNLabSQnu0TVXo7DO1OI5LzUhb7EcfHgo4tcA6XbQRV5dufI4/s2048/IMG_3279.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiMrX_q0Kjjq9qW546X_efTcbYgFFcGn0t4Qj5AD8g-P058E-fo4bxkY_PRVDj0wbk-su1KKj4CCmVTFr6xe3l3ZgPhOZzJNLabSQnu0TVXo7DO1OI5LzUhb7EcfHgo4tcA6XbQRV5dufI4/w150-h200/IMG_3279.HEIC" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Truth be told, it was not easy being back in Hattiesburg. Stopping by old haunts like <a href="https://www.facebook.com/shipleydonutsofhattiesburg" style="background-color: #fcff01;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Shipley</span></a> Do-Nuts and the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/HattiesburgZoo" style="background-color: #fcff01;"><span style="color: black;">Hattiesburg (Kamper Park) Zoo </span></a> that we frequented with our parents. Driving through the old neighborhoods, past Thames Elementary and places where my mom spent untold hours working hard to make sure she found her clients the perfect place to raise their families. Knowing Chloe was touring Forrest General where my dad worked for years as a Clinical Pharmacist. Both gone too soon. Every time I would recall that mom would be giddy with excitement to see Chloe shining on the stage, I was overwhelmed with a flood of tears and deep sadness for a past that can not be reclaimed. </span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISJgdgaAKSEnQHcgALnIe5_uIqg-72tYaNGv1R07cqGUiaRn3P1rElqtPaDIl-R2lrDTwysGnbS5B9w2i1SYO4B3wttCOIcN5_bzzxwmmaevi2mb3tvr7arR4KXH1_O_D6w6FdSjOeH9p/s2048/IMG_3461.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhISJgdgaAKSEnQHcgALnIe5_uIqg-72tYaNGv1R07cqGUiaRn3P1rElqtPaDIl-R2lrDTwysGnbS5B9w2i1SYO4B3wttCOIcN5_bzzxwmmaevi2mb3tvr7arR4KXH1_O_D6w6FdSjOeH9p/w150-h200/IMG_3461.HEIC" width="150" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br />Cherry, my best friend, lightened the heavy load and made the journey as sweet as can be. </span><span>She is my person. And I thank God that my sister is also my best friend.</span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span><br /></span></span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><span>The aunts, Cherry, Bella and I had the best time exploring the new </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/search/top?q=hattiesburg%20pocket%20museum"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">Pocket Museum</span></a><span>, checking out an old fashion favorite, </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/shopUAL" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: #fcff01;">UAL</span></a><span>, </span><span>and dining at several new restaurants. Making new Hattiesburg memories, together. And we can't forget our beautiful Cinderella Barbie, Bella. What a doll. She graced the stage regally as Jaxco's Little Miss.<div><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFaOizMxLUBO6D8K2QtVPg4fFrnrvUT2u2uFZQLg9Iit-PzctA5kycvy6Gb0kdCI3saAT-L4V3R0DiiDXru4QhzD6Jwr_UE1_Cj3QUdCr7_faxLbUi3QGqVLB3npiR4Xo2AF9rkQ3YS-m/s2048/IMG_3367.HEIC" style="clear: left; display: inline; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1370" data-original-width="2048" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhnFaOizMxLUBO6D8K2QtVPg4fFrnrvUT2u2uFZQLg9Iit-PzctA5kycvy6Gb0kdCI3saAT-L4V3R0DiiDXru4QhzD6Jwr_UE1_Cj3QUdCr7_faxLbUi3QGqVLB3npiR4Xo2AF9rkQ3YS-m/w320-h214/IMG_3367.HEIC" width="320" /></a></div></span></span></div><div><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLg83M344rgTUmw1kzQSnx94xSqNVI42NwRjuzrTZ7LvgZCS-zv46BexZhuIuUVoMlGY9ALM28eqKcqttLgc-fImjFgMwpvBjCQyMHWEINtQsZKOU053Np63cf77vruxx8eKapBczz8HQD/s1242/IMG_3392+2.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="743" data-original-width="1242" height="119" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjLg83M344rgTUmw1kzQSnx94xSqNVI42NwRjuzrTZ7LvgZCS-zv46BexZhuIuUVoMlGY9ALM28eqKcqttLgc-fImjFgMwpvBjCQyMHWEINtQsZKOU053Np63cf77vruxx8eKapBczz8HQD/w200-h119/IMG_3392+2.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">There are so many wonderful things that happened during the Mississippi Miss Hospitality competition, but one stands out. A true "God thing." During the Autograph Signing Party at Turtle Creek Mall, Cherry and I walked down to the Food Court to get a Coke Zero. I looked out into the sea of faces and was stunned to see our Camp Wesley Pines crew there munching on Chick-fil-A. A last minute pit stop change had them in this "perfect spot" at the "perfect time." The kids were equally shocked to see me there. So many hugs, and "Pastor MJ why are you here?" Each one spilling out details of a week they will remember forever. We surprised Chloe with a visit from the GFUMC kiddos. Big tears welled up in her eyes. It made her day! This reminded me (again) the Lord is faithful to provide what we need at just the right moment. </span></div><div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8Sy70f1a0N2W6LLrvGDuLHnkCbH7S9G7MOATmtbP77NagrDi0-5105jRKthwvVYEW39KFYeHn0yJtietooZlAfrFgX358cB5g-9z50VVOIqaD0Bv23k6_azod-OIk8kQ_rD5D48CkWnx/s2048/IMG_3047.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1403" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhN8Sy70f1a0N2W6LLrvGDuLHnkCbH7S9G7MOATmtbP77NagrDi0-5105jRKthwvVYEW39KFYeHn0yJtietooZlAfrFgX358cB5g-9z50VVOIqaD0Bv23k6_azod-OIk8kQ_rD5D48CkWnx/w137-h200/IMG_3047.HEIC" width="137" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Another “God thing” Chloe’s roommate, Miss Jackson, recently (sadly) lost her brother. As she was sharing her heartache with Chloe, what comfort must have came when Chloe was able to say, “I don’t know exactly how you feel, but I know what it means to lose a brother.” You just never know what someone is going through. What unseen injuries they are nursing. God places people on your path for you to uplift and share their load. Be kind and gentle. We are all just trying to make it through this thing called life. </span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4tQRgkpNxk7NRB9Fz2Kc_lLKe2exaWLLdmqoEPuyCz8t2SIryJqI84Kdc7ayCaHyrV2iwRdOS_cKoJV1N4O2pOPrDiQ76lo9B9ls3jnvE0P20b5XX07OsLvY1LOHCXRuQHEYetwtxiBB/s1400/IMG_3483.jpg" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1400" data-original-width="980" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjH4tQRgkpNxk7NRB9Fz2Kc_lLKe2exaWLLdmqoEPuyCz8t2SIryJqI84Kdc7ayCaHyrV2iwRdOS_cKoJV1N4O2pOPrDiQ76lo9B9ls3jnvE0P20b5XX07OsLvY1LOHCXRuQHEYetwtxiBB/w224-h320/IMG_3483.jpg" width="224" /></a></span></div><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">Back to the crown fixing: In true Miss Hospitality fashion, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009977767786" style="background-color: #fcff01;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">McKay Lee Bray</span></a>, last year’s winner offered to help the contestants with their hair, or anything really. Chloe took her up on that. The last night when Chloe hit the stage with a McKay Bray signature do, she looked like a movie star. Her hair flipped and swayed with her movements. This one magic moment I will remember forever. But more so, we will never forget the kindness shown in this simple act of love and service. Be that girl that will fix another's crown. </span><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-variant: normal; font-weight: 400; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"></span></span></p><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoE6SzpEotyZmcNeHsL8Zfyt2xOuL6Nkj53y2Dx1fHcwCkTud41PY8fz-juZH440VaJykqK0e8mWYRI-34aloq92YOwGShmhA1fOyD4fy3gtTNB2Z4yGWlat0BOczaS7qhC9EDXAv5cv-/s2048/IMG_3473.HEIC" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="2048" data-original-width="1536" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjgoE6SzpEotyZmcNeHsL8Zfyt2xOuL6Nkj53y2Dx1fHcwCkTud41PY8fz-juZH440VaJykqK0e8mWYRI-34aloq92YOwGShmhA1fOyD4fy3gtTNB2Z4yGWlat0BOczaS7qhC9EDXAv5cv-/w240-h320/IMG_3473.HEIC" width="240" /></a></span></div><span style="font-size: medium;"><span style="font-family: georgia;">Jackson County didn’t come away with the crown, but we left with a big smile and a heart filled with abiding gratitude. We will forever remember it as one of the best "times of our lives." </span><span style="font-family: georgia; white-space: pre-wrap;">Chloe has gained confidence, interview skills, made forever friends from every corner of our great state, and has learned so much about our home. The biggest take away is Mississippi is one big family with deep roots and strong connections. This entire experience has made me even more proud to be a Mississippian. Mississippi, You is kind. You is smart. You is important. Don’t let anybody convince you otherwise. </span></span><p></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;"><br /></span></span></p><p dir="ltr" style="line-height: 1.38; margin-bottom: 0pt; margin-top: 0pt;"><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-family: georgia; font-size: medium;">My Tribe. My People. My Mississippi.</span></span></p><p></p></div></div></div></div>MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA30.4113097 -88.82780571.0315279420217287 -123.9840557 59.791091457978268 -53.6715557tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-71796859769095357282020-07-22T10:00:00.012-05:002020-07-22T14:42:01.278-05:00Seeing Red <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: "arial";"><br /> “If you are in a red zone, there is simply no way to safely open schools now,” Dr. Ashish Jha, the director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, <a href="https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.boston.com/news/coronavirus/2020/07/21/harvard-experts-on-reopening-schools/amp" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">said in a statement</span></a>. “Orange zones will struggle as well. If you open schools in these areas, the chances are that those will likely close quickly when teachers, staff, and possibly students start getting sick in large numbers. If leaders in these counties want to reopen schools in the fall, they must bring down the level of virus, starting now. Yellow counties are in a slightly better position, but must still make hard choices.” <br /> <br /> As of July 18th Mississippi is in the Red Zone. Let that sink in. We are living in the Red Zone and most every School District in our state has been working diligently to put plans in place to open in the next couple weeks. <br /> <br /> But there’s more...<a href="https://msdh.ms.gov/msdhsite/_static/resources/9917.pdf"><span style="color: red;">According to the Mississippi Department of Health’s Guidelines for K-12 re-opening</span>,</a> many (most) Mississippi District Plans for a fall re-entry places students and educators in the “highest risk” category: <br /> <br /> 1. Lowest Risk: Students and teachers engage in virtual-only classes, activities, and events. <br /> <br /> 2. More Risk: Small, in-person classes, activities, and events. Students remain at least 6 feet apart and do not share objects (e.g., hybrid virtual and in-person class structures, or staggered/rotated scheduling to accommodate smaller class sizes). <br /> <br /> 3. Highest Risk: Full sized, in-person classes, activities, and events. Students are not spaced apart, share classroom materials or supplies, and mix between classes and activities. <br /> <br /> I recognize these decisions are complex, and plans for delaying re-entry come with great difficulty for parents and leave at-risk children even more days home in unfavorable environments. <br /> <br /> In addition, I have a high respect for our Superintendents, School Boards, and leaders that are doing the best they can to navigate this space for the children and community they serve. <br /> <br /><b> Perhaps, together, we could re-imagine some alternative paths forward: </b><br /> *Delayed traditional restart at least until Mississippi is out of the “red zone.” Perhaps even until we are in the moderate “yellow” zone.” This would also afford districts more time to prepare their spaces to adequately social distance. <br /> <br /> *Offer options that work to make 6 ft social distancing more of a reality: hybrid, staggered, rotating schedules. <br /> <br /> *Consider a traditional/hybrid combination: Offer hybrid as an option. Allowing students that “need” to come back to traditional to return and allowing those that “can” opt into hybrid to do so in order to relieve some of the burden of “full” schools. <br /> <br /> *<b>Or what if we got creative?</b> Used this as a “such a time as this” moment and re-imagined our education plans. Maybe it’s just the “right” time to consider, again, year round school as an option. With staggered track outs we could achieve fewer students in the building at one time. There are many other inherent benefits to year round school as well. <br /> <br /> What if we worked together as a state to get us out of the Red Zone. What if we worked together for the next generation— “for the kids.” <br /> <br /> Yesterday articles circulated about a recent <span style="color: red;"><a href="https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/507808-private-white-house-document-says-counties-in-red-zone-should-close-bars" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">White House Task force call to shut down gyms and bars</span></a> </span>in areas that are in the Red Zone. Many locals took to Facebook to come to the defense of keeping gyms open, noting social distancing and proper protocols are in place. However, many of the proponents of keeping gyms opened noted the vast difference in bars and gyms: The lack of social distancing in bars, lack of masks, clumps of people, after a few drinks inhibitions are down, people are even more “touchy.” <br /> <br /> If we are going to get out of the Red Zone, we have to make difficult decisions. Decisions that will (yes) have an economic impact. Can we agree our health is our most valued resource? And make decisions with public health at the forefront? <br /> <br /> I realize the debate is out about mask wearing. And some feel strongly it’s infringing on their rights. And others legitimately need an accommodation. But what if a statewide mask order could help us get out of the Red Zone and open school back up with more confidence? Could we agree to wearing masks then? This isn’t forever, it's to get us through this moment thing. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial";"> <br /> As a pastor I am a listening ear for many. So many educators have reached out to me asking for my “prayers.” They are concerned. Fearful. Have high anxiety about being able to keep the students charged to their care “safe.” They are also greatly concerned for their own health. Parents, too. Wrestling with growing anxiety about sending their children back to school. What both educators and parents keep saying is: “I’m just hoping something will give--the legislature will step in and delay restart.” <br /> <br /> If we can work together to relieve the burden on our <a href="https://www.beckershospitalreview.com/patient-flow/mississippi-s-5-biggest-hospitals-hit-icu-capacity.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">Healthcare System</span></a>, discharge patients, <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2020/us/mississippi-coronavirus-cases.html" target="_blank"><span style="color: red;">lower our Covid numbers</span></a>, and get out of the<span style="color: red;"> </span>Red Zone perhaps schools could safely be “open” by September or October? </span><br />
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MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA30.4113097 -88.82780572.1010758638211549 -123.9840557 58.721543536178842 -53.6715557tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-27996384017368865042019-12-17T23:14:00.004-06:002019-12-18T07:39:48.874-06:00Did I Know? <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>Mary did you know that your baby boy will one day walk on water?<br /><br />Mary did you know that your baby boy will save our sons and daughters?<br /><br />Did you know that your baby boy has come to make you new?<br /><br />This child that you've delivered, will soon deliver you.</i><br />
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<b>Did I know?</b> That is the most mainsplaining thing ever. I mean of course I didn’t fully know. But I knew as much as I could have. I knew like any mother would know that I hoped and prayed my child would do great things. Things that would mean far more than anything I ever have done. But did I know, know. Well, here’s what I knew...Right around the time I was 14 and had began making the monthly trip to The Red Tent I decided I didn’t want to have children. Listening to the other ladies spin tales of horror. Babies dying in the womb. Mothers dying in childbirth. As I sat there with blood oozing down my inner thighs, cramping terribly with no relief I thought: I will not have a child. Maybe I will be a midwife and help the ladies of our village birth all their babies.<br />
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<b>But I didn’t know that God had another plan.</b><br />
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Around the time I had began making the monthly visit to the Red Tent someone started coming around our house. Joseph, a local carpenter. He would bring me sweet bread from the bakery. I enjoyed the bread and his company. But I was not interested in a man. Or being a wife. Or especially having children. Then more and more he would stop by and more and more my parents would invite him to stay for dinner. Until one day my parents informed me I was going to marry this Joseph. I ran into my room and cried and cried.<br />
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Now don’t get me wrong. Joseph was a good man. A good looking man with a respected carpentry business that could provide for me, but I just wasn’t ready to be married. My parents said it was a done deal, and that they wouldn’t allow me to become an old maid like Ms. Mildred that lives next door. So we were betrothed to marry. It’s more serious than an engagement, but not quite a marriage. We set a date to be married and he continued to visit me, bringing sweet bread and stories from the carpenter shop. Over time I warmed up to the idea of being Joseph’s wife and I was almost excited about the prospect of getting married, white veil, walking down the aisle. A huge wedding the entire town would come out for.<br />
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<b>But I didn’t know God had another plan.</b><br />
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Here’s where the story gets a little weird. So believe it or not I was visited by the angel Gabriel. No, I'm not crazy. I don’t need meds. Gabriel told me that I was highly favored by God and get this that I was going to have a son and this son that he will be great and will be called the Son of the Most High. The Lord God will give him the throne of his father David, and he will reign over the house of Jacob forever; his kingdom will never end. I really thought maybe Gabriel had gotten me mixed up with someone. I asked him if he was sure he had the right Mary and how can I be pregnant with a son when you know, I have never…He told me to not be afraid. The Holy Spirit will come upon me, and the power of the Most High will overshadow me. And I will have the holy one called the Son of God. He told me that even Elizabeth my cousin is going to have a child in her old age, and she who was said to be barren is in her sixth month. <i>For nothing is impossible with God. </i>I was stunned, but how could I tell an angel of God "no." I accepted this as my life's mission and the angel left me.<br />
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The excitement of the angelic encounter quickly faded. Did this really happen? I had no one to talk to about this. The next month I walked around kinda in a daze. Wondering if that was a dream, or if it was real. I kept marking down the days until it was time to go to the Red Tent. And when the time came and we gathered at the tent, there was no blood. I tried my best to hide this from the ladies in the tent. My nosey aunts and cousins. I knew I couldn’t sit next to my mother because she would notice. I just kept to myself and tried to figure out what I was going to do.<br />
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There was talk of going to visit my cousin Elizabeth. Some of my relatives were making a journey to see her and bring her gifts for the baby. They were calling her pregnancy a miracle. Maybe I wasn't crazy after all. I spoke up and asked my mom if I could go! She said: "We will see." Which usually meant no. When we got back home I heard her telling my dad that she thought it would be good for me to go on a little trip, especially since I was about to be married. I was allowed to go.<br />
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I just knew my cousin Elizabeth could help me. When I walked through her doors and called out to my cousin she came running to greet me. She put her hands on my stomach and said: “Blessed are you among women, and blessed is the child you will bear!” I explained to her everything that had happened and she invited me to stay a while with her. I stayed three months with her and my baby grew and grew and my body stretched and stretched. One day while we were eating breakfast she said you must return home and tell Joseph. <br />
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Nothing could have prepared me for what happened next. When I got back home, Joseph was waiting at my house for me with sweet bread. I ran and hugged him. He looked at me with shock and refused to hug me. Hot tears streamed down my face. I retold him everything that had happened and then tears welled up in his eyes. He called for my parents and showed them my belly and said it was a disgrace. That he could not possibly marry me, but that he cared for me and because of his respect for my father he would not tell the elders. He would quietly separate from me. And he left me.<br />
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As soon as the door shut my father and mother started screaming at me. My mother yelled in my face: "What have you done. You have dishonored our name. You could be stoned to death." My dad quietly said: "You should be stoned to death but we all know Joseph is a good man. " I went to my room and cried and cried and cried until I fell asleep as the sun was coming up.<br />
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For three long torturous days I stayed in my room. My mom would bring me food. But I refused to eat or leave. I would not bathe. Or speak to anyone. My room became a tomb. I hoped for death. To be buried alive in my sorrow. And then on the fourth day I woke to the scent of sweet bread. I ran into the kitchen and found a basket of my favorite kind and I note from Joseph: "My darling Mary, please meet me at my shop at sun down." I devoured the entire basket. I bathed and my mom braided my hair and i went to meet Joseph. I was scared but thought maybe he had a change of heart. And then my eyes saw it. A crib. And the fresh scent of wood. Joseph ran to me and picked me up and twirled me around. He put me down and knelt down and kissed my feet. He kissed my belly. And hugged me so tightly I thought I would stop breathing. He said how very sorry he was for not believing me. He was visited by an angel in a dream that confirmed what I said and he was ready to take me as a wife.<br />
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The big fancy wedding I had imagined was off the table. At four months pregnant we had a very small quiet wedding and a meal at my parents’ home before I moved in with Joseph in the room he built for us at his parents home.<br />
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But that was not the worst of it. I had know idea how cruel people could be. The entire town was talking about me. So much so I couldn’t go anywhere. I was trapped at Joseph’s parents house. Long days while Joseph worked. They called me a whore. And said I shamed my family. Shamed by God. And that Joseph had married a disgrace.<br />
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So when I found out we had to make a journey to Bethlehem to register for the decree made by Caesar Augustus for a census as difficult as that journey was I was thankful to get out of this town. The journey took several days. My back ached so badly. I couldn’t tell if I was going into labor or my back was hurting because I was riding on a donkey over rocks. I had wished I had some of my cousins with me to tell me if it was getting close to time. But all I had was Joseph because we he was from the lineage of David from the house of Bethlehem. It was Joseph’s family were were traveling with. They ladies in his family were cold to me. The entire clan finally left us. Went on ahead of us on our second day of the journey. They were getting frustrated by my pace and said there would be nowhere to sleep if we were the last to arrive I kept having to stop to use the restroom and it was harder and harder to get back on the donkey with each stop. My back was now aching non stop.<br />
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When we finally arrived at Bethlehem my back was killing me. Joseph stopped in the first inn he could find. He told me to wait with our things and he went in to speak. It was getting dark out and I was getting cold. He came back with a downcast look. He said the inn was full. That on the other side of town there were two other inns and maybe they had room but because of the census the innkeeper doubted it. We were about to go but I had to pee so badly.<br />
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We went in to ask if I could please use the restroom. The innkeepers wife’s eyes got as big as saucers. She yelled at her husband: "How could you turn this woman away— the baby is at the door!" While I was in the restroom an arrangement was made that we could stay in the inns stable. There was bright red blood mixed with thick mucus when I was in the restroom. I remembered what my cousin had told me. This meant the baby was almost here.<br />
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We got settled in to the stable. The innkeeper's wife kept bringing us things. Blankets and water. She brought us figs and grapes and cheese. I couldn't eat, but I was glad to see Joseph eat something other than the granola and pita bread and honey we had packed for the journey. All through the night I tossed and turned. Now the ache in my back had moved to the front. It was gripping me. I cried out to God: "Have you brought me here to die in this this stinky barn." This went on all night the next day and as the sun was going down my water broke. It didn’t break with a huge gush. Just a little trickle. I thought at first I peeing on myself. But it didn’t stop trickling.<br />
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At this point the innkeeper's wife wouldn’t leave my side. She was an angel. I was so thankful to have her and wished my mother was with me. A few hours later the pain was almost unbearable. I was frightened by how much it hurt. She told me I would know when it was time to push and it would be a relief to push. What felt like hours wasn’t that long and it was finally time. With Joseph holding my right leg back, and the innkeeper’s wife bracing my left leg, I began to push and I pushed and pushed and with one final scream my first born son burst forth from my womb.<br />
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He was beautiful. A masterpiece. I was in complete love with him. I never knew I could love someone so much. and if I had known then all the heartache I would endure watching this child I bore be mocked, stripped of his clothes and dignity, beat until he bled and hung on a crooked cross like a criminal left to die well I just couldn't have taken it to know all that at this moment. I didn't know the whole picture. I didn’t know I would watch him take his last breath. The sky would fade to black. The curtain in the temple would be torn in half. And he would feel as forsaken as I did when I was left alone in my room.<br />
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<b>What did I know?</b> I had a promise I pondered in my heart. I didn't realize this child I delivered would soon deliver me. Save our sons and daughters. Walk on water. Heal the deaf. The blind. The lame. And after being buried for three long days my son would rip his way out of the grave like he burst forth from my womb. No I didn't know all that.<br />
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<b>Here's what I knew. </b>My child was special. He was healthy. He was beautiful and he was mine. As he snuggled up next to me and drank deeply from my breast all felt right in the world. All was perfect. If just for a moment. Heaven touched earth and kissed. He was pure love. I loved him so deeply it felt like my heart might explode. All I knew was love. MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS 39564, USA30.4113097 -88.827805730.3017507 -88.9891672 30.5208687 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-20915162682598747282019-03-05T09:26:00.002-06:002019-03-05T10:21:08.223-06:00Get your Ash (Somewhere).<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i>"Teach us to number our days aright that we may gain a heart of wisdom."</i> Psalm 90:12<br />
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<span style="text-align: center;">Ash Wednesday is upon us. The time each year that is set aside to reflect on the duplicity of our ever present mortality, coupled with the never ending mercies of God. A loving God that grants us safe passage from the ashpit of life to the eternal hope we have in Christ. And so with both deep humility and great hope we receive the ashes that mark the beginning of our 40 day journey (plus Sundays aka little Easters) to the cross, through the grave, and into the glorious light found Resurrection morning. English please! <b>Ok, you are going to die. Have you stopped for a second to inspect how you are living while you still have the breath of life filling your lungs? </b></span><br />
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<b>Why participate in Ash Wednesday? </b><br />
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By participating in Ash Wednesday, you will begin the Lenten season with a solid commitment made with the strength of the community around you. A strong start makes it more probable you will finish strong!<br />
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In between the last of The Tatonut Kingcake donuts, the final parades, and other fun & festive Mardi Gras celebrations, <i><b>be thinking what you could give up for Lent? </b></i><br />
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<b>What could you offer? </b>A technology fast? Refrain from eating out as much? Turn the faucet off your running mouth.<br />
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But more importantly, ponder <b>what you can "add"</b> to fill the void created by your fast--Start a daily scripture reading practice. Tomorrow I'm starting a <a href="https://www.youversion.com/the-bible-app/"><span style="color: black;">@YouVersion</span></a> plan <b>'Journeying With Jesus - 40 Days Lent Devotional'.</b> Check it out here---> <span style="background-color: yellow;"><a href="http://bible.com/r/2tn" style="background-color: yellow;"><b><span style="color: black;">Click here to join me!</span></b></a></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><b> </b><span style="color: #222222;"> </span></span>Set a dedicated time to pray? Commit to being in worship each Sunday of Lent? Just can't be there? Join our <span style="background-color: yellow;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/StPaulOSLive/">online worshipping community</a>.</span><b> </b> Forgive someone? Gather around your family's table more? Use the money you saved from eating during Lent to start a "Giving Jar."<br />
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The entire point of <b>"giving up" </b>something or<b> "adding something" </b>is to make an intentional effort to draw closer to God as we focus on our 40 day journey to Easter morning. </div>
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God is not the one that moves away from us. As we seek to refocus our lives and center our hearts around Christ, God will be found.<br />
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Local? </b>Meet me at <span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/greenhouseonporter/" style="background-color: yellow;"><span style="color: black;">The Greenhouse on Porter</span></a><span style="background-color: white;"> any time</span></span><span style="background-color: white;"> f</span>rom 9 -11 am or at the <a href="https://www.facebook.com/blossman.ymca/?epa=SEARCH_BOX"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">Ms. Gulf Coast YMCA</span> </span></a>from 4-6 pm to begin a season of intentional reflection by an outward expression of your inward effort to become more like Jesus. Or participate in our Ash Wednesday Service at 12 noon at St. Paul at our Porter Avenue location or 7 pm at our East Campus location. If not, just get your ash somewhere! Google is a miraculous thing: <i>Ash Wednesday Service near me.</i><b> Click! ------> Lent Begins.</b></div>
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MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-51812095710371189972018-03-30T12:06:00.002-05:002018-03-30T12:33:10.323-05:00Wait Three Days<div style="text-align: left;">
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">On this day, three years ago, my Mom left this world. Shock. Horror. Deep guttural cries: Do not even begin to communicate the terror we experienced in hearing the news. I can still feel the screams deep down in my bones. </span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">The Dark Side overcame our sweet DeDe. She poured herself out for others. Leaving nothing to sustain herself. She fought the good fight until there was simply nothing left to give. God rest her sweet soul.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjsRetdDfuwlqhzA3OgUAU1zMxHaNTHMo6csVZ7D6AAmC-MtRLYPFfcl0aGOBORw4C7AqtrrgpQ_K9io2TkmrMKf60XzfExEW9QDsI-aqAvySCoFWhI8TD8AQEGDGUjRKN0Caybbqlhn3/s1600/IMG_0939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="background-color: white; clear: left; color: #b5653b; float: left; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration-line: none;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjsRetdDfuwlqhzA3OgUAU1zMxHaNTHMo6csVZ7D6AAmC-MtRLYPFfcl0aGOBORw4C7AqtrrgpQ_K9io2TkmrMKf60XzfExEW9QDsI-aqAvySCoFWhI8TD8AQEGDGUjRKN0Caybbqlhn3/s200/IMG_0939.JPG" style="background: transparent; border-radius: 0px; border: 1px solid transparent; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.2) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 8px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Last Easter these hauntingly telling pictures popped up on my </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><b>Time Hop,</b></i><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"> and I was completely floored. Like breath knocked out of me floored. How did we not SEE this? My sweet Mama looked absolutely miserable. So unsettled. So, doing everything she can to hang on. So overcome. I remember saying something rude that day like,</span><b style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 13px;"><i> "Mom, can't you just smile!?</i></b><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"</span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">Well, no, she couldn't just smile. She was so low. So overcome by the darkness. So sad. So worried. So rat in a cage. So everything that she just couldn't stand to be in this world not one more breath.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-size: 13px;" /><span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-size: 13px;">Not one more Easter. Not one more Mother's Day. Not one more grandchild's graduation. No seeing boys turn to men. No throwing bridal showers. No kissing newborn great-grands. Not one more of anything. Mama simply couldn't take one more moment of this world.</span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">Hello, Good Friday! I'm swimming in the sadness of your moment. This dark, shadowy day: Where we recall the suffering of God. The betrayal. The brutality. The abuse. The mocking. The wishing there was some other way. The not being able to take one more moment of this world. </span></span><br />
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<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;">In this dark hour that literally takes my breath away...I am reminded of the only thing we can do when darkness chokes out all hope: </span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><b><i>Wait. Three. Days. </i></b></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4e2800; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><br /></span></span><span style="color: #4e2800;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;">And in the waiting remember...</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4e2800;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;">The story </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">is n</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;">ot over.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4e2800;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"> Death does not get the last word.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4e2800;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"> The grave can't hold Jesus back.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4e2800;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;">Morning will break. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4e2800;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;">Sunday is coming. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #4e2800;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #4e2800;"><span style="background-color: white; font-size: 13px;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif;">Death can rage and threaten and intimate. But it can't overcome. "Oh death...Where is your sting? Where is your victory?" You talk a big game, but in the end you are nothing but a punk. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">I will not be moved. Though darkness presses in. And the earth shakes. I can smell death all around. I will wait, and even suffer while I wait, but that doesn't change the outcome:</span><span class="text Rom-8-38" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #4e2800; font-family: "arial" , "tahoma" , "helvetica" , "freesans" , sans-serif; font-size: 13px;">"Nothing can ever separate us from God's love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow-not even the powers of hell can separate us from God's love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below-Indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." Romans 8:38-39</span><br />
<br />MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS 30.4113097 -88.827805730.3017507 -88.9891672 30.5208687 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-48913109097176734162017-11-15T15:50:00.002-06:002017-11-15T17:02:20.816-06:00Wake Up & Be Thankful <span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeDaaoB52nOwnfLxIjOV6UwC03AAxZ42Yn_35pI6QMDOw_qxcM35OQ4VSaKEmYf58mJKgEnbbhbx-12dD07wOWxo5EqPV_4VpqucovouV_HIOXNuW2eHpJbIJVGF4gQftHstvhX0lHvQh/s1600/IMG_8242.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="415" data-original-width="500" height="165" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgKeDaaoB52nOwnfLxIjOV6UwC03AAxZ42Yn_35pI6QMDOw_qxcM35OQ4VSaKEmYf58mJKgEnbbhbx-12dD07wOWxo5EqPV_4VpqucovouV_HIOXNuW2eHpJbIJVGF4gQftHstvhX0lHvQh/s200/IMG_8242.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This past Sunday I started (again) a practice of <b><i>“Waking Up and Giving Thanks.”</i></b></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;">I also posed the question to our <span style="background-color: cyan; text-decoration-line: underline;"> </span><span style="color: black;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/StPaulOSLive/" style="background-color: cyan; text-decoration-line: underline;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Live @ 11:11</span></a><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></b></span>congregation: <i>“How different would your days be if you <b>chose</b> to live a life of gratitude instead of grumbling?” </i></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I'm guilty.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif; white-space: pre-wrap;"> I grumble.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">And so, I've began (again) waking up and thanking God for the gifts I have and trying to orient my day towards <b>“Thanks-living.” </b></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It’s a good discipline. A simple spiritual practice. Counting your blessings. Counting them one by one. Looking for your wins. The good. Cup half full stuff. </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dJn9sTLefByqHT2GM5rsTjKGwIJ4Nw1Uh8wSfCjEldGram_XsqjJdGvnZANFrtEwYtytp8w5aZzjUYUDRs6BiB7XG34R2ckh1K1Ny9gXAMpuZbYqj6zWE4MUCV-JfY-_G5xq3gTYCkND/s1600/IMG_8243.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="487" data-original-width="345" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8dJn9sTLefByqHT2GM5rsTjKGwIJ4Nw1Uh8wSfCjEldGram_XsqjJdGvnZANFrtEwYtytp8w5aZzjUYUDRs6BiB7XG34R2ckh1K1Ny9gXAMpuZbYqj6zWE4MUCV-JfY-_G5xq3gTYCkND/s200/IMG_8243.JPG" width="141" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Did you know? Looking for the good is a magical happy pill you swallow deep down into your soul. It’s quite difficult to be in a bad mood when you begin to ponder<b> ALL </b>the gifts you have to be thankful for. If there is breath in your lungs you have something to celebrate. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Consider this your personal invitation to join the<i><b> </b></i></span><i style="white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Wake Up & Be Thankful </b>R</i><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">evolution. </span>Waking Up Thankful is actually trending now! Check this hilarious <a href="http://www.charlottestories.com/local-charlotte-church-released-christmas-video-thats-going-viral-4-million-views/" style="background-color: cyan;" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><b>video</b></span></a> released by Forest Hills Church that has gone viral.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><span style="font-weight: 700;">When you make a list of all of the things that you are thankful for, it has a way of changing your entire perspective and radically increasing your chances of a happy day.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">Here's how it works...</span></span><br />
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<b>Right when your eyes pop open:</b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65">Before you mentally recite your never ending to-do list.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65">Before you brew a cup of coffee.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65">Before you (not intentionally) start an argument with your spouse.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65">Before you step on your scale.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65">Before you drag your kids out of bed for school.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65">Before you check: Facebook. Your bank account. Or your favorite GroupMe.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65">Before you go on a run. Hit the gym. Or get your yoga on.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65">Before you text your BFF.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><b>Before you do anything</b>: <b><i>Bring to your mind at least three things you are thankful for on this day.</i></b></span></span><br />
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This simple practice truly is life transforming!</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">In contrast I can't believe how I was waking up to my grumbly to-do list: a Ruthless Task Master sucking my energy and stealing my joy. </span><span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">The last four days I have had to fight off this ingrained reflex: Before my feet hit the floor I was complaining to myself about how many things I have to do and how I can't possibly get it all done. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">It has taken an intentional and concerted effort to stop that negative tape that was playing on auto. It's taking serious Mr. Miyagi focus to change my, "I have to do" list to a "I get to do" list. It's required an even larger, mammoth sized effort to not play the "Get to do" list immediately and just stop for a hot second. Take a deep breath. And name some things</span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><span style="background-color: transparent; color: black; font-style: normal; font-weight: 400; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">This attitude of thankfulness is now flowing throughout my entire day. It's elevated my mood. It's created an upbeat background to build the days of my life upon. Sure, I have melt downs and grumbly thoughts, but not near as much as prior to this simple intentional practice. </span></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">The experts say it takes three weeks to start a habit, and then it takes another three weeks to solidify it. I'm going to attempt to practice<b> "Being Thankful"</b> for six weeks. Hopefully it will become a habit! </span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlUc0XEnTu7uWlnpVnNdwdgZLBk9a0zP8N0dv9E78JN-B-gxNyiKae-e_6t-plAYGVwJ6CADiwaTHs8H5rbkXsWaiFP9MpkEowcHTX-mYDIcgomnDpx4beXMwA5zW8kcjGqbbUeW0Smlt/s1600/IMG_8244.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="1119" height="142" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxlUc0XEnTu7uWlnpVnNdwdgZLBk9a0zP8N0dv9E78JN-B-gxNyiKae-e_6t-plAYGVwJ6CADiwaTHs8H5rbkXsWaiFP9MpkEowcHTX-mYDIcgomnDpx4beXMwA5zW8kcjGqbbUeW0Smlt/s200/IMG_8244.JPG" width="200" /></a></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;"><b>Here's How:</b> When you wake up tomorrow morning (and guess what there's something right there to be thankful for) name three specific things you are grateful for. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span id="docs-internal-guid-21a68da1-c0a6-1eb4-3b5f-5a112b42ca65"><span style="vertical-align: baseline; white-space: pre-wrap;">By the end of the week write down a minimum of five things in which you were thankful for during the week. Put it in your iPhone notes, get a cutesy <b>Be Thankful </b>Journal, start a Google Doc, post to Facebook (someone in our community is doing this and I LOVE IT!)</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="white-space: pre-wrap;">Voila! After the sixth week, I am banking on you and I being far happier than today. It's been proven that counting your "wins" will change your attitude which leads to gratefulness which leads to happiness which leads to a more productive and successful life. Let's do this! </span></span></span></div>
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</span></span>MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS30.4113097 -88.827805730.3017507 -88.9891672 30.5208687 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-29717198213481708042017-10-24T11:58:00.000-05:002017-10-25T08:14:17.846-05:00How You Can Be Present for Grieving Parents in Their Suffering <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jT9lAynq_iiUdvVrmD1o9Co-tVBDrlLa51PBHAkpLQInZctblCky6N4TyHyHlbvnWgzPECJldZct5ZOFBc3FcwMMsgYpB2VcQWY-AeTBacPr8hqA-lOin5Td6hOjKpHiQ7oU0WYjZBQT/s1600/16804427_1624143804560032_3966717478135916034_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1229" data-original-width="1229" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8jT9lAynq_iiUdvVrmD1o9Co-tVBDrlLa51PBHAkpLQInZctblCky6N4TyHyHlbvnWgzPECJldZct5ZOFBc3FcwMMsgYpB2VcQWY-AeTBacPr8hqA-lOin5Td6hOjKpHiQ7oU0WYjZBQT/s200/16804427_1624143804560032_3966717478135916034_o.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Darkness looms heavy. Tears flow from town to town along the Mississippi Gulf Coast. We are all one big<b> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/Love-for-Sophia-1624143627893383/" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: cyan; color: black;">Love for Sophia</span></a></b> <span style="background-color: white;">family. We miss that beautiful, sparkly, spunky, funny, fabulous girl. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> And what you find at the very center of the Love for Sophia family are two amazing, yet broken, parents who don't deserve this, who are trying to get through the 8 month DIPG nightmare that continues to pour down on them with little to no relief. And we, who are attempting to comfort them, cannot comprehend even a tiny fraction of the gut wrenching, soul twisting, heart exploding pain that holds the Myers family captive. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Angel and Joshua weep. God weeps. The Love for Sophia Family weeps. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>We all weep. </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Pastorally, I couldn't let this dark hour go by without <b>doing</b> something. I tried to figure out "what" I could do, and so we offered our Live @ 11:11 Services to be a "Hope and Healing" Service. You can check it out here ----><span style="background-color: cyan;"><u> <a href="https://www.facebook.com/StPaulOSLive/videos/1472570862792232/" target="_blank">Hope & Healing Service.</a> </u></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> I don't have the answers to the hard questions that plague us all. What I do have is insight, born through awful, personal tragedy, to give. And so, I will offer what I have, and pray God will take my small basket of bread and fish and multiple it to provide spiritual nourishment to those that are hurting. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Here is what I offer: A <b>"What Not to Say</b>" List, and a <b>"What to Say/Do"</b> List. My intention is not to hurt anyone. Please don't feel badly if you have already said these things. We <b>ALL</b> have said these things. Just from here out try to be mindful of the Love for Sophia family, and refrain from offering these space fillers. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><br /></b></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>DISCLAIMER: </b>I know the temptation. You <b>DON'T </b>know what to say. You feel awful for them. So you just reach back into your "Grieving Parent Files" and grab the first cliche you find. <b>DON'T DO IT.</b> <b>DON'T SAY DUMB THINGS. </b>I promise standing there and saying nothing just enduring the awkward silence for a moment is better than saying these things...</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>What Not To Say to Grieving Parents: </b>1. <i><b>"The Lord needed another Angel</b></i>." Please, don't say this. Or any derivative of this: Needed another singer, dancer, etc. Regardless of your personal religious or spiritual persuasions. Trust me. It stings. Try to put yourself in their shoes. If God <b>needed</b> another "angel" then God could have created one. Not MY baby. I can't tell you how many well-meaning, loving people said this. And I can't tell you how badly it hurts. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. <i><b>"This was God's Plan."</b></i> Nothing like that. Regardless of if you believe that. I don't care. No parent wants to hear this days after their child has been ripped away from them. Who are <b>YOU</b> to say what is and is not God's plan.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3. "<b><i>Everything Happens for a Reason." </i></b> Really? Again, are you the Governor of the Universe? Sometimes insanely, devastating, unimaginably horrific accidents happen to some of the most loving, giving, selfless people. And we can't make any sense of it. It's not your place to try to wrap it up in a neat package, and tie it with a "God" bow. Some things just will not make sense on this side of heaven, and it's not your job to try to force sense out of tragedy.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4. <b>"At Least... "<i> </i></b><i>She is in heaven now. She's no longer suffering. You got to say goodbye. O</i>r any <b>"at least"</b> sentiment, really. "At least" hurts, badly. Trust me. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5. <b><i>"I Know How You Feel, I Lost My Youngest Child in 1965."</i></b> Stop right there. The parents are carrying a load that is unbearable. They cannot hold your pain, too. Don't share any "sad" story. No loss, cancer, divorce. None of it. This is for later. Much later. If you are close to the parents and want to be somewhat of a journey partner, or a guide if you will through the grief process, that time will emerge. If you just want to offer yourself as a witness that you CAN survive this...wait...there will be a time for that. Don't do that today. For the love of God <b>DO NOT </b>do this coming through the mammoth line at the wake. And don't say this at the Celebration of Life. Swapping horror stories is for much, much later. I know it seems "helpful" to say, "I know your pain I lost a child," but it's just too heavy right now. Save it. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">6.<b><i> "God knew you could handle it." "You must be strong people." "You are stronger than I am." " I couldn't do this.</i></b>" None of this is helpful. Maybe you do think they are strong. You are probably right! Maybe you think you couldn't do it (God forbid you find yourself having to endure such heartache). But, seriously, this all hurts, too. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">So What IS Helpful to Say? </span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">A good rule of thumb is to make<b> "I"</b> statements, instead of trying to "make sense of their situation" statements: <b>I'm</b> sorry. This sucks. It's totally unfair. <b>I </b>can't fathom your pain. <b>I'm</b> here for you. <b>I'm</b> praying for you. Let me know if <b>I</b> can do something to help you.<b> I </b>love you. <b>I</b> loved ______(name of child). Tell them what you loved about their child. <b>I </b>will miss them. <b>I</b> will miss _______(fill in the blank with a memory). <b>I'm</b> going to call you in a few days (Call them.) <b>I'm </b>going to stop by and check on you. (Stop by. Bring food. Or gift cards. Or something you know they would appreciate. Don't stay long, unless you are super close to them, or they have asked you to stay.) If you can't say any of this... Just don't say anything at all. A touch. A pat on the back. A nod. Just being present in their grief for a split second. Carrying a tiny bit of the pain as you stand there with them. </span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">What Can You DO?</span></b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">1. </span><b>Pray</b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I mean really, really pray. Like put your face to the ground and cry out to God for mercy for this family. Intercede on their behalf--night and day. Whenever you think of them. I </span><b>KNOW </b><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">we would not have made it through without the countless multitude of family, friends, parishioners, clergy, casual acquaintances, community members, and people that just heard our story praying for us. </span><b>Pray without ceasing, Love for Sophia Family, for the Myers family!</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">2. <b>Let the family know you are praying for them. </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Again, the cards and letters that flooded in. What a source of strength and encouragement!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">3.<b> Meet the Primary Needs.</b> Communities usually do this well. Greyhound Nation is shining. So much LOVE for Sophia is pouring in. Keep doing it. Don't stop. This serves to nourish the family physically, but also reminds them that people are walking with them. The Love for Sophia Tribe is helping carry the load. I can't tell you all the love and presence that was showered on us, and is continued to be offered, and how much it means.</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">4.<b> Go through the Parents' Liaison:</b> It's best to try to coordinate most of the "food," "gifts" or "offers to help" through someone close to the family. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Do not just show up at their house and walk in. Knock on door. Hand your gift to whoever answers door. Leave. Unless invited in.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I say this to say, if you are trying to give food, gifts, monetary support, whatever, try to find out who this person (or people are) instead of going straight to the parents. A few suggestions in this case: Talk to Christi. Or Leah. Dana. or Kerry. Set up the giving through them, so the family is not bombarded. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">5.<b> GIVE MONETARILY:</b> Angel and Joshua have plans to fight this monster, stupid tumor, that took their child. </span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know they can do it.</span><span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"> Help them in the fight. Give to the cause. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">6. <b>SHARE THE LOVE FOR SOPHIA STORY: </b>Spread the word. Your sharing and financial support could be the reason the DIPG code is cracked. And not another child has to suffer this horrible cancer. You can be a part of stopping stupid tumors from devastating families. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><b>In closing, I offer this prayer for the Myers and all who know and Love Sophia:</b></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Great God of mercy, you created us in your own image, redeemed us by Christ's blood, and give us new life through your Holy Spirit. There are times when life conflicts with life and we find ourselves in the crucible of unforeseen tragedy and unbearable suffering. In this dark hour we ask that you provide a beacon of hope to light our way. We, also, offer ourselves to aid the Myers family, who are met with adversity beyond their capacity to endure alone. We offer you our hands to do Your work; We give You our eyes to see as You see; We give you our tongue to speak Your words; We offer our hearts that You may love through us. It is through such giving that we become more like you. Stir up in each of us a holy desire to think less of ourselves and more of others until we are so intertwined with Christ that it is God alone that lives, breathes, and prays in us. Amen.</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: medium;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;"><i>Lord Hear Our Prayer,</i></span></span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif;">Mj</span></span><br />
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</style>MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-41892659068887013522017-09-06T13:35:00.001-05:002017-09-07T10:27:05.283-05:00Walk By Faith <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeIOVEnSifkfX9tTzPZNBoiiAZLJMiAUtKnl19LOPVfqNzSWD8OiAiARU6EZD-0p2e3PNTb-x91SzYWcWN0giQRGBfEEcAdRFAGWj3H-MN4B25J6lIX6aHzGIV9pH5M1ozMClMAZM1DaK/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252825%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="960" data-original-width="720" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTeIOVEnSifkfX9tTzPZNBoiiAZLJMiAUtKnl19LOPVfqNzSWD8OiAiARU6EZD-0p2e3PNTb-x91SzYWcWN0giQRGBfEEcAdRFAGWj3H-MN4B25J6lIX6aHzGIV9pH5M1ozMClMAZM1DaK/s200/FullSizeRender+%252825%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a></div>
The word <i><b>walk</b> </i>in the Bible often
symbolizes the way we live, act, and conduct ourselves in a certain
manner. It also nods to the belief that life is a journey, a movement
back to the heart of God. Life is a pilgrimage, and we are sojourners
traveling through this temporal life into an eternal abode. We are aliens in a foreign land inwardly groaning for home.<br />
<br />
And so to
<i><b>Walk by Faith</b> </i>is to live in the confident expectation of
things that are to come. To believe that better days are ahead. To look through your current circumstances, with Matrix like vision, to see yourself <i><b>passing through</b></i> the fiery trials of this world much like Jesus passed through the angry crowd
that sought to harm him (<a href="https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Luke+4%3A28-30&version=NLT" style="background-color: yellow;" target="_blank">Luke 4:28-30</a>). To anticipate a great Homecoming-joining the Communion of Saints who have fought the good fight and now cheer us on.<br />
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<br />
To <i><b>Walk by Faith </b></i>is to live
your life like you are more concerned with eternal things with lasting value and less consumed by temporal things that are fleeting. And, yet, often we are
fixated on the temporal. We are driven by the things that are
seen. Tangible. In plain sight. We live for wealth, power and
possessions, a good seat at the table, for the charms that this world
can give.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiro5_uhaRcVv1R6WvooKyVLoc6QErpDOksq060bDLVnnas0vxXH7itlJEftq0Q3Toh-PqpLVsEzPZ5Vq1Chy5CfoPXcvHLeP75Ws1SQzs_J11VIyy7Y0X8hmehSqNi787oVL-V4wStiRa8/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252826%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1200" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiro5_uhaRcVv1R6WvooKyVLoc6QErpDOksq060bDLVnnas0vxXH7itlJEftq0Q3Toh-PqpLVsEzPZ5Vq1Chy5CfoPXcvHLeP75Ws1SQzs_J11VIyy7Y0X8hmehSqNi787oVL-V4wStiRa8/s200/FullSizeRender+%252826%2529.jpg" width="150" /></a><br />
As followers of Christ we are called to look beyond
this world with a deep conviction that believes to the bone there is
a better place prepared for us. A home that is not of this world. A
place free from Pain. Confusion. Broken Relations. Addictions. Stupid Tumors. Anxiety. Hustling for Love. A place where we are finally <b style="font-style: italic;">Free Indeed</b>.</div>
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<br /></div>
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That all seems well and good until we
find ourselves walking through a hellish nightmare that challenges our belief. </div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<i><b>How do you Walk by Faith
when you are bent over in unimaginable suffering? </b></i><br />
<br />
There is a verse that I clinged to
while in deep grief over the loss of my 12 year old son, Jeremy. Seven years later and it is still on my electronic
signature:</div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i>Do not be afraid for I have redeemed you;</i></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i>I have called you by name, you are
mine.</i></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i>When you pass through the waters, I
will be with you.</i></b></div>
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<b><i>And through the rivers,</i></b></div>
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<b><i>They shall not overwhelm you.<br />When
you walk through the fire you shall not be burned.
</i></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<b><i>The flame shall not consume you. </i></b><b><i>For I am the Lord your God. </i></b></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
Isaiah 43:1-2</div>
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0in;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoo_dK14ZWXczJLCtNtxlsxMFCxauWUPhwvu_TRIRmdfH-anplKSbG6ndNbtLGtp71i6UYdQSIS1IeT00uynBUSbIvmOp5rjGRe-h9J9b8gp7TkfRD-GNFlmYG4n5O7PPYJkEq9xE5Hdcv/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252823%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="1600" data-original-width="1316" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgoo_dK14ZWXczJLCtNtxlsxMFCxauWUPhwvu_TRIRmdfH-anplKSbG6ndNbtLGtp71i6UYdQSIS1IeT00uynBUSbIvmOp5rjGRe-h9J9b8gp7TkfRD-GNFlmYG4n5O7PPYJkEq9xE5Hdcv/s200/FullSizeRender+%252823%2529.jpg" width="164" /></a>As I spend more and more time with sweet Sophia, <a href="https://www.facebook.com/angeldaniellemyers" style="background-color: yellow;" target="_blank">Angel</a>, Joshua and family they each bear a living witness to this
promise of God. Angel & Joshua pour every ounce of their being into the care and comfort of Sophia, clearly empowered by a supernatural energy source. They are passing through a raging, seemingly impassable, river. Yet, God is
with them. They are walking through a scorching fire that has the power to utterly destroy them,
yet, they are not consumed. They continue day after day, moment by moment, breath by precious breath, lovingly caring for Sophia, trusting
God, and <i><b>Walking by Faith</b></i>. Confident that even through the darkest valley, God is walking with
them.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<i><a aria-controls="js_50d" aria-describedby="js_50e" aria-haspopup="true" class="profileLink" data-hovercard-prefer-more-content-show="1" data-hovercard="/ajax/hovercard/user.php?id=100001526126212&extragetparams=%7B%22fref%22%3A%22mentions%22%7D" href="https://www.facebook.com/angeldaniellemyers?fref=mentions" id="js_50f" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;">Angel</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">, witnessing you continue to "Walk by Faith" is a magnificent display of what trusting in God--even in the darkest times--looks like. Thank you for sharing your heart and story in such a transparent and vulnerable way. We won't stop praying for Sophia, you, Joshua and family. </span><span class="_5afx" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; direction: ltr; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;"><a class="_58cn" data-ft="{"tn":"*N","type":104}" href="https://www.facebook.com/hashtag/walkbyfaith?source=feed_text&story_id=10159351827310541" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: "Helvetica Neue", Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; text-decoration-line: none;"><span aria-label="hashtag" class="_58cl _5afz" style="background-color: white; color: #4267b2; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">#</span><span class="_58cm" style="background-color: white; color: #365899; cursor: pointer; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px;">WalkByFaith</span></a> </span></i><i><span style="background-color: white; color: #1d2129; font-family: "helvetica neue" , "helvetica" , "arial" , sans-serif; font-size: 14px;">I love you, MJ</span></i></div>
MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS 30.4113097 -88.827805730.3017507 -88.9891672 30.5208687 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-30299194702876600392017-05-13T23:02:00.003-05:002017-05-13T23:33:51.348-05:00Mother's Day: The gifts that, really, matter <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCc4IWmrLv2-d2TcU7NscSc5fIdXeQjlwCDJhny898x6nakcaEMpH1mT_6U_UX-vWEzaN5Fl-qM25o5-dTvZW-BvPKrrJrVXhUQZIAizOv3_nCtQ-S8jMaIMgaLnk7-IbTu8XFa-GCV0rF/s1600/FullSizeRender-4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCc4IWmrLv2-d2TcU7NscSc5fIdXeQjlwCDJhny898x6nakcaEMpH1mT_6U_UX-vWEzaN5Fl-qM25o5-dTvZW-BvPKrrJrVXhUQZIAizOv3_nCtQ-S8jMaIMgaLnk7-IbTu8XFa-GCV0rF/s320/FullSizeRender-4.jpg" width="275" /></a></div>
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A dear colleague in ministry, Rev. Andy Stoddard, shared this pastoral post offering hope to the broken-hearted facing Mother's Day. What caused me to pause and really allow his words, like a soothing salve, to pour deep down into the plethora of piercings that dot my heart is I know he is a fellow sojourner of the broken way. Coming from someone else I would have scrolled right past it dismissing these quips as the fluffy stuff Hallmark cotton candy cards are made of. </div>
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I'm not really sure when this cynical bent first crept in. It was definitely after the death of my 12 year old son, but before the death of my mother. I think it just worsened after my mom blew us all out of the water by taking her life. And now it's sometimes difficult to listen to others try to offer advice, tips, help if they have not been heart crushed as well. (I don't share this like it's a good thing. It's a growing edge for sure.) </div>
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<b><i>Those that have lost children. </i></b><b><i>Those that have lost their mothers.</i></b></div>
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Somewhere in the middle of those two lonely sentences, twin pillars of tragedy, you will find bits and pieces of my shattered heart. </div>
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And no Mother's Day breakfast in bed, no carnations offered by precious children at church, no Sunday afternoon fancy brunch, no creative gifts that say, "I know you," no thoughtful cards, over the top Facebook accolades, or being offered chill time by the pool will take away this throbbing ache. </div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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(<i>Now Kirby family: if you happen to be reading this--this is NOT your cue to take back all the darling gestures you have planned for your wife/mother or are now cooking up in response. Let's not go crazy here! And let the record state: I take back my earlier declaration, "We are just gonna skip Mother's Day this year." A Mother's Day happy or two never hurt anyone!) </i></div>
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<i><br /></i></div>
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I'm just trying to say the broken dreams, shattered lives, loss of child or mother or both type of grief runs much deeper than what cards, chocolates and kisses can fix. </div>
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I know this.</div>
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Andy knows this. </div>
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And some of you reading know, too. </div>
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I'm sorry this is a part of your life's tapestry (and mine). I'm sorry you are dreading facing another holiday that reminds you of your great loss.</div>
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And so, <b>THANK YOU</b>, Andy, for reminding me I do not cringe at the thought of celebrating Mother's Day alone.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAFljqc3UxPLSYkXKq6acfeRKgo8nd_w6tmOGPmpHfe_PZAzV7W_UHVKOeTrr_UP93-qUK2bNcaaN6gMl4B8gAXJueyyKtmN5O6UO1WwK3tD-dzpzUAznFMUXO2ZzxGADWIEe9i6Q9gOv/s1600/FullSizeRender-5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="101" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuAFljqc3UxPLSYkXKq6acfeRKgo8nd_w6tmOGPmpHfe_PZAzV7W_UHVKOeTrr_UP93-qUK2bNcaaN6gMl4B8gAXJueyyKtmN5O6UO1WwK3tD-dzpzUAznFMUXO2ZzxGADWIEe9i6Q9gOv/s200/FullSizeRender-5.jpg" width="200" /></a></div>
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I do not cry alone--Like yesterday when I completely freaked out a young sales associate at Dick's Sporting Goods. He will probably never ask another lady with her back to to him, "Mam, can I help you find anything?" For fear she might turn around and scar him for life by a mascara stained, blubbering, snot shooting out of her nose mess! What exactly do you say to a person bent over completely overcome by grief that was triggered in a hot, unexpected second by DSG's clever "Give a Gift that Matters" Mother's Day ad campaign vomited from wall to wall? Apparently you say nothing. Because, honestly, you don't know what to say. You just stare back at her wide-eyed. Frozen like a statue. </div>
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I do not dread tomorrow alone. </div>
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I chose to remember</div>
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<b>Just</b> <i style="font-weight: bold;">as Jesus wept beside the tomb of His friend Lazarus, so now He weeps with all the brokenhearted.</i></div>
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<b><i><br /></i></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSj1yK5PrhdMTv2OZDDS7WrXXC4d4r29aa6X2_1D8LB1NaAFZl_MM1u6i2sTdCU7rYUb_-U6_46xGgxtHosfHIt7dk3MT0ODzKWMPc4gn_VsWLdfbs6_ul5Zo998rpJo08cGihUi_gnzU/s1600/IMG_0017.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiXSj1yK5PrhdMTv2OZDDS7WrXXC4d4r29aa6X2_1D8LB1NaAFZl_MM1u6i2sTdCU7rYUb_-U6_46xGgxtHosfHIt7dk3MT0ODzKWMPc4gn_VsWLdfbs6_ul5Zo998rpJo08cGihUi_gnzU/s200/IMG_0017.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
And I weep with you, too, dear, brave ones. I hope and pray both you and I will be courageous enough to dream new dreams, to deeply love once more, to approach tomorrow a bit more thankful for the gifts we have--<b>The Gifts that, REALLY, Matter</b>--Family and friends to laugh with, love, and share this crazy, awful, beautiful, mascara ugly cry life with--The greatest treasures we can hope for on Mother's Day or any day. </div>
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MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS 30.4113097 -88.827805730.3017507 -88.9891672 30.5208687 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-70884497275918059312017-05-04T15:41:00.003-05:002017-05-04T16:26:37.678-05:00May the Fourth: An Out of This World Birthday <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJgd_HS3AEkvMgp6Xh1ZZiDbu3BiChcyUm2fKufIT-ybZT-TXfJRujzDo0YKUFWeLc5pVEZeKx0HSIHc2dZ32eePfosFK7g3GZWrYWbYt976n-O95QCxX9wDPClzKtFL3ju4OpUAhpCsr/s1600/may+the+4th+.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="130" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgWJgd_HS3AEkvMgp6Xh1ZZiDbu3BiChcyUm2fKufIT-ybZT-TXfJRujzDo0YKUFWeLc5pVEZeKx0HSIHc2dZ32eePfosFK7g3GZWrYWbYt976n-O95QCxX9wDPClzKtFL3ju4OpUAhpCsr/s200/may+the+4th+.gif" width="200" /></a><i><b>"May the Fourth Be With You. "</b></i><br />
I was dreading it. All the Star Wars freaks and geeks flooding my News Feeds with their personal twist on <span style="background-color: yellow; color: black;"><b><a href="http://www.starwars.com/may-the-4th" target="_blank">Star Wars Day</a>.</b></span> No, I'm not a Star Wars hater. Actually, like it a lot. Star Trek, different story. It takes a special sort of Space Geek to dig Star Trek. But Star Wars...Sure, I can get with that.<br />
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One of my favorite 5 year old hairstyles was Princess Leia space buns. I have friends that can still <b>ROCK</b> that Out of this World awesome look!<br />
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No, my issue with it is I don't get to send my Mom a text with some cheesy version of, <b><i>"May the 4th be your best birthday, yet!"</i></b> And she says back, <b><i>"What</i></b> <b><i>now?</i></b>?"<br />
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And I call her and helplessly try to explain to her (not exactly the Space Geek type) it's a play on a popular pun. <b><i>You, know... May the Force Be With You, from Star Wars? Well it's May the 4th? Get it? May the 4th be with you? And it's your birthday</i></b>!<b> <i>So, May the 4th be an out of this world birthday!</i></b><i> </i><br />
<br />
Well, this year it certainly is an out of this world birthday. It's in a freaking galaxy far, far away...And, sure, I know she is having a Blast. Celebrations: Her Signature Trademark! Yet, I'm left here longing for the time that was snatched away from us. That zoomed by at the speed of hyperspace. And I'm left wishing for the tender days of yesteryear for her to swoop my long, black hair into Leila space buns. Ugh...Just ugh.<br />
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And this in particular <b>May the Fourth</b> was to be a <b>SUPER SPECIAL</b> one of Galactic proportions! Mom was turning the <b>BIG 6-0!</b> We had made a sorta pact that we would do <b>New York City</b> for DeDe's 60th birthday. Mom, me, Cherry, Chloe and we were going to see if her sisters and their daughters wanted to go, too. Was going to be a DeDe's 60th & Chloe's Sweet 16 Trip of a Life Time! Good times, ahead!<br />
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But, alas, the Dark Side overcame our sweet DeDe. She poured out herself for others. Leaving nothing to sustain herself. She fought the good fight until there was simply nothing left to give. God rest her sweet soul.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk3_5-lNv1MlbHlfHaiH2CdAhdP83wEZz3tgBoqO076-m8Y0RYmvrfBX3dEQ-fZCPnWGQomBAZXWxC3nfF-H3QiQ_rKxCDdy8NGH915B9K8vNbYcO5JAqK8Izgshk1EZ6nVOu1aevx1K1/s1600/IMG_0941.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgkk3_5-lNv1MlbHlfHaiH2CdAhdP83wEZz3tgBoqO076-m8Y0RYmvrfBX3dEQ-fZCPnWGQomBAZXWxC3nfF-H3QiQ_rKxCDdy8NGH915B9K8vNbYcO5JAqK8Izgshk1EZ6nVOu1aevx1K1/s200/IMG_0941.JPG" width="200" /></a></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjsRetdDfuwlqhzA3OgUAU1zMxHaNTHMo6csVZ7D6AAmC-MtRLYPFfcl0aGOBORw4C7AqtrrgpQ_K9io2TkmrMKf60XzfExEW9QDsI-aqAvySCoFWhI8TD8AQEGDGUjRKN0Caybbqlhn3/s1600/IMG_0939.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEibjsRetdDfuwlqhzA3OgUAU1zMxHaNTHMo6csVZ7D6AAmC-MtRLYPFfcl0aGOBORw4C7AqtrrgpQ_K9io2TkmrMKf60XzfExEW9QDsI-aqAvySCoFWhI8TD8AQEGDGUjRKN0Caybbqlhn3/s200/IMG_0939.JPG" width="200" /></a>During this past Easter these hauntingly telling pictures popped up on my <i><b>Time Hop</b></i> and I was completely floored. Like breath knocked out of me floored. How did we not SEE this? My sweet Mama looked absolutely miserable. So unsettled. So, doing everything she can to hang on. So overcome. I remember saying something rude that day like,<b><i> "Mom, can't you just smile!?</i></b>"<br />
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Well, no, she couldn't just smile. She was so low. So overcome by the darkness. So sad. So worried. So everything that she just couldn't stand to be in this world not one more breath.<br />
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Not one more Thanksgiving. Christmas. Easter. or May the Fourth. She couldn't take one more moment of this world.<br />
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If you are reading this and you have even a tiny concern about someone: Please, don't be afraid. Or second guess yourself. Or feel like you are over-reacting. Reach out to them and try to get them the help they need: Counseling, medication, a support group. Tell them you care. You are there for them. You love them.<br />
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Don't wait. Till you can no longer say,<br />
<b><i>"May the 4th Be With You." </i></b><br />
<b><i>"And Also With You." </i></b><br />
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<br />MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS 30.4113097 -88.827805730.3017507 -88.9891672 30.5208687 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-90940475468510144192017-05-01T13:11:00.003-05:002017-09-06T14:15:00.344-05:00Holy Hoops <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz8MjHjTHrTP1KolftcMa3WcQGniuqvpsHAETAti93Ze6Ok4ZB4u5M_ZWcdcqqMvdlOd57t8dDMmCb-7xmCLWwdrs4PCR2a0XTkfC63Ard-GijN70s4CLrK7GdAQTwkl21eVZCqqtqpSh/s1600/18208954_1356656611069763_3086816297530436996_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="132" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKz8MjHjTHrTP1KolftcMa3WcQGniuqvpsHAETAti93Ze6Ok4ZB4u5M_ZWcdcqqMvdlOd57t8dDMmCb-7xmCLWwdrs4PCR2a0XTkfC63Ard-GijN70s4CLrK7GdAQTwkl21eVZCqqtqpSh/s200/18208954_1356656611069763_3086816297530436996_o.jpg" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span class="text Luke-5-17" style="-webkit-font-smoothing: antialiased; box-sizing: border-box;"><span style="background-color: white;">On February 26 tender seeds were planted during</span><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b> </b></span><span style="background-color: yellow;"><b><a href="https://www.facebook.com/pg/StPaultheLanding/photos/?tab=album&album_id=1110918568976903" target="_blank">Live @ The Landing</a> </b></span><span style="background-color: white;"> (our weekly St. Paul OS Youth gathering--featuring worship, community groups, games, give-aways, food & fun). The message that night was simple, yet full of possibility. </span></span></span><span class="text Luke-5-17" style="background-color: white; box-sizing: border-box; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">We were studying the Gospel account detailing a few friends (<b><i>"stretcher bearers") </i></b>doing this crazy thing by lowering their paralyzed friend through a roof to be healed by Jesus. During our Small Group time Leaders posed the question to our students: <i><b>"How can we be 'stretcher bearers' in our community?"</b></i> </span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">The High School Guys Community Group stepped out of their session buzzing about a<b> 3-3 Basketball Tourney for Charity</b>! O</span><span style="background-color: white; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">ur High School Girls got the party started the following week by praying for Sophia and making heartfelt signs. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white;">We posted this on our </span><a href="https://www.facebook.com/StPaultheLanding/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: yellow;">St. Paul OS Youth Facebook Page</span> </span></a><span style="background-color: white;">and it became a living embodiment of our Youth Group being "stretcher bearers" for Sophia and her family. This simple act of FB sharing resonated with many others and got SO MANY likes and shares! (Over the next few weeks our entire Ocean Springs community was rallying around </span><span style="background-color: yellow;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/Love-for-Sophia-1624143627893383/" target="_blank"><span style="color: black;">Love for Sophia</span></a>.</span><span style="background-color: white;"> NOTE: S</span><span style="background-color: white;"><i><span style="background-color: white;">op</span><span style="background-color: white;">hia Myers is precious 7 year old Greyhound recently diagnosed with an in-operable brain tumor--DIPG.</span></i><span style="background-color: white;"> </span></span></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our High School Girls & Guys Groups melded their idea of a 3 on 3 tourney and Love for Sophia together and Holy Hoops: A 3 on 3 Basketball Benefit for Sophia Myers was birthed!</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMzzKdam2xSkzWiV2GftrqJIdH-n4a8-G5ygWSi_MWJ3mY__SmfEkFZAglN4Rlkt3QA4YaTs3Wz5O2UQT6XzgpEQTABsL1Qy8jBhU4YVXgeh1gVEHTj7aNenSjfgpGjnJkiU54-Y5V2gh/s1600/18192522_1356749771060447_6638189131998043745_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeMzzKdam2xSkzWiV2GftrqJIdH-n4a8-G5ygWSi_MWJ3mY__SmfEkFZAglN4Rlkt3QA4YaTs3Wz5O2UQT6XzgpEQTABsL1Qy8jBhU4YVXgeh1gVEHTj7aNenSjfgpGjnJkiU54-Y5V2gh/s200/18192522_1356749771060447_6638189131998043745_o.jpg" width="133" /></span></a></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Over the next few weeks plans were hashed out (sometimes quite fiercely when opinions diverged) on our Student Leadership GroupMe. William Evans and Andrew Bowie took the lead in this effort, and so many students and parents got the buzz and begin to forge ahead. From March 6 to April 30 with Holy Week, Easter and Spring Break falling during this time period what transpired was electric and a "God thing" worthy of sharing.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Our resident Bishop, </span><span style="background-color: yellow; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><span style="color: black;"><a href="https://www.facebook.com/BishopJamesESwansonSr/" style="background-color: yellow;" target="_blank"><span style="background-color: yellow;">James E. Swanson, Sr</span><span style="background-color: white;">.</span></a><span style="background-color: white;">, </span></span></span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">encourages our clergy, churches, districts, etc. to be in the regular practice of naming ways you are seeing God show up in your midst and he calls these </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">"Glory Sightings</b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">." I must admit I have thought this was a bit on the cheesy side (no offense) and always feels bragadocious lifting up "great things" that are happening, so I rarely (if ever) lift up a "Glory Sighting." However, Holy Hoops has made me a Glory Sightings believer compelling me to lift up this "great thing!" </span><b style="font-family: arial, helvetica, sans-serif;">Glory! </b><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">So here goes...</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">On Monday, I honestly thought this thing was dead in the water and was contemplating canceling and worried about how I would tell our Youth Leadership. It was a great idea, but was just not getting the needed traction. We were sitting on 8 registrations--and 3 of those later I would realize were duplicates (Someone accidentally registering 3 times.)</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfN_XLawsGlR7Ihnx7TaCHTbgzhk_qwa2VDsiNn2TB5ufCxAaeC-5kYex8-RAv6KqML_6hqNil7lSoCB90S93NH1-tC_z216_aSOok12F2Dp5KDAd5vv6VsT2qw-MUR6BpooEHIpgEVHZ/s1600/IMG_1744.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjTfN_XLawsGlR7Ihnx7TaCHTbgzhk_qwa2VDsiNn2TB5ufCxAaeC-5kYex8-RAv6KqML_6hqNil7lSoCB90S93NH1-tC_z216_aSOok12F2Dp5KDAd5vv6VsT2qw-MUR6BpooEHIpgEVHZ/s200/IMG_1744.JPG" width="200" /></span></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Wednesday evening, I get a text out of the blue from a fellow cheer parent asking, "What can I do to help with Holy Hoops?" Coach Juliane had already said that Cheer could volunteer to help. I said we needed to get the word out, and now! </span></div>
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJN3-ec3vtFDSs4J0V2oNCy3Tutc98X_h9FVLX8l1nj-Mcn3Bk1BW0803aDzZq4IxMKUcdFdvEvl-sf3zTIgKYAKEhCj2rq7r-IrXOCFZ6Yd92p4heNSrz1IS16V6HyaEUVwFhC7MaM83/s1600/IMG_1574.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="161" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoJN3-ec3vtFDSs4J0V2oNCy3Tutc98X_h9FVLX8l1nj-Mcn3Bk1BW0803aDzZq4IxMKUcdFdvEvl-sf3zTIgKYAKEhCj2rq7r-IrXOCFZ6Yd92p4heNSrz1IS16V6HyaEUVwFhC7MaM83/s200/IMG_1574.JPG" width="200" /></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDC0863Ng2bZLO-loVr21-5jti0nbkOBWn5BPTux5VxEPGIxs34i_eu4Msv6U0MoTffFf1TEVLaxslC64GjjEoGs9hNvYYdMuIBZytCPggODTdiFAJ3gMLHoqy4jz3QhUVzPijprOhQyWN/s1600/IMG_1760.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjDC0863Ng2bZLO-loVr21-5jti0nbkOBWn5BPTux5VxEPGIxs34i_eu4Msv6U0MoTffFf1TEVLaxslC64GjjEoGs9hNvYYdMuIBZytCPggODTdiFAJ3gMLHoqy4jz3QhUVzPijprOhQyWN/s200/IMG_1760.JPG" width="150" /></span></a><br />
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">That night OSHS Cheer led the effort creating an absolute Instagram/Twitter Storm encouraging students to Sign up! So much so one of our St. Paul OS Youth Student Leaders shamed our students that had not posted yet saying, "Cheer is posting more than you!" (Oh, the power of positive peer pressure).<br /><br /><br /><br /><br /><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueO19_uL8q5SFatVhP71w2FqFaLWBIiuCep4dld0nHbBosT0DcZhxxWmmwNm-9szq1gdA2afVVQg6W3VFrz9anl62zqIvhiSklPhMhHQEYnSzOsnG0Bvn1nhxglJabGDHomJ010KKNIZZ/s1600/18216853_1356749104393847_3796631344992940213_o.jpg"></a></span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvGqtEwJIpvuyxP7pJEz6EK3YERRxfxSKE2yYyEw-ocAUwxEsu0otdzT00LFtB4MglO65XlYvD7KKFrsVp9OJ5-w_SLGqaw2B8FWOyVwA68YYXokRJwOL3ShXFydllPlmdg4gIxxY1s8n/s1600/IMG_1761.JPG" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgAvGqtEwJIpvuyxP7pJEz6EK3YERRxfxSKE2yYyEw-ocAUwxEsu0otdzT00LFtB4MglO65XlYvD7KKFrsVp9OJ5-w_SLGqaw2B8FWOyVwA68YYXokRJwOL3ShXFydllPlmdg4gIxxY1s8n/s320/IMG_1761.JPG" /></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Thursday morning at Breakfast Break registrations doubled! Up to 12! There were ballers still wanting to sign up, so our leaders agreed to set up shop the next day, too!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">In a few days time we went from 5 registrations to over 30! People kept signing up and the end result was a 36 team bracket and an additional pre-bracket to accommodate over 40 teams.</span><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiueO19_uL8q5SFatVhP71w2FqFaLWBIiuCep4dld0nHbBosT0DcZhxxWmmwNm-9szq1gdA2afVVQg6W3VFrz9anl62zqIvhiSklPhMhHQEYnSzOsnG0Bvn1nhxglJabGDHomJ010KKNIZZ/s1600/18216853_1356749104393847_3796631344992940213_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">Somehow Buckalew Enterprises was able to pull off tshirts in a record 3 days time. (T-shirts that an anonymous donor completely underwrote!) Our Holy Hoops shirts, coupled with a generous donations of pulled pork plates, drinks, candy, prizes and an AMAZING Bake Sale along with entry fees and other donations brought the total to over <b>$4,000 raised for sweet Sophia Myers</b>! GLORY! All of which is wonderful in and of itself...<br />
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However, words and even pictures/videos fail to capture the spirit of Holy Hoops. I have never felt so much raw energy in our church building. Period. I have never witnessed so much "sportsmanship, character, love and respect" (thanks Michelle Smith). Respect for players and friendly, passionate competition for a great cause set the tone.<br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">There are so many individuals and businesses in our community that came together to make it happen: Baking, refereeing, publicizing, sweeping, selling, donating, dunking, snapping pictures and</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhA8w5l4unzoPfNlAPv5rwndotb_luDGY_aS59MtNix6JXlykUSlzEVDKdMjYJ3Cu5ByIuF1hyCJ4R4TyVHF3OzoyMrk7hwyegfmDnU7IkjGndANs-6Pcpro5GhD7vV4J7OnZEz-woDXS/s1600/18192532_1356749417727149_1294021100349364741_o.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="133" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjIhA8w5l4unzoPfNlAPv5rwndotb_luDGY_aS59MtNix6JXlykUSlzEVDKdMjYJ3Cu5ByIuF1hyCJ4R4TyVHF3OzoyMrk7hwyegfmDnU7IkjGndANs-6Pcpro5GhD7vV4J7OnZEz-woDXS/s200/18192532_1356749417727149_1294021100349364741_o.jpg" width="200" /></a></span></div>
<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">the list goes on and on and on.... HOLY HOOPS was an <b>All Hands on Deck</b> effort and we needed <b>EVERYONE</b> that pitched in to make it happen! It was way bigger than we could have pulled off ourselves and truly was <b>A GOD THING--A GLORY SIGHTING! </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">My overall take away God peeled back the veil and offered us a little slice of Heaven on Earth--Baller Style! I am so proud of William, Andrew and our youth, OSHS Cheer, and parents and all the other <b>"Stretcher Bearers,</b>" especially my sweet tough as nails nephew, Eli, that came out to help set up and ended up needing a stretcher himself--God bless him! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfyqK8E1e-eL0PWmd3cOvhMdmJsiHukxabcPHQgkcp4hqyxSWHXIyJK5dnp-hLd0k71AquV-d4iZ7RhdxNSJRI5-sB6vaeVy1P3tvI7_j0f0OKJXriy1j9eTLjihdOxiv7afszoBIHmHs/s1600/FullSizeRender+%252812%2529.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span style="color: black; font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjHfyqK8E1e-eL0PWmd3cOvhMdmJsiHukxabcPHQgkcp4hqyxSWHXIyJK5dnp-hLd0k71AquV-d4iZ7RhdxNSJRI5-sB6vaeVy1P3tvI7_j0f0OKJXriy1j9eTLjihdOxiv7afszoBIHmHs/s200/FullSizeRender+%252812%2529.jpg" width="150" /></span></a><span style="font-family: "arial" , "helvetica" , sans-serif;">I can barely contain the love I have for our church family and our tiny town, Ocean Springs! GlooooRAY! </span></div>
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MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS30.4113097 -88.827805730.3017507 -88.9891672 30.5208687 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-26761161917108122562017-03-18T22:17:00.001-05:002017-09-06T14:13:30.896-05:00What is Wrong with (The Church) Us? <br />
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This evening provided a rare, delicious treat. All our ducklings (even the college kid) gathered around our table plus my sweet nephew, Jackson! Desiring to keep the family fire burning, I transitioned into the living room searching for some March Madness. No Duke game, of course, but how about Florida and Virginia! </div>
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Maybe that's interesting enough to gather all (OK most)...Real talk: maybe some around the tube. Yeah, they (we) will be on their (our) phones, but at least we are in the same room (on phones) enjoying the same March Madness white noise background. </div>
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I flipped to channel 1185 at <i>The Push Up Contest</i> frame of this commercial. After habitually scrolling through Facebook first like I was going to miss something earth shattering in the 8 seconds it took me to find the Florida vs Virginia game. <i>(There, Kirby family, I admitted it. </i><i>I need to work on my obvious infatuation with social media). </i></div>
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At first I thought there was a new CrossFit Gym in town. It had my interest! I quickly realized this is too high quality of a production to be a local commercial (no offense), maybe a commercial for a chain of CrossFit Gyms? Maybe a new chain of CrossFit Gyms is coming to Tiny Town! I watched curiously. And then it happened. The product placement.<br />
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All the warm fuzzy feelings I was having about finally checking out a local CrossFit Gym melted. What remained was a Michelob ULTRA commercial. Really?! I'm not a beer drinker, never got into the taste of horse piss (The whole "acquired" taste thing just didn't happen for me). But, if I was, I don't think I would drink MU. (No offense to any Ultra fans out there!) </div>
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I was absolutely floored by the community feel this 1-minute beer commercial evokes. Using the CrossFit community angle is genius. (That's why the Mad Men of the world make millions.) The cultish loyalty. The deep sense of community: These people are connected! A REAL brother and sisterhood! Everyone reaching for their individual best. Yet, a genuine sense of being a part of something greater than just yourself. Raising the bar! Then helping a sista leap over it! A family! On a similar journey bound by a common goal of being a little bit better, a little bit stronger, a little bit faster than they were a day ago. Held together by a continual outpouring of blood, sweat and tears. I would be remiss to fail to mention their secret little insider "WODs" that keep them connected. And, of course, "Everybody knows your name!" I was so flippin inspired by this notion! And immediately my mind turned to "the church"--big "C." And I thought...WTH! </div>
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<b><i>What is wrong with us? We sure have the insider words but what else??</i></b></div>
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I wish the church felt this way. Why is this not the way church feels? <b>Wait, seriously fam, this is the way the church "should" feel!</b> </div>
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A community bound by the body and blood of Jesus Christ. A place where everyone is striving, together, to grow stronger in their spiritual walk. Training the body is great, but pales in comparison to the benefits you could reap from a tone spiritual body. Yet, we gather each week in our flabby spiritual frames, maybe trying to tone up a tad bit, but certainly NOT putting that ugly face grind on! Where's the sweat?! Where's the TriHard! Where's the presence? Where's the dedication? Where's the growth? Where's the <i><b>We are Family</b></i> feeling?!</div>
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We gather weekly for an hour (maybe, but probably more like 1-2 times a month or less), put on that <i>"We are at church you better act cool kids"</i> smile and say, </div>
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"Good morning, how are you?"</div>
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"Fine thanks, you!" </div>
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"Great! Want a cup of coffee?" </div>
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(NOTE: <i>I'm proud of the work our Hospitality Team and Coffee Crew do welcoming guests, but was convicted by a young widow's gut-wrenching story that went viral last week: </i><a href="https://kimberlilira.blogspot.com/2017/03/why-church-doesnt-need-anymore-coffee.html" style="background-color: lime;" target="_blank">Why The Church Doesn't Need Anymore Coffee Bars</a>)</div>
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"Sure! Love your shoes!"</div>
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"Thanks!" </div>
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<b>We lie. We hide. We fake it. </b></div>
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We go out of obligation. We drink our coffee and compliment each others' shoes. </div>
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Because for some reason we can't admit that things just aren't OK. That we are seriously out of shape. That we haven't been putting the time into growing stronger in our faith, getting sharper in our understanding of the narrow path. We don't really know this God we claim to love and serve and we don't know how to fix that. And maybe we really don't care. </div>
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We are afraid. And doubtful. And can't really see how <b><i>THIS</i></b> is adding any value to our "real life." </div>
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Because if we are really honest we are barely holding it all together fueled by too much coffee and too little Jesus. It's just a whole lot of living outside of the margins:</div>
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<b>Our finances. Our calendar. Our relationships. And our little (or monstrous) habits we don't want the Church Ladies to know about keep us overbooked. It takes all we can to juggle "real" life, how CAN we do this Church thing, too? </b>So, we just opt to fake it. </div>
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<b><i>We don't realize we are (literally) starving to death for spiritual community:</i></b></div>
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We need confidants. </div>
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A journey partner. </div>
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Prayer warriors. </div>
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A group to actually dig into the scripture with. </div>
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A safe space to open our closets and let someone see those skeletons.<br />
We crave belonging. </div>
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A place where we find forgiveness.</div>
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Healing.</div>
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Hope. </div>
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Relief. </div>
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Redemption.</div>
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Someone, for God's sake, willing to slow down and run beside us when we fall back <i>(if only we would have the guts to admit we are out of breath and can't keep pace).</i></div>
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We desperately need a <b>real</b> Jesus community bound by a common goal: to grow in our Christian faith, together! What a novel idea! That's what The Church is "supposed" to be. </div>
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When we welcome a new member by Water and the Spirit we, as a church, promise to God to: </div>
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<i>Surround these persons
with a <b>community of love </b>and forgiveness<b>, </b></i><i>that they may<b> grow </b>in their trust of God, and be found <b>faithful</b> in their service to others. </i><i>We will pray for them,
that they may be <b>true disciple</b>s
who walk in the way that <b>leads to life</b>.</i></div>
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<b>A community of love </b><b>that grows faithfully together into true disciples </b><b>that leads to <i>REAL</i> life!</b> </div>
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Yes, I'll take a piping hot cup of that. Bring it on, Church! Serve it up. Let's Go! </div>
MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS 30.4113097 -88.827805730.3017507 -88.9891672 30.5208687 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-14781984665880469502016-08-02T10:00:00.003-05:002016-08-02T11:18:43.929-05:00Today I Choose Thankfulness...<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Yesterday while grinding out Back to School plans with KidMin Kim over a fantastic lunch at FrogHead Grill I received a call...<br />
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It's not every day Dr. Bonita Coleman Potter (need to update that from BCP to BC in my contacts) gives me a ring, so of course, I answered!<br />
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Dr. Coleman, Ocean Springs School District Superintendent, was calling with disturbing news: Explaining to me she had received a letter calling for the canceling of our annual Back to School Prayer Service hosted by St. Paul United Methodist Church. That's right. This has never been a "school/district sponsored prayer service."<br />
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This service was birthed from the passion and heart of Ms. Joan Simpson--Ocean Springs Resident Intercessory Prayer Warrior. Ms. Joan has made it her life's work to faithfully intercede day in and day out for this town, its people and the world beyond. In 2005 the Back to School Prayer Service launched with faithful prayers from St. Paul members to usher in a new school year. Each year it has grown.<br />
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The last three years it has transformed into a vibrant, ecumenical, community wide prayer service that we are excited to coordinate! Ms. Joan wanted to make this a community wide effort all along and her heart's desire has always been that more and<b> MORE</b> people would participate. <br />
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<b>So, I am thankful today! </b><br />
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What could have been a big downer: 1. Lots of plans and prep going into a Back to School Prayer Service that is poorly attended. (And worse) 2. Canceling the annual Back to School Prayer Service has transformed into a beautiful God thing...<br />
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<b>THANK YOU</b> to that one person that alerted the "Freedom from Religion Foundation," and let them know that there were plans for a Back to School Prayer Service in Tiny Town, Ms.<br />
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<b>THANK YOU </b> to whoever from Wisconsin associated with the "Freedom From Religion Foundation" that sent a very lengthy letter that is filled with half truths. IE: This is not a "School Sponsored" event. But anyway...<br />
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<b>THANK YOU</b> to our local news hound, Warren Kulo, for sniffing the story out and producing this piece:<br />
<span style="background-color: yellow;"><b><a href="http://blog.gulflive.com/mississippi-press-news/2016/08/freedom_from_religion_group_fo.html" target="_blank">Freedom from Religion Group Forces Change of Venue </a></b></span><br />
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<b>THANK YOU</b> to the 1.2 thousand and growing Ocean Springs Praying Hounds that have shared this article and pledged their support for our beloved Dr. Coleman. All those shares got the word out like never before! The best PR EVER!<br />
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I think that Ms. Joan's heart's cry will be answered tonight. I am no prophet, but I predict the Ocean Springs community will come out in full force and gather at First Baptist Church Ocean Springs to pray our community into the new school year!<br />
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I hope you join the broad spectrum of clergy and youth ministers that will be their offering prayers and petitions for our schools: Dr. Rick Brooks, St. Paul; Pastor Carlton McCarter, Victory International; Rev. Scott Castleman, First Presbyterian; Dr. Michael Barnett, First Baptist; Pastor Jacob Dickerson, Mosaic and many, many other faithful community leaders. <br />
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I hope while you are out shopping today you will pick up a few extra school supplies and bring them with you and help Abby Clark and other members of the Mayor's Youth Council send disadvantaged Hounds back to school with the tools they need for success.<br />
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I hope you bring a few bucks to put in the offering plate to under gird our "Back Pack Buddies" feeding program that sends backpacks filled with nutritional food home on the weekends so our lil hounds won't go hungry.<br />
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I hope to see <b>YOU</b> tonight at 6:30 pm as we gather as a community to pray Hound Nation into the best year yet!<br />
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I am so <b>THANKFUL</b> to be rearing the Kirby Kids in a town that has woven so deep into its fabric a love for God and love for neighbor.<br />
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#BeCourageOuS<br />
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<br />MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS 30.4113097 -88.827805730.301749700000002 -88.9891672 30.5208697 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-61041833028256687622016-03-14T09:53:00.004-05:002016-03-14T13:03:07.541-05:00Happy “π”-Mazing Birthday, "Baby" Duke <div style="color: #333333; font-family: freight-sans-pro, Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 18px; line-height: 24px; margin-bottom: 10px;">
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Happy Pi Day to all the<br />
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math nerds,<br />
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pie lovers <br />
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and keepers of the irrational and transcendent.<br />
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Today also marks the 13th birthday of our "Baby" Duke! It is a mind blowing reality to fathom we now have four Kirby teenagers: 19, 16, 14, and 13. </div>
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Where did the time go? </div>
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"Baby" Duke is most definitely PI-Mazing! Perhaps I'm a tad bit biased, but my love for him borders on the irrational. The absurd. The Transcendent.</div>
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In so many ways he has been given... let's just call them: "exceptions." I've heard of this concept from old timers that their "baby" is often treated like a grand child. </div>
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Guilty as charged.</div>
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I feel sure the older Kirby kids would testify to this "unfair" reality. We've loosened a whole host of Kirby House Rules for this kid. Silly things like: Sodas as a little person. And more TV time. Extra "help" with keeping his things in order. The older siblings are obviously the first to point out: "You would have never allowed US to do that. It's just NOT FAIR." Perhaps they are suffering from Older Son syndrome: See Luke 15:11-32. </div>
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Or perhaps it is "not fair." </div>
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I could make all kinds of excuses, but I won't. There's just something about that baby...With his intoxicating spunk for life, his "fresh" style, enchantment with the outdoors, fierce love of family, willingness to snuggle on the couch and watch "girl-y" shows with his mama, and Lord help me: he is the cutest thing ever! </div>
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I simply can't help myself. </div>
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And throughout the years, Duke's teachers couldn't help themselves either. I won't call any names, but year after year I get the same phone call: "Good evening, Ms. Kirby. I'm having a little trouble with Duke. Wiggly. Talking too much. He is just all boy. A bundle of energy. He cracks me up, but it's a bit disruptive to the class." </div>
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I apologize, say we will talk to him about this. Say I'm sorry if this has been disrespectful to you in any way. We will take care of it... </div>
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"Oh, no. He is the sweetest, cutest thing ever. I barely can tell him no! It's really not that big of a deal..." </div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDTpXYlhGYdPb4RaVIl5CPq9Kk95o3tl72KV6O7OKCFGv1Ceu7LV4K5ObYJvJvUXiw6URtxcJWd5JwuBqPu5gpVhdR1m1Chqa3m8HDwNK7dQVk_hkJVOrUJIZ7XQSy8ol5zgQ211VyDuB/s1600/541530_10152746998020541_1621953098_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="199" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhFDTpXYlhGYdPb4RaVIl5CPq9Kk95o3tl72KV6O7OKCFGv1Ceu7LV4K5ObYJvJvUXiw6URtxcJWd5JwuBqPu5gpVhdR1m1Chqa3m8HDwNK7dQVk_hkJVOrUJIZ7XQSy8ol5zgQ211VyDuB/s200/541530_10152746998020541_1621953098_n.jpg" width="200" /></a>Weeks later I learn things like: Duke is allowed to stand during math class. Just because he can't sit still. What?! </div>
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Duke is allowed to draw during reading time. Why?!</div>
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And, so, perhaps on a simple level you can see why or how a Mama Bear might give "exception" when a little Baby Bear is breaking minor Kirby House Rules.</div>
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But these exceptions for this exceptional kid are also tempered with the excruciating reality that Duke's story is exceptionally difficult. </div>
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7 years old is just too little to bury your big brother. </div>
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12 years old is too young to be told your "DeDe" took her life. </div>
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Permanently etched in my memory were his words through sobs and groans too deep to comprehend: "No! No! No! Not MY DeDe." </div>
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Duke has grown up too fast. Come face to face with gut wrenching questions that a tiny mind should not be forced to grapple with.</div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Like last year, when Duke wrestled with whether or not he was ready to be confirmed. He told his mentor, and our dear family friend, he just didn't know if he could "trust God." And if he didn't trust God maybe he should not take the confirmation vows. His mentor felt that this was EXACTLY the kind of thing that would suggest he is ready to be confirmed: Acknowledging we all bring our doubts, fears, and lack of faith to the altar. </span></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">You can read more about that here ---> </span><i><span style="background-color: cyan;"><a href="http://www.7piecepuzzle.com/2015/04/theodicy-its-elementary-my-dear.html" target="_blank">Theodicy, It's Elementary My Dear.</a></span></i></div>
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<span style="color: #333333;">Fast forward about a year later, and there's a much different picture. A few weeks ago at the Mississippi Annual Conference Youth Event, "The Gathering"</span> <a href="http://www.theechogroup.com/stuart-hall/" target="_blank"><i><span style="color: black;"><span style="background-color: cyan;">Stuart Hall</span></span></i></a><span style="background-color: cyan;"><i>,</i> </span>gifted com<span style="color: #333333;">municator, poised the question: "Are you ready to give your life over to God?" Duke and a band of brothers accepted the challenge and stood up. </span></div>
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I gathered our little chicks out in the foyer and we prayed with them and begin to process the feelings and thoughts that led them to make a stand. As we went around the circle these tiny men and sweet young lady shared. When it was Duke's turned, through tears he commented: "I think I can trust God...again." Eureka! </div>
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Not only is Duke my baby, but more importantly he is God's "baby." And the irrational, "baby" love I have for him is no match for the eternal, transcendent, lay your life down, kind of crazy love that Christ has for not just Duke, but all people, everywhere. Truly PI-Mazing!</div>
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It's that kind of PI-Mazing Love I hope to shower on "baby" Duke today! His 13th birthday! And every day we are gifted with his spunky fun self! </div>
MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS, 30.4113097 -88.827805730.301749700000002 -88.9891672 30.5208697 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-60103854010204887052016-03-06T00:00:00.002-06:002016-03-06T20:39:00.622-06:00You are Beautiful on the Inside and Out. I am Proud of You. I Love You."<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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My intention for this evening was to attend the OSMS Spring Pageant. To do the Youth Pastor thing and support my lil chicas as they paraded across the stage. To cheer them on, hug the anxious mamas, and soak in the beauty of the moment. To snap pictures with each one and whisper in their ear, "You are beautiful on the inside and out. I am proud of you. I love you."<br />
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However a blanket of sadness wrapped so tightly around me that eventually all I could do was pull the covers over my head, curl up in the safety of my bed, and attempt to sleep it off.<br />
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The pageant weekend will forever mark the final hours I would keep company with my Mom. She had come down to stay with me and help ready Chloe girl to walk out on that stage one last time. If I had only known...Famous last words.<br />
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It's hard to conjure up much from those final moments. She had a long and busy week at the office. She raced into town Saturday afternoon just in time. Road over to Long Beach with us so my cousin, Suzie, could doll up Chloe's hair. I can't remember much of the drive. I remember her wanting a Diet Sprite. I left the salon and drove over to the Dollar General and got her one. I do recall her wanting to take the beach on the way back. So we did. She was ever so fond of the coast. Often talked about moving back home. Buying a house by the water. Spending more time with her grands.<br />
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I recall she hovered around the vanity as I went to work on Chloe's make up. Making suggestions: "More mascara. More blush. Brighter lipstick." I remember we could barely get Chloe's dress zipped. It took both of us to squeeze her tiny little body into a tiny little dress with a great big cupcake bottom that had been taken up a tiny bit too much.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYM7mJj8gX57LFamwRDX7o2YvDUVCZRpV9t-JPXqtvGHJiBu_VTGJIIKbSZtRos9FWNQNoZSciUck17PSuwK_ezhkn_rAEjGG9uM07XyBfNfchfC-ZuU6-WHno3fzIFXQiubhAq9SfZ4G/s1600/IMG_8865.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgUYM7mJj8gX57LFamwRDX7o2YvDUVCZRpV9t-JPXqtvGHJiBu_VTGJIIKbSZtRos9FWNQNoZSciUck17PSuwK_ezhkn_rAEjGG9uM07XyBfNfchfC-ZuU6-WHno3fzIFXQiubhAq9SfZ4G/s200/IMG_8865.JPG" width="157" /></a>Of course Mom was the one that remembered flowers. As I left with Chloe and her dress stuffed into the back seat of my SUV, she ran to Winn Dixie and returned with a beautiful bouquet of love to communicate to our little darling: "You are beautiful on the inside and out. We are proud of you. And we love you so very much." That was Mom's signature line: "I love you so very much." I've heard it a thousand times and would give the world and every thing in it just to hear those words one last time.<br />
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We were overwhelmed with love and pride watching Chloe glide across the stage. She had an angelic glow and we giggled with pure joy at how beautiful she looked. People sitting around us unaware that she was ours, kept saying: "That little one in white is going to win it!" We would just look at each other and laugh.<br />
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As the "winners" were crowned I held Mom's hand. 4th Runner up. 3rd Runner up. 2nd Runner up. And finally! "Number 12. Chloe Kirby, 1st Runner Up!" We jumped up and clapped wildly. Then came the flood of pictures. Congratulatory hugs and kisses. And managing to get her out of the white dressed while stuffed in a tiny restroom backstage.<br />
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We then shared our final meal together. The Last Supper. Chips and salsa, "white dip" as Bre calls it, and my Mom got something "different" than she normally gets. I can't recall what it was, a chicken dish, but she barely ate any of it. Mom was antsy. It was late. She was ready to leave right when we sat down. Little did I know what was really going on: Mom was just ready to go home.<br />
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And that was the cold, steely reality that pierced through my heart and pinned me to my bed this evening. I miss her desperately, and my only solace is she is finally home.<br />
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I really do wish I could have been there to congratulate Lizzy, Bailey, Alexis, Jenna, Jane Alice, Maura Kay and the entire parade of beauties that graced the stage. I would have told you: "You are beautiful on the inside and out. I am proud of you. I love you."<br />
<br />MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS30.4113097 -88.827805730.301749700000002 -88.9891672 30.5208697 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-28721373110569773642015-10-07T16:56:00.003-05:002016-03-14T13:40:54.991-05:00The Gift of The Present <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I almost wasn't present for the gift of today. Last night the ghost of an idea percolated into my imagination: To retreat. Run away, really, to hide from today. My late night lucid plan was to wake up, call the <a href="http://stbernardabbey.com/" target="_blank">St. Bernard Abbey</a> in Cullman, Alabama. Pray they had some visitor vacancies. Pack a small bag. Hope my husband and kids were ok with my unanticipated 3 day absence. And make the 5 hour and 18 minute pilgrimage while spending 4 of those hours explaining and re-explaining to my sister that I really am ok.<br />
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I was hoping for relief. My thought was maybe getting away, clearing my head, being surrounded by prayer, and quiet, and the monkish life could lift this black fog that had gathered all around, in and through me. Why St. Bernard? Swiped the idea from <a href="https://twitter.com/rachelheldevans?ref_src=twsrc%5Egoogle%7Ctwcamp%5Eserp%7Ctwgr%5Eauthor" target="_blank">@RachelHeldEvans</a>' book, <u>Searching for Sunday</u>. St. Bernard is where RHE ventured when she was searching for something. (side note) RHE's latest masterpiece provided much fodder for a recent sermon on the Kingdom of God. And RiffRaff. And God's great big table. Big enough for even the riffy-est of the riffraff (me). Listen here---> <a href="http://stpaulos.sermon.net/main/main/20497586" target="_blank">"Do This. Remember Me."</a> And so, maybe, a similar trip could provide me with something...Or at least get the heavy blackness off my chest. <br />
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As the sun broke through my blackened sky, reality set in. I had family and friends that had made plans to celebrate with me. My children needed their taxi service to usher them from one extra curricular to the next. 9 weeks tests are tomorrow and there is a Science test Duke really needs to ace. Beyond all the "shoulds" and the "needs" the truth of the matter: I really desired to face today, but was just too afraid. Didn't feel like wrestling with the heartache. Weary from the struggle and constant ache in my soul.<br />
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I was facing the brutal knowledge that I wouldn't receive the very first call I have gotten for as far back as I can remember. The one where Mom retells me the story of my birth. I always laughed her off and said, "Mom, I know this story. I've heard it a billion times." And, yet, with cruel irony the details are now foggy. I wish I could have heard her tell it this day. How intently I would have listened. I would not have missed one word of the tale. Insisted on all the details she could muster up. And even taken notes. What I do remember went something like...Lots of pain. Crazy pain. Something about a false alarm trip to Memorial. A trip to Burger King (I think...fast food for sure). Back home. Throwing up. But not my Mom. My Dad and his "weak stomach" I inherited. More pain. Back to the hospital. And before she knew it a bright eyed, first born child with lots of black hair burst into the world an old soul. "You were born grown," she would say.<br />
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The fear of enduring today and the deep pain of her absence almost drove me searching for a St. Bernard escape. Not that there would have been anything wrong with that--we all need Retreat. Rewiring. Reframing. But...I would have missed out on so many, many gifts. Gifts only received if you are willing to live into The Present in all its glorious splendor mixed with, yes, heartache and pain. A life cocktail!<br />
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I would have missed out on:<br />
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My darling husband heading to the store for<i> (gross alert)</i> tampons and hairspray and returning with other thoughtful birthday treats. (You know your guy must love you if he's willing to cash in his man card like that).<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JSGNm-3-3Xm0LUnrCd839LfaVukmVetvyCZhO-qx6LZ9sU3fomE65Dd49zDj9iuFMYEVtaP-RrSC_rfY_OZik_-ce6OtnOACPWsgSWTkWXKQNjR1dU3-JBeR5Vh7lzA3gV2Gnqd-8OEr/s1600/FullSizeRender-13.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8JSGNm-3-3Xm0LUnrCd839LfaVukmVetvyCZhO-qx6LZ9sU3fomE65Dd49zDj9iuFMYEVtaP-RrSC_rfY_OZik_-ce6OtnOACPWsgSWTkWXKQNjR1dU3-JBeR5Vh7lzA3gV2Gnqd-8OEr/s320/FullSizeRender-13.jpg" width="320" /></a>My sweet Mosie being the first person to wish me, "Happy Birthday" with a lovely text (<i>and a few alien faces due to a lack of updating on my part. Wonder what those are?</i>)<br />
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And then hours later...BAM! A follow up text:<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqM9TKoB1zz2RThTc5Ej9UKyrzndubSKJghZSnIDkNm_JhJJ9qqRF5f-tPwB_7kJfBE3NrYIJ1Am2xuDYTG_5I9Yt6FivsiM1Ocb6VS3atPWDQm8PN7TixD7FijjRPgixLAK21_m_VVkK/s1600/FullSizeRender-12.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="248" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxqM9TKoB1zz2RThTc5Ej9UKyrzndubSKJghZSnIDkNm_JhJJ9qqRF5f-tPwB_7kJfBE3NrYIJ1Am2xuDYTG_5I9Yt6FivsiM1Ocb6VS3atPWDQm8PN7TixD7FijjRPgixLAK21_m_VVkK/s320/FullSizeRender-12.jpg" width="320" /></a><br />
Another text from not so "Little" Eddie with a BIG 101 on a test. The highest grade in the class! Sweet! Congrats to him! Happy Birthday to ME!<br />
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Hugs and kisses from my darling babies: Chloe and Duke.<br />
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A trip to a brand new (to me) salon I didn't know existed compliments of "Sherry" Graves the winner of a basketful of goodies including a gift certificate to Cutting Edge and a trip to Belize! UnBelizable, Brat! <br />
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A sweet card in the mail from my precious Aunt Cherry & Aunt Tommie that provided the juice for a a rare treat trip to Lee Tracy. (Turns out the birthday shirt I picked out was identical to the one fashionista, Amy C. , chose for Marty's birthday.)<br />
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A beautiful birthday lunch with precious friends and my darling sis. Complete with a toast to "Sunshine" and "Hope" and an amazing made from scratch cake, by the Cake Bos, Kim "the intern." What a gift! She preaches like a pro AND can bake? SAY WHAT? What can't Kim Bos do?<br />
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More Cards. Calls. Texts. Facebook LOVE than a girl can stand. Of course my favorite...<br />
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He sure is a charmer. I'm one lucky girl.<br />
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And now I'm sitting here. Soaking in the gift of today. Turning away the Jehovah Witness "Elder" that won't stop knocking on my door. Peering through my blinds. Watching me type this very second...And I'm not answering the door. I just don't feel like getting into it. I don't feel like explaining: Yes, I do believe. In fact, I know you can't believe this, but I'm a pastor. And it also happens to be my birthday. And I don't want to get into a huge Christological debate with you over the divinity of Christ. I know what you believe. And what I believe is Jesus wasn't just a role model, but Christ is<b><i> actually</i></b> God in skin. And Jesus humbled himself, taking on our infirmities, and steps down into our world. Laughing with us. Crying with us. And is the High Priest that knows my heartache, because he experienced heartache first hand. And it is THIS God that made a way for me today when I just didn't see a way.<br />
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And instead of fruitlessly arguing with you, Elder Such and So, I'm going to make myself a cup of coffee and flip through the magazine that was in my early morning birthday bundle compliments of my hubby. I'm going to soak in this fleeting quiet moment while waiting to run the after school pickup circuit, grab dinner for the Kirby kids, head to a can't miss church meeting, and finally make it over the bay for a late night, first time, reservation at Felix's with My Love.<br />
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Thanking God I'm here. And drinking in deeply all the marvelous gifts of The Present. I pray, even if you are facing a dark night of the soul, you can muster up the courage to raise your glass to life, too! #cheersMJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS, USA30.4113097 -88.827805730.301749700000002 -88.9891672 30.5208697 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-69609091828938637562015-08-24T09:57:00.002-05:002016-03-14T13:41:08.517-05:00I Hope You Have the Time of Your Life <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Anyone that knows my mom even remotely well has fallen victim to this look. It's classic Debbie. Apparently, it's becoming classic MJ. My sister snapped this picture of me at my little cousin, Meghan's, wedding. A beautiful celebration on Beauvoir's front porch that mom and I had chatted about, texted about, debated how to best decorate, yet, were looking forward to helping orchestrate all the same. Mom was there in spirit, but gravely absent in the body. She's been absent from a lot lately, and there's no words to describe the gut check, hole in our family, and deep ache in my heart.<br />
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<i>And I wish more than anything, I could just turn back the clock.</i><br />
<i> </i><br />
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Turn it back to the last weekend she was with me. She had come in town to cheer on Chloe at the OSMS pageant. We had a great time getting Chloe all dolled up. But by the end of the evening, I was exhausted from the whirlwind of getting lil Miss Thang ready. I had Sunday morning and all my responsibilities staring at me. So when mom suggested, "Hey, you want to go get some appetizers. Just you and I?" I blew her off.<br />
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"I'm too tired, mom. I gotta be up so early."<br />
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If I had only known that would have been our Last Supper together, I would have gone come hell or high-water.<br />
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Time is a funny thing. It is our greatest commodity.<br />
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One that can never be replenished, yet we spend it like we have an endless supply, and we waste it on the frivolous, stupid stuff. Like, the 7 hour a day average screen time. You can read more about that in a previous post here ---><a href="http://www.7piecepuzzle.com/2015/05/5-life-hacks-that-will-have-you-doing.html" target="_blank">"Life Hacks that will have you Doing Life Better"</a><br />
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Or worry.<br />
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Or spinning our wheels on things that won't matter in 10 years.<br />
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Or one year.<br />
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Or tomorrow.<br />
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Or feeling too fat to put on a swim suit and jump in the pool of life with your kids.<br />
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Until you wake up one morning and realize all your time is gone, or all your time with your child is gone. I know about loss of time. I lost my son. I will never be able to get that time back. Jeremy would just be starting his senior year. My time with him was snatched away. I'm not unique. We are all in the process of "losing" our children if you think about it.<br />
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They won't always be a preschooler.<br />
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3rd grader.<br />
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9th grader.<br />
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Suddenly in a blink of an eye they are all grown up...Of course that's what the goal of parenting is after all. We want to rear them to be moral, responsible, productive community members. Yet, I can tell you first hand it stings when your child says, "Ummm. No you and dad are not going to help me move in. Parents only help freshmen and girls. You are not going with me." And then you watch your child load up their SUV and drive away for their sophomore year of college.<br />
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And you wonder where all the time has gone...<br />
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I don't want to live like that. I want to <b>know</b> where my time has gone.<br />
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On sharing greasy pizza.<br />
Crack of dawn cross country meets.<br />
Netflix family movie marathons.<br />
Hiking in Gatlinburg.<br />
Friday Night Lights.<br />
Runs. Swims. Bikes.<br />
Building sand castles in Orange Beach.<br />
Homemade Meals around our table.<br />
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I want to spend my life in such a manner that at the end of my days, I will feel as if I've heeded the Psalmist's plea: "Lord, remind me how brief my time on earth will be. Remind me that my days are numbered--how fleeting my life is." Psalm 39:4<br />
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I want to live like I believe.<br />
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How we choose (and ultimately it is your choice) to use the time we've been gifted with<b> DOES </b>matter. You can listen to a message I offered about TIME in relationship to parenting here---><a href="http://stpaulos.sermon.net/main/main/20466012" target="_blank">"Losing Your Marbles" by Rev. MJ Kirby</a> <b>WARNING! </b>The beginning is rough. I had just returned from a 6 week hiatus, leading Beach Worship, and it took me a bit to get reoriented into "church" space. It's quite comical, yet many people have told me, "It really made me think." I've ran into people around town that keep saying, "This is not like me, but I shared your sermon with friends that needed to hear it." So, I guess I can just get over my uncomfortableness about the manic, disoriented nature of the beginning.<br />
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The idea behind the message is not original. I lifted the concept from <a href="https://twitter.com/reggiejoiner" target="_blank">Reggie Joiner</a>, founder of <a href="http://thinkorange.com/" target="_blank">Orange</a>, over at the <a href="http://theparentcue.com/" target="_blank">The Parent Cue</a>. His book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Parenting-Beyond-Your-Capacity-Community/dp/1434764818" target="_blank">Parenting Beyond Your Capacity</a>, provided much fodder for the message.<br />
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Ain't nobody got "time" for that. Ok, fine. Basically the gist is this...Time is finite. You only have so much of it. When your child is born you only have 936 weeks with them until they are an adult to make a lasting impact.<br />
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Is your child 3? You have 780 weeks left.<br />
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6? 624 weeks left.<br />
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12? 312 weeks left.<br />
15? 208 weeks left.<br />
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17? 52 weeks left. Ouch...<br />
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Time matters.<br />
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So the question becomes...What are YOU doing to make the most of the time you have been gifted? </div>
MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS30.4113097 -88.827805730.301749700000002 -88.9891672 30.5208697 -88.6664442tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4667348587216531052.post-58639886138393544462015-05-02T13:16:00.002-05:002016-03-14T13:41:16.724-05:005 Life Hacks That Will Have You Doing Life Better <div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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I think sometimes (most times) we make this 24 hour earth axis revolution much more difficult than it actually has to be. Our day to day spinning warps into a hyper speed, Americano blur that imitates the twisted tale of our day, "Busy = successful."<br />
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<b>We clock too many work hours. </b><br />
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<b>Spend too much of our "free" time staring at screens.</b> Do yourself a favor and log the number of hours you spend on your phone, tablet, iPad, Mac, or TV. If you are like the average American, I hope you are sickened by the data you collect: <b>"In the United States, people spend an average of 444 minutes every day looking at screens." </b>Do the math that's a whopping 7.4 hours of your life.<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://bgr.com/2014/05/29/smartphone-computer-usage-study-chart/" style="background-color: cyan;" target="_blank"><b>Horrifying Chart Reveals How Much Time We Spend Staring at Screens.</b></a> <a href="http://bgr.com/author/zach-epstein/" target="_blank">Zach Epstein</a> </span><br />
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<b>We don't invest enough of our day to day life in communal table time</b>-- "Sadly, Americans rarely eat together anymore. In fact, the average American eats one in every five meals in her car, one in four Americans eat at least one fast food meal every single day, and the majority of American families report eating a single meal together less than five days a week. It's a pity that so many Americans are missing out on what could be meaningful time with their loved ones, but it it's more than that. Not eating together also has a quantifiably negative effects both physically and psychologically."<br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/the-importance-of-eating-together/374256/" style="background-color: cyan; font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">The Importance of Eating Together: Family dinners build relationships, and help kid do better in scho</a><span style="background-color: cyan;"><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/the-importance-of-eating-together/374256/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">ol</a><a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/health/archive/2014/07/the-importance-of-eating-together/374256/" style="font-weight: bold;" target="_blank">. </a></span><span style="background-color: white;"> </span><a href="http://delistraty.com/" style="background-color: white;" target="_blank">Cody C. Delistraty</a></span>
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We don't breathe in this sacred breath of a life we've been given enough.<br />
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<b>When is the last time you ventured into the great outdoors? Stopped by the library? Or enjoyed a scoop of your favorite ice-cream just because?</b>
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If you begin to analyze your life. Do the brutal, soul searching (painful I might add) inward looking. The really sleuthful examination that requires honest self reflection...You might not like what you discover. You might find worn in patterns of life draining moments, those spots in your day that suck the very life out of you. For most of us these shadowy patterns will percolate quickly to our awareness...<br />
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Life stealing, familiar habits we circle back to again and again that we can't seem to shake.<br />
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Skewed ways of thinking that tarnish the lens we view life through. <br />
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Negative voices, be it external or internal, that keep us from living freely.<br />
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The wrong sacrifices we've made along the way.<br />
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The lack of attention to those people and things that need attending.<br />
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Trading money making for time, when we know time is the commodity that we can't replenish.<br />
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And then, there are those that inspire us. That seem to rise above the suburbia white noise and emerge as life champions. Those lucky ones that are born with life hack genes, or perhaps they have developed highly acute life hack skills over the long Road of Experience. <i>(Is it nature, nurture or a combo of both that create these inspirational people?)</i><br />
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They come from all walks of life. Sometimes it just the dad next door that has his act together. A high school student with an extraordinary passion for helping others.<br />
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Or the 31 year old, NYC journalist that traded in her Big Apple Dream for Crystal Clear Caribbean Clarity. Meet Yale Grad,<a href="https://www.facebook.com/noellehancock?fref=browse_search" target="_blank"> <span style="background-color: white; color: blue;">Noelle Hancock</span></a>, a successful writer that gave up her $95,000 a year career for scooping ice cream in the Caribbean. You can read about her surf and sand adventures here---><br />
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<span style="color: blue;"><b style="background-color: cyan;"><a href="http://pulptastic.com/new-york-journalist-gives-95000-job-scoop-ice-cream-tropical-island/" target="_blank">New York Journalist Gives Up $95,000 Job to Scoop Ice Cream On a Tropical Island </a></b></span>
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Of course, there is not a perfect formula that creates these inspirational people, but there are certainly some common threads that run through the lives of those that inspire.<br />
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My mom, Debbie Sinopoli Regan, possessed these sought after, yet eulsive, attributes that transform a regular person into an (extra)ordinary, everyday Life Hack Super Hero of sorts. Not the 355K shares Superstar who goes Viral Nation, but the kind of unsung heroes that are real and present and giving back in each of our everyday lives. </div>
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The ones that we come in contact with in our daily hustle and grind.<br />
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If we slowed down jut a bit.<br />
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Broke bread around the table more.<br />
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Or lifted our heads up from the Almighty Screen.<br />
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We just might notice these remarkable souls and be inspired to <b>Do Life Better </b>ourselves.<br />
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Adam Watkins, dear friend and colleague of my mom, recognized these effervescent, "lots of flash and a little sass" qualities embodied in "Debbie." Adam compiled a "<b><i>What Debbie Taught Me</i></b>" list and shared it at the beautiful Memorial Celebration held by the Hattiesburg Area Realtors in my mom's honor at St. Thomas Aquinas a month to the day after we tragically lost her. These <b>Debbie Life Hacks</b> are worthy of sharing and imitating.</div>
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<b>Five Life Hacks that will leave you Doing Life Better</b><br />
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1. Be a giver.<br />
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2. Be an encourager.<br />
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3. Be selfless.<br />
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4. Be present.<br />
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5. Be courageous.<br />
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Maybe packing up and relocating to The Caribbean is not the thing for you. How about getting your toes in the sand. Sharing a double scoop of ice cream with a little one. Or inviting your widowed next door neighbor to gather around your family's table this evening.<br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“Miss no single opportunity of making some small sacrifice, here by a smiling look, there by a kindly word; always doing the smallest right and doing it all for love.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; font-family: "georgia" , "times new roman" , serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/248952.Th_r_se_de_Lisieux" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">Thérèse de Lisieux</a>, "The Little Way."</div>
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MJ Kirbyhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07390058978535018359noreply@blogger.com0Ocean Springs, MS30.4113097 -88.827805730.301749700000002 -88.9891672 30.5208697 -88.6664442