Who Are The People in Your Neighborhood?

Hallowe'en. It's considered a bad, evil day but I think that the children have redeemed this pagan holiday, or perhaps the better word is reclaimed it.

I love the excitement of my kids, and I think my youngest, the just-turned-five year old truly encapsulates what is means to be completely excited about Hallowe'en. All 3 of them have been excited all day but it shines most brightly in her.

I hate to admit this but Hallowe'en is perhaps the only time I really get to visit with most of my neighbors, and afterwards I have such a smile on my face as I realize what wonderful people they are and how I really should get to know them more. Some of them truly love my kids.

The evening:

We decided to postpone out going out for two reasons: The first is because most houses were dark on our street until 7, and also because our fence neighbor, Andrew was at a party and my kids just HAD to trick-or-treat with Andrew! So we waited. My middle child had a bit of a melt down so it gave him time for a time out and an opportunity to calm down. Then I got The Text: My neighbor informing me that they were ready to commence the art of trick or treating! We hurriedly traipse over to their home, and begin.... ringing doorbells down their street, then ours. It was oddly silent on our street. It's so odd because literally one block away there are SWARMS of trick-or-treaters but on our street it's traditionally silent. So the houses we did knock on doors to where extra happy to see my 3 kids, plus their 2 buddies.

We get to the corner house where a really wonderful older couple live. We've chatted previously and they were looking forward to my kids' visit. They handed them several pieces of candy and then handed us 3 boxes of a kids assortment of See's candy. Wow... what wonderful neighbors! They explained it was special for the kids they know. (there are relatively few kids on my street)

Next, we cross the street. Katie is chanting "Yum, yum, yum!" the whole way up the pathway. Someone asks what she is and she replies that she's Katie. (she's dressed as a butterfly) So happy and trusting, she is racing from house to house, just thrilled with this concept of saying hello to people and asking for candy. (She loves candy, BTW) My boys are also happily skipping from house to house.

At one house, the house owner wants to take a picture of the kids. I smile; I love this! (yes, I know them!) My kids happily oblige and we move onto to the next candy, I mean, house. Now we turn onto the "happening" street; this street really enjoys celebrating Hallowe'en! There are several "scary haunted" entryways. My kids are all fearless and, lured by candy, happily brave the unknown.

At one house, the elderly homeowner, is sitting in a chair on her immaculate patio, perfectly and tastefully decorated for the fall season, and she's has a little table and a tub of candy. She's joyfully interacting with the kids, giving out candy and obviously enjoying this time of community. I wonder if she's lonely; I wonder if she'd love my kids to visit more often.

We traipse on. Again, Katie just can't get enough. We have now joined "the swarm". There must be 30 kids all together now, hard to keep track of the kids but we manage. We live just 3 blocks from the elementary school, so many of these kids we know. My oldest is saying hi to his classmates. I see and say hello to lots of parents, including one that is a teacher at the school. It seems to joyful; so fun being with each other. We're only 2 blocks from home but already my kid's treat bags are bulging and they are anxious to eat some candy. My middle one starts making noises about going home; he's tired and his bag is heavy. The other 2 are still anxious to continue but we know that they have more than enough candy hidden in their bags! So we begin the journey home, continuing to trick or treat as we go.

So, as I type this we've been home maybe a total of 30 minutes. It was a quick 1 hour jaunt in roughly a few blocks, but boy was the payoff big! Way too much candy! And very happy, excited and sugary kids! I pity their Sunday School leaders tomorrow!

We've had a total of 7 visitors since typing this up. (3 groups) Katie is just as excited to give out the candy as she was to receive; she's more generous than I'd be..... giving them as much candy as her small fists allow. She says thank you to them. They think she's the cutest Monarch Butterfly they've ever seen. A trio of fourth grade girls come to the door. They are Conor's classmates and say hello to him. He nonchalantly says hello but I can see he's happy they've knocked on our door. Like I said, we don't get many trick- or-treaters on our street! Each time Katie gives them fistfuls of candy. I wonder if she's adhering to the "Do unto others as you've have them do unto you" principe. Regardless, I love seeing her excitement in giving and her generosity; especially knowing her affinity for candy. She's even sharing with her daddy and brothers.

We were invited to go out to another's neighborhood to trick-or-treat but I'm so happy that we decided to stay in our own community. I loved the interaction with neighbors. I loved being with my husband as he greeted the other dads that he sees rarely yet enjoys. I do hope that this leads to opportunities of more sharing. It's exciting and just feels so fulfilling. I've not eaten any candy yet and even I feel that I am on a "sugar high".

Who knew this holiday would instill such an excitement for community in me? How about you? What was your Hallowe'en like?

Oh, and who else is now singing the classic Sesame Street song?

"Oh, who are the people in your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood?
In your neighborhood?
Say, who are the people in your neighborhood?
The people that you meet each day

Oh, the postman always brings the mail
Through rain or snow or sleet or hail
I'll work and work the whole day through
To get your letters safe to you

'Cause a postman is a person in your neighborhood
In your neighborhood
He's in your neighborhood
A postman is a person in your neighborhood
A person that you meet each day"

Need I go on?

Memorable

I love U2. This is probably obvious to most of my friends. I've loved U2 since I was in jr. high and high school. I joined Amnesty International. I was pretty oblivious to current events and U2 introduced me to a taste of politics and the world; prior to U2 I'd no idea what apartheid was. I was pretty clueless about most things.

U2 is a most unique band. A friend of mine says he stopped listening after Unforgettable Fire. Even though the band has changed their sound several times, I have embraced it each time. I loved the complexity and poetry of their songs; they make me think. I still don't definitively know what some mean and there are several different interpretations to some. It doesn't matter.

At my Thursday BIble study my friend recommended we memorize Philippians 3:10. I want to memorize a bit before that, as I don't like incomplete thoughts. I'm finding it not nearly as easy to memorize today as I did when I was in jr. high and high school. interestingly, the things I memorized in jr. high and high school I still have memorized. I learned a code then. I still know it. Various Bible verses and chapters: Still can recite them. Which brings us back to U2. At prayer it was mentioned I know all the U2 lyrics. I suppose I attribute much of that to the time of jr. high and high school. It was so effortless then to memorize! I'm not sure if it was because I was constantly memorizing then, not just for church but for drama, and english, and band. Perhaps it was just easier to memorize then because I was memorizing all the time!

In addition to U2's lyrics, I think I know all of Steve Taylor's lyrics as well. I remember hearing him when I was in jr. high.... buying his I Want To Be A Clone tape. listening to it constantly with my friends. I did not understand what it was addressing. I did not get much of his sarcasm. It wasn't until much later that I even started understanding the concepts that he addressed in his songs. Yet even before I understood them, I had them completely memorized. I can't get the lyrics out of my head even today.

It's so funny how so many things fade in time; I can't tell you all the information to the places I lived in the past 10 years. I can't tell you much about the past 10 years; it's all a fast moving whirlwind. Yet, for some reason, I can recall so much about my jr. high and high school years, in vivid detail. Every retreat, the songs we listened to, the times the van broke down, certain songs i can still sing in spanish from the Mission To Mexico trips I went on.

Why is it so different today?

Yes, I now have memorized nearly ever word to U2's album that came out last year. I still can memorize things. I pick up words and phrases and remember much of what I read. (thought at times I can't recall which book it came from or who said it) But the everyday life, the things my kids say or do, it's so easy for me to just dismiss that as the day to day things and not remember.

Oh, I still remember much and realize that I do when memories are triggered. I suppose it's because instead of looking to the past I'm constantly present with my kids, forming new memories. Engaging in new discussions.

I Love U2

U2

I have mixed feelings about today. I will miss my church. I feel like I've not been there in 2 weeks, since we walked in the AIDS walk last week for "church".

I miss my friends. I miss the message. I miss the opportunity to gather.

But I'm going to what my friend refers to as the Church of U2. I'm excited. I have high expectations. Its' been over 10 years since I've seen them in concert and I'm excited!

So, have a wonderful Sunday. I have no doubt that I will.

Put Me In the Zoo

I'm a very strange person. I remember much. This is good in many ways and yet not so wonderful in many ways too. For instance it's good because I have memorized a lot of Bible verses. It's bad because I tend to hold onto grudges and remember critical words people say for a long time. Too long.

Not only have I memorized Scripture but I have also memorized various quotes, and my favorites seem to be from children's literature. The most amusing quotes have come from Dr. Seuss or his publishing company. I also love to surprise folks by spontaneously quoting The Grinch That Stole Christmas. (Have you really stopped to think about that book? I'll discuss it in December)

Lately lots of things in life have me quoting classic children's literature of my childhood. I'm sure this is partly because I have kids but the reality is that David is usually the one that reads to our kids. Still, things remind me of books these days.

I've also been thinking about gifts, talents, and serving. A few weeks ago I posted about volunteering and how wonderful it is when one is volunteering in an area that one is excited about or gifted in. A friend of mine pointed out that she isn't so passionate about the area she volunteers in but it was a need so she stepped up. The interesting thing is that she is so incredibly gifted at it! I can't fathom her not being passionate in the area of ministry she is so obviously gifted in.

I'm not sure what I'm gifted in, but I keep coming up with the words "Put Me in the Zoo!". I want to be a part of structured volunteering and from what I have observed it is a type of zoo mentality. For some reason, I expect perfect but there's no perfect.

For those not aware of the story of Put Me in the Zoo, basically there's this strange animal character with spots who meets 2 children and is convincing them he deserves to be put in the zoo. He begins to show them all the cool tricks he can do with his spots: Juggling, making them tiny spots, a large spot, different color spots... He thinks that with all the things that he can do they should put him in the zoo, but at the end of the book the kids point out that the zoo, the place he thought was the best place for him wasn't ideal; and instead they point him towards the circus,a and he heartily agrees: The circus is the place for me!

I wonder at times if I spend my time trying to get into areas of volunteering that aren't quite suited for me. Sometimes I do think "Put me in the zoo!" I wonder if they really know "all the things that I can do!". I know I"m not a leader or teacher. I'm not outgoing..... but I still think there are things I have to offer.

I could be wrong. Maybe I don't belong in the zoo. Maybe I too would be better off joining the circus.

Theologically Correct?

I had an interesting (online) conversation today with a friend. He had an interesting tweet and I wanted to know what he was saying. He replied but his tweet did not make much sense. He then jumped on FB to explain it more fully to me.

Theologically I did not quite agree with my friend and wrote out in more detail my belief; prefacing it with I hold a more "Reformed" viewpoint. I do that because I am aware that there are many differing viewpoints.

When I explained my point of view further, it seemed we were mostly on the same page, but he mentioned that he's not one to get into the nitty gritty of his beliefs; he just wants to love God, read scripture, ask God to reveal Himself and then obey. He was quite gracious about.

And yet... (those two words!) I am feeling a bit defeated these days. I find it odd that a person like me is surrounded by many that don't want to ponder these things. That don't want to learn about Christian history. That don't see the value in gleaning from various great authors and preachers. There is a part of me that loves the practical, tangible stuff of life that Jesus was passionate about: Social justice, mercy, compassion.... but not at the expense of knowing what one believes and why one believes it.

I don't know. I have a hard time believing that I am "too hung up on the details". I do find all this very interesting. I don't want my knowledge or beliefs to be an end to itself; yet I see so much value in learning about Christian history, and reading and gleaning from wonderful authors and podcasts. It's not to replace daily Bible reading, local church, or putting faith into practice of course, but I don't believe that I am "inferior" because I enjoy learning about this stuff. Nor do I discount others that don't enjoy the nitty gritty theological arguments either.

Pure Joy

I had my James bible study last night. It was, as always, wonderful. James is an awesome book and very hard hitting. One thing that struck me was that so much of it is a matter of perspective. As I sat in my small group, discussing trials of many kind and how we are to consider them pure joy, one of the women I'm with blew me away with her enthusiasm. "Bring it on!" was her mantra. If suffering and trials produce endurance and makes us closer to Him, mature and lacking in nothing, then bring it!

Can you imagine living life desiring struggles? I have a hard time just accepting them. Of course, my friend still struggles and doesn't LOVE trials and suffering but she's one of those people that has much to look back on and KNOWS with such certainty that God has come through for her before and most certainly will again and again. I love it. I love being around others with that perspective. My other tablemate also reiterated those sentiments; saying that us in America don't even KNOW what trials are.

Wow. Ouch. Another interesting perspective.

And then there's me, in agony over the mundane choices in life.

It was a wonderful reminder that joy doesn't come from outside sources; joy is not something that is lost when a bad thing happens; joy is a choice. Joy is a response that comes from maturity. Joy is overflow of a right perspective of God and what He has done. So, yes; trials may come but we are joyful in our Lord; what He has done and what He continues to do.

"Dear brothers and sisters,when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know that when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow. So let it grow, for when your endurance is fully developed, you will be perfect and complete, needing nothing." James 1:2-4 NLT

Are you joyful? Is your joy stable? Or is it tossed to and fro by the waves? Are you Joyful only in some circumstances or are you Joyful in the God who created you and loves you?