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  • Debi Flory

Advent - Day 24 - JOY - #rethinkadvent

12/24/2013

 

There's Still My Joy

For many years now I have listened to this Christmas song with a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes.   Later on, I heard that it was written in response to one of the author's moving through the Christmas holidays after the loss of a parent.  I get that.  The first Christmas after the loss of anyone can be tough.

But,even before I knew the background story, I had a vision of this song being about Mary, the mother of Jesus;  her first Christmas after the death and resurrection of her Son must have been an emotional war ground. Joy, pain, grief, anger; the stages of grief wrapped up into one big package of confusion.

But, the reason I adore Mary is because of her example of grace and understanding.  It would be like her to find the joy in a day that most modern day mothers would find only sadness.

I've had a vision for a long time, that of shooting a video that would express the pictures in my head every time I hear the song.  It's probably not going to happen, so I pulled together these graphics to tell the story.

In the graphics are some theological tidbits that jump out - tidbits, that weren't planned.  However you understand this, see it through the eye of a mother rejoicing the first world-wide celebration of the birth of her son.  We don't really know if there was one, but even if it started only in her heart, the celebration is still happening and the story of the birth is the first chapter to the greatest story ever told.

Advent - Day 23 - Neighbors - #rethinkadvent

12/23/2013

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Shepherds stood watching,
    keeping their sheep,
And suddenly angels appeared. 
"Don't be afraid, we bring you

     Good News,
Your Savior is born this night..."


Matthew 2 (NIV)
The Magi Visit the Messiah2 After Jesus was born in Bethlehem in Judea, during the time of King Herod, Magi[a] from the east came to Jerusalem2 and asked, “Where is the one who has been born king of the Jews? We saw his star when it rose and have come to worship him.”


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We're looking for The King
The new Messiah
We're following the star 
Shining brighter
Old man won't you help us if you can
He shook his head 
But he pointed his hand


There's a new kid in town
And he's lying in a manger down the road
There's a new kid in town
But he's just another baby I suppose
Heaven knows
There's a new kid in town
Here in Bethlehem

I see you've traveled far
Bearing treasures
You say these gifts are for 
The new Kings pleasures
Well I've heard 
That a King might come
But up 'til now there hasn't been one

There's a new kid in town
And he's lying in a manger down the road
There's a new kid in town
But he's just another baby I suppose
Heaven knows
There's a new kid in town
Here in Bethlehem

There's a new kid in town
And he's lying in a manger down the road
There's a new kid in town
But he's just another baby I suppose
Heaven knows
There's a new kid in town
Here in Bethlehem 
--- Kathy Mattea
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Advent - Day 22 - Sign #rethinkadvent

12/22/2013

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Luke 2:12 King James Version (KJV)

12 And this shall be a sign unto you; Ye shall find the babe wrapped in swaddling clothes, lying in a manger.


One Christmas, about 29 years ago,my daughter,  Meagan, who was 3, was sitting in her carseat on the way home singing at the top of her lungs:

"The Little Lord Jesus,
Had a bagel on His finger,
And it spanned round and round
And it flew off.

She sang this to the tune of "Away In The Manger."

I giggled to myself and then asked her where she heard that song.

She said it was a song about her book.  When we got home, I had her get the book for me.

It's a bit hard to see but if you look closely enough you'll see Jesus' hand is touching his halo.  To a little three year old who probably spanned her bagel on her own finger, it might appear that this is what Jesus is doing.

And since Jesus was Jewish ...well, you fill in the blank!


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Advent - Day 21 - Prophet - #rethinkadvent

12/21/2013

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The birth of Jesus seems a fairytale to some and beyond our human grasp of understanding.  The idea that a young 14 year old girl could have enough faith to trust an Angel's announcement of her impending pregnancy and to risk her own life to go along with it is amazing .  Of course, it was her choice -- she had to say yes and that says even more about her trust in God.  But her knowledge of the scriptures helped her make that decision

As deep as her faith was, though, it was her understanding of scripture and words of the prophet Isaiah, that must have helped clinch the deal.  God had foretold the coming of the Messiah through the prophet Isaiah over 680 years before Mary was visited by the Angel Gabriel.  Yes, Mary knew the scriptures well.

14Therefore the Lord himself will give you a sign: The virgin will conceive and give birth to a son, and will call him Immanuel. Isaiah 8:14

26In the sixth month of Elizabeth’s pregnancy, God sent the angel Gabriel to Nazareth, a town in Galilee, 27to a virgin pledged to be married to a man named Joseph, a descendant of David. The virgin’s name was Mary. 28The angel went to her and said, “Greetings, you who are highly favored! The Lord is with you.”

29Mary was greatly troubled at his words and wondered what kind of greeting this might be. 30But the angel said to her, “Do not be afraid, Mary; you have found favor with God. 31You will conceive and give birth to a son, and you are to call him Jesus.   Luke 1:26

For as the angel spoke, she heard the prophecy almost verbatim through the visitation of the Angel Gabriel.

Fairytale?  How can it be?

This is where I fell in love with Mary.  A child, innocent and pure of heart, made a life decision that would bless everyone else,  not thinking of herself-- from that day forward.  

There is a trilogy of books that I adore written by the late Marjorie Holmes: Two From Galilee, Three From Galilee and The Messiah. This is how I came to adore the Mother of our Lord.

It used to be my tradition, sometimes along with my Women's Study Groups, to read Two From Galilee during Advent, saving the last Chapter to read at midnight Christmas Eve.  It is a beautiful Novel - fiction based on Biblical fact, that humanizes the entire story of Christmas from the visitation of Gabriel to the Birth.

The prophet foretold of the birth of Jesus and the woman who would say yes to a calling that would start the whole world singing: Joy to the world, the Lord is come...



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Advent - Day 20 - Good News - #rethinkadvent

12/20/2013

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We are a people wandering in the desert.  We are a people addicted to news and the "news' today, at least television broadcast news, makes its revenue from reporting the worst.  When there is nothing fantastically wrong going on in the world, reporters will stand outside with panic in their voices reporting something that is"almost bad" making the crowd almost cheer-on the event in hopes it WILL turn bad. And, where is the good news?  At the end of an  exaggerated crisis reporting  half hour- maybe.

If we pay too much attention, and invest our emotinal energy in the leading news, we may tune out and miss the good news at the end of the broadcast -- the "feel good" news.

But everyday we have an opportunity to be a part of the Good News of the nativity.  The Promise.  The Love.  The Light of the World.
---
The people who walked in darkness have seen a great light and the angels brought them good news.  
Good News, Good News, an Angel
brings Good News
Good News, Good News, leave you 
with Good News

Close your eyes, fold your hands
For a moment let your sorrow fade

Why? Oh why are you afraid?
Has this world stripped you of your Faith?

Close your eyes and on bended knee,
listen to an angel pray

And once again prepare the way,
So you'll see a gift that's given

For you, a time of joy
Behold, a baby boy

Bow your head, speak not a word
Let the silence take you far from here

The spirit of a child dry every tear
And may your doubts they disappear

Bow your head and on bended knee
Hear the story once again

The child grew up to wear a cross
The child grew up to pledge a life

For us, a time of joy
Behold, Christ a baby boy

Good News, Good News, an Angel
brings Good News
Good News, Good News, I bring you,
an Angel brings
Good News 
-------
Joy to the World! Turn off the bad news just for today.  Behold the Star.  Behold the Lamb.  Behold the joy that is yours.  Good News. Good News.

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Advent - Day 19 - Patient/Patience - #rethinkadvent.com

12/19/2013

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I happen to be married to one of the most patient men in the world.  It was actually a requirement when he applied to be my second husband and stepdad to my children.

Patience requires an interesting integration of many of the Advent photo-a-day words this month.  Many of those words are a part of John's nature.  (Peace, time, ready, wisdom, delight, holy, steadfast, hopeful, a heart for justice, gather, rejoice, strong, free, mercy.)  You see, John is centered in his faith and knows how much he is loved by God.  His faith is his motivator in life.  He is humble and lives rather simply in the complicated life I offer him.  I am a whirling dervish compared to him; creative by nature and probably more ADD than I ever realized.  He sees no value in "things" unless they serve a purpose.  Yet, he does not judge others for acquiring things.  That's a relief, because acquiring things has never been a problem for me.

He is at peace with who he is and is a peacemaker.  He is not confrontational, and will take a couple of licks from the tongues of others, before he even replies.  He has the patience to assess the words and does not take anything personally.  That makes him stronger than anyone who immediately lashes back.

John takes delight in life in general.  He loves his work.  He loves me.  But he takes particular delight in children.  He is a patient, loving and understanding father. And now, as a grandfather, he gets to do it all over again.  A father and stepfather of six, it would be hard for the kids to count on one hand how many time he raised is voice to them.  Many a time when he was really saddened by their behavior, he would often lower his voice in a tone that implied his sadness and speak the name of the offending child.  It would stop them cold.  That is because everyone knew just how kind and patient he is.  If he was disappointed in an action, the knowledge of that disappointment was better punishment than grounding.  No one wanted to hurt the person that showed the most grace.

John is a perfect example of a just person who shows mercy first.  The saying, justice without mercy is revenge, could be a tattoo on the arm of my beloved.  A win-win attitude is what he has.  He hears one side of a story, then patiently listens to a conflicting, opposite side, and always, always comes up with a third way to see things.  A master of compromise, he makes everyone feel like they've won.  It may take a few steps and a bit of his time, but that's called ... PATIENCE.

I am blessed to be walking beside him.  I love him and I believe in him.   He has taught me the importance of patience and discernment.  He has helped me see all sides of a story.  He has instilled in me the need for mercy and grace instead of judgement. He is my steadfast rock.  He understands my childlike hope.  He gets the importance of sacrificing time, money and self in order to travel to gather with family.  He is my joy.  

One of our favorite Bible verses was read at our wedding: Ecclesiastes 4:12 -If someone attacks one of them, the two of them together will resist. Furthermore, the triple-braided cord is not soon broken. That third cord is our God.  Our wedding rings symbolize those three cords wrapped together.  We are bound together with our faith and where God is the light in our life, John is the conductor who waves the light in front of me to help show me the way and keep me from getting lost.


Love is patient and kind..... Yes he is...

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Advent - Day 18 - Mercy #rethinkadvent

12/18/2013

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Nobody
does 
it 
better...

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Advent - Day 17 - Free - #rethinkadvent

12/17/2013

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There is something about a clear sunny day on the lake and a boat ride.  We are blessed to be able to leave the chores of the day, step onto a grubby old patio boat, untie ourselves from the shore and all the stresses of the moment.

Our bodies relax into the ride and our worries are left in the wake as we launch into our pool of refuge.

We start slowly, in a 5 mile per hour zone, so we merge into relaxation, rather then speed at a pace we'd rather leave behind.  As we move out into the open lake, it is only then we let loose and go like the wind.  Ahh, freedom.  We are free from the ties that bind.  The dock is out of sight and so are our obligations, if only for the duration of the ride.

And then we find a cove and anchor.  Sometimes we read. Sometimes we just sit and talk and watch the sun set. It is amazing how relaxation morphs into rejuvenation.

Taking time to relax is an escape from bondage.  Choosing to take time in the day to reflect and rest is choosing to let go of the ties that bind us.

As the responsibilities and obligations of the holiday season pile up, it is important for me to find my "patio boat" moment.  It's too cold to venture out on the water today, but it's nice and warm in my house and the view to the lake is a 24/7 option.  So, out comes my camera to capture my link to freedom.  Sitting in my chair, in the middle of each day, I escape to the water and watch the wonders of nature outside my door.  

It is in these moments - in releasing the pressures of the day, that I can open my heart and free my mind to the messages of Advent and the reason for the season.

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Advent - Day 16 - Strong #rethinkadvent

12/16/2013

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STRONG - I have many people I could write about here.  Strength of character is not lacking in members of my family nor friends who surround me.  but, when I think of strong I think of our dear friend Will Barker.

Will was paralyzed on the Davis Senior High Football field in 2009 and the Davis Community worked together to help out Will and his family

Will broke his neck and the immediate prognosis was that he would never walk again.  It was heartbreaking.  Yet, as two communities grieved together and worked together for Will, he was the one that led the drive of strength and determination. and  Will lives his name.  He has the will to succeed and nothing is going to stop him.

That Christmas just 4 years ago, Will was flat on his stomach, ridden with bedsores.  Nurses had to turn his head from one side to the other --he could move a tiny bit of his one hand.  But when I bent over to look him in the eye, it was evident the paralyzation was of body only and that his spirit was running full bore and ready to hit the forward trail.  His eyes smiled and sparkled and he was grateful to be alive and loved.

That Christmas the Davis football team provided Will with the gift of his choice.  A PS3.  He wanted to play Madden Football.  Keep in mind that he could not use his hands yet.  But he was determined to play football once again, so the unit was donated by a football family who wished to be kept anonymous and donations came in to provide him with games and gifts for his family.

Will was soon playing the game.  Not only did he start playing PS3, but he continued intensive therapy and went on to school.  He honored us with his presence at the graduation of the seniors who played against him that fateful homecoming game.   He stood to receive his diploma from high school the next year.  

He's continued to progress with help from the Christopher Reeves Foundation and some forward thinking studies at Sac State.

The last image I received from Will was video of him taking steps during his classes/therapy.  The photo above is Will standing for my 60th birthday.

I love this kid -- err, I mean man!  He had the guts of a man way before he could be called one.  Will has a purpose here on earth.  His story is one that  will go before him as an example of fortitude, faith, strength and perseverance.  

Strong - Will.

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Advent -Day 15 - Rejoice - #rethinkadvent

12/16/2013

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Not everyone can look back on their year and respond so wholeheartedly to the word REJOICE!  Click on the word or my image to the left and you will be taken to my year in photos and posts. 

Living in the moment can be a helpful thing.  It keeps us from getting stuck in the past and prevents us from overlooking today in order to get to tomorrow.

I love the thought that a rear view mirror is helpful and even necessary, but don't look to long or you won't avoid the crash in front of you.  Living in today, though doesn't mean to forget the past.  It doesn't mean you shouldn't plan for the future.

FaceBook has become like a diary of sorts.  At the end of the year, before you open a clean shiny diary, it pays to skim through your year and glean from the top all the memories that will serve your future.  Look at how the negative things can be learned from and realize, this is just a chapter in your book of life.

I feel blessed with all that happened this year and am full of gratitude for all that is.

I Rejoice therefore in the wonder and balance of life.  For every heartbreak there is a gift in the pain to open the pathway to tomorrow.  Every hiccup can be an opportunity for growth and every success is God's gracious gift and reminder that life is worth rejoicing.

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    Debi Flory

    I'm a Spiritual Director, Artist, Mom of six and grandmother of five.  I still don't know what I want to be when I grow up but I know I'm happiest when I'm making someone smile and laugh and  am honored to companion those seeking their soul stories.

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