Feed Sacks & Christmas (Believing Is Seeing)

It was almost a year ago since we piled into the back of the wagon to take the day long trip to town with Papa. We stocked up on provisions at the mercantile, papa even threw in a licorice whip for us each. We were all outfitted with a new pair of shoes, for Sundays and for school, then off to the feed store for the grand finale. It was there that we would pick out the feed sacks which would eventually become our Christmas dresses. I can still see the grin on papa's face as we pursued the many patterns just as if we were in one of the finest stores in England or France. We picked out three of the loveliest patterns, three matching sacks per dress, just enough for mother, sister and me.

It had been eight months since our little excursion with papa. The summer had been long and hard with plenty of work for us all even the harvest had since come and gone.  We, sister and I, had just finished our chores and were tending our small winter garden when we heard papa bellow our names from somewhere out back. As we rounded the corner our eyes fixated on the cord stretched between two old oaks for thereon hung nine freshly washed feed sacks, (dresses in disguise). In the background stood papa laughing, patting mother gently on the shoulder as if somehow he could sense the new journey we were about to take, though this time not in a wagon but at mothers feet as she sewed and spun stories of  a time long ago.

With each cut and stitch she told us a story of men of old who, just like us, waited with anticipation after a long journey of their own though not for new clothes but for a king. She then went on to explain just as our dresses were hidden in a few old feed sacks so too would this King be hidden, from those who could not see, in the form of a little baby lying in a feed trough much like the one in our own barn. She spoke of the candles on our tree, how they transformed darkness into light and how this babe would light the world with His love and peace and joy. We drifted of to sleep that night, there at mothers feet, as we listened to her weave the stories of the Christ Child into each and every stitch.

We, sister and I, walked into church on that Christmas morning as proud as we could be. Women all around were dressed in there finest but not on could compare to us in our Christmas dresses. We stood before the congregation, mother and papa right up front, and told them of our journey to town, of nine old feed sacks that were really dresses and a little baby who was actually a king. We told them of an expectant mother, shepherds in a field, learned men of old and two young girls at their mothers feet all who saw only because they first believed. We then gave to all, from a basket mother had prepared, a small quilted square with patterns from each of the sacks we had chosen long before. Attached to each was a simple note:
Just Believe and you too will see!

Kyle Boyd-Robertson

December 25, 2011

Good And Faithful Servant

Words can not express the sadness we feel over the passing of a faithful servant and friend. He was a great example of what one thinks of when the word Christian is mentioned.

From the first time I met him he was excited about life and eager to serve. When you felt yourself falling or veering off the path he was always there to help you maintain your way. When you found yourself struggling with life's menial task he was always by your side ready to help. He had a way about him that even at the lowest points in your life he would bring you joy and happiness. Often when I hear the Bible verse "prohibit not the little ones come to me." I think of him sitting in a classroom surrounded by little children as he proudly teaches them the ways of servanthood. Even in his later years, when his sight began to fail him and his joints began to ache, he continued to do little things to let you know he still cared and wanted only the best for you. Till the very end he maintained the heart of a servant.

As we laid him to rest today I couldn’t help think what a better place this world would be if more people showed just a few of the qualities he had, if more people rose to the level of selfless servanthood which he displayed. I realize many will scoff and say, “he was just a dog”, but they are wrong he was much more than that. Duncan earned and wore proudly the title of “service dog” and was a faithful companion to my wife and friend to all, very seldom thinking of himself as he strived to make the world around him a better place. 


Duncan…You will be sorely missed and I am a better person having known you. I pray that when I myself "shuffle off this mortal coil" my epitaph will read as yours "Well Done Good And Faithful Servant".
03/25/11

Solitude

"Would God that every servant of His understood and practiced this blessed art, and that the Church knew how to train its children into some sense of this high and holy privilege, that every believer may and must have his time when he is indeed himself alone with God. Oh, the thought to have God all alone to myself, and to know that God has me all alone to Himself!" --Andrew Murray
 

"As we learn the way of holy silence -- a silence that expects to encounter and hear God -- we begin finding our spirits in continuous communion with God. This can be true even when life rushes around us... We can be outwardly busy, while inwardly talking and listening to God." --- J. Brent Bill

This February I find myself more than ever seeking out times of quietness and solitude, times to sit alone at the feet of my God, hear His voice and be refreshed in His presence.

I have always been drawn to the Latin phrase solvitur ambulando which translates “it is solved by walking.” I envision the long, intimate walks God took with Adam and Eve in the garden, the glorious walks and talks He must have had with Abraham, Moses, David, Paul and Jesus and I am in great awe and humbled that He still wishes to walk in intimacy with you and me. It is in these quiet times I find myself growing closer to the heart of God and hearing His voice.

In this age of technology, with Televisions, Ipods, Cell Phones, Computers, we have filled our lives with so much noise almost to the point that we have forgotten how to stand before God in Holy Silence. Or maybe it’s we are just afraid of silence because in the silence we are stripped of our masks and forced to take a long look into the mirror of our soul laid bare before God. Maybe we surround ourselves with a constant barrage of noise because in the silence we are afraid of what we may hear. Whatever the reason God, as he often did with our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ, is calling us into a place of solitude, a quiet place where as Andrew Murray said God has us all alone to Himself.

As is it wise to look to the wisdom of those who came before us in pursuing any such endeavor, so it is when pursuing a path or time of solitude and quietness. Because Christ Himself made solitude such an important part of His daily rhythm of life and it is He I would truly wish to emulate I find it helpful to look upon His rituals, customs and beliefs. Since Jesus was a devout Jew as well as a rabbi I can imagine Him slipping of to a quiet place, saying a blessing as He lifts His prayer shawl, then holding it over His head for brief moment of reflection before draping it over His head and shoulders to commune with God just as had been done for thousands of years before. On the four corners of the prayer shawl are long fringes, known in Hebrew as the tsitsit. On the tsitsit is a combination of strands and knots equalling to 613 which reminds one that he is always surrounded by the commandments of Torah. Also when draped over the head it helps one to concentrate and focus during their time of prayer.

Since very few people could read in our early history most things were passed down orally. It would not have been an uncommon sight to see a young boy sitting alone with a handful of stones, casting them one by one to the ground as he recited his prayers. This tradition carried on throughout the ages with such things as the orthodox prayer rope, prayer beads and chaplets. The beads or knots on the rope help one stay focused on God as well as provide a way to keep track when reciting specific prayers. I myself on occasion just like to hold a small chaplet in my hand when praying, having this physical connection sometimes helps me drown out all other distractions and stay focused on my true purpose, listening for the still small voice of the most Holy.

As I said before, I am drawn to the Latin phrase solvitur ambulando although I sometimes prefer to add cum Deo which changes the phrase to "It is solved by walking with God." Sometimes I walk along my garden path at home, sometimes on the beach and whenever I am able I walk the labyrinth and listen for His voice. The Labyrinth has been around since prehistoric times and has long been perceived as a sacred place.  The Romans adapted the ancient labyrinth into an ornamental floor pattern and the Christians in medieval times adapted  it once again for use in the cathedrals.  The most well known and revered of all medieval cathedral labyrinths can be found at Chartres Cathedral in northern France and was constructed around 1201 AD. The cathedral labyrinth was clearly meant to be a symbol of the Christian path or journey through life.  During the medieval times taking ones pilgrimage to Jerusalem to walk in the "footsteps of Christ" became quite dangerous. As an alternative Christians would often walk the labyrinth in the cathedral. Christians of this period would also walk the labyrinth on the eve of their baptism or confirmation and as an aide to prayer during Holy week. After medieval times the use of labyrinth as a spiritual tool was all but forgotten  and many were destroyed in later years. In recent years the labyrinth has enjoyed resurgence and many modern pilgrims walk the sacred labyrinth path as one of many tools to enhance prayer, contemplation and spiritual growth.

God is calling us, just as He did our Lord before us, to come away into a quiet place and commune with Him. Whether you choose to make use of a handful of stones, a prayer rope, walk a labyrinth or garden path it matters not, these are but tools to help bring us to a quiet and calming place where we can hear the voice of God, the Important thing is to seek out that place and listen for His voice.