Shabbat Shalom

My sister's prayer journal. . . .

Few things affirm my faith as much as the ancient traditions of the Jewish people. Their feast days and sabbaths emerged as a result of God's intervention, and the celebrations have changed very little through the ages. The feast of Purim celebrates the story of Esther. In a couple hours the most ancient of all traditions begins--the commemoration of the Creator's day of rest. Creator--what a concept!

Emily and I are involved in a Bible study called "Believing God." This week we studied how our personal history testifies to God's guidance in our lives. I say "we studied" but what I really mean is "we were supposed to study." Emily did her homework, but I haven't done my homework in 3 weeks, and am setting an example of procrastination. 

Considering the subject for this week--"memories", it seemed more than coincidence that I would make the discovery I made yesterday. As I rummaged in the attic searching for doll clothes I stumbled across a box of books. Two little black 3-ring binders caught my eye, and caused a thrill of remembrance.  I opened the smaller one. There was my dear sister Susan's name written in her neat handwriting. On the inside cover is pasted a cutout picture of a man in a business suit--obviously over-wrought, being comforted in the arms of Jesus. The picture is fresh, but surrounded by scotch tape yellowed and crisp with age.  This little book holds page after page of Bible verses written by Susan--promises, faith-affirming texts, doctrinal texts--all neatly categorized. It was a book she obviously used and wrote in often.

The larger binder contains multiple reference tabs, attached to typed pages. The few handwritten pages contain names of family members and brief petitions on their behalf. This book was Susan's prayer journal. It was really only the beginning of a prayer journal, with few answers yet. She was learning to pray effective intercessory prayer. She was practicing "believing God."

I wonder. . . .what happens to someone's prayers when they die? Does the Spirit continue to intercede on their behalf for loved ones? Prayer is called a sweet savor and incense ascending to heaven. Does that sweet savor continue when the voice is silenced? Susan loved her family passionately, and prayed for them passionately. She prayed for me. She prayed for our brother Richard ("Ricky"). She prayed for our parents. She prayed for her husband, Tim. She prayed for an aunt. She prayed for cousins. And she didn't JUST pray--she prayed expecting an answer. She BELIEVED.

This week's lesson was about Gilgal--coming full circle.  Not long before she died Susan told me that I led her to Jesus. Finding these notebooks is an example of "gilgal". These little books have begun to do a work in my heart, and have strengthened my faith. Thank you, Susie.

Overcommitted

It's a more than a little crazy right now.  In the past, when we got overwhelmed with schedule clutter, it was evening commitments that needed to be weeded out.  Currently it's daytime commitments that have us scrambling.  Something has to give, because this is CRAZY!  With Emily's good time-management skills, she is getting everything done, but at the expense of serenity.  The classes at greatest risk for being neglected are French and the literature and writing portion of English. 

In a previous blog I outlined a typical day.  If Emily doesn't get up at 6:15 and get RIGHT to it, things don't get done.  She goes to the junior academy from 12:30 to 3:45 four days a week, and we're coveting that time to do schoolwork.  She goes to the school for musical enrichment and PE.  The classes are fun, and beneficial, but they're not currently part of her curriculum.  I only recently learned that she gets her English done in the band director's office during music lessons--meaning, she's often listening to two trumpet students while trying to concentrate!  Good thing she doesn't have ADD!!

We experienced the school setting for two years, and in that time this same feeling of "it's too much" happened intermittently.  When I was in college I remember feeling as if each of my professors thought theirs was the only class that mattered.  I used to wonder if they had any concept of the staggering amount of work that was assigned over all the courses in a typical load.  It's all a lesson in setting priorities and managing time, I suppose.  

Second semester I foresee that one of the extra music classes (band or choir) will get jettisoned from the schedule.  

More Ashland pictures

Beautiful Ashland in the autumn

At Rogue Valley Adventist School

 Taking a run after church

At Lithia Park

Shakespeare Under the Stars

We loved our weekend in Ashland, Oregon at the Shakespeare Festival (fondly referred to as "OSF").  Sunday was a big day with a matinee in the early afternoon, and an evening play at the outdoor Elizabethan Theatre. 

Last Friday we drove to the picturesque little town of Ashland where I was born, and checked into our favorite "La Quinta" inn.  La Quinta is a dog-friendly motel, so we can bring our spoiled dog Hershey along.  We walked around Ashland a bit on Friday evening to soak in the local ambience. 

The next day we attended the tiny church I think my family attended when I was born. We were blessed by the music of a superb handbell choir from the local academy, and then we enjoyed a meal offered at the end of the services. Because Emily is involved in a handbell choir, we were especially interested in Rogue Valley Adventist School's bell choir. They were invited to play at the nation's capitol last year.  The school has two bell choirs, and the one we heard was the "second string" comprised of the younger academy players.  They were most impressive, with not only their ringing, but the percussion they added during a lively song--using their mallets on the table, bells, and even music stands.  Now Emily wants to move to Ashland and attend that school, which has 12 grades and about twice the number of students than the local school.

The afternoon was filled with a walk in Lithia Park, and watching the high school running competition that periodically filtered through the park.  We also drove out to look at the Rogue Valley Adventist School, and surrounding area, before returning to the motel room to relax and play with Hershey. (Lithia Park is beautiful, but Lithia water is NASTY!)

The Sunday matinee was a modern interpretation of "A Midsummer Night's Dream".  Emily and I are familiar with the play, and she was able to whisper some lines to me during the performance. We enjoyed the performance, but I don't think I was quite ready to see fairies played by men in tutus! The play was set in the late 1950's/early 60's. Theseus had an accent reminiscent of "Fonzie" on "Happy Days." Of course all the actors were excellent, but the actor who played the part of "Bottom" was wonderful, and "Puck" was pretty memorable, too.  

We had time for dinner and play time with Hershey before going to the evening performance of

"A Comedy of Errors" at the outdoor theater.  The temperatures in Ashland were dropping into the 30's at night, so we bundled up and took a blanket apiece.  The sky was clear, but it was COLD!  We hadn't studied this play previously, so the story was entirely new.  We were surprised to see that it was set in the old West!  We're learning that Shakespeare was especially fond of the confusion resulting from mistaken identity.  Twins also seem to figure largely in his comedies--at least in this one, and in "Twelfth Night".  The actors were fabulous, the play enchanting, and the whole experience was magical.  At the end, because the outdoor 

season ended with that performance, there was a sort of "epilogue" where about 60 actors came out holding candles.  The actor who had played "Bottom" came and said a few words of farewell for the year, and then they started to hum "Greensleeves" while the audience joined in.  We had nearly forgotten how cold it was, until it was time to make our way back to the car.

In 2005 we saw "Twelfth Night", two years ago we saw "Two Gentlemen of Verona" and "A Winter's Tale", and last year we saw "The Taming of the Shrew". It was sad to see our special weekend draw to a close, but it left us with wonderful memories.  This was our fourth year attending the OSF, and I'm beginning to think that we need to purchase a membership!