Radical Acceptance

Happy Customer

2008-07-10T19:41:00.000+12:00

I had such a great customer service experience today. Lately I have heard others excited about their positive interactions with sales people. I am happy to report my own. May be it is a new trend! My baby buggy is a couple of years old. My son has figured out how to take apart some of the buggy's inner workings. The other day, without me noticing, he tossed a part that he had removed out of the buggy as we were strolling along. So I emailed the buggy company explaining which part I needed. I figured that my warranty was expired so I would have to pay for the part. Really it was my responsibility since I let my son remove the part and toss it. Amazingly I got an email in reply from the owner of the company saying that the needed part was being shipped to me FOC. What's FOC I wondered briefly? Aha! Free of charge! How cool is that?

Whispers

2008-07-09T21:02:00.003+12:00

I have a friend who yells at her young son all the time. It makes me uncomfortable, but I don't say anything because she comes from a different culture than I do and I feel I need to give her some leeway with her parenting. She took her son to their Plunket appointment the other day and the Plunket nurse told my friend that her yelling was counterproductive to disciplining her son and it was scaring him. She had no idea that she was yelling. She was completely unaware.

With this in mind I called my dad today to chat about some things going on in my family. My two youngest brothers have just moved to China and to the UK. Another brother is having a turbulent first year of marriage. Soon it will be the first anniversary of my oldest brothers death. The fact that all his children are so distant from him weighs heavily on my dad. I can tell that he dreams of having his family close. God was whispering to me today, soft words of encouragement, that I wish I could repeat to my dad without him thinking I was crazy. I wish we could be more aware of each other, not necessarily physically close, just emotionally connected. I have hope that my friend and her son will have a wonderful relationship.

A Warm Day

2008-07-08T20:48:00.003+12:00

What a beautiful day today! I know I shouldn't get too excited. We have lots of winter ahead of us. I feel so thankful for the rain and now the grass is so green. We collect rain water for our drinking water at our house as many of our neighbors do and we also need the grass to feed animals. The thin layer of ice and snow that was on the ground last week has melted into the soil and made us all very happy. My son was especially happy to play outside. His joy brought me closest to the Kingdom of God today.

The week in reveiw

2008-07-06T16:13:00.002+12:00

I've been thinking about the bigness and smallness of the world this week. How we can magnify moments in our lives and they seem so intense and then read a story in the news about people who were held hostage for eleven years being released. What a speck I am in this world! My life, my joys, my sorrows are so minuscule, yet I feel connected to the hostages in Colombia. My high school classmates are scattered all over the globe now, but we still, twenty years later reminisce about our English teacher dying and talk about our children. God has given me a lot to think about this week.

I Love Humans!

2008-07-05T11:30:00.003+12:00

Today a friend sent me an amazing video. I thought I would share it on this blog because, what is a blog without a link to You Tube?

It made me laugh and think. It transcends culture, politics and even religion. My friend is in the video and I recognised her, but I also thought how the love emanating from the video connected me to all the people in the video.

Open your heart, watch the video and see if you can keep from dancing!

http://www.wherethehellismatt.com

Having Faith

2008-07-04T06:25:00.001+12:00

I was driving through the port hills yesterday, when suddenly a chicken flew in front of my car. It was very large and had a wing span of just 30 cms or so. I'm actually not sure what was keeping it aloft. It was flapping like crazy, but was hovering barely a meter above the ground. Now my experience with chickens is that they are not so good with physics. Or philosophy for that matter. The chicken and I were in the middle of Gebbies Valley. I get nervous driving on winding, hilly roads. You expect the odd cyclist, but not domestic fowl. I knew where I was going and I had my baggage of driving fears packed. What was the chicken thinking? Did it assess my speed and the wind to time it's flight perfectly? Dare I ask why did it cross the road? Animals share our planet with us, but experience it differently—each has its own abilities and gifts that allow them to interact successfully with the natural world. Animals are closer to the rhythms and cycles of nature and have fewer distractions from it than humans do. Just by being themselves they remind us of the wisdom of the universe, and that all answers are available to us when we reconnect with God.

A New Day

2008-07-02T21:26:00.003+12:00

I believe that things happen for a reason. My son is struggling with teething and as a result we have not been sleeping well. I get cranky when I haven't had enough sleep. As my husband says: "When Mama's not happy, nobody is happy." My moodiness has unsettled our house. When I got up this morning and saw the beautiful weather, I was hopeful. I thought we deserve a break from the winter weather. I hoped for a break from my mood too, but I missed my morning appointment because I just couldn't organize myself in time. When I felt so low, my husband decided to take time off from work and help me rescue what was left of my day. It was awesome! We had lunch with friends and he helped me with some errands that would have been challenging to accomplish with a toddler in tow. I think my husband got something good out of the day too. Since he works at home, he misses out on workplace camaraderie. By taking time off from work he got to spend time with people who have similar interests and see really fancy film making equipment. All three of us had a lovely day together. I've never been able to "Let go and let God." May be today I did.

Where in the world is Regina?

2008-07-01T04:13:00.006+12:00

This year is my twenty year high school reunion. The memories make me feel old and also kind of lame. What have I done for the last twenty years? Someone from my high school class just emailed me a copy of our class picture. We look so young and hopeful. There is an amazing energy in the photo. God had blessed us with years of friendship and a bit of knowledge to ready us for the world outside our little high school. I am thankful that high school was a positive experience for me. I still have friends from that time in my life. We have been able to catch up with each other on an internet bulletin board. Everyone seems so happy and blessed. I am a little remorseful when I read about the lives of my classmates who stayed in our hometown. They are still close and their children go to school together. Community is so important. That sense of solidarity was present when we were in school together. When I read in the media about the things that go on in todays schools I feel sad and a bit frightened for my son. I want my son to feel safe and loved so he can concentrate on learning and friendships. All I can do is guide him and teach him about God's Kingdom. Thank you God for the lovely memories, the wonderful friendships and the wisdom that comes with age. May we continue to grow in God's love.

Oops!

2008-06-30T08:36:00.002+12:00

I forgot to write a weekly summary this week. Looking back over this weeks posts, I see a theme of Peace. My interactions with people this week left me with a sense that we are all seeking God's Kingdom in our relationships. I saw love and understanding in my family and friends and even strangers. I was amazed to see that was a mutual feeling among many of us at church on Sunday. Even though I was busy and sometimes I didn't take time to reflect and write often as I should, I enjoyed the past weeks journey and I look forward to the coming week.

Prayer for Peace

2008-06-27T16:40:00.001+12:00

I've been praying for friends and family today. Recently several friends told me that they are having problems at work. Some are having meetings to try to resolve the problems, others are seeking new employment. My cousin emailed me yesterday to tell me that her winter job in Australia has not worked out and could she come stay with me. Work problems can be so unsettling. I am happy that we have each other to turn to when things aren't going well. This is what God's Kingdom is all about for me - being there for each other with an offering of peace.

Our Stories

2008-06-26T21:16:00.001+12:00

By some seemingly divine intervention, I am reading two books about kingdom signs. I was wandering around the library holding my son, who was grabbing at all the books, trying to find something interesting to read. I managed to get home with Bleeding Kansas by Sara Paretsky and The Third Jesus by Deepak Chopra. Both of these books take an unconventional approach to kingdom signs. Bleeding Kansas is a fictional novel written by a Jewish author about a group of Christian families who are struggling to find the hope and peace promised by Jesus. The Third Jesus is a non fiction book about what Jesus can teach us regardless of our religious background written by an author that I think comes from Hindu traditions. What could these authors know about Christianity and the Kingdom of God? Reading these books, I am stuck by God's message that everyone has a story. We all come from different experiences and may be we are headed in different directions, but he loves each and everyone of us. We all are a part of the unending process that turns separation into unity. We need to listen to each others stories with courage, truth, sympathy and love.

Be the change you want to see in the world. - Gandhi

2008-06-25T13:06:00.001+12:00

This morning my husband was talking on the phone. I looked at our son and he was holding his spoon up to the side of his face and talking into it exactly like my husband on the phone. I know it is typical toddler behavior but it was a revealing moment for me. People mirror back to us the reality of who we are. Our toddler will mimic our behavior and learn what is expected of him from watching us. Everyone around us does this to a degree. God was reminding me that not only do I have the responsibility to set a good example for my son, but I must be the salt and the light I want everyone to see in me and in themselves.

Matthew 5:14

2008-06-24T14:35:00.002+12:00

My husband has been working hard and looking very tired for a week. Our son has been clingy yet unsettled for a few days. As a result, I haven't felt like I am very useful to my family. Why would they look so needy if I was providing what they needed? Shouldn't a mother provide the ultimate comfort to her child? Am I asking too much from my husband? I woke up thinking about Matthew 5:14, "You are the Light of the world." Jesus' words came to me to remind me that it is my responsibility to bring my inner light to my everyday life and this light would show me the way through the darkness. My perception was all the difference. Happily my husband woke up looking refreshed this morning and was able to help me comfort our toddler.

Weekly Summary

2008-06-22T08:34:00.002+12:00

Well I certainly didn't expect to write what I did. I feel that God has given me some insight into myself and my family. Did I see signs of God's Kingdom this week? I do think all the hugs, friendship and even the fog gave me a sense of God's presence in my life. I'm looking forward to what next week will bring!

Winter blues

2008-06-21T15:26:00.002+12:00

The sun is shining! I have a difficult time accepting winter weather. Some people love it and make it a good excuse to wear winter boots and bright scarves. I miss the sun and find the fog and rain and cold depressing. Our noses are running, my energy level is lower. I wonder what was God thinking when he decided winter was a good idea. No master painters ever depict heaven with snow drifts. Then I think about my neighbors crops that depend on cold weather and all the animals and insects that need winter as a part of their life cycle. I don't need sunsets and rainbows everyday to know that God is there.

Dark Evening

2008-06-19T14:52:00.000+12:00

Walt Disney famously said, "If you are going through hell, keep on going." A couple of years ago I took his advice. I was working in a job that made me profoundly unhappy. It was a dark time in my life and my family was suffering some turmoil. I had previously always loved my work and had found it an oasis of hope in a crazy world. I had a few friends at work and a mentor whose advice I valued. They respected my decision to leave work and seek solace elsewhere. I haven't regretted my decision, but I have come to the conclusion that work was not the problem. I merely needed a scapegoat and work was an easy mark. I have had an amazing journey through the last two years, coming to terms with my family issues and giving birth to my son. Last night I went to a mid winter dinner with my former work mates and it felt like coming full circle. I felt that everyone knew I didn't place any blame on them and I had taken responsibility for my feelings. There was an unexpected warmth on the darkest evening of the year. Thank you God for giving me this sign that I can move through tough times without burning bridges.

Expressing our love

2008-06-18T07:57:00.003+12:00

I love the way my son expresses his love. He hugs with full body abandon. Not just mummy cuddles, but he shares his love with his cat and his friends too. At playgroup yesterday he would crawl up to a friend and then stand (his new trick) and give them one of his glorious hugs. I think most felt it was a little scary, but there were surprisingly no tears. The cat got in on the action too. All the children were patting him and hugging him and he soaked in all their love. The love filled the atmosphere and drifted over to the mums in our group and we all expressed our thankfulness for the companionship in parenting. Thank you God for this day filled with love and compassion!

Silent Meditation

2008-06-17T03:12:00.001+12:00

Last night I was making dinner and wondering what I would write about today. I thought if God was trying to speak to me right this minute, would I hear him? Not that I was feeling closed off to God's message, but if He had something to tell me, He was going to have to speak up to be heard over the noise in my house. See, my husband and I have attention deficit disorder. When we need to concentrate on a task it often helps to play loud music. It helps our brains to have a constant barrage of low level information (the music) so we can focus on a high level task without getting distracted. My husband was busy finishing up his work for the day. He works from home. I was making dinner and watching our son play. Our son was very excitedly banging on the pots I wasn't using to make dinner. It was LOUD in our house. So I thought: Thank you Lord for this Joyful Noise!

Pirate Dreams

2008-06-16T08:45:00.000+12:00

Last night I read my son his new book "The Man Whose Mother Was a Pirate" by Margaret Mahy. The man grows up raised by his wild and crazy former pirate mother in a big city far from the ocean that influenced her. He loves his mother for who she is, but he grows into a rigid, practical person. This got me thinking about how we inspire our children. A friend (who doesn't have children) asked me if we were going to push Avery in a certain direction for his education. Did we want him to grow up to be exactly like us? Would I have had an easier life if I had allowed myself to be led? In our new book the man takes his mother to the sea and he is so amazed by it's beauty that he becomes a pirate too. When asked about his journey, the man says "Well. I didn't much like the idea to start with, but now there's this song in the back of my mind. I'm beginning to think I might like the sea when I get there." I hope that we give our son a song in the back of his head instead of a ring in his nose. I hope that he loves every minute of his journey through God's kingdom.

Introductions

2008-06-13T21:06:00.000+12:00

My name is Regina Dean. I am a wife and a mother. I am excited to be a part of this Kingdom project. I think sharing my thoughts about where I see God in my life is a little scary. Isn't there a "right" answer to the questions we are asking? Isn't the correct answer that God is everywhere and exactly where we need him? I haven't found this to be my experience, but I hope that I can share my vision with Opawa Baptist and with the blogosphere that swirls around Steve Taylor.