I so appreciate Thomas More's blog below. It's true that so much has happened this year among the bloggers on this site (not to mention the readers, I'm sure.) Loss of a precious daughter. Risks taken at work. Health problems. Moves across the country. We don't all share the same circumstances. But we -- as brothers and sisters who know Jesus Christ -- share the sufferings together. We are not always able to be present physically. But we can be present through prayer. Present in our concern. Present in spirit.
An old friend of mine, Rob Bell, is pastor of a church in Michigan that is finding some wonderfully innovative ways to present the truth of Scripture to the world. One way is through short (10 minute) movies that address different topics.
The latest movie (called a NOOMA) is available for viewing online only until tomorrow (Wednesday, July 25th at 12:00 p.m. EST. It is a wonderful corollary to Thomas More's post, and it prompted me to begin embracing this day that I have right now. For I may not have another.
I encourage you to check out the blog in the next 24 hours. Go to the NOOMA Myspace page at www.myspace.com/NOOMAmyspace and click on the NOOMA player.
Love,
Lucy P.
Thanks Lucy.
Last night my small group watched the NOOMA DVD called "Matthew" where Rob Bell talks about his friend who died in a car accident. In our discussion after the DVD we talked about loss and what it means to grieve properly, without drifting into bitterness. The last part of the discussion focused on God's restoring work and how we can look forward to being with our loved ones for eternity. It's a sobering subject but a comforting reminder that God is with us through our sufferings and we should be with each other as much as we can.
Posted by: Philomena | July 23, 2007 at 02:03 PM
Good stuff Lucy. I got to watch it yesterday. A lot of truth on those living in the past ideas. I recently heard a sermon on the need to live "today"--I'll try to post some highlights later. Eerily similar.
Posted by: Thomas More | July 26, 2007 at 05:44 PM
Talking of "being there", maybe you caught the news story about Oscar the cat, who lives at a nursing home. He goes in and out of people's rooms all day but never stays with any one person. However, he seems to know if someone is in their last few hours of life. In that case, Oscar goes and sits on the bed with them until they've passed away.
Cats really are smart.
Posted by: Philomena | July 27, 2007 at 11:09 AM
Yes, but at the end of the day, they are cats. And that's a problem.
Posted by: Thomas More | July 27, 2007 at 03:37 PM
My cats can read, and they know where you live, Thomas, so watch what you write.
Phil, I love that about the nursing home cat. What a precious gift for those people. I've noticed that when I've been really down or sick, my cats tend to come and stay close by too. I've even wondered if they were filled with the Spirit at times! (Theologians, don't get worked up. I'm speaking figuratively.)
Perhaps we need to be more like that cat and just be with others, particularly the elderly in our midst who need a tender touch and a compassionate listening ear.
Love,
Lu
Posted by: Lucy | July 31, 2007 at 11:20 AM
I think your cats might indeed have spirits--just not holy ones!
Posted by: Thomas More | August 02, 2007 at 02:50 PM