Soul Density
I’ve been taking good care of myself lately. I had my yearly checkup, my annual mammogram, and a trip to the dentist, all in one week. Woohoo! I did have to add one new medical test to my repertoire this year. It’s probably the least stressful medical diagnostic test you can have, a bone density test. You just lay there for ten minutes and stare at the ceiling. No squishing, poking, scraping, or drilling involved. Why can’t they all be like that? The purpose of a bone density test is pretty self-explanatory. It measures how dense your bones are. The denser the better. Keeping your bones healthy with exercise and plenty of calcium and Vitamin D in your diet keeps you strong and less likely to suffer bone breaks when you experience stress to your body. And the trauma doesn’t necessarily have to be severe. My mom broke her hip getting down off of a chair and my mother-in-law broke a hip while mini-golfing with my son and his friend! (Side note: The most traumatizing moment of the ordeal for the boys wasn’t when the ambulance came for my mother-in-law. It was when grandpa showed up in shorts and cowboy boots because he was so flustered when he got the call he just grabbed whatever shoes he could find.?) Ordinary, everyday life can be the stress that causes our brokenness if we aren’t healthy, spiritually healthy that is. How dense is your soul? How healthy and strong is it? Do you exercise your soul and feed it what it needs to be healthy and strong so that when life presents you with trauma, stress, and challenges you don’t break? My bone density showed that I don’t have osteoporosis but I don’t have nice dense bones either. I need to up my intake of calcium and Vitamin D. I need to become more serious and intentional about exercise and feeding my bones what they need to insure they will get me to the finish line. The same can be said for our souls. I stopped at the Vitamin Shoppe on my way home from my appointment and stocked up on calcium and Vitamin D. I hope you’ll consider stopping at Firstfruits and stocking up on what you need to feed your soul. Firstfruits is like the Vitamin Shoppe for the soul. We have all kinds of soul boosters at Firstfruits this fall. Our first mini-retreat of the new season...
Ball Bearings and Baguettes
Have you ever gone to the hardware store for a loaf of bread? “Of course not” you say, but I bet you have. I know I have, figuratively speaking that is. I first heard the saying “You’re going to the hardware store for a loaf of bread” a year ago. It really got me thinking. You don’t go to the hardware store for a loaf of bread because it doesn’t make sense. Everyone knows you don’t find bread at the hardware store. If you go looking for it there you will end up frustrated, disappointed, and empty handed. If it’s bread you need, go where you are sure you’ll find bread. I realized I go to the hardware store for a loaf of bread every time I put unrealistic expectations on the people in my life. When I look for them to give me what they do not have to give. Sometimes, not only do I go to the hardware store for a loaf of bread but I refuse to leave when I realize there is no bread. I get angry and resentful that I can’t get what I need from the person that I expect it from. When I look for affirmation, validation, happiness, and a sense of well-being from anywhere or anyone other than God, I find myself frustrated, disappointed, and empty. People will always disappoint. God won’t. He wants to provide all that we need and keep us from looking for fulfillment in all the wrong places. The bread we need to look for is the bread of life. In John 6:35 Jesus says “I am the bread of life, he who comes to me shall not hunger, and he who believes in me shall not thirst.” That’s a promise. The God I know doesn’t break a promise. So, whatever it is you are hungry and thirsty for look to God to satisfy. Stay out of the hardware store, even if there is an 11% rebate on everything! Joan...
The Not So Merry, Go-Round
Whew, I made it through the summer with minimal time spent at the Midway with the grandkids. I wasn’t meant for amusement park rides. It’s an inner ear thing or just a strong desire to be in control of my bodily functions but I struggle with anything that moves in a circle at high speeds. Just the thought of a Tilt-O-Whirl right now has me reaching for the Dramamine. But for the sake of an analogy, I want to talk about the merry-go-round. A merry-go-round is a perfect analogy for our lives. Some of us are adventurous and ride on the horses and thrive on the ups and downs while others play it safe within the gondolas. Regardless of where we are situated, the fact is often life feels like we are just going around and around. Caught up in survival rather than the abundant life God wants for us. In the olden days every merry-go-round had a brass ring suspended over one of the horses or in more modern times, a metal arm that swung out next to the carousel where multiple rings were dispensed as riders passed by and grabbed them. Most of them were made of iron but occasionally there would be a brass one. If you grabbed the brass ring you received a prize. Usually a free ride. (Which for me would be torture.) The brass ring is there to offer riders a chance at a prize. And it is a chance. As with any chance in life you have to take a bit of a risk in that you have to reach out and grab it. There’s the possibility you might fail or fall, how humiliating! But how exciting to achieve the prize. Makes it worth the risk. I like to think that on the merry-go-round of life God is our brass ring. As we go around and around, God is there at every turn waiting for us to reach out. He gives us constant recurring chances to grab him, to grab on to his promises of love, faithfulness, forgiveness, and care to name just a few. And the chance to win the ultimate prize of an abundant life now and eternal life to come. We have to snap out of our complacency and the trance we find ourselves in as we allow the repetitive din of the world’s pipe organ music that prevents us from hearing the divine invitation to...
First What?
People often ask “What does ‘Firstfruits’ mean?” “Why did you pick that name?” “Shouldn’t it be spelled ‘First Fruits’?” I’ve even gotten an email asking if we were a produce co-op. I thought that since we are starting our eighth year of Firstfruits this fall and celebrating one year in our new home in Elm Grove, maybe it’s time I explained our name. (Oh, and by the way, mark your calendars for the evening of Thursday, October 18. You’re invited to a Firstfruits Anniversary “Fun”raiser at our new home! Details to follow.) “Firstfruits” is a biblical term. As mentioned in the Old Testament, firstfruits were the best of the harvest given to God. They signaled more to come and were sacrificially given as a sign of reverence and obedience. In 1Corinthians in the New Testament Jesus is referred to as the firstfruits of the resurrection. His ultimate sacrifice in obedience redeemed us and made way for more to come as we too can experience resurrection and eternal life as we trust in him. It’s also mentioned in the book of Romans that as redeemed children of God we possess the firstfruits of the Holy Spirit, the best of the Holy Spirit which is a foretaste of the many other blessings that are to come. This notion of firstfruits stuck with me. The idea that we are to give of the best of what we have and what we are to God really challenged me. I knew I wasn’t giving God my best. Often, I was giving him what was left. I’d give him a couple minutes at the end of a busy day in prayer. I’d give him the change that was left in my wallet as the basket was passed in church. I’d eke out a bit of compassion and a halfhearted hug for a needy co-worker who needed more. Not my best. I wasn’t giving God my best, my firstfruits, because I didn’t really know this God I was supposed to be giving to. I needed to get to know God. As I began to seek him out he let me find him and what I found has changed me forever. The love, forgiveness, tender care, and compassion motivates me to give my best. I don’t always succeed but trying has become a priority. This season at Firstfruits we want to help you find God. Whether you’re beginning the search, deepening the search, or totally confused about...
Florence’s God
I’ve been thinking about a woman I knew named Ruth. I’ve mentioned Ruth in a past blog but she’s worth mentioning again. I was at a luncheon at a friend’s house and Ruth was there sitting at the kitchen island. I didn’t know Ruth really well. I had only spoken to her a couple of times before but she was one of those people who you feel like you’ve known all your life even if it’s only been all of three weeks. Ruth had a deep faith life. She knew and loved God and it showed. I walked over to her and said “hi” and the next sentence that came out of her mouth has found a permanent place in my heart and echoes in my ears time and time again. She leaned in to me, and with a big smile on her face she said “So, tell me about the God YOU know.” Needless to say, no one had ever asked me that before or since. And that is too bad because that inquiry led to an amazing conversation on an average day at noon in the middle of a kitchen full of unsuspecting women chatting over chicken salad and croissants. It was such a freeing experience for me. I think that is why it has stuck with me. I was given the opportunity to talk to someone about the God of my understanding as limited as that understanding was. Someone who didn’t judge me, correct me, or try to influence me. Someone who just smiled, listened, and encouraged me with her acceptance. This coming season of Firstfruits we are going to invite you, as Ruth invited me, to tell us about the God you know, or don’t know, or wish you knew. We want to provide a place for you to be honest and open about your relationship with God and feel the same freedom that comes from acceptance. I’m writing this blog on my birthday. My mom always made sure us kids felt special on our birthdays. That included describing in detail the day of our arrival into this world. That was one of the things that made me the saddest when my mom passed away. I didn’t hear that story from the author anymore. As part of my story she would always recount how when she was in labor with me she prayed to God and said “You better give me a good one.”...
When the Cloud Moves
When the Cloud Moves Last summer was a busy one for me. Our youngest daughter got married at the same time we were remodeling the space for Firstfruits in Elm Grove. (By the way, if you still are enjoying Firstfruits remotely online and haven’t stopped in to our new space yet, please do. It’s an amazing witness to God’s faithfulness and just a nice, cozy place to hang out.) So as this summer was approaching I was looking forward to practicing what I preach. That is, taking a Sabbath rest. You’ve been reading all about it in the guest blogs the last few months. Spending more quiet time in prayer. Taking the time to be more aware of God’s presence in the midst of our daily tasks. Being in the moment. I was doing well...
Become a Clutter Buster: Free Up Your Life, Find Your Stuff, Find Yourself!-Guest Blog by Claire Hoffmeyer
Meet Mary, an original Clutter Buster. Mary spent the first year of retirement working her way through stuff in her house. She felt empowered by the decisions she started to make, like whether or not to trash, give away, or sell the items taking up realty in her basement and subsequently, her spirit. Working to clear her basement little by little, Mary reflected: “...
Clutter Busters – Guest Blog by Claire Hoffmeyer
“The kitchen ‘catch-all’ drawer is missing! Claire?” Even as a pre-adolescent I liked tidiness, efficacy in my every day habits and helping others. Our kitchen catch-all drawer went missing several times a year. It didn’t travel far. Just to my room, or the dining room table, or somewhere close in the house where I could also secure a trash can to deposit all the unnecessary collections of junk like dried-up pens, crumbled papers, or receipts forgotten. In addition to our family kitchen drawer, my best friend would commission me to organize her entire bedroom closet once a year or whenever her mother commanded order to her always chaotic space. My compensation: a selection of choice from her wardrobe! Beyond helping a busy mom and earning free clothes from a best friend, what motivates this behavior? Clutter busting has and will always provide me with an immediate sense of accomplishment and offers me a touch of inner peace. As I grew up and experienced sharing living spaces with college roommates and friends, I quickly picked up on the reality that sorting through drawers, closets, cupboards, and files does not appeal or even come remotely natural to most. If you find that organizing spaces does not even occur to you as a productive, let alone satisfactory way to spend a few hours, then we’ve got a program for you! These once-a-month, ongoing, drop-in sessions with Firstfruits presenter, Mary Janowak, offer a unique set of encounters with not only your spaces, but with the people and places you call home. Mary recognizes that our spaces fill with stuff, sometimes that of which doesn’t even belong to us but to our spouses, children, friends, relatives. Sometimes our attics, basements, garages transform into storage units utilized free-of-charge. Well, no time like the present to regain your ownership! Join us and learn to sort through and organize a plan of action to take back your space and find yourself, your inner peace in the process. Join other women as you learn together how to decide your plan; commit time to take steps; encourage one another; persist with accountability; discern what matters; and motivate one another through self-knowledge, direction, and clear motivation. Mark your calendar for July’s program: Wednesday, July 18 from 9:30-11:00 AM. Become a Clutter Buster: free up your life, find your stuff, find yourself!...
Encountering Rest – Guest Blog By Claire Hoffmeyer
Rest. Currently, the clock in the upper right-hand corner of this computer screen reads ten to four--in the morning! Rest. The anticipation (of an early start and a busy day) is far greater than the reality. Rest. My repertoire of quieting my mind presently feels stale and ineffective. Rest. With my rosary on my lap I choose to focus my mind, my efforts, my RESTLESS energies on my writing. Rest. Rest. This summer I have the unique opportunity finding rest free of interruptions, distractions, and stressors. You see, this summer---the first in over ten years---I am out of a job. Later this morning (when the dawn beats out this darkness), I interview for a position in an organization in which I feel confident and certain the challenges attached offer both personal and professional growth. Now more than ever, I should be resting, gaining energy, and freshness to step into that interview room full of sprite and spunk. Even with a couple of (welcomed) yawns here and there as I write, I feel my mind awakening while simultaneously calming, dare I say, resting. Rest. Let’s look into the meaning of this word, especially since it is key to our spiritual reflection. “Rest” a verb meaning to cease work or movement in order to relax, refresh oneself or recover strength. I challenge that definition as I am finding rest while contemplating in action, while writing. In the twenty minutes since opening this document and coating it with black lettering I am experiencing relaxation. My perspective on being awake and alert during this witching hour is in refresh mode. I know that through this prayerful posture of writing I am recovering my strength. Yes, my feet are propped up and because my fingers tap at the keyboard and my mind searches for the next idea, word, and phrase my body and spirit find rest. Yes, rest can be achieved in motion. Rest. We need it, yes, but how we experience rest seems to vary. I would even venture to say that how we rest, the ways and mechanics of rest depend on our season of life and on any given day, truly. St. Augustine reminds us all of the greatest encounter with rest: "You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they find their rest in you." Whether you rest with your eyes closed or your fingers tapping on a...
Never on a Sunday – Guest Blog by Mary Matestic
My memories of Sundays as a child are quiet ones. Stores were closed for the most part; but there were two that stayed open until noon. The corner IGA store, which sold hot ham and rolls and the pharmacy/ice cream soda shop across the street. So after Mass on Sunday our family was one of many who lined up for the ham and rolls and, if we were lucky, we got an ice cream cone across the street. If we arrived a minute past noon, the doors of both were locked. It is hard to imagine a world without malls, box stores or mega sports arenas that captivate our Sundays today. Could we say that the allure of these places has usurped the sense of Sabbath that God intended for each of us? Sabbath, historically and biblically, was a call to slow down, not to mow the lawn or wash the car. I remember I learned to sew and I loved the art. Yet, my mother told me no longer than two hours could I spend at it. Sundays offered the world a slower pace, country drives, visits to relatives or family games. And core to the day was, of course, Sunday worship. Bishop Robert Barron, in his book Catholicism, says that much of modern secularism can be interpreted in this way: that for the first time in history, a culture is developing in which indifference to God is normative. And so the empty pews on Sunday, the myriads of young adults who have abandoned the faith of their childhood, the priorities given to sports and to leagues which call families away from worship on Sunday to more exciting competitive arenas…it has become normative. God, or our relationship with the Divine, has been pushed out of the very framework of our lives. Maybe it all started when society threw out the Sabbath understanding of rest. Malls opened up for shopping on the holiest day of the week. Sales lured the population into overspending and credit card stretching. Not to mention the sports industry that has become the American pre-occupation. I had a professor of moral theology who once said that sports had become the new American religion. The reality is that Christ rose from the dead on the “First Day,” the Lord’s Day, and tradition has invited us to remember the God who created the universe, sent his Son to model mercy, and sent...