SATURDAY, APRIL 16

“My Father never stops working, and so I keep working, too.” (John 5:17)

In my most recent reading, “The Last Lecture,” Randy Pausch, who was a professor of computer science at Carnegie Mellon, encouraged his students, friends, and family to realize why people should always try to achieve their childhood dreams. He said, “Give yourself permission to dream. Fuel your kids’ dreams, too.”

We were privileged to hear one of his last speeches at our grandson’s graduation ceremonies in 2008. Randy Pausch was considered by many to be a master teacher. He gave his “Last Lecture” knowing that his terminal cancer would soon take his life. He did not talk about dying, but gave everyone one last lecture on overcoming obstacles, enabling dreams, and living for every moment. Randy Pausch died several months later.

Two things in the book struck me. Randy Pausch said:

Don’t Complain, Just Work Harder

Too many people go through life complaining about their problems. I’ve always believed that if you took one-tenth the energy you put into complaining and applied it to solving the problem, you’d be surprised by how well things can work out.

The author of the book said we should:

Look for the Best in Everyone

This is beautiful advice that I got once from Jon Snobby, my hero at Disney Imagineering. I just was so taken with the way he put it. “If you wait long enough,” he said “people will surprise and impress you.” As he saw things, when you’re frustrated with people, when they’ve made you angry, it just may be because you haven’t given them enough time. Jon warned me that sometimes this took great patience – even years. “But in the end,” he said “people will show you their good side. Almost everybody has a good side. Just keep waiting. It will come out.”

Prayer: Dear God, help us to appreciate all peoples and look for the best they have to offer. Allow us to live our dreams. Amen.

Bob Morrill

FRIDAY, APRIL 15

“… I saw a huge crowd … Everyone was there … all nations and tribes, all races and languages …” (Revelation 7:9)

I love to imagine the scenes that John described as well as his interpretations. Hope is the theme throughout Revelation, in the midst of chaos and fearful images that are often mystifying, to say the least.

Hope in the midst of the uncertain developments in life enables continuing prayer and faith that God is our guide, Jesus is merciful, and the Holy Spirit dwells in us.

These thoughts bring me strength and courage to meet each day, knowing that by the grace of God and the prayers of many, I will get through it.

Life takes many unexpected turns and one can’t help wondering “Why?” Searching for answers to that question is not very useful, and may lead to disappointment and despair.

Instead, remembering that I have come this far, for more than eighty years, and found God helping me at every turn, I know that the future holds more of the same, thanks be to God.

Prayer: Loving and merciful God, may your presence in our lives keep us always hopeful, loving, kind, and generous. Grace us with your mercy and care. In Jesus’ name. Amen.

Ginnie Spurr

THURSDAY, APRIL 14

“Then the tempter came and said to him, ‘If you are the Son of God, command these stones to become loaves of bread.’ … Jesus said to him, ‘Away with you, Satan! for it is written, “Worship the Lord your God, and serve only him.”’” (Matthew 4 3-10)

“Train children in the right way, and when old, they will not stray.” (Proverbs 22:6)

Yuch!!!

Since Matthew is the lectionary gospel for this year, we almost certainly will be hearing his version of the temptation story of Jesus. When I think about this story, I want Jesus to spend lots of time looking at the temptations offered him, weighing pros and cons, and then doing the right thing. But, as I’ve paid more attention to the story, I’ve decided that Jesus just doesn’t do that – Jesus turns them down flat.

This is a little hard for me to really get, but it says a lot about his family and community and how he was raised. Jesus was not dealing with temptation as something to be regretfully avoided but something to be fled from.

Can you imagine a kid saying, “Why would I want candy when I can have vegetables.” Hard, but possible – yes? I know that a kid could feel that way if he or she were properly trained that way, if they really experienced their home and community to be totally saturated with those values, so maybe it isn’t that strange after all.

Maybe God is counting on our communities to train kids to be like Jesus, not dealing with temptations as something they are denied but something to be fled from. Of course, that means that we have to set that example.

Prayer: God, may we be the community where your children learn to be saturated in you. In the name of Jesus we pray. Amen.

Marcie B. Chaney

WEDNESDAY, APRIL 13

“For everything there is a season, and a time for every matter under heaven.” (Ecclesiastes 3:1)

“Remember your creator in the days of your youth before the days of trouble come.” (Ecclesiastes 12:1)

Trust and faith are such a big part of life, and they are an on-going life lesson as I was reminded by a 22 month year old Grandnephew.

One day not so long ago, on her way to visit her in-laws, my niece decided to stop at her folks and check on their house. With her were her husband and their 22 months old son Sammy. Sammy knows the home of Grandpa and Grandma as the place of hugs and kisses.

Because car seats are such a hassle, when they arrived he was told he was going to stay in his seat and would not be going in, Grandpa and Grandma were not there. Sammy, ready for his hugs and kisses, protested vehemently and was not having any of this after at all! Grandpa and Grandma were always there when Sammy came to visit! Sammy was not let out of his seat.

After visiting the in-laws, on the way home it was naptime so they decided to stop at her folks home again where there was a bed already set for Sammy. This time Sammy was ready, he shot out of his seat on the run through the open door calling for Grandpa and Grandma, ready for hugs and kisses. Needless to say they did not stay and Sammy did not nap.

For me, every day I awake and know He is there, I go to church and know He is there!

Everyday is Christmas, Good Friday, and Easter all rolled into one and for the rest of our lives!

He is the Lord of the Dance.

Faith and Trust!

Prayer: Please Lord lead me to live in You as You live in me wherever I may be. Amen.

Jean Woodworth

TUESDAY, APRIL 12

“Now we see but a poor reflection as in a mirror; then we shall see face to face.” (1 Corinthians 13:12, NIV)

The English translation of the first part of this verse is different in nearly all of the Bibles that I have checked; the key word in Greek seems to be “ainigmati” which means “obscureness,” and has been translated darkly, dimly, baffling, puzzling, indistinctly, imperfectly, cloudy, like a riddle. The next part, “face to face,” is nearly the same in every Bible. This verse seems to me to mean that we don’t fully understand the meaning of everything in this part of our journey but that we shall know fully in eternity.

Elsewhere in this Lenten Booklet are questions that children of the PW Mom’s Circle would ask if they could talk with God. I believe that adults also have questions they would ask. One is. “Why are there always wars and why are there always poor?” (Define wars and poor.)

Another question is, “Do we really have free will, or do we just think we have free will?” Shakespeare’s Jaques says, “All the world’s a stage, And all the men and women merely players.” (As You Like It, 2.7.139-140), but Descartes says, “The will is by its nature so free that it can never be constrained.” (Passions of the Soul, I, art. 41)

I’m sure there are many other unanswered questions, the most common possibly being, “Why?” But in the end we will know the answers. In the meantime, we have to have faith that “all things work together for good for those who love God.” (Romans 8:28)

Prayer: Loving God, whoever you are and wherever you may be, we thank you for being with us as we walk on this journey. Thank you for the many blessings you have given us like family, friends, and the beauty and bounty of nature. Praise and glory to you forever. In Christ’s name. Amen.

Irv Poston

MONDAY, APRIL 11

“Do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your minds, so that you may discern what is the will of God – what is good and acceptable and perfect.” (Romans 12:2)

“Problems we face cannot be solved if we are at the same

place we were when we created them.” (A. Einstein)

I saw it as I sat in the car waiting for the traffic light to change. There it was in the store window in huge letters – “TRADE IN YOUR OLD TREADMILL.” What an absolutely terrific idea said I as I hurried to my next meeting. Indeed there are times when I can identify with the treadmill – often feeling that my life is being lived on the treadmill of my mind and weekly planner! Working hard but not really Moving.

The journey of life is indeed that – a journey or passage from one place or time or thought to another. Treadmills had no place in the life changing movements such as the Women’s Suffrage Movement and the Civil Rights Movement as their people marched toward understanding, action and justice.

Our journey through these forty days of Lent invites us to trade in our old treadmills and move toward repentance and renewal. Repentance implies movement – the turning away from evil and movement towards what is good. As we walk the road to Jerusalem we have the opportunity to look inward and recognize attitudes and behaviors that separate us from God and to focus on the new life God has called us to live. When Mary and Mary Magdalene went to the tomb and found it empty, they did not stay there but rather they ran to bring the good news to the disciples. May we, too, run on Easter Morning and share the good news of God’s gift of new life in Christ. In the words of the old Quaker saying – “Pray, and move thy feet.”

Prayer: Loving and gracious God, may your word always be a lamp to our feet and a light to our path as we seek to know your will – what is good and acceptable and perfect. Amen.

Glen Tyndall

SUNDAY, APRIL 10

“And now faith, hope, and love abide, these three; and the greatest of these is love.” (1 Corinthians 13:13)

“Will you go to church with me?” was Ginnie’s response to my marriage proposal. While I was no stranger to church, I couldn’t have dreamed what direction that simple question would take me (us). That question resulted in a growth and dedication to make church the center of our lives, and once one does that, life will never be the same as we might have guessed it would be. It’s a sneaky process. Being introduced to a large number of people resulted in our phone ringing from our new acquaintances. There is always something happening at church,and participating in all these things tightens the bonds.

Whenever our phone rings we look at our calendar first to see what we have scheduled at church. Without a plan, we found our connection to the church growing more and more an integral part of ourselves. So many of you have been there and know first hand what I'm saying, while others have this wonderful experience before you.

Ginnie and I, through these experiences, have grown tighter in our relationship, sharing common interest. It’s a great life, and we could never have guessed nor planned a life together as satisfying as ours has been.

What has all this to do with Lent? It has to do with dedication of one’s life – no small matter, but neither a lightning bolt decision. God’s plan for us was not revealed in a blinding flash. Rather, He continued opening doors, behind which we, through faith, continued our life’s path. Only in retrospect do we see how our lives were shaped. It’s a matter of faith rather than knowing what tomorrow may bring. And speaking of faith, one of my favorite hymns (#276 – “Great Is Thy Faithfulness”) says it all. You can’t out-faith the Father.

Prayer: Great is Thy faithfulness. Great is Thy faithfulness, morning by morning new mercies I see. All I have needed Thy hand hath provided. Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord unto me. Amen.

Bill Spurr