Temptations of the weary

If you think being tired is just a state of being, think again.  Exhaustion, weariness, tiredness can be traps to make a real mess of our lives.  Do you ever hear yourself apologizing and then blaming your behavior on being tired?  "Oh I'm sorry.  I didn't mean that.  I'm just so tired--"   There are the stories of people who signed papers, made purchases and agreements and promises when tired and not thinking clearly.  These acts of weariness have resulted in years of problems.  When you're tired it will take you sometimes twice as long to complete a task.   When you're tired you're more likely to be impatient, unkind, or rude.  Ever noticed how ticked off you can get when you're exhausted?  When you're tired it's hard to hear from God.  That's because your frame of mind is agitated and dulled.  You're just not listening.  When you're tired it's easier to feel sorry for yourself, find fault and complain.  If you stub your toe when you're rested you might yelp with the sudden pain, but if you stub you're toe when you're sleep deprived and/or worn out, you  become enraged.  People have forfeited their morals when tired; they have compromised their integrity while in a state of weariness.  The good news is tiredness is a temporary condition.  A little sleep, a little folding of the hands, and we're good to go again, and no longer prone to the temptations of the weary.

On the road

Working on a new book or a new painting is like stepping into another country.  In this way I'm always traveling to new countries. And now I guess you might say I'm on the road again.  I'm writing my third book of fiction.  (My second book, AN ORDINARY DAY IN HEAVEN, isn't out yet.  I confess I get a little anxious in this waiting period between the words "The End" and "Now in Bookstores."  So in the meantime, I work.)  And I appreciate the world around me.  (We must never miss an opportunity to appreciate the world around us, I always say.)  For example, today I was explaining to my granddaughter the Sacred Act of Eating.  She held back chuckles as I explained that eating is a Holy Event.  Every meal, holy and sacred.  The taste, texture, sight, sound, aroma, and sheer delight of food--  She munched her veggie burger and then chuckling openly, she said she'd never think of eating quite in the same way.  It's all about Being Present, I explain. She does not look at me as if I'm from another country.  She gets up from the table, comes over to me and gives me a big hug.  I'm back from the road.  I'm definitely home.

Back home

Wow.  All flights canceled from Washington D.C. because of the huge show storm.  Makes me wonder if weather rules the world.  (We know better, of course, but nevertheless it's daunting. )  The airport in DC was chaos beyond anything I've seen a long time-- not since the ice storms in Vermont a few years ago when I was in graduate school trying to get home.  Newscasters are warning to watch the weight on our roofs, stay off roads, load up on groceries. I was at the Prayer Breakfast in D/C. where Obama gave his little talk, nothing like we had hoped, and Hillary carried on-as keynote- first time for me to hear Hillary in person.  She is the definitive political speaker, let me tell you.  Warm, personal, funny, and for me, as the writer with a spiritual eye-- totally phoney.  Like the president's talk.  Something is wrong at the top, friends, terribly wrong.  At the congressinal dinners and luncheons I attended I met men and women in office who are scrupulous and reputable  people of integrity-- but if you';ve never been a person of prayer for our nation, let me sound the alarm-- now is the time.  Pray for our leaders.  PRAY. 

Off to President's Prayer Breakfast in Washington

Did you notice the silk painting?  It's only a small section of one of my silk scarves and it's after Romans 12:21:  "Do not be overcome by evil, but overcome evil with good," and entitled "Overcoming."  In a few hours I'll be flying to Washington D.C. for the President's Prayer Breakfast.  (Speaking ofovercoming!  We'll be praying up a storm.)  It's a three-day event with a National Leadership gathering as well.  There will be a congressional dinner and leadership luncheon besides the famous Breakfast with the Pres., as I like to call it.  I was a speaker for the event in '08, and it's quite spectacular with leaders and dignitaries from around the world.  It is a grave time for prayer for this world, not only our beautiful nation.  I learned more about the condition of the world (things the news media don't tell us) at the U.N. Prayer Summit a few months ago in New York.  As we gathered in those impressive chambers listening to leaders from around the world tell their stories it was most sobering.  Talk about a call for intercession!  I will  try to blog when I'm in Washingotn.  I understand the city is under 5 inches of snow.  This Minnesota girl will be right at home.  Please pray for me.  Are you telling anyone to join us on this blog?  I hope so! 

Job's Wife

Have you ever thought about Job's wife?  I mean, really.  We love our Mr. Job, but what about the missus?  Just think.  There she was, the wife of a successful man-- and if you ascribe to the tenet that behind every successful man is a hard-working woman, she had to have some part in his fame and success.  First of all, she gave birth to  seven children in ancient 2nd millenium primitive conditions.  Granted she was rich, but let's face it girls, no amount of gold or silk pillows changes the fact that childbirth is no picnic.  Seven children 2,000 years before Christ?  That's 63 months of pregnancy, or 5-1/4 years of her life in a maternity tunic.   The children grew up to be fun-loving young people and Job loved and prayed for them.  This must have been gratifying to Mrs. Job.  Every woman wants her children to be loved by a caring dad, right?   But then one day her world crashed down around her.  Everything she worked for, built, believed in, loved, trusted, and been proud of was gone, beginning with their thousands of  animals and the hired help.   Then on her eldest son's birthday, a tornado struck, and he was killed in his house along with the rest of her children .  She was left with absolutely nothing but a bereft husband who was in horrible, inconsolable grief.   And  if things weren't bad enough, suddenly this formerly richest man in the East  broke out in agonizing boils from head to toe.  She had to be beside herself in confusion, terror and grief.  Well, we know the end of the story, don't we?  God gave Job twice what he started out with, plus seven more children-- (that's 14 pregnancies all together)  When we start to complain in life, Beloved, let's remember Mrs. Job and praise God, for God blessed her and Job both.   He loved them both.  Let's  look not at the things which are seen, but at the things which are not seen--and think about our light affliction, which is but for a moment...  Read 2 Cor. 4:16-18 with me and let's be glad together.

New Year- New Life

I've been travelling and doing some serious thinking about this new year.  The prophesies we're receiving are filled with words regarding government, global turmoil, but also God's outpouring of blessings.  I tell you, I'm expecting great things of God.  I look forward into 2010 and I see His people take hold of Who Jesus Is more fervently than ever.  I keep having visions and dreams of us, you and me-- the family of God, and we're climbing ladders, reaching heights, moving up, up, up.  It's beautiful.  My calling in this life is to minister the love and glory of God through learning the victorious, overcoming Christian life-- and I see us doing just that-- overcoming, standing strong.  I have always taught my children, to be brave and do hard things, and I can only praise the Lord for the hard things in life because He also gives us the gift of courage.  Moses was trained as a shepherd in the desert before he could lead his people to the Promised Land across the desert--  Joseph was trained in Potiphar's house and in prison before he could be 2nd in command in Egypt and rescue his people from extinction-- and you and I?  We're in training, too.  No matter where we stand spiritually at the  birth of this new year, we are called to burst forth and move higher.  The year is new, and so is our life.  This year, let's be more courageous than we've ever been.

Lighted Ecstasy

 I am very much liking the magical aspect of things lighted up.  Everyone likes light and brightness.  We're drawn to light, like moths-- like hurting souls longing for relief-- like children aching for the  Light of the world-- We're desperate for a light within.  Last night a friend took me to the Four Seasons and as I sat in awe in the midst of a panoramic lighted paradise, I recognized why we're drawn to spectacle-- and how much we need spectacle.  Aristotle listed spectacle as one of the 6 aspects of drama.  I remember when I saw "Lion King" on Broadway in NYC-- how I literally staggered with delight at the spectacle.  I've had the same experience in the audience at "Mystere" in Las Vegas.   I could name more.  The spectacle within recognizes the spectacle without.  This is ectasy.  To miss out on the ecstacy of this dazzling season is a shame.  The Chanukah candles, the Christmas lights, the joy of Light.  This is something to experience with enthusiasm --Think of gasping with delight as you applaud the eruptions of fireworks in a night sky -- but here's the thing:  nothing less spectacular lives within us.   Within us is an extravaganza of light far outshining any tree, billboard,  building, theatre, home or park.  We are living lights on hills.  In the One born in a manger, that's who we are. 
My website is updated.  Please check it out.  And be sure to order your copy of "The Room of Wisdom."
http://www.mariechapian.com/  I always look forward to hearing from you.  A blessed lighted Christmas within to you, Beloved one.