Who are the people in your neighborhood?

Today I was reading the familiar story of the Good Samaritan in Luke 10:25-37. Of course, I've heard and read it a thousand times, but something caught my attention. It starts with an expert in Jewish law, who, after correctly stating that the Scripture teaches to love God and one's neighbor, asks Jesus "And who is my neighbor?" (v. 29) Jesus tells the parable and concludes by saying "Which of these three do you think was a neighbor to the man who fell into the hands of robbers?" (v. 36)

In typical fashion, Jesus didn't answer the man's question. This expert wanted to pick and choose the neighbors he could feel good about loving, and not worry about anyone else. But Jesus turned it around on him. Rather than looking for neighbors, Jesus commands him to be a neighbor. There is no limit, no qualifier on who he is to be a neighbor to. He is to take the active role and assume neighbor status for everyone. As usual, this is a much steeper order than it first appears; one that we won't be able to accomplish on our own. It's impossible to be a great neighbor to everyone if we are stuck with our own minuscule resources and stingy hearts. But with God, nothing is impossible.

Piano, guitar, and...tuba?

Music is an interesting continuum. On one end, you have classical music, which can be very technical and strictly defined. It's often called "serious" music. On the other end, you have jazz. Many songs rise from basic "charts" that really only provide a skeleton; the artists improvise most of what you hear. People don't usually go to school specifically to be jazz musicians.

But more than once, I have found that a continuum is better represented by a circle than a straight line. The apparent polar extremes can loop back on each other. For instance, to be a good jazz musician one must have great technical skill with one's instrument. Similarly, it is a sign of a virtuoso if an artist can improvise a cadenza in a famous concerto. Andre Previn and Wynton Marsalis are two examples of people who have bridged this gap with great success.

And this week I found a third. I was listening the "Real Jazz" station on XM Radio. I wasn't paying much attention, but suddenly I heard something "out of the corner of my ear." I recognized the strains of "Don't Get Around Much Anymore," but smiled when I realized it was being played by a tuba! Sam Pilafian, one of the founding members of the Empire Brass, has also made several jazz recordings. Empire Brass is one of the top horn ensembles in the classical music world. But Mr. Pilafian was not content to be boxed into one genre. Once you get past the initial humor of hearing a tuba play jazz, you realize he's really good at it. This is not a gag recording, although it may stray into the realm of novelty. He launches into improvised solo as if a tuba were as natural to jazz as a piano or trumpet. It's a good reminder that music is not just entertainment, but art. A little creativity can cross boundaries and produce delightful results.

A Bit Presumptuous

I guess I'd better get my act together and introduce myself! First, let me say what a joy and honor it is to share this space with my two friends. Writing is not a talent you often get to observe in your friends. So being able to share the "page" with these ladies is great fun.

The moniker "GuruChick" seems a bit presumptuous in retrospect, but that's ok. Hey, it's the internet, no one really knows if I'm a guru in anything! The name comes from my early days in the technology world. I was the only girl in my high school computer science class. On my birthday, all the guys signed a card for me and said "You're the coolest computer chick we know."

I have since gotten away from writing software, but now I work in medical technology. Essentially, I provide tech support for implantable defibrillators. I love my job; it's different every day and I get to help people. And that's just the days I'm in the office! My other "job" is being home part-time with my 8-month-old, Walter. You can always read my latest "proud mom" post on his blog, NextGenGurus.

I used to have a solo blog at GuruChick.com. With a new baby, I just didn't have the time, energy, or creativity to put out enough content on my own. So I'm excited to do a group project like this. I can still do some non-mom blogging but there's less perceived pressure to post. I hope you're looking forward to all that is to come in this space. I know I am!

Any Volunteers???

So my second post on this brand new blog is going to be little more than a rant. Hopefully, I won't come across a very angry person. Here goes nothing . . . Where the heck are all the volunteers???

Ok, so I signed up to maybe assist in a Spanish class and somehow I find myself in charge and being the only teacher. "How did this happen?" you may ask. Well I'll tell you . . . I don't know.

One minute I'm getting contacted to take part in an initial volunteer meeting about the possibility of maybe having a beginner Spanish class at church, and the next thing I know, I'm putting together a bulletin announcement with my name and home phone number as the sole contact. And I find myself asking the question in vain, "Any volunteers?". And I wait, and wait.

A single, solitary email. I answer, eagerly. No response. A phone call. A call back to him. Good, good, he's interested in helping. Not teaching the class, mind you, but helping. Well, it's a start . . . And then . . . it all goes to pot. You see, the one person who was interested in helping is unable to attend any of the meetings.

Meanwhile, the pastor is holding onto me (and Dear Hubby, who also got sucked into this--it's a wonderful opportunity to minister as a couple, you know) for dear life.

You see, I am his lifeline. Apparently in this church of nearly 5000 regular attenders, this lack of volunteerism is a common occurrence. What?!??! Oh yes, he frequently only has one or two volunteers rise to the occasion.

See people in our church (as is the case, I'm told, in most churches, regardless of size) don't like to "step up". When it comes right down to it, they want to sit back, hear a sermon once a week, maybe do a good deed once in awhile outside of church, and show up for whatever sort of helpful class or seminar may be held. They don't seem to want to volunteer. No rolling up the sleeves and getting dirty, metaphorically. When it comes to literal dirtying of the person, as in construction or cleanup, they actually are quite good. We always have a huge turnout for those sorts of outreaches. Those are the easy ones. Take one Saturday afternoon, score a few points for heaven, store up a little treasure and all that. But when it comes to investing long term, there is a woeful lacking.

Every few months or so, there is a desperate cry for help from the Children's ministry that they need more volunteers. They are having to turn people away. The youth ministry, also, frequently looks for leaders to step up. Covenant Groups are open and remain unfilled because a large part of the church isn't involved in a small group.

Now I completely understand the desire for anonymity. I myself was not involved in a small group or other ministry for several years. I totally get that. There's the whole time factor, everyone's busy, blah blah blah. I get it. What I don't get is how people don't understand the whole lots-of-little-ants-working-together-can-carry-a-big-log thing. It shouldn't be like pulling teeth to get people to use their gifts. It shouldn't be up to a few people who are giving their time and energy to serve the vast mass of people who are always taking and never giving back.

How did I find myself in charge of a 10 week Spanish class that I never intended to do more than assist with? What's the point of all this? Not much more than a rant, but thanks for listening.

So be motivated. Come on, ants . . . we've got a log to move!

Philosophia's Violet

I’ve always been an admirer of the wood violet. Her tiny petals beckoning the woods to once again embrace the new life spring has to offer. When only a few others have dared to peek their heads, the wood violet boldly stretches her limbs and announces to the world, “Awaken, arise, do not fear. No longer must you lie waiting in the barren darkness, no longer must you hide. The time has come for you to melt what is frozen, unshackle what holds you in, to reach upward and open the beauty that lies within.” She, in her unassuming, humble existence, so easily dismissed and trodden upon by those hurrying by, looks to her Creator and offers the world what it so longs, what it so needs...hope. Hope, that there is life when all seems dead. Hope, that there is more, more dreams to be fulfilled, more joys to come. Hope, that your existence is not in vain, that you have been created to, in your own unique way, bring life and beauty to the world around you.

And that is why I have chosen to call myself Philosophia’s Violet. I do not assume to know much of philosophy or theology or who’s who in politics or anything really. And I have not been much of a beacon of hope. I have spent a good portion of, if not all, my life waiting, hiding, not wanting to let go of the fears frozen inside, not wanting to share with the world the beauty God has created within. But like the tiny wood violet, I know I, as we all do in our own way, have something to share that the world so desperately needs. And so, I here humbly begin sharing my philosophies and thoughts on life, and love and anything else in-between. It is my prayer that I, and any other readers will glimpse the hope and the beauty that exists today.

Tuesday's Child is full of . . . something

So the title of the blog is Graces Three. How convenient, I thought, I'll just call myself Tuesday's Child. After all, the old poem goes that Tuesday's Child is "full of grace", and I was, actually, born on a Tuesday. But the thing is, I don't live up to my supposed character. I am, quite possibly, the least graceful person I know.

I drop things, trip over myself, and say the wrong thing all the time. I even sprained the same ankle twice, and not doing anything even remotely dangerous (once doing a ballet move in my living room, and once when I was "skipping nimbly about the rocks"on the shores of Lake Supeior). I am, actually, a most UNgraceful lady. But that doesn't stop me from trying.

And then I realized, if I am saved by grace, then I must also be full of grace, right? Maybe my particular brand of grace is the more inconspicuous type. The kind that only I know about. Hmm . . . maybe it's a secret, yeah that's it. I have secret grace, an inner grace. One that you may not notice when you meet me, or even when you get to know me. But hopefully, the little light shines through anyway. After all, my inner grace is intended to be shared, not hidden.

So if I am meant to be a secret agent, playing the part of a mild mannered patient services representative for a local clinic by day, I need to let it be known that the secret agency I work for isn't the usual type. I am meant to be infiltrating the culture, permeating all I meet with love and understanding. Building relationships with those I come into contact with. Sharing that inner grace that I am full of. This is my mission, should I choose to accept it.

I have accepted it. And that is why I am Tuesday's Child.

Graces Who?

Interestingly enough, none of us is really named Grace. We are Anne, Marisa and Joanna, three friends who met in a church small group. When we realized that we all enjoy writing, we thought it would be fun to do a blog together.

Our name refers to the three Graces of Greek mythology: goddesses of beauty, charm and creativity. That describes us well! ;) If you add an apostrophe, we're also Grace's Three, women saved by the grace of Jesus.

While we are close friends who share many common interests, we are also very different. We would like all who read the blog to understand that our posts (after this one, anyway) will be our own individual thoughts and viewpoints. What is shared by one may not be the opinion of another. But there again, the grace theme comes into play. We have all agreed to give each other grace, even though the other two may have different (ahem, wrong) opinions.
:P

"We have different gifts, according to the grace given us." Romans 12:6a