The Biscuit Prayer

I have seen the "Biscuit Prayer" before. I don't know who wrote it.  Thanks to our pastor Nanci Hicks for posting it again today on Facebook. I thought I'd store it right here for future reference. 

A pastor asked an older farmer, decked out in bib overalls, to say grace for the morning breakfast.

"Lord, I hate buttermilk", the farmer began. The visiting pastor opened one eye to glance at the farmer and wonder where this was going.

The farmer loudly proclaimed, "Lord, I hate lard." Now the pastor was growing concerned.

Without missing a beat, the farmer continued, "And Lord, you know I don't much care for raw white flour". The pastor once again opened an eye to glance around the room and saw that he wasn't the only one to feel uncomfortable.

Then the farmer added, "But Lord, when you mix them all together and bake them, I do love warm fresh biscuits. So Lord, when things come up that we don't like, when life gets hard, when we don't understand what you're saying to us, help us to just relax and wait until you are done mixing. It will probably be even better than biscuits. Amen."

Within that prayer there is great wisdom for all when it comes to complicated situations like we are experiencing in the world today.

Stay strong, my friends, because our LORD is mixing several things that we don't really care for, but something even better is going to come when HE is done with it. AMEN!

  -Author Unknown

 

New Years Day 2023

Every News Day since 1984 I am gobsmacked by the science fiction feel of the new number I need to write or type. We are 39 years past Orwell's dystopian vision and even 22 years past terror of Kubricks soft-spoken HAL.

The year started with a missed field goal in the Peach Bowl. Georgia's football team is far from my favorite team, but when it gets down to a team from our state against one from Ohio, well I gotta cheer for the home folks. I doubt if I slept till two or later.

If the choir had sung at today's service, I'm not sure I would have made it in time. As it was, we could slip in just before eleven and no one knows how recently we were abed. I'm glad we made it. It was a beautiful service of new beginnings. The congregation, as one might expect, was small, and there were no musicians except our pastor (who has a beautiful voice). She led us in singing the first hymn a cappella, interspersing each verse with her quiet prayer. Her elegant pastoral prayer included a beautiful poem. I consulted Mr. Google when I got home and found the poem attributed to in one place to Michael Dougherty and in another to Howard Thurman:

When the carols have been stilled, 
When the star-topped tree is taken down, 
When family and friends are gone home, 
When we are back to our schedules 
THE WORK OF CHRISTMAS BEGINS 
To welcome the refugee, 
To heal a broken planet, 
To feed the hungry, 
To build bridges of trust, not walls of fear, 
To share our gifts, 
To seek justice and peace for all people, 
To bring Christ’s light to the world.

Her sermon is one that I wish more could have heard.

After church we drove through McDonald's for our first meal of the day, Egg McMuffins, and ate them as we drove toward the Lock and Dam Park for the annual First Day Hike. The McMuffins made us late so we had our own own walk along the river to the upstream nature preserve. It was a beautiful day and as always I enjoyed this winter hike --- despite the lack of wildflowers and greenery --- for the clear view of the lay of the land.

We started the path behind campsite 9.

The trail follows the river upstream.

I remember this huge multiple trunked Tulip Poplar from previous walks here. Alas it is much smaller since two of its trunks have fallen.

The trail ends at this wetland.

A observation shelter at the wetland.

Despite the recent wet weather the mass of Resurrection Fern on this tree is already mostly brown.

Not a lot left of the dam.

The mighty Coosa below the dam flows on toward Alabama.

I was pleased that the fencing around the lock is pretty sturdy. I think we could safely bring the grandgirls here next time they come.

At home again it was time soon for the annual New Year meal of Hopping John and such. It was absolutely delicious!

Left: Hopping John (black-eyed peas, tomatoes, rice, turkey sausage) with a splash of hot sauce and a dollop of plain greek yogurt. Right: A couple of cornbread sticks (made in cast iron inherited from my Mother) and some mixed stir fried veggies. The greens and the black-eyed peas are required for good fortune in the coming year. 

Now we are off one one more walk before the sun goes down. 

The skyline of our downtown from beneath the Turner-McCall bridge.

Another skyline from the levee.

Another skyline from the levee.

The Oostanaula in sunset from the Fifth Avenue
 bridge.

The Oostanaula in sunset from the Fifth Avenue bridge.

The City Clock through the branches of a tree at the old courthouse.

Two great Rome landmarks: the City Clock and Schroeder's New Deli.

I this was the first season for the green and red decorations... the one in blue has been around only a little longer.

A window at Schroeders.

Pumpkins!

Sheila and I have been members of Trinity United Methodist Church since the year we married 1971 -- and I had been a member from 1962-1967 as well, while my father was pastor there. For the last thirty years or so a major fundraiser for the church has been our annual "Pumpkin Patch." As strange as it might seem, this annual pumpkin sale developed into something of a ministry of the church. First it brought members of all ages together in staffing the patch during most of October, feeling very good about raising money to support our flourishing youth ministries. It also attracted groups of children from day-cares and schools all over the county as well as just the general public, for storytelling and pictures. Sometimes new members's very first experience with Trinity was the "Patch". 

When our kids were in their teen years we took many turns in the Patch, not quite so often since. But we were back out there today with great Trinity friends Anita and Quillian Stewart and Lynn and Sandra Popham. And you never know who's gonna show up to choose a pumpkin. It was an absolute delight for Anita and me to see Lexie Terry who had been our fourth grade student at Armuchee Elementary when Anita was principal and I was a fourth grade teacher. 

The sky was gorgeous and the pumpkins make an interesting photo subject so I took a few iPhone pictures.

Y'all drop by and choose a pumpkin or two and maybe a little pumpkin bread, a visit a while.

I love our sanctuary. Our church has been blessed with many outstanding pastors like our current leader who preaches scripture-based sermons that challenge me to live the gospel more faithfully. 

This is our little columbarium which holds the ashes of several friends . 

 

Showing Off Arrowhead to Debi's Grandkids

My nephew Jonathan with his wife Jessica and their three children, Ellie, Oliver, and Zeke, are staying with us three nights as they visit to attend Beth's funeral. 

Today they walked with me to the church to move a couple of tables out of the sanctuary. 

The tables had been moved into the sanctuary yesterday to hold Beth's urn, some flowers, two of Beth's paintings, and her portrait for her funeral. 

As it turned out someone had beat me to it. I am so thankful to be a part of Trinity United Methodist Church. Our pastor, Nanci Hicks, did much not only to comfort us during our grief, and to preside at the funeral, but also arranged much of the mechanics of being ready for the event such as those tables, and ushers, and printed programs, and sound equipment, and live-streaming and recording of the service. She had the help of our wonderful choir director Kam Malone, our administrative assistant Lauri Pack, and Trinity stalwarts Sam Evans, Chuck Evans, and Thom Holt. And Debra Malone's musical talents and dedication added so much to the service. I could never fully express the love and thanks I feel for these people, and all the folks at Trinity who came to support us or who have called, and prayed, and sent cards to ease our burden.

When we walked back from the church we detoured over to the levee ...

Then we were joined by Jonathan's brother Matthew and his daughter Lillian (yes, another Lillian) as well as Debi, Gregg, Andrew, and Sheila in three cars for a caravan to Arrowhead so the kids could visit our animals. The kids had a great time visiting with Lucky the Gopher Tortoise...

Beauregard to baby Alligator...

Corny the Corn Snake

and Ringo the King Snake.