Merry Christmas

The Star

It stood out one night among the rest
Beckoning me to journey west
I can’t explain the urgent call
I just knew that what I saw . . .

Was more than just another light
Illumining my darkest night
The light was speaking to my soul
Come meet the truth and be made whole

My journey west was long and grueling
Turn back! Press on! within me dueling
This star that seemed to call me on
At one point in the journey – Gone

Where was that light that shone so clear
Now replaced with doubt and fear
Was the calling really real
It all seemed vague and a bit surreal

No, in my heart I knew the star
Was calling me to travel far
The path to truth has many snares
Be alert and be aware . . .

Although the star that first shone bright
May dim, or flicker or lose it’s light
Keep pressing on through all the tears
That star will once again appear . . . .

For as the wise men long ago
Traveled far yet did not know
Where their journey’s end would be
They searched until the star did see

Appeared again as first it shone
Guiding, leading to the unknown
What they found at journey’s end
Was truth and hope, their greatest friend

How like my own unchartered path
Unknowns and questions I do have
And when I doubt , the truth is near
A different road may appear . .

Than what I expect or think to be
God, where am I going, I cannot see?
Where will this journey find it’s end?

“In truth and hope and my greatest friend”

He tells me to follow that distant call
To remember the words and what I saw
He will not forsake or leave me alone
The star will eventually lead me home

I have been meditating on the wise men and their committment to follow the star. This poem is a result of praying about and thinking on the monumental journey those men took 2,000 years ago. The call to follow the star is still relevant today ! May you have a blessed Christmas and holiday season !

Reflections at the Pond

There are a handful of places in the world that have become for me, places of reflection - places where I can go to be by myself and pray, think and listen. This pond, in the Endless Mountains of Pennsylvania is one of those places. It holds for me a lifetime of memories - it is where I first learned childhood lessons like: how to swim, how to bravely jump into unknown waters, that there is safety in numbers and you always swim with a friend, that spring-fed, ice cold water can both be refreshing and can knock the air right out of your lungs and so many more lessons of life. This pond has been a constant to me in my ever-changing, often mobile life. Whenever I visit it, it is consistently cold, consistently peaceful and always inviting. As I reflected on these things, I was so thankful for the sweet memories and the lessons learned and those I am still learning from this pond. As I jumped in this time, it still knocked the air right out of my lungs and it still gave me an incredibly refreshing feeling of freedom - God reminded me that it is still quite scary to jump into unknown waters - but like so many years ago - when I jumped into the deep end for the first time, there were trusted arms to catch me and to pull me up when I went under water. I sat there assured that as I continue to jump into unknown waters - God will be there and doubtless others as well, to encourage me to jump and to physically be there to make sure that I don't drown but rather gain the courage and the understanding to navigate the unknown. This pond holds a bit of mystery for me - much like the unknown waters I face right now in life. Yet, for some reason, as I reflect on the history of this pond in my life, I am encouraged that the mystery ahead will be even more wonderful than the mystery of the past. Such were my reflections at the pond. . .

Happy Birthday Mom !

My wonderful Mom just turned a whopping 80 years young! We had a really special time of celebrating her life. It reminded me once again of how important celebrations and gatherings are to us. I have grown to understand in a deeper way why God COMMANDED the children of Israel to celebrate. God loves a party and I am certain He loves birthdays, anniversaries, or pretty much any gathering that honors life and encourages and celebrates relationships. What a blessing it is to be with someone and remind them of special times, funny times, heartaches and joys. I have realized the older I become and the more places I go and the more people I meet - that I appreciate those solid life-long relationships - people that know me and with whom I have shared special memories. Mom's party had people from the age of 80+ down to 2! People who have known her close to 80 years and those who have known her a mere 2. I am becoming more and more adamant about living life fully, blessing those you love and am trying hard to continually risk loving and loving sacrificially - because when I celebrate my 80th birthday, I don't want there to be any regrets - especially in reaching out, loving and allowing myself to be loved ! Happy Birthday Mom - I celebrate your life !

Feeling the Father's Heart

In the midst of 20,000 people in need of proper housing, better education, healthier sanitation etc. God revealed to me once again how He sees the individuals - not just the masses. Nxeda came up to me while we were "building a better shack" (see my website for more on that). I gave her part of a muffin I had made and we were fast friends! She stayed with us that day, playing games, but mostly just sitting in my lap or tapping my leg for attention. There was something about the sadness in her eyes that caught my attention. I did not even want to think about what the possible reasons were for that sadness. What I did want to do, was play with her and try desperately to communicate to her that she is valuable. The day before I left I returned to her neighborhood in search of her. She came running out of nowhere and grabbed my legs. I told her I was returning to America, and in my heart I was praying that she would know a bit of the tangible touch of a loving God. It is times like these when the words of Jesus ring in my heart, "Most assuredly I say to you, he who believes in Me, the works that I do he will do also, and greater works than these he will do, because I go to My Father" - John 14:12. I pray that Nxeda felt in her spirit the love of God just as if Jesus hugged her and played with her.

Relational Revelation

Studying the Gospel of John this last week has been refreshing and revelational.
It is one of the amazing things about scripture that I love - God never runs out of fresh "down and dirty" revelation. He is always seeking to bring deeper revelation of Himself and His relationship to us. I have been struck this week with the incredible lengths at which the God of the universe goes to communicate to us that it is relationship that He wants with us. He created us so that we could join His Family. So often Christianity seems to focus on the separation we have with God rather than the invitation God gives to be a part of His family. The level of intimacy God wants with us, the invitation to relationship is what gives me my identity – not the outward obedience – my acceptance of His love, His intimacy is what empowers me to live life to the fullest. A friend once said that the remedy for sin is to join the Family. The antidote to sinning is receiving the love offered to you. It is so true that in a place of healthy relationship, sin cannot survive. God calls us into His Family - a healthy Family, full of love, intimacy and acceptance - it is in those relationships that we live life abundantly.

"I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you. Before long the world will not see me anymore,but you will see me. Because I live, you also will live. On that day you will realize that I am in my Father, and you are in me, and I am in you" -John 14:18-20

You can't get more intimate and relational than that - How did we get so far away from that life-giving good news. Sin, shame, guilt, etc. all dissolve before an open-armed Father, Son and Holy Spirit who come to us, welcome us and make their home with us ! (John 14:23)

Baboons!

Here is one picture of the baboons -per request of my webmaster, Joe! I have a few more pics of them which I will try and get on my web site - they are a blast to watch! Just yesterday, my friend watched as a baboon waited across the street from a convenience store. A woman left the store with a bag of fresh rolls and the baboon came up behind her, grabbed the bag then sat on a retaining wall chomping away on the rolls. Gives a whole new meaning to being mugged!

South Africa

What a full time I am having here in Capetown. I came to do some planning with my International Discipleship Training School Centre (IDTSC) leaders, Maureen Menard and Patti Lee, as well as assist and participate in a 10 day course on the Gospel of John. While here I have jumped into some local outreach into a township called Masiphumelele. Interacting with the children has been a joy. At one point our group was helping a woman rebuild her "shack". I made some muffins to encourage the workers and pass out to anyone else hanging around. When we arrived we gave some muffins to a few children and within 2 minutes we had about 10 children eager to have a muffin! I had such a great time playing games with the children while the adults hammered away building the shack. The stories and experiences of these children's lives can be horrific. It was such a blessing to encourage them to play, to laugh with them and just to love on them. At any one time I had 3-4 children hanging all over me!

We have started the John course, 16 of us total, all meeting in Maureen's living room!
Already it has been a rich time of diving deep into the Scriptures, and we have just begun!

A side note to anyone who is interested - yes, I have seen some baboons - unfortunately the day they came into the nighborhood and got into everyone's trash bins - I was out and missed all the action - one day I want to be at the house when they come, but for now, I have only seen them on the side of the road down by Cape Point !

A New Beginning !

Welcome to Whitty's Tales!
This is a somewhat feeble attempt at allowing so many of my friends out there to keep track of me!
It also and more importantly is a place where I can share some of the incredible experiences I am living, lessons I am in the process of learning and people I am meeting and getting to know. Life is such a privilege - such a precious gift and I am looking forward to sharing some of this with whoever happens to stumble onto this blog. So, for now - welcome . . .come back again and enjoy the journey and tales along with me!