Asherah

A few days ago Good Morning America had a great special on how women see themselves and treat one another. It discussed how we women hurt ourselves with our constant evaluating...I started thinking...yes, she is right! We are made in God's image and we shouldn't constantly evaluate and question and judge...we degrade the image of God by degrading ourselves and each other! Each thought of too big, too ugly, too round, why did she wear that? ...all of them are degrading ...

The woman on the interview said something I really liked. Instead of walking into a room and checking out all of the women, their bodies, and their outfits and taking mental notes, we should compliment each other! Just randomly, we women should say to one another, "I really like that blouse!" or "You look so pretty today."

Two days later, Nathan and I went on a dinner date...I walked in and the hostess starting checking me out...I was worried. Did something not match, did I forget part of the outfit, etc.. and as I am worrying, she complimented me on my dress. It felt good! It gave me a boost of confidence! And, I remembered that interview!

By honoring the image of others, we honor the image of God! Why aren't we complimenting each other more? It seems so basic...it would make a huge difference!...marion...

Here is the news...

I am moving to a different church this year! I have not been able to post the news until after May 18th. I had to follow the United Methodist rules! I am the new pastor of Broad Street United Methodist. The church is located in a section of Portsmouth, Virginia called Port Norfolk. Nathan's church is about 10 minutes away from mine. We are very excited! This is the next part of our faith journey...and, the next part of my call story into ministry...

I shared with a church members at Williamsburg UMC that I was both happy and sad about the move. I told her that it will not be easy to say goodbye to the people and the church of Williamsburg; however, I am excited about where I am going and the people I will meet. The church member used a great word...she said that she prayed that I would have the capacity to hold both equally.

She gave me the word I was looking for to make sense of my feeling -- capacity! I think there are many times when we rush to the next move, the next event, the next emotion, the next person because it is easier than dealing with what is at hand. But, to have the capacity to hold both equally and respectfully ... that is harder, and that requires honesty...

I like that thought...I pray that whatever is happening in my life, I can have the capacity to hold all the important feeling and emotions equally without rushing over one or the other ...

...marion...

azaleas and magnolias

my brother and i spent an entire day digging in the dirt! we replanted his entire front yard! it was the perfect day -- neighbors stopped by to say hello, we remembered funny stories from growing up (including the story about kendrick digging a "pool" in the backyard), and we walked to the local market for food and flowers! when we finished the house, we realized we had planted the same plants that we grew up with...azaleas and magnolias!

Marion

crying in public

i went to a memorial service this past weekend. the situation was tragic...a teenage girl was murdered. the church was full and the majority of the congregation were high-school-age. i was struck at how many of these students could not stop crying -- some of the students admittedly didn't know the victim...but, their tears were just as real as the tears of the family.


this service allowed people to openly, publicly cry, no weep. there were no questions asked, just embraces shared and comforting words... my heart hurt as i began to think about whatever may be happening in the lives of all these students around me. it is hard being a teenager...how many people were really crying over an abuse, a death, a shame, an embarrassment, even a secret in their own lives...why is it that funerals and memorial services are the only times we can openly cry with no judgement? ....marion

kumar

well, i have been officially welcomed into the blog world, so now i feel the pressure and the excitement to keep up the blog -- of course, i have not really told people about the blog, so that is the other part --

the only reason i began the blog was because i felt behind! i need to keep up! i am just in my 30s..i should not be that out of touch!

thanks, kumar! ....marion

good friends

we had a busy weekend! to help us celebrate nathan's birthday, our friends Mark and Laura came down from DC -- the best part of being with friends is that you can truly be yourself -- over the course of three days, we laughed, we cried, we shared, and we just sat! no matter how long it has been, we just pick up right where we left off and right where we need to be...

on friday, we spent 8 hours at busch gardens! 8 hours of riding roller coasters with free falls and rides that when round and round and round, there was even a ride that left laura soaking wet! i think my favorite part was just laughing for no reason! the crazy part was that some of the rides actually connected me to memories of the Washington Parish Free Fair...growing up, we never missed that fair in Franklinton, Louisiana!

laura and i rode the busch gardens' version of the Scrambler..as i was laughing while laura was screaming apologies for "squishing" me (in the middle of the ride!), my mind went right back to the memory of riding that very ride with my brother while our grandparents waved to us...only i never apologized to kendrick, we both just squished! (sorry kendrick)

on another ride, i was crying i was laughing so hard and apologizing for "squishing" laura on what i know as the "Himalaya"... i remembered riding that ride with my cousin russell...my mind went right back to being a 15-year-old in Franklinton, La. trying to look cool on a ride that went round and round and round forcing you to land on the person next to you! and forcing your eyes to water and face to make strange faces... the memories i had on the rides only lasted a moment, but the feeling of joy that came lasted much longer! it was just fun!

my recommendation -- ride more rides! laugh more and enjoy more! .....marion

how does this work?

i can't believe we actually have a blog -- i am really not sure how this works anyway -- it is very odd to think that i will just write down my thoughts and people will actually read them -- it feels selfish, yet somehow connecting all at the same time ... who knows how often i will even write ... this is truly an experiment .....marion