IN REAL LIFE: For Rue Readers Who Have Outgrown Lily!

THIRD RETREAT CHALLENGE

 

Good morning, Ladies. Can I just say that if my daughter didn't have three dogs, three cats, and a baby, I 'd have a hard time finding photos to use here on the blog? Meet Piper (miniature doxie on the left) and Atri (at a younger age; she is now a grown kitty, though only in body; you would be hard put to find a more clueless cat  . . . ) Anyway, they epitomize our third retreat challenge. More on that below.

First, a reminder about all that we have going. Our third ever live blog weekend retreat starts FRIDAY. If you're just hearing about it or need a reminder, check out the last several posts for all the details. I hope you're coming up with your pizza idea for Saturday afternoon's contest and are being inspired by the challenges to write, draw, or photograph something to send to me ahead of time via email nnrue@att.net. (This one isn't a contest.)

I want to thank MELODY for her question about this. If you have a killer (not literally!) pizza in mind or your creative juices are flowing for a poem, etc. but you can't be here for the retreat, by all means send me those ahead of time and we'll include them. That way you'll still be with us in spirit.

As I've told you, our theme is sharing the Bread of Life without directly using words. Again, this is not to discount the absolute importance of giving your testimony or sharing Scripture with someone. We're focusing on "preach the Gospel always and use words if necessary" for two reasons:

        (1) If we witness with words and we DON'T witness with our actions as well, we can do a TON of damage. I'm sure you've heard people say they aren't interested in Christianity because most Christians they know are hypocrites. Sometimes they're right.

        (2) You're at a place in your life where you probably won't have a whole lot of luck standing up on a bench in the girls' locker room or in the middle of the dance studio or wherever and saying, "May I have your attention please? I'd like to tell you about Jesus." It is far more likely at this point that if you're actually DOING the Jesus thing, someone is going to come up to you privately and say, "How is it that you can rise above all this stuff?"

So that's what we're about right now. We've already talked about what you need to leave behind and how you can be a light in your own house. Here's the third challenge, the one Piper and Atri exemplify.

        Who do you need to work something out with before you can really  go to God authentically?

Jesus said:

"So when you are offering your gift at the altar, if you remember that your brother or sister has something against you, leave your gift there before the altar  and go; first be reconciled to your brother or sister and then come and offer your gift." (Matthew 5:23-24

I peronally have several friends that I have neglected because of work. I want to call them and ask for their forgiveness and get back on track, but so much time has gone by I'm afraid they'll tell me what a bad friend I've been or hang up on me, both of which I probably deserve. I need to face that and do the loving thing, or anything I SAY here or in that writing work I'm so busy with turns into do-as-I-say-not-as-I-do. Yeah, I need to get on that. 

I also had a situation recently where someone did something thoughtless to me and I was building up some pretty serious resentment. Every day when I sat down for quiet time, I found myself ranting about that in my journal. It finally came to me (du-uh) that I needed to go to the person and lay the thing out in a thoughtFUL  way. Like most situations of that kind,  it was resolved so much more easily than it was in the scenes I was rehearsing in my head! I try to think, "Is God getting tired of hearing about this?" If the answer is yes, it's time to get out of my own way and offer the Bread of LIfe, without saying a word.

So whatcha got? Bad blood with a former friend? Unresolved issues with a sibling? Big time conflicts with your parents? You're welcome to share in a comment, of course, but mostly this is for you as we prepare not only for this weekend but for a being a better embodiment of the love of our Lord Christ.

My prayers are with you as you "go and be reconciled."

 

Blessings,

Nancy Rue   

 

SECOND RETREAT CHALLENGE

 

 

Good morning, Ladies. Have I mentioned that I'm jazzed about next weekend's retreat? If you're just now hearing about it, you'll want to check out yesterday's post for the details. If you're up to speed I hope you're --

* dreaming up your pizza for the contest

* staying open to the nudge to write a poem, song, paragraph, or prayer OR to do a drawing or shoot some amazing photos

* pondering yesterday's challenge

Moving further with our theme of "Preach the Gospel always. Use words if necessary" (loosely translated from Francis of Assisi), I have a second challenge for you:

    According to Matthew (chapter 5, verses 14-16) Jesus told his disciples that they were the "light of the world." You've probably heard that so many times it may have lost its punch, so let's unpack it a little.

    "A city built on a hill cannot be hid." (If you've ever driven into San Francisco, you know that's the truth!) Ever thought of yourself as a whole CITY? Full of the potential to turn lights on everywhere you go? Or have you considered the fact that if nobody in town turned on a light, you wouldn't even be able to see the place. In 1977 New York City experienced a black-out that has gone down in history as an incredibly disturbing night.  

    "No one after lighting a lamp puts it under the bushel basket." Well, no, I mean, why would we? Do you even OWN a bushel basket? The point is the light is there for a reason and it isn't so you can turn it off. And again, Jesus points out that it's not like the illumination on your cell phone so you can text after you've been told to go to bed. He says "it gives light to all in the house."

So here's the challenge:

Second Challenge

You don't have to figure out if you HAVE a light to shine on the world. Jesus already said "You ARE the light." Setting aside the city for the moment, how's that happening with you right there in your own house? Are you shedding any light on places where family members are hiding resentment? Turning on an overhead to show that there really are no bogeymen lurking about? Offering some cheer amid the winter gloom? Or at least refusing to add to it with your own funky mood?

    We'll pray for each other (right?) as we pull off those bushel baskets and start spreading some light at home (and be prepared for some squinting among your family members who are pretty cozy in the dark). 

"Let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father in heaven."

  And you don't have to say a word . . .

Blessings,

Nancy Rue 

RETREAT PLANS

Wake up, Ladies! I'm ba-a-a-a-ck! Sheesh, I missed talking to you. But -- I love, love, loved the seventh session of the Academy for Spiritual Formation. I think those five days  pushed me even farther than the others, and among other things, the session shaped an idea for our Live Blog Retreat next weekend. (I called it a "party" in my last post, which seriously doesn't cover all that our on-line gathering is going to be.)

So, just to refresh your memory (by the way, I love that the little icon with the circular arrow on the internet is called the "refresh" button; I wish I had one of those in my body!)  Anyway, a review of the details for the retreat:

 
 

Friday, February 3,

4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

AND

Saturday, February 4

8:00 - 10:00 a.m.

AND

2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

AND

(For the brave early risers)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

6:00 - 7:00 a.m.

For those of you who haven't joined us for a blog retreat before, here's how it works:

 

            * Come to the In Real Life blog any time during the hours posted above. Come for as many of the four sessions as you like, and stay as long as you want to. It's okay to check in when the session is already under way.

        * When you do log on, post a comment with your rendition of "I'm here!" and when you have to leave, just post a comment saying "Gotta go!" (or some facsimile thereof)

        * Each session will have a theme which comes under the big ol' umbrella theme for the weekend (more on that below) . I'll post questions for you to ponder and you can address them in your comments. We'll be doing some prep for that next week in case you want to think about it ahead of time.

        * We'll have a couple of contests, too.I'm thinking this is going to involve food (always, right?) as well as some other challenges which we'll get to in a minute. The food contest (think pizza) will happen Saturday afternoon and the others will be ongoing through the weekend.

        * There will also be chances for those of you who are writers to share some of your creative work. Once you've pondered the theme (yeah, yeah, that's coming) you might feel nudged to write a poem, a prayer, or a paragraph. You'll need to send those to me by email -- nnrue@att.net -- by Thursday, February 2, one week from today. Let's keep them to 200 words or less.

        * Artists and photographers have an opportunity to show us what YOU'RE workin' with, too. If dealing with the theme inspires you to do some kind of visual art or take a photo, please send those to me (via email) too. Digital photos are easy to attach to an email; obviously any original artwork you do you'll have to take a photo of (or scan) and then attach to an email. But since those aren't due until a week from today either, you have plenty of time.

        * So -- during the retreat sessions I'll be posting . . . and posting . . . and posting! And you will be commenting . . . and commenting . . .  and commenting! That means if you miss anything, you can always go back and catch up later.

So -- more details:

        The FOOD contest: Create your absolute favorite pizza for Saturday afternoon's session. You can either actually make it or have Domino's deliver or whatever. OR you can create it in your head and describe it to us when the call goes out for  pizza entries during that session. If you want to take a photo or do a drawing, email those to me (ahead of time if possible) at nnrue@att.net. Why pizza? Because that seems to be the signature food of youth groups. Get kids together and feed them Papa John's. Help them feel like they belong. Show them what it means to share the bread of life. No words needed. It's there in the pepperoni and the double cheese and the original crust.

Besides, that fits out THEME perfectly. How do we as Christian women share the Bread of Life in the world, without having to say a word? Now, before you go, "But what about giving our testimony and sharing Scripture?" -- yes, that is a HUGE part of our ministry as Christians. However, that can be quickly discounted if we aren't absolutely LIVING it.   

In the week leading up to our retreat, I'm going to issue some challenges, starting with the one below in red. Then during our four sessions together, we'll see how they all fit into a courageous, stand-tall, God-filled way of being for you. My shoulders are straightening just thinking about it.

First Challenge: 

What do you have to leave behind, right now, to actually follow Jesus? (Matthew 4: 18 - 22) It doesn't necessarily have to be a "bad" thing. Fishing for fish wasn't a "bad" occupation to have; it just wasn't the one Jesus was calling his disciples to. For me right now, the thing I'm having to at least risk leaving behind is security. What about you? Ponder it in your heart (Mary style!). Talk to God. Maybe talk to somebody you trust. Talk to us if you feel comfortable. Then give it a go. We're here for you.

This could be our best retreat yet, ya think? Ah, and we've only just begun . . .

"And he said to them, "Follow me . . . Immediately they left their nets and followed him."

 

Blessings,

 

Nancy Rue

HERE'S THE SKINNY ON THE LIVE BLOG PARTY!!!

The Third Ever

In Real Life 

LIVE BLOG PARTY

is happening

Friday, February 3,

4:00 - 6:00 p.m.

AND

Saturday, February 4

8:00 - 10:00 a.m.

AND

2:00 - 4:00 p.m.

AND

(For the brave early risers)

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

6:00 - 7:00 a.m.

 

DETAILS REGARDING

CONTESTS,  FOOD AND

OTHER SURPRISES COMING SOON!

SAVE THE DATE!!!

What's Your Gold . . . Your Frankincense . . . Your Myrrh?

Hello, Ladies. Have I ever mentioned that I don't just call you "ladies" because it sounds nice . . . or because "girls" seems too young . . . or because it would just take too long to list all your names? (Hello Nicole, Melody, Paige, Avery . .  we could be here for days.) I call you "ladies" because according to the dictionary you fit the bill by being: "A well-mannered and considerate woman with high standards of proper behavior."

The world as a whole may not see that as valuable (much les cool), but I do. Just sayin'.

Okay, so -- I'm about to leave for my five-day session at the Academy For Spiritual Formation at the Oblate Renewal Center in San Antonio, Texas, and I couldn't go without checking in with you. I've been pretty incommunicado lately, trying to get a novel done, and as always you have carried on like, well, the ladies you are. Still, I wanted to leave you with some things to think about, comment on, discuss among yourselves while I'm off filling my well so we'll have even MORE things to talk about.

Those of you who have been with this blog for a while, or who worship in liturgical churches that follow the church calendar, know that this is the season of Epiphany. We're a week into it, actually, January 6 being the official start date when we recognize the arrival of the Three Wise Men (AKA Magi) at Jesus' birthplace. The fact that they were not Jewish but came from the Far East makes them a symbol for Jesus coming into the world to save everyone. That is genuinely a big deal and deserves its own celebration, even though we usually lump the Wise Guys in with the rest of the visitors in the nativity scene. They were the ones who made gift-giving appropriate at Christmas. Gave us the image of the star. And played a role in saving the baby Jesus' life by returning home by another way, rather than cluing Herod in on where he was. So yeah, they deserve a whole season.

Personally, I think it can take an entire six-week period just to figure out the gifts the three wise men brought. I used to wonder why they'd bring gold and, basically, perfume to a baby. I've always enjoyed thinking about what three wise WOMEN would have brought -- diapers, perhaps? Blankies? A pacifier? Because Jesus was probably a toddler by the time they arrived, something besides swaddling clothes would have been a nice touch. 

Here's the reason the magi brought such extravagant (and pretty much impractical) gifts. They were led by the star to pay homage to a child king. Chances are they expected a kid who had everything, not one who essentially had nothing. They were prepared to bow down to this boy king, so they brought gifts worthy of royalty.

These three men are the only ones we know of who showed up with presents. Other stories of gifts for the Baby Jesus are merely legends, like that of the Little Drummer Boy (which I personally love -- I play Mannheim Steamroller's arrangement of that song over and over at Christmas time). So basically the three wise guys set the standard for what we should bring to our Lord Christ. Later in the Gospel, the woman who bathes Jesus' feet with expensive oil and dries them with her hair reminds us again that the best we have is what we're called on to bring to the Savior.

So, Ladies, what's the best you have right now that you can bring to God-in-Christ?

    What's your gold? What's so solid and pure in you, in yoru life, that it could even stand the test of fire (or peer pressure or the hunger to belong or the need to prove yourself?) 

    What's your frankincense?  What's so sweetly healing in you that it could bring comfort to people when the artificial or trendy things they reach for don't do the job?

    What's your myrrh? What is it in your spirit that helps bury the dead stuff that the world wants to keep alive, like materialism and discrimination and the pressure to be perfect?

Those aren't easy questions, so some examples might help:

    * I think my gold is my refusal to give up hope. No matter how bad things get (and believe me, sometimes they dip pretty low!), there is always a core of hope in me. Even when I'm wailing and gnashing my teeth, I bring my hope to my Lord.

    * As for my frankincense, I think that's my writing gift. It seems to help people, especially girls, heal from the wounds of the slashing, biting, angry world. When it can't heal, maybe it comforts. I like to think so anyway. That's why I keep doing it.

    * "Myrrh is mine," the third wise man sings, and I would have to say mine is journaling. Every morning I try to bury what's dead as I scribble my thoughts before the day really gets rolling. Sometimes it tries to resurrect itself; old stuff doesn't go down quietly and easily. But I have put a lot of dead issues to rest in the countless pages of my personal writing. It's sort of like what Jesus talks about when he says the branches have to be pruned and burnede so new growth can happen.

Obviously this is going to require a lot of thought and imagination, but you have a whole week, right? See if you can discover your own gold, frankincense and myrrh and share it with our little blog community. You ladies have such riches to share, so please do. I think Christ the King is waiting.

 

Blessings,

Nancy Rue

Don't forget the blog party!!!

February 3 and 4!!!         

     

I'M STILL HERE!

Hello, ladies. Those of you who have been with me for a while know how it is when I'm up against a major deadline. Those of you who are new to our blog are probably wondering where the Sam Hill I've been! I'm writing the most complicated book I've ever done -- and I have no one to blame but me for doing this to myself! --and it's eating up every creative cell in my brain.

But I'm thinking of you -- praying for you (I really am) -- and tucking away the great ideas I have for future posts once this puppy is on its way to the editor.

Please, please hang in there together and keep supporting each other. I will be back before I leave for my five days in San Antonio for my spiritual retreat to give you some meat to chew on while I'm gone. Meanwhile, know that I love you and appreciate you.

 

Blessings,

Nancy Rue

Winter Blog Retreat!!!

The In Real Life

Winter Live Blog Retreat

will be held . . .

(drum roll please)

FRIDAY, FEB. 3

SATURDAY, FEB. 4

AND

SUNDAY, FEB. 5

2012!!!!

More details to come --

save the dates as you can!