Fall 2006 UTKG Archives

The Sweetness of Surrender

As I threw my legs out over the edge of the small plane and looked at the ground two miles below, I started to wonder if skydiving was really such a great idea. I had a professional jumper, Jody, strapped to my back. I had never skydived before and was required to do a tandem jump with him. Still, even with Jody there, I started to feel nervous about leaving the plane. A moment later when he gave the signal, I arched my back and fell forward into the freefall. In the 120 mile per hour “breeze,” I was completely out of control. My facial muscles flapped wildly, and it was difficult even to smile. more Oct 02, 2006

Lying in bed one night, I was praying about the chronic pain in my neck. For over two years, I had been suffering with terrible headaches. Although medication and exercise helped me to function everyday, I still wanted to live pain-free. As I laid there, I realized that the stiffness in my neck resulted in a proud, unnatural posture. Suddenly aware that I was holding my head up, even as I was lying down, I relaxed back into my pillow and mattress. I immediately felt a sense of relief. more Oct 03, 2006

A few years ago when I taught piano and voice lessons, I picked up and cleaned my home daily. When I was really busy, however, I would grab a pile of papers and put them into a closet. It was one of the few hiding places in my tiny apartment; unfortunately, the papers ended up hiding there from me as well. A few years after I began this “cleaning method,” I started shoveling my way through stacks of old mail, receipts, and letters. Eventually I sorted everything out, and my closet was back in order again. more Oct 04, 2006

There is a familiar story of a little girl who had a favorite faux pearl necklace. One day her daddy asked her to give him the necklace, but she refused. “Honey, I love you. Please give the necklace to me,” the dad requested repeatedly. Again and again, the girl firmly said, “No!” After a week of being asked everyday, with tears in her eyes, the little girl finally handed over her beloved play necklace to her dad. Immediately the father pulled a string of real pearls out of his pocket and put it around her neck. more Oct 05, 2006

As I sat in my home office anxious to finish my work and leave for the day, some movement outside my window caught my eye. I looked up and a beautiful deer was grazing in my yard just a few feet from the window. Suddenly another wild creature appeared, and then two more. I stopped my typing and stood up to see the four gorgeous deer eating the long grass in the forest that surrounds my yard. Breathless for a moment, I smiled when one looked up from the ground directly towards my window. Still chewing, he seemed to make eye contact with me for a moment. Seconds later, he turned away and the small group continued up the mountain out of my view. more Oct 06, 2006

Forgiveness

Last week, as we usually do, Myron and I were eating breakfast and watching the morning news. We weren’t paying attention to the TV until we heard, “Can you get forgiveness on the internet?” I listened amazed at the debate that ensued. Apparently, there are several websites designed as places to confess sin; anyone can type-out their deepest, darkest secrets. One woman they interviewed said how freeing this was for her. To make the report more dramatic, they also interviewed a couple of religious leaders, some in favor, and some opposed to this format of confession. more Oct 09, 2006

The year of teaching had been an uphill struggle. The students wanted their old teacher back, and on this particular day, so did I. As I led the senior high choir in a rehearsal, Marissa began to speak out rudely to me. I gave her a warning to behave, and she escalated her comments to include several words of profanity. I then excused her to the principal’s office. more Oct 10, 2006

Grace and I sat in a coffee shop as she told me her story. Grace grew up in a devout Christian family. When she became a teenager, she rebelled against her parents’ strict religion and decided to call herself an agnostic. After college, she began attending church with her roommate. She realized that though she’d been proclaiming another life philosophy, she truly believed in a personal, loving God. Grace started to worry that perhaps she had committed what she had learned was the unpardonable sin - denying Christ as God. Concerned about where she now stood spiritually, she wrote a long letter to her pastor asking him to simply tell her the truth. more Oct 11, 2006

I was six years old, and my conscience was keeping me awake. As I walked into the living room, my mom stopped folding the laundry and asked if I needed something. “Remember when we went on a trip with Grandma and Beth [my younger sister] started crying really loud in the backseat?” Mom nodded for me to continue. “I told you she caught her finger in a zipper. The truth is - I bit her. She was bothering me.” My mom looked at me for a moment and said, “You know that was wrong.” “I know, and I’m sorry, Mom.” By now, I was crying. Mom assured me everything was okay and sent me back to bed. more Oct 12, 2006

In an effort to save some time one morning, I made a couple pieces of peanut butter toast, wrapped them in a paper towel and left. As I was driving down the road, I reached for my breakfast, only to discover it wasn’t in the seat next to me. I glanced around the car, but didn’t see anything. Looking up through my sunroof, I saw a paper towel blowing in the wind and my toast riding on the roof of my car. more Oct 13, 2006

Sensing God

I sat down on a rock near the walking path, closed my eyes, and listened. I could hear the rushing water of the near-by stream. The sound of it running over the rocks and through its carved path in the forest was captivating. I turned my head with my eyes still shut and heard it echo throughout the woods. Apart from seeing or feeling the mist of the water, the refreshing sound alone of the brook dancing over the stones was revitalizing. more Oct 16, 2006

“Mmmm - smells good!” Myron announced as he came into the dining room. It was Sunday morning, and we were about to enjoy one of our favorite small luxuries - cinnamon rolls. The sweet aroma of cinnamon and sugar had filled the main level of our home, and my mouth began to water a bit as I spread the frosting over the warm soft rolls. A few minutes later, as we sat at the table, I half-closed my eyes and took my first sticky, delicious bite. A bit of the frosting ran out of the corner of my mouth as I savored the delectably sweet roll melting on my tongue. more Oct 17, 2006

I’m not much of a morning person, but Myron is. When we married over two years ago, we agreed to keep a similar wake/sleep schedule. As a result of waking up early most mornings, I enjoy many gorgeous mountain sunrises. We have windows and a view along the east side of our house, and I love walking into the living room as it glows a warm red, orange, and yellow. It is a glorious sight at the beginning of the day. more Oct 18, 2006

As I walked through the craft store, I paused and picked up a candle labeled “Hazelnut.” I put the cellophane wrapped cylinder near my nose and took a cautious whiff. Even through the plastic wrap, I could smell the rich aroma of hazelnut coffee. I breathed in more deeply, enjoying the familiar smell. I closed my eyes and imagined for a moment being back in my grandparents’ old kitchen. more Oct 19, 2006

It was a hot, sticky summer day. I was at the lake visiting my grandmother, and I sat at the kitchen table with beads of sweat trickling down my back and pooling in the folds of my clothing. Grandma and I were finishing a game of gin rummy. After she won (again), I said that it was time to go swimming. We changed into our swimsuits and headed outside. When I took off my sandals, I realized that the scorching sun had made the deck painfully hot. I quickly hopped to the edge and jumped into the lake. The cool water was instantly refreshing. I dunked my head under, enjoying the reprieve from the summer sun. more Oct 20, 2006

5 Secrets of A Happy Life

About a year ago, I had an idea to write daily inspirational emails. I began to pray and soon felt called to move forward with this idea. For the next several months, I wrote weeks of emails while also working on the technical side of delivery and subscription. I believed it would be ready for distribution in August. However, in May, I felt compelled to start even sooner. On June 5th, the first Up To Know Good emails were delivered. Nine days later, we got the news. more Oct 23, 2006

Arthur was diagnosed with lung cancer and given less than a year to live. Almost immediately, he and his wife Betty decided to return from California to the Midwest to be near loved ones. Arthur’s family was shocked at his decision. He had left nearly twenty years ago and was rarely in contact, even during holidays and special family events. Though they were surprised, they held a large gathering to celebrate his return. With open arms, they welcomed Arthur and Betty home at a huge party. more Oct 24, 2006

Yesterday, we looked at the story of the lost son. After the father decides to have a celebration for him, the story continues. The party is going on when the oldest son comes back from working in the field. When he hears what is happening, he gets angry and refuses to go inside. The father goes out and begs him to join them. Bitterly, the oldest son says to his dad, “What about me? I’ve slaved away for you for years and you have never given me anything. Now you decide to have the party of the century because my little brother, who foolishly lost all of his money, is back?” The father replies, “Son, you have always been with me, and everything I have is already yours. We had to celebrate - your brother who was gone is back!” more Oct 25, 2006

Belinda and I sat at a table in Applebee’s. At eight years old, she was one of the wisest people I knew. When she was born, she was one of identical triplets, but tragically, her sisters were stillborn. As the only survivor, young Belinda was an old soul with a deep understanding of grief. Her quiet sympathy was a great comfort to me after the loss of my first husband. “You know,” she said as we sat at dinner, “sometimes I see triplets on talk shows. They’re fighting and haven’t talked to one another in years. I just want to tell those people, ‘You need to get happy!’” more Oct 26, 2006

Imagine finding a magic lamp and not receiving three, but an infinite number of wishes. What would you ask for to make you happy? There is a man who was able to do this. Everything he asked for from God, he received! He was a brilliant businessman. He owned and developed large amounts of real estate. He was with any woman he desired. He enjoyed fine wine and the best meals. He was entertained by the greatest talents in the world. He pursued intellectualism and wisdom. He was financially more successful than any other man before him, and he attained a level of wealth and achievement that would have turned Donald Trump green. His name was Solomon, King of Israel, and in the end, he said that all of these things were meaningless. more Oct 27, 2006

Shadows

It was a beautiful autumn day, and Myron and I decided to take a hike in the woods near our home. When we started, the morning was crisp and cool, and we dressed warmly. I wore a thick fleece coat that soon became too heavy. After a couple of hours, we arrived at a waterfall. By then the sun was shining brightly, and we were starting to sweat from the effort of our hike. I sat down in the cool shade of a tree and enjoyed the beauty of the trees and water. more Oct 30, 2006

One year on October 31st, I helped organize a party. I remember preparing the “eyeballs” by mixing grapes up in a bowl of mayonnaise and making “worms” of cold, cooked spaghetti noodles. Before our guests arrived we created an atmosphere. Scratchy, eerie music played in the background, and we dimmed the lights. With only shadows to guide them as they entered the house, people couldn’t see they were touching ordinary grapes and noodles. Plus, they were very surprised when someone popped out unexpectedly and said “BOO!” It was a fun, memorable event. more Oct 31, 2006

Most of us have heard the famous line, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil.” Singer and speaker Kathy Trocolli was talking about this phrase from Psalm 23 on a talk show one day. She said the word shadow implies a source of light from somewhere. Shadows, after all, do not appear without light; with no illumination there is simply darkness. Knowing that, Ms. Trocolli found hope that when we are under the shadow of death, there is still Light shining. more Nov 01, 2006

Around noon, the sun begins to shine directly through my office window. As I look at my shadow, it seems to be a fairly accurate outline of me sitting at my desk. It’s dark and slightly fuzzy around the edges, but it’s definitely me. Throughout the afternoon, the black image begins to distort. The shadows lengthen, and after awhile, I don’t recognize myself in the projected silhouette. more Nov 02, 2006

My friend Gloria started a new position at work. When I asked what she was doing she replied, “Shadowing Jason.” She went on to explain, “I’m following and watching him do his job. I ask questions when I don’t understand or need to know more about a certain aspect of his work. Everywhere he goes, I go. Soon I’ll be doing the work, but Jason will still be here with me.” more Nov 03, 2006

Tiny Kindnesses

“Is this going to take much longer?” I asked the cashier, my patience waning. “No, not long. We’re just waiting for someone.” I was in line at the grocery store recently, and the customer in front of me grabbed the wrong box of cereal. Minutes later he returned with another box in hand, and the cashier resumed scanning the items in his cart. Several other hiccups occurred in his transaction, and when it was finally my turn to check out, my ice cream had started to melt and my patience had completely dissolved. more Nov 06, 2006

In college it was part of a daily routine to check our mailboxes when we were done with lunch. Most days there was nothing there, but around Thanksgiving, gifts started to appear. One of my friends received a card with a small trinket. “You are special,” was all the note read. A few days later, another friend received a similar gift, and several days after that, a third classmate found an encouraging note and package in her mailbox. more Nov 07, 2006

Grace and her mom Karen quietly let themselves into my house as I finished a piano lesson. I didn’t even look up because Grace’s lesson was next, and it was typical for them to arrive early. A few minutes later, they came into the studio room with a tall glass of diet soda, complete with ice, a slice of lemon, and a straw. A few weeks earlier I had told Karen how much I loved the small luxuries of ice, lemon and a straw with a soda. I was surprised and touched by their thoughtful gesture, and they beamed as they set it up for me near the piano. more Nov 08, 2006

“Sara, I got your name and phone number from a mutual colleague,” the caller began. “He told me about you and I saw your website and had to call. My name is Jerry.” For the next few minutes, I listened as Jerry gave me kudos and encouragement about the business and website I had at the time, and I even took notes when he offered a few suggestions to me. more Nov 09, 2006

As I took my aisle seat on the plane, I quickly realized that I was sitting in the middle of a family of five. Next to me was Dad, Jim, with a little boy, and across the aisle was Mom, Jessica, sitting between two young girls. I asked Jim if he wanted to switch seats, but he said they were fine. Throughout the flight, I chatted with them and passed sippy cups and toy trucks back and forth between Jim and Jessica. The girls were busy with coloring projects, and I was about to hand their latest drawing over to Jim when the oldest daughter, Marcy said, “This is for you.” more Nov 10, 2006

Abundance

Years ago when I first started teaching private music lessons, I took a second job to supplement my very limited income. I became a receptionist at a near-by office. Within a few days I met Melanie, another local piano teacher with a thriving studio. She was working at the office for fun and offered to send the overflow of her music students to me. With her help, in just two months I went from six to twenty-seven weekly clients and was able to teach full-time. more Nov 13, 2006

When Myron and I got married, I moved into his house. Though it was now our home, the closets were full of his clothes. Needing to make room, we went through his wardrobe. He sorted out shirts, pants, shoes, and coats that he hadn“t worn for years. Stacks of clothing began to pile up. After a long weekend of organizing, he still had more than enough clothes to wear, and I was able to put my outfits into the closet. more Nov 14, 2006

There are 168 hours in a week. I sleep an average of 56 of those hours, work an average of 40, commute about 8, and eat for about 16. Even with these rough estimates, that leaves me over 43 hours in every week. Add in time for exercise, hygiene, laundry, cleaning and errands, and I“m down to about 25 hours. Then there“s church, time with family, socializing with friends, phone conversations, email, and suddenly I have only 10 hours left. I spend time doing my hobby, catch my favorite weekly TV shows, and now I have an hour. I still have 1 extra hour! more Nov 15, 2006

My first year out of college I taught music in a small rural school district. It was my first experience of living in a town with less than a thousand people, and I felt isolated and lonely. Halfway through the school year, I got mononucleosis and was told by my doctor to stay home and rest for a month. I wondered how I was going to survive that long in my small apartment alone! To my surprise, my mom took a special trip to be with me for a few days, and several co-workers also stopped by to visit. more Nov 16, 2006

I was sorting through a stack of old mail and neglected papers when I came across a check from my friends Annie and Bill. As I looked at the date from over a year before, I remembered that they had written it for their half of a dinner bill. Now I couldn’t remember the last time I had eaten with them. With some guilt and regret, I set the check aside knowing that I didn’t feel comfortable cashing it. more Nov 17, 2006

Just A Little Faith

I was watching a reality show the other night. One person wasn’t feeling well, and a leader on the program said to the camera, “We’re crossing our fingers.” Suddenly, the sick man’s health took a turn for the worse. The situation was dire, and in desperation, the leader now said, “Maybe we should pray.” With heads bowed and tears flowing, the group asked God to take care of their deathly ill friend. more Nov 20, 2006

I love puzzles. I like jigsaw puzzles, Sudoku, crosswords, and three-dimensional brainteasers that you have to put together or take apart. My grandpa had one of the latter. I remember trying for what seemed like hours to take two small pieces of metal apart. Finally I figured it out! Unfortunately, I didn't pay attention to how I solved it, and on my next attempt I couldn’t remember how to separate the pieces from one another. more Nov 21, 2006

In college I had a roommate who was a part of a prayer group every night. For awhile I also went with her, but then I started to hang out with some other people. While it wasn’t necessarily in my best interest to be a part of this other group, my roommate said nothing. She simply went to the prayer meeting and met me back at the dorm room each evening. more Nov 22, 2006

As a little girl I would fold my arms and nod my head like the star on “I Dream of Jeannie.” In the show, magical things would happen when she did that. She was transported from one place to another. Her whole house was instantly cleaned, and people even behaved differently. Hoping for similiar results, I would stand in the doorway of my messy room, fold my arms, close my eyes and nod my head with a silent wish of “Be clean!” It never worked. more Nov 24, 2006

Dealing with Differences

Early in November, across the United States, were mid-term elections. The next day, the Democratic Party officially held a majority in the House of Representatives. The Republican President held a press conference, and the reaction by the reporters was overwhelmingly positive. They said that they were impressed by President Bush’s attitude and comments. Why? Because they noted that instead of being adversarial, the President displayed an admirable characteristic - humility. more Nov 27, 2006

Matt, Tonya, and I had been nearly inseparable for months, so I was surprised one evening when they announced a problem. They disagreed with me about some of the spiritual beliefs I had recently shared with them. They felt that unless I changed, we could no longer be close. I was shocked and hurt, but I knew I hadn’t done anything wrong. We simply disagreed on what seemed to me to be a minor point of theology. To Matt and Tonya, it was a friendship-ending issue. more Nov 28, 2006

After several days of wet and snowy weather, Myron and I were ready to get out of the house and take a walk. We held hands and chatted as we walked down the snowy gravel road. About a half mile from our house we came to a large icy patch. As we each assessed the situation, we dropped our hands and stopped talking. I decided to walk around the ice on the side of the road over some snow. Myron, who is a foot taller than I, decided to take a couple of extra large steps and march directly over it. more Nov 29, 2006

Years ago, my parents, sister, and I were visiting Grandma and Grandpa one weekend. As a young teenager in the 80’s without cable or access to MTV, I was afraid I might miss one of my favorite TV shows, “Friday Night Videos.” When I asked my family if I could watch it after the ten o’clock news, everyone said it was okay. I remember sitting in the living room with Grandpa. As we watched, he would ask, “What do you think of that one?” or comment, “That song was pretty good!” more Nov 30, 2006

Not long after Myron and I were married, I was standing in the kitchen one Saturday making breakfast. I turned away from the stove to prepare another part of the meal, and Myron started to help me. When I looked back at the stove, things were not cooking “right.” I noticed the heat had been turned down. I adjusted it up and continued fixing some of the other food. Again, when I looked back at the stove, the flame was on low. At this point, my own internal temperature began to rise. more Dec 01, 2006

The Present of Presence

As I talked with Donna, I had the sense that I was the only person in the restaurant. I had been looking forward to getting her professional insight on some important life decisions I was facing. We had less than an hour for our lunch meeting, but I quickly realized it would be long enough. She listened intently to what I was saying and nodded in response. I asked her questions, and she gave thoughtful concise answers. I left the meeting satisfied with her advice and deeply appreciative of her time. more Dec 04, 2006

Last month, my sister, Beth, and five month old nephew, Palmer, visited us. It had been several months since we had seen them, and we were delighted to see Palmer aware and responsive to his surroundings. One morning I began to sing to him as he sat on the floor. His eyes opened widely, and he smiled generously as I sang and pointed out his “Head, shoulders, knees and toes (knees and toes.)” more Dec 05, 2006

It was Christmas, and our entire family planned a celebration at the nursing home with Grandma. She had been very ill for several months, and everyone made special plans to be there. For several days before Christmas, Grandma was too sick to get out of bed. The night before our get-together, we wondered if she would be able to get up at all. The next morning, I sat next to her bed. I asked how she was feeling, and with her eyes still shut, she said she had been resting so that she could remember everyone’s names later that day. more Dec 06, 2006

I met up with Andrea at our favorite coffee shop. It had been about a month since our last visit, and I was anxious to catch up with her. We sat down on a comfortable couch with our steaming hot drinks and began to talk. Nearly an hour later, I glanced at my watch, amazed that so much time had already passed. I asked how much longer she could stay, and we continued visiting for another thirty minutes. As we got up to leave, I felt connected and appreciated by my dear friend. more Dec 07, 2006

The TV was on in the background, I had one last load of laundry in the dryer, and I just started making supper when the phone rang. “Hello,” I said as I put the phone in the crook of my neck and turned down the volume on the TV. It was Myron calling to tell me that he was on his way home. As I stirred the food on the stove, he asked how my day was. “It was fine; how about yours?” I asked. He replied and then said he’d be home soon. We hung up a few moments later, and I continued cooking, cleaning, and watching the news. more Dec 08, 2006

Great Expectations

Recently Myron and I were at our old house taking care of loose ends. Myron worked on a few superficial home repairs as I did some cleaning. We arrived early in the morning and planned to work until we needed to leave for another commitment around 2:00. By 1:45 we were both working intensely to finish, but shortly after 2:00 we realized we needed more time. As we drove away from the house, I noticed that I felt exhausted and irritated. more Dec 11, 2006

“Could you maybe send me my birthday present a few days early?” my five-year old friend Kathy asked recently. She found out that our baby is due shortly after her birthday next year. Anticipating that I will be busy once the baby arrives (she just acquired a baby brother, so she understands), she made her request clear and early. In her question I heard her say, “I understand you’ll be busy, so please plan ahead and don’t forget about me.” more Dec 12, 2006

As I reached into my PO Box, I was relieved find an envelope from a client. My outstanding invoice with them was significant, and I had already earmarked most of my earnings from them. As I opened the envelope and scanned the check, I noticed that it was made out for remarkably less than what I had earned. In fact, after some quick calculations, I realized they paid me for only about ten percent of my actual billable time. Confused, I went home and checked my records. To my surprise, there was a mistake on the invoice. more Dec 13, 2006

Seven and a half years ago I moved to Colorado from Minnesota. I prepared myself to feel out of place and uncomfortable for awhile. To my surprise, in just a few short months, I quickly felt even more at home in Denver than I had in Minneapolis. I had a church family, a relatively low-stress job, and friends that were great cooks and wonderful conversationalists. more Dec 14, 2006

Like many moms-to-be, I have been reading What to Expect when You’re Expecting. The book discusses the physical and emotional changes one may experience on this journey to motherhood. As go through my pregnancy, I have also created a personal list of hopes and expectations. Specifically, I expect: a baby girl around February 11th; a deeper understanding of sleep deprivation; that I will not be a perfect mom; and to learn about love like I have never known. more Dec 15, 2006

Seeing Christ at Christmas

My father-in-law made a special request last year. For months before Christmas, he repeatedly asked for a homemade cassette tape of Myron and me singing hymns. We were reluctant at first - maybe because we were a bit self-conscious, but also because it didn’t seem like a very elegant gift. more Dec 18, 2006

A little over a month ago a good friend hosted a baby shower for me. Family and friends arrived from all over the country to help us celebrate. We played games, ate great food, and opened lots of gifts. Baby received a number of adorable outfits, blankets, toys, books, and practical necessities. Several friends also said they had more to give us, but that we should simply come to their homes to get the additional baby items. I was so amazed at the generosity of everyone’s gifts and love. more Dec 19, 2006

A few months ago my husband and I were invited to a party at a neighbor’s house. We didn’t know much about the get together, so we showed up without any gifts or food. It felt awkward to walk in empty-handed, but we were quickly greeted with smiles and hugs. After a few hours of visiting with them and their friends, we felt even more welcomed and comfortable. more Dec 20, 2006

I looked at the picture on the box and still wasn’t sure what it was. I only knew that Myron had requested a radio speaker for Christmas, and this was it. Though I wasn’t sure what I was buying, it was on his list, complete with the specific part and order number, and he was really excited about how he could use it. After giving it a lot of thought, I decided to spend my Christmas budget on this one gift rather than getting several smaller ones for him. As he happily opened the box at Christmas, I knew I had made the right choice. more Dec 21, 2006

After hours of travel, the first thing I do when I see my family at Christmas is throw my arms around them. We exchange smiles, hugs and noisy greetings after months of being apart. These gifts of love are given long before we unwrap the presents we’ve purchased. In the same way, the Magi knelt and worshiped Jesus before offering Him their royal presents. Their adoration was even more important than the gifts they had carried for many miles. more Dec 22, 2006

Christmas Wishes

Merry Christmas from our family to yours! more Dec 25, 2006

Whatever we are feeling - whether we experience joy, peace, stress or grief this morning - we can rely on God's love for us. more Dec 26, 2006

Like a snowman, I may not look exactly like my Creator, but I can bring a smile to others by just being me. more Dec 27, 2006

"For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life. For God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but to save the world through him." John 3:16-17. Click here for the context of this familiar verse. more Dec 28, 2006

The presents I gave my friends and family this Christmas were selected uniquely for each of them. In the same way, God gives us gifts designed specifically for each of us. more Dec 29, 2006