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Seasonal writings worthy of sharing
By Patti Pfeiffer, Life's a Trip
Away in a bookstore,
No room for the group,
Off they wandered to find a new door.
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| Patti Pfeiffer / Photo by Terri Pearce |
With pens in hand they did settle down.
Eat, visit, share, so much for 'em to do.
As always they read their pennings out loud.
Encouragement and critique - reasons they share.
The Christian writers are anything but proud.
Away from their bookstore,
No room for them there.
Still writings were so worthy to share.
Twice a month in a quiet corner in a busy bookstore, five ladies gather. For more than a decade the intimate group has shared their writings over coffee and cookies. Customers shopping often overhear the Christian-centered topics being read out loud.
At age 82, Mary Ann Bryant's writings are always profound. Her recent piece, titled "My Enemies?" centered on Psalm 23:5 - "You preparest a table before me in the presence of mine enemies."
Mary Ann writes, "My enemies? Me? Do I have any enemies? Not that I know of. Just one of those Bible verses that I glide over doesn't really apply to me. A spiritual flash. It does apply to me. My spiritual enemies, the ones that sneak around quietly inside me. Materialism, pride, envy, jealousy. Oh, no, not jealousy. Well, yes. I do have jealousy. Examples? Just use my Pen Women of Faith writing group. Linda has a beautiful voice and sings with a professional group. I am jealous. I can't even stay on key. Barbara, a skilled writer with a past impressive corporate career. Exciting. Marilyn, my friend for decades. She has a Ph.D. I only have a master's. She has giant talents, superbly focused toward Christian accomplishments. Besides that, her house is always cleaner than mine!
What about the enemies of self-centeredness, self-indulgence, self-pity, self-righteousness? Self, self, self. Laziness? Surely, not that. Yes, my enemy. Not pushing to do those things I ought - especially spiritual things. Putting off reading my Bible. I'll write that Upper Room piece tomorrow. I'll pray later. Oh, yes, MY enemies. But God has prepared a table before me in the presence of my enemies. That table is filled with nourishments from God. That table is laden with power available to me in the presence of mine enemies.
Honest confession, prayer, Bible reading ... I pledge to partake of the blessings on that table. Today. Father God, help me to face my inner thoughts squarely and to thus be able to partake of the table you have prepared before me in the presence of the quiet enemies hiding there."
The busyness of Christmas prompted Marilyn Hurlbut of Highland Village to pen her timely prayer. "Father, Father, Dear God. This morning I'm sure you know how I feel. I know this season is about the birth of Your Son. I do. I do. And that's my priority. It honestly is. But today You'll understand if I do all that observing and honoring through action and not through prayer and meditation.
Oh rats! I hear discomforting names rumbling through my consciousness - Martha, Mary, Martha. But I am shoving these names right back down below the surface to deal with tomorrow. Because right now I'm only asking for Your understanding about today. If I can make it through today and get these 16 items checked off my 'To Do' list, then tomorrow I will really listen quietly to your voice and introspectively ask myself what it is You want me to do this Holy Season. Promise. Promise.
And, after all, everything on my list is about You in some way, so what is the difference, I ask you? Is water still water whether it's ice, steam or liquid? So, if I'm worshipping by shopping for loved ones and writing thank you letters for Mozambique donations, isn't that another form of worship? Isn't there some analogy? And if You think I'm being defensive or too confrontive, I would remind you who it is who made me. Part of my uniqueness seems to be a tendency to be logical and questioning. What's that? Another word might be 'argumentative? Oh me. Oh my. I'm ending this conversation right now, because the stores open in 20 minutes and I'm only half way finished with shopping for Clayton and not even started with Jackie and Brooke. But I'll be back tomorrow morning with more time to concentrate on you. Here's how I will close for now: Thank you God for being such an understanding and tolerant God."
May sight of the reason for the season not be lost this Christmastime.
Patti Pfeiffer is a Star Local News columnist, freelance writer and author. She may be contacted at pattip913@msn.com.
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