The Escanaba News

                 February 5, 2012

I'm Invisible

It all began to make sense, the blank stares, the lack of response, the way one of the kids will walk into the room while I'm on the phone and ask to be taken to the store. Inside I'm thinking, "Can't you see I'm on the phone?" Obviously not. No one can see if I'm on the phone, or cooking, or sweeping the floor, or even standing on my head in the corner, because no one can see me at all. I'm invisible.

Some days I am only a pair of hands, nothing more: Can you fix this? Can you tie this? Can you open this? Some days I'm not a pair of hands; I'm not even a human being. I'm a clock to ask, "What time is it?" I'm a satellite guide to answer, "What number is the Disney Channel?" I'm a car to order, "Right around 5:30, please."

I was certain that these were the hands that once held books and the eyes that studied history and the mind that graduated summa cum laude - but now they had disappeared into the peanut butter, never to be seen again. She's going. She's going... she's gone!

One night, a group of us were having dinner, celebrating the return of a friend from England. Janice had just gotten back from a fabulous trip, and she was going on and on about the hotel she stayed in. I was sitting there, looking around at the others all put together so well. It was hard not to compare and feel sorry for myself as I looked down at my out-of-style dress; it was the only thing I could find that was clean. My unwashed hair was pulled up in a banana clip and I was afraid I could actually smell peanut butter in it.

I was feeling pretty pathetic, when Janice turned to me with a beautifully wrapped package, and said, "I brought you this." It was a book on the great cathedrals of Europe. I wasn't exactly sure why she'd given it to me until I read her inscription: "To Charlotte, with admiration for the greatness of what you are building when no one sees."

In the days ahead I would read - no, devour - the book. And I would discover what would become for me, four life-changing truths, after which I could pattern my work:

1. No one can say who built the great cathedrals - we have no record of their names.

2. These builders gave their whole lives for a work they would never see finished.

3. They made great sacrifices and expected no credit.

4. The passion of their building was fueled by their faith that the eyes of God saw everything.

A legendary story in the book told of a rich man who came to visit the cathedral while it was being built, and he saw a workman carving a tiny bird on the inside of a beam. He was puzzled and asked the man, "Why are you spending so much time carving that bird into a beam that will be covered by the roof? No one will ever see it."

And the workman replied, "Because God sees." I closed the book, feeling the missing piece fall into place. It was almost as if I heard God whispering to me, "I see you, Charlotte. I see the sacrifices you make every day, even when no one around you does. No act of kindness you've done, no sequin you've sewn on, no cupcake you've baked, is too small for me to notice and smile over. You are building a great cathedral, but you can't see right now what it will become."

At times, my invisibility feels like an affliction. But it is not a disease that is erasing my life. It is the cure for the disease of my own self-centeredness. It is the antidote to my strong, stubborn pride. I keep the right perspective when I see myself as a great builder. As one of the people who show up at a job that they will never see finished, to work on something that their name will never be on. The writer of the book went so far as to say that no cathedrals could ever be built in our lifetime because there are so few people willing to sacrifice to that degree.

When I really think about it, I don't want my son to tell the friend he's bringing home from college for Thanksgiving, "My mom gets up at 4 in the morning and bakes homemade pies, and then she hand bastes a turkey for three hours and presses all the linens for the table." That would mean I'd built a shrine or a monument to myself. I just want him to want to come home. And then, if there is anything more to say to his friend, to add, "You're gonna love it there."

As mothers, we are building great cathedrals. We cannot be seen if we're doing it right. And one day, it is very possible that the world will marvel, not only at what we have built, but at the beauty that has been added to the world by the sacrifices of invisible women.

Live Simply.
Love Generously.
Care Deeply.
Speak Kindly.
Leave the rest to God

God's gift is what you are; your gift is what you become. Submitted via e-mail by A. Viau

Guarding Your Heart and Mind

Do you know someone who is troubled—even tormented—in their mind? Sometimes people can be very good with an outward appearance that everything is okay, but if you really get to know someone, it can become apparent that they’re troubled.

This emotional state of despair can be manifested in substitutes to replace a reality that is often too unbearable to face. The substitutes are pretty common and effective in escaping reality—alcohol, drugs, even suicide—if the mind is no longer able to think clearly. When I say the substitutes are effective in escaping reality, what I mean is they artificially produce a different reality. These abuses are symptoms of a troubled soul.

My heart aches when I see these symptoms in the lives of people in our community. It’s sad to see someone struggling in their mind when I know there’s a promise from our God that He will guard their heart and mind. 

How can we help to make the connection between HOPE and DESPAIR? I’m confident that this is at the core of the Gospel. God sent Jesus to a world that needed HOPE. Jesus was saddened to the point of tears by their rejection of HOPE.

As He approached Jerusalem and saw the city, He wept over it and said, “If you, even you, had only known on this day what would bring you peace—but now it is hidden from your eyes. Luke 19:41-42

Is there any HOPE? YES! We need to invite—invite—invite—those who have lost hope and are wandering aimlessly looking for it in this world. Invite them to join a family that cares for each other, a family that prays for each other, and a family that shares the same HOPE! It is in the family of God that we experience the protection that God provides.

As you know, many don’t respond to our invitations. Don’t give up! Continue to express the love and concern that can draw them to hope again. The promise of God is being lived out in the lives of our family—He is guarding our hearts and minds—and He wants to share that hope with the troubled souls around us. Share this promise found in the Bible with the wandering hearts and minds you see from day to day. God bless, Dave

Do not be anxious about anything, but in everything, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus. 

Finally, brothers, whatever is true, whatever is noble, whatever is right, whatever is pure, whatever is lovely, whatever is admirable—if anything is excellent or praiseworthy—think about such things. Whatever you have learned or received or heard from me, or seen in me—put it into practice. And the God of peace will be with you. Philippians 4:4-9

Escanaba News and Notes

Potluck This Sunday! Plan to Stay!

Wednesday Family Night! We invite everyone to join us at 5:30 for supper and activities at 6:00! We conclude our study of “John the Baptist” this coming Wednesday. The Memory Verse for John’s incredible race of faith is found in John 12:32.

Family Night volunteers for 2-8-12 are: Meal-Huffs; Songs/Prayer-Jesse; Game-Christa; Memory Work-Sarah & Snack-Bonnie.

We begin our new Bible story on 2-15-12 with “The Good Samaritan” found in Luke 10:25-37. The Memory Verse for the Samaritan’s incredible race of faith is found in Luke 10:27.

Family Night volunteers for 2-15-12 are: Meal-Cindy; Songs/Prayer-Luke; Storyteller-Luke; Memory Work & Snack-Christa.

Christian Closet Update!
Tiffany reports that we had our highest number of visitors to the Closet this past Wednesday! Praise God! Thanks for our volunteers who were here all afternoon.

Road Trip!
We’re planning for a group to go to Nashville for the Summer Celebration at Lipscomb University on July 1-3. There were 6 of us last year, and we had a great time. There’s a flyer on the bulletin board and more info at www.summercelebration.lipscomb.edu. Cost will be for shared fuel expense, lodging and meals. There’s no cost for the workshop. More planning on cost projection coming soon to a bulletin board near you!

Church Volleyball League Now Organizing
There’s a letter and sign-up sheet on the bulletin board! New Life and Salvation Army are organizing and plan to meet with Captains soon. Games will begin Feb 28th. If you have interest as a player or sub, please sign up today! This league is being organized for adults and older teens. Jason Davis will be our Captain!

Prayer Requests

Serving this Sunday, February 5, 2012