Author: bobbiemcgarey

Presbyterian Pastor. Working - Freelance for God.

Robin robin it was a robin

My puppy and I walked out this morning it was cool but really beautiful. Annie, my puppy, hates Mondays as the Yard guys come and the leaf blower really troubles her.

We walked about 10 steps and there was a robin pulling a worm out of the ground. It was a classic moment the worm stretching as if to cling on and the robin pulling back full tilt. Early bird gets…

The shouting I heard was Spring spring spring. It made me smile and I thought what a great way to start the day!

Well, uh, not so great for the worm…

Happy almost Spring

God Abides!

Bobbie Giltz McGarey

Winter Spring

Here in Abq,NM we have winter/spring, it’s not a smooth seasonal transition. Ok, ok, so Saturday night is when daylight savings/lose an hour of sleep starts, but the weather-who knows. It was 70 here on Thursday but tonight low of 34. My car has three of my coats in the back seat because I need one in the morning but not after 11 am.

This is not unique, I know, to ABQ. It is what we are feeling these days. Tonight you can add on a high wind warning which has my neighbors wind-chimes constantly banging and banging unlike their usual melodic sound.

But Spring is like that little tease of warmer days mixed in with cold. Last year we got 4″ of snow on a March morning that was gone by 11:30am.

We do like our predictions though don’t we? We like to know what is ahead so we can plan. We like to know that it’s going to turn out ok. No matter what IT-is we want assurances that whatever befalls us – whatever – we will be alright.

There is nothing wrong with that. When someone says, “Have a nice day”. I reply, “That’s my plan.”

God Abides

Bobbie Giltz McGarey

March 8, 2019

Jellybeans

Easter is coming! There are so many ways to celebrate Resurrection with many symbols and worship opportunities. However, we’ve taken this holiday to a whole new height.

Jelly beans are an Easter staple. More than 16 billion jelly beans are expected to be sold for Easter, according to the National Confectioners Association. 

Family-owned Just Born, based in Bethlehem, PA., has made Easter themed Peeps since 1953, when the candy company acquired Rodda Candy. More than 1.5 billion Peeps are consumed each spring, topping the list of most popular Easter treats for two decades,

Perhaps friends our joy this year might be to find an even more important symbol. It is said most everyone sounds 150$/person. What if we gave our share to feed the poor, shelter folks, educate a child … help after a disaster….

Think on this and share appropriately.

God Abides.

Bobbie Giltz McGarey

March 8 2019 .

And Lent Begins

Three years ago on Ash Wednesday I was in Bethlehem, PA.  My granddaughter Maggie Mae was born.  We were in the room and the chaplain came in and offered us Ashes.   We accepted.  She prayed a beautiful prayer and we were thankful.

I have a photo of me holding her she was asleep on my shoulder.  It was a special holy time.   She has brought us great joy in these first three years.  I will always now mark the beginning of Lent with her birth.

How are you going to mark the beginning of the Lenten Season?  Lent is the time when we recall Jesus’ final days and how we will prepare to celebrate the great day of Easter.

I  welcome you on a Lenten journey.  Find some way to mark the beginning and the  40 days until Easter.  What discipline will you take up-or lay down.  For me I am planning to write a reflection every day.  Come let’s walk together.

God Abides

Bobbie Giltz McGarey

March 6, 2019 Albuquerque, NM

 

 

 

What you think you know.

I watched the Ted Talk by Annie Lamott on what she knows to be true. I then challenged myself to make a personal list. Thus far, as of 2:19 pm January 7, 2019.

Here is what I come to..

1. I am not in control.

2. God loves me. (New words to Jesus Loves Me…Jesus Loves me I don’t know why…)

3.   God loves you…all of you.

4. Sometimes I don’t love me but God still does

5. I am ever grateful that I am not God

6. I am still not in control.

7. It will all turn out alright in the end, if it isn’t alright, then it isn’t the end.(re written from Marigold Hotel)

8. Children, babies, puppies, kittens make me smile. My grandchildren make me smile deeper that I ever thought possible. Old people make me smile. Most everyone makes me smile, but, not all people. Sorry just saying it’s true.

9. God’s love is like sweet water from a cold well. It is my job/opportunity to offer it to everyone I meet because — we are all deeply thirsty.

God abides

I’ll see if there are more.

Bobbie Giltz McGarey

@2019

Currently visiting in Bethlehem, PA

2019

The Turning of the Year

We come to this break between yesterday and tomorrow. Is that what New Years Eve is all about. That crack of a moment that changes the numbers. That time when everything that came before is last year. Every tomorrow is New Year.

Is it like sunset and dawn? Is it like the way that the day wraps up and the new day cracks open. Is that why we say the crack of dawn? That beginning moment when the sun comes over the mountain? That crack in the dark, narrow and bright.

May your New Year and your 2019 intentions for the days ahead be filled with joy. May your intentions be kindness and goodness and hope and peace…. Leave a comment if you wish below.

I will keep this up if you all are reading here. Promise they will get more and more detailed and reflecting what is happening in our lives.

You can also follow me on facebook at Bobbiemcgarey, And also

New Life Presbyterian, Albuquerque, NM.

May your universe be filled to overflowing with love…

God abides

Bobbie G. McGarey

@12.31.18

What if’s and do you Remember

I do like this time of year because in my many memory bank I have lots of good solid family times to rest back into along the way.

Sure, this year will be new and filled I think with memory making moments.  There will be 12 (so far) at the table.  I love a full table.  I love having new people together.  I look forward to good conversation and laughter.

I’m cooking in Raton and the kitchen there is different than the one here in ABQ.  Neither of which have much counter space.

There is a song of the Civil War era that always comes to mind this time of year.  “We will meet but we will miss him”.   the next line is there will be one vacant chair…

And I recognize how many of the dear memory people won’t be with us.   But their spirits remain.   I’m looking forward to it.

So what if you could have the perfect table of people, who would be there?   Just wondering.  Who would be missing?  Just remembering.

Happy Thanksgiving

God abides

@bobbiemcgarey

November 2018

 

Memory

Lunch at flying star Juan tabo

The place was noontime-crowded when. She sat down, she chose a table near the counter so she could get refills easily and because it is not in the center of things. Sometimes she likes sitting on the edge. (that reminds me of a quote from midnight in the garden of good and evil).

The gentlemen next to her were in intense conversation. Something about the church the older man a retired Bishop, The younger in mid x50’s talked about the bishops daughter, an apparently wonderful woman.

She tried to get online but there were 4 EMT s who seem to be sapping the juice to the Internet. Hopefully it was something important. She glanced again their way to seeing one man playing bejeweled blitz …she supposed that they needed a break from their very intensive work. She would wait.

Lunch came, good as before, and she ate with slowness attempting to savior her sandwich not just eat it so fast that it is forgettable. There was a glare from the window of a car backing out that flashed bright in the window, A ray of sunshine inside amazing.

several people noticed it and were surprised. We shared a collective smile

The upcoming Sunday’s readings were on her mind. Them men next to her began talking about church stuff. She could

T comprehend the flow of it but bits and pieces were heard…you taught me so well Bishop and how do you learn to do an exorcism?

Time for a refill. Friends had laughed at her last week when she got a piece of bread pudding and a diet coke… She recognized the

Strangeness of that combination. they had all laughed and the bread pudding lasted three days…

A friend from 8 years ago had met her that morning before lunch…just a little time before her plane…so they jumped into real deep conversation quickly, Their memories of where they had been together were the same. They were both happy to be gone from there but missed some of the really dear people. Those who had been mean or betrayed them were not missed though they obviously had left strong impressions in pain. The two of them prayed for healing. It was good to share.

Not long from now she has a new yoga class. She decides this would be a good time for a nap. One more refill and home she goes to be greeted again by her puppy always happy to see her.

God abides