Author: bobbiemcgarey

So. What are your Intentions for the coming year? I mean what do we want to do to make them come true?

I learned to type on an Underwood Upright typewriter that took a good pounding to get it to work right.   Bless my mother she typed my father’s whole dissertation on that machine making three carbon copies of each page no corrections.  There was real pounding involved.  If learned how to type by retyping the title of his work. My mother typed my Daddy’s entire dissertation on that Underwood, with three carbons, and no corrections allowed. Whoa.

“A study of the physiological processes associated with the emission of spermatozoa in the leopard frog, Rana pipiens”

Not a clue what it meant as I typed it but there was a story about the teacher at school asking my parents to keep me from reciting it.  It was 1954. I was 6. 

Now to make a page look like a typewriter all I have to do is select the font.  And all the letters have the same impression because it doesn’t depend on how strong your various fingers are …. The pinky A and S were the hard ones for me.  But I learned.  

So when I hear someone say they don’t want to learn how to use a new technology…without even giving it a try I get a little discouraged.    Learning keeps us alive.  Learning is what keeps our brains cooking.  We know this from all kinds of research. (and you know it’s true because it is on the internet!)  

Our spiritual lives are always being updated you know.  We see the world in new light every day because the experiences of the day before have taught us something.  Well, have the potential to teach us something.  That is why we gather in Community to worship and give thanks and be surrounded by folk who really care about us and who we are and what’s going on in our lives.  These people also call out in us the very best and we are able to use the gifts and skills God has given us for the Good of the world.   

I  saw someone talking about dialing the phone and they made a motion as if they were using a rotary dial.   I could guess their age bracket.  I also imagine the young man he was talking with didn’t get the hand signal.   We have lived in these past 20-40 years in some amazing advancement in communication.   And it’s not stopping.  

Make friends with the world around you.  With the gadgets and gizmos that are coming all time to lead us to communicate better and better.   Let the words flow.  

God abides

Bobbie G. McGarey 

@2023

(Ok, I admit I still love the sound of the crisp typewriter key snapping up to hit the paper…  but I think there’s an app for that! Hanks writer I think)

Epiphany How’s with you?

The clerk at the drug store asked me this question, “how’s with you?” I said that I was fine. But it is an odd expression. How is –what with you? Perhaps it is just such a general statement you can fill it in just however you want. How’s your health? How’s your family? How’s your car? How’s your spirit? It can go on and on. 

Humm though..perhaps it is a better question than it seems at first. We can be ok in one sector of our lives and silly rotten in another. We can have some things all lined up like ducks in a row and other things that reminds us of herding cats. Still, really, do those things external from our person really make up how we are? Our wellness is more in line with how we feel about ourselves in the great scheme of things. 
Do we feel like things aren’t going together right within ourselves
or do we feel like we have the important parts 
of our lives at peace? Wholeness. Shalom
I believe that peace can come when we understand that we belong to God. I believe that when we accept that God has claimed us and named us and gifted us with attributes to be applied toward the Kin-dom then we have peace.  

God bless you this new year in finding the pieces that make a, How’s with you, easy to answer…peaceful.  

@bobbie giltz mcgarey, 01.07.23 -Easton PA

John Denver sang 

If our lives could lie before us like a straight and narrow hughway

So that we could see forever before we took the ride 

We would never look to heaven make a wish, or climb a mountain, 

‘Cause we’d always know the answer what’s on the other side. 

Have you ever wondered what is aheadin your life.? 

Like where will I Be next month, or next birthday, or after a major event, like a graduation, 

Or wedding…

We don’t know

But we have made plans and provided for our wellbeing 

We have food in the fridge or in the cupboard

We have so many clothes we could never wear them all.  

We have a car, or two

We have books…lots of books 

What’s ahead?  I can’t say 

But God has a plan for our lives..a plan for Good 

Here we Go ! 

God abides

Bobbie Giltz McGarey

@1/06/23 Easton, PA

photo bobbiemcgarey *newmexico

When the refugees came to TX a few years ago they showed us photos of children on concrete floors, in high cages with “blankets”. Well they were’t a blankie as much as they were aluminum foil with bound edge. We called them Space blankets and they were intended as emergency coverings for campers etc.

As an only child growing up I had some VERY real separation anxiety about being taken away from my parents, alone. This can be traced to a plethora of Shirley Temple Movies I would watch on Sunday afternoon that scared me and made me cry, weep, cry! The gist of most of these movies was that a little girl who was orphaned, lost, or separated from her parents . She found other people to care for her and then THEY too were separated from her too! Oh Capt! Oh Capt! (Captain January) still makes me anxious.

(Article about Shirley Temple movies https://animationresources.org/theory-objectively-breaking-down-reference-2/)

The reality we live is this same thing. The though of a child, yes adults too, the though of a child separated from their parents or aunties, or brother or sister in a cage because of their size or age lying on a cold cement floor with a pretend covering for comfort kept me awake. It still does. They had been on perilous travel for weeks of hardship, cold, lack of food, only to be taken away from security. Love. Some so young that after months, sometimes a year, forget their parents. They were too young to remember them when they were separated. Some of them were ‘adopted’ out by families here with no identification or record of who they were, where they were sent, where their families were, where their US relatives were… gone. Disappeared. How many right now remain in that situation is Unknown because they purposely were not documented.

So for a time in the service where I usually gave a little talk, a preview really of the sermon topic, I had a friend Nancy come forward. We took one of those blankets- a space blanket is what we called them— and from the palm size wrapped and folded item we opened it.
Before we started I said that it brings me little comfort to think of a child huddled in this ‘blanket’. In fact it makes me very sad and angry.

Ok, Nancy and I took that little blanket, tightly wrapped and began unwrapping it layer by layer unfolding it. It was packed accordion style and each time we turned the new layer it made a loud unfriendly sound. We said nothing as we did it. We moved at a regular pace, unwrapping
Unwrapping….unwrapping… unwrapping. Foil, foil foil. Again and again. Again and again, foil foil, foil. Again and again.

To be honest it was bigger than I expected, 7×7 . It took longer than I expected.
No words, no other sound. Hushed until more unwrapping.

Also at one point, like 1/2 through I though well we should stop. But that would have been too easy. Too comforting. This was challenging with each layer.

Finally when we got to the end I said Let us pray….
Then I said nothing for 30 seconds which was the first quiet in the room for 15 minutes.

I still hear it. Can you hear it? Has this changed? I don’t know.

Comfort, comfort comfort ye my people…

Catherine Wentworth wrote this lyric for the hymn
1 “Comfort, comfort all my people;
speak of peace,” so says our God.
“Comfort those who sit in darkness,
groaning from their sorrows’ load.
Speak to all Jerusalem
of the peace that waits for them;
tell them that their sins I cover,
that their warfare now is over.”

4 Then make straight the crooked highway;
make the rougher places plain.
Let your hearts be true and humble,
ready for his holy reign.
For the glory of the Lord
now o’er earth is spread abroad,
and all flesh shall see the token
that God’s word is never broken.

And
Messiah – Comfort Ye My People Lyrics

Comfort ye, comfort ye My people, saith your God.
Speak ye comfortably to
Jerusalem, and cry unto her,
that her warfare is accomplished, that her
Iniquity is pardoned.
The voice of him that crieth in the wilderness
Prepare ye the way of the Lord.
Make straight in the desert a highway for
Our God. (Isaiah 40:1-3)

God Abides,

Bobbie giltz mcgarey @ 2023, Easton, PA

In the 42 years I was a minister in the Presbyterian Church we oversaw almost as many Christmas Children’s Pageants. I wrote many of them myself and adapted them and reframed them with the youth available to be the actors.

Here are highlights of 3

1 Joy to the world

Our church in Logan Utah had a wonderful faithful Korean congregation that met in our sanctuary. We decided to include their children in the Children’s program. We were so thankful we did. There were two little ones 4 or 5 years old. Both of the girls wore the traditional dresses the Hanbock. They looked so lovely. We had the little ones stand on the stairs in the front. These two stood on the right side with big smiles. We sang the children’s song we’d practiced and then we all started singing Joy to the World. These two little girls got so enthusiastically involved they started jumping up and down. It seemed the perfect response to this joyful hymn. Expressing Joy with their whole selves. Suddenly in their excitement the fell off the step in a pile on the floor. I was seated not far away and started toward them. They leapt up, straightened their dresses and jumped back on the step to finish jumping and singing to the hymn. It made me so happy to see them so completely involved in this moment.

2. The Baby Jesus. Sometimes on Christmas Eve if we had a little baby in the congregation we’d have a tableau of the nativity scene with Mary and Joseph and a real baby for the baby Jesus held in the tap of Mary. This year we had a baby about 3 months old and the parents were thrilled to be asked to have her be the baby Jesus. I was standing in the back helping to start out the characters walk down the aisle as they should go. Someone came up and said, The baby Jesus is sick. We need another baby Jesus. Ok. I looked around and Sarah was about 6 months old but still looked like a baby. I asked her mother if we could use her for the baby Jesus. Sure. I picked up Sarah and walked her up in front and put her in the arms of Mary. She sat up smiling. Back in the pew was Jim her brother, who some years before himself was the baby Jesus. When I got about half way up the aisle carrying her he realized I’d taken his sister Sarah. In that little child, clear, high pitched voice said. Mommy! Where is Sarah going. His mom whispered, She’s going up to be the baby Jesus. There was a pause and then in his fullest volume Shouted clearly,

BABY JESUS! BABY JESUS! I WANT TO SEE THE BABY JESUS! We could not have staged this better. Imagining how there were who went to greet the newborn savior with the same enthusiasm.

3. Daddy Daddy look at Baby Jesus, At another church in Oklahoma this time, we had the play and then set up the tableau. We had little angels in the front with their arms held up so they looked like they had wings. There were shepherds and kings and animals. The little baby who was Jonelle was our baby Jesus. She was dressed in adorable fancy Christmas dress with tulle and a red sash and bow. I gave her mom the little blanket and said when it’s time you can take her up and hold her as Mary. The mom thought that was a good idea because she wasn’t an infant but still under one year. The four little girls under 5 years old were in place on the front of the chancel with arms up as the Luke passage was being read. They were smiling and just being precious. Mary and Jesus came up and sat down and all of the angels turned to look at the baby Jesus. One little girl’s eyes just popped out and her mouth opened and she said OH! She jumped off the chancel, ran to her Daddy in the 7th row and in the perfect little child’s voice hollered,

“DADDY! DADDY! Baby Jesus has a BOW! She turned around and ran back, jumped up on the chancel and put her arms up in perfect angel pose.

Let the season’s joys and surprises continue to bring you delight, hope and peace.

God abides, Bobbie Giltz McGarey, @ Easton PA, 12.27.22

bobbiemcgarey@bobbiemcgarey.com The Spirit Will Tell You

There was a really sweet lady in the Logan prayer group who every July would announce she had all Her Christmas presents bought and wrapped. What? What ! we would all exclaim…every every year!

It’s July. And granted one 4th of July in Logan Ut it did snow on the church 4th of July picnic as we played volleyball. But I don’t think any of us had gifts even thought of for the next Christmas. As a minister it sent an extra ripple though my bones because I would suddenly realize that we hadn’t planned Advent…. Wait…. It’s July it’s ok

Perhaps what we should figure out is that we will indeed have Christmas on the 25th and that is Good. Jesus the Babe will be celebrated on Christmas Day. We will have, if we are so blessed, a fine meal with family and friends. We will indeed be ones who breathe Christmas in… not fall faint like the end of a marathon. How do we learn this and how do we teach it to our kids?

Example.

By example we will teach many of the lessons we show our kids, our family, our sphere of influence, that lady who is yelling at the store… Breathe.

Do not be afraid, I bring you Good News the angels said. But we are afraid. ???? What if x gets more presents than y. What if the big present for Y doesn’t show up until after Christmas. What if A comes to the door with a gift and we’ve got nothing to give them in return. What if?

So here is a present for you. Breathe. Again. Breathe. Let the world know that we do this giving to thank God for all we’ve been given.

What is your favorite ever Christmas gift?

God Abides, That’s the Christmas message.

I thank God!

@Bobbie Giltz McGarey 2022, Easton PA

I was driving from here to there this afternoon and one of the roads along the way was “Duh Road”. There was a true double take! I checked on the way home just to be sure and sure enough Duh Road.

So I am imagining someone asking where. you live…uh O live on Duh Road. What? I mean that just sounds funny to me.

When I lived in Albuquerque, (a spelling all it’s own) There were some wonderful street names. Native Flower Place, Southeast, and Native Flower Drive, Southwest. Makes Duh street make more sense right? There is Academy Parkway South Northeast, Academy Parkway Northeast, Academy Parkway West Northeast, Academy Parkway North Northeast, Four Academy Ridge Drives and Places. Then there are the Admiral Roads, AD Dewey Ave NE, Admiral EmersonAve Northeast, Admiral Halsey, Admiral Lowell, Admiral Nimitz, Admiral Rickover Drive…. Ok I get honoring the Admirals. But what if you had to write that out every time you had to give your address. Duh Road…not so bad eh? Alma Encantada Court Northwest, There are the States roads, and the President’s Roads, and….

Where do you live? Sometimes when I think of the roads I’ve lived on I understand how each time they were distinct. Even in Logan Utah where the streets are on a grid. We lived at 9th North 400 East. No name… those were the coordinates. It made it fairly easy to mark where you were in relation to other roads in town. We lived for a while in Oklahoma on 812 twelve acre lane. I think that sounded like an address in the hundred acre woods.

Where do you live? I mean do you remember where you lived when you were younger. When you visited your family? When you went to school.

But is that question answered with a name of a street? Or to be really true is that answered by where your heart dwells. Where your heart abides. Where your heart feels most ‘at home’. Where is life for you?

Be where your heart lives. Let your heart live where you are right now. Not looking back to what was…but to the present…where you live. Where does your heart abide. Does it have an address or is it the second star from the right?

Be where your heart finds comfort. Be where your heart can center itself again in the center of your chest not left or right. Be where your deepest peace is found.

Be where you are. Mike McNeil would say, If you don’t know where you are going any road will get your there. Wherever you go–There you are. Baba Ram Das said, Be Here Now.

There is also the song… Home is where the heart is…

Find home. Make where you are – home. when you do–even Duh Road will be fine.

God Abides and I thank God

Bobbie Giltz McGarey

I was up reading articles in the news on my computer and for some reason turned around and looked out the library window in my daughter’s house and there was white rain coming down pretty hard. Some call it snow. It felt really cold out on this December day not long before the year’s shortest day. It does feel like the shortest day is coming as we get up when it’s dark and then by 5ish it’s dark again. The other night I was a little tired and said I was going up to my room thinking it time for pjs and bed. I walked my dog one more time and went up. It was really dark outside. Well of course it was dark it was 6:45. I realized that even if I was sleepy then I’d probably wake up around midnight and think I’d gotten a full night sleep. Alas… So I read for a while. Then watched Midsomer’s Mysteries. (note to self…if ever in small British town and there’s a murder … run because there will probably be 3 more). It was now 8:45. Still too early to go to bed.

They anticipated more snow than we’ve gotten here as they called off school. But it was supposed to be a snow event and they didn’t want to get the kids to school and then not be able to get them home. (the One time they had a snow day when we lived in Logan, UT for twelve years was when a blizzard came into the valley about 5am and they were worried about getting kids home at the end of the day.) Here a dusting can cause schools to close.

It is coming up on Christmas and everyone wants to sing White Christmas to a snow covered ground. This year I’d say let the snow come the day after Christmas, which is on a Sunday.

I realize how much I depend on the light to let me know the time of day. Right now it seems pretty late in the afternoon though it isn’t.. .. Even here. but when I turned around just now…. whoa more snow.

I was visiting David and Lee McGarey in Flagstaff in early November and one morning as I was drinking my coffee… looked up to see their cat at the door. She just stared at me in that most cat like focus sending out vibes that said, “Open the door, open the door, open the door and feed me.” I did. But I still love the image. The beautiful tall tall pines and a touch of snow here and there on the rocks. It was really peaceful and calming.

I realized that it would soon be coming up on the Thanksgiving and Christmas rush rush time. People traveling in flocks more than BC (Before Covid). I realized there would be family gatherings and that some would be peaceful and others would be less so. I realized that we carry a lot of expectation with us. Adults longing for the simpler time when we were little ones and we were served Christmas with presents and surprises and food. It happened to us. It happened for us. We were receivers. I do recall getting excited when I was able to make something for my parents. When I figured out the giving thing.

That giving thing. I graduated college in December in Ohio and was moving to AZ. I got a job as a gift wrapper at the large department store, Lazarus. I worked the first night with a woman who had done it before and she taught me about how to measure the paper to the boxes and gave me wonderful lessons. I thought later as I was able to keep up with the long lines that I couldn’t have done it without her guiding.

People weren’t waiting very well. There was nothing calm about it. People brought all kinds of gifts to be wrapped. Some had to be more cautiously wrapped that others. One lady came with beautiful stem glasses to be wrapped. They were very expensive per glass. I got out one of the larger cardboard boxes, not the shirt box type, and started to put tissue around each one carefully and put them in the box. “Wait! “she cried, “That’s an ugly box!” I explained I would wrap it beautifully and this would protect the glasses in transit. She had told me she was taking them to Chicago. She would have nothing to do with that box. I went in the back and told my supervisor that I didn’t think I could wrap it well enough to protect them and that the store would be blamed. She assured me that it would be ok and if any broke the store would replace them. I still kept them wrapped in tissue paper and put some in the bottom of the box to make it a little thicker. I put the glasses in carefully lining them up so they were close together and would’t move around. Then I wrapped the box. I told her please please be gentle with this box– won’t protect them if you put something on top and please be gentle with them. The box looked great, no different than the brown box would have looked, off she went.

The next customer a grandmother had purchased a large very fancy doll with porcelain head and beautiful hair. It’s for my 4 year old granddaughter. I wrapped it carefully and found out she was not mailing it but taking it to her granddaughter. “Of course, she won’t be allowed to play with her till she’s much older, but I wanted to give it to her now.” I imagined how one might really express that to a 4 year old. “Here it is! You can’t touch it! ” Immediately following was another grandmother with a much smaller cloth doll with a really cute expression on her face. “I’m getting this for my 4 year old granddaughter. Don’t you think she’s going to love the bits right out of it cuddling it?” Yes I did. It struck me how two of the same gifts could be so very different. One to be looked at, the other to be loved.

Ok, one more story. A woman and her older son came up and threw a shirt on the counter, “Wrap IT!” she shouted. “That’s why I’m here.” As I wrapped the shirt, easy to do, she and her son carried on a conversation about like this. “I don’t know why I am getting him a present, he’s been impossible this year. He won’t give us gifts you know and I can’t believe we have to have two meals with him. I am so angry with him. He doesn’t deserve anything from us.” I wanted to say, “put it back”, but I didn’t I just did my job. I was glad I didn’t have to have two meals with them.

But were they in the Spirit? Were they waiting for the coming of the celebration? Were they happy? Over all the customers were happy. Free gift wrapping was great for them. But had they forgotten the reason they were doing this? Did they care?

I am not trying to judge them. I have no idea their intentions. But I do know in these days we sometimes have to wait outside the door looking in on the scene and beg to be part of the peace of the season. Because Peace is one of the greatest gifts we are given at Christmas.

God Abides and I thank God. Bobbie Giltz McGarey, Easton, PA, Freelancing for God