Lot's of praying these days.

Well, it has been a while since I have blogged on this. Lot's of praying these days. Lot's of hospital visits...
My Aunt Charlotte died this past Monday after being diagnosed with cancer just 5 weeks ago. She chose not to have any curative treatments. Hospice helped managed her pain and she had 3 good weeks where her life wasn't consumed by her illness. She continued to make memories and strengthen her relationships with her loved ones. I give thanks to God for her whole life...moments of beauty, moments of illness or pain and a lifetime of trying to love God and neighbor with her whole heart, soul, mind and strength. Amen.
With All,
Rob
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Recite these words to your children...
Keep these words that I am commanding you today in your heart. Recite them to your children and talk about them when you are at home and when you are away, whey you lie down and when you rise. Deuteronomy 6:6-7
So Caleb comes into breakfast this morning, picks up our Great Commandment card and says, "Let's see how you're doing Pops!" (Pops is Caleb's retro name for me)
He led off and we alternated reciting lines of the Great Commandment.
Do I still get credit when my child leads me in reciting these words?
I don't really care. It was a great way to start my day.
With All,
Rob

Yesterday was our first full day of "40 Days with the Great Commandment". We're trying to start our days like Jesus would have by reciting the Shema (Deuteronomy 6:4-9) and and the part Jesus added: Love Your Neighbor (Leviticus 19:18) when we "lie down and when we rise". I have to admit that this is not a ritual or tradition that is familiar to me. I am, however, eager for the challenge and for the spiritual growth that I hope will come with following Jesus in this practice.
Yesterday was a tough/good day. At Saluda UMC we shared in a beautiful celebration of the life of Agnes Harris. It wasn't just a reflection of the Love of God in Agnes, we all experienced it anew in our time together.
Concurrently, my extended family and I are accompanying my Aunt Charlotte through what appear to be her last few days. She was recently diagnosed with cancer in her lungs and pancreas.
All this is hard work and yet...
I feel a strong sense of the presence of the Holy Spirit in all this.
The newness of our Great Commandment project keeps me conscious of Love God/Love Neighbor which reminds me that this is God's world. All our heart, soul, mind & strength come from this mysterious and present God...and I give thanks!
With All,
Rob

The Great Commandment

Mark 12:29-31

"Hear O Israel:

the Lord our God,

the Lord is one;

you shall love the Lord your God

with all your heart, and

 with all your soul, and

with all your mind,

and with all your strength.

The second is this,

You shall love your neighbor as yourself."