31 reminders from Eden Archives

#DistractedByBeauty, 31 reminders from Eden, China, Signs, The Church Year

A Sign From a Beijing Bathroom That Points to Eden

I saw this sign in a bathroom in Beijing:

We were in a nice hotel, doing a bathroom stop—as public restrooms are not always the easiest to find in downtown Beijing. While I understand why a hotel might want to discourage people from using their bathroom as a changing room, when I read it, I was reminded how Eden Lost our world is.

Eden Lost declares some parts of our stories are untouchable for God to reach in and influence, change, redeem, or offer His presence. This is not a changing area.

Eden, however, would have signs with the opposite message! God has hung this sign on your life, over your circumstances, in your messy middle:

Please be informed that this is a changing area.

This is a changing area.

I want to print this sign off and hang it on my wall. Better yet, I want to paper the walls of my heart and mind with it. How helpful to see this sign the day after I shared with you Kimberlee’s book The Circle of Seasons and an invitation to join in reading it over the course of the year.

A friend contacted me wanting to double the offer on the books for the giveaway. Eight of your names were drawn and you’ve been contacted that you won!

I was moved at the response. Twenty-four of you left comments. And I don’t believe it was just because of a free book (though, I know it helped!). Honestly, I believe it’s because you too long to be anchored in a deeper story than Black Friday, Valentine’s Day, even, dare I say it, Pi Day.

We want to be invested in stories that matter. Like this one. Before I headed to China, my friend Michelle texted me: “So the college I work at—Northwestern College—is doing Operation Christmas Child. I shared your post and they are ramping up the boy boxes. They are putting out a challenge for the guy dorms to pack as many as they can. Yay for boys.”

Yesterday she sent me this:

“Most of our 100 boxes is for boys. The big stack of boxes is for boys ages 10-14. Majority of our boxes are for boys.”

Please be informed that this is a changing area.

God hangs this sign over your heart. And then it hangs over the boys.

This sign is hung again and again.

If you didn’t win a book, I still have good news for you. Kimberlee has extended the offer of her book to you for $5. She said, “Just shoot me an email with your mailing address, the number of copies you want, and to whom you’d like them inscribed, and I’ll get them in the mail to you. You’ll have them in plenty of time to read the Advent chapter before the season begins on November 29.”

I’m still a bit fuzzy in the brain from jet lag, so I haven’t made a plan yet. I’ll work on how we’ll get started this weekend and let you know early next week.

Know why I’d like you to leave a comment on this post? It’s not because I love comments (even though I do), it’s because God used that sign as an invitation to me to slow down and reflect on my life. He’d like to do it for you too.

Where could you use the Eden Sign in your life right now?

31 reminders from Eden, Community, Faith, God

Control and the Garden Of Eden

“Control” was the theme of the week at Velvet Ashes and one of the blessings has been to remind me that God is in control. That he did not merely put the world in motion and then step away, leaving us on our own to figure our way through the muck.

As I was thinking about how God is in control and what my life might look like if I had control, I sensed the whisper of the Spirit say, “But it’s not an either/or. You have set up a false dichotomy: Either God is in control or you are. You both are.”

Wait, what?

We are part of the Imago Dei—the image of God. In the Garden of Eden, before brokenness, distance, and sin entered the story, Adam and Eve lived being an Image Bearer perfectly. God revealed how my thinking about “control” has been influenced by The Fall. Living, as we do, in Eden Lost, all we have seen and experienced has flavoring from the fall. But the hope of the Gospel is that the Kingdom of God can be here and now—and that also involves how we use control.

Having and handling control rightly is one of the ways we are Image Bearers.

In the garden we are told, “So the Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky. He brought them to the man to see what he would call them, and the man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals.”

I cannot wait to get to Heaven and ask God if I can see this scene. But until then, we can picture it. God forming animals and bringing them to Adam, dare I say, eager to see what he will call them? Excited to share in this moment with Adam and see what Adam will name the animals.

What stood out to me this time was the scope of this scene. It wasn’t God made an animal, Adam said, “It’s a cow.” God made an animal, Adam said, “It’s a blue heron.” God made an animal, Adam said, “It’s a tiger.” End scene.

No!

The Lord God formed from the ground all the wild animals and all the birds of the sky.

Emphasis obviously added. Control starts with God (and I’m going to call this “Capital C” Control). God is the one who makes animals out of the ground! God brought them to Adam to see what he would call them. God did not bring the animals to Adam and tell him what they were.

He brought them to the man to see what he would call them.

Part of being an Image Bearer is having control (“Small C” control).

Look what’s next. The amazing vastness of this control we have been given.

The man chose a name for each one. He gave names to all the livestock, all the birds of the sky, and all the wild animals.

Again, emphasis mine, but the words are God’s. (God and I are sharing Control, control). Adam chose a name for each animal. Each. Not some. Not God saying, “That’s a dumb name” or “Hurry it along.” Adam had control of a task and the way he chose to do it.

This all sounds exciting and fist pumping the air and wow! Then I think about the task.

All the livestock. All, not some. Not just the pigs, chickens, cows, showing my lack of agricultural knowledge.

All the birds of the sky. All, not some. Not just the robin, blue jay, sparrow, and hawk, showing my lack of bird knowledge.

All the wild animals. All, not some. Not just the panda, tiger, and elephant, showing my lack of wild animal knowledge.

We are not told in the text how many animals there are or how much time it took, and this was before The Fall so tedium hadn’t entered the picture yet. But it is a bit overwhelming how much God is willing to share control with Adam.

As an Image Bearer, God has chosen to share limited control with us. I forget this. More often the narrative is to focus on how God is in control and I had to accept how much is out of my control; I forget how much is in my control.

Even typing this I feel uncomfortable because I’m more familiar thinking of my lack of control. Let’s talk for just a moment about how life in the messy middle might be informing our relationship with control. We all know people who:

Have children born with physical or emotional challenges.
Systems that are large and impersonal (off the top of my head: schools, hospitals, airlines).
Taxes.
Feel like there is no end to dishes, schooling, or laundry.
Wondering if you’ll get married or growing our family.
Work on an assigned team.

All of these are true. And even in Eden, control didn’t mean you get to do what you want at all times.

Today, I’d like for us, like Adam, to name what we do have control over. Where God has formed something and then offered you or your family or your team to have control. While we can’t list all that God has let us control, let’s see how many comments we can get!

A version of this appeared on Velvet Ashes

31 reminders from Eden, Faith

Reminders from Your True Culture {Eden!}

Two years ago I blogged through the month of October. It is by far, my favorite series. As I read over the list, a place deep within me exhales.

Long-time readers know, I am taken with “the language of Eden” and how it was supposed to flow out of us; instead we speak the language of Eden Lost.

For just a moment, can you picture spending a day in Eden prior to the fall? A land without brokenness, sickness, debt, hunger, stubbed toes, escaped curse words, rush hour traffic frustrations. Instead, a land of generosity and freedom and contentment. As foreign as that may be right now, a part of us whispers, yes, yes, yes. Now that sounds like where I want to live. Who I want to be. How I want to interact.

I know that I need reminders from Eden and I bet you do too.

You might be in a very un-Eden-like place right now. Come in, you are welcome here. This isn’t meant to be a place for just the happy, clappy (though if that’s you, you’re welcome too!). I am so used to Eden Lost (and how could I not be, tis my home), these reminders are meant to be just that … reminders. And encouragements. And maybe challenges. But I’ll leave that last one up to you and the Holy Spirit. This isn’t meant to be a backhanded scolding. No, we get enough of those.

If you want more of the back story on how my interest in Eden was sparked, you can read about the view from the 17th floor and a sign at my gym.

(1) This is day one. Eden is a place of:

(2) LOVE

(3) SATISFACTION

(4) EXTRAVAGANCE

(5) FREEDOM

(6) BELONGING

(7) RECREATION

(8) TRUTH

(9) TRUST

(10) PURITY

(11) SUBMISSION and POWER

(12) STEWARDSHIP

(13) UNITY

(14) KINDNESS

(15) BLAMELESS

(16) WITH ABANDON

(17) ACCEPTANCE

(18) CELEBRATION

(19) FAITH

(20) GENEROSITY

(21) JOY

(22) PURPOSE

(23) EMPATHY

(24) RHYTHM

(25) HOPE

(26) ELATION

(27) ESTEEM

(28) HEALTHY

(29) PEACE

(30) SECURE

(31) WANTED

Follow up posts: Building a bench {for a conversation}

What can a photo add to a post?

An invitation to slow down and remember

A picture of God’s heart

Exhale, oh my soul. And breath.

Which reminder did you need today?

31 reminders from Eden, Ending Chapters, Faith, Learning lessons, Velvet Ashes

How to review a year three easy steps

Snapseed

Well the jokes on you if you think a year can be reviewed in three easy steps :). But it can be reviewed, rejoiced over, and reminded of the small mercies upon mercies that were extended even when was sprinkled with band-aid ripping moments.

Being courageous started with announcing I had resigned and was stepping into my own River Jordan. I just reread the post and this line jumped out: The number one question in the last two weeks has been: what’s next? A year later and slowly a plan is coming together, but I still don’t have a clear title or job to point to. Parts of this fall and transition didn’t play out the way I thought they would. But pieces are in play and maybe by next year I’ll have a clear job title :). Until then, splash, that’s some Jordan River water on you!

I visited Ankgor Wat and had all sense of scale blown OUT THE WINDOW — even now a year later I can’t help but use all caps. And I wrote: Visit place of scale when coming up to a major life transition because it helps put things in perspective.

I was reminded I’m a leaper and not a list maker when it comes to decisions. Remember this charming conversation:

“Did you know that Amy?”

Did I know what? How cool I’d look?

“Did you know that the education degree was a five year program, not four?” One of my parents asked.

Well, I know it now, that’s got to count for something right?

In March one of my sisters brought two of her daughters to visit me in China!! What a gesture towards this monumental shift and a conscious effort to make memories that will live far into the future. In preparation for her taking some precious items back to America I wrote/videoed about my books. Turns out if my books are settled, I feel settled. When it was time to dismantle my book shelf, I knew that I really was moving. Thus, the quivering voice. I still miss you, beloved book shelves! I am most definitely a pre-griever (though kudos to you post-grievers).

Courage also looks a lot like mundane, normal life … sprinkled with extraordinary moments. I almost missed having these girls in my life because I was busy and hosting exhausts me. Or let fear keep me from contacting author Adele Ahlberg Calhoun and interview her about her book Invitations from God. Love her answers!

I was beyond blessed to get to deliver the commencement speech at my dear Isabel’s high school graduation and shared what I sad in three blog posts: How many women are in the Bible?, Two things I know for sure when it comes to high school graduates, and Beware the voices that whisper to you …. Cour_ge, I hate this part, also involves letting people fly out of our lives.

Moving day came and I shared how I knew I was committed to China (hint, it has to do with furniture). The last night in China, a friend and I went on a walk and stumbled on a blessing ceremony. The announcer said for anyone to come forward and for only 20 kuai (about $3.25) you too could be blessed and given a golden chain. We were in the presence of raw longing. It was disturbing. Cour_age also involves walking away when there is more to do. There will always be more to do, but that doesn’t mean it is mine (or yours) to do.

So I boarded a plane and walked away from who I was to stay me. Gut wrenching yet softened by these words long faded on my wall. When I arrived a niece turned towards me putting her hands on my face and looking straight into my eyes asked:

“Aunt Amy are you home for a long time?”

Yes, a long time.

“At least 365 days?”

Most likely!

Reassured she turned.

I see myself reflected in her, longing to put my hands on the face of God and say, “OK, what exactly is the plan?” Double check this hasn’t been a bait and switch. Aunt Amy, you said you were coming home, that’s still the plan, right? God you said it was time to leave, that’s still the plan right?

And I started the long process of sorting out who is China Amy, American Amy, and Just Amy. Big goodbyes rarely come all in one fell swoop. Graciously (painfully?) they are often comprised of stepping stones and the day came when I stepped on my last stone. But endings also create beginnings and I got to go to the Minnesota State Fair and spend time with my sister!!

My courageous act of October was to blog every day on 31 Reminders from Eden. November was the launch of a dream as Velvet Ashes became a reality after months of behind the scenes work with the other editors.

In December I wrote a post that required cour_ge. China had become so intertwined with my identity it became the most prominent adjective describing me. Oh you’re the China daughter. The aunt who lives in China. The college friend in China. The foreign teacher in China. The sister in China. What word is used over and over and over? Not daughter, aunt, friend, teacher or sister. China.

This is my greatest fear. What if China is what makes me and the story of my life interesting and without her, I’m dull. I fear that I may not matter and people only listened to me because I was a bit exotic.

I used to think having a word for the year was a bit of a shtick and a little too gimmicky for me. But I was wrong. Instead, in conjunction with God, choosing a word became a centering prayer and refrain for the year. Lived out in the day to day trenches. Thanks for walking these paths with me. Together I look forward to 2014 and a year of ______(tune in next time).

Fondly, Amy

P.S. What posts stood out to you this year? Any good book recommendations for 2014?

31 reminders from Eden, Faith, God, Language of Eden

A picture of God’s heart

And the Lord God planted a garden in Eden, in the east, and there he put the man whom he had formed. And out of the ground the Lord God made to spring up every tree that is pleasant to the sight and good for food. The tree of life was in the midst of the garden, and the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. A river flowed out of Eden to water the garden, and there it divided and became four rivers. (Genesis)

The Garden of Eden is, shall we say, the scene of the crime. But before it was marked off with yellow tape and both the perpetrators and victims (one in the same, really) had to leave, this is picture of the original plan for the inhabitants of Eden:

And as much as we’ve gotten off course, remember, it is still God’s desire for you. Every day. Every situation. Every conversation. Every interaction. Infused with potential for Eden to return through us to a world in need of remembering as well.

Love —Satisfaction—Extravagance—Freedom—Belonging—Recreation—Truth—Trust—Purity—Submission—Stewardship—Unity—Kindness—Blamelessly—With abandon—Acceptance—Celebration—Faith—Generosity—Joy—Purpose—Empathy—Rhythm—Hope—Elation—Esteem—Healthy—Peace—Secure (in our being)—Wanted/Desired/Picked/Seen.

How has this overall series impacted you and your soul?

*******

Every comment this week will be added to a drawing on SUNDAY (I changed my mind and have a post for Sunday night) for a set of Holly’s cards (your choice). Following Janet and Holly’s generosity on this project, every comment will be an entry. If you wonder what we’re up to this week, we’re sitting on benches :).

31 reminders from Eden, Community, Faith

An invitation to slow down and remember

When I got the idea for 31 Reminders from Eden, I went back and reviewed the post “In which I need your help with opposites“. The comments were especially helpful, thank you!

I mentioned making a card for each day and before October started I prayed over them, put them in an order and stuck with it (other than the unexpected, but welcome, interruption in the flow with my post over at SheLoves: Jesus Loves Fighting More Than Football).

This week we are pausing and creating space for our spirits to reflect on the month we’ve had. To allow the Spirit a moment to speak into our lives.

In the messy middle of life we are called to hold the tension of the already and not yet. Just this week I have eaten delicious meals, danced with abandon in Zumba, shared words of encouragement, and been reminded of the fragility of life. A former Sichuan province mate died, leaving a wife and three young, young children. I want to ask, Oh death where is your sting?! But I know where it is. Already, not yet. Yes, that about sums it up.

Here’s a list of the reminders. If you’re like me, you’ve grown accustom to scanning more posts than you used to. Could I ask you to fight the urge to quickly move on? This is an invitation to slow down and remember. Dear Spirit we invite you to remind us of the true depth and richness of Eden. The ways in which we see and taste it now and the ways we anticipate. Thank you. Amen.

My spirit quicken looking at the list and I am called back to myself.

Which reminders moved you? Challenged you? You disagree with? Which was particularly timely?

****

Every comment this week will be added to a drawing on Saturday for a set of Holly’s cards (your choice). Following Janet and Holly’s generosity on this project, every comment will be an entry. If you wonder what we’re up to this week, we’re sitting on benches :).

31 reminders from Eden, Faith, Learning lessons

What can a photo add to a post?

Mid way through the 31 Reminders project, I wrote Janet:

Janet!!! I’m sorry this is taking so much time :)! Your pictures are amazing, but I feel guilty asking for “all afternoon” — really and truly, if after this batch, you want to say, “hey, that was a great run,” I respect that.

But also know this isn’t meant to be a China, in direct, “please stop” — it’s an American, “I’m embarrassed that I’ve asked too much.”

I’m grateful for Janet’s contributions as they pointed to daily, tangible ways Eden is with us. Her pictures inspired me to see the world differently. Overall I’ve been a traditionalist when it comes to taking pictures. People, food, and flowers. The big three. Janet’s photos remind me of the sacred in the ordinary. The precious in the mundane. A little girl wearing unmatching shoes. A loaf of bread being torn. A bride with her head on the shoulder of her groom.

I find myself looking for shots as I walk through stores or am out in public. Shots for my invisible camera. Which is to say, I’m tuning in to the visual world around me more and catching glimpses of Eden.

I have two favorite pictures. One is the gorgeous white flower from purity. But when my mind bounces around the 30 images, it lands on the pile of shoes for acceptance. And what is acceptance if not feeling at home, walking around in your socks?!

Janet, thank you for putting visuals to words. For creating hooks from which to hang these ideas. I hope you don’t dread seeing my name in your inbox :).

***

Which image will stick with you? Any words for Janet on how her photos influenced you?

***

Just a reminder that everyone who comments this week will be added to a drawing on Saturday for a set of Holly’s cards (your choice). Following Janet and Holly’s generosity, every comment will be an entry. If you wonder what we’re up to this week, we’re sitting on benches :).

31 reminders from Eden, Community, Faith, Learning lessons

Building a bench {for a conversation}

During the month of October I heard the calming Emily Freeman speak at a writer’s conference. She shared how the idea of “building a platform” was intimidating and exhausting and crazy making (I added the last one). If you’ve not heard of a platform, in essence, it is the place from which you stand up and share your ideas and yourself. For some, facebook is their platform, for others, it might be Pinterest, their local MOPS group, a blog, or the kids in their carpool or kitchen. Size doesn’t really matter unless you are asked by potential agents, “So, how big is your platform?”

*****

In Emily’s cal-de-sac there is a patch of grass where parents gather to chat while their kids play. Tired of standing, Emily and her husband decided to buy a bench and placed it in the grassy area. It was a simple enough decision.

And in that simple decision they created space for people to have a conversation. The bench wasn’t the conversation. The bench wasn’t point. The bench wasn’t very fancy. The bench wasn’t very large.

The Messy Middle is my way to create space for conversations. I love it when you leave comments (and I know many of you are not commenters and that’s fine!). When you comment on each other’s comments and conversation starts, I am humbled that this little bench has been used to connect and encourage and challenge people. And even if the conversation doesn’t happen here, my desire is for these writings to be a spring board for conversations you have with people in your daily lives. Benches aren’t meant for the masses.

This week, I’d like to have a conversation about our 31 Reminders from Eden. It’s tempting to race on to the next thing, freaking out that you’ve had enough of Eden and “my” numbers will drop this week. But that is fear and platform speaking.

So, we’re going to have three (potential, who knows where this will go!) conversations.

1. The photos used. Janet Watcher brought a visual image to the series I simply could not. We’ll talk about the images.

2. The reminders. Which reminders moved you? Challenged you? You disagree with?

3. The theme. How has this series impacted your thinking and your soul?

One of the great joys of this project was having Janet Watcher and Holly Beals add to the bench. Janet with her photos and Holly by designing the button used. Holly designs amazing art, including cards! If you don’t know, I’m kind of a card addict :). Everyone who comments this week will be added to a drawing on Saturday for a set of your choice of Holly’s cards. And as a model of their generosity, every comment will be an entry.

I look forward to our conversations :). Amy

31 reminders from Eden, Faith, Language of Eden

31 Reminders from Eden: WANTED

Mr. Johnson would name two team captains. I was never a team captain in elementary school which left me standing with my classmates waiting to be picked. No matter how many times it happened and no matter how much I KNEW that I would never be chosen in the first half of the pickings, the sinking feeling in my stomach never lessened.

My heart would will my name to be called. Not because I cared a hoot about the game we’d be playing (which might have something to do with my lack of pickability), but because I did not want to be last. I was almost never last. A big THANK YOU GOD from my heart as I raced to my team leaving the lepers behind me; but I was not far above them. Third from the bottom, maybe fourth?

My memory involves gym. But that may have been your happy place. Maybe where you dreaded being picked was to read in public or do a math problem on the board or visit old people in a nursing home. Whether the desire was to be picked (or not in the case of visiting a nursing home), it accompanied a sinking feeling.

Eden Lost is scattered with those who are unwanted, overlooked, ignored, or invisible.

In planning this series I made a note card for each day and wrote the character of Eden on the front of the card in BIG LETTERS and its opposite, Eden Lost on the back in smaller letters. For this day, I didn’t quite know what to call it, so I wrote:

Wanted/Desired/Picked/Seen.

You are wanted in Eden. You are desired to be on the team. You will not be seen as a detriment and assigned to right field with the hope of the ball NEVER being hit to you because you stink at gauging depth perception and velocity of the ball, catching, and throwing. Not that I know anything about being assigned to right field. You are picked in Eden by the Coach who knows all your flaws and WANTS YOU ANYWAY. You are seen, for who you are and will be and the whole team is excited you are there.

As our final reminder from Eden, I want you to know that you are uniquely made and seen and picked. You are not a mistake or undesirable. God smiles when he sees you and is calling your name right now. You are wanted.

Next week we will pause and look back over these 31 reminders; thank you so much for sharing this journey with us. The complete list of all 31 reminders can be found here. Amy.

31 reminders from Eden, Faith, Language of Eden

31 Reminders from Eden: SECURE

I once worked for an insecure boss. It was awful.

Insecurity seems to be one of the terms de jour of our age to throw around. But if you’ve worked for an insecure person or been in close relationship with an insecure person, it not just a buzz word, it’s a very unpleasant experience nightmare.

Security permeates everything.

My boss had few people he trusted. He controlled ways that information was shared. He was overly cautious about who knew what.

Trust. Information. Control.

The ‘big three’ of insecure people.

The flip side is true. I worked for another man who was secure. He was able to trust me and my coworkers. Information flowed up and down, backwards and forwards. As long as we were all on the loop in a timely fashion, we weren’t afraid that we might offend or overstep or understep or screw up in some unanticipated way. And his security provided a generous work environment. Dare I say … it was fun!

Security permeates everything.

But sometimes we are the insecure person. Who wants to be the person questioning where they stand in a relationship? Or how what you are saying is going to be taken? Or if people will like you?

Recently I attended a writer’s conference where I knew a few people from on-line, but the truth was that I didn’t really know anyone. Walking into the main room, I felt like a junior higher. Truth be told, I felt worse than a junior higher because I loved junior high. Would anyone want to talk to me? Would they think my ideas were stupid? Would I be ‘cool’?

I hate feeling reduced to less than I am! Especially when it is by the whisperings from within myself.

The root of security is identity. But you can know who you are and instead choose to listen to the whisperings.

I don’t see myself as a real, real writer. Not like an author who has written, say, 15 books. See, if I set the bar high enough, I’ll never measure up. But if I set bar at: I am a writer who touches people through my writings (and take publishing off the table), well now, by that standard, I am a writer.

The whisperings. We all have them. In the movie A Beautiful Mind there is a pivotal scene when the main character realizes a little girl and man he talked with and did life with were not “real.” He never stopped seeing them, but he stopped engaging them.

You are going to have whisperings this side of Eden, the challenge is, which ones are you going to engage and which are you going to ignore? Secure people engage the truth and insecure people engage the whisperings masquerading as truth. For now, we have to make choice.

But in Eden Regained, there will be no masquerading and every last one of us will be wholly and fully secure in who we are.

If I could do a backflip, picture me right now tumbling around at this reminder!

All the posts in the series will be added to this page each day of October. You can subscribe now by entering your email where it says “Jump into the Mess.” Can you believe it, only one more reminder? Amy

Remember:Love, satisfaction, extravagance, freedom, belonging, recreation, truth, trust, purity, submission and power, unity, kindness, blameless, with abandon, acceptance, celebration, faith, generosity, joy, purpose, empathy, rhythms, hope, elation, esteem, healthy, peace, security. (Yup, still have the formatting problem :))

A Sign From a Beijing Bathroom That Points to Eden

Please be informed that this is a changing area.

Please be informed that this is a changing area.

Control and the Garden Of Eden

Reminders from Your True Culture {Eden!}

How to review a year three easy steps

A picture of God’s heart

An invitation to slow down and remember

What can a photo add to a post?

Building a bench {for a conversation}

31 Reminders from Eden: WANTED

31 Reminders from Eden: SECURE

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