Sunday Blessings 156 and 157

Posted on January 30, 2017 by tara.ulrich

(1) A call from my momma

(2) Finally getting a much needed haircut. Thanks TS!

(3) RR giving me a ride to the airport. Thanks sweet lady!

(4) Above 40 degrees in Minot

(5) Hugging so many dear friends

(6) Tons of compliments on the new hair color.

(7) Yummy food

(8) Maizy blowing me kisses

(9) Sammy and I playing peek a boo

(10) Hanging out with Sammy and his mom

(11) The ELCA YMNET mannequin challenge

(12) A gorgeous walk outside

(13)Bringing coffee to my friend BB

(14) Riding back from Louisville with some of my fave F-M friends

(15) Chatting with my friend KJD and getting to meet and visit with her new husband.

(16) Sharing my book with another passenger on the plane.

(17) Supper with seminary classmates and friends

(18) Late night early morning fun and awesome conversations

(19) Fun exploring a new city

(20) RT giving me a ride home from the airport. Thanks friends.

(21) Coming home to new leggings I ordered. So cute!

(22) Texting my sissy

(23) Chatting online with good friends

(24) A successful UnChili Cookoff

(25) A great phone conversation with my friend BB. Thank You!

(26) A great Zumba workout

(27) Having a great visit with JA and SJ at my house.

(28) Watching a new movie “We Bought a Zoo!”

(29) Texting with MW

(30) Messaging some of my fave people. Thank You for the prayers friends.

(31) A good annual meeting

(32) A parishioner sending me to the Western Plains Opera’s production of Fiddler on the Roof. Thanks JK!

(33) Visiting with several people

(34) A parishioner sharing her popcorn with me.

(35) EG holding my hand as we walked out of worship.

The Holy Spirit

Posted on January 27, 2017 by tara.ulrich

I am linking up for Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “control”. It was so good to see this crew and get back into the groove of FMF. We’d love to have you join us. Just hop onto Twitter on Thursday evenings and follow the #fmfparty. Hope to see you there!

The Holy Spirit she blows where she will
She goes left; we go right
Trying to control where she blows

Yet she knows better
She knows us in our uncertainty
She redirects and leads us
Where she needs

She holds our hand
She leads us beside still waters
She controls where we need
To be led

Down a path
With the Holy Spirit
At my back
I lean in
Lean into where
She is leading me.

The Holy Spirit
Is the one in control
And in the midst
Of uncertainty and faith
I trust
Trust that she is
Always in control.

Because the Holy Spirit
Blows where she will.

Connected in Water and Word

Posted on January 24, 2017 by tara.ulrich

Beloved child of God
Behold who you are
Become what you receive

These words from Asher O’Callaghan’s phenomenal sermon at the closing worship of the ELCA Youth Ministry Network Extravaganza have been replaying in my heart and my soul. How often do we truly let each other be who God fully intended us to be?

It’s no secret that I am a beloved, broken, blessed child of God who is the daughter of a woman who daily lives with a mental illness. It took me 18 years to unlock our story and tell it in this world. Every day, I continue to live into that role. It’s part of who I am and now I cannot not tell that story. In fact this morning on the plane, I shared my book with a passenger because he was sharing about his own journey.

This community has always fully accepted me as that child and loved me wholeheartedly without exception. In fact, it’s why I know that I can walk into this place and be honest about life and faith. It never seems to fail that the E falls at a time when I am struggling in my life in one way or another. It’s why I know that within moments of closing worship, as I worship, embrace my colleagues and friends in signs of peace and hugs, and prepare my heart to say goodbye for another year, I know that the tears will quickly begin to fall–holy tears that remind me we are all connected in the body of Christ.

The E is a place of holy sacred community that isn’t afraid to dive into the hard questions. It is a place where we can confess that Black Lives Matter. It is a place where we strive to be better; to be more diverse. It is a place where we openly listen to each other’s stories; in both our joys and challenges. I think of the many stories of celebration and sorrow I shared in this weekend. Stories that can be held together and not alone. Most of all, it is a place where we are all connected in water and Word.

And connected in water and Word, we can proclaim in the love of God for all people. So friends, beloved children of God, know that you hold a special place in my heart always. And always remember, “Behold who you are; become what you receive.”

Hopes, Dreams and the March

Posted on January 22, 2017 by tara.ulrich

“How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news.”

Today was a day full of lots of action. My FB feed was full of women of all ages and color marching all around the US. I won’t get into any detail here because there are friends and family who are on both sides of the political spectrum. But watching the womans marches unfold gave me hope– a hope rooted in resistance.

If I could have marched, I would have marched along side my friends. I would have marched for my mom and all who daily struggle with a mental illness. I would have marched for those dear souls who live with a developmental disability. I would’ve marched for my friends of various skin colors and sexual orientations. I would have marched for everyone because every story matters (the words on my friend DG’s poster today as she marched and held space for so many)

As Brene Brown says, “The bravest thing you’ll ever do is tell your story.” Yet too often we forget that everyone has a story and every story is different. We forget that our stories link us more than they divide us. We forget that God sent Jesus into the world for each and everyone of us. That Jesus was the first to turn the world upside down. Jesus was one of the first to resist the powers of this world.

But most of all, I believe that we are all called to do justice, love kindness/mercy and walk humbly with our God. We are all beloved, broken, blessed children of God who are called to love one another. “Love one another as I have loved you.”

I can’t help but keep replaying these words from Jonathan Rundman’s song “This is My Song” in my mind tonight. As these words echo through my ears, this is my prayer tonight and every night. “This is my song, O God of all the nations, a song of peace for lands afar and mine, this is my home the country where my heart is, here are my hopes, my dreams, my holy shrine, but other hearts in other lands are beating with hopes and dreams as true and high as mine.”

There are hopes and dreams beating in every heart tonight; hopes and dreams founded on love and hope. May we rise up together and proclaim the love of God for all people; people of every shape, size, religion, etc who each hold a precious hope and dream in their own hands.

Sacred Creativity

Posted on January 17, 2017 by tara.ulrich

“Do you have the courage to bring forth this work? The treasures that are hidden inside are hoping you will say yes.”–Elizabeth Gilbert; Big Magic; Creative Living Beyond Fear

A book that I started writing a year ago still sits in the draft file of my computer. My poetry binder sits unopened as new poetry has not been added for months. I have found the words to write here in this space, but I’ll admit there are times that this writing well seems to have run dry. I too often find myself getting caught up in the comparison trap. Yet as I read Elizabeth Gilbert’s new book, the words quickly jumped off the page into my heart and mind and I found myself deeply ready to dive into whatever creative endeavor finds me next.

The truth is that creativity is much like a treasure hunt. We must look and find those treasures of creativity found deep within us. That treasure might be writing, or painting, or gardening, singing , acting or whatever gift God has given each and every one of us. Yet do we take the time to cultivate our own jewels and find the “big magic” in our own lives? Gilbert writes, “One of the oldest and most generous tricks that the universe plays on human beings is to bury strange jewels within us all, and then stand back and see if we can ever find them.”

So stand back…and look…do you see the jewels hidden in yourself and your friends and family? We must not be afraid to name those jewels for one another. Because sometimes we are just to blind to see them for ourselves. My friend Karrilee is an artist through the cards she crafts and creates and through the words she shares. My friend Anna is an awesome encourager and friend who wrote a beautiful Advent devotional book that reminded us all to slow down and savor that holy time of the year. And these are only a few of the jewels that I see before my very own eyes. Every day, my eyes are continually opened to find the jewels of individuals who have found a way into my heart.

The world would be a much more beautiful place if we allowed each other to create unabashedly without comparison. Creativity is a gift that has been given to each and every one of us. Creativity allows us to be fully who God created us to be. And it isn’t about perfection but pouring our hearts out through the creativity God has bestowed on each of us. So say yes to being creative!

“Creativity is sacred, and is not sacred. What we makes matters enormously, and doesn’t matter at all. We toil alone, and we are accompanied by spirits. We are terrified, and we are brave. Art is a crushing chore and a wonderful privilege. The work wants to be made, and it wants to be made through you.”–Elizabeth Gilbert

I’m linking up with Holly and Testimony Tuesday, Kelly and the RaRa linkup, Jennifer and Tell His Story, Holley and Coffee for Your Heart and Kristen and Three Word Wednesday.

Sunday Blessings 155

Posted on January 16, 2017 by tara.ulrich

(1) A sweet compliment from a lady at Curves tonight.

(2) A beautiful ornament from my friend SS

(3) Part 2 of the Here Hear podcast

(4) More leftovers

(5) Talking to MW on the phone

(6) Finding new episodes of Nashville

(7) Using some of my Christmas gift cards.

(8) Breaking in my new Dutch oven and making homemade French onion soup.

(9) Having a nice conversation with a lady at Herbergers.

(10) Cinnamon Gummy Bears

(11) A great LYO board meeting

(12) Gentlemen who help get you unstuck.

(13) A gorgeous night and a beautiful full moon

(14) Getting to hug NF and EB

(15) A 1st grader asking me to pray for his fish that died.

(16) A sweet gift.

(17) Hugs from some of my faves

(18) A beautiful PLN

(19) Fresh fruit and veggies

(20) Some beautiful above zero degree days

In the Middle

Posted on January 13, 2017 by tara.ulrich

I am linking up for Five Minute Friday. The FMF is hosted by Kate Motaung on her blog Heading Home. Today’s prompt is “middle”. It was so good to see this crew and get back into the groove of FMF. We’d love to have you join us. Just hop onto Twitter on Thursday evenings and follow the #fmfparty. Hope to see you there!

I hear my sister and I singing loudly to a beloved country song “We meet in the middle neath that old Georgia pine, you start walking my way, I start walking yours.” It is the first thing that popped into my mind when I read this week’s word prompt. It is a song that holds special memories and a special place in my heart.

There is something holy about being in the middle especially when the middle is that place where we find ourselves. In fact, sometimes being in the middle is exactly where we need to be. The middle is one of the best places to be like the creme in the Oreo cookie, or the meat in the midst of a yummy sandwich and so much more.

I like being in the middle of my dear friends. One day we will gather at a table where some of us will indeed be stuck in the middle surrounded by one another. We will all start walking toward one another where we will meet in the middle.

And sometimes, it is in the middle of the sky that God paints God’s masterpieces; a night sky, the stars scattered across that same sky, and so much more. The middle isn’t such a bad place to be, is it?

A Holy Experience

Posted on January 12, 2017 by tara.ulrich

Today, there was no need to look at the calendar as from the moment the sun rose, I knew that today was leading us into January 12th. Seven years ago, on this date, the earthquake hit in Haiti where three Wartburg Seminary students Renee Splichal Larson, Ben Splichal Larson and Jon Larson were presenting as part of their January term class. At that same time, I found myself gathered with my small group as we strained to listen to one of Ben’s songs “Mourning into Dancing.” The words echoed through my ears and heart.

That afternoon, as I lay in my hotel room, the news of the earthquake quickly spread. Yet due to the vague reports, we found ourselves waiting and yearning to hear more about Ben, Renee and Jon. For days, there was much confusion as we tried to learn more about the earthquake. Then on Thursday morning, it was confirmed that Ben had lost his life in the earthquake.

I still remember picking up my phone that morning and answering it. As I held the phone in my hands, my heart began to sink as Shera asked if she could come to me. I hung up the phone and waited for her to arrive. From the moment I put down my phone, I knew that the news was not good. Shera and I stood and embraced each other in the cold of a January Pennslyvania day as her roommate stood in the cold with us. We walked to the refectory where we had to break the news to our new friends. I remember my voice being on auto-pilot as all I could repeat was “Ben is gone”. The tears quickly began pouring from our eyes and wouldn’t stop as we all held each other in the midst of our grief. It is a holy experience I won’t soon forget.

So I always begin today with a heavy heart and soul. I also always begin and end January 12th listening to Ben’s song Mourning into Dancing which holds these dear words from Psalm 30:5 “Weeping may come for the night, but joy comes with the morning.” After the dark nights of weeping, joy does indeed eventually come again. But we are forever shaped by the losses in our lives.

My blog friend Janel shared this quote from Elisabeth Kubler-Ross and it has been ringing in my heart and soul today as I remember Ben and all who lost their lives in the Haiti earthquake. Ross writes,

“The reality is that you will grieve forever. You will not ‘get over’ the loss of a loved one; you will learn to live with it. You will heal and you will rebuild yourself around the loss you have suffered. You will be whole again but you will never be the same. Nor should you be the same nor would you want to.”

Our experiences–good and bad–shape who we are. They help us to live our best lives and remember the ways we have been blessed and changed. In the words of Romans 5:3-5 “And not only that, but we also boast in our sufferings, knowing that suffering produces endurance and endurance produces character, and character produces hope, and hope does not disappoint us, because God’s love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit that has been given to us.”

So today, as we remember Haiti, Ben, and all who lost their lives that day, we cry out and sing, “God’s peace to us we pray.”–a peace that is born and grounded in the hope of God!

The Power of Story and Vulnerability

Posted on January 10, 2017 by tara.ulrich

I am always amazed at the people and places God has placed into my life. It has been such a joy to get to know so many friends in the blogging world, at seminary, and in numerous other places. Telling our stories is a holy act that opens us up to our own vulnerability.

As Brene Brown states, “Embracing our vulnerabilities is risky, but not nearly as dangerous as giving up on love and belonging and joy–the experiences that make us the most vulnerable. Only when we are brave enough to explore the darkness will we discover the infinite power of our light.”

The infinite power of our light is a beautiful image. It reminds me of the Japanese art form kinstigu where they put gold lacquer over the cracks. The gold reminds us of the brokenness of this piece of art, but is also the place where the light gets in. Are we willing to be vulnerable, even though it is risky?

This week, I returned to the Here Hear podcast to talk more about growing up as a daughter of a woman who daily lives with a mental illness. Today, Nate and I talk stigma and story. You can listen to this week’s episode here: Here Hear Podcast (Part 2).

I am linking up with Holly and Testimony Tuesday, Kelly and the Ra Ra Linkup, Jennifer and Tell His Story, Holley and Coffee for your Heart and Kristin and Three Word Wednesday.