Personal Care in Dance

One of the Blogs in which I subscribe to is called, “on coming alive.” It includes stories and videos of individuals who have suffered or experienced loss. It is an amazing movement where people chose to stand up in the middle of tragedy. In the description of the site, the editors describe the site as having “stories of rising from the ashes and coming alive.”

We are each very different in our lives. I have found that one way for me to take some time for myself, to be healthy, and to “come alive” is through dance. Over the last month or so, I have been taking Ballroom dance lessons at Fred Astaire dance studios. I must say…at first I was nervous. Anyone who knows me can attest to my clumsiness with the ability to trip over invisible items.

Over the last few weeks we have worked on my strength, gracefulness, and overall posture. I feel more stable on my feet than ever, strong (often sore from dancing) and overall happier taking a small break in the day just for me. (I would recommend some personal care to everyone and anyone – it does wonders for the soul) I can proudly announce that I officially lost 10 pounds in just a few weeks and have moved out of the basic classes to the social foundations course.

I would like to thank my husband for being my inspiration to take ballroom, for my instructor who is always encouraging, and God for guiding me each day to enjoy life to the fullest!

http://oncomingalive.com/

 

Fragile as an Egg

There are so many times in history that we can look back and remember people praying. The most significant in my lifetime was during 911. As most of us can still recall, the world seemed to stop that day. Among the images on the television screens and everyone rushing around, I remember prayer. I remember songs about prayer, prayer on television, on radio, I remember everyone talking about prayer.

Prayer is a way for us to communicate with God. This means having a true relationship with our Creator. As I continued to think about prayer this week, I began thinking about difficult moments in life. The soldiers on the battlefields praying to make it home to see their children, families praying for the life of their loved ones to pull through, the child who just lost their parent and the mother who has just lost their child.These moments weigh heavy on our hearts. In the good times it often seems so easy to pray. However, in certain times it is difficult to pray. In those times we can be hurt, frustrated, and sad, or dare I say, even angry at the broken world that is all around us.

I would like you to envision an egg. An egg can be a symbol of life. This egg was been brought into the world warm and protected by its creator. It is amazing, when you think of all the things that happened to bring it into this world. This life is precious and fragile. Too many bumps and bruises and it will shatter.

So let’s use an egg as an example of our lives as Christians. In Holy Baptism we are baptized in water, in the name of the Father, Son, and the Holy Spirit. It is in the waters of baptism that God gives us new hope. God delivers us from the pain and suffering and brings us into new life.

It is because of this new life in Christ that we find hope in the Lord. So when life is full of troubles, we can still find hope.

Here is the grace…Imagine an egg hitting the floor, but it doesn’t shatter and explode everywhere. The egg instead had been hard boiled. That water used caused the egg to transform into something new, stronger, and able to withstand the outside world. Our baptismal waters do the same for us. They make us a new creature in Christ, stronger, and give us hope. Our hope is found not in this world but with our heavenly creator.

River Reflections

Today I embarked on an adventure. The plan entailed taking my kayak out on the Mahoning River Water Trail and enjoying the sunshine. I started early in the morning when it was only 43F (Brrrrrrrr)! I began paddling away and floating down the slowly moving river.

My joy turned to frustration as I stumbled on a common problem with river kayaking…..river blockages. Despite all my planning, mapping, and even satellite scooping, mother nature prevailed. The river was full of fallen trees from a storm and I had to find my way around them. For anyone who has not done this, it means I had to find a spot to get out of the kayak and hike with the craft. Not fun! Needless to say, I was thankful to my husband that taught me how to properly do this before hand. Nine times in seven miles I had to remove my boat from the water and climb across mud (only face planted once), climb hills (with kayak), push my way past thorn bushes, and once even pull my kayak across a farmers field to get around my stumbling blocks.

What did I learn? That today was like many days in life. You go expecting an adventure but sometimes things are not always perfect. I did not think so many of my muscles would be used today but thankful to have the opportunity. Many would have given anything to be in my place today, so despite the struggles….I am thankful to be blessed.

I found God all around me out on the water even as I was frustrated. God’s presence was seen in the Osprey flying high above me, in the cardinal with brilliant colors in the trees, and through the blue herring flying beside me in the water.  Lastly, I was reminded of the gift of life as I spent some time with a mother deer and her newborn baby.

Today reminded me that no matter what struggles we go through (big or small), God is always present. To look for those gentle reminders that we are not alone and to have faith that in the end someone will always be there. (Today, it was God through the entire adventure and my husband with the car!)

Joy Into Dancing

“You turned my wailing into dancing; you removed my sackcloth and clothed me with joy.” Psalm 30:11

The psalms are filled with so many amazing verses which can be related to our lives. I was blessed with an opportunity this week to listen to a sermon at Gettysburg Seminary this week. I appreciate how the Holy Spirit flows through the word and can speak to us in our need.

For me, Psalm 30:11 speaks to the pain in mourning. It is the reminder that despite brokenness, pain, grieving….God our companion is with us. It is a reminder that I am never alone and even though some pain will always be present in this life, joy will come.

Not to long ago I sat in a funeral listening to the word of God being proclaimed. In front of me sat a candle with its flame dancing beautifully in the glass container. Fire can cause such horrible elements of destruction. At this moment where many were grieving, the flame had turned into something beautiful dancing with passion. It was a great reminder that there is more past the brokenness in this world.

Whether you are wailing or dancing today, remember God is with you and you are loved.

Coloring Movement!

I have found a new hobby over the last few months. In December, my best friend bought me a coloring book. I am so grateful because it has given me great pleasure. I can officially say that I have joined with the many thousands of adults who have become like children again, diving into their coloring books!

What I have found is a great way to relax, renew, and take a moment. Coloring has so many benefits providing an opportunity to unplug and relax. Benefits to coloring include minimizing stress, strengthening memory, enhancing devotion, and building faith. If you haven’t jumped into the coloring movement, I highly recommend it! If you have anything to share about your experience with this new craze, I would love to hear from you!

Blessings in Creativity!

 You have an abundance of workers: stone cutters, masons, carpenters, and all kinds of artisans without number, skilled in working  gold, silver, bronze, and iron. Now begin the work, and the Lord be with you.”1 Chronicles 22:15-16 NRSV

 

 

Life Update March

Greetings as spring quickly approaches! Time in the Burn’s household is flying by fast. We are enjoying as a family being around each other again after living in separate locations for seminary! Early on we made the difficult decision to have Ed stay at his job during the four years of seminary.

 I returned home after we lost Nickolas in December. We have extremely valued the ability to find comfort in each other over the last few months.  It is wonderful to be able to do family dinners, activities, and much more together throughout the week. Any one who has ever lost a loved one understands that grief is not something that you get over. It is a process that will always be with us. Grief allows us to sort through all the different types of feelings and memories you have when you loose someone. It is a gift to be together during this time.

I am currently continuing my school work with less than sixty days before graduation. There are still a few more trips to Gettysburg for course work in the next few months. It is beautiful to see the scenery getting greener and the flowers returning along the drive. During the first week in May, I will be receiving my Youth Certification from Gettysburg. Then on May 13th I will receive master’s degree. It is difficult to believe that time has flown so quickly.

For the future, I have officially been assigned to Northeast Ohio. The specific location will be revealed as time progresses but I look forward to seeing where the spirit will lead. Ed, Hunter, and I are so grateful to each and every one of you. We appreciate the thoughts, prayers, and cards over the last few months. It is your prayers and support along with the Grace of God that has allowed us to continue.

Blessings to All!

Prodigal Son

But we had to celebrate and rejoice, because this brother of yours was dead and has come to life; he was lost and has been found. Luke 15:32

Every morning I am thankful that by the Grace of God, I wake up with breath in my lungs ready for another day. The story of the prodigal son is a parable close to my heart. It is a story that at its roots, explains how we often misuse the Grace given to us.

So often we think that we will find happiness in something that we think is deserved in this world. We become like the prodigal son who used his inheritance while trying to live without God. We just like the prodigal son, take all that has been given to us and run out into the world forgetting who gave all of it to us in the first place.

The father in the story is one of my personal favorites. Here is a father waiting at home for his son to return. I cannot imagine the pain he felt. He gave everything to his son, only for him to run away as if dad never existed. He waited with arms wide open. That is beautiful. The prodigal son is like many of us who just want independence and freedom. Like the prodigal son, we often forget how we received our gifts.

It is by the Grace of God that we wake up and discover that we need God! Thank goodness that we realize that we are part of something bigger. We often need to come back to God and our families that love us, whether it is our biological family or to those who love us all the same.

Let’s Talk!

dog on the phone with a can

Something has gone wrong. We simply as a society have begun to not talk to each other. We text. We email. We post on Facebook. We tweet. However, somehow face to face we often forget to acknowledge other human beings.
It is almost as though social media and technology has helped us find our voices to shout at the world loudly and boldly. However, we do it without actually even uttering a word from our lips. We express our frustrations without even confronting people anymore. In a way, we are staying anonymous in the world. We hide behind the idea that it is easier to text, Facebook, or message thinking we are communicating. There is still something missing. Here are just a few frustrations that are occurring today….

*People are asking others out on dates through text messages.
*In the work place colleagues will send an email or text to the person in the next cubical.
*Often family members or friends are now finding out that loved ones have died through social media.

Dear family in Christ, we need to learn how to communicate with each other. Technology is great. In fact, as a member of the millennial generation I love to embrace it. However, we must also remember to show love and communication to each other face to face. That is where we find genuine love for one another.

Take time today and say hello to that person in the elevator. When someone speaks to you at the gym and says hello, be friendly. Hold the door for someone today and ask someone how they are doing. Let us show the love of Christ and not only be his hands and feet but his mouth also.

Feeling Alive

“I lift up my eyes to the hills—where does my help come from? My help comes from the LORD, the Maker of heaven and earth. He will not let your foot slip—he who watches over you will not slumber” – (Psalm 121:1-3).

There are many things in this wonderful yet broken world that make us feel alive. Some of them are positive events…..celebrations with loved ones, visiting a new place in this world, sky diving (yep that would make me feel alive!) However, these moments can also be negative.

I have been contemplating this week how a funeral for a loved one can make you feel so alive. They make us feel alive because of the reality that we are the one left here in this life. They make us feel alive with the reality that we will not see our loved one again in this lifetime. The feelings of being painfully alive are clear by the hot steaming tears flowing down our cheeks. This is the reality of being alive while dealing with death.

I acknowledge that there are so many of us who can relate to these feelings. That unfortunately in our relationships to one another, each one of us goes through this reality. My comfort comes from Psalm 121. Our help in these times comes from our Lord and comforter. We have been graced with every breath, with each relationship to others, and the reality of our future with our Lord.

To anyone who is suffering today….my prayer for you is for strength and comfort today. May you take comfort in knowing that each and every child of God is watched over in the past, present and into the future. May you be blessed today and enjoy comfort in our relationships to one another, with creation, and with our Savior.

Thankful

Originally Posted: December 23rd, 2015

Today marks the first week after our Nickolas Robert went to eternal rest with our Lord. We are grieving but also so thankful for our little boy. I can say that he was a true blessing in my life and will never be forgotten. 

As our family has been taking time to be together this week. I want to thank all of the wonderful people who have sent messages, called, sent cards filled with love for Nickolas, flowers, cherished items, and so many who have shared their stories with us. The great love from each of you have given us strength in this time. We are truly blessed and thankful to have you in our lives. 

Today I would like to share a precious reading that I have been reflecting on…I hope if any of you are missing someone who is with our Lord today, that it will bring you comfort. 

“This world is infinitely layered and mysterious. Everyday of our lives, we see far more than we can comprehend, and because the failure to comprehend disquiets us, we lie to ourselves about what we see. We want a simple world, but we live in one that is magnificently complex. Rather than acknowledge the exquisite roundness of creation, we take it in thin slices, and we view each slice through tinted, distorting lenses that further diminish its beauty and obscure truths that await recognition. Complexity implies meaning, and we are afraid of meaning. The life of a seamstress is no smaller than the life of a queen, the life of a child with Down syndrome no less filled with promise than the life of a philosopher, because the only significant measure of your life is the positive effect you have on others, either by conscious acts of will or by unconscious example. Every smallest act of kindness – even just words of hope when they are needed, the remembrance of a birthday, the compliment that engenders a smile – has the potential to change the recipient’s life. If by the example of joy and innocence, one can change two lives for the better, then no life is little, and every life is big.”

Dean Koontz, A Big Little Life (Bantam Books, New York, 2009)267. (slightly adapted for Nickolas)