Friday Five: Coin Toss Version

Fellow RevGalPal Songbird writes,

Well, Gals and Pals, this weekend we'll be rendering unto Caesar what is Caesar's, and that has me thinking about coinage.

1) When was the last time you flipped a coin or even saw one flipped in person?

A therapist once suggested to me that if I have a tough decision to make to flip a coin. Then evaluate my reaction. It will be that reaction that will determine my decision. So every so often I will use that method.

2) Do you have any foreign coins in your house? If so, where are they from?

I have a tin box full of coins from my European trip in 2000. This was before Europe converted to Euros. I think they are really neat, they come from England (Pounds, Pence, Shillings), France (Francs) and Amsterdam (I forgot what they are called). It's cool to take them out and show to kids.

3) A penny saved is a penny earned, they say. But let's get serious. Is there a special place in heaven for pennies, or do you think they'll find a special place in, well, the other place?

I thought pennies came from heaven. Seriously, I don't think pennies have a place in heaven or hell. These are different realms altogether where I hope commerce will not have a place.

4.) How much did you get from the tooth fairy when you were a child? and if you have children of your own, do they get coins, or paper money? (I hear there may be some inflation.)

I got a dollar for every tooth. It was really sweet. When I first heard about the tooth fairy I was so excited, however my mom didn't know I knew about the tooth fairy. The morning after I put my tooth under the pillow, I awoke to nothing but the tooth. I was so disappointed as I told my mom that the tooth fairy forgot about me. She then said that maybe I didn't look hard enough and went to my bedroom with me and "found" a dollar under my pillow. I was so amazed. Since then I always got dollars.

5) Did anyone in your household collect the state quarters? And did anyone in your household manage to sustain the interest required to stick with it?

The only thing that collects quarters in my household are the washing machines in the basement. Growing up my parents were avid coin collectors. They collected all kinds of currency from around the world. I never picked up their passion for currency although I have fond memories of pouring over their coin books as I was growing up.

Oh Sarah....

The girl just doesn't get it. This morning I heard her say "I have, one of my absolute best friends for the last 30 years who happens to be gay and I love her dearly. And she is not my gay friend. She is one of my best friends who happens to have made a choice that isn't a choice that I would have made."

Sarah, it is not a choice...it is the way God created your friend.

sigh...

Fall Equinox: Friday Five

Fellow RevGalPal Songbird writes

It's that time of year, at least north of the equator. The windows are still open, but the darned furnace comes on early in the morning. My husband went out for a walk after an early supper and came home in full darkness.

And yes, where we live, leaves are beginning to turn.

As this vivid season begins, tell us five favorite things about fall:

1) A fragrance: The crispness in the air has a certain scent to it. I can't describe it but I know it as soon as it hits my nose.

2) A color: Orange, like in pumpkins and leaves, and my font today!

3) An item of clothing: My big woolie sweaters from Bolivia. They make great jackets and I love the way the feel on me. It's like I'm getting a bear hug all day.

4) An activity: Playing king of the mountain on a big old pile of leaves.

5) A special day: My Commitment ceremony anniversary and my birthday which are only two days apart. At my commitment ceremony my family joked around about me picking the date so I wouldn't forget my anniversary. However I'm the type of person to forget my own birthday.

Funny II

Ok let's try this link.

This is funny

I'm beginning to wonder if Sarah Palin and Tina Fey were separated at birth.

Monday Morning Garden Blogging - Flower Edition

The Gnome sees all and knows all.

Petunias

Impatiens

Gladiolas



My kitty in deep contemplation. Probably thinking about tuna.

Friday Five

This week's Friday Five was so intriguing, I just have to participate.

Sally writes:

"I have recently been reading a book entitled Jesus wept, it is all about vulnerability in leadership. The authors speak of how Jesus shared his earthly frustrations and vulnerabilities with a select group of people. To some he was the charismatic leader and teacher, to others words of wisdom were opened and explained and some frustrations shared, to his "inner circle of friends: Peter, James and John, he was most fully himself, and in all of these things he was open to God.So I bring you this weeks Friday 5:"

1. Is vulnerability something that comes easily to you, or are you a private person?

I used to be a let it all hang out, let everyone know my business kind of person but as I grow older I am a lot more private. I've found that sharing too much can be harmful but I wonder if I've gone to the other extreme in being too private.

I find that I can be most vulnerable with animals. Anything on four legs is my best friend. However my housecat has problems being fully present with me. I try to talk to my cat but she is not good with intense emotions so if I'm crying or very angry I have to find support from another four legged friend. While I was in seminary there was a neighbor cat who would hang out in my yard and was always available to listen to me when I was troubled. I know it's weird to share all my secrets with a neighbor cat but he was a good listener and great at keeping confidences. When I moved out of state, it was tough to say goodbye to him.

My Former Confessor

2.How important is it to keep up a professional persona in work/ ministry?

In my professional life as a minister I am very very private. I feel that I am there to care for them, they are not called to take care of me. I find my sources of support outside of my congregation. In my preaching I will share a struggle that I've wrestled with in the past and have resolved.

3. Masks, a form of self protection discuss...

Yes, I do believe that we need masks in order to protect ourselves and to be effective in our ministries. As a minister I have to be careful about how I treat people and what I say. If I am having a bad day I will not take it out on the people I am working with. Working as a chaplain at a trauma one hospital (just like the show ER) I learned how to appear calm in stressful situations and process after these situations. Neighbor Kitty was especially helpful in the processing because when I'd come home in the morning (I was overnight on-call) he'd always be in my yard waiting for me to talk to him.

Keeping a calm persona has worked well in the parish in that when I encounter a situation that frustrates me or makes me anxious, I am able to remain calm and not be reactive. I do my venting with poeple outside my parish, usually with a friend who lives out of state, my mentor or my partner. Then when I address the issues directly , I am able to do so in a calm manner so as to not blast the other person out of the water as we discuss the issue.


4. Who knows you warts and all?


My partner, my cat, my best friend of 25 + years, my mentor, my spiritual director, my old next door neighbor cat, my revgal pals on the Internet.


5. Share a book, a prayer, a piece of music, a poem or a person that touches the deep place in your soul, and calls you to be who you are most authentically.

I would have to say my partner of 14 years. I am so blessed to have her in my life and I thank God for everyday we are together. She is the one person that I can share everything with.