Psalm Written by Leila Disburg and Peter

First Psalm I have ever written.  Classmate Peter and I wrote this for class.   It is unique because it is written from a woman's perspective.


We praise you O Lord
     for your goodness and mercy.
You are the creator of life
     the giver of every good and perfect gift.
For nine months I felt the growth
     Of your gift.
Even in the pangs of childbirth
     your joy overwhelmed me.
Now I hold this small person
     who I dedicate to you. Selah

Wow, that was a great tip

I made it to Washington DC for my visit with the General Board of Church and Society.  No major problems with flying other than circling the airport due to bad weather.  Pretty smooth travels.

However, I am not sure I should be trusted in big cities.  I took a taxi from the airport to my hotel.  My driver was a very nice man and we had a great visit.  We got to the hotel and I went to pay him and he got a big surprise.

I was holding $21 in one hand cause I knew that would cover the fare and the tip.  In my other hand I was holding $40.  I handed him what I thought was the $21 and his immediate reaction was "oh mam this is too much".  I thought "wow hasn't he ever gotten a $5 tip before.   He kept saying too much and I did not get it until later.

While checking in to the hotel I opened the hand with the $40 in it to get change for tipping and guess what?  I had $21.   I had given the taxi driver $40 for a $16 cab ride.  No wonder he said it was too much.  At first I was kind of mad at myself but then I began to smile.

Can you imagine how that made him feel?   I can hear him telling the other cabbies the story of his big tip.  He knows I am from Alaska so I wonder if he knows view Alaskans as generous people.  What I really wish I could tell him was that I am a Christian and we are generous people because God is a generous God.

I know my first cab ride in Washington DC was possibly a loss of $20.  I view it as God helping me to be generous.  Hopefully that cab driver was reminded of the God who loves him so much that he not only had a lady from Alaska give him a generous tip but that God loved him so much to send the only Son to live, love and die for him.

What does God feel?

     Recently I got to visit my oldest daughter Meghan and her husband.  I cannot describe what a wonderful visit it was.  We had a good time, we talked about many things and it was wonderful to see my daughter all grown up in her own home.   Ahhhhhh.
     There really is not a better feeling than to spend time with grown up children and feel so happy that they did listen to you about some things.   It is also great to realize they did not pick up all your bad habits but have thought through and learned many better ways than you taught them.
     As I was reveling in this amazing brief visit I began to wonder if God as our parent feels this way.  The day that I finally get it and let go and allow God to be in charge - what a proud parent God must be.  Or when God and I have a conversation where I don't do all the talking but I deeply listen to wisdom from the one who created me.
     Of course when you think this way about parenting, your own children and God your parent - you can't help but remember that there were days when you wanted to disown your children.   Then I begin to imagine God's head shaking as I (for the umpteenth time) do something really stupid.   God must be so hurt when I have turned my back and knew that I could do things better my way.
     The ultimate satisfaction of being a parent is knowing that no matter where your child has been or what they do - you love them.  You may not like how they are behaving or agree with the decisions they are making - but you love them unconditionally.
     As I breathe in that feeling of love that is bigger than my lungs can handle I remember that God must feel the same way about me and you.  Even when I am struggling God loves me, accepts me and loves me way to much to leave me the way I am.   Wow.
     Today my heart takes me one step further.  What about all those beautiful children of God who don't know how much they are loved?  My heart longs for the people I sit and watch in airports who are not happy, who treat family members badly, and don't like themselves.   I long to have them know the feelings I have felt when I realize how much God loves all of creation and like a good parent wants only the best for us.
     How will I share that kind of love with the world?  How will you let people know how God feels about them?  How will we, the church, reach out and enfold the world with God's love?  I end with the prayer that God will help open my eyes to the way.  Amen.