I have spend much of the last two months dealing with a kidney problem, emergency surgery, hospital stays, and reactions to anesthesia. Needless to say, all my blogs have been quiet for a while and I'm bumming. But I'm finally free of the problems and ready to be a blogging fool again.

And yes, I did complain to God about my "lot in life." Just like all the other folks we read about in the Bible. The one thing I love about the Bible are the number of "normal," dysfunctional people and families that God involves in His plans. As many of you know, my favorite is Jonah, but there's also David (who caused his mistress' husband to be killed) and many others who were less than perfect, but were still used by God to further His plans. And I believe God is still using us dysfunctional folks today.

I believe God understands that none of us are, nor can we be, perfect. Actually, in the passage where Jesus says, "Be perfect, therefore, as your heavenly Father is perfect," (Matthew 5:48) the gospel author used the Greek word "telios" for what is translated as our English word "perfect." But "telios" means, not perfect as we now define it ("being entirely without fault or defect..."), according to Merriam Webster. Instead, "telios" means to make complete, fully-grown, mature. When you think of the passage above as translated with the word "telios," the meaning changes considerably. This is how it reads: "Be complete/mature, therefore, as your heavenly Father is complete/mature."

Think about it...

Reverend Claudia "Red Feather" Barber

The question on the home page asks if I'm aging gracefully? I don't know about that, but I'm definitely aging. And in a month, I'll be an official senior citizen — official at least in regards to getting senior discounts at businesses around town. But aging gracefully, probably not. It's funny, I don't feel like a senior citizen, at least not in my head. But by body does. I used to be able to clean my entire house in one day...not anymore. I find it's taking me longer and longer to do the things I used to do — and some of them, I can't do at all.

But now I'm finding other things I can do. Things that I couldn't do before. Like being much more patient and understanding of others who are different from me. And being more loving and kind to others. I'm even finding myself less impatient with others — and that is definitely a breakthrough. I've always struggled with patience and now I find myself being able to slow down and watch and help others without getting frustrated. This is something I've been working on my entire life.

So progress is being made in aging gracefully, at least for me. As for the other symptoms of "old age," I'm working on it. I admit, I get frustrated with the things my body can no longer do. It takes me longer to get ready in the morning and of course, there are the pills I have to remember to take every day [sigh!].

And I'm finally acknowledging that there are some things in my life I will never be able to do. Things like hang-gliding and traveling the world. And I do have some regrets, but all in all, I'm happy, relatively healthy, and having a great time doing many of the things I love to do. I think that qualifies for aging gracefully. And don't forget the discounts; that's something to look forward to!

Reverend Claudia "Red Feather" Barber

Hank is definitely growing and changing everyday. It's fun to watch him learn and process information. He is a very smart puppy. We went to the vet yesterday and I was told his blindness is permanent and he will need meds the rest of his life. Right now, he has an eye infection probably caused by the fact that he doesn't blink or completely close his eyes when he sleeps. So I have antibiotic drops and artificial tears to put in his eyes to help him out. He can close his eyes, but not all the way and most of the time, he doesn't close them.

It has been a wonderful, exciting learning experience having this puppy in our home. Watching him learn has certainly encouraged me to never give up. Within the three days we've had him, he has learned his way around the house, discovered the toilet (he is fascinated by the sound of the flushing), figured out how to go up and down the three stairs to the back door, and found and is using the dog door.

He is getting more and more playful and puppy-like each day — and more comfortable with his surroundings. The only problem we are having with him is that he HATES being in his crate. Last night he woke up around 2:00 am and screamed the rest of the night. It seems that he was not crated at his previous home. From what I'm told, he was locked in the laundry room with his mother and sister at night. So being left alone in a crate is very upsetting for him. We are working with him, but it's slow going. (Another way God is teaching me patience.)

Patience has always been something I'm not very good at. I have struggled with that all my life and still am. I used to wear a turtle necklace to remind me to be patient. And now that I'm getting older, although I am certainly more patient that I was at 20, I still struggle with it. The health problems I have had in the last few years have gone a long way in helping me. And now I have Hank to continue working on patience. :)

It is a blessing to be able to help animals in need. I love to watch them grow, change, and learn. And as a result, I have also grown, changed, and am learning everyday. Some people take on foster children or help seniors out. For my, my passion has always been animals, especially dogs. Animals have been a refuge for me and probably always will be. So it feels good to be able to help them.

Lots of people have talked about how good it feels to help; to give some of our precious time and money to those less fortunate. And in this day and age of busy-ness, some find it difficult to do much. But I'm finding that it is true that whatever you give, you get back ten-fold. Whether it's time, money, encouragement, love — whatever you give, you get back.

It's hard to believe that when you don't think you have enough time in your day, giving time to something that helps others will actually net you more time (?!?!). I found it hard to believe. But Jesus told us, "Give, and it will be given to you. A good measure, pressed down, shaken together and running over, will be poured into your lap. For with the measure you use, it will be measured to you." (Luke 6:38) Jesus didn't specify what you should give, just that if you give, it will be given to you. And it works! I know, because I've experienced it myself. Whatever you give; time, money, affection, support; it will come back to you. Try it, you just might be surprised.

Reverend Claudia "Red Feather" Barber

My teacher and foster puppy, Hank.

A new foster puppy has joined our family. Hank is a 10-week old Cocker Spaniel puppy. He is chocolate colored and cute as a button. Unfortunately, Hank is blind. He was born blind with two cloudy, bulging eyes. His family was going to take him to the pound where he would most probably have been put down. A lot of shelters and pounds don't want to take on the effort and cost of working with a disabled animal.

That's where rescues like Metro Area Animal Adoption Association come in. Hank is not our first blind dog. About a year ago, we took in Gracie, another blind chocolate Cocker Spaniel puppy whose days were numbered. We were able to take care of her health problems and find her a perfect home where her blindness was accepted. As for Gracie, she didn't know she was blind. She played, chased other dogs, and generally acted just like a "normal" puppy. Of course, she, and Hank, do need some extra care to make sure they stay safe, but for the dogs, it's business as usual.

It's funny how often we assume that handicapped people and animals are somehow not worth our time and effort. We have created a society where perfection is the standard. Beautiful people with white teeth, slim bodies, long, silky hair, ...the list goes on. Yet every day there are people who don't fit the "perfection" standard doing amazing things and overcoming incredible odds to change the world. (Check out these YouTube videos of Nick Vujicic and Faith, the two-legged wonder dog.)

It's hard sometimes to look at a person, or a dog like Hank, and see the beauty within. Hank's eyes don't look good and they are very noticeable. They bulge out and make him look cross-eyed. And they are completely clouded over so they look like "alien" eyes. But if you look past his eyes, you see a smart, cute, inquisitive, playful puppy. He is quickly learning his way around our house and we are working on house training, crate training, and leash walking. He is learning fast.

It makes me think of all the other dogs, and people, out there who are ignored or forgotten because they have physical or mental problems we just can't seem to overlook. And yet they are smart, inquisitive, vibrant creatures who deserve the rights and encouragement we all do.

We have always been told by our spiritual leaders to love everyone, even those who don't fit the "norm," and I've always tried to do that. But having Hank in my home and my life has truly given me a new appreciation of how God works in the lives of those creatures who don't fit the "perfection" standard. And it has made me more determined to treat all the creatures I meet with love, respect, and encouragement; believing that each has a purpose in God's divine plan.

Reverend Claudia "Red Feather" Barber

*As soon as I can get Mr. Hank to sit still long enough, I'll put a picture of him up here. So far, he has been much to busy to pose for the camera. :)

During my discussion with my SiL about God and the Bible, one thing has become very clear to me. In his religious world, there is only black and white, no gray. ALL the words in the Bible are God's words or none of them are. You must follow all of God's commands as written in the Bible or none of them. Black and white...no gray. The idea that there might be a deeper meaning to any of the words or stories in the Bible is, in his understanding, impossible.

In the "Judaism" section of the book, “The Illustrated Encyclopedia of World Religions,” author Brian Lancaster wrote this about the Jewish Torah, “The Torah is held to comprise four levels of meaning: the literal (peshat), the allegorical (remez), the homiletical (derash), and the secret or mystical. The central command of Judaism, to be immersed in the study and implications of the Torah, therefore leads ultimately to mysticism.”

I believe that the Judeo-Christian Bible reflects the same implication as the Torah — to draw us toward mysticism. Of course, my SiL would never understand that because to his mind, moving toward mysticism means moving into gray areas of the spirit. David takes the Bible and everything in it literally, in black and white — NO GRAY. With that idea firmly in mind, there is no possibility for mysticism...no deeper meaning...no words beneath the literal Word.

Of course, he doesn't take everything literally — or even follow all the literal rules reflected therein. When I asked him about Paul's statements about women not speaking in church and covering their heads, he didn't respond to it. When I pointed out the comments about not judging others, no response. And when I quoted Paul saying that “if you let yourselves be circumcised, Christ will be of no value to you at all. Again I declare to every man who lets himself be circumcised that he is obligated to obey the whole law.” [Galatians 5:2-3]. He also passed off that quote. I guess if it doesn't fit David's black and white, it doesn't exist.

I remember a talk Jack Boland gave once at Unity Church of Today. In it, he used the passage from Matthew 7:6, “Do not give what is holy to the dogs; nor cast your pearls before swine, lest they trample them under their feet, and turn and tear you in pieces.” He pointed out to us that we frequently “cast our pearls before swine,” and some of them (the swine) are family. And usually they “turn and tear you in pieces.” How true. I have been sufficiently torn to pieces that I'm keeping any future “pearls of wisdom” to myself. It's sad, but it's just easier that way.

Reverend Claudia "Red Feather" Barber