Chaplains' Corner

Judy Pressler
State Chaplain
3011 Halfmoon Valley Road
Port Matilda, PA 16870
(814) 692-5217
jxp2@psu.edu
 

 

What’s in Your White Squares?
As I was flipping through my pocket calendar to enter a “future” doctor’s appointment for August, I looked at all the notations already in so many of the little white squares. (I know, Carl, I need to add the Advocate deadlines in there in red ink!).

How many times have you heard people say, “I’m too busy to help or attend another meeting”? Me too...I've heard it and I’ve said it!

This is the article for the June-July issue and in thinking about June and July, we have so many exciting events scheduled in addition to our routine responsibilities, it makes my head spin and creates concern that we can get it all done..

However, I always fold down corners in my daily reading from “Our Daily Bread,” and it was interesting how many of them speak to this very topic. We can plan all the things we want to do, see, attend, organize and occasionally “skip” but in the long run or in reality, it is God, whose PLAN will direct us and many times surprise us. His plan will fill up our white squares!

James chides us when we are telling others about how busy we are and what all we are going to do tomorrow and next week and the rest of the summer. We should be adding, “If the Lord wills, we shall live and do this or that.”

This verse reminded me of an old saying I’ve heard may times (from my elders!!) “the Lord willin and the cricks don’t rise.” I’ve been asking around to see what the cricks had to do with anything only to be told it meant even if the Lord is willin' and the cricks rise, we can’t get across. Well, we all know that if God wants us to get across that crick, we’ll be able to get there or he will stay with us until the bridge gets built.

Luke also tells us how Jesus encouraged his disciples when they were concerned about what they would eat and wear. Not to worry...doesn’t He take care of the birds of the air and especially the lilies of the field? Their needs are taken care of just as all His other creations. They don’t even have a calendar with white squares.

Knowing this, we are free to go about God’s work. How many of your white squares are filled with visits with family, friends, neighbors, shut-ins, hospital patients, prison inmates, homes for troubled young people, and/or senior centers? Doing God’s work doesn’t have to be pounding your Bible on a street corner, attending church regularly (although I must confess, I think this one is a good idea), being so “dead serious” that people think the story you are telling them is about a “dead” subject! Since He Lives, you can make these times exciting, fun and uplifting.

Maybe it would be better to skip some of those boring meetings (not Grange meetings, now mind you) and use that time to heal a broken relationship, broken heart, or a broken soul. I am sure God would be delighted to make sure the Committee doesn’t even miss you that night. Don’t worry about the next meeting. It will or will not come.

When you plant your garden (and I am thinking some of you might just be getting around to it in mid-June because the ground may not be dry enough, at least around here!) remember to thank God for the freedom we have to actually till the ground and plant seeds to raise food to eat. That is probably not in a specific white square because God is in control of the weather!

Actually, remember those who are having a tough time buying groceries when you are overwhelmed with tomatoes, zucchini and cucumbers and pass some along. Remember the story Jesus told about storing too much “stuff” up for tomorrow...no need to build a bigger canning cupboard ...share instead.

Fill in a couple of white squares on your calendar to spend time apart from the busyness that fills our thoughts, activities and even sometimes our fitful sleepiness. Sit quietly (or lay, or walk) in a spot in your backyard, in the woods, in a park, or even in your private space and spend “quality” time with God. You can and should speak freely with him knowing that he will hear, comfort, encourage, and guide you. But remember you have to give Him some time, listen and be open to how He is directing you.

Sure these things may well fill up your white squares, and just maybe you can use some white-out to put them in where other things can be replaced with more meaningful opportunities. I know I am speaking out both sides of my mouth when I say don’t white out the Family Festival and the Family Picnics, but I somehow feel God wants us to spend happy times with our families which includes our Grange families! Remember to offer rides, encourage first-timers and share your blankets!

Keep in mind, we can plan the things we think we want to do, etc., but we should be open and ready to accept changes, twists in the road, up-hill challenges, the free-wheeling ride that comes with a surprise turn sometimes and the promise of the prize at the end...that glorious home in the sky. We can’t put that in a white square because once again we don’t know when it will happen!

I hope you all have a glorious summer, hope to see you at some Grange functions, hope to see you at Fairs, and hope to hear from some of you who have made new friends, have had exciting adventures in experiencing some new entries in your calendar book, and have felt God’s presence in some unexpected changes in your white squares.

When I go to bed at night, I make a list of to-do things for the next day. I say my prayers and tell God, if I wake tomorrow and this is what He thinks I should do, so be it.

When I wake up in the morning, I look at the list and say to God, let’s see what happens today and see if I get any of these done or if You have other things for me to do today. He does give me choices and I don’t always make good ones, but He is a forgiving God. I try to ask Him throughout the day...is this really what I should be doing today? And sometimes it never was in a white square because I didn’t know it needed done.

So, “God willin' and the cricks don’t rise...(any more than they already have),” I’ll write again next time. Right now I’m going to take a walk in the sunshine (and that wasn’t in my white square for today). It looks like God had a beautiful day for Centennial written in His white square.

State Chaplain

Judy Pressler