Daily Darryl

Paula, WW Leader, and Darryl, On Scale

This is a photo which appears in an article in The Enterprise, a newspaper of St. Mary's County, MD, Friday, May 16, 2008.

Use this link to see the full article by Kayleigh Kulp, Staff Writer for The Enterprise:

http://www.somdnews.com/stories/05162008/entetop172236_32150.shtml

This link may only be good for a few days, until the next issue of the paper.

The Umbrage of God Most High

O God Most High, I make my dwelling in Your secret place.

Your wings stretch out, Your feathers provide me umbrage.

In Your shade I am covered, in Your shadow I find peace.

Nestled safe in You, I know security, an oasis of refuge.

You shield me from enemies, foes flee from Your call.

Foolish ones may dare You, unknowng what will befall.

Your sharp and watchful eyes look out, no dangers do I know.

You swoop and parry, Your talons raised to enemies below.

So I celebrate Your salvation, to me You are gentle, like a dove.

O God Most High, Almighty, upon me You have set your love!

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The word "umbrage" is first defined as "shade, shadow; hence, something that affords a shade, as a screen of trees or foliage."

This is a poetic meditation I wrote based upon imagery from Psalm 91 in the Bible.

A New Poem by Darryl of Dunkirk (soon to be knighted, or tar-and-feathered)

When once you inhabit a hovel,

you're bound to run into a cavil.

The leaky faucet, the drippy pipe,

Problems of all sort and stripe.

The paint peels, the hinge loosens, boards squeak,

You know, it's enough to make one freak.

The workings of a house are quite mysterious,

the bill to fix them is anything but frivilous.

Be it ever so humble, hearth and home, familial,

Come what may, it's okay, right down to the trivial.

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cavil \KAV-uhl\, intransitive verb:

1. To raise trivial or frivolous objections; to find fault without good reason.
2. To raise trivial objections to.
3. A trivial or frivolous objection.

Cavil comes from Latin cavillari, "to jeer, to quibble," from cavilla, "scoffing."

Caesurae, caesurae!

That's the breaks, literary-ily.

I've had a lot of breaks in life.

Fourth born out of six sibs (my brother and I, in the "center"), raised in a comfy suburb of the Baltimore area, two loving parents, good moral and religious training at home and church, educational opportunties galore, met the "woman of my dreams" (hyperbole allowed here in matters of the heart), blessed with three "arrows in my quiver" (although right now those arrows are out of my quiver, but that's okay!), and answered a Calling that has brought me great joy and fulfillment, some tears along the way, but even more laughs!

I've had a few pauses, too.

That's good, because we all need our Sabbath times, for rest, recreation, and renewal. In answering this Call, I am in a professional career, a way of life, actually, which allows plenty of time to reflect, re-tool, and re-invigorate. And that's a good thing, always, I've found. I thank God for the pauses which come, or which I invite into my life on this earth.

And along the way, yes, there have been interruptions, a-plenty. 

Thank God for them! We work, we plan, then life happens, all its interruptions ... and God laughs. I know God is a good laugher, because, when I look in the mirror, I'm sure God has an over-the-top sense of humor.

Take Jesus, for instance. When he asked the Pharisees for a coin, to answer their question about paying taxes, they gave him one, a Roman coin. But the joke was on them, wasn't it, for having it? I mean, it does have a Graven Image on it, right? And nowhere does Holy Writ record that he gave it back, either (heh-heh). 

Life's interruptions are occasions to laugh at ourselves and our human condition, knowing that it's gonna be alright ... because we know "the Rest of the Story." That Stone was rolled away, after all .. so there's no stone, no interruption, that God and I can't handle, together. I know this much is true! Yea, verily.

Life is full of breaks, pauses, and interruptions.

Caesurae, caesurae!

Long live such moments. We know they're here, and they're still coming. It's the stuff life is made of, eh?

caesura \sih-ZHUR-uh; -ZUR-\, noun;
plural caesuras or caesurae \sih-ZHUR-ee; -ZUR-ee\:

1. A break or pause in a line of verse, usually occurring in the middle of a line, and indicated in scanning by a double vertical line
2. Any break, pause, or interruption.

Caesura comes from Latin caesura, "a cutting off, a division, a stop," from the past participle of caedere, "to cut."

Oh? You noticed my afflatus.

Afflatus (noun) A divine imparting of knowledge or power; Inspiration.

I was hoping you would. After all, I hold a Master of Divinity degree, doesn't that guarantee it? Heh-heh. 

Oh, if only afflatus was something you could just turn on and off.

I have found, however, that I can "prime the pump" for afflatus if I spend time in the Word. I love to read my Bible. (If you read three chapters a day and five on Sunday, you can read through the Bible in a year!)

If I pray, really listen to God, keep silent before God in way that is inviting for genuine exchange, I find afflatus. When I listen to God, I hear God say things to me, in my heart and mind. And that's thrilling!

If I go for walks or ride my bicycle, I find God speaking to my senses, in the call of the female cardinal, perched in the high branches of the Bradford pear tree ...

in the laughter of little children spinning round 'n round on the spinner in the playground ... smiling, carefree, and having fun ... just being who God made them to be ... 

in the playful, friendly smile of the golden retriever  or chocolate labrador taking his master out for a walk in the late afternoon ...

in the serendipity of finding a couple of battered Lincoln pennies along the side of the highway and roads ... (those'll go in the offering plates on Sunday) 

in getting waves and smiles from passing motorists in return for mine ...

in the crunchy sound of fallen acorns spilled along the pathways in the park as I stride upon them ...

in fat squirrels rummaging around the ground, twitching, jerking, and swishing their large, fluffy brush-like tails about ...

in the waving branches of the blooming oaks and maples, the blush of many crabapple blossoms cascading along the entrance of the park, miniature flower petals dancing down to earth ...

in the fresh breezes of spring air ...  the warm rays of sun upon my face, neck, and shoulders ... 

in the blowing leaves, racing along the bright green grass ...

Thank you, God, for afflatus, imparting knowledge, inspiration, and power to me ... to us ... when we seek You.

"Draw near to God ... and God will draw near to you."

Just like that.

I wonder why more people don't enjoy meeting new people.

Ever heard of the six feet rule?
You've seen it at church, three people speaking to each other in a little group, six feet
facing each other.
When you see that, you do not feel welcome. You hesitate to join the group, because it
looks like you can't get in.Truth is, most people just walk away from trying to get into that circle. After all, their backs are to you, it's a closed circle.

I used to I wonder about "repine" as I sang it in the hymn, "He Leadeth Me."

Joseph H. Gilmore wrote in the third stanza:

Lord, I would place my hand in thine, nor every murmur nor repine;

content, whatever lot I see, since 'tis my God that leadeth me.

It's a meditation on Psalm 23, the Shepherd's Psalm.

repine \rih-PINE\, intransitive verb:

1. To feel or express discontent.
2. To long for something.

Until I read its definition, I didn't really know what repine meant. Now I think I do.

Nor ever murmur nor repine.

It's a contrast between two opposites. I may murmur and repine, or I may put my hand in God's and be led by the Good Shepherd. I know I do a lot of both.

Now I know that contentment is not so much something to be harvested, but it is something which often blooms in its own time, when I just plant my hand deep down in God's big, warm hand.

And that's quite enough for me, here and now.

“The First Last Word”                Luke 23:33-35 (NKJV)

Good Friday Unity Lenten Service at Smithville UMC

   In our courts, hearsay testimony is not admissible. An exception is a dying declaration. It can be admitted as evidence. The dying declaration of someone is given a great deal of weight.

   And so it is, we pay attention to the Seven Last Words of Jesus. As He hung on the Cross, for you and for me, what did he utter there? Surely, Jesus gave this considerable thought, and, as we see from the First Word, He was indeed ready to make several dying declarations.

   What would be His First Word? In preaching class in seminary, our professor emphasized that beginnings and endings of messages were important. Whatever points you were making, you just had to have a fine start and a strong finish.

   Yesterday, a long-awaited Spring began. Tonight, there is a lovely full moon. Easter is always the first Sunday after the first full moon after the first day of Spring. Do you remember when an American astronaut first set foot on the moon? It was July, 1969.

First Step on the Moon

   When that man stepped on the barren moon, he was ready to say something for history’s sake. He said, “That’s one small step for a man, one giant leap for mankind.”

   And here we are tonight, spiritual descendants of the Rev. Mr. John Wesley, founder of the Methodist movement to “Spread scriptural holiness throughout the land.” When John Wesley lay dying, what do you suppose He said? He, too, was ready with a last word.

John Wesley at Death

   Wesley said this: "Best of all, God is with us."

   Beginnings and endings, they are important, aren’t they? Our last words on earth are our legacy. That’s why we pay attention to what Jesus’ Last Words were tonight in this historic chapel. Smithville still stands as Methodism’s First Word in Calvert County. And may there never be a Last Word of Methodism in this place, or in any of our churches, till Jesus comes again.

   So what was Jesus’ First Word on the Cross? Would He say something memorable, profound, and significant?

Jesus on Cross

    Listen to His First Word from the Cross: “Father, forgive them, for they know not what they do.”

   Note the first single word Jesus said on the Cross was “Father.” Jesus taught us many things, wonderful and true, but one of the greatest he taught was just to know that God is our heavenly Father. I think we all are comfortable with that. A loving, heavenly Father is great to have, and we do have One, don’t we?

   Notice that Jesus’ first words are directed not to man, but to God. It’s a prayer, a single sentence. How much like Jesus to turn to God in prayer, in His first moments upon the Cross! It was a simple, heartfelt prayer, uttered to God, but overheard by those below who had put Him there. “Father …”

   What’s your first word of the day? What’s your last word? Jesus’ first and last word was “Father.” What would your life look like if you began and ended your day in prayer with the word “Father”? Would that be a good thing for you to start to do? I think so. Will you try it? I hope so.

   I believe in my heart of hearts this First Word of Jesus is first because it had priority in Jesus’ mind, heart, and life. He said it first; it got first place in the list, because our Lord wanted it to be first. It’s no accident, no coincidence, and no mistake that Jesus’ First Last Word is a prayer to our heavenly Father for our forgiveness. Yes, it was placed first so we would remember it, forever.

   I said it was a prayer for our forgiveness. Jesus went to the Cross to die for our sins. All people, past, present, and future, need the forgiveness Jesus asks of our Father. Good Friday is good, not because Jesus died, but because Jesus died for our sins. He prayed for our forgiveness. God heard that prayer. And God accepted His prayer and forgave us, once for all.

   Think of it, God’s only Son, Jesus, laid down on the Cross, for you and for me. Jesus could have called myriads of angels to save Himself. But we know He didn’t do that. Instead, He took the full weight of our sins on Himself. He bled and died to forgive us. That was His prayer for you and for me, that His sacrifice would be effective for our forgiveness and for our salvation. And it was, is, and always will be!

   On the Cross, Jesus spoke Seven Last Words. His First Word was no little step for a man. It was a giant step. It was a huge leap for our forgiveness. And best of all, He is with us always!

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Picture Credits:

First Step on Moon: NASA

John Wesley at Death: The British Methodist Church

Jesus on Cross: Courtesy of FreeFoto.com  

Jellybean, the Miniature Donkey

This is a picture of Jellybean, the miniature donkey, which led our Palm Sunday procession at Smithville United Methodist Church, which we had Sunday, March 16, 2008 in Dunkirk, Maryland, USA.The daffodils and Boyds Bears in the chancel are for our observance of Daffodil Days, which supports the American Cancer Society. We give  Bear and a bunch of daffodils to each one of our 14 homebound members and the potted daffodils are planted in the church's Garden of Hope by our brick sign out front. These daffodils remember loved ones lost to cancer and celebrate cancer survivors, too.

Darryl Zoller, Pastor, Smithville UMC, Dunkirk, MD.