Dear Reader:

Like many Americans I watched in awe and excitement at the Opening Ceremony for the 2018 Winter Olympics Friday evening…the pageantry and comaraderie…the sense of hope for peace and global understanding…if only for those precious moments.

Of course the uniting of the athletes from both South and North Korea and its potential as a benchmark for some type of unification was the main topic of the discussion among the NBC commentators…Mike Tirico and Katie Couric with Ramo delivering the Otto Van Bismarck quote at the end:

“A statesman… must wait until he hears the steps of God sounding through events, then leap up and grasp the hem of His garment.”

The more I thought about that quote the more I thought about its meaning to all of us…not just for statesmen or politics today. Everyday, in our own personal history, we are being revealed, for better or worse; but then sometimes we are given that quick glimpse into the miraculous possibilities of our own personal time-lines in history…if we just pause long enough to let God show us the way and then follow.

John Eldridge (author of Walking with God) reflects about Lent and its real meaning in our lives. He doesn’t think it is about giving up something we like to eat or drink or losing weight. Instead it is about giving up SELF and taking up LOVE...in other words…replacing us with GOD. His prayer for Lent is:

I ask You to heal the things in me that have led to this self-obsession, this looking to my ability to get it done, get it right, stay on top of things. Forgive me. I want to be centered in Your love in me. You in me. Heal me.

……………………………………………………………………………………………….

Yesterday Mandy, Eva Cate, and I had a girls’ day out. PBS had sent me notification (which I forwarded to Mandy) about a free family program KIDS PBS was hosting at the Gibbs Museum in downtown Charleston. (I am a contributor to PBS which is why I had gotten notification…I love their programming!!)

KIDS PBS was letting the children “test” out (for the first time) a new children’s television series. The group of children got to watch five episodes from the upcoming series of “Pinkalicious.” Eva Cate adores Pinkalicious!

Leading up to the viewing…”stations” were provided where the children could draw, color, and even create paper robots. It was impressively pre-planned. Smart Cat was there to lead the little participants into exercises to stay healthy. Storybook time, along with a reader for the Pinkalicious series of books, was also provided.

The nice thing about this event is that it was free… which meant also free admission to wander around the Gibbs Museum. Eva Cate loves history and art…so she was totally enthralled looking at everything the Gibbs Museum had to offer. (And the beauty of the building itself.)

It was when we came to this gigantic two story “bird nest” that Eva Cate’s face said it all….it was filled with wonder and awe… the realization of what it must be like to be a little bird in a nest…one of God’s creations.

Eva Cate experienced (perhaps) her first real epiphany…her first steps towards finding her niche in the world… layered with pure imagination and the endless possibilities and surprises of life. For a moment she was no longer “hemmed” in by laws of nature but glimpsed the endless infinity of the human mind through the eternal universe of God’s creation.

Eva Cate got to pick out one “surcie” to remember the day…and she picked out a little “recorder” like the one Pinkalicious used in one of the video segments. (*Grandmothers can get away with buying “loud” items because we leave and don’t have to listen to it…one of the perks of grandmotherhood.)

With all the illness around the Turner home previously…this was the first time I had had a chance to see the completely re-decorated bedroom. She is a lucky little girl…an artistic mom and a doting daddy.

Jakie and I (and “night night”) “hung” together for awhile watching race car animated movies…his favorite. The family is excited about going to Disney World over  Presidents’ Day weekend.

So until tomorrow….”It’s not about me…it’s about you God.” Instead of counting sheep I think I will practice saying this line every night until I fall asleep. This two-step thought is essential, I believe, for spiritual growth….”Give up self; Take up love.”

“Today is my favorite day”  Winnie the Pooh

*Dear Blog Readers….my very talented nephew Lee (Barbour) is up for Best Musician in Charleston and since the family has always thought that anyway….(jazz guitarist/writer/composer) it would mean a lot to our family if you would be willing to take a minute and vote for him for this position. Thank you in advance! *February 23 is the deadline. *You will find the link below.

In other local news, I’m very honored to be nominated for Best Musician by the City Paper this year! And, while the nomination is awesome, it would be even more incredible if I won! I’ve always hoped to earn that title but did little to promote that goal. Self promotion is a difficult one for me, and getting better at it is another goal for 2018! So, if you think it is a fitting title and are willing, please go vote for me here. Also, if you wanna vote for Gradual Lean for Best Jazz Band, by all means, go for it…thanks in advance!