Charlie & Sam just left with their dad, bringing a close to the ninth session of Marmie & Poppa camp. In another time, those two ampersands might make a delightful topic for a post (or two) about this year’s One Little Word. This month, it’s just an opening and a photo.
The boys are completely obsessed with Star Wars. When Charlie was here last week, he wanted to “build a light saber with Poppa”. Poppa researched and ultimately ended up purchasing a light saber for less than $5. Needless to say, Sam wanted one, too. a red one (I didn’t know that they even came in different colors).
Sam’s favorite line right now: “When I grow up I’m going to be a fire fighter. or Darth Vader.”
Apparently, Marc knew all about this, because Sam has the light saber he wanted. well, at least for his Darth Vader path.
We heard about fire fighters and Darth Vader a lot these last two days. I’m pretty sure those two life paths rarely show up on the same page except for three year olds. and I’m even more sure they don’t recognize the binary those two choices represent.
Anyway, all of this just happened in the last two days. The message I really had to share about my OLW for July is something I read back on July 3 in that day’s Morning Prayer*. I’ve been thinking a lot about choices these past months. initially the ones I’ve made/make and most recently those that others have forced upon them. These words, from favorite theologian Frederick Buechner, are about a choice. one that seems binary, and really, is a lifetime of work.
“The grace of God means something like: Here is is your life. You might never have been, but you are because the party wouldn’t have been complete without you. Here is the world. Beautiful and terrible things will happen. Don’t be afraid. I am with you. Nothing can ever separate us. It’s for you I created the universe. I love you. There’s only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you’ll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.”
Many thanks to Honoré for hosting this monthly meetup. and I cannot wait to see what y’all have been up to with your Words (and your lives!) as I catchup later this week. xxoo.
*from Common Prayer: A Liturgy for Ordinary Radicals, frequent inspiration for blog posts, most recently here.
mere-et-filles 
Well that quote is going in my notebook – Buechner quotes have been slipping I o my life a lot lately. Thanks for the reminder to reach out and take the gift.
I have to say that I know a fair amount about Star Wars having taught but also having a family full of fans. Our newest addition was born n May 4th – May the 4th be with you day – which made for happy parents, aunt and uncle, and of course grampa. Ellis and I are starting to play with things from his mama’s childhood close which is fun too.
I love Frederick Buechner, and this quote surely resonates with me today. Those boys couldn’t be cuter, and it’s always interesting to me how sabers become the toys of choice! Caleb and Hannah spent some time chasing bubbles with their sabers while we were visiting.
“Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too” — what a lovely sentiment! I know I’m guilty of not realizing this in the Before Times, but I’m doing my best to embrace the gift now.
I think you need to remedy your lack of Star Wars knowledge! (Honestly, they are simply the best movies…ever. You are truly missing out on them! Especially and… there is so much and in them!) Also, my Sam and I had some of the best times in light saber battles! I am very good at dramatically dying! Haha!
That photo of the boys and their light sabers is a great one! Thankfully my sons were not big Star Wars fans (I’m not a big fan) but they did have plenty of battles with pirate swords. Love Sam’s possible career paths!
I have a May 4th friend and she couldn’t be more pleased about it! That picture really is a keeper. Of course I do not know about Frederick Buechner but I certainly like what he has to say here. Thank-you Mary.
my kiddos where into star wars and I heard ‘all about it’. (I half listened if I was honest). Speaking of star wars, Mark Hamill is a wonderful person to follow on twitter he loves animals and so his feed is entertaining!!
That Buechner quote begs rereading and sharing. Oh, to remember we have a role in this! Here: ‘There’s only one catch. Like any other gift, the gift of grace can be yours only if you’ll reach out and take it. Maybe being able to reach out and take it is a gift too.’ _Grace_ has been running around at my feet the past few months. Something tells me I have a little work awaiting me there… AND–Those little boys sure keep things spicy! I love the career planning 🙂 (and your cafe au lait-colored walls…)