June 13 2017 Sisters In Need

We pray, we talk, we are vulnerable, we are gut level honest, we are raw, we are captivated by one another, we are sisters. Sisters walking the line together, challenging one another to grow deeper in love with the One who redeemed us.

We question one another's point of view. We don't mess around but we go right to the deep. Group think is not our thing and I so am grateful for that.

We have met for the last three years at the most inconvenient time but it has never mattered because we get it - we desperately need one another! We are sisters and sisters do that! I love being challenged. I love being with people who think differently than myself. And this is why I cherish these women.

June 5, 2016 Short Trip - Lengthy Memory

From Lt.toRt. Jenna, Diane, Me, Nicky

To wake up in Pennsylvania and go to sleep in Rhode Island is a fun privilege. I spent Saturday morning through the afternoon at Taste of Weavers handing out samples of Twin Valley Coffee. I then devoured gluten free portebella pizza in New Haven, CT in the evening at Kitchen Zinc. And past midnight finally slept in Riverside, Rhode Island. Car traveling is my style with engaging conversations, great music and fascinating podcasts. Pistachio nuts, sunflower seeds and coffee is all I need to keep wide eyes on the road.

The goofs - Geoff and Nicky

Traveling with Nicky Sue and Geoffrey is pleasure. I love talking, listening and especially laughing with them. Sunday morning we church on the Cliff Walk in Newport because to not go to the Atlantic Coast when in Rhode Island, well, is just criminal, confessional worthy. The coast calls and I beckon. The smell of the paper like white and pink rose bushes mixing with the salty sea spray is fragralicious.

Funny Man Tyler, The Graduate

Our reason for this under forty-eight hour short trip is Tyler, my nephew, he graduates. His party is on Sunday. Life is on the run taking him along for it was only yesterday, but I digress.

My parents are hospitable, staying with them is refreshing and always full of good conversation. Life is rich and I am blessed. I do taste and see that the Lord is good!

Grandfather and Granddaughter

June 2, 2017 Life Goes Forward

Friday Night Kids overflows with children and parents. The event this evening is seamless, joyful and fun. Children come to the pavilion in West Reading. Nicky Sue and I are privileged to be a part of this moment.

One woman who brings her son every year told me of her recent back injury. I ask, "Can we pray for more healing?" Yes, she thinks that sounds great. We pray asking God for more. I silently add, "Please God!"

Say Cheese, a corner restaurant on Penn Avenue, is the perfect place to end the evening. Jenny joins us. We catch up and move forward into good conversation over gluten free grilled cheese, tomato bisque and sweet potato fries. Lynn joins us. He was just down the street at Relish making sure the Nitro keg fit. They are serving our Nitro on tap this weekend. Good call Relish, good call.

Earlier in the afternoon, Saige and I speak on the phone of the new bible study she is forming. God desires for us to be involved in one another's lives. He is moving and we are following. Sisters loving sisters in more and more profound ways. We both believe this summer study will change lives, we are already seeing it.

I must sleep for we travel in the afternoon to Rhode Island to celebrate my nephews graduation party on Sunday. First things first.
   

June 1, 2017 No Lids

I open the Coffee Gazebo by 6 am leaving my bed at 5:30 am, give or take fifteen minutes. And when I take - I rush. This morning I discovered a problem, a big one. We had no lids for one of our most favorite drinks, the Iced Toddy. No lids. That's a problem.

We need to run into Reading to the Restaurant Store and purchase more lids. I volunteer. To stand behind the counter and tell customer after customer we have no lids, I couldn't and I wouldn't. I am often the one bearing bad news. Or at least I use to. "Sorry, we ran out of cold brew." No, I was not going to be the bearer of ill fate
.
So, I drive into Reading and sit in the parking lot for about forty-five minutes until the clock strikes eight. As soon as the doors open, I am in and out. I rush back to Morgantown and as one customer was leaving he rolled down his window and wondered if I would give him a lid.

The little joys amidst the trials. Truly this is a first world problem

May 31, 2017 Always Ready for a Run to Philly

It is midnight and I just returned home from a trip into Philly. I love that city.  Nicky Sue and her friend, Hayley Jane, decide to surprise their buddy, Abigail, who lives there. Tonight is a beautiful night for the drive in and a lovely visit in the Sniders gorgeous courtyard. My dear friend Maggie who comes to visit me this afternoon decides to buddy in with me. I want to take her to my favorite pub in the city, St. Stephens Green, which we will do after we drop off the girls.

I met Maggie around Nicky Sue's age of sixteen. I love our history, to have known her this long comforts. Last Thursday Maggie and I found ourselves in a warm and inviting living room in Phoenixville with Saige, Christa, and Claire. This was their first time meeting Maggie and it was fitting, necessary and refreshing to all of us as Maggie, a spiritual director, led us in a lectio divina exercise using a passage in Matthew. We all needed it. Maggie is my favorite introvert, I was tickled she came late and even more so that she directed us to the quiet place.

Tonight I am equally surprised at her willingness to hop on the Schuylskill and buzz into the city with me. She is a great navigator reminding me of Janet Oberholtzer's killer navigational skills. We love our time at the Sniders in Kensington. She does not want to leave and after a few drinks, some appetizers (I shamelessly gobble) and good conversation we say goodbye to the hospitable family and head to St. Stephens Green. There, we laugh, we eat and we discuss the finer points of life ( ok, not many at all, just a few ). A perfect end to a perfect day.

To allow the unfolding of a day is one of my most favorite things to do. To do it with someone makes me even happier.

May 29, 2017 Dear Lynne, You've Said You're Busy. But..."

"To listen to an elder and do what they
advise allows you the chance to be listened to and watch someone
do what you advise." Lynne T. Burkholder

Letter from my Writer Mentor - John Calsin

Lynne,

You've said you're busy. But people came to look forward to what you had to say and what God had to say through you. Now my two cents worth.

I was never comfortable with the last few of your posts. Since you've not written for awhile, you could easily leave that topic (temporarily, or longer??) and just take, literally, 10 to 15 minutes a day, and snapshot how busy you are, what's going on--since everyone is busy tell what your business entails--why you haven't written. If God gives you a sentence or two insight for a post, great, if not, that's ok.  Just keep writing. Make it simple. An object lesson--yeh. No object lesson--that's ok. Just keep writing. Whatever your business deals with that day, or yesterday--post it whenever possible and keep it simple.  Business? Family? Your ministries? Whatever. Write it (with wisdom when necessary). Tell about the environmental aspects of your coffee. Tell about one your kid's happenings. Whatever. Just keep writing.

Yours for the Harvest,

John Calsin

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

John,

You never mince words, you point out differences, and you never shy from a good debate, hence - I like you. I have no idea why you are uncomfortable with my last two posts, but heck, that is equally what I appreciate about you - your frankness. 

My two year writing escapade fulfilled my goal - to write, to show up, to use words, exercise my voice - EVERYDAY. And I did that, shy of a month (the last year writing was scattered from October till December). And oh, what I learned. The editing was schooling. The mental space awarded to myself daily was rewarding. 

Due to the fact that feedback was a challenge with the blogpsot.com site and people found it hard to respond, it always caught me off guard when people, out and about, some I knew and others I did not, would thank me for writing. They thanked me for vulnerable, authentic posts. Their responses delighted me. And I had no idea of the motivation I would provide for others to daily or consistently write. Who knew? Many began blogging. They say creativity breeds creativity. It's true, I watched it happen.

The writing brought me places, amazing to experience. The surprise and intrigue of where I would "show up" was fascinating. And I do miss that daily discipline. So, John, I am taking your advice. Thank you friend.

Sincerely, 

Lynne

April 1, 2017 He Always Comes Back

April 10, 2017

"What do you want me to know about you, Jesus?" His answer sails me beyond common thoughts and into a new open sea, waves studded with exuberant bright light. I am Moana!

"Lynne, I am compassionate and loyal towards you to the point of death. But even more so, I am beyond faithful to you to the point of return. The everlasting love of the Father exploded me from death when I allowed the Holy Spirit to bring me back. Even though you rejected me, I wanted to come back. It was OUR (the Trinity's) eternal, loving plan.

I not only die for you, I want to come back for you! Who does that? I do! I am the One who returns in love though rejected by hate. I love you to the point of seeking you in a crowd of billions, trillions. My faithfulness is only based on my love, not yours.

Today, Lynne I want you to know - I came back! For you! And, Lynne, you can love like this. Go ahead, face the rejectors, lay down your defense mechanisms, love offensively. I have your back."

Counterintuitive He is. You reject me, I reject you, this is my urge. I have defense mechanisms out the whazo. But His are non existent and He only operates in the offense. He loves me beyond my lack; my lack of love, my lack of complete devotion, my lack of faithfulness.

AND HE ALWAYS COMES BACK.


Only if you're interested:

(I am a hound for information and sometimes, ok, most times, I am too invasive - I really didn't need to know that! I ask questions like it's my job. It's not. I have not received one penny for my questions.
But when it comes to asking my Father questions, you know, I rarely do. In fact I didn't know I could. All I have ever done is tell Him things, like He didn't know, and beg Him to do things the way I want. I even go so far and ask Him for the faith to believe He is going to do exactly what I want and how I want Him to do it. I do not give Him much room to use His ways, or thoughts, or options. But that is changing.

God excels in working with brats! And He is opening my eyes, in gentle ways, to show me how much He loves my questions. He especially loves the open ended ones, the kind that allows the one being asked to answer how they want. Go figure!

In fact, He is directing me to ask Him questions as I would a friend. For instance, Father, what do you like? Dad, what makes you the happiest? Poppa, what grieves you the most? Is there something about your character and nature you want me to focus on today, God? The above answer to His question blesses me.)

We do need you here. Thanks Chris for your soul tunes.