Lisa Beth

Pictures to come, but for now….

There are certain things that cross language barriers…

Smiles
Music
Sharing a Meal
Playing Sports
Hugs
Tears
Prayer
Pictures

These are things that can be shared between people… felt and understood whether or not your spoken languages are the same. God showed me this in fresh and heart warming ways during our time in Germany as we were able to experience these things with people we were blessed to meet during our 10 day stay.

I started out the trip, honestly, with these hesitations and doubts about how effective we could be in ministering to people in Germany when none of us speak German! (Well, Eric is the exception… just ask him to count to 12 in German, and he will count each number loudly to you with gusto and a nod of his head for each number). Now of course, I realize that we as Americans are very spoiled in that the English language is pretty much spoken and understood mostly everywhere at least to an extent. I think my hesitation came into play more as I prepared/pondered what my “role” on the trip would be as a musician playing some of the songs I’ve written.

I was unsure of how these opportunities would play out in a place where the language most familiar to the people I was singing to was completely foreign to me. I’m also a detail person… a bit of a Type A planner personality. I knew that with this type of trip, there was a lot that would require “going with the flow”, being available and flexible. I didn’t know all the details of where I’d be playing, if there would be a keyboard or piano, if there would be translators, etc. My one prayer request before I left was that I would be flexible and just willing to jump in and sing however and wherever God had planned. That I would be more concerned about His agenda than mine. That I would just be this vessel and be used in spite of my human limitations and uncertainties.

Well, thank God that He is so much bigger than the limitations my mind puts on circumstances. He wasted no time in showing me this right away as soon as we arrived in Germany. Before I even played my first song at Rob’s church on that first Sunday, (March 14th), I found myself surrounded by a church family, singing worship songs in German, and tears flowing from my eyes. As I closed my eyes and heard the familiar melody of songs like “How Great is Our God” with lyrics being sung in a way I never had heard, I was overcome with how beautiful it was. Even songs whose melodies I didn’t even recognize, much less the words, brought me into the presence of God in a powerful way because I saw the hearts of worship around me that were singing out the songs so passionately. It expanded my view of The Church… it made me realize how week after week, while I am with my church family in Raleigh, North Carolina, there are churches across the globe singing a song like “How Great is Our God” in every language, and God knows every language. And He is hearing it like this beautiful International Medley of praise to Him. The people standing with me in that church building in Dorsten, Germany really felt like brothers and sisters in Christ. Singing with them, at times trying to sing the songs in their language, I felt like I got a glimpse of what Heaven might be like. Instead of the experience making me feel out of place or alienated because I spoke a different language, it only assured me that God is bigger than languages. That music is something He created to be a powerful avenue of worship that can be entered into with our brothers and sisters in Christ no matter what language we speak.

I love that God started out by teaching me this lesson right away…and after that, as each day’s opportunities presented themselves, all God asked of us was to be willing to use the giftings that He gave each of us. To be present and engaged when we talked to people and heard their stories. To see how what we communicate is really only 8% verbal and the rest is all the non-verbal stuff…the HEART…

The second Sunday (March 21st) I was reminded of the other thing I love about music that never ceases to amaze me. We were gathering with the church family that Duane and Daylin Beach minister to in Vilsek near a US Army base. The majority of the church body there was made up of American soldiers and their families, so this time, it wasn’t the language barrier I was nervous about. The thought on my mind was more, “What can I possibly have to say in my songs that talk about things like financial uncertainty or learning to surrender to God when things don’t go the way I plan” to a group of people who deal with stress and sadness and fear and loneliness and loss and uncertainty to a degree I’ve never known? I suddenly felt like all I had gone through in the past year that had birthed these songs was so pale and “grade schoolish” compared to what these families face on a daily basis. Again, I just asked God to somehow use what I had to bring. Singing songs is like opening up your journal and putting it to music in front of an audience. It is very exposing, but there is something about singing my songs that just lights me up inside. I LOVE to sing and I LOVE to proclaim truths about my God that He has shown me. How faithful He is. How generous and kind. How loving and personal. How NEAR He is to the broken-hearted. I feel like I am most alive in those moments when I’m playing and singing out those musical journal entries. After the service, a woman whose husband was about to be deployed to Iraq said to me, “That song you sang about uncertainty really spoke to me and my friend today. Our husbands are being deployed soon, and what you said really ministered to our hearts. Thank you.” I am constantly stunned by these responses. Here, I wrote this song because I was nervous about our house foreclosing, and this woman resonated with the lyrics even though her situation was so different (and so much harder) than mine. Music is truly the universal language. My heart is over-flowing with thanks to God for giving me the opportunity to sing a few songs in the beautiful country of Germany to the beautiful people living in Germany.

No, I’m not a tree-hugger… but recently I found out that several trees from my Grandma’s farm property are being cut down, and I was surprised by how devastated I was at this news. I was not prepared for the wave of sadness that engulfed me when I found out. Some may feel that it is over-dramatic, but I honestly feel like something I dearly love is being killed… or has died. I realize that cutting down old trees is one of the necessities of life to avoid dead limbs falling on homes and causing damage. I also realize that it is easier for my Grandmother to keep up with the yard work when she doesn’t have to worry about cleaning up after all that these trees shed in the form of pine cones, leaves, branches, nuts, etc.

But these trees–particularly this one maple (pictured above) is a backdrop to tall the memories of my childhood days spent at my Grandma and Grandpa Corby’s. I can’t picture their house without it, generously shading her whole front yard. I can’t imagine going back to visit and not seeing this beautiful tree that held the wooden swing I would swing on for hours, overlooking the farm and the valley below. I loved swinging really high, and then jumping off the swing and “flying” through the air to land at the bottom of the hill the tree was planted on. That moment of weightlessness when you are suspended in the air for that exhilarating split second.

You know, come to think of it, I’ve always been attached to trees. And as I reach further into my memory, I can recall times when my Grandparents would have to cut down their fruit trees, and even as a little girl, I would feel sad. I remember these 2 trees at my parents house that grew together, their trunks literally intertwined like a twisted pretzel rod. They were too close to the house, and had begun to show signs of rotting, so my dad had to cut them down. Again, I was very sad. I don’t know if it’s normal for little kids to get upset about something like that, but I definitely did. I think I always kept these thoughts to myself though, because I knew it was probably silly to get so attached to a tree

I thought maybe I was the only one who felt this sentimental about trees until I had a conversation with a friend the other night and she shared that she also had a favorite tree, and that she even wrote a song about it as a little girl. It was a very sad day for her when they moved and she had to leave this tree behind. I discussed with this friend how I could handle the loss of this tree a lot better if it’s death was out of our hands. You know, if lightning struck it or something. But no. This healthy beautiful vibrant tree’s life is being cut short for the sake of convenience. Those trees have earned all their lines! What has it ever done to us but shade us under it’s leafy canopy… and hold our rope swings… and give us a beautiful thing to look at. (ok, aside from the massive amounts of leaves it sheds each year… but even those are fun to rake into a pile and jump in!!)

The other thing is, it’s not like I’m attached to every tree. Growing up, my dad heated our house with a wood-burning stove, and every spring we would go into our woods and chop several trees up for firewood. This never bothered me, because there was a whole FOREST of trees left. It’s those special trees…you know, the ones inside your yard that grow up with you that you get attached to.

So last Friday was the scheduled date of the mass tree cutting rampage and all day long, I would think about that glorious Maple, felled to the ground… I literally would cringe and have to get my mind on something else because I would feel SO upset just picturing the first chainsaw cut ripping its way through all those tree ring lines. I would picture the massive THUD as it came thundering down to the ground, the descent of death. Like a warrior who is stabbed and slowly falls to the earth.

Then I got a phone call from my mom. She said that my Grandma was admitted to the hospital because of stomach pains Friday and that she has gallstones and had to be admitted over night. I felt so bad that all day I was worried about a tree, and here my Grandma was in the hospital. Then my mom said that they had started to cut down 2 of the other trees, and they had made such a mess in the yard that they were going to wait to cut down the others, and that my dad was going to try YET AGAIN to try to convince my Grandma to keep the Maple. MY MAPLE WAS NOT KILLED YESTERDAY AFTER ALL!!! It lives another day!! Maybe my Grandma will see how bare the yard is with the other trees gone, and will have mercy and spare the Maple.

I was going to write a “plea for the tree” letter to my Grandma, but my mom gently reminded me that “People are way more important than trees” and if it meant upsetting my Grandma, it just wasn’t worth it. And you know what? She is right. I love my Grandma WAY more than that tree. And if that means I have to be quiet about my beloved tree, I will be.

Tomorrow is April 1st and they are forecasting 5-10″ of snow here in the Twin Cities today. It seems March decided to come in AND go out as a lion. As grumpy as I am about the snow and cold, I came across this excerpt in a book Eric and I just finished reading, “The Shack”, that describes perfectly the general “mood” people have on the day of a snow storm. Perhaps the mood more in December through February than the mood in March and April, but… I enjoyed his description nonetheless. Maybe you can relate too

“There is something joyful about storms that interrupt routine. Snow or freezing rain suddenly releases you from expectations, performance demands, and the tyranny of appointments and schedules. And unlike illness, it is largely a corporate rather than individual experience. One can almost hear a unified sigh rise from the nearby city and surrounding countryside where Nature has intervened to give respite to the weary humans slogging it out within her purview. All those affected this way are united by a mutual excuse, and the heart is suddenly and unexpectedly a little giddy. There will be no apologies needed for not showing up to some commitment or other. Everyone understands and shares in the singular justification, and the sudden alleviation of the pressure to produce makes the heart merry.”

Like I said, maybe a little more “merry” in December or January, but… I think tonight we’re going to be cozy and light up the fireplace, maybe have soup for dinner, watch a movie… I know, Abby, it’s just not right that we are still, at the end of March saying, “cozy up by the fire” But this IS Minnesota

In response to Gretchen’s tag:

8 things I (Lisa) am passionate about:
1. song-writing and singing my music
2. reading all kinds of books
3. currently, I have a passion for Vietnam Veterans suffering from P.T.S.S
4. A group of teen girls at Bloomington Baptist Church
5. Travel!!! and discovering new places
6. Spending alone time in nature, journaling, day-dreaming, praying…
7. Leading worship w/Eric.
8. Finding non-chain eateries and cafes

8 things I want to do before I die:
1. Go to Italy again–this time w/Eric and see Rome, Venice, Florence, Tuscany, and the Amalfi Coast
2. Have children
3. Live in North Carolina, close to the ocean!
4. Plant a huge garden full of veggies, fruits and herbs
5. Cut an album of my original music
6. See every country in Europe and every state in the U.S.–yes, every single one!
7. Learn to speak Italian
8. Learn how to play the guitar so I can jam on the electric!!

8 things I say often:

1. “Oh my gosh/Oh my word”
2. And according to Eric, I say “like” way too much
3. “Babe”, “Love” (both of these directed to Eric)
4. “Seriously?)”
5. “Ya! I Knooooow” (with a strong Minnesotan accent)
6. “Frick!! Frick on a stick!” (a recent phrase, picked up by Elliot, a character on the show, Scrubs.)
7. “Hi, Friend” –that one’s for you, Friend–you know who you are
8. “Good morning/afternoon, dental office, this is Lisa”

8 Artists I never tire of listening to: (disclaimer: I usually wear an artists’ CD into the ground listening to it OVER AND OVER until I’m completely sick of it, and then recycle it a few years/months later with a renewed love)
1. Nickle Creek, hands down, my #1
2. Sara Evans–she got me through some rough times
3. Fernando Ortega–Eric, you can make fun all you want, but I’m standing by it!!
4. Kelly Clarkson–she’s got some serious pipes
5. Shedaisy (they are sisters and write all their own music and lyrics)
6. Alison Kraus, one of the most talented musicians ever
7. Patty Griffin, a recent discovery
8. Third Day (I think the lead singer’s voice is so sexy… kind of like the guy in Nickle Back, but I won’t technically endorse him as a favorite. did I just say all that?)

8 TV shows I’ve recently watched: (this list will be cut short in protest of the recent writer’s strike)
1. Scrubs
2. American Idol (I’ve watched it only twice so far)
3. Ghost Whisperer (don’t judge until you’ve tried it, then feel free)
I MISS THE OFFICE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

8 things that attract me to my friends:
1. People who are completely real, genuine
2. People who can laugh at themselves–tell a funny/embarrassing story about yourself, and you’re an insta-friend
3. People who are creative, and interesting
4. People who have a humble confidence about them–lack of pride/ego
5. People who get social clues and are not clingy/needy/emotionally draining
6. Open-mindedness
7. Loyalty
8. People with integrity, that can be trusted with my secrets/thoughts

8 things I learned in 2007:
1. That I am an “Inward Careful” processor
2. That I can write music again! (after a song-writing drought in 2006, I was beginning to wonder…)
3. That I LOVE teenage girls (never would have thought that)
4. That there is actually a town in South Dakota w/population: 8! woohoo, Lowry!!
5. That having a 100″ screen to watch movies on ROCKS!
6. That riding my bike to work is exhilarating– I usually hate to exercise, but I discovered this year that I really do Love bike-riding. And I learned I could even ride 40 miles!
7. That the iphone really IS the most amazing little piece of technology (and yes, Eric is officially beaming right now, I’m sure)
8. That playing the piano w/Eric playing guitar, leading worship together is the most amazing, bonding, wonderful experience. Singing to our God together, making music together…locking eyes while playing a song and smiling because we’re both doing what we love, what makes us come alive. This has been a beautiful discovery.

Feel free to think through what your “Top 8′s” are… Thanks, Gretchen for the tag! I’ve enjoyed thinking through and coming up with this list