I changed my URL!

Hi everyone!

I've decided to change my blog's url.

the new one is;

JudyAGoddardArtisan.blogspot.com

So, make a note. I'll also send out emails and post it on facebook.

Thanx for checkin' in!

Happy Earth Day!

Thursday is the 40th Earth Day. I heard a man on TV last night say how ironic it is that Earth Day is about America, not the world.

I was 10 years old on that first Earth Day. At school we had a special assembly and each student was given a little pine tree sapling planted in a card board milk container.

After school I rushed home and dutifully planted my little tree and watered it well, just like I was told to do. Then some rotten kids came along and pulled it up by the roots and left it lying there. So much for the kindness of humanity.

But I was really touched by all that was going on during that period of my development. All of the youth of that time, it seemed, were talking about being responsible . Not wasting water, turning off the lights, and especially, not littering! Remember the Wonderful World of Disney? All those wonderful nature films and admonitions of “Litterbug, litterbug! Shame on you!” And who, of my generation can forget Jacques Cousteau National Geographic specials!

I even started a campaign to raise money for “Ecology”.I had stood outside the Acme and begged donations! I collected a whopping $3.00 and change! I presented my milk carton “please give to my cause” bank to the town council.

Now I’m fifty years old. And it’s amazing to me how many of the tactics that are used to help protect the planet are also things that are integrated into a frugal life.

I grow my own veggies and fruit.

I keep the thermostat at 63 degrees, F.

I don’t run the water when I brush my teeth.

I recycle and reuse lots and lots of things.

I only use 1/2 a paper towel if that’s all that’s needed.

I only wash clothes in cold water.

I only run the dishwasher when it’s full.

You get the idea.

But! I think the biggest contribution to saving the planet that I’ve made is showing my children how to live frugally. By my example they know how to conserve energy. And they also know what’s right and what’s wrong in the field of “Waste not want not”. I can only pray and hope that they, when they have children of their own, will pass these lessons on.

So, if you are a conserver, reuser, recycler, make sure your kids are paying attention.

The bible says, “teach your children that they may teach their children.” (my paraphrase) I think that this verse also applies to saving our planet for the sake of our children’s children’s children.

Maundy Thursday

I wrote this last year. But I love it so much I wanted to share it again.

My godparents owned a sailboat that they kept in the Caribbean Sea. They lived on the Glory Be each winter from January through April.

It was Holy Thursday. They were anchored in a cove that was inhabited by several different yachts from countries all over the world.

The weather had turned rough as evening came on and the water rushed and beat against the sides of the sail boat causing it to rock and buck. But they were safely anchored and having their sea legs under them they carried on as if the waters were completely calm.

Roland got the wine while Joan got the bread and as they sat in the gloaming they remembered the night on which Jesus was betrayed and they broke the bread and ate it and they drank the wine in memory of him.

Joan looked out at the other boats moored around them and wondered how many others were remembering that this was a holy night. And then she knew what God was asking her and Roland to do.

“Rol, lets take communion to some of the other boats. We can ask them if they’d like to share in the Lord’s supper.” She poured the wine into a glass and covered it over with an unused paper cupcake wrapper. She broke up some bread and put it in a bag and off they went in their dingy to the yacht that was closest to them. It was an American yacht. They pulled up along side and called up to the couple on board, asking they would like to share communion. But the couple just laughed at them and told them no.

Undaunted, they then approached a sail boat that was flying a German flag. Having spent time in Germany after WW11, both Roland and Joan knew German. But it had been many years since they had spoken it with any kind of regularity. They pulled beside the boat and called up in German. A man put his head over and very quickly they realized that his English was much better than their German. So they asked if they would like to share in the Lord’s supper on this special night. And the man answered, “Yes!” he called to his family; his wife and two sons. When they appeared on deck they all knelt down and the father began to recite those beloved words, “ On the night when he was betrayed, Jesus took the bread....” And in the beautiful rhythm of the the rocking boat and the gentle quality of the spoken German words, God revealed himself to Joan and Roland and also to this good family. The father served his wife. The wife served her oldest son. The son served his younger brother and the youngest son served his father. When they were done, and had handed the wine and bread back over the side of the boat to Joan and Roland, the father said, “We are all one body.” And Roland and Joan knew that too.

They continued on their way from boat to boat and several others appreciated the kind act and thanked them for their willingness to share.

They had made a holy night more holy, with love and service and reaching out to those around them.

It would have been enough.