What Peter's Mother-in-Law Knew

Oh, she understood, bless her heart. Peter's mother-in-law has a raging fever (Mark 1:29-39, Epiphany 5B). She's sick in bed, but before a verse goes by she's out of bed and serving the visitors in her house. She knew what Gayden Metcalfe and Charlotte Hays know...even being dead is no excuse for being a bad hostess.

Written from personal experience as residents in the Mississippi Delta, the authors promise to give you all the tools you need to host the perfect Southern funeral. Recipes for always-appropriate funeral food are included along with stories that might sound a little unbelievable if you didn't know they were true.

Metcalfe and Hays have put together a lively and unique guide to life, death and social obligation. It sounds like Peter's mother-in-law could have been their co-author.

"Being Dead is No Excuse" is published by Hachette Book Group. For more information, see:  http://www.hachettebookgroup.com/titles/gayden-metcalfe/being-dead-is-no-excuse/9781401305741/

A Garden Springs Up

Well, gardens rarely just "spring up". But as Isaiah reminds us in the reading for Advent 3B, God will cause righteousness and praise to spring up before all the nations just as the earth brings forth its shoots and as a garden causes what is sown in it to spring up.

One of the things that gets gardeners through long winters (and even moderate winters, depending on where you live) are seed catalogs. Seed catalogs provide a glimpse of what might be. They speak to hope and promise.

So it might not be surprising that the Shakers, a religious community, were among the innovators in seed sales. Known for their work ethic and integrity, the Shakers built a large business processing, packing and selling seeds. In fact, the Shakers are credited with developing the idea of seeds in packets as early as 1818.

Photo credit: http://www.willishenry.com/shaker2011/shakcat2011.htm

Nineteenth-century American farmers and gardeners came to know that planting Shaker seeds would produce good results. The prophet Isaiah knew, too. Knew that if the right seeds are planted, righteousness and praise will spring up. The psalmist also knew. Psalm 126 concludes with the reminder that those who go out weeping, bearing the seed for sowing, shall come home with shouts of joy, carrying their sheaves.