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22 | April 6, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger faith
mokenamessenger.com
Robin’s Nest
Getting past ourselves
and gaining perspective
Robin Melvin
Contributing Columnist
My biggest writing
challenge is not
a lack of ideas. I
have scads.
The glitch comes when
my brain compels me to
write my current emotional
struggles. To which I reply,
“Again? No. This isn’t fun.
I don’t want to be a Debby
Downer.”
Sure, I can copy and
paste a happy-sappy piece
from last year. But, as
usual, I’m drawn to a mental
venting.
Writing’s been my therapy
since my preteen days.
Well, that and a shameless
love of dancing. If not sitting
on a riverbank filling
notebooks with thoughts
of my latest crush or my
adolescent life with an alcoholic,
I was outside choreographing
dance moves
to “Stayin’ Alive” blaring
from a cassette player.
So, what’s on my mind
In Memoriam
Raymond Paver
Raymond Paver,
88, of Mokena,
died March 28. He was
a U.S. Navy Korean War
Veteran. He is survived by
his children, Raymond F.
Paver and Sharon (Jeffrey)
today? An unresolved
conflict with my husband.
This morning, I woke the
same way I fell asleep: with
tears stinging puffy eyes. I
didn’t want the day to start
as I reached into the freezer
for Alex’s teethers to press
onto my eyelids.
People tell me I have a
“non-anxious presence.”
Not yesterday. I was a blubbering,
stress ball sitting in
the car at Kohl’s. Honest
communication can be
hard. But I asked for it.
Before I showed up
at my desk, I poured
foggy thoughts onto paper.
They’re prayers, really.
Not eloquent or pretty, just
candid and gritty. I wrote
until I broke free of hurt
and emotional weight. I got
past myself. Then I gained
perspective.
While I sit in my home
office, comfy in yoga pants
and drinking fresh coffee,
Jeff’s in front of three
computer screens wired
to Corporate America. He
deals with power outages
and multi-million-dollar
budgets and motivating
people to do their job.
There are hundreds of
emails and spreadsheets
and repairs, oh my.
When we get past ourselves,
we see that others
struggle, too. Work and
Nepote; grandchildren,
Trey and Rachel Paver and
Nicole and Kendall Nepote;
and many nieces and nephews.
Visitation was held at
Kurtz Memorial Chapel. Interment
private.
home and relationships
are often complicated
and heavy. Even for those
usually upbeat, like my
husband. If he’s not smiling,
singing or whistling,
he’s stressed.
Marriage, family and
friendships bond us together.
But we’re each on
our own journey. We need
to give one another space
for mistakes and opinions
and imperfections.
We listen, we hear, we
love, we cheer.
Today, I arrived at my
desk inspired by my good
and messy life. One like
yours, perhaps. May we not
let our challenges distract
us. The best and strongest
among us need our encouragement.
Who in your circle needs
you to see past their words,
their walls and their stress?
How can you let them
know they’re loved and appreciated?
Thanks for sitting and
listening, my friends. I am
encouraged.
Love and peace for your
journey.
The thoughts and opinions
expressed in this column are
those of the author. They do
not necessarily represent the
thoughts of 22nd Century Media
or its staff.
Do you have someone’s life
you’d like to honor? Email
Editor Tim Carroll at tim@
mokenamessenger.com with
information about a loved one
who was a part of the Mokena
community.
Faith Briefs
St. John’s United Church of Christ (11100
Second St., Mokena)
Blood Drive
8:30 a.m.-noon Sunday,
April 30. Blood drive with
the Heartland Blood Centers
will be held in the Christian
Community Center next
to the church. To sign up,
call (708) 479-5123 or visit
www.heartlandbc.org.
Traditional Service
8 a.m. traditional mass,
9:45 a.m. contemporary &
traditional music in a service
of praise and reverence. Supervised
childcare available.
For more information, call
(708) 479-5123.
Garden Club
8 a.m. Tuesdays. For more
information, call (708) 479-
5123.
Mokena United Methodist Church (10901
LaPorte Road, Mokena)
Service and Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Sundays.
Church service and Sunday
school will be held. For
more information, call (708)
479-1110.
Bible Study
7 p.m. Tuesdays
Breakfast
9 a.m. every third Saturday
of the month
Walking Club
7 p.m. Mondays
Weight Watchers
Wednesdays. Weigh-ins
take place at 6:30 p.m., while
the meeting is at 7 p.m.
Marley Community Church (12625 W.
187th St., Mokena)
Senior High Youth Group
7-8:30 p.m. Wednesdays.
For more information, email
marleycommunitychurch@
gmail.com.
Junior High Youth Group
6-7:30 p.m. Fridays. For
more information, email
marleycommunitychurch@
gmail.com.
Church Service
10 a.m. Sundays. Childcare
is provided
Sunday School
9-10 a.m.
Men’s Group
6 p.m. Sunday nights in
the church basement. All
men are welcome.
Immanuel Evangelical Lutheran Church
(10731 W. La Porte Road, Mokena)
Maundy Thursday Worship
7 p.m. Thursday, April 13
Good Friday Worship
7 p.m. Friday, April 14
Easter Worship
9 a.m. Sunday, April 16
Easter Egg Hunt
11 a.m. Saturday, April
15. Bring a basket and come
out for the 9th Annual Community
Easter Egg Hunt.
Eggs will be separated by
color for three age groups:
three years old and younger,
ages four to six and ages
seven to 10. If the weather
is wet or cold, the event will
move indoors. For more
information, visit www.ImmanuelMokena.org
or call
(708) 479-5600.
Contemporary Worship
5 p.m. Saturday
Worship
9 a.m. Sunday
God’s Kids Club
10:15 a.m. Sundays. This
club is open to those between
the ages of 4-17.
Adult Bible Study
10:15 a.m. Sunday
Mokena Baptist Church (9960 W. 187th
St., Mokena)
Faith That Stands
5 p.m. every Sunday. Join
the service which takes a
closer look at the book of
First Corinthians. For more
information, call (312) 350-
2279.
Ladies Bible Study
7 p.m. every Thursday.
Meetings take place at The
Talking Shirt Boutique,
19805 S. LaGrange Road in
Mokena. For more information,
call (312) 350-2279.
Men’s Bible Study
The men’s bible study is
held quarterly at Cracker
Barrel, 18531 N. Creek
Drive in Tinley Park. The
meetings are held at 9 a.m.,
and men will enjoy studying
the Bible over breakfast.
Sunday Services
11 a.m. and 5 p.m. For
more information, call (312)
350-2279.
St. Mary’s Catholic Church (19515 115th
Ave., Mokena)
Polka Mass
1:30 p.m. Sunday, April
30. A Catholic Liturgy in
Polka Beat followed by a
Spring Fellowship Ethnic
Luncheon at 2:45 p.m. in the
lower level of the church.
Cost is $25 for adults and
$10 for children 12 years
and younger. Tickets will be
sold after Mass on Saturday,
April 22 and Sunday, April
23. For more information,
call (708) 479- 1736 or (708)
479- 7322.
Church Service
5 p.m. Saturdays; 8 a.m,
9:30 a.m., 11 a.m. and 6:
p.m. Sundays
Adoration
Wednesdays following
8:00 a.m. Mass in the Chapel
until 6:45 p.m.
Holy Rosary
7:30 a.m. daily; 7 p.m.
Tuesday evenings
Have something for Faith
Briefs? Contact Assistant
Editor Amanda Stoll at
a.stoll@22ndcenturymedia.com
or call (708) 326-9170 ext. 34.
Deadline is noon Thursday one
week prior to publication.