MM_082417

20 | August 24, 2017 | The Mokena Messenger faith
mokenamessenger.com
Robin’s Nest
Be aware of the undertow
Robin Melvin
Contributing Columnist
My husband is a
positive person,
but his mind often
jumps to worst-case scenario.
A few drops of coffee
are “all over the floor,” a
simmering pot is “boiling
away.” That’s how his mind
works. It jumps to action.
Perhaps, it’s his military
training, niggling childhood
fears or simply a flair
for the dramatic. Maybe all
three.
Research shows that
when faced with a threat,
real or perceived, our brains
and nervous systems kick in
with at least one of these responses:
Fight, flight, freeze
Faith Briefs
St. John’s United Church of Christ (11100
Second St., Mokena)
Pancake Breakfast
8:30 a.m.-noon Sunday,
Sept. 10. Join St. John’s
Christian Preschool for allyou-can-eat
pancakes, sausage,
applesauce, juice, milk
and coffee. Cost is $7 for
adults, $5 for children 7-12
years, $3 for children 3-6
years and free for children
under 2 years.
Bunco Night
6 p.m. Friday, Sept. 15.
The evening will include appetizers,
beverages, desserts,
prizes, raffles, silent auction
and, of course, bunco.
or fold. Jeff tells me there’s
a fifth: freak-out. It’s that
worst-case panic button.
While he goes into fight
mode when feeling threatened,
my initial response is
to freeze, fold and retreat to
safety. And, yes, I freak-out.
Internally.
This reminds me of the
day I stood on a riverbank
with my tennis shoes
squished into Tennessee
mud. Rain drizzled onto my
ponytail as I glanced from
Jeff, to the raft, to the rapids.
Then to the river guide,
back to the raft. There were
no seats on that red devil,
and it looked really bouncy.
Like bouncy-house bouncy.
White caps reached and
grabbed and swirled and my
mind swam.
Growing up near the
Mississippi, I learned about
a river’s undertow. It hides,
even under peaceful waters.
Stay shallow, stay safe. So, I
understood when our guide,
Birdman, warned me, “If
you fall out, don’t let your
feet touch bottom, it will
grab you and it will hold
Proceeds to benefit Mokena-based
My Joyful Heart.
Cost is $12 per person. Only
100 tickets will be sold. For
more information, call (708)
280-1179.
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.
you under.”
I asked for risk and
adventure. I was tired of
small living, and of needing
control and fearing what I
couldn’t see. But my bringit-on
attitude was drowning
in irrational thought.
Oh. Heck. No. I will die.
Stay with sneakers planted
in mud. I like mud. Just wait
here. Make mud pies.
Who likes sitting in
wet denim shorts with
river water soaked through
their panties? Ew. Gross.
Chafing. Yep, safe, comfy,
dry-ish. I’ll stay on the
riverbank, thank you very
much.
Safe sounded good. Chilling
in the rain was cool with
me. Stay shallow. Stay safe.
Fear’s undercurrent grabs
us and drags us in the opposite
direction of the life
Jesus promises. “The thief’s
purpose is to steal and kill
and destroy. My purpose
is to give them a rich and
satisfying life.”
That day I was stuck in
the Tennessee mud, I had
a choice. Live in a box or
Cards for a Cause
7 p.m. the second Monday
of each month. Bring your
tape, scissors and colored
pencils — if you have them
— and plan for a creative
evening with lots of fun.
Bundles of Love
7 p.m. the second and fourth
Monday of each month. Enjoy
fun and fellowship while
making baby quilts for infants
baptized at St. John’s and lap
quilts for shut-ins.
Mokena United Methodist Church (10901
LaPorte Road, Mokena)
Service and Sunday School
10:15 a.m. Sundays.
live in abundance. Fear or
freedom. Let me tell you, I
was shaking like a Chihuahua
surrounded by toddlers
punching Mylar balloons.
And there was Jeff, my
fighter, with his mischievous
grin volunteering to sit
up front. Oh God, no.
Would I stay frozen and
fold? Would I punch fear
and not only get in the raft
but sit up front?
We’ll see next time.
Until then, my friend,
choose abundance. Pay
attention to how you react
to fear. Hold on to God and
to rational thought. Perhaps
it’s time to try something
new.
Joy and courage for your
journey.
For more with Robin,
visit www.robinmelvin.com/
contact or on Facebook,
Robin Melvin, Author.
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.
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
Wednesday
Weigh-ins take place at
Please see faith, 23
In Memoriam
Christine Ann Baranak
Baranak, 57, of Mokena,
died on Aug. 14.
Loving wife of Raymond
Baranak; beloved mother of
Carissa (Jeremy) Catellier,
Brandon (Carly) Baranak,
Selena Baranak and Kailley
Baranak; fond sister of Mark
(fiancée Carolyn Hauser)
Huria and Patrick Gleason;
cherished grandmother of
Caiden, Kinzie and Jaritt
Catellier and Charli, Owen,
Paisley and Payton Baranak.
She was preceded in death
by her mother and step father
Denise and Joseph
Wasilowski.
In lieu of flowers memorial
donations to Feed My
Starving Children would be
appreciated. For information,
www.kurtzmemorialchapel.com
or 815-806-
2225.
Emma Louise Chase
Chase, 82, of Mokena
died Aug. 16.
She is survived by her
loving daughters Tracy
(George) Busch and Melinda
(Sean) Rolando; cherished
grandchildren, Schyler
(Mike) Strowmatt, Shaylee
Busch, Shianne Busch, Parker
Busch, Spencer Busch;
and great grandchildren Dalton
and Shane Strowmatt.
She was proceeded in death
by her loving husband of 55
years Gary L. Chase.
In lieu of flowers donations
to Joliet Community
Hospice 250 Waterstone Circle
Joliet, IL 60431 would be
appreciated.
Andrew “Andy”
Paul Mayer
Mayer, 63, of
Mokena died Aug. 12.
Loving husband of Judy
E. Proehl; beloved father of
Jeremy Paul (Stella) Mayer,
Jeffrey Scott Mayer and Joel
Andrew Mayer; brother of
Kathryn (Robert) Ingels,
Ruth Mayer (James) Herrero,
John Mayer and Mark
Mayer; son-in-law to Irma
Proehl, and brother-in-law
to Gwen (Glen) Ausburn
and Harlan (Rosemary) Proehl;
cherished grandfather
of Hailey Renee, Jackson
Scott, Leopold Jay, Kyla
Kennedy and Lillian Grace;
and uncle of many nieces
and nephews. He was preceded
in death by his brother
Donald (late Denise) Mayer.
Mayer was a US Army vet
who served in Korea from
1973-76 and former tractor
trailer operator for the US
Postal Service.
Patrick G. Petrow
Petrow, 71, of Mokena
died on Aug. 9
Loving father of Eileen
(Steve) Pinkowski, Wendy
(David) Brann, Wesley
Petrow and Melinda
(Kai) Dodson; Kitty Petrow
(mother of his children) and
companion Dorothy Wynne;
dearest brother of the late
Terry (Diane) Petrow and
Judy (Dennis) Hon; cherished
grandfather of Makayla,
Vanessa, Matthew, Alyssa,
Jessica and Zelda and
fond uncle of many nieces
and nephews.
Nancy Ann (Cain) Richardson
Richardson, 84, of Knoxville,
Illinois, formerly of
Mokena died on Aug. 14.
She is survived by her
children Carl (Merilee) Cain,
Fred (Lisa) Cain, Robert
Alan (Lea) Cain and Cheryl
Jo (Rod) Stickle; eleven
grandchildren; and seventeen
great-grandchildren.
Richardson was preceded
in death by her parents and a
sister, Catherine True.
Helen K. Sippel
Sippel, 99, of Red Oak,
Iowa, formerly a Mokena
resident for 97 years, died
June 5.
She is survived by her
children Roger (Martha)
Sippel and Sarah (Ron)
Crisp; grandchildren Rachel
(Rob) Mathis and Rebecca
(Sherman) Easter; great
grandchildren Nicholas and
Lindsey Mathis, and Hendrix
Easter; and many other
relatives and friends.