Christian Ed

"Esther-ology" and the Spirit of Half Full As a child I studied the life of my fatherŐs mother, Esther Davis. With parents busy in ranching activities, I spent a myriad of teachable moments with my paternal grandmother. Grandma and I pulled weeds in a family garden 30 feet from her doorstep, retrieved eggs from a henhouse 60 feet in another direction, hunted for mushrooms, berries and asparagus which grew wild in several nearby locations, and pursued many other endeavors that gave me such an earthy attachment to the land on which she lived. It also explains much of my draw to the sustainability focus of the Seven Generations adult Sunday class. Esther came to a Christian faith in God late in her life, a few years after her 60th birthday. Until her passing at the age of 89, she devotedly read her Bible, completing that experience some 17 times. She dedicated herself to teaching in the 3rd and 4th grade classes as well as having a leadership position in the annual Vacation Bible School. Her constant presence in the Sunday worship service was rarely interrupted until the very end of her life when this weekly victory against aging finally succumbed first to the bad weather and then to the frailties of physical life. However, EstherŐs attitude was the greatest demonstration of her faith under this childŐs scrutiny. You see, it was from my grandma that I learned the Ňspirit of half full.Ó Not pretending myself to be the greatest example, and not pretending for Esther to be the perfect example, it is my intention to explain my grandmotherŐs acceptance of life and others. The Spirit of Half Full is an attitude encompassing the qualities of optimism, charity, grace, equity, validation, and even economy and efficiency. This same attitude can frame our service to God as well as guide our intentions and behaviors toward others. I remember optimism through all circumstances. I remember the kindness and grace of forgiveness. I remember a patience that validated a childŐs smallest of efforts. I remember reducing and reusing as a way of life. I remember the grace of hours spent baking for friends and family. I remember loving others with room for even more, the spirit of half full.

Grace and equity!
Bob Davis

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