Wisdom: 13 June 2010

"I give you a heart so wise"
1Kings 3:12

As I watch the movements of the birds, I muse about the decisions they make. Oh yes, animals function on instinct rather than rational decision making as we humans are capable of doing. But it's intriguing to think of the birds actually making decisions: Whether or not to migrate; where to nest; how many eggs to lay; how to teach their young to fly and survive the elements; where to find shelter in a storm; when, where, and what to eat; who and what to stay away from to keep them safe. It's also amazing this year the different species that have been regularly visiting the hummingbird feeder. There have been not only a multitude of hummingbirds and the usual Baltimore and Orchard orioles but also the yellow finches and just yesterday even a Downy woodpecker! All this to say these birds hold within their beings a great deal of wisdom - even if it is pure instinct.

When God told King Solomon to ask for anything and it would be granted, the king asked God for only two intertwined things: for an understanding heart to judge (rule) well and for the ability to distinguish from right and wrong. In other words, Solomon asked for wisdom and that is just what God granted him - "a heart so wise".

Wisdom...What does that mean to us? What does it mean to be wise? Some say wisdom comes with age, and in part that is true. We grow into wisdom and for a good many of us any wisdom we may gain is the result of trial and error - making mistakes and learning from them (the key point is learning from our mistakes). When we make poor choices that hurt us or others, it serves no purpose to place blame on someone else - we make our own choices just as everyone else makes their own choices. A phrase that gets attention in our house from time to time is this: We are all in the place we are right now because of the choices we made. Now this is not necessarily true in all cases - such as being afflicted with a hereditary disease or ailment, but for the most part as adults we make choices that, good or not so good, impact our lives (and many times the lives of others) either positively or negatively. Again the point of wisdom is to be able to choose well, to distinguish right from wrong, and to learn positive lessons from our poor choices or mistakes so as not to repeat them or pass them on to younger generations. Easy? Nope. Doable? Yes; perhaps not alone but with the wise counsel of others. AND doable when we put our trust and faith in God, who loves us so deeply and unconditionally, walks with us through the good times and our troubled times and who, if we ask and listen closely, is forever willing to forgive and grace us with wisdom.

Peace on the Journey

Memorial Day: 31 May 2010

Just the other night we were looking through some old U.S. coins - some dating from 1903 and the 1920's - and I could not help but notice the familiar words on each and every coin: "In God We Trust". And I wondered just how often we stop to think of those words as we hand over our money to various cashiers while shopping. Probably not often, maybe not ever.
This nation was founded in part on that trust in God. A great many of the people who immigrated to this country at its beginning did so because their religious faith and/or beliefs were being suppressed or condemned in their country of origin. These ancestors of ours were not only seeking a new life for themselves in a new land, but also for the freedom to openly practice their faith.

Memorial Day - this is the day dedicated to the remembrance of all who served to defend and protect the very freedom all of us in this country are fortunate enough to have. We remember those who died in service during WWI, WWII, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, Afghanistan... We remember those who served in foreign lands, Europe, Guam, Philippines, Korea and other countries during times of peace and died in later years. We remember all the men and women who are currently serving both here at home and abroad. And we should be grateful for all our veterans and current service people's dedication to protect our freedom not only on this national holiday but each and every day.

Yes, we owe a debt of gratitude to all those brave women and men. We also owe a debt of gratitude to those who were the first to proudly and rightly imprint on our coins the words "In God We Trust". Yes, the same God who surrounds us every moment of every day.

Peace on the Journey

Sustenance: 23 May 2010

And behold, I am with you always, until the end of the age
Matthew 28:20

The bird activity has been abundant over the past weeks. As soon as the little Eastern bluebirds left the nest in the little white birdhouse, the tree swallows claimed it, laid their eggs which hatched a few days ago. The hummingbirds and the orchard and Baltimore orioles are hot and heavy into what I refer as the feeding frenzy wars. Ah, let the games begin! The hummingbirds chase the orioles from the feeder; the orioles chase the hummingbirds from the feeder. It's quite an amusing sight to behold several times a day but particularly for our suppertime entertainment. And yet, with all this chasing each other about, each species does get the sustenance they seek (and need) from the feeder in abundance.

Sustenance...nourishment, necessities, requirements, provisions, getting or receiving what we need. Lately I've been pondering yet again the difference between what we need and what we want. There IS a huge difference. Wants are all those things we sometimes think we need but in fact really are the frills - those things or possessions we think we can't live without; those things we think (falsely) that will bring us happiness and joy but that happiness and joy we come to find out is quite fleeting. What good are all those things going to be to us after we no longer walk on this earth in this life?

True needs do vary somewhat from person to person and in pondering true needs, there are the obvious basics of food, water, air, shelter, clothing. But we people are social in nature and need others as well - to love and love us back, to respect, to trust, to seek counsel from. We need people, particularly those we are in a relationship with, to treat us with dignity and, when difficulties arise (as they will and do) we need understanding particularly that there are two sides to every story and "blame" or hurtful words/actions are rarely if ever one-sided. I have learned through experience that some torn relationships can be repaired but some cannot particularly if the effort to repair the relationship is one-sided and rejected by the other. I have learned through experience that some relationships become toxic - detrimental to one's well-being because of things like anger, lying, placing blame, one person thinking they can control the other by laying guilt trips or being emotionally, verbally, and/or physically abusive.

I wonder if at times we rely too heavily on only ourselves or others to provide us with what we truly need. I wonder if at times we are all too willing to neglect thinking about, or remembering, that we all have a God who loves us so very deeply, is so ready and willing to help us carry our burdens if only we believe and trust and ask for Sacred Guidance and Companionship, and who has promised to be and is with us deep inside and all around us every moment of every day and every step along the path of our life.

Peace on the Journey

Quiet Prayer: 9 May 2010

...when you pray, go to your inner room, close the door
and pray to your Father in secret.
And your Father, who sees in secret, will repay you."
Matthew 6:6

A Prayer Meditation:

Tranquil. Calm. Pleasant. Serene. Contented. Restful. Soothing. Peace and quiet. Alone yet, not alone.

Contemplation. Visualization. Meditation. Prayer.

Sitting alone in the still of the evening, eyes closed, breathing deeply at first then quietly and evenly, a picture comes to mind: a favorite place, a fantasy place. Thoughts of a busy day slowly fade into complete tranquility. Gone are the telephones, pagers, and cell phones. Gone are the computers and the paperwork. Gone are the traffic and the noise.

The minds’ eye slowly wanders over every detail of the landscape. Behold the shades of blues, oranges, pinks, purples in the sky, the ball of orange fire on the horizon, the stillness of the waters, the gentle swaying of the reeds in the cool and mild breeze. The ears hear nothing but the sound of silence. All of creation is quiet. It is as if time has stopped, if only for a little while. At peace at last.

The mind and the heart and the soul and every fiber of the being stretch, reaching out in hope, in love, in belief, with trust. The layers of humanness slowly dissolving until all that remains is the core, the essence of the being, and God. Naked. Vulnerable. Comfortable.

It is in this place where the soul lays bare. It is in this place where the Spirit dwells. It is in this place where God speaks. Inspiration. Revelation.

It is here where the words, “I will be with you always” are heard over and over again. No talking required. Listening is the only rule. Gentle. Loving. Consoling.

Touched. So deeply touched.

Peace on the Journey

Fear: 2 May 2010

Yesterday morning as I gazed out the window toward the little white birdhouse watching and waiting for the Eastern bluebirds to appear with more food for their three little ones, I was shocked to see a tree swallow perched on the birdhouse. And then, to my horror, the swallow went inside! Fearing the worst, I grabbed a sweater, slipped on my sandals and rushed out to that little birdhouse. The nest was empty! But...there were no signs of trouble; no signs that anything bad had happened to those three little precious ones; no mess of feathers either inside the nest or on the ground. Then it occurred to me that I had not seen the adult bluebirds for a day and a feeling of relief welled up inside as I realized those little ones must have gotten big enough to learn to fly and they all had left for the woods.

Fear - being afraid - is a terrible feeling. Fear can paralyze us or...it can push us into action (albeit sometimes unwise actions). In many ways, President Roosevelt was right when he proclaimed, "The only thing we have to fear is fear itself". But we also have Sacred Words of comfort and assurance. The phrases: "Do not be afraid" or "Fear not" (and other similar variations) are likely among the most abundant phrases in the entire bible - both Old and New Testaments!

In the Book of the Prophet Isaiah (43:1-4), we are asked to "Fear not" for God has called us by name and we belong to God, who will be with us, walking with us every step of the way through the hard trials in our life. What a blessing in gift we have been blessed with in our Loving Creator who calls us precious, glorious and who loves us so much; so deeply.

Peace on the Journey

Food...for Thought: 25 April 2010

Give us each day our daily bread
Luke 11:3

While mowing the lawn on Thursday I paused to take a peek inside the little white bird house. On Thursday while mowing the lawn, I noticed the Eastern bluebirds flying in and out of the little white bird house rather frequently. When I worked my way to the back of the yard, I paused to take a peek inside the little house hanging on the tree. To my surprise and utter delight, the eggs had hatched and the three little ones were snuggled down in the nest with beaks wide open! Sure enough, that explained the numerous trips by the adult birds to and from the bird house - they were busy gathering food and bringing it back to their young ones. And this will continue each day until the young ones are big enough and old enough and strong enough to leave the nest and learn how to find food for themselves.

When we pray the Lord's Prayer I often wonder if we take the time to truly ponder the words we are speaking. It's such a familiar prayer and perhaps it becomes easy to simply recite it without much thought (or heart) put into it (hopefully that is not the case). In part we are asking that we be given our "daily bread". What does that mean?

Answers to that question are likely as numerous as the numbers of those who wish to ponder it. To me, praying for daily bread means I am asking God to grant me and those for whom I pray all the blessings, courage, and strength to deal with whatever may come into life today. It means I have faith that God knows what we truly need (rather than what we think we need or merely want) and will feed us with just the right "food" to nourish and sustain us. Our task is to simply notice and gratefully receive the Sacred generosity and Love.

Peace on the Journey

Tapestry of Life: 18 April 2010

Look at the birds of the air; they neither sow nor reap nor gather into barns, and yet your heavenly Father feeds them. Are you not of more value than they? Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin, yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.
Matthew 6: 26, 28-29

Over the past week I've noticed how much more alive nature has become. Almost daily different species of birds arrived at the feeders along with those downy and red-bellied woodpeckers who frequented the suet cages all winter. The Eastern bluebird couple completed their nest in the little white house and now there are three blue eggs incubating. It won't be long before they hatch and mother and father bird will be kept busy fetching food for them all day long. The trees have started to bud out and some even have leaves forming already. Daffodils and crocuses are in full bloom, the tulips have buds that will soon open and...the first crop of dandelions for the season is starting to speckle lawns and fields with their yellow glow. The frogs are serenading us with their joyful music in the pond each evening and long into the night. All this by the movements of nature and the grace and care of the Sacred One.

And yet, we are so apt to worry about "what's next" - what to eat, what to wear, what new "gadget" we should or will buy, even who says what to whom. Putting our faith in God's abundant Love and care for us is often times easy to forget, or dismiss. We tend to focus on the "things of the world" (not necessarily a bad thing when we use our gifts and talents wisely) at the expense of taking stalk in the abundant seen and unseen ways our Sacred Provider loves and blesses us daily with so many wonderful gifts and talents. All too often we may focus our minds and hearts on all those tomorrows and we miss the Sacred touch of this day, this moment.

Yes indeed, how much more does the Heavenly One care for us than the birds of the air and the lilies of the field? Ponder with me, if you wish, the sacred movements in our lives and discover anew how beautifully the hand of our Sacred Creator is woven into the very tapestry of our lives and all of creation.

Peace on the Journey

Expectations: 11 April 2010

Just a week or so ago the sights and sounds of spring were so abundant. The warm, sunny days helped to open up the blossoms on daffodils and crocuses. The tulips popped out of the ground and the trees started budding out. The pair of Eastern bluebirds that claimed the little white bird house in our yard completed their nest. Every morning we awoke to the music of the chirping birds. And then...two days ago we got three inches of snow in our area. So typical of spring in Wisconsin. After days of gorgeous spring weather I suspect many of us had the expectation of no more snow. Ha! Mother Nature fooled us yet again.

Pondering expectations...

In any society people are expected to act in certain ways - obey the laws of the land - so as to live in a peaceable way. That only makes sense. However, expectations place upon us by others, perhaps in our circle of friends and acquaintances and/or family regarding how to live, what to do and when, what to believe, who to believe, etc. can be something else all together. When we base and live our whole life trying to live up to those kind of expectations others place upon us are we really living our own life; following our own path? Or are we living a life someone else thinks we should live?

I have long ago come to the conclusion that there is only One whose expectations are important: those of our Sacred Creator. Knowing we cannot live up to those Holy expectations perfectly, we should still have the courage to do the best we can. And even though we will most likely still come across situations where our "buttons" are pushed or at worst, times when someone talks or acts in a hurtful way toward us we can rest assured of the deep and unconditional Love of the Sacred who dwells within and around us.

Peace on the Journey.

Captivity: 21 March 2010

"Untie him and let him go."
( John 11:44)

Now that spring has officially arrived, yard clean-up time is once again upon us. Our clean-up efforts are in full swing here along with beginning to get the flower beds and raised vegetable gardens in some sort of eye-appealing order. After all the snow melted in our yard it was amazing how much "crud" and gravel and chunks of dirt were piled up on the lawn as the result of snow plowing - both the driveway and from the township road plowing. It would be so easy to procrastinate and save the yard work for another day, or week, or month but it does need to be done so that new growth of lawn and plants and flowers can emerge and be suffocated out by lack of sunshine and nature's nutrients. As I looked at the all too many piles of dirt and stones scattered about our yard, the phrase "Set me free" popped into my head. And I ponder being set free.

There may be a great many things that can cause us to feel "bound" or captive. Things like dysfunctional and/or broken relationships, guilt trips, being caught in the trap of thinking we have to live up to someone else's expectations, regrets of past choices, doing certain things merely out of a sense of obligation with no real "heart" in it on our part just because someone or some entity says we have to, and on and on. All these things and attitudes have the potential to suck the life out of us and deter or prevent us from being our true selves - the beloved creations our Sacred Creator intends for us to be.

As Lazarus was raised from the dead and called out of the tomb, he had to have the burial wraps untied to be set free once again; to live new life once again (John 11). What actions can we make to loosen any ties that negatively bind us - in our thoughts, our actions, our relationships and from our relationship with the Divine Presence that is so deeply and lovingly woven into the tapestry of our lives? It may be hard and painful inner work, but just as the blisters from all the raking will heal, the reward of healing and wholeness is well worth the effort.

Peace on the Journey.

Seeking Clearer Vision: 14 March 2010

"So they said to him, 'So how were your eyes opened?'"
John 9:10

While traveling east on one of the county highways into town early this week, an SUV closed in behind me. We were coming up on an intersection and someone in a pickup truck was at the stop sign signaling to make a left turn to head west. He had plenty of time and distance to do so safely before my car reached the intersection. Suddenly a dark flash appeared in my side view mirror and I realized, just as the pickup truck was making the turn, the SUV was passing me! Realizing the very real potential for disaster, I slammed on the breaks in hopes the SUV could get past me and pull back into our east-bound lane without hitting the truck. I was shocked to quickly notice the person driving the SUV had also slammed on the brakes, as did the man in the truck. And for a split second it felt as if we were all in some sort of suspended animation. I hit the accelerator, the SUV quickly pulled back in behind me, the truck complete the turn and headed west. Accident and injury avoided. At the next opportunity the SUV passed me, speeding ahead into town. I found it almost comical, as all traffic was stopped at the second set of signal lights, I was now once again ahead of this same SUV and thought to myself of the SUV driver, "So much for being in such a hurry".

Over the past few days we've been hit with some pretty dense fog, making driving necessarily slow and seeing most any distance very difficult. Again headed into town I was amazed, and pleased, at the care with which other drivers cautiously moved along in their vehicles.

Both these instances causes me to ponder our ways of seeing and relating with others and our world and brings to mind several tough questions to reflect upon.

First of all, what's the rush? Do we have to be the first, the best, the fastest all the time? In the fast-paced frenzy of life can we remember there is also value in slowing down and taking notice of the other and the beauty that surrounds us - both very much gift and blessing?

Do we outwardly proclaim things we do not necessarily live up to? There was a religious "slogan" on the back of the SUV mentioned above and I can't help but wonder in general once again, how often do we attend that one hour of worship service and then live the rest of the week as if we hadn't been in some way inspired to strive to be more caring, compassionate, loving and respectful?

Does it really have to take adverse conditions - in weather, in our lives, in our world - to cause us to recognize our care and concern is warranted with respect to all of life? Can we come out of our own fog of presumptions and move toward a genuinely respectful and generous understanding of others' diversity, beliefs, values, spiritual practices even though they might be different than our own?

Finally, can our eyes, our ears, our hearts be opened to see, hear and feel more clearly the presence of the Sacred Light that forever resides within and around us loving us unconditionally...always?

Peace on the Journey.

Transitioning: 7 March 2010

On Monday, the first day of March, as I was eating lunch and glancing out the window, there he sat. I was sure of it but got up and slowly moved to the window to take a closer look. Sure enough, it was indeed an Eastern bluebird perched on the deck rail. Perhaps they do arrive this early but as long as I've enjoyed watching for the return of migrating birds I've not ever spotted one in our yard before April. As soon as I got to the window, he flew away. Lo and behold, two days later upon arising to the familiar and long-awaited sweet sound of birds chirping near the window, my eyes and spirit were delighted to see three pairs of Eastern bluebirds fluttering around the yard and checking out each of the three now vacant bird houses. Later in the day one pair had claimed the little white one in the tree, flying in and out of it or landing on its perch. They've been back to visit daily. Given the "dryness", "barrenness" of winter I've been writing about, seeing these beautiful birds again turned my thoughts to the onset of spring and the re-emergence of nature's activity, growth and beauty. And I officially declared, to myself, that spring had indeed arrived. Oh yes we know all too well that winter's furry can come again before (and after) the calendar declares it to be spring but...catching these glimpses of springtime life reminds me that dry, desert time - winter's rest - will indeed transition into new growth and life. So too our inner desert times can transform us when we look for the and find the Sacred - even in the most unexpected places.

The story of the woman at the well (John 4:5-42) find Jesus in conversation with a Samaritan woman - a woman who comes to the well in the intense heat of noontime to draw water for the day when no one else from her village is there; when she will not encounter the harsh judgment of others because of her "lifestyle". The gospel tells us the "Jews use nothing in common with Samaritans" (4:9). In fact, the Jews of the time strived to avoid the Samaritans all together and Samaritan women were considered by the Jews as ritually impure. Imagine how isolated the woman must have felt in her everyday life.

This week I pose these questions to ponder:
Has there been a time in life when we have been the woman at the well? Have we ever felt isolated from friends, family, community because of how we live, what we believe, who we associate with? Are there times we have experienced intense thirst for the life-giving water of community, compassion and understanding? And...have we been/are we now open to the signs of the Sacred dwelling in and all around us waiting to comfort, guide, and delightfully surprise us with Divine Love?

Just as winter turns into spring, may our spirits transition toward finding anew the presence of the Sacred One - even in the most unexpected places - in our lives, in others and in our world.

Peace on the Journey.

Pondering Discomfort: 28 February 2010

"The Lord is my light and my salvation."
Psalm 27:1

Winter is a "drier" time of the year - not much appears to be happening in the way of nature's activity outside my windows. Oh yes, we've had some snow storms, ice and rain, strong winds. But the past few months the liveliness and abundant activity of animals and birds in this rural, natural habitat has diminished greatly. Even the all too abundant cloudy days of this season contribute to its feeling of dryness - a desert sort of time of the year. And it becomes uncomfortable - the waiting for spring with all its warmth, refreshing rains, and the reemergence of a more colorful landscape filled with a myriad of colorful plants and birds.

So too it is with this season of Lent - a desert time of watching and waiting, a time of withdrawing into our hearts and the very core of our being to reflect in deep and meaningful ways on our life and the meaning the sacred holds for us in our lives. And the searching of our hearts and taking an honest account of ways we may have not lived true to who we are intended to be - caring, compassionate, giving, loving people both individual and collectively as societies - can be uncomfortable too. Perhaps it should be uncomfortable, even disturbing...

Today's news is flooded with distressing stories: a massive earthquake in Chili early this morning along with the threat of wide-spread tsunami destruction, an already devastated Haiti bracing for another blow as the income from their rice crops is threatened by the exportation of "cheap" rice from the U.S., yet another story of child abuse and torture as a baby and toddler in California have been found bound and gagged with head and face injuries, acts of racism against African American students at the University of California in San Diego, child sex abuse scandal by a Pediatrician in Delaware, and the recent stories of clergy sex abuse in Ireland. These last few are all too vivid examples of the devaluation of human life by some in our society and...we should feel uncomfortable and disturbed! These heartbreaking stories should cause us as a society, as a community, to reflect and dialogue on the value of human life, the values we hold and to strive to be good and faithful people working for justice and peace in compassionate and caring ways.

So too church officials, across many denominations, are uncomfortable and disturbed as they lament the vast decline in attendance at worship services. One commentary alleges this is happening because some people have "turned away" from their faith. I wonder...could it be more a case of people being driven out/made to feel they no longer belong because of some "transgression" as defined by the church leadership, or find the turn toward more conservative structures and restrictive rules and regulations and obligations for them really have little or nothing to do with living as faithful servants of our Sacred Creator? Perhaps our churches are half empty week in and week out not because people have lost their faith. Perhaps might it be more a matter of faithful and faith-filled people who continue to hold onto faith and belief in the Almighty One, as the psalmist proclaims, "The Lord is my light and salvation" while finding sacred meaning and connections and spiritual nourishment outside the structures of the institution as well as (for many) within it?

There are indeed a great many things to ponder during this desert time of Lent - in our lives, in our communities, in our world, in our faith, in our churches, in our very way of being. We know from lived experience that spring will indeed will arrive and "new life" will once again delight our eyes and ears and perhaps our hearts and spirits too. In the silence of our hearts, if we take the time to truly listen, we will come to hear the Holy Whispers of the Sacred One who constantly abides in and within us giving us strength and guiding us with abundant love and graciousness.

Peace on the Journey.

Desert Times: 21 February 2010

"(He) was led by the Spirit into the desert”

Luke 4:1

Even though I've been to an actual desert in the southwest where the landscape and plant life was amazingly quite beautiful and abundant, I still have the image of the deserts in those old movies in my mind - nothing but sand, blowing sand, everywhere; a truly desolate place where one's throat gets bone dry and thirst is abundantly present. I imagine all sorts of thoughts would run through a person's mind if he or she were in such an environment for any length of time. Things like longings and plots and plans and perhaps regrets may emerge. Being in such a barren environment, isolated from other people, can cause us feel quite helpless - quite alone.

There are very real times in life when we may feel as if we're in a desert - times when we feel dry, barren, unsettled, isolated in our inner being, our spiritual dimension, and/or life itself. The reasons for or causes of these desert times are many. Perhaps we have lost our job, experienced the death of a loved one, been rejected by someone, have seen a dream or goal we had disappear beyond our reach. Finding ourselves in a spiritual desert, as with any life "desert times", we most likely experience feeling a loss of connection with people and things that hold meaning for us in our lives. In a spiritual desert we can feel disconnected from our prayer, church, the Sacred One, even ourselves.

Finding ourselves in a desert time, however long or short the duration, can be a very lonely and scary place where we truly go alone. We can choose to experience this time as a vast wasteland, a waste of time, or a place filled with demons of regrets, temptations, guilt, and our own imperfections. Or...we can choose to enter into and experience our desert times as filled with abundant opportunity. When we willingly go into the seemingly barren and deserted place of our inner being as uncomfortable as it may be, if we quiet ourselves and minds and listen closely to our heart we can come to discover anew that we are not alone after all. It is there in the silence we encounter the presence of the Sacred who abides within each of us; it is there in the silence where we will be able to open ourselves to the Holy Whispers; it is there in the silence where we will begin to be molded and shaped anew by the Divine Fire that burns within us always - even during the driest and darkest of our desert times.

Peace on the Journey.

A Lesson of Candles: 14 February 2010

As I read through the passage from the prophet Jeremiah (17:5-8) this week, I couldn't help feeling how deeply it resonated with the "funk" I've been feeling the past few days - " like a barren bush in the desert...standing in a lava waste, a salt and empty earth". I think many of us can relate to that same feeling at times for a variety of reasons. My reason at this point in time is the nearness of the anniversary of deaths of dear ones in my life and the memories evoked of both the lives and deaths of these most loved ones and the pain of grieving. But, like the "tree planted beside the waters" moving through the grief process, for me, eventually provided the opportunity to discover anew that the "roots" of my whole being could indeed once again be "stretched out to the stream" of Love and Companionship of the Sacred One and trust that the Divine was, and always will be so very close deep within the core of my being. And so this week I offer a different twist to my posting:

It was by pure chance (or was it Divine intervention?) that the trio of candles were lit one night as I sat in deep, numbing grief following the death of a loved one. No other lights were on in the house and I sat in loneliness when slowly my eyes focused on the candles across the darkened room. Watching the movements of the flames, so different yet burning and reaching high and low in unison, imaged for me the presence of the Divine in this deepest and darkest of life times. To truly behold something, to take in all that is visible both outwardly and within, has the potential of transporting the heart and mind to a place where Divine Love speaks within the inner recesses of our spirit. If we dare to listen and be open to the Holy whispers, we will begin to be molded and shaped by the Sacred Holy Fire that burns within us always - even during the driest and darkest of times.

Beholding the Divine Fire

God in the flame of the candle
burning in the dim light –
quietly molding, shaping,
changing the center –
the core.

Oh to be the wax
that yields so willingly
to the dance of the Flame.
To be shaped and reshaped;
created anew!

Flame of Light with burning desire
for one purpose –
to melt away the darkness
into a new creation
that needs only the Flame
to be whole.
And in that wholeness
to dance the eternal dance
of Light
and Love
together.

Peace on the Journey.

Will We Remember?: 7 February 2010

"Here I Am" I said; "send me!"
Isaiah 6:8

Though winter is still upon us, nature is quite busy. The coyotes continue to prowl the woods and howl each night, the trees are resting but gaining strength and sustenance through their root s systems, the birds are still frequenting the suet cages most of the day, the deer wander about (mostly at night now) as evidenced by the numerous tracks seem in the snow. And Mother Nature has reminded us of winter anew (when many of us are longing for spring) as she provided us with a fresh covering of two to three inches of "lake effect" snow this morning. That's one thing about nature - it does not forget what season it is and what is supposed to be happening.

My little bird friends - the downy woodpeckers and chickadees are such a delight to watch. The other day I observed them once again during one of many daily trips to the feeders and suet cages. The woodpecker, at first perched high on a branch, appeared to be watching and waiting for the chickadees to show up before fluttering down to begin feasting on the suet. Sure enough, by the time Mr. woodpecker began his suet meal the chickadees had arrived and took their posts on the snow at the bottom of the tree awaiting their dining pleasure. I mused that this little woodpecker had not forgotten his other feathered friends and their need for nourishment.

It's pretty much a given that our lives get busy, either by design (our own making) or circumstances that simply happen or change, or both. And many times we come to discover we have been so caught up in what we're doing and what is happening to us that we lose sight of what is going on in the world around us - our immediate surroundings, our communities, our world. But sometimes we just forget about, or become desensitized, or even ignore what is happening to our sisters and brothers of the world. The new stories of the devastation in Haiti have diminished greatly over the past week. This morning there was one lone, small article placed near the bottom of the page of the New York Times online. Maybe it's that the media just doesn't want to "dote" on the Haitian stories any longer but...the "buzz" of the national media is in part focused on the upcoming Super Bowl and those oh so expensive commercials. Though entertaining, it does give one something to wonder about: how can we (compainies/insudtries/media) really justify the astronomical costs and spending on advertising for this one "main event" when that same money could be put to so much better use in helping others in need? How about the Haitians who continue to struggle so desperately for life and health and shelter? How about the people in our country and world who live in severe poverty day in and day out? How about the school systems in our communities, states and country who are struggling with budget deficits causing even more upcoming job and program eliminations? And so many more...

Would we as a nation or a society really rather focus only on ourselves, our busy lives, and our own needs (real or perceived) and look away pretending those issues/people do not exist ? Or... as a nation founded on Christian values, might we resolve to live those values and, like my little woodpecker friend who offers daily sustenance and nourishment and life to the little chickadees, give as we are able and of ourselves with care, concern and compassion for the benefit and very life of those who so desperately need what we have to offer?

Peace on the Journey.

The Cost of Love: 31 January 2010

(Love) bears all things, believes all things,

hopes all things, endures all things
1 Corinthians 13:7

A few things witnessed, heard, and read this past week: The President's State of the Union address in which he highlighted many points with the economy being among them and a call for more cooperation between political parties for the benefit of the people of this country. A conversation with friends who just lost a loved one with the heart-breaking grief so evident on their faces and in their hearts. The nightly scenes and stories of the continuing devastation in Haiti and its effects on the lives (and deaths) of a still countless mass of people. A news story reporting the halting of airlifting severely injured Haitian earthquake victims to the U.S. (in particular Florida) for proper and necessary life-sustaining medical care because of a dispute over who will cover the cost of that care. All these things are at first glance seemingly unrelated but, are they?

How much, in dollars and cents, is a life worth? The life of a victim of natural disaster; the life of people struggling economically to put food on the table, a roof over their heads, pay for basic necessities, find employment; the life of a loved one so dear who has died no matter the length of their life. Can we really put a price on life?

A while back I heard a story about trees - perhaps it was a certain species of trees but memory isn't serving me well right now. In any event, the story related that in a grouping of trees when one tree is struggling for survival, the more healthy trees surrounding it will reach out with their roots and provide nourishment to their "companion" so that perhaps it may indeed survive. Now, my mind knows trees do not feel emotions but...if they did, I would say this is an act of love - to reach out and care for a most vulnerable neighbor.

What is the cost of love? Perhaps it's in sharing the burden of bearing another's pain through our care and compassion. Perhaps it's believing that all good things are possible when we reach out and touch someone or a group of people, through our cooperative efforts and the sharing of our gifts and talents. Perhaps it's our clinging to the hope that with our help, however we are able, that goodness will prevail. Perhaps it's enduring some hardships of our own in the name of assisting others in distress. Yes, there is a price to pay for Love - in time, energy, even money - but let's ponder this: isn't the "cost" just too high for the alternative: abandonment?

Peace on the Journey.

We Are One: 24 January 2010

As a body is one though it has many parts,
and all the parts of the body, though many,
are one body

1 Corinthians 12:12

Living out in the rural area surrounded by farms and fields, hills and valleys, wooded areas and natural ponds and rivers offers the opportunity to daily witness the movements of a wide variety of birds and animals (both wild and domesticated) giving one so much more than a glimpse of the interconnectedness of nature. It also serves as a constant reminder of how caring (or destructive) human actions can impact the natural environment in which we live. Truly we have an investment in tending to and caring for our environment because we not only live in it, we interact with it and are ultimately one with the multitude of creatures and plant life of the world in which we live.

This past week, Catholics were urged to observe a week of "Prayer for Christian Unity". Though a noble idea, I found myself pondering this concept and literally scratching my head. We all know there are beliefs and/or doctrines and dogmas that serve to divide different Christian traditions. But I just have to wonder if designating a week to pray for Christian unity is a bit too exclusive. Shouldn't we be striving for unity, understanding and acceptance of all people no matter their faith tradition?

When something in nature is out of balance, Nature takes care of itself and takes corrective action. For example, efforts to divert a river around a community may ultimately be in vain when torrential rains come and the flooding river reverts back to its original locale. The things that divide us as people are many: ethnicity, language, rank, status, title, economic status, education, beliefs, values, etc. But what unifies us is our common bond as children of our Sacred Creator. Perhaps we would do well to focus our attention and hearts and minds on our "oneness" with each other and all of nature rather than on our differences.

Peace on the Journey.

Judging: 17 January 2010

Every time as I head into town, I look for him. He is not seen very often but when he is, his bright colors bring a welcome and vivid contrast to the snowy white background. This lone male pheasant occasionally makes a habit of rummaging for food alongside the road a mile from our home. Just a week ago he showed up in a different location and was, of all things, in the company of several crows. I remember thinking, "What in the world is that pheasant doing with those crows - those scavengers?" How quickly we judge at times. There surely must have been something there that attracted the pheasant because it sure didn't look as if he was the least bit bothered by his black feathered companions.

So too at times we are very quick to judge others - how they look, how they live, where they live, if they have the "right job" (or no job), what their beliefs are, how they raise their children, how much "stuff" they have or do not have, who they hang around with and call friends, etc. perhaps without taking the time making the effort to gain an understanding of the other person, group of people or even a nation of people. The recent recounting of a conversation with an acquaintance a couple of years ago comes to mind. The topic of discussion was the tsunami that hit Somalia and the money donated to aid the people devastated by that disaster. This acquaintance boldly announced that people should give their money to causes in the United States and not to some foreign or remote country because "you don't get anything back" when donating to a cause outside of the U.S. Hmm...is the point of helping someone by whatever means and abilities we have really to get something back???

We live in a very global community and are connected almost immediately by technology to what is happening to our sisters and brothers in nearly every corner of the world. Just minutes after the very recent earthquake and massive devastation occurred in Haiti the beginnings of the story was already in the online version of the New York Times. And the media continues to keep us updated on the continuing tragedy as it unfolds. Oh we could make judgments; we could find fault in poorly constructed buildings that were flattened in a matter of minutes (or seconds), or in the "ignorance" of people who live there in poverty. But (hopefully) for most of us in our society we become acutely aware of our connection with the people of Haiti especially because we all share a common bond as children of our Sacred Creator. They are not "those people"; they with us are "we people" worthy of care, compassion, concern, and love. The Haitians, as is true of each and every one of us, have something of value to share with the world. At the very least, in their pain we learn compassion anew.

"To each individual the manifestation of the Spirit is given for some benefit" (1 Corinthians 12:7). Those of us who have wisdom to share, let us share it. Those of us who have knowledge, let us share it. Those of us who have the ability to provide healing, let us share that gift. For those of us who embrace faith, and hope and love as the cornerstones of our lives, let us hold onto that for strength and always remember we and all of creation are so deeply connected and loved by the Sacred One.

Peace on the Journey.

A Lesson from the Birds: 10 January 2010

Yesterday's snowfall covered the few bare patches of ground under the trees in our yard, leaving the little chickadees in a foodless quandary (or so I thought) as they have often come to peck and poke at the ground over the past couple of weeks since the last snowfall. This afternoon I watched as the downy woodpeckers frequented the suet cage and, lo and behold, the chickadees were on the snow down below feasting on the seeds that were dropping from the suet block as the woodpeckers nibbled away nearly cleaning out the suet cage. One of the cool things about noticing what's going on in nature is how a sight or sound can echo an experience in human life.

Watching the birds reminded me of what I've been doing these past several days: cleaning out - closets, bookshelves, cupboards, drawers - sifting through the "stuff" that has accumulated over the course of several years. Gosh, I even found stuff I had long forgotten we had! Everything from coats and boots and clothes to books and kitchen items and odds and ends got the once over and what we no longer have use for (and is in good condition) got packed up in boxes and donated to the thrift stores so that someone else could make good use of the items. It's amazing how much clutter can build up over a period of time leaving little, if any, room for storing the more important things. The same is true of our inner, spiritual life.

There no doubt are times when there is so much going on in our lives, we have difficult emotions tugging on our hearts and/or are barraged by a myriad of thoughts cluttering our minds that we don't pay much attention, or have the energy or desire, to engage in practices that nurture our connection with the Sacred. I wonder...perhaps we could take a cue from the woodpeckers who so diligently tend to cleaning out the suet cage and at the same time offer the little chickadees the opportunity to also gather sustenance for themselves. When we weave some time for spiritual enrichment into our daily routine, whether through prayer, journaling, reading, meditating, etc., we will find the strength and desire to sort through our inner clutter and begin to feel more spiritually in balance. As we nurture and take in nourishment for our spiritual dimension, we just may find ourselves more able and willing to give, to share, to love those who need just what we have to offer.

Peace on the Journey.

Getting Our Attention: 4 January 2010

The other day as I was working at the computer I heard a rather loud knock on the window. The thud resembled the familiar sound of a bird hitting the window but I thought that couldn't be; not at this time of the year. It's a rather common happening in spring and summer but not during the winter months. After only a few moments there was a rapid succession of taps that called for investigation. Carefully and slowly I peeked through the blinds and there he was - a downy woodpecker tapping on the window trim. Thinking it odd, as to my knowledge it was the first time it ever happened, my eyes moved to the suet cage which was empty. It was as if this little bird letting me know he was hungry and I had better get more suet out there for him. I promptly went to the cupboard and got out a fresh block of suet and put it outside for my feathered friend, who quickly went about feeding on it. As I watched, I was reminded that he is important and worth my attention because he is a part of the great many sights and sounds of nature that bring sheer joy to my heart and spirit.

As we Christians celebrate the feast of Epiphany, the manifestation or appearance of the Lord, we are reminded that there are absolutely no limits to the love of our Sacred Creator - all are loved deeply and unconditionally no matter by what name we call our God: Allah, Yahweh, Elohim, Jehovah, Adonai, Abba, or simply Higher Power. To the Holy One we all are important. A question to ponder: Who in our world, our neighborhoods, our circle of acquaintances is in need of our attention and how can we respond?

Peace on the Journey.