Awareness

Opening Up…

A couple of days ago, the skies opened up, and the rain poured down as periods of thunder and lightning worked their way through the area. While the cloud masses wrestled, trying to push through to the other side, the torrential rain was unrelenting and seemed as if it could go on without end. It drenched everything in its path, washing away loose sediment and cleansing what remained.

Waiting in the car for a break or a slow-down in the rate of precipitation, I watched with apprehension as the thunder and lightning continued, the wind picked up, and a steady overflow of water traveled down the windows. After what seemed like an inordinate amount of time, rain still pouring, I made a dash, through the stream of water across the entire driveway, into the house. I too was now drenched. However, somewhere between the car and the house as the skies remained loud as well as fully opened, and the ground beyond soaked, trepidation gave way to a spirit of courage and excitement as I made my way to the threshold and crossed over it. Once inside, I looked back, amazed at both the way the rain continued to fall and how exhilarating it was to go through the rain and water to get to dry “land.”

There is always a way, even in times when it may seem like the roads are all washed out, or there are no paths to take. Listen, and as Jesus said, “Be opened!” (Mark 7:34)

Direction

Trust and You Will See…

Yes! I can see it! Something new!

Noticing the flowers that were in full bloom among those that were just breaking out of the bud, and alongside those that were still tightly wound, enclosed in leaves of green, it was easy to take in the beauty of what was there and find joy in the anticipation of what seemed sure to be… more flowers.

When my children were much younger they had a few classroom activities throughout their preschool and early elementary school years that highlighted the cycle of life for plants and animals. I remember both their interest and their awe at each new stage or milestone. I also recall their lack of interest during the times of “stagnancy”… when it seemed nothing was happening.

One year there was the small clay pot filled with soil that eventually sprouted a stalk and green beans. For what seemed like an eternity to my children—two weeks—the pot of soil seemed the same, day after day. However, with care and proper attention, beneath the surface, buried in the soil, the seed was changing and growing the whole time. Then one day, the stalk was there. It seemed like it came out of nowhere.

It is so much easier to trust that something worthwhile lies ahead, is coming into existence, or is already happening when one can see or sense even the tiniest of signs. This is no secret. Not only do we know it, but so does God.

Seek signs, but first ask God for them.

I sought the LORD, and he answered me,
delivered me from all my fears. – Psalm 34:5

TrustAndYouWillSee

On the Edge, Greatness…

At the beginning of the week, as I looked out the window and scanned the back yard, I spotted a doe, yes, “a dear, a female deer,” at the edge of the grass path that leads to the woods. Although tempted to step away to get my camera to try to capture the moment, instead I stayed and watched. For quite some time the doe just stood there in its peaceful, patient way, nibbling at the leaves of a branch. Every so often it lifted its head to glance all around, surveying and taking in the environment with its big, beautiful, pensive eyes. Then, in what seemed like a flash, it was gone, heading off deeper into the woods.

Thinking about this experience, I am struck by the faith that is needed to go into, or to return to, the wilderness. Yet, it is this very same faith that calls creation to the place that is less familiar, less comfortable, or perhaps altogether unknown. Even more, it is the same faith that assures us, moving us toward peace and patience, and helping us to know, we are never alone.

True faith awakens and arises us, calling us closer to the edge, and whispering: Come. Come deeper into the mystery that is God.

In Every Age – by Janet Sullivan Whitaker

Long before the mountains came to be
and the land and sea and stars of the night,
through the endless seasons of all time,
you have always been,
you will always be.

In ev’ry age, O God,
you have been our refuge.
In ev’ry age, O God,
you have been our hope.

Teach us to make use of the time we have.
Teach us to be patient even as we wait.
Teach us to embrace our ev’ry joy and pain.
To sleep peacefully,
and to rise up strong.

In ev’ry age, O God,
you have been our refuge.
In ev’ry age, O God,
you have been our hope.

You have been our refuge
You have been our hope.

OnTheEdgeGreatness

Wholehearted…

There is the saying, “Silence is golden,” yet we know this is not always the case. Oftentimes silence can cast a shadow, creating division and unrest, perhaps worse than words of ill will. Martin Luther King, Jr. said, “In the end, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.”

As with so many things, there are appropriate times and places for silence, as well as ones for speaking out and making noise. While the times and places may vary, what is to be held back and what is to be spoken is best done prayerfully, with an open heart and mind.

In Psalm 95, it is written, “If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.” It is easy for our minds to conjure up an image or description of a hardened heart. Surely, a person with a hardened heart is easy to spot… angry, grumpy, bitter, frowning, self-righteous, etc. However, a hardened heart is also, among other things, one that is superficial, looks the other way in the face of wrongs, or causes one to remain silent at a time that calls for speaking out. A hardened heart, at its root is self-serving and self-interested. It cannot be judged solely by appearance, and if being honest, we all have times in our lives or instances where, whether we realize it or not, a part of our heart, is in fact, hardened.

We are all called to live authentically in both word and deed. Throughout our lives, we are called to face challenges when the temptation might be to recoil from them. This is something that is only possible with a pliable heart… one that is intent on listening to the Voice that truly matters.

“If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts.”

PLUM2G

 

A Better Deal…

Even during the darkest nights of the year, or in our lives, there are so many stars in the sky and so many bright spots for us to see each day. Among them, and always there, is the Star that came before all others and leads the way, only to be missed so often. Jesus said, “Be watchful! Be alert! You do not know when the time will come.” (Mark 13:33).

The time is now. It has always been now. Jesus was in front of the disciples when he spoke the above words to them. Jesus, “God with us,” is always present. Oftentimes when we cannot see, we may ask, “Where are you, Lord?” Imagine if we actually heard the response, “I’m right here. Where are you?”

During such a busy time of year, advertisements abound at a level 2… 3… 4 times or more than the typical volume. We are beckoned, in so many ways, toward discounts often referred to as amazing deals. In the mix, it can be easy to move away from the best deal ever. One that is available no matter who you are or where you are — Salvation.

ABetterDeal

And, the Sun…

Amongst the many voices and other various noises as the events of a day unfold, reside the quieter, more subtle, sometimes missed happenings. Whether during celebratory or somber times, there are signs… gifts… blessings ever-present. It is as if they are there to acknowledge, “Yes, that…, but also this.” Perhaps they are there to help one remember, or to consider, all that is true in any given moment. It seems at every turn, there is opportunity to receive peace, strength, wisdom, joy… whatever grace may be needed or may be of benefit to those present, close by, and even far away.

Oftentimes, there is so much more than what may be immediately in front of us, or surrounding us. Yet, it can be easy to forget that. Even worse, it can be easy to become focused on a single piece or a fraction of the whole and to exclude the picture in its entirety from consideration.

We must remember, it is not only the sun that rises and sets, but also the moon. Together, they help to make the day complete.

SunsetRI2

Every Tree… Known by Its Fruit

Have you ever stopped to consider the wide array of fruits and vegetables around the world and the richness in color and nutrients that they offer, not to mention the satisfaction they can bring to one’s palate?

Earlier in the week I had a kumquat for the first time. Not knowing exactly what to expect, I found it to be interesting and surprising in both texture and taste. Its outward appearance (shape, feel and size) was similar to a grape tomato but of a yellow-orange color and more firm. Upon chewing, it was full of a very citrusy flavor like a tangerine only with greater tartness and fewer seeds. The experience was not at all what I thought it might be like—a mild tasting fruit. It was new and very different than anything I had tasted before.

While I have seen kumquats in grocery stores many times, I had never gravitated toward them or been curious enough to try them. In fact, had it not been for the story and the excitement with which an acquaintance offered me one as she explained how she came to buy them, just a day or two before, for the first time herself, they would still be foreign and unknown by me.

Thinking about the experience, it is intriguing how the kumquat, such a little thing originating half way across the world from where I live, could pack such a powerful experience… powerful enough to create a sense of “wow!” and a desire to share the news with others for both my acquaintance and myself.

Perhaps, even more compelling, the fact that the Cantonese name for “kumquat,” pronounced gām-gwāt, means “golden orange” or “golden tangerine.” The name definitely gives an indication of what to expect in terms of citrus flavor and if you see a kumquat tree it looks very much like a tangerine tree, however, in looking at the outside of this little fruit it looks nothing like what a tangerine is supposed to look like. The shape is different, it is smaller (or at least what I had was), and the skin is not peeled. Despite this, the kumquat certainly tastes like a tangerine, and, if what is on the inside truly counts, then that is all that matters.

In everyday life, as we go about our business, we all bear fruit. There are many different ways in which we do so and just as many kinds of fruit. Sometimes we can jump to conclusions, assess people and/or situations, or make assumptions, based on what appears to be rather than looking at what truly is. We must be aware. We must remember substance.

Jesus said to his disciples:
“A good tree does not bear rotten fruit,
nor does a rotten tree bear good fruit.
For every tree is known by its own fruit.
For people do not pick figs from thornbushes,
nor do they gather grapes from brambles.
A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good,
but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart the mouth speaks.
– Luke 6:43-45

Kumquats

Intuition…

Intuition is sometimes referred to as the voice within or direction from one’s soul. Famed physicist, Albert Einstein once said, “The intellect has little to do on the road to discovery. There comes a leap in consciousness, call it intuition or what you will, and the solution comes to you and you don’t know why or how.”

As we travel along our way throughout life, we all have moments where we act or respond based on a gut feeling, or intuition, more than anything else. Just the same, there are moments where perhaps we ignore that gut feeling and lean toward the voice of reason and act or respond logically. Renowned poet William Wordsworth said, “Faith is a passionate intuition.”

In a letter to the Hebrews, St. Paul wrote:

“Faith is the realization of what is hoped for
and evidence of things not seen.
Because of it the ancients were well attested.
By faith we understand that the universe was ordered by the word of God,
so that what is visible came into being through the invisible.
By faith Abel offered to God a sacrifice greater than Cain’s.
Through this, he was attested to be righteous,
God bearing witness to his gifts,
and through this, though dead, he still speaks.
By faith Enoch was taken up so that he should not see death,
and he was found no more because God had taken him.
Before he was taken up, he was attested to have pleased God.
But without faith it is impossible to please him,
for anyone who approaches God must believe that he exists
and that he rewards those who seek him.
By faith Noah, warned about what was not yet seen,
with reverence built an ark for the salvation of his household.
Through this, he condemned the world
and inherited the righteousness that comes through faith.” (Hebrews 11:1-7)

Whatever one might believe, no matter how different one’s approach might be, we all have intuition. Both the wisdom and insight of intuition are planted within us, pushing through the soil that is knowledge and/or experience to the contrary, and budding at just the right time for just the right occasion, seeking to guide and protect us…to help us choose what is best. This occurs regardless of whether or not we consider and heed it.

While Albert Einstein, William Wordsworth, and St. Paul lived in different times and traveled in very different circles, they all lived with an awareness of that which is sacred and an openness to creation and innovation. They seem to have made every effort to reverence the fruit of the Vine, the work of their hands, and the dreams and longings of their souls. We are called to do the same.

pond2

 

A Midnight Clear…Shepherds in the Field

We all have times in our lives that are opportunities for discovery, calling us toward movement and helping us to arise to a new level of awareness…to give witness to the truth and the light…to become more genuine. Depending on how we receive and respond, or not, these moments can become transformative and the grace that flows from them can continue far beyond one’s initial experience.

“Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them” (Luke 2:20).

One might imagine that the shepherds felt a sense of awe and wonder that night. What happened likely changed them in ways visible as well as ones hidden within. One might say it was a pivotal moment in their lives.

The shepherds were initially fearful at the appearance of the angel of the Lord, but like Mary and Joseph, they received the unexpected messenger and they listened with open minds and hearts to the message. In doing so, they were moved, in mind and spirit, and they responded.

They did not look away, but rather they took in, or embraced, the knowledge that had been shared with them and the experience around it.

“And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying: ‘Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests'” (Luke 2:13-14).

It all started in the quiet of the night. What took place was powerful, moving the shepherds to leave their posts watching over their sheep. When they did, they went from entertaining an angel to encountering the newborn King.

With that, they experienced the hope and promise that comes with new life. An experience that could not be kept to themselves. “When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.” (Luke 2:17)

In order for this to transpire, the shepherds had to step away from the flock…step outside of the norm. Only then could they witness what they had been told and spread the message so that all could arise from darkness into Light.

“Now there were shepherds in that region living in the fields and keeping the night watch over their flock.

The angel of the Lord appeared to them and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were struck with great fear.

The angel said to them, “Do not be afraid; for behold, I proclaim to you good news of great joy that will be for all the people.

For today in the city of David a savior has been born for you who is Messiah and Lord. And this will be a sign for you: you will find an infant wrapped in swaddling clothes and lying in a manger.”

And suddenly there was a multitude of the heavenly host with the angel, praising God and saying:

“Glory to God in the highest and on earth peace to those on whom his favor rests.”

When the angels went away from them to heaven, the shepherds said to one another, “Let us go, then, to Bethlehem to see this thing that has taken place, which the Lord has made known to us.”

So they went in haste and found Mary and Joseph, and the infant lying in the manger.

When they saw this, they made known the message that had been told them about this child.

All who heard it were amazed by what had been told them by the shepherds.

And Mary kept all these things, reflecting on them in her heart.

Then the shepherds returned, glorifying and praising God for all they had heard and seen, just as it had been told to them.”

– Luke 2:8-20

 hope1

Angels Among Us…

This past week as my daughter celebrated a birthday, I found myself recalling an experience I had on the day that she was born. The circumstances were such that my husband needed to stay with our 2-year-old son and so my daughter and I were alone at the hospital that night. I remember being exhausted as well as happy and then later, so sad.

No explanation beyond labor for being exhausted. I was happy…grateful…that my daughter had been born and was doing okay and then I felt so sad that my husband wasn’t able to be there for the birth of our daughter. He was able to come for a short visit afterward, but now as the day was coming to end, it was just me and my daughter. We were alone in the room and she still wouldn’t nurse. She kept falling asleep.

At one point, I remember wishing so badly that my husband was there. I was feeling very overwhelmed by the experience of the whole day, and so alone. Then a nurse, one who I had not seen before, came into the room to check on us. She had such a peaceful presence and a gentle smile. During the brief time we interacted my feelings of being overwhelmed disappeared completely. As she was wrapping up and preparing to leave the room, she re-swaddled my daughter and gently handed her to me with a smile. She left and my daughter and I fell sound asleep. When I awoke a few hours later, I felt so refreshed and so at peace, and as my daughter continued not to nurse, I found myself with a renewed patience, and strengthened spirit. It turned out that I never saw the nurse with the peaceful spirit and gentle smile again, but to this day, each time I think of that experience I feel blessed and grateful for the angel sent to me in that hour of need.

As one goes through life, there are many signs; some are acknowledged perhaps almost immediately, some are recognized in time, and some remain hanging in the balance, waiting to be discovered.

“Then Peter recovered his senses and said, ‘Now I know for certain that [the] Lord sent his angel and rescued me…’.” – Acts 12:11