Here and there throughout the years, a woodpecker or two take a liking to the backyard, and then the shed, or even sometimes the house. At that point, paths tangled, it becomes CD time. And so, with fishing line, one by one, the ornaments are hung in hopes of protecting the outside of the shed and house.
Initially, as the CDs inflect, reflect, and deflect the rays of light that shine their way throughout the day, they deter not only the woodpeckers, but also the cardinals, robins, and blue jays that are normally here. However, after a week or so, thankfully, the others seem to remember, or become aware of what is going on, and they return home. Then, looking out from the inside, the backyard is back to the more typical flutter of more inspiring activity.
It is interesting how, whether inside or out, day or night, there is the shimmering of Light, sometimes brighter or more noticeable. Always present though. And, while it drives away some, it draws in others.
Inflecting… reflecting… deflecting… resonating life. Calling to one, calling to all, trust… believe… stay the Path.
The LORD is near to all who call upon him, to all who call upon him in truth. – Psalm 145:18
A couple of summers ago, while visiting family, we decided to go out for ice cream. As we opened the back door of the mini-van, immediately, and with great enthusiasm, the dog jumped in, and was ready to go. Unfortunately, the dog could not come with us, and needed to be escorted back out of the vehicle. As disappointed as he seemed though, when we got back to the house, his excitement upon our reuniting was as if his disappointment or hopes dashed prior to our departure, had never occurred.
It is interesting how dogs, act and react, especially when they are excited. Perhaps, jumping and bouncing, running back and forth, and/or wagging their tails furiously at the approach of a favorite treat or as a loved one returns home. Then there are the other times, when they might plant their paws and growl, preparing to resist, attack, or defend against something non-preferred, or a threat perceived. Regardless of the situation though, what is often most striking is the capacity of dogs to love without abandon.
Moving from wagging tails to wagging fingers, there is the human frailty that causes hearts to bruise, egos to rouse, and hurt to linger. This, all the while, the silent plea, “Come now. Come down off your high horse,” echoes deep within. But, which will win?
Sometimes, it’s time to stop stopping. Stop standing still. When stubborn, yet again, the wagging, it begins. There it is. Getting in the way, determined to carry on, refusing to give in.
At what cost?
So many things, taking up space, too tightly held. How can the space between us do anything, but swell? Wider it becomes… bigger… stronger… bolder it grows. Drifting… fading… falling, tell me, what is so appalling?
One can’t help but wonder, when will this nonsense stop? When will we heed the warning that echoes deep within, “Come now. Come down off your high horse.”?
I give you a new commandment, says the Lord: love one another as I have loved you. – John 13:34
You do not have to be good. You do not have to walk on your knees for a hundred miles through the desert repenting. You only have to let the soft animal of your body love what it loves. Tell me about despair, yours, and I will tell you mine. Meanwhile the world goes on. Meanwhile the sun and the clear pebbles of the rain are moving across the landscapes, over the prairies and the deep trees, the mountains and the rivers. Meanwhile the wild geese, high in the clean blue air, are heading home again. Whoever you are, no matter how lonely, the world offers itself to your imagination, calls to you like the wild geese, harsh and exciting – over and over announcing your place in the family of things. — Mary Oliver, Wild Geese
Among memories of summers past, some of the hotter days rise to the surface. I remember moments, as a child, of hopping from one foot to the other, ooh-ing and ah-ing, while traversing the cement deck or driveway barefoot in route to the cooler green grass on the other side. Along the same lines, there was the trek from the parking lot at the beach, to the water. Whether we entered near a ramp or the stairs leading down to the beach, there was always a tricky section, of varying width and riddled with stones of various sizes or dry shifting sand, to cross before reaching the sand that was flat and smooth and then the water that was cool, and sometimes exhilarating, while at others more serene.
As I think back on these times, equally vivid are the pain and the payoff. There was no way to get from one side to the other without experiencing some level of being uncomfortable and some portion of less or much less than ideal. Yet, the promise of arriving on the other side, the hope of what it held, the lessons learned, and the experience waiting over there, made the effort worthwhile and far outweighed the negatives. It always does.
I do not pray for success, I ask for faithfulness. – St. Teresa of Calcutta
If today you hear God’s voice, harden not your hearts. – Psalm 95
As each wave comes ashore, along the way it covers all that is lower lying. Sometimes stacking up, it covers higher ground too. Then as it recedes, it pulls back toward the ocean all that is loose or unanchored, leaving a murky mixture of unsettled sand and water behind.
The movement is constant, the intensity waxing and waning, turning motion into commotion at times. Yet, standing in the water, witnessing and experiencing the ebb and flow, toes, then feet and more, under water, swaying… sometimes shifting for better footing, sometimes falling over, but ultimately finding the way, and keeping balance amid conditions of low visibility. So much like the days we are in, so much tossed about, up in the air, or sinking.
Still though, in between the waves, and even within, there is Hope. There are always moments of clarity where despite murky water all around, the anchor, tried and true, still holds, and the floor of sand with its assorted pebbles, rocks, and shells can be seen. For water that moves always comes clean. Always, always, refreshing the soul… renewing the heart.
May God enlighten the eyes of our hearts, that we may know what is the hope that belongs to our call. – Ephesians 1:18
As a child, I recall being intrigued by wheat and its presence in many a family meal. I remember my mother soaking wheat in water for a period of time to allow it to expand some. Then, prior to adding it to the kibbeh or tabbouleh she was making, she would take a handful at a time and squeeze out the water. There was a process of patiently preparing, and then preparing some more. Then, there was the way in which the various ingredients were mixed together, complimenting each other while at the same time retaining their own taste and texture, and the wheat, always the source that brings it all together.
Earlier today I was reading about the lives of Cordy Tindell (C.T.) Vivian and John Lewis, famous civil rights activists, both who passed into eternal life yesterday at the age of 95 and 80 respectively. Over the span of their lives, they fought for justice and equality. They also suffered, sometimes greatly. However, they never gave up or gave in to the injustice that was all around them.
C.T. Vivian said, “Do what you can do and do it well, but always ask your question: Is it serving people?”
John Lewis said, “When you see something that is not right, not fair, not just, you have to speak up. You have to say something; you have to do something.”
But here is the thing, they did not just say these things, they also lived them. Time and time again throughout their lives, C.T. Vivian and John Lewis, chose to look injustice square in the eye, call it what it is, and refuse to accept it. Despite facing violent opposition, they practiced and remained true to an approach of nonviolence.
How did they do it? How did they fight and persevere against the odds?
It’s all about the wheat.
C.T. Vivian, also a minister and an author, and John Lewis, also a member of the U.S. House of Representatives, exercised faith. They embraced the call and were held together by the Source, and they never, even in darkest moments, stood alone.
In life, it is impossible to stand alone. With faith, it is not necessary.
Behold, I stand at the door and knock. If anyone hears my voice and opens the door, [then] I will enter his house and dine with him, and he with me. – Revelation 3:20
As we remain afloat in a sea of COVID-19 and political, social, and financial unrest, we are in the midst of much that aspires to debilitate and obliterate. As it carries on, sometimes it can seem like this state of disarray could go on forever. However, despite it all, progress comes as waves of truth and courage continue to rise. More and more join in, standing up and speaking out, seeking to overcome the past, and to affect long awaited change.
Sometimes, it is a matter of coming to see, that as the big things knock us out or push us back, our peace lies in the little things. The little things, like the way a squirrel gathers acorns, one at a time, teach us wisdom and move us forward. Step after step, it is the little things and all that is in between, that truly push us ahead and lead us to the places where we need to be.
“It’s the little details that are vital. Little things make big things happen.” – John Wooden
Nothing more to be said or written. What is there to do when it seems there are no more words? What happens when the cries and pleas of those in need are ignored? When ears are deaf, and eyes are blind to the underlying angst and pain? When shaking heads do not cease to shake and wonder, “Why?”
Discord, disparity, outrage, and disbelief build to the beaten down, and the rhythm utters, “Too much! Too much!” Yet, in some places, perhaps in pockets unseen or not noticed, the tide is slowly turning. Faith, courage, and wisdom are building from a whisper, and the voice of Truth is coming, “Enough! Enough!”
Oftentimes, whether they are good or bad times, happy or sad, the most powerful thing is to step back and allow oneself to be filled with the Breath of yesterday, today, and tomorrow, in memory and honor of all that was, that is, and that will be. For standing firm in the loving presence of God, makes it possible to stand firm with peace and knowledge in one’s heart and mind, and provides the strength to forge ahead.
Spirit lead me where my trust is without borders Let me walk upon the waters Wherever You would call me Take me deeper than my feet could ever wander And my faith will be made stronger In the presence of my Saviour – Matt Crocker, Joel Houston & Salomon Ligthelm
from Oceans (Where Feet May Fail)
O most blessed Light divine,
Shine within these hearts of yours,
And our inmost being fill!
Where you are not, we have naught,
Nothing good in deed or thought,
Nothing free from taint of ill.
Heal our wounds, our strength renew;
On our dryness pour your dew;
Wash the stains of guilt away:
Bend the stubborn heart and will;
Melt the frozen, warm the chill;
Guide the steps that go astray. – excerptVeni Sancte Spiritus
Taking in the scenery and the life in and around it, it is amazing to see the manner in which some travel back, some to and fro or here and there, and some not at all. It is also enlightening to watch as “homes” are built or tidied up, the hunt is on for a snack, or the landing as it’s time for a nap. So many things going on, some seen and some not. So many different creatures moving at their own pace, making and finding their way. All happening in the same place, and room for all.
Over the course of many weeks, it has seemed, more than ever in my lifetime, like all are relatively in the same boat. One can imagine or say with quiet confidence, throughout time, this is what it is like, whenever the world, as one and all know it, is turned upside down. Spirit of generosity, Lord, how wonderful the abundance of your presence, even in scarce or scariest of times.
Why does it seem that human hearts grow closer when it seems that there is no other choice? As options grow, will the leanings toward each other fade? Oh Solidarity, when, ever, will students learn the lesson?
Feeling concerned… preoccupied, I seek space… a place, unoccupied. Then, as the gentle breeze blows, it pushes lines across the water. The water where so many things are going on, some seen and some not. So many different creatures moving at their own pace, making and finding their way. All happening in the same place, and room for all. Then, as the gentle breeze blows, it lessens the lines in my reflection. Spirit of generosity, Lord, how wonderful the abundance of your presence, at all times.
I believe I shall see the Lord’s goodness in the land of the living. – Psalm 27:13
The plane crossed over the pond, leaving behind trails of condensation high in the sky. Following its path, as it veered westward, something else, also left behind, came into view. A fishing bob, also above, hanging from one of many branches. It was as if gently placed, decoration to be discovered, rather than the result of errant casting from a pole.
While it’s likely that the person who put the bob in its current place was not pleased at it being hung up in a tree, from the other side, it was delightful to come across, and, in a way, uplifting as well. A sky of blue and “rainbow” of white, bringing light behind the budding branches, as if cheering them on, full support. Then, out of place, but not tangled up, or in distress, this orb of white and orange, hanging on, but not hung up.
Oftentimes, God turns to gold, bringing back into the fold, that which is unintended, out of line, or left behind.
Let all the earth cry out to God with joy. – Psalm 66:1
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