Inspiration

Neighbors…

Over the years, I have been fortunate to witness as well as to experience, on many occasions, the care, kindness, and concern of neighbors. While the word “neighbor” may conjure the image of those living in closest proximity, in actuality, regardless of location, preferences, opinions, etc. any fellow human being or living thing is neighbor. Thinking of both those next door and those far away, through countless occurrences and interactions, it seems that, certainly, one of the greatest gifts to come with each heart is the ability to feel compassion and express mercy. However, whether or not one is locked-in and striving to live from this God-given capacity, allowing it to influence thoughts, words, and actions, is another thing.

In the story of the Good Samaritan (Luke 10), the one who may have been least expected to do so, the Samaritan, is the only one to rise to the occasion, allowing the Spirit to lead him. He stops at the sight of the victim, placing emphasis on his fellow human being (his neighbor) who is in need. He does the proper thing, rather than the easiest or most convenient thing. He seeks not revenge, nor to add insult to injury, but to lessen the blemish made by the robber, also a neighbor. In doing so, he does his part to let the light of God within him grow and shine, and in turn, he is helping, through the grace of God, to keep the one that seeks to cast down humanity at bay.

There is not a flower that opens, not a seed that falls into the ground, and not an ear of wheat that nods on the end of its stalk in the wind that does not preach and proclaim the greatness and the mercy of God to the whole world. – Thomas Merton

2Daisy

There was a scholar of the law who stood up to test Jesus and said,
“Teacher, what must I do to inherit eternal life?”
Jesus said to him, “What is written in the law?
How do you read it?”
He said in reply,
“You shall love the Lord, your God,
with all your heart,
with all your being,
with all your strength,
and with all your mind,
and your neighbor as yourself.”
He replied to him, “You have answered correctly;
do this and you will live.”

But because he wished to justify himself, he said to Jesus,
“And who is my neighbor?”
Jesus replied,
“A man fell victim to robbers
as he went down from Jerusalem to Jericho.
They stripped and beat him and went off leaving him half-dead.
A priest happened to be going down that road,
but when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
Likewise a Levite came to the place,
and when he saw him, he passed by on the opposite side.
But a Samaritan traveler who came upon him
was moved with compassion at the sight.
He approached the victim,
poured oil and wine over his wounds and bandaged them.
Then he lifted him up on his own animal,
took him to an inn, and cared for him.
The next day he took out two silver coins
and gave them to the innkeeper with the instruction,
‘Take care of him.
If you spend more than what I have given you,
I shall repay you on my way back.’
Which of these three, in your opinion,
was neighbor to the robbers’ victim?”
He answered, “The one who treated him with mercy.”
Jesus said to him, “Go and do likewise.” – Luke 10:25-37

A Picture’s Worth…

A truck pulled into the parking lot of the conservation area and stopped, blocking the entrance. Then a man hopped out and went over to the middle of the road. He proceeded to walk slowly back in the direction of the parking area, escorting something toward the water. I could not see what it was, but thought it might be some sort of animal. Once several steps into the grass, the man returned to his truck and was on his way, presumably off to where he had originally been going.

As I walked across the gravel to the side where the animal was, while the man was gone, his awareness and show of care and concern stayed with me. Upon arriving, a few steps onto the grass, I could see a painted turtle. It was continuing to slowly make its way toward the water. It was quite small. In fact, it could not have been more than a few inches across its shell, yet the man traveling in his truck, sitting high up, not only spotted the turtle down on the road, but also stopped to ensure its safe passage to the other side. Remarkable, both to do, and to see. A privilege to partake in, whether as a participant or as a witness.

There are many dimensions and circumstances in life over which choice may be limited or perhaps, does not exist. However, there is always the freedom to use—to see and/or to act from—one’s heart.

I bless the Lord who counsels me;
even in the night my heart exhorts me.
I set the Lord ever before me;
With the Lord at my right hand I shall not be disturbed. – Psalm 16:7-8

Turtle

A Dip in the Pool…

As we walked along the cliff, the terrain shifted from paved pathways to ones constructed out of giant rocks along the shoreline. The further we walked, the numbers of those walking became less as the path became trickier to navigate with the level rocks becoming sparse. Taking heed of the signs to be cautious, we forged on, determined not only to get to the other side, but also to take time to enjoy the sites along the way.

Most striking on this particular day, were the tidal pools that we came across. The water seemed so crystal clear—transparent. At the same time, though, it was teeming with living organisms, some visible to the naked eye, some surely not.

Each pool seemed to contain a world of its own. As a child, I remember a field trip where we explored and studied tidal pools. It was fascinating to see various components of the entire ocean in one relatively small area. I remember a classmate spotting a tiny shrimp in one of the pools. It is amazing what one can see when going slower and looking around more carefully.

Surveying the tidal pools, as intact as they seem, they inevitably change with each tide. While they may resemble what was there from the previous tide, they are not the same. Yet, day in and day out, or tide in and tide out, each pool continues to hold its bounty—life, beauty, and all that is intriguing in various different shapes, colors, and forms—as sacred for as long as it remains, or until the tide reclaims it.

That is something to strive for… something to emulate.

TidalPool

“Father, they are your gift to me.
I wish that where I am they also may be with me,
that they may see my glory that you gave me,
because you loved me before the foundation of the world.
Righteous Father, the world also does not know you,
but I know you, and they know that you sent me.
I made known to them your name and I will make it known,
that the love with which you loved me
may be in them and I in them.” – John 17:24-26

Light that Works Wonders…

Throughout the ages people in various cultures around the world have discovered and used what is found in nature as remedies for one ailment or another. A star among these natural medicinal resources is the sun. The light provided by the sun has been known to disinfect, heal wounds, straighten curved bones, lift moods, and more, in addition to aiding our sight as we make our way throughout each day.

At the opposite end of the day, there is the moon and stars, which also provide light and a sense of direction throughout the night. When combined, the light from the sun, the moon, and the stars, radiant and powerful as they may be, are but a portion of the light of God.

No longer shall the sun
be your light by day,
Nor shall the brightness of the moon
give you light by night;
Rather, the Lord will be your light forever,
your God will be your glory. – Isaiah 60:19

In creation, the Source is always greater than the sum of its parts. That is what faith is all about. It is trusting that God, and the grace of God, is ever present. It is believing despite not having all the answers. It is embracing each moment, making the sacrifice, taking the risk, seeking what is just, and living from the heart that knows, anything is possible through God.

If the sun and various other natural elements in creation can be the cause of an abundance of healing, then how much more magnificent, that which can occur through the hands of our Creator.

In all situations, in every place, and at all times, seek the Light, soak it in, and through the grace of God, take courage, transform, and be the Light.

Light2

A Shout Out to Life…

Two chipmunks dashed across the patio, making a mad rush into the thick ground cover. Just a few weeks ago the landscape was still more bare than full, more brown than green. Looking at it today, it abounds with green… newness all around, a shout out to life.

Surveying the grounds, seeing so much life that seemed to come into its own so suddenly, while without question, knowing that it was, like many things, a gradual transformation, joy bubbles over. From chipmunks to ground cover speckled with white bulbs, providing light in the midst of a dreary, rain laden day, providing a kind of glow, transcending what some might label weeds or refuse into messengers of light and hope, carriers of encouragement and insight.

So often in this world, the answers to our questions arrive, catching us by surprise. They come unexpected. Yet, in time, they come. It is frequently at the hands of that which may be overlooked or taken for granted.

As we travel, more often than not, one person, place, or thing leads to another, and so on. Each instance steadily brings us to the moment where we see that whether we are in a time of walking or a time of waiting, everything comes together. Only God could be so good, so true.

The One who sat on the throne said, “Behold, I make all things new.” Then he said, “Write these words down, for they are trustworthy and true.” He said to me, “They are accomplished. I [am] the Alpha and the Omega, the beginning and the end. To the thirsty I will give a gift from the spring of life-giving water. – Revelations 21:5-6

FlowerDrops

At the Water’s Edge…

From time to time, there is a place my family likes to go where we sit, talk, and take in the scenery. Sometimes, we go together and other times one or two of us may go alone.  Whichever the case, and as familiar as the place has become, the experience is seldom the same. Instead, it is common that something new or different happens among the interactions, whether in the surroundings or in the conversation.

The other day, the flow of the water was moving in a different direction than usual. Normally, the water flows toward the land on the other side. On this day, it was flowing toward the side where I was, calling attention to the edge of the water in front of me.

At the edge of the water, lay remnants of leaves fallen from days of old. At the edge of the grass, lay remnants of leaves fallen from days of old. The image was intriguing.

While days of old, are a thing of the past, it is often from days of old, that the water flows and the grass grows. It is often from something known, that something new, different, or previously unknown comes into being. It is rarely, if at all, one or the other (old or new) exclusively, for that which stands the test of time.

Jesus walked on both land and sea. He bridged the old to the new, remaining faithful, or perhaps in modern day terms, remaining loyal to God. True to God to the very end… and from that end, a new beginning arose.

We are called to do the same, and through the grace of God and the guidance of the Holy Spirit, we can.

Glory be to the Father,
and to the Son,
and to the Holy Spirit,
as it was in the beginning,
is now,
and ever shall be,
world without end.
Amen.

AtTheWatersEdge

Breaking Away…

Looking out the window, in the midst of being stuck on something for work, I wondered why the flow of cars had come to a stop. It was not even close to commuter traffic time. I stood up and went closer to the window to try to see what was happening outside. As I surveyed the street to the right and then back to the left, all at once the reasons for the holdup came into view.

The two beautiful horses that are normally fenced in across the street were leisurely jogging on the sidewalk, past the stopped cars on the road. I watched in awe as they calmly made their way down the street. Just as they passed my house, they started to turn left toward their home field, but then briefly paused and turned right, crossing the street at a wide opening between some cars, and taking a break in a next door neighbor’s front yard.

They seemed to be enjoying the air outside their usual stomping grounds. They stood there for a few moments, completely unaware of the angst of those trying to carefully restore them to those very grounds. They looked so very majestic and peaceful too.

While the horses breaking free and strolling around the neighborhood caused a bit of a stir, stopping traffic and leading officers to the scene, they were eventually led back to their enclosure. Everyone, horses, owners, officers, witnesses of the “jail” break, and passersby alike, continued on their way safe and sound. I went back to work, no longer stuck.

It is interesting how taking a little time to check things out, especially the unexpected, can bring with it an opportunity for great joy, an encounter or experience that can brighten an ordinary day, and perhaps even lead to insight and discovery of one kind or another. All of us, like the horses running down my street, need to step away or move into a different space at times, and take a breath of fresh air.

Horses1

Filled with Expectation…

The other day as I was driving in the car with my daughter, I blew a bubble and then proceeded to pop it causing the chewing gum to make a snapping noise. My daughter looked at me and smiled, then commented on how she found it interesting that some things seem impossible and then after time, if you stick with them, they become possible. Although we were speaking about the challenge of learning how to blow bubbles, how to whistle, and other seemingly trivial feats, all that we spoke about involved the same process that is incurred in bigger matters and across much of life.

Time and again, on different levels and with varying intensity, the journey within the journey begins with a desire or a hope to, or for, something new or something more. Once we not only become aware of that desire, but also begin to pay closer attention to it, excitement and expectation often rise. We feel compelled to rush ahead, launching into exploration and diving fully into it. Or, we might feel hesitant, wanting only to touch the tip of a toe into it, or to run away from it, as we test the water, so to speak. Either way, the key is the same.

It is only through persistence in striving to be in union with God that we come to the place of fruition. It is God who plants all desires that are worthy, and it is through God that we come to know not only that we are chosen, but also for what.

As we continue to move forward into this New Year, may we be filled with expectation whose source is God, joy as a child learning “the impossible” and doing it for the very first time, and peace that comes not from what we choose, but from why we choose.

truepeace

The people were filled with expectation,
and all were asking in their hearts
whether John might be the Christ.
John answered them all, saying,
“I am baptizing you with water,
but one mightier than I is coming.
I am not worthy to loosen the thongs of his sandals.
He will baptize you with the Holy Spirit and fire.”

After all the people had been baptized
and Jesus also had been baptized and was praying,
heaven was opened and the Holy Spirit descended upon him
in bodily form like a dove.
And a voice came from heaven,
“You are my beloved Son;
with you I am well pleased.” – Luke 3:15-16, 21-22

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

Something to Chew on…

These days so much in life can be rather easily accomplished “on the go,” or with a simple click, press, or swipe. Convenience and moving from one thing to the next without skipping a beat, at times almost mindlessly, or without taking a breath, is more commonplace than not. One can only wonder, how much is missed or falls through the cracks along this way? Or, perhaps an even better question, how is the time saved by all that serves to make life convenient being spent? Which path am I following? And society?

We have been blessed into creation with the capacity to decipher that which is of true benefit… that which is authentic. Not only that, but we have also been graced with a deep-seated desire to be connected to and guided by Wisdom… Love… Justice as we navigate our environment. Sometimes, with convenience, we somehow become busier—having less time to breathe properly when by all accounts it seems there should be more time. It can be easy to slip away from taking the time not only to discover and recognize what we are really consuming, but also to be filled by God with all that we need to speak up, making clear what is unacceptable, refusing to look or walk the other way… refusing to support or consume garbage.

Jesus tells us to know what we are eating. In order to take and eat of the goodness of God, we must take the time to chew before we swallow. It is in the chewing, that we come to see the Truth, and through the Truth that we find the courage and wherewithal to remain firm, resolved to being faithful to God, standing up in the face of all that would serve to strike down that which is good and honorable in and through each other.

Whoever eats my flesh and drinks my blood
remains in me and I in him, says the Lord. – John 6:56