Journey

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

Leftovers…

Whenever one of my children asks, “What’s for dinner?,” if I reply, “We’re having leftovers,” the reaction is likely to be one of great disappointment. Initially, I pretty much always find myself surprised by this response, particularly since it seems like we rarely have leftovers for dinner. While the “Leftover” experience is likely typical especially when dealing with certain age groups, it resonates beyond the dinner table. Oftentimes, what is available can be seen as not being good enough.

In the Gospel according to Luke, chapter 9 verses 11-17, we learn that Jesus fed the crowd (all 5,000 people) with five loaves of bread and two fish. It is also written that, “They all ate and were satisfied. And when the leftover fragments were picked up, they filled twelve wicker baskets.” What did they do with the leftovers? And did anyone take issue with whatever was done with them? What was the reaction? What kind of effect did the fact that the baskets contained fragments rather than whole pieces have?

There is no sure fire way to know the answers to these questions for back then. However, they are worth considering in terms of every day life. We all have moments where we either do not appreciate what is in front of us or have trouble accepting and making use of it. Moments where perhaps our response is lackluster or less than gracious. Moments where we can see what we want or what we would prefer to the exclusion of seeing value in what is present or available to us.

Throughout life though, it is not so much about what is on the plate, who is serving, and who is being served as it is about the source of all that. The story of the feeding of the 5,000 is in all four Gospels (Matthew 14:13-21, Mark 6:30-44, Luke 9:10-17, and John 6:1-14). In each passage, Jesus is at the center, providing nourishment for all.

It is important to receive the message that when Jesus is central, not only are the needs of all satisfied, but also there is always more than enough.

Leftovers

If You’re Going to Get Swept Away…

The waves of high tide were breaking as they continued their forward rush, splashing onto and washing over the steps and nearby rocks. Once there, they would lose steam and reverse direction. As they flowed back toward the sea in a more gentle way, just beyond, the next wave waited its turn to rush in, like the ones before it.

To watch the waves dance, and to listen to their song can be quite calming. To ride them, exhilarating, joyful, or perhaps unnerving depending on the day, the circumstances, or the conditions. Nonetheless, it is in experiencing the waves that we come to know them or to have a sense about them, and in doing so, see something about ourselves in the process. (There is always more than one side in learning.)

Just like waves, in the back and forth of life, it can be easy to get thrown around, washed away, or swept up based on experiences that may not be our own. While it can be helpful, at times, to hear an “expert’s” reporting, instinct and inner wisdom, are vital too.  Hildegard of Bingen wrote, “We cannot live in a world that is not our own, in a world that is interpreted for us by others. An interpreted world is not a home. Part of the terror is to take back our own listening, to use our own voice, to see our own light.”

In chapter 16, verses 12-15, Jesus tells his disciples that they will be guided by the “Spirit of truth.” He does not say that they will be guided by Peter, John, or anyone else. This is not to say that they (as well as us) should not consult or listen to each other, but rather that the Wisdom of God seeks to make itself known to each individual, and that the Holy Spirit works to guide and lead us to what is wise—to what is truly best.

With so many voices in the world that look to grab and hold our attention, or to determine our choices, it is especially important to seek and to know, as well as to grow, the gifts given to each of us in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit.

IntoTheWater

Jesus said to his disciples:
“I have much more to tell you, but you cannot bear it now.
But when he comes, the Spirit of truth,
he will guide you to all truth.
He will not speak on his own,
but he will speak what he hears,
and will declare to you the things that are coming.
He will glorify me,
because he will take from what is mine and declare it to you.
Everything that the Father has is mine;
for this reason I told you that he will take from what is mine
and declare it to you.” – John 16:12-15

50…

The Apostles waited as the Lord had instructed them. Then, at the appointed time, the Holy Spirit came upon them.

Then there appeared to them tongues as of fire,
which parted and came to rest on each one of them.
And they were all filled with the Holy Spirit
and began to speak in different tongues,
as the Spirit enabled them to proclaim. – Acts 2:1-4

The Spirit empowered them to be more than they could be on their own. It propelled them onward in the glory of God, spurring them into action, and moving them toward the work entrusted to them. In order for this to happen though, the Apostles needed to be willing participants. That is, they needed to be open to receiving the gift of the Holy Spirit. They needed to allow themselves to be filled up. They also needed to remain open in order to allow themselves to be led in a way that the Spirit could flow through them… through their words and their actions.

On Pentecost, the Apostles received the Holy Spirit, a Divine gift that would help them to fulfill their purpose and accomplish their mission in life. For true Spirit, purpose, and mission, like all that is Divine in nature, its end is always communal, always intended to be shared for the good of one as well as the good of many.

Each day, we awake, the image of God, and as we go about the day, we encounter the Divine, whether it is in passing or for a more extended period. Each day, the Divine encounters us, whether we are open to receiving it or not. The opportunities are endless, and usually, in time, all the pieces are together and suddenly, they become aligned.

Lord, send out your Spirit, and renew the face of the earth. – Psalm 104:30

Fire

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

Along the Way…

Upon entering the wooded path, the trees stood tall and proud. However, in between and all along the way, there were remnants of once healthy, strong trees, now leaning…

Leaning

Fallen…

Fallen.jpg

Bent…

Bent

And broken.

Broken

Yet, all around the storm driven violence, new life infused from the richness of the soil… the richness of its Source.

Despite devastation, and in the midst of it, there remains Shelter…

Shelter

Guidance…

Guide

And the healing presence of Light, to be held, as well as reflected…

Reflect

The Lord is good:
the kindness of the Lord endures forever,
and the Lord’s faithfulness, lasts through every generation. – Psalm 100:5

Egg Salad…

A few weeks ago, as I was helping to set up bowls with vinegar, water, and dye tablets to color some hard boiled eggs, my daughter and son were discussing decorating ideas and opinions. Every year since they were around preschool age, they have helped with decorating Easter eggs. They started out just scribbling with crayons or putting stickers on eggs that had already been dyed, but over time they moved toward dying the eggs as well.

Over the years, it has been interesting to watch how each of them approach and go about dying and decorating, and the interactions that occur in the process. And while they have access to all the same tools and resources on the table, when completed, although we still have the same dozen of eggs that we started with, each egg has come to life in a different way.

Earlier today, as I opened a carton of eggs, I recalled the colorful eggs of Easter. It called to mind how engaged my son and daughter are, as are most people, when they can express themselves and participate in a way that is meaningful to them while remaining true to the heart of their beliefs, values, and traditions.

Perhaps that is what was so appealing to so many people in the early Church. There were twelve Apostles. They were not identical. They were not clones, nor were they trying to be. They had distinct personalities, gifts, talents, strengths, and weaknesses. They had disagreements, but when they remained focused on Jesus’ life and example, fixed on striving to be faithful to the will of God, and open to each other through the guidance of the Holy Spirit (in whatever direction it took them whether known or new), the Church evolved, there was room for all, and through the grace of God, the numbers grew exponentially.

In the end, we are all part of the same recipe… the same plan. It is time for our differences, to once again, through our shared belief, become our greatest strength.

The Cross in Reflection…

The intricate pattern of the cross and its reflection in the mirror called out, as if to say, there are many sides, some smooth… some sharp… some in between, to each and everything under the sun. Also, there are many directions. However, at the center, there is always Truth. The question is whether or not there is a desire to see it. Is there a desire to acknowledge and dwell with it in the presence of all that surrounds it? Is time and space allowed for coming to the place of knowledge from which life truly springs regardless of circumstances?

Cross

On the evening of that first day of the week,
when the doors were locked, where the disciples were,
for fear of the Jews,
Jesus came and stood in their midst
and said to them, “Peace be with you.”
When he had said this, he showed them his hands and his side.
The disciples rejoiced when they saw the Lord.
Jesus said to them again, “Peace be with you.
As the Father has sent me, so I send you.”
And when he had said this, he breathed on them and said to them,
“Receive the Holy Spirit.
Whose sins you forgive are forgiven them,
and whose sins you retain are retained.”

Thomas, called Didymus, one of the Twelve,
was not with them when Jesus came.
So the other disciples said to him, “We have seen the Lord.”
But he said to them,
“Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands
and put my finger into the nailmarks
and put my hand into his side, I will not believe.”

Now a week later his disciples were again inside
and Thomas was with them.
Jesus came, although the doors were locked,
and stood in their midst and said, “Peace be with you.”
Then he said to Thomas, “Put your finger here and see my hands,
and bring your hand and put it into my side,
and do not be unbelieving, but believe.”
Thomas answered and said to him, “My Lord and my God!”
Jesus said to him, “Have you come to believe because you have seen me?
Blessed are those who have not seen and have believed.”

Now Jesus did many other signs in the presence of his disciples
that are not written in this book.
But these are written that you may come to believe
that Jesus is the Christ, the Son of God,
and that through this belief you may have life in his name. – John 20:19-31