The Sting of Things…

One Sunday afternoon, during a childhood visit with family, I was stung by a bee. I was around 5 or 6 at the time and vividly recall being in the backyard of my aunt and uncle’s home with some of my siblings and cousins. It was a hot, sunny day. I do not remember what we were playing, but we had been running around the yard. Then at one point, we stopped playing and were standing in the shade. We were under the cover of the lowest branches of a humongous tree, when suddenly I felt an intense, sharp jab in my leg.  

I had flicked the bee away, but I could see the stinger was still there as I headed into the house where the adults were. It was very painful, but after the stinger was removed and some mud was applied to the area, the pain started to subside. I remember how cool and soothing the mud felt and how surprised I was to learn that mud was an old time “remedy” for putting an end to the sting.

As we go through life, none of us escape the sting of things that go awry. Whether through our own words or deeds or those of others—or lack thereof—there is not a single person who walks the earth without feeling stung at some points along the way. And sometimes, the sting may strike with such intensity that it can seem like there is no mud for such a sting… no remedy to be found. It is just at those moments though, that we must remember, our job is to simply fill the jars with water (that is, to be true to oneself and who God created you to be), and trust Jesus to turn the water into wine.

stainedglasscross

There was a wedding at Cana in Galilee,
and the mother of Jesus was there.
Jesus and his disciples were also invited to the wedding.
When the wine ran short,
the mother of Jesus said to him,
“They have no wine.”
And Jesus said to her,
“Woman, how does your concern affect me?
My hour has not yet come.”
His mother said to the servers,
“Do whatever he tells you.”
Now there were six stone water jars there for Jewish ceremonial washings,
each holding twenty to thirty gallons.
Jesus told the them,
“Fill the jars with water.”
So they filled them to the brim.
Then he told them,
“Draw some out now and take it to the headwaiter.”
So they took it.
And when the headwaiter tasted the water that had become wine,
without knowing where it came from
— although the servers who had drawn the water knew —,
the headwaiter called the bridegroom and said to him,
“Everyone serves good wine first,
and then when people have drunk freely, an inferior one;
but you have kept the good wine until now.”
Jesus did this as the beginning of his signs at Cana in Galilee
and so revealed his glory,
and his disciples began to believe in him. – John 2:1-11

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

Phoenix…

Oftentimes the passing of time seems so quick, fading or slipping away among the day to day pace of life. However, here and there, time also seems to slow, perhaps occasionally so much so that it seems to come to a halt, giving the impression or feeling of being on hold. A number of years ago, I was on a flight heading home, when an engine blew, and the plane seemed to suddenly dip or drop before steadying again.

With the smell of smoke, the loud noise of the engine blowing, and the brief plummet there were more than a few moments of uncertainty. Although all of these things happened rather quickly, as the pilot circled and navigated to land the plane safely at a nearby airport, time seemed to stand still as my heart continued to race from the fright of it all. I had never experienced anything like that in the few times I had previously been flying in an airplane.

Once off the plane and in the terminal, in the midst of the typical hustle and bustle of the airport, still somewhat in a state of shock, time no longer stood still. Within a fairly short amount of time, my fellow passengers and I were able to make arrangements that eventually got us back home. Some of us traveled together once more, while others remained, opting to take later flights. In a sense, we all began again, and while the time and place was different, as were we, the destination was the same.

Isn’t that how each New Year is? We strive to rise from the past, taking with us the wisdom of all that we have experienced and learned, and hold on by the grace of God, as we spring forth into the unknown.

Arise! Shine, for your light has come,
the glory of the LORD has dawned upon you. – Isaiah 60:1

SunRise2

Many Hearts, One Body

The wind blew steady, silencing the sound of the waves. In some spots, it blew sand across the beach and in others it simply blew. All in all, though, as we journeyed along the coastline, it consistently nudged us ahead or slowed us down depending on the direction in which we walked.

At times the constancy of the wind was so harsh it conjured thoughts of stopping and turning back. However, as we walked together, the elements seemed to meld us together, making us one. We spoke… and we listened as we reminisced, sought advice, remembered loved ones, and shared hopes and dreams. We found gratitude, encouragement, and joy in one another.

In the Spirit of love and companionship we found the wherewithal to keep walking. None of us realized just how far we had come from our starting point until we stopped and looked back in amazement. The wind was still present and very noticeable, but the thoughts of turning back or abandoning the path ahead had vanished completely. Despite all that might seek to work against us, together, we journeyed, and together, we experienced the Glory of God. Alleluia!

And let the peace of Christ control your hearts, the peace into which you were also called in one body. And be thankful. – Colossians 3:15

Ocean_Clouds_Peace

Emerging Grace…

It is a most joyous occasion for all, when the light one carries within burns brightly, emerging into an outward glow.

At the time of birth, we all shine with a radiance that is unmatched—beautiful and unblemished. Our light, new to those already in the world, is received magnanimously, often with open hearts, steadfast love, and faithful hope. In fact, the thoughts and feelings engendered by even just the announcement of impending birth often stirs hearts and minds to great anticipation and excitement. Perhaps it is because the unblemished Love within us recognizes and longs for the companionship and unblemished Love within others.

We delight in this Love and welcome it as Good News. It is unquestionable and so easy to see and to embrace. When faced with the knowledge of new life, the Spirit of connection… of Oneness and Unity that resides within each of us cries out. As we move about each day, the same Spirit is with us. A constant companion, with a desire to fill each thirst and hunger within, to help us to see the new life that is all around us, waiting to come to life, waiting to be received, with the same openness and joy that we hold at the time of birth. The Spirit abides within us and moves us toward God and one another, as in the moment the infant in Elizabeth’s womb leaped for joy (Luke 1:44). How do we respond?

O God, restore us;
light up your face and we shall be saved. – Psalm 80:4

AFK_In_Womb

What Night Reveals…

Heading steadily toward the longest night (or the shortest day) in the Northern Hemisphere, I am struck by the way this time of year brings with it not only a greater period of darkness in the sky, but also greater opportunities to see and experience things that might otherwise seem minuscule or entirely escape our attention.  Every year when the light of day starts to take its leave at times earlier and earlier in the day, and we move closer toward the Winter Solstice, there is a period of adjustment, and perhaps, even a decrease in the amount of time spent venturing out and operating at “day time” speed.

When day light and the business that accompanies it begin to fade away, it can seem like time is running out. In the midst of the challenges that may come with that, the darkness also tends to bring with it the perfect backdrop. It can seem like there is less time to accomplish the things we need to do. However, these days of darkness can actually help to create more time for things of greater importance… for that which is truly beneficial to us, and the world around us.

“If a man wishes to be sure of the road he’s traveling on, then he must close his eyes and travel in the dark.” – St. John of the Cross

Night and darkness, in a sense, slow time down, providing space and calling us into the quiet. Deep within this space, there awaits a gift to be seen or sensed.  Grace waits to show us the way. It is of no coincidence that it seems the stars shine their brightest during the shortest days of the year.  Gently, they remind us, that even in the darkest hours, “The Lord will be your light forever” (Isaiah 60).

Moon

The Spirit of…

Throughout the year, all around the world, people of all backgrounds prepare for various holidays, Holy days, and the festivities associated with them. There are many cultural as well as familial traditions. Among the countless possibilities, the fact remains that most people have their own ideas and preferences for what a holiday “should” be. Whether inherited and passed along as they were from their beginnings—with no change, put into practice with some variation of what came before, or created in an entirely new and different way, oftentimes we establish routines and even deadlines for the tasks that have become part of our preparation for a special day.

Yet, plan as we may, preparing the way can end up looking very different from what one may have set out to do, may have pictured, or expected from the image of years passed. Frequently though the places where there seems to be missteps, no time, no room, or where we may least expect something good, are exactly the places where we are apt encounter the gift of God’s grace. That is often the beauty and the blessing of holidays, Holy days, and the events that surround them. In our attempts to make them special and meaningful in our own ways, we often look up and around a little more, changing our ordinary routines just enough that we also, perhaps unknowingly, open ourselves and our environment up to more of the Extraordinary—the Divine.

When it is all said and done, it is not so much what we do that makes these days special, but rather what is behind our words and actions and the ways in which we are inspired to say and do them. As the holidays, Holy days, and festivities continue to arrive, embrace the “the splendor of glory from God” (Baruch 5:1). Live from it, allowing it to flow through you into the moments of each and every day, spreading peace, love, and joy wherever you may go; providing comfort, strength, restoration and healing wherever it is needed; and building and bridging relationships all around. In this Spirit, may we receive whomever and whatever may come as we are, that is blessed with the splendor of God’s glory.

Dove

Waiting to Arrive…

Looking out at the thin ice in the quiet stillness of early morning, I think, “How fragile life is.” As I sit and watch, I feel tired… stretched thin. Until this moment, it has been so busy… too busy.

I survey the area. It seems motionless. I think, “The time is now.” Everyone…everything must wait.

While time continues to tick, I linger, allowing more than just a chance to be still and listen. With each minute that passes, I feel a calm and steady strength growing from deep within. How resilient Life is.

ThinIce

My eyes are ever upon the LORD, who frees my feet from the snare. – Psalm 25:15

Alpha to Omega Design on a Communion Pix

Gifts from Alpha to Omega…

Many of the tasks that come this time of year can be all encompassing. It can be tough trying to escape the frenzied pace and increased traffic volume, by both road and wire, created by the “shop until you drop” atmosphere that often rises to a peak and can easily over take one. A constant stream of advertisements, promotions, discounts, etc. seem to be blasted from just about every possible direction. Finding gifts, and if not gifts, even the words, that capture or convey one’s sentiment, can be challenging at any time of year, never mind what seems the busiest time of year. Perhaps because there is so much that can pull or push us to distraction. So much that can lead us to remain fixed on the questions of what, when, and how, rather than pondering that which begs our attention—why.

While there is nothing wrong with planning, strategizing, and taking steps to get a bargain, societal conditioning toward getting the best deal one can get and toward a mindset that more is better can lead one further and further away from the gift that is already there. Underneath the façade of all the hype synonymous with this time of year, deep down, there is a universal need… a need to cherish and to be cherished… a desire for Love; best served not from the wallet, but from the heart.

“The only gift is a portion of thyself. Thou must bleed for me. Therefore the poet brings his poem; the shepherd, his lamb; the farmer, corn; the miner, a gem; the sailor, coral and shells; the painter, his picture; the girl, a handkerchief of her own sewing…” – Ralph Waldo Emerson, Essays, Second Series: “Gifts”

Pix2

“I am the Alpha and the Omega, ” says the Lord God,
“the one who is and who was and who is to come, the almighty.”
– Revelation 1:8

Lady Luck…

As I proceeded toward the steps and the front door, I could see something… a bug, moving on the frame around the door. With each step, I could see it more clearly. I was thinking, “It couldn’t be, it’s too cold,” but as I got closer to the front door, I saw that in fact it was a ladybug. What a pleasant surprise, in stark contrast to the spotting of the brown stink bugs that are common this time of year.

As I watched the ladybug crawling around for a few moments, I could not help but smile. Although it was a small thing, on a rather chilly day, this friendlier, more palpable kind of bug brought a sense of wonder and joy to me as the weather progresses toward winter where I live.

What a great way to prepare to enter the house. What a great way to prepare to enter any place for that matter. To go forth thinking… feeling… remembering the truth of what it means to be begotten by God. That is blessed!

Gifts and blessings come in packages of all types and sizes. Look for and welcome the unexpected. Receive all that each moment brings. Strive to remain faithful regardless of circumstances. Trust that what God has in store is always the best.

You will show me the path to life,
fullness of joys in your presence,
the delights at your right hand forever. – Psalm 16:11

LadyBug