Category Archives: faith

Reminder

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Recently, we had a small pot of Calla Lilies sitting in our kitchen window sill. I loved watching the blooms open, each tinted uniquely in ivory blushed with a bit of rose. I like these little flowers as well as their showier Christmastime companions, poinsettias,

As I packed away so many of the symbols of Christmas with decorations and trees, I was glad to keep plants like these, watering them, watching them grow, and enjoying their  symbolism and stories.  The brilliant red poinsettia has its story – called the “flower of the holy night,” standing for a little girl who wept on her way to church on Christmas Eve because she had no gift to bring. As she knelt on the ground to pray, she saw this lovely plant and gladly took its red beauty into the church as her Christmas gift to the Christ child.

But the calla lily plays a role in the Christian Easter service as a symbol of Jesus’ resurrection. In many paintings and other works of art throughout history, it has also been depicted with the Virgin Mary or Angel of Annunciation, associated with holiness, faith and purity.

I am thankful for little altars in our home where a flower or a rock or a bit of glass is something I can see and touch, reminding me of the sacred in all our ordinary days.

Begin Again

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Author Susan Tweit  mentions hearing her Scottish grandmother repeat a phrase I have seen used in various training programs:  “Begin as you intend to continue.” This is a reminder I am repeating as I cross the threshold for the year 2016.  I will add the word I have chosen for the year – Joyfully.  I choose to focus on  expressing joy in  actions and speech,  with a desire to cause and bring joy. 

I make this decision with intention and purpose as I enter a time of uncertainty and change. I do not depend on circumstance  for reason.  What decisions do you make as you begin new calendar pages? As we take one step, and then another into new experience, may we” pay attention, be astonished, and tell about it.” * We are not alone in the journey.

 

 

*credit to Mary Oliver for these words  Oliver’s approach to poetry is seamless from her approach to life and to faith. One section within the poem “Sometimes” sums up all three.

Instructions for living a life:
Pay attention.
Be astonished.
Tell about it.

Star

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Nora places the star on the stable, telling again the Christmas story.  The star is a symbol of the true Light that has come.

In the church year are found Cycles of Light , Cycles of Life and Cycles of Love:

Today, the celebration of Christmas with family in the kitchen and around the table with festive celebrating has changed –  slowing, stopping , savoring.  Standing still in the Light..

The first step to peace is to stand still in the Light….

George Fox (1624 – 1691)

Peace and all good my Friends!

Hope

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This week I wanted to spend time listening to Christmas music, wrapping Christmas gifts and baking Cranberry bread. I did these things, but along with so many others , I struggled, shattered by news of more violence against  innocent people , heartbreaking photos of grief-stricken families, terrified refugees, and the darkness of human hearts without hope and faith and love.

I have this pottery jar on my kitchen window sill.  It has been shaped and fired and given as a gift of love. In deeper, mysterious ways, Advent is expressed hope, shaped and fired and given. In the darkest of times, this hope remains.

To love means loving the unlovable. To forgive means pardoning the unpardonable. Faith means believing the unbelievable. Hope means hoping when everything seems hopeless.
Gilbert K. Chesterton

Feathers

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IMG_3481Photograph by Jeremy Parker, near Reno Nevada October 2015

feathers

telling of wings and nests

of flying

of grace

mostly found grounded

but now looking up,

seeing feathers

and Light

Renewal

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IMG_3072Last Easter we planted a Chinese Fringe tree in our front yard. It already had white blooms and as more opened, the tree was covered with clusters of small white blooms. It is a deciduous tree and the blooms appear after the leaves each Spring.  As temperatures soared in July, we noticed a few brown leaves and then more.  We made sure the little tree was watered deeply every day; for awhile it seemed that we would lose it. But over a period of weeks, new green leaves outnumbered the brown ones.  Gradually, the tree announced its survival

IMG_3069One day we noticed new white blooms!  The tree evidently thought it had survived fall and winter and that Spring had returned!

Withering drought has caused loss of many trees in our area, particularly recently planted ones. I am glad our little tree is a survivor!.  In the springtime we often talk about new beginnings and renewal.  I am glad for the fringe tree’s lesson – when I am experiencing a season of drought in my soul, there can be another Spring.

Why?

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Anyone who has been around small children knows how often we hear the question “Why?”  I have been asking that question about my fig harvest this year.  We have a fine fig tree in the garden that typically has so many green figs it is hard to keep up with the harvest as they ripen.  This year we had an unusually wet June and although there were hundreds of green figs and they began to ripen early, harvest slowed and stopped completely in the second week. Our brutal Texas heat came on suddenly. My research tells me the tree went into conservation mode and began aborting its fruit.  Even though we watered heavily, nothing brought back the production so the hard little green figs began to drop to the ground, wasted and of no use to anyone. Not even the birds would eat them.

The problem is that  figs are  shallow rooted and easily stressed. That reminded me of my own need for  being rooted deeply to be able to take the heat and  avoid reacting in damaging ways to the stress of our uncertain times!

” May your roots go down deep into the soil of God’s marvelous love;”  Ephesians 3: 17, The Living Bible

More Feathers

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I have written in earlier posts about finding feathers. I have chosen to believe when I find a feather, it is one way God says he is with me and providing for me. A feather is also a symbol that small things are important. My 9 year old granddaughter came to me this week with this feather.  She said, “Granmary, this is another feather to go with the others.”

I am grateful for this girl and her generosity. It is important for me to remember that what I do and say is seen and heard.  Small things are important.

Wonder. Full.

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IMG_2813 This box of impatiens and Caladium on the wall at the edge of the back porch reminds me how much nourishing water it requires in our summer heat. Without this shade and daily watering, the blooms stop, the stalks wilt and leaves begin to curl. The container, made of measuring sticks, and the fading sign speak of need, too. Yes, it is a wonderful life, as long as I am refilled with wonder. Wonder.  Full.