And I was never homesick again.
Archives for August 2012
An African Journal – Post One: Beneath the Surface
Garden Glory: Summer Weekend – August 10-12
Glauco Ortolano
2 Thessalonians 2:15-16, The Message
What Love Looks Like in the Long Haul: a Tribute Post
What Does It Mean to Be Blessed? Reflections on a Life
My mother-in-law, Kathryn Trautwein, with my mother, Ruth Gold. Picture taken at Easter 3 years ago. Today they are 96 and 91 years old.
skirt length, sleeve length,
I had come to serve with people
who looked and lived so dramatically differently
from anyone I had ever before encountered
in my Christian life.
one where the entire backyard was a swimming pool.
one house we were looking at over another.
Joining with Em’s synchro-blog today. You can find other entries here:
http://www.emilywierenga.com/2012/08/what-it-means-to-be-blessed-synchroblog.html
Also with Ann and her gratitude linky:
Learning from the Humming Birds: A Photo Essay
about life and spirituality and who teach me so much – with their words and with their wisdom.
Our last evening together (in each of the two 2-week school sessions over the last two summers) is spent sharing stories, skits, reflections and laughter. This year, I put together a slide show with a narration.
And I promised my friends there that I would post it in this space.
It will not show up as a slide show here, but what I can do in this space is interweave the narration a bit better than I could with the time constraints of a 4 minute Chris Rice piano version of “Come Thou, Fount.”
Fourteen days ago, I drove myself into the parking lot
light and shadow;color and texture and shape; pinks and yellows and purples and reds.
circles and oblongs and heart-shaped buds;
without the help of wind,
stirred instead by fragile wings,
wings that beat 2 to 3 thousand times a minute.
dive-bombing one another to find a seat at the table.
And so did we.
I will remember these two weeks for many reasons –
for good conversations, for stellar teaching,
for the nourishment of worship and eucharist.
For to see these glimpses of glory, I, too, must become small – small enough to sit still,
to be quiet,
to listen well,
and to trust the goodness of God.
*The word ‘conscious’ in this context was an inside ‘joke’ (very feeble!) based upon much of what we learned together about becoming persons who can be more fully present to others and to God. Learning to be increasingly aware of ourselves and our own struggles/issues/shadows is often called ‘coming to consciousness.’ It is hard work to become more consciously aware of all the stuff that churns inside of us, often causing reactivity, defensiveness, projection-of-our-own-crap-onto-others. But the kind of work we strive to do with others in spiritual direction requires us to do our own work first. Much of what we learned together over these two years was directed at helping us become increasingly aware of when, where and how (and how frighteningly often!) we are not aware, not in tune with our own spirit or with God’s. I feel like I am just beginning some days!
I will join this with a few friends over the next day or so – most likely Ann Voskamp, Laura Boggess, L.L. Barkat, Michelle DeRusha, Jennifer Dukes Lee and Jen Ferguson.
And with Cheryl Smith, too – if this linky works –