Stepping through the passage

Mission Carmel

As a young child in California one learns that standing in a doorway is a safe place in the event of an earthquake. More than once in the night have I found myself standing in the doorway. You will find this instruction on almost every preparedness list.

In one's personal journey however when we stand in the doorway we may feel safe from the what may fall ... however it isn't until we step through the threshold that we can live and experience life!  Christ offers us life and love and the beauty of all that is!  Come walk through the opening ... see what awaits!

Windows

Deep within

Is the opening

To the soul

Often protected

Often hidden

When you are patient

You will discover

That what is there

Is worth the wait

Deep within

Lies the questions

Lies the answers

Lies the meaning

Time with 'rents

How lucky can I be ... 

These are my folks ... 

Mom on the left

Dad on the right

Between them 174 years!

This week I'm spending a few days with them

Today Carmel

Tomorrow mom volunteers at a thrift shop

Dad and I go to the zoo!

Wednesday a trip to see my aunt

Thursday a museum then dinner company.

Time with the 'rents

For those who grieve their deaths

Give thanks for the days you had.

Share memories with your children

Make memories with your children

For those who are as fortunate as I

Stop what you are doing

Write them a note

Give them a call

Take an afternoon

Give them thanks 

What Kind of Love is This

Promised love.

Love not dependent on feelings

Love not dependent on thinking

Love that is promised

And a promise that won't be broken

God's love for us

Promised love

May the love you two professed today, Andy and Jane, be the feeling love, the cognitive love, and most importantly the promised love.  Those of us gather today give you our commitment to support, uplift, and pray for your marriage in these days and years ahead. 

"And now these tree remain:  faith, hope and love.

And the greatest of these is love."

I Corinthians 13: 13

Fentons

Smiles

Memories

Hot Fudge

Black and Tan

Whipped cream

A cherry on top

Memories

Crab sandwiches

Malts

French fries

Banana Split

Memories

Lunch with mormor

Ice cream with mom

Papa's favorite

Now ... thanks to UP the whole world wants to stop at Fentons!

Dust to dust

We are all one.

We come into the world.

We leave the world.

Today's news highlight

The deaths of Michael Jackson and Farrah Fawcett

How many others have died this day?

Some only a few hours old

Others who have lived over a century.

We move from dust to dust

Yet ... during the minutes, hours, days, and years 

It is then that we make our mark

It is then that we are called to serve

"Two icons lost in one day" says the newscaster

Not really sure about that.

Many were lost this day through death

Each that was lost was loved

Today there are many who grieve

Let us live to support those ... 

Let us live to love one another ... 

Let us live not to be a 30 second story on the news

Let us live to serve.

"You are dust, and to dust you shall return."

Genesis 3:19

Changing Landscapes

For those of you who don't know me or where I live ... this is looking north up the Genesee River toward downtown Rochester. 

Looking up toward down.  mmm mmm mmm 

Just that phrase is worth some words.

Anyway ... Rochester is a wonderful place. As any medium size city it has its "warts" but this one offers so much.  As the home to Eastman Kodak it was once a company town ... and while now there are less than 10,000 employees ... it is still a town with lots of photographers ... and imaging is still essential to its identity. In the downtown there are also large office buildings ... one for Bausch and Lomb, another for Xerox.  

I moved here 16 years ago ... and there is still so much to explore.  I live close to work (2.8 miles), .5 mile to an expansive park known as Ellison Park, 3 miles from Lake Ontario, an hour from Finger Lakes and the wine country, 90 minutes to Niagara Falls.

Okay ... enough ... am rambling.  

Maybe should take a Blog break.  

Tomorrow I leave for CA ... now there is nothing like the Pacific coast!

Window to the World

Looking out the window the colors of the day turn to night ... 

Shades of green of yellow of blue

Reflections of one's mood one's loves one's variability

Never constant

Always changing

A reflection of the external world

An expression of the internal being

Together a blending of the lightness the darkness

The color spectrum of our lives. 

Clouds

After a day of rain ... and rain ... and rain ... 

The sun finally broke out yesterday afternoon

The blues

The clouds

Ever changing

Ever moving.

They break the blueness and actually makes it come alive

Clouds seem to be magical!

What do you see?

Fathers ...

From the earliest moments fathers hold their children. Supporting their heads as we grab on tight. Ahhh those of us who have had such support in our lives. How comforting and reassuring.

For those of you this day who celebrate your first father's day ... know it is more than just a BBQ ... you are a father because of us ... we are a child because of you. We give life and meaning to one another.

For those who yearn to be fathers ... may your time come.

For those who wish they could have done it differently ... you are loved and today is a new day.

For those who seek their children ... don't wait for them to call you ... you call them.

For God the Father ....

We give you thanks ...

For holding us in the palm of your hand

For supporting us as we wander

For letting us grab on ...

For God the Father

We give you thanks!

Peace Be Still

"On that day, when evening had come, he said to them, "Let us go across to the other side." And leaving the crowd behind, they took him with them in the boat, just as he was. Other boats were with him. A great windstorm arose, and the waves beat into the boat, so that the boat was already being swamped. But he was in the stern, asleep on the cushion; and they woke him up and said to him, "Teacher, do you not care that we are perishing?" He woke up and rebuked the wind, and said to the sea, "Peace! Be still!" Then the wind ceased, and there was a dead calm. He said to them, "Why are you afraid? Have you still no faith?" And they were filled with great awe and said to one another, "Who then is this, that even the wind and the sea obey him?""

This is such a well-known story from the Gospel and the visual images are such that we can easily imagine. I have difficulty with the burning bush, standing at the well, etc. but I certainly imagine great windstorms, rough seas, and being tossed about in a boat. Both literally and figuratively this passage seems so relevant to daily life. There are three very simple words in this passage that we can draw upon: Peace! Be still! Three little words. Not much talk is needed … Peace! Be still! Whatever is going on around you in your life this day know that Christ is the Lord. He brings us the peace. Peace! Be still!

Children At Play

Here is our task ...
To restore PLAY to its rightful place in our world for children
To restore PLAY to its rightful place in our world for babies, for toddlers, for children, for teenagers
To restore PLAY to its rightful place in our world for grownups ... grown olds ... and final chapter grown ups

Today I went to Seneca Falls ... heard again about the women's movement and was reaquainted with the Declaration of Sentiments. How about a Declaration of PLAY!

Where were the children today?
Last night we shared stories about what our parents said to us when we said "I'm bored".
"Go outside" was the response.
But where were the children today?

Join the movement.
let's restore Play and all its contributions to
healing
learning
emotional health
fun
laugher
social skills

Let's jump with Dana ...
knowing that play is good for every one of us.

Give me a call ...
Come on over ...
Let's play the play movement

Circle of Gratitude

We each drew a name from the hat
There in the center of the table a bowl of leis.
Reflect on the name
When you are ready
Give the gift of thanks for what you have meant to me this year.

Purely random ...
eight people ...
two sets of folks had one another's names.
Meaningful words ...

"Thanks for welcoming me"
"I enjoyed talking with you"
"Thanks for listening"
"I appreciate your openness and willingness to say yes!"
"I've learned a lot from you"
"I appreciate that you take the time"
"You have deep compassion for us"
"I appreciate your passion for working with the younger kids"

A circle of gratitude.
Folks that are busy from day to day
Come together and give thanks

Sitting in a circle
A gift of a lei ... a circle of love
A symbol of affection

It is in experiences such as this .. that the well is refreshed.

Mahalo to my dear colleagues.

Love: A Verb and A Feeling

"Often we speak about love as if it is a feeling. But if we wait for a feeling of love before loving, we may never learn to love well. The feeling of love is beautiful and life-giving, but our loving cannot be based in that feeling. To love is to think, speak, and act according to the spiritual knowledge that we are infinitely loved by God and called to make that love visible in this world.

Mostly we know what the loving thing to do is. When we "do" love, even if others are not able to respond with love, we will discover that our feelings catch up with our acts."
From Henri Nouwen Society

Come Play With Me!

The Divine is present in children!
One adolescent plus two children ... a day of laughter and fun.

"Come play with us" they say
"Can we walk in the creek"
"How far can we go?"
"Can you hear me now?"
"Marco" they cry in unison
"Polo" the adults respond.

"Shhhh. I'm pretending to be asleep"
"Wait. Now it is my turn."

Suddenly 17 is 7!
And the angst of adolescence is far from one's mind.

Jesus said, "Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of heaven belongs to such as these."
Matthew 19:14

Tomorrow we will dance for joy in the sun!

Bending Over Backwards

Easier said than done.

Metaphorically or physically.

But somedays ...

Dig Deep

Sometimes we need to dig deeper than we thought or than we thought we were even able. There at our core is the strength that comes with the love and support of God. Peace comes when we are able to trust and rest in that unconditional love. Sometimes living in the fast paced world of sends us off track ... trying to figure out the game ... trying to decide how / where we fit in ... trying to please others ... trying to arrange the pieces to get the end result we want or what we think others want.

So ... starting with the core of strength the comes from the unconditional gentle consistency of God ... with God's grace ...

What a wonderful world it would be.

So ... help me dig ...

Friday Reflections

Cozy Comfort

Even in the warmth of summer there is nothing quite as comforting as a cuddle group.
May you find one ... be it of bears, friends, books, words, prayer.
May you offer one ... to a stranger, a friend, an adult, a child.
May you offer one ... to someone you love, to someone you avoid.
May you offer one ... to yourself.
Wrap yourself up ... hold yourself ... love yourself.

As the rain falls gently and day turns to night.
Get cozy ... turn off the tv ... yes ... turn of the computer.
Melt into the comfort of a cuddle group.
And just breathe ...
And just be ...

Friends

Sometimes we just need a little help.

Finding the future

I always thought I had a future, regardless of my financial portfolio. Heck I at least have a portfolio (as slim as it is ... so don't go thinking it is a file drawer!). But according to this advertisement the future rests in money.

What do you hold your future hope in? money? relationships? possessions? God? stuff?

Jesus answered, "If you want to be perfect, go, sell your possessions and give to the poor, and you will have treasure in heaven. Then come, follow me." Matthew 19:21

It isn't about the stuff ...
Its about service

Easier said than done
What about you?

Look up my friends

Floating high above ... in constant motion

Ahhh the images one can find

What do you see?

A matter of perspective

A matter of timing

Laying down ... looking up

Breath

Float

Become

Sing to God, sing praise to his name,

extol him who rides on the clouds--

his name is the Lord--

and rejoice before him.

Psalm 68:4

Beaches of Normandy

Utah Beach, Normandy

Utah Beach wasn't this empty 65 years ago

Rather it was filled with soldiers, adrenaline, fear, 

anticipation, death, testosterone, sacrifice, 

fathers, grandfathers, sons, brothers, uncles, 

children, bravery, drive, heros, ammunition ... 

The beginning of the invasion of Normandy 

"On D-Day, June 6, 1944, Allied troops departed England on planes and ships, made the trip across the English Channel and attacked the beaches of Normandy in an attempt to break through Hitler’s “Atlantic Wall” and break his grip on Europe. Some 215,000 Allied soldiers, and roughly as many Germans, were killed or wounded during D-Day and the ensuing nearly three months it took to secure the Allied capture of Normandy." Denver Post

http://blogs.denverpost.com/captured/2009/06/05/the-65th-anniversary-of-d-day-on-the-normandy-beaches/

With thanks to those who gave their lives.

With thanks to those who remember.

With thanks to those who married.

With thanks to all who gave.  

American Cemetery, France

Thanks Dad!

Edges

Walk on the edge.

We are invited

Along the edge

There are choices

Jump, sit and slide left

Or jump toward the light

We each chose our own way.

Walking along the edge

We are not alone.

Does Time Really Stand Still?

Father Time, Holden Village

"Time stands still"  

No ... time never stands still.

Time won't go backwards. 

While there may be redos

A redo builds on the past therefore is new.

So today I went with time ... 

walked with it ... 

cleaned with it ... 

watered with it ... 

prayed with it ... 

wrote with it ... 

soon will sleep with it.  

I am glad that time doesn't stand still.  When things are bad in the moment (or hour or day) the moment eventually goes away and one can work through the bad to the good.  When things are good in the moment (or hour or day), the moment eventually goes away and I have a wonderful memory to trigger those good feelings. 

Friday Reflections

Its been quite a week ... so here it is Friday night.

I don't know what the world held for you this week ... earthquakes? rainbows? emptiness? hope? fear? change? uncertainty? support? promises? So now is the time to sit at the edge of the pond and reflect on the depth and diversity of all hat has been offered you these past few days.  

Take it all in, what did you learn about yourself? 

Japanese Garden

Portland, OR

Signs of Love

From the earth comes life

Reminders of God's love

Hearts spring forth

Intricacies of design

Reminders of love

Signs of encouragement

Shades of green

Shades of life

Take a walk 

Find five symbols of God's love

Coming forth from the earth

Hawaii

Alpha

10 Mile Creek, Wenatchee Forest

Where you least expect it ... there is the beginning ... the alpha.

Look up ... look down ... look all around.

Even after the quake ... there is the alpha

Maybe every day is the alpha, what do you think?

Should I be Looking Up Instead?

As the well dries and the structure seems to crumble, where does one turn?  Perhaps look up.  See the glory around, the colors, the strength, the certainly.  Look to the words of the Psalmist:

I lift up my eyes to the hills-- where does my help come from?
My help comes from the Lord, the Maker of heaven and earth.
God will not let your foot slip—

God who watches over you will not slumber;

Indeed, God who watches over Israel 

will neither slumber nor sleep.

The Lord watches over you-- 

the Lord is your shade at your right hand;
the sun will not harm you by day, nor the moon by night.
The Lord will keep you from all harm-- God will watch over your life;
the Lord will watch over your coming and going 

both now and forevermore.

Psalm 121

Waiting at the Well

One stands at the well and wonders if it is so dry that replenishment is not possible. Suddenly the foundation and structure begins to crumble as if a 7.1 hits. It is a sharp quake that comes from nowhere. Yet the water is deep in the earth perhaps it is time to dig further. But first the foundation must be reassured that there is strength and goodness. Perhaps it has all been an illusion. But wait … the word

“An angel went from God
Rejoice oh highly favored
For God is with you

“My soul proclaims your greatness oh God
How you favor the weak and holy one
Humble the proud of heart

“Great and mighty are you oh faithful one
Strong is your justice and strong your love
As you promised … kindness for ever more

“My souls proclaims your greatness oh God
And my spirit rejoices in you
You have looked love on your servant here
And blessed me all my life through”

The Empty Well

Why was the woman at the well? If the woman at the well is to come to a saving faith, she must change her course .... so say the commentators. I on the other hand think of how we as women serve and give. We offer water to dinner guests. We make sure to hydrate literally and figuratively ... ourselves and others. In our places of work we give. In our families we give.

I come to the well not to draw more water to serve ... rather having given and served I come to the well to be refreshed ... to be served. Somedays my reservoir feels empty ... and when that happens I feel parched ... and when I feel parched I don't always see things clearly.

Good and gracious God ... we are called to serve. We are called to share our bounty. Yet on those days when the well feels empty we ask that you refresh us with your love. Perhaps all I need to do is change course.

What do you seek at the well?