from the shore

I'm at the shore.  Just been watching clouds and 'saw' a turtle, a bird, and a porpoise in the sky.  Can't remember when I last did that! 

The ocean is so relentless.  I'm fascinated by the way  it writes on the sand it's own messages with gullies and dimples and ridges and blocks of what I can only describe as cheeks (as in face cheeks!). 

Shells have been numerous resulting, I  guess, from recent storms churning them up.  I'm fascinated by their past lives as the homes of various sea creatures.   Year after year, I find the same shapes and colors most of the time.  I still collect the odd ones.  I  wonder:  Are these the 'custom homes'  of this particular beach on the Atlantic Coast of the USA? 

Unusual this year:  Gravel beds have grown as well on their way to becoming sand, I guess.

Other musings:  The ocean as an image of the constancy, power,  and relentlessness of God's love to shape a human life.  Unlike the shells or the gravel or the jelly fish, we can resist or say 'no', 'I won't' to God's desire to instill us with His own grace that can break down  our sinfulness and eliminate the wounds of a lifetime, setting us free to love and forgive.

It's not morning...

It's not morning, so can this be a 'morning musing'?  Does it count that I thought about writing here this morning????

It's so beautiful.  The warmth of the last few days has melted all the remaining snow.  Our balmy weathy betrays the fact that today is February 18 and winter will surely return.  Yesterday and today have been sweet reminders that spring will come! 

The eyes have it

Yesterday we had one of those cold, windy all day rains that, for me, always mark the end of Fall.  It was a beautiful day, though.  The season's oranges, yellows, and reds vividly popped out against the gray sky.

Everywhere I went,  people grumbled about the weather.  Except for Jeanie.  I sat at her kitchen table with her looking outside,  and she said:  "I've always loved days like this.  My husband and I often would head out with our cameras on days like this.  It's so beautiful."

She could see what so many could not.

God's love is like that:  a bright spot of hope in the midst of life's storms for those who (as Scripture says) "have eyes to see".

Lord, give me an open heart to see you everywhere.  Mother Teresa

An act of hope

Yesterday I began planting spring bulbs.  I read recently that to do so is the ultimate act of hope.  Into the darkness of the earth I placed each bulb nestling it into a cocoon of anti-squirrel/vole soil conditioner with a sprinkling of fertilizer.  I re-covered them with soil and watered them. 

Now I wait until the sun's rays lengthen and warmth returns to the northern hemisphere.

This morning, I questioned myself:  Did you plant them deep enough?  Did you add the proper amount of nutrient -- not too much or too little?     Will the bulbs blossom and fill my garden with red and yellow, pink and lavender?  Did you do enough?

Today's Psalm reads:  "The Lord is my light and my salvation, of whom shall I be afraid?"   I've been meditating on the Lord as my light that illumines the path, shines into the darkness of discouragement, warms my heart and encourages growth, and  quiets every nagging worry.

Some days I ask myself:  Where is the light today?  I can't see the way.  Why does my heart feel so cold?  Where is the warmth of God's love?  Will this or that in my life resolve happpily?

Just like with the bulbs placed into the earth, my soul must wait on the Lord.  I must put my trust in him in pleasant weather and during the storms, during the daylight and the night.

Too often the only person I trust is me. 

Long experience testifies to the foolishness of that choice.

Halloween

A few houses in our neighborhood have been decked out for Halloween: tombstones abound as well as skeletons.  I've even seen a celtic cross, coffins, ghosts hanging from trees, and lots of spider webs.  Worst of all, to my mind, are the huge spiders draped over door ways.  Why or why?  Yuck!

Gordon Lightfoot Beautiful

I was first introduced to the Canadian singer Gordon Lightfoot when I was 14 or 15.  His lyrics and voice still move me.  This is one of my favorites, along with "Rainy Day People".  Here are the lyrics; you can hear it on "Ilike"

Rainy day people always seem to know when it's time to call.


Rainy day people don't talk

they just listen till they've heard it all.

Rainy day lovers don't lie when they tell you

they've been down like you.

Rainy day people don't mind if you're cryin' a tear or two.



If you get lonely, all you really need is that rainy day love.

Rainy day people all know there's no sorrow

they can't rise above.

Rainy day lovers don't love any others

that would not be kind.

Rainy day people all know how it hangs

on their peace of mind.

Rainy day people always seem to know

when you're feelin' blue

I steps and stutters around in the gutters

sometimes need one, too.

Take it or leave it or try to believe it,

f you've been down too long,

Rainy day lovers don't hide love inside, they just pass it on.

Yesterday I was stunned to learn that my favorite singer/songwriter was born in 1933.  How could that be?  There are recent videos of him on Youtube, and like all the rest of us, age and illness have taken their toll. 

How I long for heaven where there will be "no more death or tears, no more sickness or sorrow..."

New sight, new eyes

I heard today that Michelangelo was roundly criticized when his Pieta was unveiled.  "Mary is too young, too beautiful, and too calm" said the naysayers. 

The artist replied that they were right, but it had been his intention.  He wanted, artistically, to demonstrate the Mary's faith and trust in God even at the end of the very worst day of her life.  And, Michelangelo continued,  he hoped to remind every person who ever viewed his work,  that they, also, could  trust God's love and goodness no matter what life brought their way.

For me, at least, works of art as famous as this one can become cliches.  I've seen it so many times I don't really look at it any more. 

More the pity! 

This story has given me new eyes not only for the Pieta but also into the life of faith.