Two of us just attended a wonderful program at Silver Lake College, Manitowoc, Wi (my Alma Mater), and it gives me pause for the many times that I have looked at something many, many times and failed to see the subtle changes or perhaps the significance of seeing something in a different light, including people, places, things and institutions!
The speaker presented photographs he had taken with his camera, numerous times showing the very same subject but the lighting, season of the year and angle were different. During the course of the presentation the speaker often said by having a "new view", we could find a "new you".
How many times have each of us given up on a cause or a person because our personal "lens", "lighting" or "angle" were not allowing us to see the way we really could see? I have been with others who will not associate with a certain other because of preconceived notions, earlier "spats", prejudice...many things. Sometimes it did not make sense to me, but I don't have to look far, I have done the same thing.
Yup, if I change my "view" of a person or a situation, see it from a different perspective, it can open me up in ways I never imagined. Wow! What could that do to each of us on many fronts? What would that be like with a "new view, a new you"?
Tuesday, February 24, 2015
Wednesday, February 18, 2015
Nails
Wasn't it just yesterday we were celebrating the Christmas holidays, New Years, and Valentine's Day? Now, comes Lent in preparation for Easter. Don't you wish warm weather would come as fast!!? Lately I have been thinking about lent in a different way, especially some symbols that are mentioned in various liturgies of Christian churches.
One of those symbols that has caught my attention this year is the nail used at Jesus' crucifixion. It reminds me of a story of a young boy who told his dad that he was very angry at someone. With that, the dad gave the young son a handful of big spike nails and told him to go out and pound them into a rail fence in the yard. After finishing, the boy proudly came back and told his dad that he had completed this task.
The next step: the boy's dad then had his son go and remove the spikes. Proud again, the son returned to say he had completed this task! The dad had a lesson to share. When he told his son to go and see the hole that was left from pounding that nail in, he pointed out that, yes, the nail was removed but the hole remained, just like the harm that remains after our words, actions or misdeeds toward another person.
This Lenten season gives me pause to reflect on my offenses, those "nails" in my life that have separated me from God's love, from giving love to others and receiving love from others. In our darkest days we are not alone. Each of us could use a nail to remind us that God's love is always there for us helping to sustain us on our journey. Ash Wednesday begins this journey of lent for many Christians, today, 2/18/15.
One of those symbols that has caught my attention this year is the nail used at Jesus' crucifixion. It reminds me of a story of a young boy who told his dad that he was very angry at someone. With that, the dad gave the young son a handful of big spike nails and told him to go out and pound them into a rail fence in the yard. After finishing, the boy proudly came back and told his dad that he had completed this task.
The next step: the boy's dad then had his son go and remove the spikes. Proud again, the son returned to say he had completed this task! The dad had a lesson to share. When he told his son to go and see the hole that was left from pounding that nail in, he pointed out that, yes, the nail was removed but the hole remained, just like the harm that remains after our words, actions or misdeeds toward another person.
This Lenten season gives me pause to reflect on my offenses, those "nails" in my life that have separated me from God's love, from giving love to others and receiving love from others. In our darkest days we are not alone. Each of us could use a nail to remind us that God's love is always there for us helping to sustain us on our journey. Ash Wednesday begins this journey of lent for many Christians, today, 2/18/15.
Sunday, February 15, 2015
Heart Prints
The deer were in last night, as well as a flying squirrel. The yard looks like a herd of elephants, including the entire circus, marched through! As I just sat and watched, looking for more animals, it was very interesting; three deer just left, one came back looking for feed, then another. One stayed longer, then left, and once again another came in.
All this night life, even the footprints, reminded me of all the people who have come and gone, in my life. Some have stayed for awhile; some only briefly left footprints on my heart, hardly long enough for me to even know their name. Others, even if they left or moved away, still have come back in many ways and at various times.
There have been times that my heart was saddened when someone left for one reason or another…some because of death, of course. When I see the paw/foot prints of various animals in the snow I am able to envision how large it was, what kind of animal and other tidbits. My memory becomes my sight as I think of times past with those folks. I am able to relive stories and times long gone. Their spirit remains with me.
When I’m alone I believe there is much more to my day than the physical realm. When I feel that bigger presence with me I feel alive; life takes on a new meaning. Each person that has crossed my life, in big ways and small, has left prints on my heart that I am eternally grateful for. Ever feel that way?
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| Tracks of Nightlife! |
All this night life, even the footprints, reminded me of all the people who have come and gone, in my life. Some have stayed for awhile; some only briefly left footprints on my heart, hardly long enough for me to even know their name. Others, even if they left or moved away, still have come back in many ways and at various times.
There have been times that my heart was saddened when someone left for one reason or another…some because of death, of course. When I see the paw/foot prints of various animals in the snow I am able to envision how large it was, what kind of animal and other tidbits. My memory becomes my sight as I think of times past with those folks. I am able to relive stories and times long gone. Their spirit remains with me.
When I’m alone I believe there is much more to my day than the physical realm. When I feel that bigger presence with me I feel alive; life takes on a new meaning. Each person that has crossed my life, in big ways and small, has left prints on my heart that I am eternally grateful for. Ever feel that way?
Thursday, February 12, 2015
Friends
A friend of mine and I were planning to take our annual trip to Michigan's upper peninsula last Thursday but circumstances changed and we decided Friday would work just fine instead. During the summer we also go to the Upper Peninsula State Fair at Escanaba. We laugh as we say, tongue in cheek, this is all "big city" stuff!!
We both look forward to this time all year. We have our favorite St. Vincent de Paul store to shop in, Goodwill, sometimes we see a good movie and lunch is always at the Hong Kong Buffet! We giggle and laugh thinking what “high-society” this is! Through the year we have a little Packer pool going and use this money to treat ourselves.
Clerks in stores often ask where we are from especially when they see our delight and fun as we shop...like two country bumpkins in the big city for the first time! When we tell them we come from 3 hrs. away and our hometowns are many times larger than this little town, we all laugh. What stories!
What camaraderie and friendships do each of us have that give us life and nourish our spirit? What friends fill our hearts? They are special! Life would be awful dull without friends, family and others who nourish our spirits in ways we wouldn’t trade for the world! What friend might you have in order to go to "the big city" to spend some time with?
We both look forward to this time all year. We have our favorite St. Vincent de Paul store to shop in, Goodwill, sometimes we see a good movie and lunch is always at the Hong Kong Buffet! We giggle and laugh thinking what “high-society” this is! Through the year we have a little Packer pool going and use this money to treat ourselves.
Clerks in stores often ask where we are from especially when they see our delight and fun as we shop...like two country bumpkins in the big city for the first time! When we tell them we come from 3 hrs. away and our hometowns are many times larger than this little town, we all laugh. What stories!
What camaraderie and friendships do each of us have that give us life and nourish our spirit? What friends fill our hearts? They are special! Life would be awful dull without friends, family and others who nourish our spirits in ways we wouldn’t trade for the world! What friend might you have in order to go to "the big city" to spend some time with?
Friday, February 6, 2015
Eyes of Faith
You know, sometimes it is downright challenging to find the divine in life...to see the holy, the good, the "heads" side of the coin of life. There are times when I'd like to sit down and bawl, complain or kick up some dirt; I think we all would. It takes some doings to step back, maybe find some quiet time, to ponder a bit, maybe to even pray some...patience, calmness, reflection, inner listening...listening to the small, still voice of God, whoever God is for each of us.
Sometimes a "bigger picture" doesn't come to us but only after quite a period of time. It might be years even. I think most of us could say we understand this comment. There are times we may scratch our heads wishing we understood more completely what was happening. Maybe it was a death, job issues, financial challenges, health concerns.
Think about this statement: that it may take our "eyes of faith" to see the bigger picture. Each of us has an inner "faith" that allows us to see, not with our physical eyes, but with our spiritual "eyes". Each one of us is spiritual...not to be confused with religious. I could quote scripture and get into all that "religious" language but it is bigger than that, much bigger.
Sometimes when we have faced something huge, we are able to say to ourselves, and others, "it will be OK, no matter what". That is a statement that envisions something beyond the physical. The eyes of faith come from God, give us hope, and help to sustain us.
Yes, some days, I have sat down and cried, complained or kicked up some dirt but still very thankful, through it all still able to say, with eyes of faith, "it'll be alright". What do your "eyes of faith" help you see?
Sometimes a "bigger picture" doesn't come to us but only after quite a period of time. It might be years even. I think most of us could say we understand this comment. There are times we may scratch our heads wishing we understood more completely what was happening. Maybe it was a death, job issues, financial challenges, health concerns.
Think about this statement: that it may take our "eyes of faith" to see the bigger picture. Each of us has an inner "faith" that allows us to see, not with our physical eyes, but with our spiritual "eyes". Each one of us is spiritual...not to be confused with religious. I could quote scripture and get into all that "religious" language but it is bigger than that, much bigger.
Sometimes when we have faced something huge, we are able to say to ourselves, and others, "it will be OK, no matter what". That is a statement that envisions something beyond the physical. The eyes of faith come from God, give us hope, and help to sustain us.
Yes, some days, I have sat down and cried, complained or kicked up some dirt but still very thankful, through it all still able to say, with eyes of faith, "it'll be alright". What do your "eyes of faith" help you see?
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