"Green Machine"

Courtesy of John Deere Site
AMT 600

Have you ever found yourself having the darndest time getting a task accomplished, almost as if you were taking one step forward and two backward?  Lately, I have been doing outdoor work in the yard and one thing after another has gone haywire. Our "green machine" that we use to haul yard stuff is the perfect implement to use; we have had it for over twenty-five years. 

Yesterday, I was hauling leaves and when I took it into the woods it died!  Nothing I did to get it started worked...yes, it was out of gas but now figure there's dirt in the line! I still had several piles of leaves to haul and I was completely stymied!  Frustration set in; my little pea-brain just saw no options at that moment. 

So, when I am "stuck" I usually take a break and that's just what I did!  Then I called my baby sister!  Of all things, she mentioned getting a tarp to rake the leaves on then haul them into the woods.  Of all things, I wondered why I didn't think of this because my friend and I just used a tarp last week when she was here!  It was easy, simple and no big deal. 

By ourselves we sometimes are very limited in our knowledge of resources around us. Plus, frustration blocks us and makes seeing a broader picture so difficult.  It is so hard to out-rightly ask for help but there is such a gift in asking because answers usually come and they often are not that complex.

Yes, the "green machine" now has gas but it still won't start.  However, leaves are gone, grass is cut and there's no rush today.  The next dilemma will be to push the machine out of the garage and get it up on the trailer in order to take it to a shop to have it checked over.  But that's not for today...I'll check around...I know when I go out of myself, there may be other resources nearby that I don't know about today!  

Have you ever felt like you were taking "one step forward and two backward" in life? Spiritual direction may be a great place to find the divine in these every day situations. I can be reached at: 920.793.3530. To subscribe to my blog, scroll all the way down and insert your email, or see: MollyLaFond.com

Cute Bear!

The other night, about 8:30 pm, this bear came in, stood up at our bird feeder and licked sunflower seeds into his mouth.  His head reached the top of the feeder.  We sat and just watched this activity on the "outdoor channel." This picture here doesn't do justice to his size.  The next day I went and measured the height of the feeder; it was 77" high...that's how big he was!

We don't exactly try to draw bears in but they know a good meal when they see it so in order to minimize the bears coming in so readily we'll curtail the easy meals until they head deeper into the woods.  The birds can access their feed from a high wire where the bears can't reach. 

We are a little like that bear; if there are things that are near, in sight, sound or smell, we often head to it to indulge.  That could be foods, drink, gambling or anything else.  For some, even going near people, places and things that are like "magnets" can be unsafe to be around.  It's wise to remove distance a bit from the temptations. 

Neighborhood bear
 we share with neighbors!!
 Thanks Jackie & Scott!

I know wild animals can get wilder if we don't take precautions.  This cute bear didn't know the difference between a really good rendition of a barking dog and the real thing so it took off in haste when the "barking" began!  

What do each of us do to stay away from danger? From temptation? I have heard many stories telling how a person cannot even have a certain food in the house nor go into a bar...too close and the danger so real. When we indeed recognize the danger, and take action we can stay safe. If not, it could be lethal in the end. 

This bear is cute...at a distance! What in our life is the same way!  Think about it.  Many of us could name a few things that can become dangerous if we get too close. 

Have you ever wanted to share situations in your life that initially were like this "cute bear" but ended up to be dangerous?  Spiritual direction might be a wonderful place to talk about those times.  I can be reached at 920.793.3530.  To read more of my posts see: MollyLaFond.com

Poppies

Every year on Memorial weekend, my husband buys a paper poppy from a military veteran selling them outside the grocery store.  He wears it proudly. I never understood why but he did since his dad was in WW1.

Courtesy of Pixabay

Coming into this Memorial Day weekend I now understand the significance of the poppy.  The poppy seeds scatter in the wind and lie dormant until the ground is disturbed.  In World War 1 the ground was disturbed by war and where the soldiers were buried the poppies then grew! The poem, "In Flanders Fields," says it all:

In Flanders Fields

by John McCrae, May 1915

In Flanders fields the poppies blow
Between the crosses, row on row,
That mark our place; and in the sky
The larks, still bravely singing, fly
Scarce heard amid the guns below.

We are the Dead. Short days ago
We lived, felt dawn, saw sunset glow,
Loved and were loved, and now we lie
In Flanders fields.

Take up our quarrel with the foe:
To you from failing hands we throw
The torch; be yours to hold it high.
If ye break faith with us who die
We shall not sleep, though poppies grow
In Flanders fields.

In memory of all those who lost their lives in past wars, have a great Memorial Day and weekend!

Birthday

Well, it came again this year!  Every year, it comes.  Some years seem "bigger" than others and this year I nearly missed it myself...my birthday. Of course, I don't know I have the friends I do until I see all the well-wishing and cards that come, as they have. 

On the other hand, some individuals are not here this year who were still alive last year.  In fact, I just went to a funeral visitation of an acquaintance that I just had a wonderful short chat with a few weeks ago.  Her death was not expected even though several individuals suspected something more going on with her health. 

And the older I get, the more aware that the odds are there that something major may still hit with aging. Just today I took some concerns to my "Medicare physical" to get checked out.  So, how does this all play out in the bigger scheme of things?

Well, IF something big hits, are we as prepared as we can be?  Being prepared encompasses several categories: physical, emotional and spiritual. Our age plays a big part in the preparedness, too.  A young adult, with children, is certainly in a different ballgame than someone in the retirement years with a spouse with healthcare needs! 

Courtesy of Pixabay

So, I don't know if turning one year older or attending a funeral visitation brought me to this reflection but I think it's valid.  Birthdays, funerals and the dash of life in between are actually  wonderful topics to bring to spiritual direction also!  

I am a spiritual director, taking new clients at this time. Consider gifting yourself with a session of spiritual direction to talk about your birthday! I can be reached at 920.793.3530. To subscribe to my blot/posts, scroll all the way down and insert your email.  See: MollyLaFond.com

Lug Nuts

Have you ever been amazed, oh, maybe you've never even given it a thought, at how close God is to you in the course of a day? The other day my husband and I were out in the garage looking at a tire on our "green machine" that had gone flat for the second time.  He is having a harder and harder time assisting with things that need strength and versatility. So, he explained everything to me and in short order I had the lug nuts off but now to lift the wheel off...and then what! 

So, we were just sitting there, pondering how to deal with it, as well as what resources we had were to fix it.  Without missing a beat the neighbor drove in. He is a mechanic!  Immediately, George took charge, removed the wheel, directed me to get some soapy liquid, took it to the hose and there we found the problem. 

With a phone call to his buddy up the road, the wheel now thrown in the back of his truck with an appointment for early the next morning, all our concerns were solved!  Yes, this all could have been called a "coincidence" but situations like these happen too often to us so I would rather say this is "God's way of remaining anonymous!" 

Yes, we have to have eyes that see life in ways that recognize God or a Higher Power.  Some don't, I know. I had a flat tire forty-two years ago an hour away from resources and a stranger came by to help so maybe I just know I am not alone in life.  So, next time you need to remove the "lug nuts" on your flat tire in life, I hope you will see God near you in your situation.  Don't you?  Thank you, God!  Thank you, George!

Spiritual direction is about talking and sharing about all your "flat tires" in life as well as how close you see the divine in these situations.  If you would like to make an appointment with me, I can be reached at: 920.793.3530.  To subscribe to my posts, scroll all the way to the bottom of a post on my web page and insert your email address.  My web page is: MollyLaFond.com