Maple Trees

As I sit in my chair I see the maple tree outside.  A week or so ago it was green and full.  Now it has two shades of decline on it: yellow on top branches, brown on lower.  Weather is changing; summer is gone, winter is coming. Snow whitened the grass this morning! Signs are all around us that change is in progress.

Some days I'm not so fond of change.  I would like summer to always be here (minus the really, really hot stuff). Also, I would like to always have my youth, good friends and family who never die or distance from me and other things. 

On closer inspection, though, life would really be boring.  I think it is much more exciting when the leaves change color, the seasons bring different colors and temperatures and different friends come into our lives. It's exciting. 

There are times when I write these posts that I wonder if anyone will even read them, when out of the blue, a good friend will comment that one is the best she has ever read!  Hmmm!  We can never know when an ordinary, everyday thought will strike another person and bring some pleasure.  

That brings me once again to what each of us can do during these absolutely abnormal times of stress, fear, anxieties and yes, boredom, because of limitations. It's the little things that matter so much.  So, I continue to write these posts; I continue to call others just to say, "didn't want a thing...just thinking of you."  

Yes, each of us do matter; I matter.  We don't have to jump through hoops, try to cheer anyone up or change situations. But how can each of us do something that will bring more color into someone's life?  That maple tree, because of the change of seasons, will have new life in some months.  What an inspiration!

Are you OK?

I want to share this following article with you, written by the former director of the spiritual direction program I attended, Hesychia, Tucson, AZ. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did.  Thank you, Teresa!

a few thoughts on life and spiritual direction Fall 2020 ARE YOU OK? Two commonly heard phrases (or some variation) I have noticed on social media: "Are you OK?" "2020 can't come to a close fast enough." So, I thought I'd ask--are you OK in this long presidential election pandemic year? Can you say with Julian of Norwich "all will be well" and mean it? I'm mostly OK, thank God, but I have moments of cloudy thinking, blue moods and yes, sometimes, a small crisis of faith. I'm grateful that no one in my circle of family and close friends has contracted Covid and glad we're all working pretty much full-time. But the collective grief over the number of people who have died from this virus not to mention those who had it and survived with long-term health issues--oh my. Some days it lays heavy on my heart. I beg God for a way out of this pandemic and God keeps reminding me that we human beings do have a modicum of control and responsibility in all of this. So then I beg God to soften the hearts of those who refuse to wear masks or social distance. I want so badly for us to care for our neighbors by being cautious. Some days I see glimpses of light on that and other days I don't.  And such is the life of many of our spiritual direction clients. Some are boldly embracing Julian's "all will be well" mantra and others just can't go there. It's too fresh, too present and too soon for them. Are you OK? Are you taking deep breathing breaks? Drinking adequate water? Getting some exercise, especially outdoors? Cooking amazing food instead of heading out to eat? And does your state of mind change from day to day?  I would say the big question for the last few months in spiritual direction is " How are you, really? What is heavy on your heart? Where are you finding joy? Where do you find hope? How are you experiencing the holy in this time of "hermiting?" Are you noticing an invitation in the ups and the downs of the pandemic? I hope you are OK and that you have a spiritual director you can "let it all out" to. While I've experienced the same ups and downs as many of my clients, when I am with them for that 50 minutes to an hour, I feel incredibly blessed and grateful to be of service as a spiritual companion. It is, in fact, where I do feel "all will be well." As for wanting 2020 to be over, I don't ever want wish my life away. But I do pray that the barrage of bad news will ease. The year will be over soon enough, and we can only hope 2021 is a time of progressing toward greater peace. Peace.

Resource

I bet I'm not the only one who watches too much TV. One benefit, though is because of hearing all the sad tales of woe  feeling hopeless about it,  my mind gets energized knowing there is a resource to assist with so many situations. 

Families are tipped upside down because of shutdowns, schools are going virtual, parents must figure how to balance work and being home with their children, front line workers are taxed to the brink, depression/suicides are a huge concern and the list goes on and on. Our frontline workers who provide necessary services need our resources more than ever. 

So, what is this resource?  It is spiritual direction.  I have talked about it for years now, trying to explain it. It's amazing how sharing one's story with another can open doors to  peace and insights that don't come alone. It's allowing the divine in our life to guide us when we are willing to step aside and let that entity in.  Some folks say, God, Creator or even the Universe. It's doesn't matter; it's not religious, but is spiritual. 

Yes, I am a spiritual director and can be reached at 920.793.3530 but there are others around. If you want a lay person, religious, or clergy, I have names of others. If you have questions, just call.  Spiritual Directors' International is a great resource.  Because of Covid, distance isn't even a factor anymore. There are several ways to visit and that can be discussed between us.  If there is no internet, the phone alone works. 

Third Chair Spiritual Direction
Molly LaFond
920.793.3530

So, consider it for your peace of mind. No mask required because you stay on your end of the phone; I'm on my end! It may just open some doors for peace in dealing with issues that may be going on in your life. Think about it, then consider giving me or another spiritual director a call!  Thanks. 

Staying Close

My husband and I talk on the phone several times a day. He is in an assisted living and with the Covid situation, I have not been able to visit him since March. There are other ways I have been able to spend time with him but not specifically able to go visit at the facility.  

He called a short while ago.  Some times we sit on the phone and really have very little to say.  In an ordinary day there's not much out of the ordinary that goes on to make headlines out of! So, we just sit and say a whole lot of nothing.  Some calls are perhaps twenty minutes long like this. Not very exciting. 

One thing he said, though, was "it's just a way to be close to you!" That was about the most tender thing he could have said. I reassured him that if we talked "a hundred times a day" that it would be OK with me.  We both admitted that the longer the pandemic has such strict guidelines in place for his safety the harder it has gotten.  We both are very grateful, though, that the administration is keeping residents safe. 

Both of us say things that are more tender lately... little gestures, comments to make one another smile, words of love. I really don't like the saying, "absence makes the heart grow fonder" but this absence is one that I would never have dreamed of.  Indeed, to not be able to hug, hold a hand, give a kiss, sit and visit, not only to a spouse but others as well, yes, it is hard. 

It's not Valentine's Day, but these are the days that our words matter.  These are the days that because of distance, we may have only words of expression. So, why not tell a loved one what they mean to us, something tender, something loving. It's one way to stay close!

"Butt Call"

Have you ever made a 'butt call" with your cell phone? You know, dialed someone without realizing it?  I just did and then all of a sudden that person was calling ME!  I missed the call, so called her back.  This is when I realized what had happened. 

Courtesy of Pixabay

Well, since we know each other well enough, we actually talked about various and sundry things for quite a while.  We too, sit close to each other during week-day masses, at least until Covid hit. Things have not been the same since Covid, but that is nothing new to any of us!

Maybe this phone call was a gift from God.  It certainly was a gift for me, helping me  realize how much I enjoy talking to people that I meet on a daily basis in various  places during my day.  It makes me think that there have been many changes that we possibly aren't even aware of until coincidental situations happen like this butt call. 

I have a list of names that I had called many months ago but haven't called any of them lately. Have you ever thought for yourself how much more energized you, too, might be if you called a few people just to let them know you are thinking of them.  Such an innocent little gesture...simple...easy, and probably would be so appreciated on the other end! Not exactly a "butt call" but it really doesn't have to be, either!  

It's amazing to me, too, that such an innocent little "snafu" can bring one to such a reflection, especially in prompting one to some action. In the bigger picture of life, if one would pause long enough to see a higher purpose, being, or God in all things it might make all the daily struggles easier to bear. At least it has to me; what about you?