O God, whose blessed Son made himself known to his disciples in the breaking of bread: Open the eyes of our faith, that we may behold him in all his redeeming work: who lives and reign with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, on God, now and forever. Amen. BCP
There used to be a painting/print that hung on the wall in the Guest dining room at the Convent of the Transfiguration. It was a depiction of the meal Jesus shared with disciples after the walk to Emmaus. It was a simple depiction that I cannot find online. The portrait was like an icon to me. It has been replaced and put in storage somewhere. No one at the Convent knows exactly where it is.
I have scoured hundreds of online images trying to find a copy of that painting. I would buy it in a heartbeat if I could find it!
This past weekend the Associates retreat was lead by Father David Pfaff, Rector at Christ Church, Glendale. His topic was the icons written after the crucifixion through the Ascension. Yes, the Walk to Emmaus was also featured. He pointed out in the icons he had chosen that one of the people on the walk was a woman. Cleopas is named in verse 18 but the other disciple is not named. In the image he chose that disciple is depicted as a woman, unlike the pictures below. (See opening picture)
Now that same day two of them were going to a village called Emmaus, about seven miles from Jerusalem. 14 They were talking with each other about everything that had happened. 15 As they talked and discussed these things with each other, Jesus himself came up and walked along with them; 16 but they were kept from recognizing him.
17 He asked them, “What are you discussing together as you walk along?”
They stood still, their faces downcast. 18 One of them, named Cleopas, asked him, “Are you the only one visiting Jerusalem who does not know the things that have happened there in these days?”
19 “What things?” he asked.
“About Jesus of Nazareth,” they replied. “He was a prophet, powerful in word and deed before God and all the people. 20 The chief priests and our rulers handed him over to be sentenced to death, and they crucified him; 21 but we had hoped that he was the one who was going to redeem Israel. And what is more, it is the third day since all this took place. 22 In addition, some of our women amazed us. They went to the tomb early this morning 23 but didn’t find his body. They came and told us that they had seen a vision of angels, who said he was alive. 24 Then some of our companions went to the tomb and found it just as the women had said, but they did not see Jesus.”
25 He said to them, “How foolish you are, and how slow to believe all that the prophets have spoken! 26 Did not the Messiah have to suffer these things and then enter his glory?” 27 And beginning with Moses and all the Prophets, he explained to them what was said in all the Scriptures concerning himself.
28 As they approached the village to which they were going, Jesus continued on as if he were going farther. 29 But they urged him strongly, “Stay with us, for it is nearly evening; the day is almost over.” So he went in to stay with them.
30 When he was at the table with them, he took bread, gave thanks, broke it and began to give it to them. 31 Then their eyes were opened and they recognized him, and he disappeared from their sight. 32 They asked each other, “Were not our hearts burning within us while he talked with us on the road and opened the Scriptures to us?” Luke 24:13-35 NIV
At first glance it would seem this retreat topic was stuffy and not contemporary. That is a mistaken idea! The icons are ‘drawn’ as an aide in prayer. They lead us to the Holy God. The images attempt to help us envision what the truth is about how God comes to humankind. How we can interact with the Almighty.
Each of the four talks brought me to a place of stillness and enlightenment. There is so much more to discover about our God. Lord, help our hearts burn within us as You speak with us.
Never stop looking for those treasures in plain sight, even if it requires you go to a religious bookstore or, as one man mentioned, shopping on Etsy for an icon! Yep! I tried there for that painting. No such luck!
I try to write every Monday and Tuesday mornings to post on this blog throughout the week. Many times during the week I will rough draft an idea to work on. Not this week!
I spent Thursday working with my dear friend Dana to begin printing, punching and assembling the poetry books. That took much longer than anticipated. We had completed none of them. Many were in various stages of production. She met me Friday morning with some completed books. I went to the Convent for the weekend retreat delighted to have a few copies in hand. One gal lives in Chattanooga and I knew I would see her at the retreat. I wanted to get a copy to her so we would not have to ship it!
The editor for the book about prayer gave me information about next steps towards getting that ready for publication. I just never quite realized all the work that occurred after the actual writing! I spent part of the weekend trying to plan the order the 31 selections should appear in the finished book. She also wants an “About the author” page and a Preface. I had a rough draft for the Preface, but hesitated on “About the author.” Bob agreed to do the first draft for me and then we can work on it together. I need to decided if the photos I chose can be printed in black and white. The color photos will make the book cost more. Aye yai yai!
And I just needed to get still and quiet. I had asked the Lord on Thursday to help me direct my heart and mind to Him over the weekend. (The editor taught me that capitalizing pronouns that refer to God is not correct, but I have always done it as a way to show respect! I have to decide if I want her to change that or not.) I realized with all these decision and things looming I needed help. The Lord referred me back to Psalm 131 again. I was instructed to write part of it out in longhand, I do not do that much anymore because arthritis has ruined my handwriting.
My heart is not proud, Lord, my eyes are not haughty; I do not concern myself with great matters or things too wonderful for me. 2 But I have calmed and quieted myself, I am like a weaned child with its mother; like a weaned child I am content. Psalm 131: 1-2 NIV
I am not to think about things I cannot control. I am not to think about things too wonderful for me. (Thus I hired an Editor!) It is up to me to calm and quiet myself. So I set about doing just that. You might want to copy those two verses and ponder how they apply to your life right now!
Before I left on Friday morning another Psalm came to mind. Years ago I wrote in my bible “Vulnerability, Untd.” next to Psalm 34.
I will bless the Lord at all times; his praise shall continually be in my mouth. 2 My soul makes its boast in the Lord; let the afflicted hear and be glad. 3 O magnify the Lord with me, and let us exalt his name together!
4 I sought the Lord, and he answered me, and delivered me from all my fears. 5 Look to him, and be radiant; so your faces shall never be ashamed. 6 This poor man cried, and the Lord heard him, and saved him out of all his troubles.
It is hard with this Psalm to know when and where to stop when choosing a selection! I made it my business to spend the weekend trying to bless the Lord at all times and continually have His praise in my mouth. It can be powerful to turn to this practice and turn off worries and distractions.
Walking I saw places of such quiet!
Quiet flowers, I just love the sun through the purple petalsQuiet Dogwood
I have promised only a few people a printed copy of the poetry. I realized while in retreat that I can offer anyone who wants it an electronic copy! If they want, they may print it out for themselves, or simply print the selections they desire. What a relief! Bob continues to wonder if I should have planned to have the poetry printed through Amazon Direct Publishing. The way we are doing it right now the material remains free to others though costly to produce.
I was told by reputable sources instead of giving the poetry away for free I should ask for a charitable donation. I am doing that through the West Clermont local school district. The donations will go towards the Paid Student Lunch Charges. Many families today have to decide whether to pay for their power bill or pay the school for the lunch program. There are thousands of dollars of lunch debt in almost every school district. I think the children should receive food. With all of the government cutbacks there is likely to be even more debt. I am asking that donations be sent to the local elementary school down the street.
You can likely tell by now that my brain is spinning in many directions! I was able to get still on retreat. I did get some solid rest, though it is almost a memory today! The 31 book selections are arranged in an order to be reviewed with Bob. These two projects have demanded that I am participating constantly in vulnerability, unlimited with the Lord.
Monday was busy, busy with a funeral in the morning, followed by lunch celebrating mother’s day with our son and grandson and then back to Dana’s house to work on the poetry books. I write this on a gloomy Tuesday morning with fondness that you continue to read and follow my writing.
May the Lord bless you with a renewed sense of His Presence and love for you! Trust Him with your everything.
Twice the past couple of weeks the term Rorschach Test has come up. You know, that weird thing where you are shown an ink blotch and asked what you see in it?
Pelvic bones with spine? Shadow of bird wings from hands held a certain way?
Why all of the sudden did this psychological term come up? Perhaps you are unfamiliar with this term? Here is information from https://www.rorschach.org/
Contrary to popular belief, the Rorschach Inkblot Test is NOT strictly a projective psychological or personality measure. In the strictest sense, the Rorschach Inkblot Test is a test or assessment of perception.
It is designed to evaluate how someone approaches their environment, In other words, it asks the question, “How does someone view and organize the world around them?”
Through analyzing what someone sees, where they see it, and what about the blot makes what they saw look like whatever they saw, the psychologist is able to make various hypotheses about how that person views and organizes the world.
Furthermore, the psychologist can compare the person’s perceptions to a clinical or normative sample. From this analysis, the psychologist then makes inferences about the person’s approach to the world (which is largely stable and described often as character or personality), insofar as, one’s feelings, thoughts, stress tolerance, relationships, and self-perception shapes and influences how that person views and organizes their world. Thus, the major areas evaluated are:
the person’s emotional world,
the person’s cognitive world,
the person’s ability to deal with situational stress,
the person’s perception of others and relationships, and
the person’s self-perception.
I am certain that those with strong political identification see things quite differently from those with strong christian identification. Think of the late Pope Francis and his conversation with Vice President Vance. Pope Francis referred Vance to an in-depth discussion with his assistant, likely as Pope Francis no longer had the strength or stamina to engage the younger firebrand.
Aljazeera reported: US Vice President JD Vance has met with the Vatican’s top diplomats, discussing the politically fraught issue of migration months after Pope Francis rebuked the new US administration’s hardline immigration stance.
How do you view the world and the things you catch glimpses of? As I age things that used to bother me greatly have moved into the back room of my concerns or off my radar completely. Are there things you cling to as greatly important. Are there things that you have simply let go of? I wonder what VP Vance makes of the Pope’s insistence regarding migration issues now that the Pope has passed to his eternal rest? Does Vance see his audience with the Pope as a great privilege during the man’s last few hours upon earth or his right as an American diplomat? How are his political views reconciled with his new found Catholic faith?
Only God reads hearts. And I am glad. I do not want to know what lies in the hearts of others. Perhaps the Risen Christ offers us regular opportunities to interpret inkblot images in our daily life? At best, I can only hope to reign in my own heart and mind to obedience to Christ. That alone will take all of my energy for the remainder of my life.
As a child visiting the Natural History Museum I purchased a tiny chip of blue goldstone. I was enchanted, taken by fascination. What was this thing?
The experts say, “Blue Goldstone is not a precious stone, it is artificial glass. It is made of glass and copper and its inner glow is very beautiful and popular for accessories. It receives a lot of support from people even though it is an artificial gemstone. It is usually used in jewelry pieces. Goldstone is a stone that can come in several colors, but Blue Goldstone is the favorite.
“This stone comes from medieval times. At that time, a monk was making a glass. And he poured copper chips into the glass by accident. He thought it was a great failure but he made a very beautiful glass. Therefore, this technique continued to be practiced for years until now.
Here is the piece that now sits on my desk, no longer just a tiny chip. We bought it some place in our travels.
The photo does not do it justice. The blue is actually deeper, almost black. The gold flecks remind me me of constellations and far flung stars. Guess you might need to shop for a piece of your own to get the true impact.
Then I came across the following quote from Michelle Obama. Can you imagine the wealth of wisdom she has instilled in her daughters?
The unknown is where possibility glitters. – Michelle Obama
And seeing the glitter is risky, but necessary. Can you discern the glittering possibilities within yourself? Have you dared to even think about that? Would you risk a glance? Another quote.
Risk itself is a process of constant unfolding. And taking risks is the process of peeling back the layers of what you are and who you want to be.
PHOEBE ENG
You are full of glittering possibility. Are you willing to peel back the layers of yourself and expose that glorious creation within and around yourself? This is nothing you accomplished on your own. I believe this is what God placed in you when life was breathed into your being. Your work is “the process of peeling back the layers,” discovering the call of the Holy upon your life. Then walking towards that calling with courage and grace.
Oh Lord, help us to quicken our steps to Your calling and work in obedience to Your Spirit. May Your be glorified in all we do and say, write and print. Amen.
Drats! For years I kept instant unflavored iced tea powder on hand for a quick delicious glass. I could stir it into water, add ice, sweetener if needed and dash out the door. At first my favorite was Nestea because they sold it in Decaf. Then Nestea was harder to find so I used Lipton, regular or decaf.
Then even that became hard to find. Now it is impossible to find unless you want to pay about $40 per jar online!! I had balked at $4.50 a jar.
The grocery stores no longer sell it. I never dreamed this product would go away. All I can find is presweetened lemon flavored which I absolutely DO NOT LIKE!
Amazon offered a different brand, Waka. I thought why not and bought one. Turns out the product depends on the tea you begin. Well duh!! This one comes out cloudy and sort of icky. Pooey! Next I will try making Waka with even less powder and see if I like that.
Yes, I still brew tea leaves for iced tea. That powder was just so easy and convenient. I have a partial jar and trust me, I use it sparingly knowing that will be my last one ever. Since the cardiologist told me to cut down on how many ounces of fluid I consume in a day (over indulgence was causing leg cramps) I drink much less than I used to. That fact also increased my interest in the ever-ready instant.
Just need a new method of brew, ice, consume while still fresh. Old dog, new tricks.
Ben Palpant in his book Letters From the Mountain quotes Rainer Maria Rilke from the book Letters to a Young Poet saying,
Things aren’t all so tangible and sayable as people would usually have us believe; most experiences are unsayable, they happen in a space that no word has ever entered, and more unsayable than all other things are works of art, those mysterious existences, whose life endures beside our own small, transitory life.
In a recent group Bible study at church the term ineffable came up. God is often considered ineffable. The word means too great or intense to be expressed in words, unutterable. Too sacred to be uttered. Indescribable; indefinable.
My life challenge has been for me to try to put into words my relationship with the Almighty. My goal is to speak about and express the unsayable, the things not readily spoken or expressed in regards to my faith. Oh Lord, I can only do this with Your help!
I agree with Rilke that “most experiences are unsayable.” So how does this happen to be my calling? My first response is, “Truly, I do not know!” Maybe something was handed down in the genes from Grandpa Snapp the Preacher or Grandma Snapp the teacher at God’s Bible School? I just know that from an early age I wanted to write about God. I have papers from 1966 and a few years prior to that when I started to want words around my experiences.
“Most experiences are unsayable,” wrote Rilke. My friend, Dana, is about to print my book of poems with over 100 selections. Perhaps someone will discover this God I adore through reading these poems? I pray the efforts to express my love and relationship with God will pull others into the space where words rarely enter. The space of mysterious existence. Christ in me, Christ in us, the hope of Glory.
25 I have become its servant by the commission God gave me to present to you the word of God in its fullness— 26 the mystery that has been kept hidden for ages and generations, but is now disclosed to the Lord’s people. 27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory. Colossians 1:25-27 NIV
Some days I wonder do my dreams and worries inform my first thoughts upon waking up or is it all under control of the Holy Spirit?
For a few days I have recurrent thoughts about the cardiac surgery they say I will need sooner rather than later. Part of me wonders what if I do not have the surgery? All of that runs underneath the day to day thoughts.
My daughter’s mother-in-law died yesterday. Evidently she was sitting on the side of her bed, getting dressed. It appears she had a stroke? She fell backwards and just lay down on the bed. She was a catholic woman who lost her husband and her mother. While hospitalized a few years ago she was tested and doctors decided she had lost some of her executive reasoning abilities. She had to move into a retirement community. She did not like it very much, but there were so many things she did not like very much! May she rest in peace.
My husband, Bob, had recently taken her to Frisch’s for lunch, always her first choice. She had just seen her family for a celebration Easter weekend.
What does all this have to do with me? Margie was ten years older than I am. My death became a poignant fact with the aneurysm diagnosis last January. No one know when the Lord will call us home. Only God knows the day and the hour.
This morning when I awoke some of the lines from this song were rolling through my brain. Took me a while to wake up and capture it. This is a Catholic hymn based on several Scriptures. I chose to share this version because it provides the lyrics.
I have listened to the song several times this morning. I would be lying if I said that took care of any disquiet I have from the aneurysm I carry with me. NOT. The next scan will be a CT scan in August to determine if the thing has grown. Cardiologist will determine when to refer me to cardiac surgeon. Until then, as I do daily, I must trust in the Lord and walk in obedience to all I am asked to do for the Holy Trinity.
Bob jokes around about cremation which we both have chosen instead of burial. The funeral home down the street has been busy for the last year building a huge garage looking thing on the adjoining lot which they purchased. I called them this morning and yes, indeed, it is going to be a crematorium. The dictionary is so uncouth.
Crematorium: A furnace or establishment for the incineration of corpses.
He cracks a joke every single time we drive past, which is practically daily! I wonder if he thinks the same things while he is alone in the car? I told him he needs to stop or I will have weird flashbacks if he dies first. Yep, at our age these discussions occur with some regularity!
I chose cremation because I do not want any chance that I will get this body back in the afterlife. God knows the wishes of my soul. I told the funeral director I want the box the casket comes in, not some expensive casket.
I write all this as my daughter and her family go to the funeral home today to make arrangements. I have no idea if Margie had pre-planned her funeral. I hope so. No one wants to make all of those decisions while grappling with grief. Again, may she rest in peace.
Covid is wiping me out as far as energy, creativity and brain. At first, when we thought we were fighting a cold, I told Bob my brain had turned to snot. Now my brain has just taken a vacation from usual activity.
I have slept more hours than I thought possible. I have read an entire Louise Penny novel, The Madness of Crowds. I have been awake for a few hours this morning trying to catch up with writing I might have done yesterday. I am beat.
So no promises for more posts this week. If I get some done, you will know about it. Until next week, please pray for our complete recovery. This virus is a nasty thing. Yes, we had our vaccines and even a booster, but we still caught it. At least it is just the first time we have suffered with it. Many others have contracted the illness multiple times.
Lord, bless us and keep us. Lord, make Your face shine upon us, and bring us Your healing touch I pray.
He began before 6:45 AM Drumming and drumming In the distance there was an answering drumming But the first drumming was insistent “Not you,” it seemed to say “How about you?” it called “How about you?”
The call went out for five minutes Ten minutes Nonstop drumming Not tapping Think kettle drum Occasional distant answer
I decided to try to capture What I was hearing into words Relentless love call Or territorial boundary fencing?
Open the iPad Set up the document Typing I began to form the words Around what I was hearing And it stopped
Just like that a full stop Not petering out Not fading Not a few measures of rest Full End Stop
Human will never understand That avian love call Drummed fence of feathered ones or Sonnet of spring
I never saw the maestro But the love drum beats on In my heart of hearts
Come to me my Lord Spirit of God set fire within me Beat out Your ballad of love Your boundary of protection Declaration of Your indwelling
Conquering Christ take me captive I am Your bride abide in me
The trees I speak about in this post are the orange/yellow on the left with dark black trunk and the pale yellow/green one on the right with sprouts along the trunk. It is so difficult to capture a good rendition of falling leaves from these two trees. I have tried repeatedly over the years. The above photo was taken one year on October 20.
Now I am looking at the same two trees in April. Bob is not certain a post actually went out last week about the two trees, so click here to read it. https://treasures-in-plain-sight.org/2025/04/24/the-maples/ One began with red flowers and now a storm of helicopter seeds. The other seemed to be doing nothing and made me wonder if perhaps it had died over the winter?
Six months apart in these observations. Throughout the summer there is lovely shade from morning into early evening. Then October and November they provide a storm of falling leaves. Now in April/May there is a mighty storm of falling seeds. Helicopters blanket the roofs, the grass, the garden beds, the driveways, the cars. Falling storm of new life if given the right time and place to sprout and grow undisturbed. Prior to the falling of this years’ plenty I have been pulling shoots from my garden formed by seeds dropped last year! How do they do that?
Soon we will have another bumper crop of maples growing where I do not want them. Help me remember to give thanks for all the seasons of the maples. I hear them making their gentle seed music on the back deck. The glory of life God designed. I wonder if there is anything that EATS those seeds? I might consider one for a pet; a well-fed pet at that!
Brother Lawrence was well versed in observing the work of God when he saw a tree in winter and mused ….
That in the winter, seeing a tree stripped of its leaves, and considering that within a little time, the leaves would be renewed, and after that the flowers and fruit appear, he received a high view of the Providence and Power of GOD, which has never since been effaced from his soul. That this view had perfectly set him loose from the world, and kindled in him such a love for GOD, that he could not tell whether it had increased in above forty years that he had lived since.
The winter barren tree, the buds of spring, the flurry of seed, the leaves pushing the seeds off the stems, the mercy of shade for the summertime, the wonder of falling leaves in a myriad of colors. Oh God, You are so good to us!
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 