When Ginny passed her sons gave me her knitting supplies, yarn and projects. I passed almost all of the yarn on to several other places. There was a hat she had left on the needles that I really liked. It seemed to be just knit and purl. I took it to the Crochet and Knit senior center group that I attend on Wednesday mornings. They encouraged me to try it. I was amazed that I was able to finish it and get it off the needles!
I was a shameless braggart at the group the next week. So proud of myself! Ginny, you inspire me even beyond the grave!
I also inherited from her some bulky yarn. I have never worked with bulky yarn before. I decided to begin another hat with it. I found a free pattern on line and started one. I did not get the beginning border perfect, but I am learning. Before I knew it I had that hat finished also! Now I just need to find the pompom maker to top off this red wonder. Both hats will likely go to one of the 5 charities we contribute to provide winter warmth for kiddos and the homeless.
I always joke that the senior group wanted me to learn the pattern to knit washcloths. They have a nice edge on them that looks fancy. I could get the design on two of the edges, but always messed us the other two edges. I guess I will take my courage in hand and try that next!
After 55 years of crocheting it is an entire new ballgame to knit. For those who do not now crochet requires one hook. Knitting requires you to hold two needles.
How is your courage today? Perhaps you did not need to call upon courage at all today? Maybe you feel as if all your courage drained out like dishwater from the sink. Most of us need courage in some aspect of our life.
Without courage you can’t practice any other virtue consistently. You can be anything erratically—kind, fair, true, generous, all that. But to be that thing time after time, you need courage.
MAYA ANGELOU
Do you have the courage to be consistent in your walk and life with Jesus? Each day a new beginning but hopefully with the same conviction to honor God and do the will of the Almighty over your own wishes and desires.
I have found that courage comes with increased trust in the will of God for my life. I do believe the often quoted verse in Jeremiah 29: 11
For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the Lord, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future.”
There is a woman who is watching her husband fold under the ravages of Parkinson’s disease. She must do almost everything for him now. She requires courage to face every day. Recently she went to the store and for some reason her phone ringer was turned off. While she was away he had an episode of illness. The Paramedics tried to call her to tell her they were transporting her husband to the local hospital. They did not get an answer and left no message on the phone. Through the intervention of the Holy Spirit and the quick action of neighbors she was notified by text and actually arrived at the hospital before the ambulance.
Living with someone who suffers from a terrible disease requires courage on the part of the one who is not suffering the same malady. She needs courage to keep placing one foot in front of the other. She requires courage to face the unknown future. This is a terrible disease that will ravage his being and most likely require he will eventually be cared for at a nursing facility. For now, she is his nurse, his wife, his chief cook and dishwasher. She, too, has a disease. Though it is a rare one, it takes a toll on her every season.
God, our Father, give these caregivers the courage to walk with their loved ones day in and day out as they suffer and experience the various stages of disease.
The Benedictines remind us to keep death always before us. Most of us stuff that idea under the sofa cushions and refuse to even examine the truth therein.
By keeping death always before us we come to cherish life more than if we pretend death will never happen to us. Life is precious and to be enjoyed. Even when it is not enjoyable, there are gifts in our midst. A TV sports conflict to take our minds off ourselves. The taste of a lovely coconut macaroon to delight our senses. The change of seasons to bring us fresh air. The softness of a pet’s fur. The songs of cricket and tree frogs. The shadow cast by objects under the light of a full moon on a clear night.
We can embrace the fact of our coming death and say no to denial. I have repeatedly come across the idea that we have been dying ever since we were born. There is a mystery in birth that is not to be considered greater than the mystery in death. We are all hurtling towards death the moment we are born. As someone has said, “I do not fear dying. It is how I am to die that has been shivering in my boots.”
Memento mori means remember that you have to die. Once I wrote in this blog about being aghast at seeing the star of The Chosen wearing skull rings. Then I realized they were to remind him he too will have to die. Here is a video short where he explains ….
Courage to live this day fully. Yes, Lord, I need courage for that!
We were driving through Columbus, Ohio and stumbled upon this mural. No, it is not a little thing, but look closely! At first we were mesmerized by how perfectly the yellow Swallowtails were captured. Then the perfect goldfinch.
And the plants on the outside of the build!
Taken of a wall facing the mural, so light not the best.
And then I startled Bob when I cried out in my amazement, Look! Look at the hands!!
We had been looking at the features of this mural, but we had not seen that there were hands sheltering the goldfinch at the center. My eyes were able to overlook the windows in the wall, and the plants were lovely. When I spotted the hands I was amazed! If you are a regular reader you might remember I just wrote last week about the Goldfinch on the “volunteer” sunflowers along our front walkway. https://treasuresinplainsight.wordpress.com/wp-admin/post.php?post=23792&action=edit
It is good, every once in a while, to let ourselves be stupefied by gratitude, to cast upon ourselves a spell against indifference by moving through the world with an inner bow at every littlest thing that prevailed over the odds of otherwise in order to exist.
MARIA POPOVA
I left home the morning of our travels with this quote in my mind and heart. Have you done this? Have you turned life into a festival of statuettes. Has “every littlest thing that prevailed over the odds of otherwise in order to exist” captured your attention? Can you bow at this thing? The blade of grass growing through a crack in the pavement. The crickets singing in spite of rain and drought and mowers, prevailing over chemical treatment of lawns and the supposed decline of the lightning bugs.
“Stupefied by gratitude.” What a glorious stance towards life! I am going it try this today and hopefully for several days.
“Cast upon ourselves a spell against INDIFFERENCE.” In these weeks of preparation for Halloween and All Saints Day this a reminder every time we see a “play” witch to cast upon OURSELVES – that spell against indifference. Powerful concept. We usually walk about in a stupor, numb against the obvious blessings that overflow our lives. Can we imagine the many angels that walk with us?
Moving through the world with an inner bow .. yes! As the hardware store slogan goes, “Let’s do this!” So grateful for each little thing.
I received so many nice cards while I was recovering from toe surgery! I eventually stapled them to a ribbon and hung them from the curtain rod in the dining room. A few of my favorites I actually read multiple times. The sentiments, though written for Hallmark or Day Spring audiences, spoke to me. I hope they find meaning in your heart also.
(Ugh I am still trying to find the most comfortable way to situate myself while writing at my desktop computer. Not easy with one leg elevated!)
It looks much better now, but still swells and then throbs.
The first card remains the funniest. I had confided in my friend Kathy that I was uncertain how I would manage the bathroom on one foot. She was right there when Bob brought me home from the outpatient procedure. She left a card and a small gift for me to open when I was up to it. The gift was this block sign:
And I have relied on her! She will text she is “going to Kroger. Need anything?” And whether I ask for an avocado or throat lozenges for dry mouth, she will find it and bring it to me. Her card was the funniest.
The sentiment reads, “Hope crappy turns into happy …get well soon!” Yes the perfect card for the event and the proloooonged recovery. And sort of looks like Lucky, too!
A little over half way through this recovery I go this one. “Stay positive. Stay hopeful. Keep going.” How did this dear friend know that I would be tempted to negativity. Tempted to lose hope? Tempted to just give up? Likely because I often confide in her my prayer requests. The card shows a close up of the center of a daisy. That is the flower I think of when I think of my daughter. Her birthday is in June and that is when many daisies here bloom. The inside sentiment reads, “I know you’re working hard at getting better, and I want you to know I’ll be rooting for you every step of the way.”
My life has sudden filled with 3 women named Debby. This particular Debby nails it on the head every time! Each Debbie is a blessing in her own right. One has a sister named Sandy. I am able to remember her name as I have cousins who are sisters: Debbie and Sandy!
Another recent card reads: “May each new day bring you gentle reminders of God’s ever-faithful love as He strengthens you with His healing touch.” I would read this and center myself in the knowledge that God loves each of us and I would look for the reminder round about me. There was always something there to cheer me on.
Another card came from a neighbor. This particular woman had been through several crises the last couple of years. I remember praying over her and trying to calm her during one in particular. I am not aware of this couple attending any church, but I try to share my faith wherever I am. They do know I am willing to pray for them whatever they are walking through. When she presented the card to me with a very generous gift card she seemed to take delight in telling me she remembered me talking with her about patience. Now is was her turn to reinforce the message about patience! Her card read, “Recovery is a process. It takes time. It takes patience. It takes everything you’ve got …. and you’ve got a lot – a kind heart, an amazing spirit, and people who really care about you.“
I placed that card on the kitchen counter where I could read it easily from the wheelchair I had to use after twisting my knee (adding insult to injury). It brought me great encouragement and comfort.
These are a few of the things that gave me pause to give give thanks to God. If you are compelled to send someone a greeting card do not underestimate what it might mean to the person receiving it. You never know how God might use you for such a time as this!
There is a new exhibit at the Cincinnati Art Museum by Yayoi Kusama called “All the Eternal Love I Have for the Pumpkins.” Click on the arrow below to get a feel for the exhibit.
We look forward to attending! Evidently there is an admission charge for this exhibit. In the room with the pumpkins and mirrors only 2 people at a time are allowed in the room. And you may only stay for 90 seconds. This exhibit has traveled to several museums and is evidently a huge hit.
More facts: “Born in 1929 and raised in Matsumoto, Japan, Yayoi first encountered pumpkins in the fields surrounding her childhood home. Her family cultivated and sold plant seeds, and pumpkins became a recurring motif in her artwork, serving as a self-portraiture. Before entering the installation, visitors can also view a rare collection of a dozen acrylic pumpkin paintings on canvas created between 1990 and 2004.”
“I hope that our visitors’ interests are piqued, and that they are curious about Kusama, her practice, and what she is doing within the contemporary art realm today. She’s still a living artist. She is a practicing artist,” Cameron says. Today, Kusama is 97 years old. “As a museum practitioner of ways that sort of take us out of our typical experience, to take us out of our day-to-day existence, that’s what this can do. I want people to walk out of that room with a bit of a reset. I hope it encourages people to manifest a joyful reality in similar ways that Kusama has created for herself and for us.” says Cameron Kitchin, Louis and Louise Dieterle Nipper director.
Kusama suffers from physical and emotional abuse administered by her mother. Her art is one way she copes with that.
Just in time for autumn around the corner. LOL! Wonder if they will serve pumpkin spiced lattes? HA-ha!
Everything in the stores is red, white and blue anticipating the celebration of the birth of our country. I even saw a Coke in a round bottle in red, white and blue for the FIFA games! Have not seen this much patriotic color since after 9-11. READ ON CAREFULLY OR YOU MIGHT MISS IT.
Looks like something a six year old would delight in!
So imagine my surprise when I recently unearthed this quote from our son. He had to be all of six years old!
Jeff, “You should have seen who played the Star Strangle Banner!”
I never wrote down who played the Star Strangle Banner that year, but it might be an appropriate name for the theme this year. God help us all.
Last Sunday we celebrated the Trinity at church. “O Father; who with the Son and the Holy Spirit live and reign, one God, for ever and ever. Amen.” ends the collect for the day. The unfathomable, unknowable, ever present and loving God. We practice devotion and know some how that the Trinity is one.
Our Prayers of the People began with: “God who is unknowable and yet as close as our breath, help us to see you. ” Yes, God, open our physical eyes and the eyes of our heart to know and see and experience you.
I have been taken lately by tiny diagrams. The above was on our bulletin cover.
Using the Grateful Living challenge I have noticed that a tiny image is used in the corner of each daily practice. This little line drawing summarizes the challenge of the day. Oh I wish I could draw like that!
Superhero
Sharing joy
One playful joyful way to stand up
Share joy with others
And perhaps that is how our Trinity one God does things. Simple line drawings, opening doors for us to share with others. As humans we complicate almost everything having to do with God. Jesus taught us simplicity. Will we cling to that simple way of knowing, being known, loving and loving others?
May you know the Trinity as One. May you see the path before you as well lit and as something you can follow. Look to the One who loves you best and take the next step!
Often the veil and the curtain are mentioned in the Scriptures. I have had this on the brain for a couple of weeks. The veil usually refers to the lack of understanding among the Hebrew population regarding the Messiah. The curtain is the fabric that was hung between the courts of the temple and the Holy of Holies where humans, (and only priests) were only to enter once a year, on the day of Atonement.
When Jesus was hung upon the cross, as he died the curtain was torn from top to bottom in the Holy of Holies. Thereby signifying the full access of man to the Father, bought by the blood of Jesus, our sacrifice.
This quote reminded me of that and the need for us to see the value and significance of ‘each other’s human plight.’
My wish, indeed my continuing passion, would be not to point the finger in judgment but to part a curtain, that invisible shadow that falls between people, the veil of indifference to each other’s presence, each other’s wonder, each other’s human plight.
EUDORA WELTY
Jesus parted the veil between people and the Father. Jesus also parts the curtain between us and other humans if we are willing to see with his eyes, the eyes of compassion.
Eudora reminds me that when I point the finger at others there are more fingers pointing back at me.
Searching for this image there were SO many images of our President pointing his finger at others. Sad. “That invisible shadow that falls between people, the veil of indifference to each other’s presence and plight.” I fear this has infected the entire nation at this point.
Lord, may we learn to fold our hands in prayer to you, not pointing at others. Open our eyes and our hearts to the needs of our fellow persons. Break our hearts for what breaks Yours. Help us realize the access for good that you have given us through the sacrifice of Jesus. Use us for the good of others. Amen.
