With a study group I am currently re-reading When the Heart Waits by Sue Monk Kidd. She wrote in Chapter 2:
Waiting is the in-between time. It calls us to be in THIS moment, THIS season, without leaning so far into the future that we tear our roots from the present. When we learn to wait, we experience where we are as what is truly substantial and precious in life. We discover, as T. S. Eliot wrote, “a lifetime burning in every moment.”
The quote took me back to the Imagine Museum and my fascination with a piece of art called “The Precipice.”
The lighting is not always conducive to a good photo, but hopefully you get the idea. Sue Monk Kidd cautions us not to ‘lean so far into the future that we tear our roots from the present.’ Are you able to stay in the present moment in this way?
About the same time I copied this prayer from some source.
I pray now with the sixteenth century Spanish contemplative, Teresa of Ávila (1515-1582)*:
Lord, grant that I may always allow myself to be guided by You, always follow Your plans, and perfectly accomplish Your Holy Will… Help me respond to the slightest prompting of Your Grace, so that I may be Your trustworthy instrument for Your honour. May Your Will be done in time and in eternity by me, in me, and through me.
Yes, Father, that is what I desire most of all! Please Lord, grant this I pray.
HELP ME RESPOND TO THE SLIGHTEST PROMPTING OF YOUR GRACE. Yes, and Amen.
I was delighted while in Florida one sunny day to just feel the ocean breeze and hear the waves. That is one thing that Ohio certainly does not offer! I really miss it. Oh well, landlocked except for the mighty Ohio river and several fishing lakes.
Our friend, Kathy, had suggested that while we were in Florida we check out the tiny coastal town called Dunedin. She even drove us through it during her auto tour. The town has a Scottish theme. Wikipedia says: “The name comes from Dùn Èideann, the Scottish Gaelic name for Edinburgh, the capital of Scotland.” Since Bob went to college in Scotland for a year we are usually interested in such places. Sadly, we would miss their annual Highland games and celebration. Bob is not a lover of window shopping, but he indulges me and finds a bench to rest upon or a sight to explore while I browse a shop.
The first shop was one I had already looked up online from Ohio, The Celtic Shop of Dunedin. I already knew they did not have the Tam O’Shanter that he wanted. In the window were some a Irish bone china items including a flower bud vase that resembled the tower at Glendalough. I browsed around. Found a dark green t-shirt that shows a tree roots in Irish colors and the tree in American colors. I loved it. They did not have my size, but I bought it anyway. If it does not shrink I will merely sleep in it! My deep purple hyacinth bloom rests in the tower vase today.
I had spotted another interesting shop. Business finished at the Celtic Shop I went back 2 doors to a tourist shop whose name I am having difficulty locating as I paid cash there! A pair of earrings on the rack caught my attention. They only had the one pair. If there had been more I would have bought a couple to have as gifts.
Ocean Wave
I was delighted at how well the artist captured the ocean wave! Yes, I now wear them often. The earrings reminded me of a children’s book we once purchased.
Being sad about leaving the seashore a young boy asks if he can take home one wave. The story regales the delight and then difficulty of living with a wave in the house. It is a great story. Once we got home I had to pull it out and read it again!
As we continued our Clearwater visit and went to a glass museum in nearby St. Petersburg called the Imagine Museum, Contemporary Glass Art. We both love glass art and are always amazed at what the artisans can come up with! There, to, we saw the fascination with the ocean.
photo by r m dutina, “Cabriolle” by K. William LeQuier
Yes, ladies and gentlemen, we have a theme going here! My delight knew no bounds. I have the photo Bob took propped up against my monitor even as I type this. No I am not wearing the earrings right now. Such a lovely get away for us!
The opening drawing is a take off on Scripture. My point is this is someone’s artwork. It reflects God’s power in creation. It is also a reflection of the work of the Trinity in our lives, if we will yield to the work of the Word.
Have you had a glimpse of the masterpiece God is making with your life? Do you know that the Creator who made the seasons is also making you into a masterpiece?
I recently saw a pen and ink drawing and was hit by the thought,
"You, Lord, are drawing the lines, etching the picture, planning my future, equipping me to yield in gentle and quiet obedience."
drawing the lines
etching the picture
“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.” Jeremiah 29:11 NIV
His divine power has given us everything we need for a godly life through our knowledge of him who called us by his own glory and goodness. 2 Peter 1:3 NIV
Let your adornment be the inner self with the lasting beauty of a gentle and quiet spirit, which is very precious in God’s sight. 1 Peter 3:4 NRSVUE
My thanks to Juan D. for the first photo portion and M. Linda McLaughlin for the second. The opening sketch is from the J. S. Paluch Company.
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven and do not return there until they have watered the earth, making it bring forth and sprout, giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater, 11 so shall my word be that goes out from my mouth; it shall not return to me empty, but it shall accomplish that which I purpose and succeed in the thing for which I sent it. Isaiah 55:10 NRSVUE
Are you yielding to the plan? Is your goal that gentle and quiet spirit of obedience?
We have experienced sunrise and sunset at different places in America. It is always so sweet to experience this in a crowd when the crowd breaks out in spontaneous applause at the grandeur of God’s creation.
At times, if we are paying attention, we experience similar things when we are alone. Then we celebrate as the audience of one, celebrating the One who did the creating. Thus, the following poem.
The black cloud perfect backdrop As sun clears the trees in east Lighting up treetop to west Blazing red, swirling gold Under layer of green A momentary glimpse of autumn Grandeur rarely seen Marvel of God’s handiwork How was that even possible That I looked up Just then to see it? Camera could not catch it properly Totally gone now Just gray rainy day Orang-ish maple No big deal A few chirping birds Patter of drops on fallen leaves Applause of the crowd fading
On PBS we saw a documentary entitled “Seven Lives of Music.” It was absolutely amazing! Here is a 31 second tiny preview.
I was so enchanted I ordered the book their Mom wrote entitled “House of Music.” It had rave reviews on the cover and did not disappoint. Can you imagine raising seven highly talented, perhaps gifted, children? She also covers the topics of racism, inclusion, prejudice and sacrifice.
Then I began listening to their son Sheku who plays cello on Amazon Music. As a child his first cello was “1/4 size”! I am a sucker for cello music. Here is a short clip of him, 2.36 minutes. The song haunts me. I suppose I had heard it before but this one makes me stop and breathe deeply.
It was wonderful to read how others helped provide for the needs of this amazing family. An education and career in classical music is notinexpensive by any means. One clothing designer was so taken by Sheku’s talent that he provides designer suits and accessories for his concerts! Sheku was even invited to play at the Royal wedding. The 9 minute program below is from when they were featured on the American TV program Sunday Morning. It is quite enlightening as to how they go about their extraordinary, down to earth lives together! Having read the book I was tickled to see the inside of their home. Single income folks with Dad traveling all over the world with his job.
This book is an amazing story of family support, perseverance, and choices. They even include how they made it through the pandemic and the ways they were affected by the murder of George Floyd. If you are looking for a good read buy this one or get it from your library or order a used copy. There were times when Kadiatu (the mom) wrote above my head when discussing the challenges of various classical pieces, but I enjoyed it none the less!
Many comments on YouTube spoke about weeping over this song. The arrangement is their own. Redemption Song by Bob Marley.
Enjoy this huge treasure at the touch of your electronic fingertips!
Gratitude places you in the energy field of plentitude. Glow with gratitude and see how awe and joy will make their home in you.
MICHAEL BERNARD BECKWITH
The above quote is from Grateful.org. https://grateful.org/ I am so impressed with this organization that I am going to take their training to lead a gratefulness group. Hoping that is a way to reach others in 2025.
On Sunday afternoon, January 12, 2025, Bob had purchased tickets for us to hear the Rachmaninoff Piano Concerto #3 at the Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra. This was the second time he made a way for us to hear it in person! This man spoils me!!
This is the view from our seats in the first balcony.
Only a few musicians warming up
The first piece was described some where as the “most beautiful awful piece you would ever hear.” As the man next to me said it was mercifully short.
Then they set the stage for the Rach 3, rearranging chairs and rolling out the grand piano. The excitement in Music Hall was palpable!
Special piano placed next to the conductor step.
Bob got this photo of the pianist, George Li, as he took one of his many bows.
Two encores and he blessed us with the melody below.
I had never heard his encore in my life! I tried the music app Shazam and it could not identify the score. It was so moving, and I was so grateful to be included in this performance, I just closed my eyes, listened, and let tears run down my face.
Evidently Yuja Wang played this at the encore of one her performances. Now if I was totally unfamiliar with it, how did I find out what it was? Well, I was parched after the first half of the symphony and stood in line to get a bottle of water. It was a very long line as only one counter was open and only one woman was working it. So I struck up a conversation with the two guys in line behind me. One young man had waited 20 years to get to hear the Rach 3 in person. He was as ecstatic as I was. I made him promise he would not wait another 20 years before he attended a performance of the Rach 3. Eventually I asked them if they knew what George Li had played at the encore. These guys had put it into their music app and the title above showed up. (This technology fascinates me!) None of us could pronounce it so I asked if I could take a photo of the phone screen and look it up later. They said certainly! So that is how I can share it now with you!
The last half of the symphony was Aaron Copland’s Symphony No. 3 . Cincinnati has a love affair with Copland. I was delighted with the varied instruments in this piece. The program lists them as 3 flutes (incl. 2 piccolos), 3 oboes (incl. English horn), 2 clarinets, bass clarinet, E-flat clarinet, 2 bassoons, contrabassoon, 4 horns, 4 trumpets, 3 trombones, tuba, timpani, anvil, bass drum, chimes, calves, crash cymbals, glockenspiel, ratchet, slapstick, snare drum, suspended cymbals, tam-tam, tenor drum, triangle, wood block, xylophone, 2 harps, celeste, piano, strings.
Those men in percussion were SO busy! Some of the instruments were actually played with real hammers and mallets! One of the drums looked as if it was played with a club topped off with red tennis balls. And I wondered how the orchestra members hearing tests came out after years of sitting near the percussion section or even playing in the percussion section!
I do not remember ever having seen a contrabassoon! It is so large it actually sits on the floor on a skinny little leg. Watch closely in this very short, fast video and you will see how it rests on the floor.
I had a delightful time on that Sunday afternoon. Knowing I was to face the Cardiologist in just a couple days deepened my gratitude. The music still haunts and calms me. What a treasure to get to go witness all of this in person.
If you are totally unfamiliar with the Rach 3 here is a link!
Have I shared with you how much I like Wite-out? Not the fancy skinny applicators, but the old fashioned brush-on style. Bic makes it now. Took me forever to find it, but finally in the stationary aisle of a very, very large Kroger store. They call it correction fluid but I have found new uses for it.
We have electric sockets in our kitchen island. The plug on almost every one of my appliances is black. I get tired or figuring out, now does the plug go this way or that? So I plug in the appliance then mark what I see as the topside of the plug with a swipe of Wite-out. No more guessing on that mixer, crock pot, and air fryer!
One of the biggest objections we have to our new house is the lighting seems inadequate. When I go to plug in my iPad and keyboard at night it is almost impossible to see the placement socket. You guessed it! A little touch of Wite-out to outline the socket in white and voila-la! Easy to find and put that chord right in there.
Last summer Sister Corina taught the Journey Together in Stitches group how to do card stitching. I made intertwined hearts for a card for Bob. Then I researched other patterns on line. I found one that spoke to me of our son’s wife. It is a fairy sitting under a flower with 4 wings and golden hair. This pattern was one of the hardest things I have ever made. I almost gave up and threw it away several times. In the beginning I had to start completely over as the lower area did not look right. Then finally last week I was down to wire. Either finish it or pitch it. I got it finished. Here is part of the difficulty.
Pattern has a copy right that’s why I made it so small.
When you pierce the paper you wind up with a bunch of dots. If you see lines on this paper it is where I drew them to help me.
Then one is directed to sew with sewing thread from A to B, etc.
Here is the finished project that almost never was!
I was tickled that she seemed to really like it. I told Bob if I ever choose a pattern as complicated as this again to stop me and tell me, “NO!”
We actually found in our used frames a solid wood frame that seemed more fitting. Hardest gift of the 2024!!
Are you familiar with the three images in Old Testament about God: wind, fire and earthquake.
In 1 Kings 19 Elijah was exhausted and afraid of the threats of Jezebel and had fled to the wilderness. Eventually, after an angel had fed him twice, he traveled forty days and nights into the wilderness of Mt Horeb. He slept in a cave and then the LORD God came to Him and told him to go outside, as follows,
He said, ‘Go out and stand on the mountain before the Lord, for the Lord is about to pass by.’ Now there was a great wind, so strong that it was splitting mountains and breaking rocks in pieces before the Lord, but the Lord was not in the wind; and after the wind an earthquake, but the Lord was not in the earthquake; 12 and after the earthquake a fire, but the Lord was not in the fire; and after the fire a sound of sheer silence. 13 When Elijah heard it, he wrapped his face in his mantle and went out and stood at the entrance of the cave. Then there came a voice to him that said, ‘What are you doing here, Elijah?’ 1 Kings 19:11-13
There have been many songs written about this incident and how the LORD calls us to listen to His still, small voice. The one below was written by and sung by Audrey Assad. Lyrics below are slightly different from recording, but you will get the idea. Recorded and released on a Chris Tomlin Christmas CD entitled Abide. Snow is unusual in Bethlehem, but not unheard of. We have had a few light snows in our area lately. This song always returns me to listening for that still small voice in my heart.
Could’ve come like a mighty storm With all the strength of a hurricane You could’ve come like a forest fire With the power of heaven in your flame
[Chorus] But you came like a winter snow Quiet and soft and slow Falling from the sky in the night To the earth below
[Bridge] Ooh no, your voice wasn’t in a bush burning No, your voice wasn’t in a rushing wind It was still, it was small, it was hidden
[Chorus] You came like a winter snow Quiet and soft and slow Falling from the sky in the night To the earth below
[Outro] Falling, oh yeah, to the earth below You came falling from the sky in the night To the earth below
Listen for that tender voice as we celebrate Advent and await His coming again.
I attended a Soul Collage retreat last weekend. Mooydeen C. Frees, (R.N., MAPC, MEd, diploma in Spiritual Direction, Trained SoulCollage Facilitator and Retired Deacon) conducts these on occasion at the Sisters of Charity convent. There are literally thousands of magazine photos cut out and arranged on tables by topic. Participants are provided with a work table, ruler, Exact-o knife, glue stick, matte board, scissors, roller, clear sleeves for storage, etc., everything you would need to make a 5 x 8 inch collage. We are then set free to make as many or as few collages as we desire.
Some folks have told me they did not want to attend because they do not see themselves as artistic. This does not have to do with art as much as finding pictures that speak to your soul and then assembling them in a collage to express yourself.
We arrived at 8:45 and began making our cards at about 9:30. Broke for lunch at noon and began again about 12:30. This process helps tap into some deep places of the soul. We are told to strive for metaphor as that keeps us out the part of the left brain where too much rational/logical thinking occurs.
I made one card that was wrenching with the honest pain of the past few months. I was exhausted when it was finished. Then I also made a card that reminded me of the wisdom of having fun. Some photos I had gathered at other Soul Collage retreats. This time I was determined to incorporate them in one or more collages for myself.
Mooydeen cautioned us about not posting these online as many of the magazine images are copyrighted. Well, I looked up two of the images I used and they were online so I assume they are alright to share?
In the lower right corner is a young child laughing. She reminds me of myself as a child. Next to her is the image below. As if she is watching Mr. Pavarotti and laughing with great joy!
Besides the serious opera star saying to me not to take life too seriously, he reminds me of my husband Bob. Bob cannot get in a swimming pool without spitting a similar fountain! Bob’s fountain is usually aimed at whoever is closest to him in the water.
Above Pavarotti is an owl perched on a pole. The owl always symbolizes wisdom, so of course the owl needed to be here. The owl reminds me there is wisdom in having fun.
Upper right hand corner is a wheelbarrow full of monkeys. The exact photo I used was online!!
Look at their varied expressions! Remind you of folks you know? “More fun than a barrow of monkeys!” Not a barrel in this case, but a wheelbarrow. Guess they like to ride? I do not see any straps or means of making them stay in, do you?
Card reading consists of using the statement, “I am the one who .. ” has learned to laugh even during difficult, painful times. ” I am the one who…” wonders what monkey brains are pondering as they ride along. “I am the one who…” is learning the wisdom of humor. ” I am the one who…” hopes I am never too old to delight like a child.
I used one image of an old woman shedding tears in two of my collages. Yes, there are things to cry about and tears help provide that emotional release. There is value in tears. There is also value in laughter.
Where are your humor images today? How can you keep laughing even in the midst of hard, painful times?
12 Not that I have already obtained all this, or have already arrived at my goal, but I press on to take hold of that for which Christ Jesus took hold of me. 13 Brothers and sisters, I do not consider myself yet to have taken hold of it. But one thing I do: Forgetting what is behind and straining toward what is ahead, 14 I press on toward the goal to win the prize for which God has called me heavenward in Christ Jesus. Philippians 3:12-14
One person said, “It is not my grip on Christ, but His grip upon me.” Do you ever doubt the grip of Christ? He who bears the nail scarred hands in His resurrected body is not weakened by the suffering He endured. He is stronger since His resurrection from the dead than He was before His death. Brandon Lake sings “there is more strength, more power in the hem of His garment than in the camp of the enemy. ” I firmly believe that. Do you?
The Garments of God visual reflection of poem by Jessica Powers. Painted by Doris Klein, CSA
Yes, I need to keep a grip upon Christ. This poem reflects that sentiment.
God sits on a chair of darkness in my soul. He is God alone, supreme in His majesty. I sit at His feet, a child in the dark beside Him; my joy is aware of His glance and my sorrow is tempted to nest on the thought that His face is turned from me. He is clothed in the robes of His mercy, voluminous garments - not velvet or silk and affable to the touch, but fabric strong for a frantic hand to clutch, and I hold to it fast with the fingers of my will. Here is my cry of faith, my deep avowal to the Divinity that I am dust. Here is the loud profession of my trust. I need not go abroad to the hills of speech or the hinterlands of music for a crier to walk in my soul where all is still. I have this potent prayer through good or ill: here in the dark I clutch the garments of God. Selected Poetry of Jessica Powers (Kansas City: Sheed & Ward), 1989
That just sums it up for me so powerfully. Just like my times with God in the basement under-stairs closet, I can clutch the hem of His garments and know He loves me. He sees me. I am known.
I pray you will sit at His feet as Brandon sings you this refrain. May your faith be strengthened, too!
Treasures in Plain Sight, A Christian Blog 