Seek the Sacred Amidst the Ordinary

Last night was one of those perfect summer nights. It was warm, but not too warm. There was a nice breeze and it wasn’t humid. Summer nights like these remind me of my childhood and the days before air conditioning drove us indoors. I remember my father teaching us how to catch fireflies, using an open hand from underneath. Just like in this photo, we would trap the fireflies in an old Mason jar, with holes poked into the lid. When we would stay overnight at my Aunt Audrey’s, she would let us keep the jar on the dresser. I remember watching those fireflies until I fell off to sleep. In the morning, the fireflies would be gone. We would scold my aunt for making the holes too large, and allowing the fireflies to escape. She would promise to be more careful next time, rather than telling us she had let the fireflies loose. And of course, the next time, the same thing happened all over again. There was great wisdom and great tenderness in this tiny ‘deception’. I was sure at least one firefly remained in that bedroom, and I spent time looking for where it might hide. Or wondering how it had escaped through those holes. By allowing us to imagine what happened to those fireflies, rather than knowing she had let them go, a bit of magic was preserved, a tiny sliver of childhood carried on. So when my daughter was little, I taught her to catch fireflies and allowed her to keep the Mason jar on her dresser. And of course, when she scolded me in the morning, I let the magic carry on, for another generation. Is there a child in your life, room for a little magic? Take time to pass along the joys of your childhood, allowing yourself to be a child again, while fondly remembering the adults that took time for you. Photo by Dozenroses13

It’s a hot, grey day here in Virginia, with just enough rain to dampen the ground.  I would prefer to be by the water, watching the tide ebb and flow.  My friend Carole took this amazing photo at Harkness State Park in Connecticut.  I love how the water bubbles over the rocks, making the colors more vivid.  At the same time, the rocks are slowly changing shape, gently becoming something new.  It seems to me the Holy Spirit is like this water.  At times, the water of the Holy Spirit pours down on us, drenching our lives and souls.  At other times, God approaches more cautiously, subtly removing our rough edges.  What we perceive as a dead end may open out into a new path, a way we had not considered or even imagined.  Or are we simply slow to discern God’s will for us?  Perhaps like these rocks, we have allowed the dirt and grime of the world to fade our glory. Our brilliant colors only shine through when we are washed with holy water.  Sometimes it takes one huge splash, but more often the process is gradual, gentle, almost a caress.  We change as our perspective changes.  We slowly open our eyes, and gradually receive God’s grace.  Are you in the midst of a transition?  Are there decisions that seem too big, or too difficult to make? Take time to ponder God’s infinite power, and complete sovereignty, over every aspect of creation.  Trust that our Lord has prepared a path for you, and for us all. Photo by Carole Buckwalter © 2011

Yesterday my daughter Tori boarded a bus headed for the Episcopal Youth Event (EYE) in St Paul, MN.  She is traveling with the same kids she has worked with all year on youth ministry in our diocese.  The farewells were beyond brief as she happily boarded a bus full of excited teenagers and the few brave souls acting as chaperones. So I was drawn to this photo by my friend Bonnie, taken on her way to work in Oregon.  I particularly noticed the sky in this picture, with the clouds hugging the mountains. I miss the big sky of the western US, where it seems you can see forever. Here in Virginia, you can only see this far from a mountain top.  The trees and foliage often obscure the long view.  I wonder what Tori and her traveling companions will see and learn on their journey.  Perhaps there will be a glimpse of the long view, a possibility in life they had not considered before.  Or perhaps a new friendship will develop, a new viewpoint that alters their perspective.  Are you or someone you know about to take a journey, to vacation or visit family?  Take time to open your eyes to your new surroundings, to allow different views and people into your heart and soul.  We are all connected in ways we can scarcely understand.  Enjoy the journey, allowing yourself to see the world through God’s eyes, and to embrace the world with God’s heart. Photo by Bonnie Hamlett