It’s hot and humid this morning, the sort of August day to be expected in Virginia. Today would be a perfect day to relax by the pool, able to take a dip when the heat becomes oppressive. So I was drawn to this photo taken by my friend Melissa. An unexpected visitor was floating along in their new pool. At first I wondered if this little creature was a toad, rather than a frog. The body is brown, rather than green, and I wasn’t sure where a little frog would live in their yard, other than the pool. Yet he is a frog, with the characteristic outstretched feet that alternately secure him to a resting spot and help launch him as he leaps. Greeting visitors is often like my uncertainty about this little frog. We may not know who we are encountering, or how that person may affect us. A chance meeting can begin a new friendship, or teach us a lesson we never would have sought out alone. For over 1500 years, Benedictine monasteries have opened their doors to strangers, both physically and spiritually. St Benedictine instructed his monks to welcome all guests who presented themselves as Christ, for he himself would say, “I was a stranger and you welcomed me”, Matthew 25:36. In Paul’s letters to the Hebrews, we are reminded to “Forget not to show love to strangers, for thereby some have entertained angels unawares”, Hebrews 13:2. What we thought was a toad, might really be a frog, or an angel , or Christ himself. Our world has changed in many ways, and guests seldom arrive at our doorstep without calling first. Yet this idea of hospitality is something we can carry with us throughout the day. Take time today to welcome someone into your office, or pause to say a silent prayer for someone in the doctor’s waiting room, or in line at the grocery store. Greet whoever you encounter as if Christ himself was before you. Treat one another as God treats each of us, for we are all children of the Most High. Photo by LadyBug Crossing
Reflecting on Hospitality….
09 Aug 2011 1 Comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: benedictine monasteries, challenge, faith, frog, hospitality, little frog, new friendship, silent prayer, toad
Reflecting on Companions….
08 Aug 2011 Leave a comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: blessings, challenge, companion, faith, journey, Noah's ark, Rod Mayo, trust, wonder
Thunder storms cycled through the area this weekend, with the weather alternating between drenching rain and sunny skies. The rain poured down so fast and furious I found myself thinking of Noah’s ark. So I was drawn to this photo of two turkeys, taken by a friend of a friend, Rod Mayo. I am always astonished by how farming has altered the natural shape of the turkey, and how quickly wild turkeys can move. I imagine the animals arriving at the ark, two by two, to join Noah. I remember how I loved this Bible story as a child. The paired animals offer a comforting image, an understanding that we are never alone. Each animal had a companion to join him on this journey into the unknown. And Noah looked a lot like God, with the long beard and flowing robes. It was the first step toward understanding the Christian concept of abiding love. Yet this comforting image was offered along with fearful destruction. So I ponder this story now at a different level. The ground may have been just as parched as in this photo, because before the ark there was no rain, only dew in the mornings. How long would it have to pour rain before the whole earth was flooded? How would you react to Noah’s warnings that water would fall from the sky, so much water that the entire earth would be flooded? There must have been many warnings, many opportunities to join Noah on the ark. Yet other than his family, only the creatures of the earth entered the ark. Take time today to consider what it means to walk with one another on this journey of life. Open your hearts and minds to what others have to say. Deeply listen to their point of view, and seek to learn a greater truth than you thought possible. And always remember, that even in the midst of horrible destruction, you are never alone. Photo by Rod Mayo
Reflecting on Gardens….
05 Aug 2011 1 Comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: beauty, birds and bees, blessings, faith, flower beds, garden bench, garden of gethsemane, Joseph Syzdek, last night on earth, prayer. garden
Today is an England sort of day. It’s raining, but not pouring, and the skies are overcast and grey. So I was drawn to this photo of a beautiful garden on Block Island, taken by my friend Joseph on his honeymoon. The roses are meticulously pruned and really stand out from the surrounding greenery. You can see roses growing close to the ground, shaped as topiaries, and even cascading over a well worn bench. Lavender is planted along the path, adding to the fragrance of the roses. How can anyone resist wanting to stop and pause for at least a few moments? I have never quite understood why the English have gardens and Americans only have landscaping. Our horticultural efforts seldom venture beyond the perimeter of our homes. We seem to create flower beds, or groupings that attract birds and bees, yet stop short of creating a place that attracts people. Perhaps we are too transitory, uncertain of how long we will remain in our current homes, to invest in the time and energy it takes to create, let alone maintain a garden. Yet we cannot underestimate it’s value. Christ chose to spend his last night on earth in a garden, fervently praying and preparing himself for the ultimate sacrifice. When Christ most needed comfort and a place to retreat, He chose the Garden of Gethsemane. Take time today to seek out a garden bench, to pause and pray. Reflect on your current situation and relationships, and allow God to mold and form you for what lies ahead. Take comfort in the beauty that surrounds you, and trust the same God that created this beauty with all your heart. Photo by Joseph Syzdek
Reflecting on Needs….
04 Aug 2011 Leave a comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: beauty, blessings, David R Buckwalter, faith, prayer, trust
Storms passed through the past few nights, finally offering more than a brief shower. We still need more rain, as the crops are beginning to wither. The corn fields are parched and many of our oak trees, already suffering from the past winter, are none too happy. So I’m not surprised this nest of baby birds was found in an unlikely place. My friend David stumbled upon these tiny babies working on his farm. Their immediate response was to open their mouths to be fed. I was struck by the bright yellow on the inside of their mouths, in contrast to the dark down of their bodies. It seems these baby birds are all mouth and stomach. Their wings are tiny, only growing after the rest of their bodies mature. Perhaps prayer is like these baby birds. We often pray for what we want, yet receive what we need. We often confuse wants with needs, not understanding how one differs from the other. We plead for luxuries at the expense of necessities. Christ taught us to be like a little child before the Lord. A child asks for the basics, for food when hungry, a drink when thirsty, a place to rest when tired. A child prefers simple food, sticking to the basics. By simplymeeting those needs, the child grows with enough left over for activities that are important to them. Like the baby birds, first the body matures, and then the wings develop. With a strong body, the child, like the bird, can grow strong wings and fly away, to soar on high. Take time today to come before the Lord like a little child, to consider what you truly need as compared to what you want. Give thanks for the many blessings that have poured down on you, and seek out ways to help others who are less fortunate. And most importantly accept the answers to your prayers, knowing that like these tiny birds, God always provides what we truly need. Photo by David R Buckwalter
Reflecting on Light….
02 Aug 2011 Leave a comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: awe, balance and harmony, Carole Buckwalter, contemplate, dappled shade, faith, light, picnic area, picnic table
The oaks in our back yard are gently swaying in the breeze. It’s pleasant for an August morning in Virginia, with less humidity than you might expect. So I was drawn to this photo of a picnic area in Connecticut, taken by my friend Carole. I’m always amazed at how trees in a forest space themselves, providing cover yet still offering dappled shade for the ferns and ground cover. In the woods, we find a balance and harmony that frequently eludes us in our gardens. The sun cascades through the branches, providing larger areas of brilliance than you might expect. The picnic table is just waiting for us to stop and ponder the wonders of creation. If we sat down at that table and failed to look beyond our immediate circumstances, it would appear we were in darkness. Yet light is all around us. How often is life like this scene? It is all too easy to dwell on our own circumstances, to feel that the world is about to end. Even when we look beyond our own lives, we may still focus on the darkness of life. Yet even narrow rays of the sun can blot out the darkness. Take time today to seek out the bright spots in life, to celebrate the new beginnings and add to the joy of others, and yourself. Allow another to bring light into your life, or brighten the day of someone who is grieving, or in despair. Even the tiniest ray of light can blot out the darkness. Photo by Carole Buckwalter © 2011
Reflecting on Choice….
01 Aug 2011 Leave a comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: beauty, challenge, faith, growth, journey, Sarah Gulick
Clouds keep blowing through, threatening rain but not delivering it. Both the crops and our comfort are crying out for a storm, to soak the ground and cut the humidity. So I was drawn to this photo of clouds at sunset taken by my friend Sarah in the Amazon. I love how the sunset is reflected n the clouds, creating a real life watercolor. I imagine the colors changing moment by moment, as Sarah and her group floats down the Amazon in boats that ride low in the water. I particularly like how the clouds are mirrored in the river, slightly distorted by the ripples on the surface. It seems like they could see forever, until the clouds came to a point in the distance. The way we see this sky is a lot like how we view our lives. Here and now there are too many options, an illusion of infinite choice. The further we look toward the future, the less we can see or even imagine. Our view becomes obscured, or limited by what we see now. Perhaps we feel so overwhelmed that we are unable to make any choice. We float along the same path, hoping life will be different although we simply do the same things, again and again. Yet if we turn inward, and pause to reflect, we know the path ahead, deep inside of our hearts. We understand that God works in all things for the good of those who love Him. All paths lead toward God, who sees and knows the innermost workings of our heart. Take time today to look inward, to allow the Holy Spirit to fill your heart and guide your soul. Then take that leap of faith to follow your heart, trusting that God has prepared more for you than you can imagine, or even hope for. Photo by Sarah Gulick
Seek the Sacred Amidst the Ordinary 