There are times when we are not sure where we are headed. We simply put one foot in front of the other, continuing along one step at a time. Yet in this simple forward motion we demonstrate a faith in the future, we cling to hope that more and better things await us. Life would be simple if that path was a straight line. More often, it is a seemingly endless path of twists and turns. So I was drawn to this photo of a tangled tree, taken by my friend David in Connecticut. This tree is a monument of faith, constantly striving toward the sun, the source of life. In engineering, there is a mathematical representation of such growth, called a Poisson random walk. It is a contradiction in terms, really. We usually describe events as either random or not, yet this mathematical construct combines both ideas. In a Poisson random walk, each step is a random choice, yet there is no backtracking. What seems to be a series of random steps always leads to the same destination. Yet each time, a different path leads to the same place. As a young engineering student, I felt that faith was a lot like that path, and this tree. Each step leads us toward our God and Creator, the source of all life and light. Because the path is not straight, each step is a tiny leap of faith, trusting that you are going in the right direction, even when your ultimate goal is not in sight. Even if we do take a wrong step, God transforms those diversions into greater glory. Take time today to consider where you are, and what your next step will be. Trust that while you may not be able to see the whole journey, our Lord and Savior sees all. And know that our God, who is, and was, and will be forever more, is always drawing us toward Him. Photo by David Buckwalter
Reflecting on Faith….
14 Jul 2011 1 Comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: awe, challenge, faith, growth, journey, Poisson random walk
Reflecting on Parenting….
13 Jul 2011 1 Comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: awe, beauty, challenge, discipline, letting go, Lindsey B. Wangsgard, love, parenting
Today is filled with yet another round of packing. Tori is headed off to Music and Drama Camp at Shrinemont, the Episcopal retreat center here in Virginia. Tori has attended this same camp, with many of the same kids, each summer since middle school. While camp is a reunion of sorts for Tori, it is just another part of letting go for me. Parenting is not for the faint of heart. In all other relationships, our goal is to grow closer to one another. In parenting, our goal is to slowly let go, to provide a safe place for our child to grow into an independent and responsible adult. So I was drawn to this photo of my friend Lindsey surf fishing at the beach. Lindsey is the mother of two high spirited little boys. Lindsey also teaches fitness classes at a local gym. She is a strong lady, physically, mentally and spiritually. That’s what it takes to be a good parent. We must stick to our principles and beliefs to be able to slowly let go, to cast out our doubts and worries and trust in our children. If we have taken the time to not only show our love but also create a sound framework of discipline, our children learn to love and discipline themselves. It’s a lot like surf fishing. Just because you are on your feet doesn’t mean you’re planted in one spot. You move up and down the beach, keeping an eye out for activity and relying on trial and error until you find the right time and place to reel in your catch. As parents, we mostly watch and wait, only reeling in our children when necessary, correcting them with love and gentleness. Take time today to consider what parenting means to you. Give thanks for those who have guided you through periods of growth in your own life, either as a child or as someone in the midst of a difficult transition. And in all things, give thanks to God, our Abba Father and Creator. Photo by Britanny Boger
Reflecting on Simple Pleasures….
11 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: beauty, blessings, blueberries, childhood, family, wonder
We stopped at the grocery store this morning after running errands. All we really needed was bread, but we went home with two bags of groceries. Sometimes you just don’t know what you need until you see it. So when I saw these beautiful blueberries from Hammonton, NJ, I knew we needed them. I grew up in Southern New Jersey, where my mother’s family grew blueberries and cranberries. In that area, the soil is very sandy, and packed full of nutrients. Blueberries love this soil, and grow in abundance there. I remember going to our cousin’s farm to pick berries, then packing them up in the back of the station wagon. My Mom and Aunt Audrey, along with my sisters and cousins and I, would all pile into our old station wagon. On one trip, I ended up in the back with the berries. I must have fallen asleep. I woke up as we drove home, looking up at the sunlight filtering through the trees and smelling the berries all around me. Part of me wanted to sit up and eat the berries, but part of me didn’t want to move. There was something magical about that moment, and I wanted it to last. The car was quiet and the radio was playing very low. No one was talking. I suppose I wasn’t the only one that had fallen asleep. It seems all the simple pleasures of my childhood are wrapped up in that one memory. I was surrounded by those I loved and the beauty of living in that particular corner of the world, all together and at peace. Take time today to enjoy the simple pleasures of life, to resist the temptation to make life more complicated than it already is. Enjoy the sights and sounds and smells of your surroundings, and the company of those you love. God blesses us with such bounty, and God is pleased when this bounty pleases us. Photo of blueberries at Emery’s Farm in New Egypt, NJ by my cousin and fellow childhood blueberry picker, Diane Brooks Myers
Reflecting on Wonder….
09 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: awe, beauty, contemplate, faith, lavender, wonder, worship
We walked around town while waiting for car repairs yesterday. The air was heavy with humidity, and before long it began to rain. What I would have given to be lost in a field of lavender like this young child! Lavender is like lemonade, lifting the heaviness of a hot day. My friend Deborah has a beautiful lavender farm, where folks can pick their own. My family took many picking trips when I was a child, usually berries or apples. I recall the smell of the fruit clinging to my skin and clothes. I can imagine how much more the lavender scent would envelope you, how easy it would be to get lost in smells and sights of this beautiful field. The way the lavender sways in the wind has an almost hypnotic effect, soothing the mind and soul. The liturgy of Episcopal church is like this field of lavender. There are sights and sounds and smells. The best services weave all these elements together, creating a symphony for the senses. We worship God with our all, soaking in the beauty through eyes and ears and noses. The beauty of the church enhances our worship and glorifies God, the same God who created us all. When it seems impossible to still the mind, to block out the woes of the world or the worries of our own lives, the liturgy breaks through, to free our hearts and our souls. Take time today to allow your soul to soar, in your own sacred space. Become like this child, lost in awe and wonder. Photo by Deborah Williamson, of Seven Oaks Lavender Farm.
Reflecting on Beauty….
06 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: art, awe, beauty, sunset
We returned home late last night after a good visit with family in Florida. Independence Day was hot and humid, so we passed on the fireworks, staying home and relaxing in the air conditioning. I have never been a big fan of fireworks displays. The noise always bothers me and it seems like a lot of work for a little bit of flash. My friends David and Carole stayed home and launched his own fireworks. While waiting for the sun to set, she took this amazing photo. Our fireworks pale in comparison to the beauty of the heavens. I love the mare’s tail clouds, with a curled or hooked appearance. These clouds are made of ice crystals at high altitudes, and frequently signal a change in weather. The wind shear caused by an incoming front curls the clouds into these whimsical shapes. Yet discussing the physics somehow diminishes the beauty. God could have made a world out of black and white squares, yet instead, choose to create beauty, shunning, awe inspiring beauty. Take time today to look up from your own fireworks, and allow yourself to become lost in wonder at God’s creation. When our daughter Tori was a toddler, she started the Lords’ Prayer like this, “Our Father, who does art in heaven, Howard is thy name”. We started to correct her, only to realize her mistake reflected a greater truth. Thanks be to Howard for the art. Photo by Carole Buckwalter © 2011
Reflecting on a Leap of Faith….
30 Jun 2011 2 Comments
in Reflecting on...... Tags: challenge, faith, trampoline, youth
There have been times in my life when simply getting out of bed each morning has been a leap of faith. I wondered how I would ever have the energy to get through a particular challenge, or difficult situation in life. Then God would place a particular person in my life, to help me see the way ahead. I would often recall the huge leap of faith called youth, and persevere. My friend Ajua just graduated from high school and will be attending Yale in the fall. Ajua is an amazing dancer, able to seemingly defy gravity with her leaps. In this photo, she looks like someone out of a Jackie Chan movie. Rather than just jump on the trampoline, she leaps. That summer between high school and college was a lot like this photo. It seemed we were caught in stop action, in midair. The big push to graduate was past us, and we knew the next step. Yet like Ajua and Alexa, we seemed suspended, in wait, for the next big challenge. There is such pressure in modern life to rush around, to push and attack your goals. We forget to savor the summers of our youth, to be present in our current situation. When a river flows without ebbing, it is called a flood. The life giving power of water becomes a destructive force, laying waste to everything in its path. Without pausing in midair, without rest, we become like that flood. We become impatient to have it all now, rather than accepting that all will be provided for us in the fullest of God’s time. Pause to enjoy the early summer evenings, while the breezes are still cool. Recall those huge leaps of faith in your youth, and allow that faith to inform your current situation. And trust that times of watching and waiting are times when God molds us for the challenges ahead. Photo by Daniel Aste
Reflecting on Wandering….
29 Jun 2011 1 Comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: beauty, Paris, street performer, travel
There is more than one way to travel, and over the years our family has tried them all. We have taken tightly scheduled bus tours, a cruise ferry across the North Sea, and trips with no particular aim in mind. I must say I prefer the trips that allow us time to wander. My friend Betsy just returned from a trip to Paris. What an awesome place to simply take in what the city has to offer! I was drawn to this amazing photo of a street performer, playing a colorful accordion amidst an even more colorful display. I can imagine people wandering by and pausing to listen, and showing their appreciation with a few coins. What started out as a stroll down an unknown street becomes a chance encounter with beauty. This performer offers something for both the eyes and ears, something that sparks the imagination. The whimsy of her display hints at times gone by, or perhaps a long forgotten fairy tale. Yet we do not need to board a plane to find such beauty. We simply need to make time and space for such a chance encounter. Take time today to stroll down a street you haven’t taken before, or drive another way to work. Pause to drink in unexpected beauty along the way, and allow that simple grace to swell in your heart and feed your soul. Photo by Betsy Graham Myers
Reflecting on Homecoming….
28 Jun 2011 Leave a comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: homecoming, journey, labyrinth
Yesterday 
my daughter Tori returned home after a week-long trip to Minnesota. A bus load of high school youth, from across Virginia, Maryland and West Virginia, shared a long bus ride to attend the Episcopal Youth Event, held on the campus of Bethel University. The bus arrived later than expected, so I walked the labyrinth while I waited. Pilgrims of old who could not travel to the Holy Land would travel to a cathedral like Chartres to walk a labyrinth. This labyrinth is next to a very busy road with a bus stop, so at first the traffic noises were distracting. I was impatient to see Tori after a week away, so each time a bus pulled up, I thought her bus had arrived. Yet very quickly, all those distractions fell away and I became absorbed in the labyrinth. Unlike a maze, a labyrinth has one way in, and one way out. The path reverses itself often, and leads you to the edge just before arriving in the center. Just as I departed the labyrinth, the bus arrived. The youth alternated between greeting their parents and one last round of hugs amongst each other. It seemed this farewell was a lot like the labyrinth. Homecoming is always bittersweet, especially when a trip is packed with happy memories. We are so happy to be home, yet unwilling to let go of our recent experiences and new found friends. Tori commented on how different the return trip on the bus was from the trip out. In the beginning of the journey, the youth did not know each other well, and stuck with a few friends they already knew. On the way back, everyone kept switching seats, because they all had become friends. So it is with homecomings. We return home with new friends, new experiences, new perspectives. Perhaps homecoming is a lot like the labyrinth, seeing the same things from different perspectives, integrating what you have learned into familiar settings, that somehow seem different, yet the same. Take time today to reflect on what homecoming means to you, or on a journey that changed your perspective, and perhaps even the course of your life. Reach out to a friend that shared that journey, and those memories. Or perhaps, to walk a labyrinth. Photo, and labyrinth, by St Luke’s Episcopal Church, Bethseda, MD
Reflecting on Memory….
27 Jun 2011 Leave a comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: childhood, grief, memory
Those fireflies have led me down memory lane. What began as a single memory of fireflies led me to make beef vegetable soup this weekend, complete with broth made from soup bones. So I was drawn to this photo of my Aunt Audrey, holding her great grandson Andrew as a baby. I’m not sure, but I believe she is sitting in my cousin Diane’s kitchen. It seems we have a lot of photos of Aunt Audrey in the kitchen. My Aunt Audrey was a wonderful and creative cook, and she shared this gift with us all. We often gathered in the kitchen, helping her to cook and learning to cook at the same time. She loved cookbooks but rarely used the recipes exactly as provided. Fortunately for us all, she frequently wrote in her cookbooks, recording these changes and variations. So her cooking, and her memory, is preserved and handed down to the next generation, and the next. At first, I didn’t connect making this soup with those fireflies. Then on Sunday, I saw so many butterflies in our backyard. The day my aunt died, the backyard was full of butterflies, as if tiny angels had arrived to call her home. Another wonder of nature tied these memories together, and led me again to consciously remember my dear aunt. Take time today to make a memory come alive, to honor pastimes or skills lovingly taught to you as a child. You’ll preserve the memories of those that have gone before us, and make memories for those who will remain when we are called home.
Reflecting on Childhood….
24 Jun 2011 Leave a comment
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
Seek the Sacred Amidst the Ordinary 