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 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
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 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
Reflecting on Creation….
28 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: beauty, blessings, creation, David Buckwalter, faith, leap of faith, wonder
We are enjoying a bit of a break from the heat, with a nice breeze today. What we really need is rain. We have had a very dry summer in Virginia. So I was drawn to this photo of a dew drenched bee, taken by my friend David in the wee hours of the morning. David and his wife Carole spent all night taking photos, resulting in many truly amazing pictures. Yet the early morning photos caught my eye. Take a good look at this bee, at the intricate detail of his body and wings. The bee almost appears furry, with delicate wings that seem at odds with his sturdy body. Each part is uniquely formed to serve its function, as this tiny bee and the rest of his hive travel from flower to flower collecting nectar. While we continue to sleep, the world around us is vibrantly alive. We rest in the assurance that all shall be well with the world when we rise, that the earth continues to rotate on its axis, that the atmosphere we take in breathe by breathe is still in place, secured by gravity and a hundred other intricate and interwoven mechanisms of nature. All these things, both large and small, work together for our good. Our all powerful God, whether called Yahweh, or Allah, or whatever name you chose, offers us life, one breathe at a time. This sovereign God not only creates the largest of things, but also deigned to create this bee, one of the smallest of things. If our all powerful God can take the time to wantonly lavish such detail on a creature as small as a bee, what more can God do for each of us? Take time today to consider the sovereignty of God, and let go of what burdens your heart. Make room for the author of creation to craft a solution to what seems impossible, trusting that whatever you ask is but a little thing for the same Lord that conquered sin and death on the cross. Photo by David Buckwalter
Reflecting on Presence….
19 Jul 2011 Leave a comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: beauty, blessings, family, goats, joy, sabbath
The sticky summer heat is back with a vengeance. The pleasant break in the weather lasted long enough for us to enjoy last weekend, but now it is everything we expect for July in Virginia. So I was drawn to this photo of my dear friend Marge’s silly goats. A few times a day, Marge opens the gate and the goats roam around the pool. On this day, the goats decided lounging around the pool was more like it. When we visit Marge, we often sit in the living room and watch the goats through a wall of windows. The goats are very amusing, often jumping around and playing games with one another. Yet when it is hot like today, even the goats settle down and relax by the pool. When my daughter Tori was a toddler, we would often go to the pool after I picked her up from daycare. We seldom stayed more than an hour, but that hour made all the difference in the world. If my husband Mark wasn’t traveling, he would pick up fried chicken and meet us there. We would have a simple picnic, lounging by the pool like the goats. When Mark and I both worked full time, our leave was often consumed by childcare responsibilities. We seldom took much vacation, so these few hours by the pool became a sort of vacation. We took time to enjoy each other and relax, rather than rush onto the next item on our never ending list of things to do. So perhaps these goats are not so silly after all. To be present to the joy and beauty that surrounds you is to dip you toe into the vastness of eternity. Take time today to relax and enjoy the company of loved ones and the simple pleasures surrounding you. Don’t wait until you can get away to take a vacation. Enjoy what life has to offer, here and now. Photo by Marge Rumbaugh
Reflecting on Community….
18 Jul 2011 1 Comment
in Reflecting on...... Tags: beauty, blessings, commitment, community, faith, journey
It’s summer and folks are heading out of town. Some of us are visiting family, or going on long journeys. Others simply head out for a day trip or long weekend. There are so many awesome photos that it has been difficult to choose just one to reflect upon. So what caught my eye today was the number of photos of old bridges. My cousin Diane took this photo of a masonry bridge while driving along the back roads in Bucks County, PA. These arches remind me of the ruins at Fountains Abbey, a World Heritage site in England. Originally built in 1132, the abbey is amazingly well preserved. While living in England, we attended a service in the cellarium celebrating 2000 years of Christianity. The monks built a beautiful and incredibly strong cellarium, entirely made of arches, simply to store food. An arch is strong because it distributes the weight above it. Masons have been building arches since ancient times. It has been said that if you understand how to build an arch, you can build anything. So is it any wonder we are drawn to these old bridges with arches? It seems to me that Christian community is a lot like an arch. Each member, each brick, takes on a little of the load. The burdens that can be shared by many together far exceed the burdens that can be carried by each one alone. Brick upon brick, burden upon burden, can be piled on top, without compromising the community. Yet the community, like the arch, must maintain a delicate balance. If the arch is pulled in too close, or stretched out too far, it fails. A healthy community also must learn to find that delicate balancing point. We need to be connected, but not too close. Sometimes the person with the most insight is part of your community, but not your immediate circle. The distance allows a more balanced perspective, a different view of the situation from those closest to us. Take time today to reach out to those in your Christian community. Offer to be there for someone else, to just listen. Be respectful of one another, accepting that now may not be the time to open up. And remember that like the arch, we must remain connected to be strong, not too close, but also not too far away. Photo by Diane Brooks Myers
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fountains_Abbey
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
Seek the Sacred Amidst the Ordinary 