Truth in Reporting

Last week was National Book Week and on FB we went to page 57 of the book nearest us and copied out sentence 5 and posted it. It was funny. As my kindle was there and I was reading a mystery, my sentence was “Get him back here, Emma.” Other friends were obviously reading much more intellectual books because some of the sentences were long, involved and really thoughtful sentences. I laughed at myself and let it go. And then this morning, at the end of my mystery, Emma, a small town newspaper publisher had this to say:

“. . . maybe a lot of other people might not like what they were going to read, but truth has a way of triumphing over human beings’ petty emotions. Usually.”

A very appropriate and hopeful thought in this time when government is trying its best to discredit what media is saying and the media is finally coming back to its own by trying to publish the truth and some real facts instead of the alternative facts which the government is trying to get us to believe.

Thank you, Emma Lord, in Alpine Advocate, pg, 232 by Mary Daheim.

Weather Watching

I’ve become rather fascinated with the science of weather watching. I think it comes because I check a weather app or two before ever getting out of bed in the morning. 6 am cloudy, 7 am snow. Look out the window at 6:58 and it is indeed cloudy. Look again at 7:02 and the snow is falling. Check the radar map, Tahoe City is under clear skies - until after 7 when the blue snow indicator has moved to cover the town. The winter weather advisory even tells us when the snow is 7000 ft and above or drops to lake level. Our house is at 6500 ft. so we are right on the cusp of those changes. All this is fascinating. Of course it is also frustrating as I am tired of snow and ready for the skies to clear, the temperature to rise, the snow to melt and it to be spring. 

Lent 11

O God of peace, give me a strong sense of my connection to others on this journey of faith.

This is so important in these days. The journey of faith is not just the Christian faith, however. I immediately thought of so many people who, because of their faith, are doing wonderful things with and for each other. Christians, Muslims, Jews and even people who say they have no faith in the Divine but do have faith in compassion, caring, love and light ~ all are stepping up as part of a faith resistance to today’s political situation. 

Small acts of kindness across faith borders abound: Muslims who opened their mosque to evacuees from flood threats in northern California; Christians who surround a synagogue on which has been painted ugly, hateful words and symbols; lawyers of all faiths and beliefs who rush to airports to help Muslims with the legal ramifications of travel bans because they also have faith in the Constitution. 

I know this prayer was written about the Christian journey of faith through Lent and today faith is about so much more. Any of us who have faith that Love and Light will conquer hate and darkness are on this journey together. Blessed be, blessed be. 

Lent 9

But [Moses] said, “Oh, my Lord, please send someone else.” – Exodus 4:13

Wow ~ do I identify with Moses!! The day after the last election, I just wanted to come home to Tahoe, crawl in my Hobbit hole and stay for the duration. And then, in one of those synchronistic moments, my friend Nikki posted a quote from The Hobbit which I have posted here before: 

“I wish it need not have happened in my time,” said Frodo.

“So do I,” said Gandalf, “and so do all who live to see such times. But that is not for them to decide. All we have to decide is what to do with the time that is given” 

So whether the command is from God, Spirit, the Divine or even Gandalf the Wizard, it is up to us to decide. Send someone else? In my case there are lots of someone elses going - marching, writing, voting, persisting, resisting. And I am still being called. And so I do the same in my own way. And over and over again, I pray Moses’ prayer while at the same time asking for strength and courage to live in my space and in my time in Light and Love and Peace. Amen. 

Lent 7

Sorry - I didn't get an email yesterday so not sure what happened to Lent 6. Lent 5 would have been a Sunday. Anyway - here is today's reflection:

Today’s prayer refers to the belief that the Holy Spirit intercedes for us with God. I’m not sure if I believe this is the job of the Spirit or not. What I did appreciate in the prayer was that the Spirit is bringing my life and God’s will “together in a moment of grace.” I’m a great believer in grace, that indefinable something that moves from God to us and helps us move through the world centered and at peace. At least that is how I see grace. 

And I am always grateful for those moments of grace when I know I am in and with the Spirit. 

Cauliflower Mash

Last Thanksgiving our guests were completely off carbs and sugar. She had to help me think about what to serve. Dinner was delicious. Dean smoked the turkey, I made a Waldorf salad, they brought veggies, one of which was cauliflower mashed "potatoes". She assured me it would taste just like mashed potatoes, and sure enough it did.

I have had them a couple of times since when they either came to us or we to them. I have never made them myself. First of all, I never remembered to buy cauliflower while at the store and secondly, it always sounded a little time consuming. 

And then on Friday, look what Dean discovered at Costco.

Cauliflower already chopped and shredded or whatever they do to it. It was So Simple. Put some in a bowl, sprinkle with three tablespoons of water, microwave for 4 or 5 minutes, and whip with butter, sour cream, cheese if you want it. Voila! Cauliflower mash that actually tastes like potatoes. Truly amazing and for the two of us who try to avoid negative carbs as much as possible, a delightful way to have a tasty side dish. 

Lent 4

Today’s prayer is about finding someone to pray with and for us and that we may know the people we should pray with and for. “Prayer Partners” many women’s groups call them. That is the focus here. We are in this prayer together. I like that. Being a part of a couple or a community that is focused on the same person or issue or event in prayer. Very powerful. 

I remember when grandson Akira had that horrible case of pneumonia and I asked for prayers. So many people responded. Two people said they had mentioned him in their church’s prayer concerns, focusing those prayers toward him. Around one young man there was a gathering of prayers from all over the world. Very powerful. And a blessing to all concerned. 

Lent 3

Today’s prayer comes from the scripture “Search me, O God, and know my heart! Try me and know my thoughts! And see if there be any grievous way in me, and lead me in the way everlasting! (Psalm 139: 23, 24)

I remember right after the election saying I needed to find my way through this with grace and forgiveness. I did not like the way I was feeling, the way swirling events were making me feel, and how I suddenly started relating to people based on how they voted. I had to find my way out of the “grievous way” that seemed to have taken over my soul. 

It has taken a while to find a balance between resistance and peace and I think I am almost there. I’m not sure it is “the way everlasting” and I do know that being honest with myself about how I was feeling and what was good and bad about that has helped me find my way forward. Amen. 

Lent 2

Yesterday I decided to post my journal entry and just let it be that. This morning I should probably give some credit where it is due. My church in VA has available for Lenten study: Thy Will Be Done: Daily Prayers for Lent by Justin Rossow. I will be taking my Lenten meditations from the prayers in this book. 

The prayer this morning is based on Abraham’s readiness to follow God’s will by sacrificing Isaac. Part of the prayer says “shape my trust in your promises, that I might rely on your Word even when my world is difficult to understand.” What a prayer for today’s world. 

I return to yesterday’s blog where I quoted the Sikh prayer that today’s darkness might be the darkness of the womb before birth into the Light. Right now my world is just difficult for me to understand and so I am grateful for ordinary, understandable life. 

Ash Wednesday

The first day of Lent. Ash Wednesday actually. The devotional today is “Lord, teach me to pray.” Sometimes I feel like I don’t pray at all any more and sometimes I feel like that is all I do. Pray for my country, for friends having surgery or who are sick. My family. Sometimes I feel like I am living my prayers and every time I think of them (whoever they are) I am sending out prayers and Light energy. 

Today it is for D’s health and well-being as he goes through back surgery once again. And for Di as she stands like a rock by his side. Even though our country is still in turmoil, dt seemed to strike an easier, not so angry note in his speech last night. Oh people of color or who wear turbans or burkas or who sound the least bit “foreign” still go in fear and I in fear for them. And I am trying to find hope where I can. Heard a wonderful Sikh prayer this morning for this country that the darkness may not be the darkness of the tomb but the darkness of the womb and that we are on the brink of a new birth. Please, dear God. Amen.