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. 

Lots of Snow

"Send pictures", many of you have said both on FB and in emails. So here you are ~ the latest from our snowshoe this morning. As you can see it took a while getting to our trail but once there, it was a good hike.

Dean digging steps on the hill from the deck so we can get to a trail.

He was standing when I focused the shot. Ah well. 

Oso waiting "patiently" for me to put on my snowshoes. He never does understand why the family two-leggers take so long to get on the trail. All he has to do is walk out the back door. 

Me next to the chimney of the Swedish fireplace that we sometimes use on the deck in the summer. My guess is it stands 8 to 10 feet high. There's a Lot of snow out there!

A Little Light

Yesterday it snowed all day and once the sun was up (a phenomenon known only because the weather folks said it was), the light never changed. It stayed the same dull light all day while the snow came and came. My friend Dave Pierce helped me with the word I needed: it was disconcerting to look out and have nothing change, not the light, not the snow. 

It snowed all night and is still snowing this morning. However . . . a few minutes ago, the light changed. It got lighter. The snow is still falling, the wind is still blowing. And it is just a little lighter. That does so much for attitude and possibilities. We have turned off the dining room lights because just a little lighter made the room ok. Lighter becomes a wee bit of hope in the middle of a storm. There’s a sermon in there somewhere. 

Burt's Bees

As you know I live at altitude where the atmosphere is dry. That means dry skin, dry nasal passages and dry cuticles. The first two I have handled. The third drives me crazy as the skin around my nails cracks and hurts and I'm always having to put bandaids on them. Until about two months ago. Then Dean commented as he was anointing his hands with Burt's Bees Hand Salve after a day in the shop around saw dust, "maybe you should try this on your fingers."

I did and Hurray!! I put a little around my nails both morning and night and voila! the skin has quit cracking, my nails seem to be stronger, and I have reduced the use of band aids. This week I have even used it on an ice cut on my knuckle (the ice in our freezer is very sharp) and a small burn on the top of my hand from the fireplace. Both started healing immediately upon first application.

This is the only product of theirs I am presently using and I am sure if the others are as helpful as the hand salve, they are worth having around. I'm very pleased.