ocean of life
“The world is too much with us; late and soon, Getting and spending, we lay waste our powers. LIttle we see in nature that is ours. We have given our hearts away…” William Wordsworth
Just because the page of the calendar turned from one year into the next, we think that by that action, it’s wiping out the troubles from last year. In fact, we need to realize that all our world problems, the pandemic, economic and political crises are still here with us in the New Year. How do we look to optimism when we are still surrounded by “the world” and its hardships, cynicism and despair?
I recently watched the Pixar movie, “Soul”, a delightful depiction of a man’s soul searching journey. In the film, there is a story told that spoke volumes because it exemplifies many of our lives. It goes like this: Two fish - a younger one and an older one - are swimming in the ocean side by side. The smaller fish says: “I’m trying to get to the ocean, but I keep swimming in this water and just can’t seem to get there,” to which the older fish replies, “This IS the ocean.” Oh such reflection in those words!
We are in this ocean of life. Some are swimming against the rip-tides and fighting against the currents; others are being carried away on the waves and floating with no horizon in sight and yet others are searching for the wonders below the surface. Life is right before us and we don’t even notice it. Why can’t we enjoy where we are right now - in the moments - instead of looking beyond where we are right now? The wonders are here before us.
So, drive with your windows down and smell the air or feel the wind in your face. Hold the hand of a child, a lover, a parent or a friend. Step on the lush grass, a crunchy leaf or crusted snow and listen to the sounds of nature’s chorus serenade you. Stop and gaze at the sun as it rises to meet the day or tucks away for the night but not before it displays the changing colors in the dusk. Close your eyes as you taste the sweetness on your tongue or let your taste buds tingle with that morsel in your mouth. Smile or say an encouraging word to the impatient or downcast soul slouched or agitated in the line at the grocery store. Think of all the simple joys in a day that don’t cost a cent. Practice one a day - there are over 300 of them left in 2021 and trade your grumpy for grateful; your dismay for delight in the great ocean of life.
“The whole earth is filled with awe at your wonders; where morning dawns; where evening fades, you call forth songs of joy…. You crown the year with your bounty and your carts overflow with abundance.” Psalm 65: 8, 11
fireworks
Winter, in all its majesty, can be dark and dreary. I know I need, want and crave light and color during this season. That’s the beauty of fireworks. What a way to celebrate! Colors can burst through our lives! Red and pink pulses through our hearts and love flows into our veins; bright yellow creations flash into our minds; oranges and greens sparkling in our homes as we share our spaces with others we love. Just as we stand in awe of mountains covered in snow, we reflect on all the world as to offer and see the shades, tints and tones of optimism and beauty. We can have a portentous attitude! We are blessed.
PORTENTOUS is an adjective meaning eliciting amazement or wonder. I see the reds, yellows, oranges and flashes of color in our world. Even though we are experiencing post-holiday blues, the sudden halting and letdowns from all the hype of Christmas, we can live in a kaleidoscope of color patterns. Our 2020 is drawing to a close and some can’t wait for the year to vanish and be forgotten. The global grey and dab browns of global chaos COVID has caused; the blue feelings of a situation we can’t change; bank accounts emptying, surrendered goals not achieved and unfinished travels continue for an undetermined time. What to do? Breath in. Take a deep breathe into your lungs. Breath it out.
Eastern medicine practitioners believed the lungs processed grief. We have suffered much of that over this past year. Stone greys, beiges, blanched almond browns, tans and silvers display our mourning. Yet, we can catch our breaths - catch the moments of wonder and amazement. Fireworks!
“Love your life, poor as it is. You may perhaps have some pleasant, thrilling glorious hours, even in a poor house. The sun is relfected from the windows of the almshouse as brightly as from the rich man’s abode; the snow melts before its door as early in the spring.” Henry David Thoreau
Be creatively colorful! Shout emblazoned words of enthusiasm! Treat yourself and others with the hues of kindness as we walk confidently, exploding with possibilities into the future. Into the next hours, days and year. Wishing everyone all the best for 2021 - whatever colors it may bring, may you find the beauty in your days.
“For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all.” 2 Corinthians 4:17
winds of change
Anticipation - for dreams of better tomorrows; for family get togethers in the new season; for babies yet to be born; for Christmas presents under the tree to unwrap, and yet, here we are in the winter of our longings. We live each season, breathing the aromas they have to offer, taste the sweetness of the influences of each and savor the fragrance emitted into the air.
The wood burning fire, the turkey roasting in the oven, the crisp mountain air filling our lungs are a few of the sensations of this winter season. Ginger snaps and peppermint tingles our taste buds, hot chocolate with melted marshmallows burn the tip of our tongues and snuggling under fuzzy blankets on the couch listening to our favorite songs or watching Classics on our screens make us feel safe and cozy. Traditions, recipes, rituals of Christmas. What are some of yours?
Joan Borysenko is a scientist, mystic and therapist who describes the rituals we go through. “The seasonal rhythms correlate with our bodily rhythms.. Our dream life and inner life grow more insistent in the winter darkness… The old year is put to bed, one’s business is finished, and the harvest of spiritual maturity is reaped as wisdom and forgiveness. Winter, the season we are certainly engulfed in, is a time for resting, restoring and reflection.
As we put 2020 to bed; as we continue to watch humanity cry out; as we long for the winds of change to gently move through our world, we can take time to ponder, ask questions, decide on what to change and who to forgive. We see that there are many distractions that fight for our attention, but there is only One who can satisfy the thirst of our souls. He invites us to drink of the living water. “God is a mountain spring and not a watering trough…. he delights to overflow…God wants drinkers! People who will get down on their faces and satisfy their thirst with his love. He is liberal, generous… bountiful” John Piper
Christmas is when love came down and so let us - in whatever way we can and wherever we can - go and feed people with love - the world needs to taste and drink of it. Joyous Noel as we celebrate the greatest gift of love this season.
“But when the kindness and love of God our Savior appeared, he saved us, not because of righteous things we had done, but because of his mercy.” Titus 3:3-4
LIght of the world
Watching…. Waiting …..Advent - a time of reflection. Some are staying in the bubble, enclosed in protection and a experiencing that feeling of safety in a circle of love. Hugs, conversations, peace and connections.
Lockdown…. Restrictions …. COVID-19 - a time of fear. Some are living like they are trapped a prison cell, enclosed in four walls and dreading what sentence is to come. Suspicious, anger, protesting and disconnected.
People experience life in different ways but why not see that the light of the world is shining now? The prisoners need to climb out of the confines of the box and see the world with new eyes as they look upward. Eyes of hope, like the Magi who journeyed to Bethlehem using the stars to guide them two thousand years ago, enabling them to witness the newborn baby, Jesus. We know that He will return one day and so we continue to hope, journey on and look upward.
When we do look out at the night sky and search the heavens, we can watch and see the two planets - Jupiter and Saturn - that will appear to form a double planet that was seen 800 years ago. The bible tells us that God put signs in the sky and so on Monday - December 21st of this year, a rare event will occur. This “Christmas Star” or the “Star of Bethlehem” is a beacon of light in our dark world. We can see with our own eyes that growth and change are possible. The light can shine in the darkest of nights. Jesus didn’t stay a little baby in a cradle of straw; he grew into a man who died on a wooden cross.
As we ponder the light of the world; we gaze in wonder at the displays of lights at Christmas. Whether it be a nativity display, angels hovering above the streetlights, colored bulbs glowing on porches across the city, may we remember that Jesus “is the radiance of God’s glory and the exact representation of his being.” Hebrews 1:3
This season, let’s shine God’s light for all to see and sing about the Christmas celebration. Check out the sky and Lauren Daigle - Light of the World
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z4nvVw8z6K8
Different December
December can be polar opposites of the season. It used to be the month of mad mall shopping for the right present to wrap, baking trays of cookies to share with others and writing the Christmas newsletter to slip in the countless Christmas cards ready to mail. For some it is sledding in the snow, flying off to a sandy tropical beach and for others it’s singing around or before a log fire. But it can also be the month of missing the ones we love, gaining pounds from too many chocolates and entering a season of misery with overcharged credit cards and family gatherings all gone wrong. And then there’s this year - a season very different from any we have ever experienced - whether it was festive with carols or fraught with sadness.
We are crossing the bridge of change and things look very different from what once was. It’s difficult to transition at the best of times, and now we are doing so with varied opinions, information and emotions wrapped with a bow during a season of festivities that don’t seem all that fun or fulfilling. We aren’t sure what’s on the other side, but we know we have to keep moving forward to get to the other side of whatever will be.
There are going to be disappointments because we wish things were like they were and they’re not. We will be dismayed that we can’t be physically together to celebrate a beautiful tradition and we are distraught because that’s just not the way it used to be.
There is a Hebrew word for what we need to do. “Ruach” means to breath. Yes, take a breath. Shut out the noise. Breath. Breaths. Again. Breath. Stop the discouraging thoughts. Don’t be detached from your humanness. Don’t be disenchanted with the differences this year. Instead, delight in a child’s laughter; declare the good news of Jesus’ birth into the world; and dance to the music of the beauty within and around us. The angels brought tidings of comfort and joy. Let us find those in these days.
“But the angel said to them, ‘Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people.” Luke 2:10
un nuevo dia
It’s a known fact that sunrise is later and sunset earlier during this Advent Season. The daylight is precious and we long to see the sun shining. The Indigenous Prayer of the Seven Directions starts with facing the east - where the sun comes up - the directions of new beginnings, hope and potential. The Navajo also teach their children that the sun has only one day and so they must live each day in a good way, so that the sun will not have wasted precious time. These are wise words as we acknowledge the joy in each day.
That’s tough some days and especially during our winter and now with the restrictions put on us because of the pandemic this year. The darkness invades our thoughts; it pulls us down into despair, sadness and pain. But even the tiny flicker of hope is that Jesus is the light. The light lives in me and it is anchored in my soul. So just because we are living with loss - some of jobs, freedoms, savings, family, touch, social togetherness - no one can take away the light in us. We need to shine that light for others especially during this season.
Corrie ten Boom was a woman who suffered the atrocities of imprisonment during WWII. She and her family lost their freedoms after they housed, helped and hid many Jews from the Nazis. Corrie was released from Ravensbruck, a prison camp, on December 28, 1944, due to a clerical error. One of her favorite quotes was, “His light is stronger than the deepest darkness.” Soon after her release, all the women in her camp were killed. She continued to share her light with the world everywhere she went.
May we too know that the darkness cannot extinguish our light - the light of the world came to us in the form of a baby.
“The Word gave life to everything that was created, and his life brought light to everyone. The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness can never extinguish it.” John 1: 4-5 NLT