After having days of sunshine, warm spring temperatures and budding flowers winter has returned. In a matter of one day we went from sundresses and shorts back to mittens and wooly toques.
We could be discouraged by this return of cold gray days or we could be grateful for the week of warmth we enjoyed. Often life brings us to moments of choice, moments when we stand at the cross roads of doubt or faith, hope or despair, gratitude or regret. How we respond determines a lot on our situation. There are times of despair and regret just as there are times of hope and gratitude. How long we linger in each is entirely up to us.
At first I was grumbling as I dug out warm socks and a sweater but realized these grumblings only left me feeling sad and discourage. So, I decided to try a different outlook. I silently offered a prayer of gratitude for the morning spent sitting under the empty maple tree watching the birds, the first BBQ supper of the year and the evening when we reclined on the back deck admiring the stars. What wonderful memories to warm these chillier days.
Besides, we know these chilly days are numbered. These are the days we enjoy our last bowl of chili or beef stew until autumn, the days that afford us time to switch out our winter clothes with the summer fair. Each moment holds so much to cherish. As Matt Haig writes, “We just have to close our eyes and savor the taste of the drink in front of us and listen to the song as it plays.” (Midnight Library).
May you find reason to rejoice on these last dull days of the northern breeze trusting that warmer days are just around the corner.
Spring has stepped outside the door! And, in spite of the persistent north wind and accumulating snow it dances defiantly to the rhythm of birdsong, celebrating the lengthening of daylight while leaving crocuses and snowdrops in its wake.
Signs of spring’s frolicking can be seen everywhere: Canadian Geese loudly announcing their return, Robins and Red Winged Black Birds bringing splashes of red to the dull tree tops and pussy willows courageously standing tall in the cold breezes.
Spring is the most optimistic season of the year. It heralds warmer days, bright sunshine and fields of colourful wildflowers during the fickle days of March. As columnist, Doug Larson writes, “Spring is when you feel like whistling even with a shoe full of slush.”
May everyone whistle a happy tune confident of spring’s stubborn tenacity.
What an exciting day; the day the seeds arrive! These small colourful packets bring magic and joy to an otherwise dull February day transporting me to warm afternoons spent toiling under the sun. Each packet holds small pearls of hope.
The shriveled up peas, tiny radish seeds and the sprinkling of promised lettuce looks insignificant to anyone who has never coaxed life from a garden. But, to those who know of its lure, these packets harken to autumn pleasures of full fruit cellars, preserves and hanging herbs. These tiny gems are deceptive in their power, tenacity and transformation.
Lent is a “seedy” season; a season of great transformation. We deliberately turn inward to examine our personal relationship with God all the while moving steadily toward a crucified death. And, like a seed planted in the dark soil, the darkness cannot stop life from emerging. Similarly, this Lenten journey brings us to a resurrection that teaches death does not have the final word.
So, yes, Lent is the perfect time for the seeds to arrive! As Jesus taught, “The kingdom of heaven is like a mustard seed, which a man took and planted in his field. Though it is the smallest of all your seeds, yet when it grows, it is the largest of garden plants and becomes a tree, so that the birds of the air come and perch in its branches.”
May we all have a “Seedy” Lent that transforms these darken winter days to days of spring flowers, bird song and joyful celebration.
It was a damp, cool and foggy morning; perfect for a walk through the park. As we quietly strolled past the tall bare trees draped in mist and over small wooden bridges almost swamped by the over flowing streams I thought how perfect this weather fit my mood.
The recent headlines had left a fog hanging over me, images of broken bodies pulled from tons of debris. Two massive earthquakes in Turkey and Syria, the first at 4:00 a.m. on February 6th as folks were slumbering snuggly in their beds registered a 7.8 magnitude which was felt as far afield as Lebanon, Cyprus, Greece, Israel, and the Palestinian territories. A second quake, which recorded a magnitude of 7.5, struck just 9 hours later. Both resulting in a death count at 41,000 and rising.
How can one look at the images, read the data, watch the carnage on the evening news and not be affected? Besides donating funds (check out Canadian Red Cross at redcross.ca) we can also pray asking for God’s light, love and healing to reach each victim and strengthen the rescue workers.
It is easy to despair and feel vulnerable. We know that one minute these people were sleeping soundly and the next chaos ensued. We know they did not deserve this to happen and we know, from witnessing this devastation that it could happen to us too. Perhaps our chaos may not come as an earthquake but may be disguised as a pandemic, cancer or a car accident. Some were left feeling anxious this past weekend as an American Fighter Jet shot down an Unidentified Flying Object over Lake Huron. This happened way too close to home!
Thing is, we have only so much control over what happens in this world and there is no sense worrying over that which we cannot control. What we can control is how we spend our days. The moments of our lives add up to the sum of our days and result in the story of our lives. It matters that we handle what we can control well.
Richard Wagamese, a truly inspiring First Nations writer shares this wisdom,
“All we have are moments. So live them as though not one can be wasted. Inhabit them, fill them with the light of your best good intention, honour them with your full presence, find the joy, the calm, the assuredness that allows the hours and the days to take care of themselves. If we can do that, we will have lived well.” (Embers, 161)
May we all continue to hold the victims in our prayers while also shaping our moments into lives of light, joy, peace and love.
Jesus tells us that we are the light of the world and we are to shine His light for all to see; “do not hide it under a bushel”, he warns (Matthew 5:16). Hearing these words always reminds me of the author Robert Louis Stevenson who is best known for works such as Treasure Island and Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde. I once read a story from his childhood that illustrates what it means to be Christ’s light in the world.
As a child Robert Louis Stevenson was in very poor health. One night, when he was quite sick, his nurse found him with his nose pressed against the frosty pane of his bedroom window. “Child, come away from there. You’ll catch your death of cold,” but young Robert would not budge. He was mesmerized as he watched an old lamplighter slowly work his way through the black night lighting each street lamp along his route. “See, look there,” Robert pointed, “There’s a man poking a hole in the darkness.”
That is what we are called to do, poke holes in the darkness. To be Christ’s light means we go into dark places and share God’s love, forgiveness and acceptance. These dark places may be grief, poverty, illness, injustices and loneliness.
It takes courage and faith to be Christ’s light in a darkened world. So often the world rewards the “winner” at the risk of many “losers”. What would TV be like today if we took out the competition to be the best and instead just celebrated everyone’s unique talents? What if everyone received second place and praising God came in first place? Then we would see the light everywhere!
We need not do grand acts that bring us a lot of attention and accolades, as Neal A. Maxwell writes, “Small lights have a way of being seen in a dark world.” Simple acts as taking time to listen to each other, building each other up and speaking words of love produce a powerful light.
Dwight L. Moody put it best when he preached, “We are told to let our light shine, and if it does, we won’t need to tell anybody it does. Lighthouses don’t fire cannons to call attention to the shining—they just shine.”
I got caught in a net this week; a net of kindness. It all started off so unassumingly. I had phoned the cell phone supplier with questions regarding my bill and what seemed like 12 hours of being on hold my turn finally arrived.
After explaining the reason for my call the operator politely sighed and in a soft and kind voice said, “Sometimes things happen that we have no control over. I am sorry this has happened to you. Let’s get this fixed today.” She began to explain what she was doing as she clicked her computer keys. It was just a mix up on my bill and within minutes she had corrected the mistake. As I thanked her, she again said, “As I said before, sometimes things happen that we have no control over. It is hard but we can help each other out.”
After hanging up the phone, I paused and wondered if she was an angel or some kind of Zen Master! Who knew that having a billing mistake would make my day?
She was right, there are times when things happen that we have no control over and it is hard, but together we help each other out.
I suspect that is what Jesus meant when he called the fishermen to be his disciples. It is written that Simon (also called Peter), his brother Andrew, James and his brother John put down their fishing nets so to follow Jesus. (Matthew 4:18-23)
Jesus taught them how to use the nets of kindness, understanding, acceptance and healing words to catch those falling into despair and darkness. Jesus knew the world was in need of such “catching”.
It would seem Jesus also uses cell phone operators to do the same kind of healing. I wonder what the world be like if we all followed Jesus’ teaching, “…in everything, do to others what you would have them do to you…” (Matthew 7:12) How many more could we catch?
In these darkened days of winter let us all join in the work of Jesus’ fishermen and throw wide a net of kindness, gentleness and understanding. As the Dalai Lama said, “Be kind whenever possible. It is always possible.”
It was two years ago this month that I finally figured out exactly what I wanted. It wasn’t an easy decision, I had traveled down some tricky roads, tossed and turned through sleepless nights and after intellectually weighing all the pros and cons I decided against logic and followed my heart.
I stepped out of all the busyness of life and took a rest. It had been over 30 years since I had such a rest. Not just a 2 week holiday but an indefinite hiatus from the world with no plans. It reminded me of the time just after graduating University; a time of excited uncertainty. I had no doubts that whatever lied ahead would be amazing and I was right.
In the Gospel of John we read of two disciples who began to literally follow Jesus down the road. Turning around, Jesus saw them and asked, “What do you want?” They wanted to be closer to him and had stopped everything in their lives to do so. He invited them to, “Come and see.” I felt as though I was one of those disciples and excitedly followed.
What an adventure it has been! My prayer life has improved immensely and with certainty I have heard back from God in the song of the birds, the sway of the trees and in the silence of a full moon. Miraculously opportunities came my way and I now find myself serving God as a Hospice Chaplain and a Country Preacher, both roles bringing me deep purpose and a sustaining peace.
As author Hiral Nagda writes, “Sometimes doing nothing makes way for everything.”
Have you listened lately? There is something January whispers. It is a soft melody left behind after the song birds have flown south and the trees have quietly gone to sleep. It is a gentle refrain leading us deeper into rest. A song augmented by the softening of daylight and the slowing of the days.
These muted days of January are a gift meant to sooth and calm our eternal souls which are forced, for a while, to reside in a world bent on a feverish pitch of movement, noise and selfish ambition. January is a soothing balm which can soften a quiet part of our souls that sense the gentle movement of God’s Spirit. This Spirit is an eternal presence so ancient it is familiar to a sacred part of our being. It calls us to slow down and be at peace.
Listen as January whispers, “Be Still and know that I am.”
I hadn’t been the minister long, only five months when the Sunday School Superintendent approached saying, “You don’t have to lift a finger for the third Sunday of Advent, I will take care of everything.” It was White Gift Sunday; the Sunday of Joy and she would tell the organist and choir which hymns were chosen and she would pass the order of worship to the secretary. She assured me everything would be taken care of and all I had to do was show up.
My husband, daughter and I arrived that Sunday to utter chaos! There were children everywhere, we usually only had five arrive on any regular Sunday, but this Sunday there were at least five times that many. There were three Marys, two Josephs, one Wiseman, five angels, three sheep, countless shepherds (all in their bathrobes and towels), four elves, two reindeers, one Santa and a pink and white unicorn. I was a bit confused by the pink and white unicorn but later was told that was Ashley and she wore her Halloween costume everywhere.
I became nervous when the service began with Santa entering the sanctuary and taking the seat at the front. Soon a few elves and reindeers followed as they entered and sat by Santa’s feet; but I relaxed when Santa picked up his Bible and began to read out loud the story of Jesus’ birth.
And, on cue, the children came down the aisle as their character appeared in the story. That is, until a wrestling match started somewhere by aisles five and six between one of the Marys and her brother, a shepherd! While they were duking it out in the aisle two of the lambs began a bleating contest to see who could bleat the loudest, three of the angels discovered they could climb over the front pew, down it’s back, under it and back up over the pew again and again, two of the shepherds began sword fighting with their shepherd’s hooks and a Joseph found the piano keys and began to pluck away!
It was a mess; a beautiful mess!
Santa just kept reading, louder and louder, as the characters piled into the sanctuary stepping over the wrestling shepherd and Mary, around the dizzy angels and despite the bleating sheep. The story continued until the Wiseman presented his gifts to Jesus. He then turned and galloped away on his broom stick camel and Santa sat silently, the angels stopped playing, the sheep stopped bleating, and all the fighting ceased. The sanctuary fell quiet.
The story was complete.
Or, was it?
Two 12 year old elves quietly came down the centre aisle and as they did so one of the Senior youth went to the pulpit and carefully said, “Wise people still search for Jesus to this very day.” As the two elves approached the manger, they knelt, and while looking down into the face of Jesus they touched a switch on their hats making the top of their elf hats swirl up and down in a comical gesture of awe!
It was the most powerful rendition of the birth of Jesus I had ever witnessed. The joyful, unexpected, uncontrollable and messy presence of God was dancing throughout the sanctuary filling us with joy and laughter.
But, before I could make the mistake of over thinking this service, I was handed a piece of paper. The children and the Sunday School Superintendent were now all lined up at the front of the sanctuary and pre-recorded music was playing. I looked down to the “hymn” sheet and couldn’t believe my eyes. I looked straight at the Sunday School Superintendent as she winked at me and with a huge smile she began to lead us all in the final song of the service, “Grandma Got Run Over By a Reindeer”!
It was a Sunday I will never forget!
May God’s joyful presence dance through everyone’s Christmas celebrations and may we all be so filled with hope, peace, joy and love that they last for the entire New Year!
Being agreeable can sometimes be dangerous! In an attempt to keep life simple for ourselves we may be tempted to merely agree with someone who is expressing some bitterness or mistrust towards another. We nod our heads or say a word or two which pleases and justifies this person.
I had this happen recently, while sitting and waiting for an appointment the person next to me struck up a conversation. Their views on politics both locally and provincially differ from my own and their bitterness towards life was tangible but instead of trying to offer words of peace or gentleness I just nodded and went along with the conversation.
Later, as I reflected on that conversation I was disappointed in myself. It was a lost opportunity. Perhaps God placed this person, ever so briefly, in my path so I could offer words of peace, hope and joy; words that may have calmed his anxious mind and perhaps widened his view of gratitude. Perhaps simply by changing the conversation I could have softened his bitterness and aided him to remember that which makes him smile.
I made myself promise to remain on guard so that I not do this again but instead seek to be a “Bringer of Joy” or as Jesus calls it a “Peacemaker”. There is no other beatitude whose blessings is more radiant that that of the peacemaker-“they shall be called children of God.”
As we light the third Advent Candle, the pink Candle of Joy , may we do so with the commitment of being those who bring God’s joy to all we meet.
Stain Glass Lens of the 21st Century 