observations from a gravestone in bowness

brother and sister run around the graveyard,
playing chase – mom and dad encourage them
their melodious laughter fills the air

a young man, shirtless, with a rope tied on his back
proceeds to light a cigarette, put on his shirt,
retie the rope to his back, and walk on carrying a jug of cider

tourists walk by – sunglasses, backpacks, and cameras
all shapes and sizes – young and old –
Asian and European – a boy carries oars,
a big tourist bus momentarily obstructs the view
of the old house built of oak and mortar

a baby crow squawks – quite still in the grass,
it sits for so long – finally it hops away to find food,
still not used to its wings

I go unnoticed sitting on the gravestone

The Moor

Walked on the moor today - Fabulous.
The WIND - so powerful.
The heather and the brush
Swaying in the wind.
So free,
So wild.
ROCKS jutting out.
Small pools filled with swamp.
The expanse of rugged
GREEN goes on and on.
I could get lost wandering,
This I know,
But the moor calls me,
Beckoning me to explore -
"Come,
     Dance in the wind,
         Sway with the heather,
             Walk on,
                   Walk on,
                        Walk on..."

Sometimes What Worked in the "Olden Days" Still Works Today

As I was baking brownies this evening for my calculus students in celebration of completing their AP exam, I realized I only had half of the sugar I needed for my recipe. I decided I would run out to the store to get more sugar. As I turned on my car I thought, "In the olden days they used to walk over to their neighbor's to borrow a cup of sugar." Then I thought, "Why not try!"

So, I turned off my car, got my measuring cup and walked over to my neighbor's house. I knocked on the door, giddy with the thought of trying this out. When my neighbor answered, I told him I had a unique request, "Could I please borrow a cup of sugar?" After a second he said yes, led me to his kitchen and poured a cup of sugar into my container as I profusely thanked him for his generosity.

In less than five minutes from when I discovered the sugar shortage, I was back in my kitchen, whipping up the rest of the brownies. I am thankful that sometimes what worked in the "olden days" still works today.

Here and Now

Challenged to move into our neighborhoods
And dwell among our neighbors as Jesus did.
He came and dwelt among us.

Look around at the people
Here and now,
Not ahead to what might be
Or is to come.
Be faithful in the little things
Here and now.
Then you will be entrusted with more
Later.

So it was that I was challenged
To follow my call
Here and now.
Dwell among my neighbors,
Love them as Jesus loved,
And share with them how He is working
Here and now.

Lord, give me strength for what is ahead.
May I prove your faithful servant
Here and Now.

A Taste of Heaven

what a glorious experience

to bring in the new year

with brothers and sisters

from around the world

worshiping with one heart

and one voice

in many different languages

unified in Christ

it was a taste of heaven

Moments in the Mist

Morning comes. Cool. Fresh.
Musing on the bench overlooking
A valley covered in fog,
The trees barely visible.

Sitting in the presence of my Lord,
Soaking up the fresh air,
Writing, reading, praying.
Waiting for an answer, for peace.

My perspective is obstructed
Just as the fog creates a vague
Outline of the trees before me.

I know there is a valley below;
Something larger at work
Than the dim shadows I see.

An intricate pattern
Designed by my Father.
One day the mist will lift,
And all shall be revealed.

Observations from Balconies

This past week I have been on two balconies observing the world below and seen an exhibit displaying photography taken from a balcony.

The first balcony was at a fundraiser for building a hope center in Afghanistan where Heather Mercer spoke.

• The old organ playing in the theater brought me back in time as I sat in the almost empty balcony observing the potential patrons below.
• Heather's expereinces, faith and vision for the future were inspiring. What she has been through, what she has done, and what she has a vision to do is amazing. I love to hear of young single women going out into the world and making a huge difference. It was truly inspiring.
• Observing people's interactions with each other and with Heather was calming. I sat for quite a while watching people as they filed out of the theater or waited in line to speak with Heather. She was so kind and enthusiastic in her interactions with these people. As I waited to speak with her, I observed more specifically that she was very intentional about learning and using people's names and inquiring about their story. Something I need to improve in my interactions with others.

The second balcony experience was observing life through the lens of Richard Misrach as he caprtured a beach from his balcony in Hawaii.

• His pictures had no horizon, so the perspective was new and intriguing.
• Some pictures captured several people lounging on a beach. It was facinating to see the actions of each person in the pictures as so natural, yet from a totally unnatural bird's eye perspective.
• Many pictures captured just one or two people lying on the sand - seemingly isolated and stranded.
• Other pictures captured the blue ocean with a lone floating person or two people clinging to each other. The photographs evoked the feeling of frailty in humanity, especially when isolated and surrounded by creation.

The final balcony of the week was on the second floor of a museum looking down on a live jazz band.

• A middle-aged couple danced beautifully to one of the songs, oblivious of everything but the music and each other.
• A man with an easel captured the two women in front of him as they talked together unaware that they were the subject of his drawing
• A man stood alone by the bar tapping his hand on the table in time with the music. Was he alone or just waiting for someone to return?
• A couple weaved in and out of the people who were polite about making room for them on the crowded floor.
• A father danced with his baby as his wife tried to make her child smile and giggle while she danced alongside.
• A young lady looked sad. Why had she come and what made her face so glum?
• A reflection of the hands of the piano player mesmerized me during one of his solos - their movement and the tones captured me in that moment.

What an interesting perspective - peacefully observing the lives of those below from a balcony.

The Longing for Simplicity

I have always had a longing for the simplicity of monastic life; a life devoted to prayer and service to God. The simplicity of a life scheduled around prayer, worship, solitude, and service, without much excess. A life of simplicity.

Simplicity: as I was sitting by the lake at the monastery, I heard the sounds of nature around me, yet there was a comforting stillness in this place. I realized I really enjoy this peaceful setting and remembered that I actually have such a place on my back porch that harbors a quiet, natural setting that I really ought to sit and enjoy the peacefulness of my backyard more often than I do currently.

Simplicity: a simple meal - soup and salad - eaten in silence. In this monastery, eating in the silent dining room, dwelling on God as the monastic chants played from the stereo tuning my heart, thoughts and prayers to God. I take for granted the time I have to pray and enjoy a simple meal in my own home. Too often I get on the computer or hurriedly eat standing up, but there is something restful about communing with the Lord as I partake of the daily food and His provision for my life.

Simplicity: the simplicity of saying the name of Jesus over and over again - always returning my thoughts back to the name of Jesus as one of the monks mentioned. In Nouwen's book "Reaching Out," he tells of a pilgrim who learned the Jesus prayer, "Lord Jesus Christ, have mercy on me." Over and over the pilgrim constantly repeats this simple prayer, as a breath, to open the man's heart to Jesus and come to Him as a sinner crying out for mercy and acknowledging His lordship in the man's life. Simple prayers - even in Matthew, which I read during my stay at the monastery, Jesus says "And when you pray, do not keep on babbling like pagans" (Matthew 6:7, NIV). Then he teaches his disciples the Lord's prayer: simple, yet to the point. The simplicity of every moment and thought turning back to Jesus. Simple prayers expressing the deep yearnings of the heart.

Simplicity: singing the chant-like songs with the monks five times a day. They sing through the psalms, read scripture together, pray together, and continue to dedicate their lives and their time to the Lord. There was no harmony and only on occasion an organ accompanying the simple tunes that declared the power of the Lord and praised His name. Sometimes in the simplicity of these monks' songs, the focus turned off the music and turned onto the words being declared in these Psalms, tuning my heart to praise God in simplicity.

Simplicity: sitting in the beautiful courtyard alone, soaking in His presence, listening to the songs of birds and watching the leaves gracefully descend from the trees; distracted by a wandering goose, turning my thoughts back to the Lord again; reveling in the damp and quiet of the place after a light morning shower, nothing but birds' songs and the faint drip of excess water on leaves falling to earth; soaking up the freshness of God's creation. Then sitting on a bench under a tree as a storm rolled in, feeling God's power in the wind. Invigorating. Refreshing. Hearing the wind die down and watching the rains come peacefully as God replenished the earth. I love the simplicity of reading, praying, and listening to God as I see and hear the work of His hands in creation.

Simplicity: the simplicity of having very little. There is really very little on which we humans must live. Two times in my own reading and once in a reading of scripture during the morning service on the third day, came the story of Jesus sending out the disciples. He sends them out carrying very little to nothing, expecting that they will be provided for by people in the towns to which they travel. He knows the Lord will provide for them through the generosity of others or by other means. In the Sermon on the Mount, Jesus also urges those listening to not worry about food and clothing, but instead to seek the Kingdom of God, for the Lord will provide the rest. I have found God's provision to be so steadfast in my life, yet I hold on to many unnecessary things. As I return from the monastery, I feel the need to cleanse my life of those things in excess and live more simply on what is truly necessary in life.

There is freedom that comes with this kind of monastic simplicity. In this state of simplicity, I feel closer to the Lord. The distractions are fewer and my soul so quiet that I feel I can hear the voice of the Lord more clearly than in the normal every day tasks of life. As I reflect now on this time of peace and solitude, I long for such peace in my life, so I aim to take steps to simplify my life, continue to seek the Lord's will through prayer, and take time to enjoy those times of quiet solitude in order that I may hear His voice.

I will try to live in simplicity. Simple food. Simple clothing. Simple settings. Simple prayers. Listening for the Word of the Lord.