“I will instruct you
and will teach you
the way you should go”. Psalm 32:8
In a little cabin on our Whidbey property
I will go regularly
to read, write, play music, and pray
Most of all, I will go to our hermitage in the woods
to embrace silence and learn this most important
life lesson: Don’t go it alone.
Today I give thanks for people
who are courageously protecting 
our oceans, cleaning rivers, and beaches
To those in every corner of the planet
who are quietly doing the things
no one else wants to do
Caring for the forgotten
people, places, and species,
doing what needs to be done.
Photo by Samuel Blair, Sunset Beach, Oregon
Reflecting on what Life holds in store
upon our return to Whidbey Island,
these words came to my awareness:
Take courage. Do not be afraid.
Lean into your older years,
encouraging mindfulness and relaxation
Relearn the fine art of doing nothing
Be a clean slate that the Pen of Creation
may write the next chapter in your book of life
With the stirring of Spirit
the tiniest of gifts given with a grateful heart
transfigure every inner and outer landscape
With even the smallest of instruments
and most modest of talent
we help celebrate the restoration of creation
There are countless beads of rain in the world
tears numb and numberless
on our windows
Yet light warms the heart in the teariest of times
like water on the face
they awaken us to the surprise of grace
Day by day we realize, Yes!
No matter how tearful the condition
a light too bright to be drowned still shines
Our illumination of the power to live
burning within and around
every tear volatilized into a glimpse of glory!
Today
I lift up and give thanks for the
slowing down that comes with my aging
The soul of this older body
delighting to go slow and savor
rather than speed up and accomplish
Blessed to rest in and contemplate the good in my life I take time to carefully choose rather than rush off to the next place to go and thing to do
An orange moon appears, it’s light having to pass through more pollution and smoke than usual
just to get my attention
And what is the message sister moon has worked hard this night to deliver? Is her’s a stark warning
or a harbinger of positive things to come?
While mirroring the positivity and life-giving rays of the sun, might her orange also reflect impatience with my slow and shaky reply to Mother Earth’s cry?
Led by Wisdom’s brilliant call
I embark on the journey of letting go
searching for whom I give my all
Gifted with new stationary at Christmas
I look forward to writing more letters this year
birthing expressions of love and encouragement
It takes work
to wait
for what we long for most
It takes practice
to prepare
the way of the Lord
Take heart
in your waiting
God is at work!
Join a faith community this Advent
and plan to attend a
candle light service on Christmas Eve
