Pause to Ponder

How can I learn to better care for creation?
One way is to simply step into nature and pay attention
Creation has so much to teach us!

“Very Good”
That was the seventh day
voiced with a loving look at all of creation

And how very good indeed that we be born
in the likeness of Divine’s capacity
to delight and give expression to Love’s creativity!

(The colorful drawing is from Creative Art.)
https://www.facebook.com/share/18fM7bNJ5P/?mibextid=wwXIfr

I feel the welling up of Spirit in me today!
Like the well house that sends fresh water
to our Brenden Woods neighborhood,
the Spirit stirs us like a spring within, enlivening
and empowering the whole community of creation!

Come Holy Spirit, gift us with love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, generosity, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control that we may be a cool drink in a world that thirsts for goodness and
embody the fullness of life that has no end

Gathered together at Maple Ridge Assisted Living
we were stirred to cheer so that everyone knew
“We’ve got the Spirit! How about you!” 🎉🔥🙏

Growing older we best be explorers
When memory fades
take heart and move into another intensity

Like Carol gifting her mom for her 96th birthday
a new phone with pictures of her loved ones
There is further union and communion growing old

I pray my aging heart be like a weathered mailbox,
open to give up and receive what makes me new
all the days of my life

I took a breath
took air in enough
to respect and listen to others

Giving them space
to express their beliefs
and those shared values we hold as sacred

How do I welcome you
Guest of my heart?
Do I pay attention to you
Offer you a cup of tea
Enter into communication?
Or do I leave you sitting alone
While I go busily onward
Feeling I’ve done my duty
By simply opening the door
And inviting you in?

Today: I will do more than open the door.

(Picture of door at St Edwards Church, England, Words from Eleanor Farjeon in Fragments of Your Ancient Name)

Like the Ancient Greeks we live in a time of
vibrant ideas and mind-spinning advancement
but in morning devotions comes this age-old question:
What satisfies the persistent longing in our hearts?

How easy it proved to be

to strum my little instrument in song

for folks in need of some “pick-me-up”

And when politics & aging threaten to infuriate
and it feels like there’s so little I can do about it
to speak love, sing about it, and offer up a smile

Yes, even when feeling useless and exhausted
enough hope springs up within and around
to send hearts soaring with love and good cheer

Big thanks to friend and bassist, Gary Streeter, who joined in on the fun!