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Carrying My Grandmother
There was a time in my life when I dreamt a lot. I would awaken with the dream fresh in my head. Methodically, I would write it down in one of my journals. From time to time I dip into the pages of earlier journals to catch glimpses of my past life. However, I rarely think they are as interesting as I did as when I wrote them. But there are a few gems, such as the year 1990, when I gave birth to Gregory. Tuesday morning, January 25th at 4:00am I awoke to the memory of a dream–so real I was living it–about my paternal Grandmother. She was very…
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Gratitude
Oliver Sacks was a neurologist, naturalist and prolific writer. Facing the end of his life, a few years ago he wrote about his love for life and his gratitude for living. It is this sentiment that I wish to end this calendar year and begin a new one. He writes: “My predominant feeling is one of gratitude. Love has been received and love has been given. Above all, I have been a sentient being, a thinking animal, on this beautiful planet, and that in itself has been an enormous privilege and adventure.” Deleted: –Oliver Sacks “Gratitude” I agree with Sacks in that I feel enormous gratitude even in this past…
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Vespers
In the past few months I have added two positive events to my life. The first is a late afternoon walk which takes me to a beautiful nearby lake. The second is Zoom Evening Prayer from the Church of the Ascension in New York City. It starts with an opening prayer for forgiveness. The lectionary leads us through a Psalm or two, followed by readings from the Old Testament and New Testaments. The readings are not always easy. Led by each Priest we get the context and a better grasp of the meanings. There are also prayers the needs of particular people and the world. Both the walk and the…
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Becoming
Advent began last Sunday and for me it is a time of preparation and hope. It is both joyful and reflective. My thinking in life has always centered around becoming. What am I waiting for and hoping to become? For me becoming is always in process– looking out to see what one never saw before. A reminder from the Church of Ascension newsletter: “I said to my soul, be still, and wait without hopeFor hope would be hope for the wrong thing; wait without love,For love would be love of the wrong thing; there is yet faithBut the faith and the love and the hope are all in the waiting.”—…
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Why Wake Early
Hello sun in my face: One of my favorite poets has a wonderful poem and collection titled: “Why I Wake Early.” Mary Oliver is a lover of nature and she wakes early to enjoy it. At the end of this piece you will hear her read this poem. If you do not live in nature, she will take you there. As we begin a time of increasing darkness and colder weather for some, we are reminded of how we must seek light. Put yourself in places where you can get some sun–inside or outside. The miserable and the crotchety: Several years ago I remember I experienced a lack of sleep…
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Solitary
I am learning each day that I walk alone and I am getting more used to it. But I also know that there is a deep part of me that yearns for companionship. In the midst of the pandemic, I found myself longing to meet a fellow traveler. It seemed an odd time to have that wish, but this is when the longing surfaced. A solitary person I am not. People captivate me and I enjoy the company of all kinds. When I am outside, I enjoy nature and animals that inhabit the area of Asbury Park. The Great Blue Heron always draws my attention. And she is always alone.…
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Keep Your Eye on the Ball
“Keep your eye on the ball” not only applies to sports, but also to life. A few years ago I played a lot of tennis and had a tennis coach to help me play better. She was quite good, not only at playing tennis and teaching it, but also helping with mental strategies which were useful in life. In a way she was my life coach. Perhaps I learned more of life’s lessons than how to improve my tennis game. Marlie would come to the net and say, “Linda, you must keep your eye on the ball. You know what I mean.” Sometimes the best way to explain a concept…
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Prayer
I went to a Lutheran church on Sunday and the minister’s sermon was about prayer. I was raised on prayer. It is the part of my early faith that I keep with me and treasure the most. In my mind’s eye, I can see my father rising early to pray before breakfast followed by work. The door to his room was shut, but I imagined him on his knees for that is the way I believed he prayed. To me prayer is private, profound and very powerful. My father had a love for prayer and I share this. Prayer is also related to communities of worship and can be both…
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Open my heart
The storm is over. I like the sound and feel of “the calm after the storm.” The air is cleaner and the earth is renewed. All the animals have returned. Did you know birds and cats and other animals have fine senses which tell them a storm is coming and to take cover? Cornell Ornithology Department says this about what birds do long before the hurricane or tornado arrives: Different birds use different ways to wait out a storm. Birds that normally roost in a cavity—such as chickadees, small owls, woodpeckers—hide out in their cavity. Birds that roost on branches, such as jays, sparrows, cardinals, crows, etc, tend to perch…
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Gone fishing
It is sunset and I am riding my bike for exercise. I am also on the lookout for birds and other animals. A blue heron flew over my head, legs dragging behind it. Her landing was smooth and she touched down right at the water’s edge. She positioned herself well to search for food. Her eyes were quick and darting. The great blue heron’s eyesight is about 3 times acute as ours. Its binocular vision gives it very good depth perception. Many of us are fishing for something–perhaps a change of scenery or something new by the water’s edge. One of my dear friends who spent many years in the…
