Wednesday, March 23, 2011

A cup of water to the thirsty ~Mark 9:41

Yesterday was World Water Day...and I dare say for most of us here it came and went unregarded.  That would have included me, but for God's provision.  You see, I happened to 'stumble upon' our Fr. Dan Nganga sharing this recent video from his home diocese in Kenya, as he was planning a talk with our teens this weekend during their 30 hour famine.  As he explained it, water is a difficult issue there.  It is very important where the wells are dug, as some are 'willing to share' and others are protective to the point of warring over water.  Watching this, one can understand their desperation.  Take a few minutes to watch this brief film.  If nothing else, it will make you grateful for our ease of life, truly.  I hope it will also move you to compassion; a feeling of deep sympathy and sorrow for another who is stricken by misfortune, accompanied by a strong desire to alleviate the suffering. 
Fish on Fridays...giving up chocolate...seriously?  Isn't the gospel call of Lent (and all our days) about turning our desire to God's own heart, then living that life of Love for the sake of the world? 





                        Turn off playlist at bottom of page to hear this

Sunday, March 13, 2011

Spring Forward



Lent means Springtime...What will you plant?

 
















I love Springtime, and the smell of wet earth as I turn it over and plant my little bits of hopefulness. 
Small violets are blooming now, yellow buds brighten the tomatoe vine, and the tiniest shoots are just breaking through.  I plucked the new lettuce bright green and purple and remembered France.  My garden is a happy chaos, not organized traditionally but flowers and vegetables growing side by side, sharing space in such a way that I have to sift through flowers to pick the lettuce.  I am not so much a gardener as I am a child playing and wanting it all.  Common gardening wisdom tells me that won't work, my garden will not flourish, but it does...just enough wild blooms, just enough green vegetables, a few carrots with their earthy crunch to satisfy this hungry soul and the ones who join me at table. It is just like tending my soul.  No neat rows, life spilling over into life, all of it here.  It's daily surprise makes me happy.  What more could I possibly ask? 

Wednesday, March 9, 2011

The life entrusted to us

A friend of mine snapped this a couple of weeks ago at a family gathering to welcome our soon to arrive grandson!  As usual, my husband was full of hilarity and when it was time to snap the family photo he clowned with our 'baby boy'.  The image has stuck with me through these days providing much food for thought.  After the initial chuckle (I was busy posing and hadn't seen what was going on just out of my sight - the proverbial rabbit ears)  what immediately came to mind was John 3:30
"He must increase, I must decrease"
Isn't it such a part of the pattern of parenting, growing them into the man or woman they will become, our role in one sense decreasing as theirs takes off.  Yes, we have become less, and gladly so, to watch them shine is our delight.  I can recall certain times of intentional stepping back, so that one of our children could soak in all the graced goodness of a given moment...watching them as they stood tall and took it in.
And now it is Lent and those words take on another meaning, another pattern recognized...yes, the scripture tells us that we must decrease and Christ increase...yet with ashes fresh upon me, I also see the Father, bending down in delight wherever He sees Christ rise up tall in humankind...and shine!  May this lent be a season of growth that delights the Father with the life of the Son lived in us.