Amazed With Mystery

Hope

Posted on November 29, 2016 | 2 comments

Insight for advent from my daughter.

Here we are again in the first week of advent. A new beginning; a chance to think about the changing seasons, the year behind us, and to learn from what was, what is or what may be…

Our family tradition is to light a candle for each week of advent, and for me the first candle has always represented hope. One year ago, when we lit the candle of hope, we were hoping for so many things. One year later, in a different time and a different place, we have a new perspective on what hope means for our family. Over the year, as the seasons have shifted, we have thought a lot about hope… for ourselves, for our loved ones, and for the world we live in every day.

“All human wisdom is summed up in two words: wait and hope.” (Alexandre Dumas)

It has been a challenging year for…

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Begat ~ Advent Sunday

Posted on November 27, 2016 | 3 comments

Only my kids will get the meaning of this. It is the first advent Sunday. We would have a special dinner and light the first advent candle. We always read from a special book for Advent. It was an Anglican book actually but don’t tell them. We always made Cowboy/Papa/”Walt” read the first Sunday. The reading talked about the lineage of Jesus; it was full of who begat who and how they ended up going to Bethlehem, the city of David.

This year’s first advent Sunday falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday. Unknown events when my kids were growing up. In those days Boxing Day sales had just started. But, somehow Boxing Day sales begat Black Friday and Cyber Monday. It has become a pilgrimage to shopping or should I say consumerism. A quest to find happiness in things and saving a lot of money by spending money we don’t have.

My nostalgia for the days gone by and the condition of the universe today makes me hope that gratitude can prevail and that somehow we can all encounter everyday epiphanies, and find blessings in the abundance we already have.

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Tagged advent, black Friday, consumerism, cyber Monday, gratitude

Gratitude

Posted on November 24, 2016 | 1 comment

From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, more will be asked.

……Luke 12:48

“My predominant feeling is one of gratitude. I have loved and been loved. I have been given much and I have given something in return. 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”

……Oliver Sacks

A hundred times a day I remind myself that my inner and outer life depend on the labors of other people, living and dead, and that I must exert myself in order to give in the full measure I have received and am still receiving

….Albert Einstein

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Tagged albert einstein, gratitude, luke 12:48, oliver sacks, thanksgiving

Feminism 45 Years later

Posted on November 19, 2016 | 1 comment

In 1972 “feminism” was a new word, a great word. One worth getting behind if you were 20. It was my anthem.

“Feminism encourages women to leave their husbands, kill their children, practise witchcraft, destroy capitalism and become lesbians”

……… Pat Robertson, US Politician 1992

“…..!!!!!!!”

…….Donald Trump 2016

Oh well, someone will tell the emperor he has no clothes.

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Tagged donald trump, emoeror's new clothes, feminism, pat roberstson, uspolitics

All Will Be Well

Posted on November 15, 2016 | 4 comments

All shall be well, and all shall be well, and all manner of thing shall be well….for there is a Force of love moving through the universe that holds us fast and will never let us go.

….Julian of Norwich

I took this picture of the full moon last night. To me, it looked like the eye of creator watching over us through the dark storm clouds. It felt peaceful. Thanks to Gratefulness for the quote.

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Tagged eye of creator, full moon, gratefulness.org, gratitude, hope, hunter moon, julian of norwich, love

Hineni ~ Here I Am Lord

Posted on November 10, 2016 | 1 comment

1934 – 2016

You Want It Darker

If you are the dealer, I’m out of the game
If you are the healer, it means I’m broken and lame
If thine is the glory then mine must be the shame
You want it darker
We kill the flame

Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
A million candles burning for the help that never came
You want it darker

Hineni, hineni
I’m ready, my lord

There’s a lover in the story
But the story’s still the same
There’s a lullaby for suffering
And a paradox to blame
But it’s written in the scriptures
And it’s not some idle claim
You want it darker
We kill the flame

They’re lining up the prisoners
And the guards are taking aim
I struggled with some demons
They were middle class and tame
I didn’t know I had permission to murder and to maim
You want it darker

Hineni, hineni
I’m ready, my lord

Magnified, sanctified, be thy holy name
Vilified, crucified, in the human frame
A million candles burning for the love that never came
You want it darker
We kill the flame

If you are the dealer, let me out of the game
If you are the healer, I’m broken and lame
If thine is the glory, mine must be the shame
You want it darker

Hineni, hineni
Hineni, hineni
I’m ready, my lord

Hineni
Hineni, hineni
Hineni

He was my constant companion from my early teens through my twenties. I came of age with Leonard. His poetry will be with me forever.

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Tagged death, leonard cohen, poet, you want it darker

Día de Muertos

Posted on November 2, 2016 | 4 comments

Today is Día de Muertos, Day of the Dead, preceded by all Hallowed Eve and All Saints Day. I am not much one for Halloween but love All Saints and Day of the Dead. It is a day for remembering in a “good way” all those who have passed. I love the Mexican celebration. It is a reminder that all things will pass away, including civilizations. In a hundred years it will be all new people to quote Anne Lamott and rightfully so. This earth needs renewal.

I lost a chicken today. I went out to the barn to let them out and found one of the black and white Wyandotte (Tilly) dead on the floor. We cremated her this afternoon; burnt tobacco, sage, and cedar to send her on her way.

Today I will reflect on all who I know have passed including all of my beloved dogs and cats. They all rest peacefully in my studio in urns ready to be buried as tree fertilizer with me.

I painted this picture of Tilly to remember her and all others on this Día de Muertos.

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Tagged anne lamott, day of the dead, Día de Muertos, dead chicken, pet death

Groundhog Day?

Posted on November 1, 2016 | 2 comments

Over two months since I have posted or even read much on the blogs I follow. This picture sums it up.

What day is it today?

Check out what my feelings are and what the holiday is!! Yep, that is me.

My two youngest grands, 5 and almost 3 now live with us. Oh yes, and their father. Retirement never felt so good!

I looked at the teaching calendar at dinner tonight. Who has been playing with the calendar I asked. Charlie the youngest: “Me, I wanted to make Halloween tomorrow, again!!!!” Yikes.

Bill Murray, you ain’t got nothin on me!!

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Posted in Thoughts, What Matters

Tagged bill murray, calendar, feelings, grand children, groundhog day

Vitamin N

Posted on August 14, 2016 | 1 comment

And dead mice!

When I was little, outside play and dirt were the norms. Summers at the ocean were driven by my mom saying “get outside and play, don’t come back until lunch” Wouldn’t happen today.

Our youngest grand was here this last week unexpectedly because her sister was in the hospital. She is not used to being by herself. She is quite resourceful and loves to play outside, soaking up Vitamin N(ature). Dirty to her means the opportunity for a bath, (“can I have colours”) at bedtime. Friends? Way too many friends here.

And dirt! Sand to be particular. It goes in your Crocs and it comes out, too.

Oh, and the dead mice. We have a problem with mice in the barn, but the cats are on it. As for this little fellow, well, he lost his importance to real goats and chickens. Sometimes the Disney variety just doesn’t cut it. They get abandoned.