If a Tree Fell

Out of the ground, God made to grow trees for beauty, for food, and for life, and trees that are symbolic. Have you ever thought about trees not being able to move themselves? ... They can only be displaced if they are uprooted by humans or severe weather... For the most part, trees have no choice...  Imagine that wherever you were born, you must remain your entire life, that God made you to grow in one spot. What would be the hardest part of being immobile? Would there be an advantage to it? Who or what would you like to have visit you most often as you remained in this one place." 

Longing for Home: Daily Reflections for Lent (United Church of Canada)

Home often refers to a designated spot. You can picture a house or city that comes to mind when someone asks "where is your home?" It is more rare today when whole families live within 50 miles of each other. Prompting Sherm Kauffman to muse “It’s getting so the Abrahamic thing to do is to stay put.”

I can't decide if the idea of being rooted to one spot is so remote because I have a wanderlust soul after moving almost every two years as a youth, or is it because I am not ready to pronounce I am powerless, as the first acknowledgment in The Twelve Steps. I don't tolerate traffic jams, finding a way to go rogue on side streets, even if that means going into unknown neighborhoods and adding miles to the trip. I just want to keep moving, unchained, full of options.

The next day after reading the tree devotion, I listened to an interview with a Benedictine monk who shared that stability is one of the four vows taken when joining the order. They promise to remain in that community as part of their calling. Thomas Merton believes, in making this vow, “the monk renounces the vain hope of wandering off to find a ‘perfect monastery.'” This will be their imperfect home, with imperfect people, with a great faith in their perfect mission. 

The hardest part of being immobile? Watching the comings and goings. Selfishly, I always feel left behind when I drop someone at the airport. The tree waits patiently, offering its life for others, on their terms, in their time. Yes. That is a challenge. 

Not yet ready to root myself, I'm thankful to find them in my wanderings, resting in their shade, admiring their silhouette, eating their offering. It's hard to choose a favorite: Pecan, Pine, Redwood, Peach, Willow, resilient Mesquite. 

And in my egotistical nomadic life, if a tree falls and I'm not there to hear it... 

Saints Alive

Saints are a mysterious brood. I envision them like the distant cousins that are discussed but live too far to come to the family gatherings.  You hear of their adventures through the one aunt that keeps in contact but you've never spoken with them. You don’t know whether to be envious of their remoteness or sad that they will never hear Aunt Meredith snoring after the meal or hear Uncle Wayne’s stories of riding the rails.

There’s yet another Lenten study I found that lends itself to lively conversation, witty banter, rivalry and an occasional wager – rarely Lenten adjectives, but it is balanced by the true mission, to share historical accounts of 32 selected saints. http://www.lentmadness.org Day by day one saint’s biography is aligned with another saint and after reading each saint’s transformation and effect on others, the reader votes for the one they believe should advance to the next bracket. Yes, bracket like college basketball’s March Madness. Eventually one saint will be acknowledged with the golden halo – the pinnacle of the exercise. People, like me, who couldn't pick Saint Hildegard out of a lineup are beginning to welcome them into their living rooms.

Today’s readings explored Gregory and Brendan. Gregory the Illuminator was instrumental in bringing Christianity to the people of Armenia, which was the first nation to embrace Christianity as its official religion. TMZ might gleefully mention that he and his wife were examples of the first “consciously uncoupling” as they each wanted to enter monastic life. Brendan the Navigator earned his name by traversing the British Isles and founding monasteries. He started looking for the legendary land across the Atlantic when he was 80 years old and inspired Christopher Columbus 900 years later. TMZ would pounce on the sound bite that Brendan, an adventurer, bragged about never stopping to ask for directions. Irish, adventurer, stubborn - I had to vote for family.

Some say that there must be proof of miracles before gaining the title. Some say saints that have gone ahead of us can still intercede for us today. Some say we can learn what God is like by examining a saint’s life. Some say we are all saints.

I am more like the distant cousin who sees names in the family tree, but never got to put a face with the name. But I am coming home, to meet our saints.

Longing For Home

After a cold snap that dropped 40 degrees the best alternative for President’s Holiday was to stay home and fire up Google. I have never been a good example of one who observes Lent through fasting or sacrifice, but this year I thought I could at least try a study for Lent. With only two days left before Ash Wednesday and no Amazon Prime, the study needed to be on-line.

I had to chase several leads, but ultimately think I struck gold. I found a program sponsored by the United Church of Canada named "Longing for Home" The plan incorporates the traditional printed book/ebook with a host of technology and social media props. YouTube is utilized to start a conversation, which is then carried over to Facebook for discussion, and by the end of the week encourages a meal for one-on-one community.  The interactions thus far have been more than I hoped.

I made the mistake of reading before I went to bed. After poems, reflections, questions, and recipes, my mind was stimulated and longing for more. I visited donteatalone.blogspot.com who intentionally writes daily during Lent, whose words just increased the appetite. Followed by concordpastor.blogspot.com who had a spot-on prayer. 

That’s when it struck me - home for me, is words. I am drawn, fed, awakened, consoled and embraced through words. As a prodigal, who longs for home, if I am to approach, it will be through words.

When deciding an action for Lent, rather than considering what could be given up, the concentration should be “Will this bring me closer to God? (Sister Tracy Dugas) 

Beyond reading I intend to piece together words on my side as well. I know the blessings and the commitment involved, which has kept me quiet for some time, but if the question to be answered is “Will this bring me closer to God?” Past experiences can only point towards the affirmative.

I am coming home.

Low Hanging Fruit

At my work "low hanging fruit" is a common phrase used by management to encourage staff to take care of issues that are easy to resolve in order to tackle what can seem to be overwhelming hurdles. Take care of what you can, making progress, and then continue to whittle away at the more complicated issues. 

At a retreat in the piney woods of East Texas I was struck by the fact that sometimes there is no low lying fruit. 

How to get to the fruit? Climb something equally as high?

or cut it down?

but then the tree is damaged

and put into disarray

sometimes the tree can be re-purposed

sometimes the fruit lands and plants by itself

sometimes there is no low hanging fruit.

No easy solutions to problems

And we can destroy the very spirit by trying to take control.

We can all be made new and re-purposed....

in many more forms than we could have imagined.

sometimes the fruit springs forward from a seed of hope.

Let us know how to trust and wait

when the fruit seems beyond our reach.

show us the way.

Here Comes the Son

There is something exciting and stirring about a sunrise; the start of a new day, championing the darkness. The evolving, shifting colors strengthening and lightening the sky until the sun breaks open over the horizon, officially claiming the birth of a new day, an opportunity to start a new adventure, make amends, or marvel at the beauty of the world.

One marvel, even though it happens every day, is never mundane, the birth of a new son. Like the sunrise, a son’s arrival brings excitement, wonder, love and eagerness. There is a realization that something miraculous and amazing is in our presence and the unfathomable possibilities that each hour now brings with this new life. This child could be a champion of righteousness, a defender of hope.

In so many ways, people have been championing your life all along, providing medical, nutrition, and spiritual care before you were born. Even the preparation for the blessing of your name, Blake Nelson, was an endeavor of devotion, honor and cooperation, a family’s desire to provide a name of meaning to aid your future days.

Nelson means the champion, a name shared with your grandfather, Paul Nelson Calvin. As a lover of the outdoors, he had to have watched and appreciated countless sunrises, getting up while others slept because he knew that time of day supplies opportunities which have to be claimed, or they fall away. He was bold to take action, but also a man of study and reserve; interplay of structured reason and seeking the unbridled mystery. He knew the impetuousness of love but also its permanence. His love remains intact and embraced and now extended.

Blake Nelson, as you champion your passions and loves through your life, know that you are armed with the support of family within and beyond your house walls. Be encouraged by the rich heritage of your being, all the heroes and characters that blended together to make only you. Be attuned to complexities and diverseness that enlarge the brain and heart, usually truth lies somewhere in between. Be aware of the sunrise, and awake to its hopes and possibilities. We are enthralled to watch you burgeon like the sun’s rays claiming each new day. Go forth!

Forever Young

Things most people keep in their trunk to be prepared: jack, spare tire, flash light, tools, fire extinguisher, safety cones and blanket. One additional item I keep in my trunk in attempts to be prepared for the surprises that come along is a kite. Under the right circumstances it is as comforting as the blanket and as uplifting as the jack.

At the end of May came a cool wind from the north that brought North Texans out of the air conditioning and out of doors. The lake was bustling with runners, bikers, and sails. On one old pier a grown woman stayed on the pier for hours, hair whipped by the wind, and a small butterfly kite dancing in the air. Woman??? Not usually a word I use to describe myself. Perhaps a girl with age added.

The kite reminded me of a toddler saying “Again! Again!” I would barely get the kite pulled from the water when another gust of wind would lift the kite back into the sky like a father tossing his young child into the air. It was a love affair between the kite and the wind, each drawing delight in the other. I was a simple bystander with a lone string connection that gave me a small sense of the engagement and play.

One flight lasted for more than an hour, and at one point I wedged the string holder into the pier giving up any pretense of having an influence on the success of the flight. But usually I wanted to hold the string and feel a part of the dance and have a tangible link to the source. Initially I should have known this flight would be different as the kite lifted opposite of the kite’s optimum positioning. The string was coming over the top from the back side rather than pulling directly in front, but the only limitation on this flight was the length of my string. However, without a string and anchor point, the kite could have been tossed uncontrollably into trees, wrapped around motor blades or even into power lines. Even free spirits need a bit of grounding and purpose.

I couldn’t have asked for a better birthday, with a gift that couldn’t be imagined nor bought. I had the freedom of time to enjoy being a child of God and to delight in the presence of Joy. This is a birthday wish that I would share with the world.

Humans give life to their children. Yet only God’s Spirit can change you into a child of God. Don’t be surprised when I say that you must be born from above. Only God’s Spirit gives new life. The Spirit is like the wind that blows wherever it wants to. You can hear the wind, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it is going. John3:6-9

And rather than the traditional "Happy Birthday" perhaps I might request "Forever Young"

"May God bless and keep you always

May your wishes all come true

May you always do for others

And let others do for you

May you build a ladder to the stars

And climb on every rung

May you stay forever young

Forever young, forever young

May you stay forever young

May you grow up to be righteous

May you grow up to be true

May you always know the truth

And see the lights surrounding you

May you always be courageous

Stand upright and be strong

May you stay forever young

Forever young, forever young

May you stay forever young

May your hands always be busy

May your feet always be swift

May you have a strong foundation

When the winds of changes shift

May your heart always be joyful

May your song always be sung

May you stay forever young

Forever young, forever young

May you stay forever young"

Bob Dylan

Jeremiah Luke - A Story to Tell

He can’t yet form words, but he has stories to tell! Accounts of bravery, of faith and of love that defies boundaries. He’ll have the voice of Jeremiah and Luke, proclaiming the promises of God. Like the prophet Jeremiah in the Old Testament, he’ll address and remind the people of faith of their righteousness, and like Luke in the New Testament he will announce the favor of the Lord to the disenfranchised and marginalized. He’ll have the responsibility to speak even when it isn’t comfortable or expected because if he doesn’t, even stones will shout (Luke 19:40).

But I think our Jeremiah will do his part, the stones can remain vigilant. He came rushing into the world with a passion and longing that couldn’t be contained. Being born into a family full of brothers he has already learned that if you wait you will be at the end of the line and you could miss a chance of a lifetime! Jeremiah seized the opportunity to share the entire family leave that his deployed father had been allotted, arriving that very day rather than waiting for a calendar date given by a stethoscope-wearing provider.

Jeremiah hears the Lord and doesn’t delay. His immediacy doesn’t mean he’s reckless or wild but that he is obedient and intentional. He will buy a field (Jer 32) even in a time of unrest and instability if he determines that is God’s will. It’s easy to discern your calling when it has been written on your heart. (Jer 31:33), but it takes a man of conviction to acknowledge and a man of honor to follow. He has the foundation of all his namesakes to offer guidance and courage through his life. On the first day, Jeremiah Luke displayed his unique vocation and talents. What a wonder it will be to watch him reveal his stature.

There is a very good chance that when he learns to speak, his first word will be “Yes.” (Jer 11:5b).

The Lord said to me [Jeremiah], I chose you before I gave you life, and before you were born I selected you to be a prophet to the nations.

I answered, Sovereign Lord, I don't know how to speak; I am too young.

But the Lord said to me, Do not say that you are too young, but go to the people I send you to, and tell them everything I command you to say. Do not be afraid of them, for I will be with you to protect you. I, the Lord, have spoken! Then the Lord reached out, touched my lips, and said to me, Listen, I am giving you the words you must speak.

Jeremiah 1:4-9 Good News Translation