"Love always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres..."
I love that translation of I Corinthians 13. But always is a concrete, positive, never failing, impossible, intimidating word. Always is unyielding.
Yet....
"I press toward the mark for the prize of the high calling of God in Christ Jesus"
Thursday, May 28, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
The Black Cashmere Sweater Vacation
I had a black chasmere sweater vacation. On Hilton Head Island, South Carolina.
We do this get away yearly. The "girls" in my family get away for a weekend or a week to be with each other, catch up on things, reminisce, and just do girl things together.
This year we, everyone- all eight of us, plus two resident aunts- were going to spend a whole week on Hilton Head Island just basking in the sun after a long, cold winter. (I was not actually going to bask, since I've had all the radiating rays that I can have for a lifetime but seeing the sun sounded good to me)
We left earlier than anticipated from the north country, hence I still had my black cashmere sweater on that I had worn to the freezing cold and rainy graduation of my neice from nursing school. Thank goodness! I had been packed for weeks, my suitcase FULL of shorts, bathing suits and cover ups and sandals. No warm clothes.
I wore my black cashmere sweater everyday.
I was freezing and needed warm clothes, not the sleeveless shirts that I had hoped to wear. It rained and was cold everyday. Even the locals seemed to be getting depressed. And for all the years that I have been going to Hilton Head, I have never seen it rain more than one day, then the beautiful sun would break through in all its glory.
But this was what we got and we had fun anyway. Some had pedicures done, we went to the movies, we played games; speed scrabble, canasta and uker, we went to the outlets and TJ Maxx, we put on swim suits and swam in the indoor pool and relaxed in the hot tub, we fixed food, we bowled, (no one reached even close to 100), we went out to eat at a great sea food restaurant, visited with local aunts and friends, and best of all we were introduced to the newest member of our "girls club", Adeyln, my neice's new daughter.
We had devotions with each other in the morning and shared concerns and issues and prayed with and for each other. And at the end of our time together we all said it was a great time, we enjoyed just being together and my neice commented that it was one of the best family vacations.
We had fun, we smiled, we laughed, and we have survived our many wounds.
How could that be? How could that be that we can still gather, and laugh and sing and have fun?
The secret to survival, I believe, is in the roots.
We have roots and they have gone deep. Down, always reaching down, like that tree that is planted by the rivers of water. We've lost mother, sister, aunt, husband, son and brother recently, not to mention the moving on of our older parents.
Our spirits and souls grow deep in God. Our strength, our healing, our health, our very survival, not to mention whether some in our group are aging successfully, is dependent on the depth and nourishment of our souls in God's soil. If we have roots deep in God then circumstances, loses, disappointments, trials and sicknesses may try to break us off, they may be able to maim and wound us temorarily, but they will not be able to destroy us.
And I see at the very place that we have been broken off and left to die a sprout is growing and we grow tall and strong again. Together.
We do this get away yearly. The "girls" in my family get away for a weekend or a week to be with each other, catch up on things, reminisce, and just do girl things together.
This year we, everyone- all eight of us, plus two resident aunts- were going to spend a whole week on Hilton Head Island just basking in the sun after a long, cold winter. (I was not actually going to bask, since I've had all the radiating rays that I can have for a lifetime but seeing the sun sounded good to me)
We left earlier than anticipated from the north country, hence I still had my black cashmere sweater on that I had worn to the freezing cold and rainy graduation of my neice from nursing school. Thank goodness! I had been packed for weeks, my suitcase FULL of shorts, bathing suits and cover ups and sandals. No warm clothes.
I wore my black cashmere sweater everyday.
I was freezing and needed warm clothes, not the sleeveless shirts that I had hoped to wear. It rained and was cold everyday. Even the locals seemed to be getting depressed. And for all the years that I have been going to Hilton Head, I have never seen it rain more than one day, then the beautiful sun would break through in all its glory.
But this was what we got and we had fun anyway. Some had pedicures done, we went to the movies, we played games; speed scrabble, canasta and uker, we went to the outlets and TJ Maxx, we put on swim suits and swam in the indoor pool and relaxed in the hot tub, we fixed food, we bowled, (no one reached even close to 100), we went out to eat at a great sea food restaurant, visited with local aunts and friends, and best of all we were introduced to the newest member of our "girls club", Adeyln, my neice's new daughter.
We had devotions with each other in the morning and shared concerns and issues and prayed with and for each other. And at the end of our time together we all said it was a great time, we enjoyed just being together and my neice commented that it was one of the best family vacations.
We had fun, we smiled, we laughed, and we have survived our many wounds.
How could that be? How could that be that we can still gather, and laugh and sing and have fun?
The secret to survival, I believe, is in the roots.
We have roots and they have gone deep. Down, always reaching down, like that tree that is planted by the rivers of water. We've lost mother, sister, aunt, husband, son and brother recently, not to mention the moving on of our older parents.
Our spirits and souls grow deep in God. Our strength, our healing, our health, our very survival, not to mention whether some in our group are aging successfully, is dependent on the depth and nourishment of our souls in God's soil. If we have roots deep in God then circumstances, loses, disappointments, trials and sicknesses may try to break us off, they may be able to maim and wound us temorarily, but they will not be able to destroy us.
And I see at the very place that we have been broken off and left to die a sprout is growing and we grow tall and strong again. Together.
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
Chartreuse
I love this time of year here in the north country.
It is so full of energy and potential.
On the drive to camp yesterday the skies were filled with chartreuse. New budding growth on the trees. Almost leaves, but not quite. A blanket of brilliant yellow green spanning upward to the skies, providing a lattice through which to view the clear blue sky.
The water on the lake was calm. No boats, only a pair of mallard duck quietly paddling near the cove. The canadian geese are back, but in hiding, warming their future offspring. Soon there will be lines of families silently traversing the lake.
And at home, while washing the dinner dishes, I see a tiny baby bunny outside my kitchen window. He looks so vulnerable. All alone in my side yard eating the dandelions without a care. Doesn't he know that two big dogs live inside and neighborhood cats roam freely? I don't think he is fast enough yet to escape these predators. My cardinals are back and come for their dinner everyday at 5:00pm and the goldfinches swarm the backyard feeder.
The hostas, strong and constantly expanding, have made a full recovery after the harsh winter. And the peonies and liliacs are budded and ready to intoxicate us with their heady blooms. Pink and white crabapples and apple trees are also waiting their turn. The bowing foliage and blossoms of the bleeding hearts are swaying gracefully in the breezes and the salwart little muscari are still standing tall after emerging first from the frosty ground.
We've waited a long time up here in our northern most region. And we are being regally rewarded.
It is so full of energy and potential.
On the drive to camp yesterday the skies were filled with chartreuse. New budding growth on the trees. Almost leaves, but not quite. A blanket of brilliant yellow green spanning upward to the skies, providing a lattice through which to view the clear blue sky.
The water on the lake was calm. No boats, only a pair of mallard duck quietly paddling near the cove. The canadian geese are back, but in hiding, warming their future offspring. Soon there will be lines of families silently traversing the lake.
And at home, while washing the dinner dishes, I see a tiny baby bunny outside my kitchen window. He looks so vulnerable. All alone in my side yard eating the dandelions without a care. Doesn't he know that two big dogs live inside and neighborhood cats roam freely? I don't think he is fast enough yet to escape these predators. My cardinals are back and come for their dinner everyday at 5:00pm and the goldfinches swarm the backyard feeder.
The hostas, strong and constantly expanding, have made a full recovery after the harsh winter. And the peonies and liliacs are budded and ready to intoxicate us with their heady blooms. Pink and white crabapples and apple trees are also waiting their turn. The bowing foliage and blossoms of the bleeding hearts are swaying gracefully in the breezes and the salwart little muscari are still standing tall after emerging first from the frosty ground.
We've waited a long time up here in our northern most region. And we are being regally rewarded.
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