remember

As a Middle School teacher, I was always intrigued by the solemness of our students during our Remembrance Day assembly. These normally robust, energetic and fidgety teenagers would quietly sit on the steel chairs watching images of soldiers, peacekeepers, mothers and veterans displayed on the white screen as the band played. They would stand at attention as the Last Post resounded in the recesses of space and they would close their eyes and bow heads when we stood in silent solidarity for a minute that might have seemed like eternity for some. Such reverence. Such thoughtfulness. Such sincerity. Acknowledging and paying tribute to so many who gave their lives for our freedom. Remembering.

I can still recite “In Flander’s Fields” to this day. When I was a young student, we memorized John McCrae’s poem. I know that seniors I have spoken to remember the ration cards from the war years. My friend’s son remembers his days as a peacekeeper in the Middle East. One senior I spoke with remembered the “Doodlebugs” in England, the bomb with wings from Germany war planes. Others choose not to speak of the atrocities they saw and the pain they endured. Yet we must still remember those who died for us so we could be free. On November 11th, we honor those brave souls. Remembered.

Many young people today have only seen “war” on the big screen movies or television news. Yet the war we are fighting today continues. We fight for our freedoms, our rights and some for their very lives. Our war is spiritual and when both God and the devil fight for our souls, we know there is something very precious worth fighting for. And so this week, as we pause to ponder, let us remember the man who gave his life for us, the ultimate sacrifice to free us from sin and give us life everlasting. Remember.

This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters. 1 John 3:16

giorno

This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it. That bible verse is clear as day. October was a month of birthdays for me. Members of my family, friends and neighbors and even myself celebrated another revolution around the sun. There was Thanksgiving and every month has its special days. Why not celebrate each one of them?

Whether it’s “dies” in Latin, “nap” in Hungarian or “dia” in Spanish and Portuguese; the word day has been with us since the Beginning.

In the beginning God created the heavens and the earth.  Now the earth was formless and empty, darkness was over the surface of the deep, and the Spirit of God was hovering over the waters.  And God said, “Let there be light,” and there was light.  God saw that the light was good, and he separated the light from the darkness.  God called the light “day,” and the darkness he called “night.” And there was evening, and there was morning—the first day. Genesis 1: 1-5

And so, just as words pass through our mind, our actions for the day are moments in time. LIfe is the adventure. Each day is a new prayer. As the sunlight creeps into to day, I realize that November has done the same. There is a skiff of snow, the last of the leaves have fallen and small flocks of geese fly south over the lake. No butterflies. No flowers. No need of shade from the sun. Winter is on her way and my days will be spent more indoors than out. And so, I take each day as it comes and celebrate the moments.

Today I get to sing. I am able to wake and take a breath of fresh air outside. Today I can share my love with others. I am able to serve. Today I can praise the creator of the universe. I can read, write, speak and think. I can capture my thoughts in words. I can feel, worship. dream, live. I hope you can too, so enjoy your day!

sound

Sound the alarm! If it sounds too good to be true, then it probably is, but no worries because it just sounds like a plan to me. Some love the sound of their own voices and some sound like a broken record but it sounds fishy to me. We can relate to the sound system of the media with the sound track playing the same messages. We can see the sound stage of our world with its sound pollution and sound barriers. Is anyone really listening?

So many are sound asleep. Can we hear the sound of silence?

As the sun bursts into life from the womb of dawn, the sound of morning glory comes to life. Sound energy moves in waves across the landscape, the earth, the air, the water and life is heard by living beings. If we listen closely, we can hear the voice of God, our Creator, whispering in the silences of our souls. We are to be of sound mind. So many are so empty inside.

Every mouth, heart, instrument and space can be filled with songs of praise, encouragement, wisdom, love, music, stories and life. There are songs to sing, stories to tell, praises to sing, filling the world with the sound of joy. When the furnace cuts in, a car door slams, a diesel truck roars by and my day begins, I listen for the birds in the trees, read my daily bread and thank the Lord aloud for the blessings in my life.

Max Lucado tells the Parable of the Mop Bucket - a man who looks and sounds tired as his feet shuffle and the wheels of his cart move along the office hallway. Then he hears a voice like Moses heard from the burning bush; that Samuel heard in the quiet of the night; that David heard before his battles. If you would like to know what was said, check it out at: https://www.anecdonet.com/03/03/the-parable-of-the-mop-bucket/ We too can hear God’s voice in the sound of our sorrow, joyful times, strife, blessings and daily battles. Just talk to him and he will answer.

“so David inquired of the Lord, and he answered, “Do not go straight up, but circle around behind them and attack them in front of the poplar trees. As soon as you hear the sound of marching in the tops of the poplar trees, move quickly, because that will mean the Lord has gone out in front of you to strike the Philistine army.” So David did as the Lord commanded him, and he struck down the Philistines all the way from Gibeon to Gezer.” 2 Samuel 5:23-25

travel

I really want to go somewhere - anywhere - now that the leaves are falling from the trees, the mornings are frosty and there is snow on the mountain tops. I long for the days of flying but I need to reroute. In the expanse of each new day, I need to let go of the world and its destinations and travel inward.

I don’t need a car, a train or an airplane for the purpose of finding joy. In the stillness of my space, I can reach out to God and I am filled with thanks, love and life. My soul has the sun and I can feel its warmth within me. The surf of my spirit joins the chorus and cadence of the waves as I walk on the sandy shores of my daily life. I continue this inner journey and find peace and healing from my Maker.

I have walked the cobbled streets of Rome, tasted the pomerac fruit of the Caribbean. I have seen palm trees swaying from the Pacific wind and I have tasted the salt on my lips from ocean sprays. I have soared into the clouds and watched the whales breech along the coast, but today I travel to the place untouched by human hands into my soul. The light floods the landscape of my life relfecting rays of sunrises and sunsets.

My longing is a connection to the God of the universe and as I read his Word, I am reminded of ancient places and meet all sorts of travellers. I sing praises and hear the music reverberate through my veins. I pray to Him and am transported to indescribable places of beauty that I see through observant eyes. And so, as I sit at my morning meditation table, my spiritual journey continues as I learn His ways, lean on Him for strength and wait for Him to continue showing me HIs glory. My journey isn’t over. Judges 18:5-6

 Then they said to him, “Please inquire of God to learn whether our journey will be successful.”

The priest answered them, “Go in peace. Your journey has the Lord’s approval.”

feathers

Now and then I will find a feather laying randomly on my back patio or I step over a fluffy white one hidden partially in the grass as I walk around the park. I also see them as earrings hanging from racks in the little gift shop or I see them in a photo used as a quill for some writer who has dipped its end into a jar of ink. Some believe that when they see a feather, it is from the wing of an angel left for us to find and remind us of heavenly deities. Feathers adorn the headdresses of dancers and are displayed in living color on the singing birds of the world from the foilage of the Amazon rainforest to the canaries in metal cages. Even as I look up to the clouds, I see shapes of feathers.

Indigenous elders will tell you that the feather needs to be looked at closely as there is much wisdom to be found. The spine represents your life’s road. Everyone knows that the feather is thicker at one end and thins toward the end. Isn’t this true of our lives? We are strong and hungry for knowledge, but as we grow we lose our innocence and become concerned with other things like a job, relationships and the world around us. Our foundational knowledge is there and with us, becoming more honed as we age.

There are hundreds of filaments that adorn the sides of the spine. This represents the teachings, the lessons and the experiences we accumulate along our journey and gather to become the person we are. An eagle’s feather has particular significance because the eagle’s feathers enable him to fly above and see a long way. As humans, we too can reflect on our lives and see the bigger picture and soar above into a full life of opportunity.

Psalm 91: verses 1-7 make reference to feathers.

Whoever dwells in the shelter of the Most High
    will rest in the shadow of the Almighty.
 I will say of the Lord, “He is my refuge and my fortress,
    my God, in whom I trust.”

 Surely he will save you
    from the fowler’s snare
    and from the deadly pestilence.
 He will cover you with his feathers,
    and under his wings you will find refuge;
    his faithfulness will be your shield and rampart.
You will not fear the terror of night,
    nor the arrow that flies by day,
 nor the pestilence that stalks in the darkness,
    nor the plague that destroys at midday.
 A thousand may fall at your side,
    ten thousand at your right hand,
    but it will not come near you.

May you find refuge not regret; faith not fear; patience not pestilence and peace not plague. Soar above the problems of today and be safe in the shadow of His wings.

choice

I enjoy reading many of Richard Wagamese’s books. Indigenous authors such as he, have much to say about the world and people’s stories. That’s why I was delighted to see that Drew Hayden Taylor has taken many of Richard’s meditations and non-fiction writings and designed What Comes From Spirit as a literary legacy to honor him and his work. One particular page captured my attention:

ME: What’s the biggest strength Creator gives me?

OLD WOMAN: Choice

ME: That seems kinda small.

OLD WOMAN: It’s your true power. Your biggest power.

ME: Really? How so?

OLD WOMAN: With it you get to direct the course of your life. You can choose to give up. You can choose to hang on. You choose to feel angry. You choose to not listen, to stay tied to your past, to blame, to be prideful, to ignore humility. You choose your ego over your heart, to be a reactor or a creator. But you can also choose to let go, to have dignity, to forgive yourself and others, to see how valuable and beautiful you are, to be vulnerable and share your true self, to not be a victim. You can choose to be happy.

ME: All that is mine.

OLD WOMAN: It always was and always will be - but you have to choose to use it.

In these interesting days, some people are having choices made for them; while others are making difficult choices. Our governments have chosen to go deeply into debt; our politicians have chosen to be involved in science and people are choosing to demonstrate their feelings in both negative and positive manners toward one another. We, as humans, have always been able to choose. God gave us that ability when he created us.

We can choose any kind of life we want. We can break God’s laws or follow them. We are not robots and have been given the gift of free choice. We have the right to shake our fist at God or bow down on our knee in prayer or worship Him. Eve chose to share the apple with Adam in the Garden of Eden and he chose to take a bite. Even Jesus made a choice to die on a cross when he could have walked away. In the Old Testament, Joshua spoke these words when addressing the Israelites in Joshua 24:15

And if it is evil in your eyes to serve the Lord, choose this day whom you will serve, whether the gods your fathers served in the region beyond the River, or the gods of the Amorites in whose land you dwell. But as for me and my house, we will serve the Lord.”

And so it is that we have the right to resist or follow, yet despite all our rebelious nature, God loved us so much that He sent Jesus to take it to the cross for us as sinners and die for us. He wants us to follow him. That’s a choice we get to make. I’ve made my choice but whom do you choose to serve?