Shining Spirit

A couple of nights ago, we had a sleep-over at our house. The rain had stopped and as darkness began to descend, I walked out onto the backyard deck, just to make sure everything was ready for a good night’s sleep. The trees are very thick just beyond the deck, except for a small clearing off to my right behind the tool shed. And when I looked that way, I thought I saw movement, slight but still something other than branches moving in the wind. And then I saw the big ears atop that graceful, gentle face. A young deer had found a nice spot next to a yellow wheelbarrow and apparently decided to bed down for the night. He looked at me very carefully, probably wondering if I might come too close and force him out of his comfort. I think our eyes locked for a minute or two before he glanced away, maybe deciding that I wasn’t a threat after all. By now darkness had chased away the light, and I wished the visitor a good night before heading back into the warm house. 

Then a thought passed through my mind, one that almost sent me back out with a flashlight. Was the beautiful animal injured? Is that why he didn’t move away when I looked his way? Why was he on his own at this point in his young life? Should I go back out and walk closer just to see if he could get up and move easily? After a few minutes of debating with myself, I decided to let him rest in that spot he had chosen, and to check on him early in the morning. My real wish was to walk up to him, sit down on the ground and tell him how grateful I was that he chose to camp out in the little clearing. Imagine how wonderful it would have been to let him know that he was safe, admired, and valued as a creature of sacred design. But that’s not the way life works, is it. Early yesterday morning, just as light began to filter into the trees, I slipped quietly out onto the deck and looked for my friend, our guest. But he was gone. I take that to mean he is healthy, out foraging for his early meal.  In any case, I wished him well in my thoughts and gave thanks for his company. Hospitality blesses the giver and the receiver. Maybe he will choose to come back to the clearing and bring a friend next time. Always glad to have a party.

Highway 101 runs along the west coast and it’s known for sharp curves, stunning views of the ocean and falling rocks from steep, shear cliffs. Recently, my wife and I drove to Astoria to do some shopping and some exploring. As we worked our way through a series of switch-back curves, we met a new friend. He had already stopped traffic coming the other way. Now, as he casually walked across the busy highway, quite unconcerned about cars flashing headlights and honking horns, I stood on the brakes and pulled to the shoulder of the roadway. The next thing we knew, he was strolling up behind our car, then walking slowly beside us on the passenger side. Thus, the picture above. What a magnificent creature. I think Sue could have reached out an touched him he was so close, but she had second thoughts. Smart woman.

This has been a remarkable week because of sightings and encounters with wonderful examples of beauty in God’s good creation. Two days ago it was the brilliant rainbow in our neighborhood, then yesterday the Elk walking beside the car, and today my unplanned visit with two deer eating grass along a roadway in our State Park. The pair looked up, gave me a wink, and kept right on eating. Since there were no other cars on this backroad, I stopped, rolled down the window, said hello and asked them to pose for a few photographs. Apparently the sweet grass was more interesting than my invitation, but I got a few pictures anyway. Wonderful memories were made this week. Wonderful blessings came our way. In all three episodes, I turned a corner and ran right into examples of the artistry and gifts of The Presence. I can’t wait to get in the car tomorrow!

You’ve heard the old tale about the pot of gold at the end of the rainbow? There’s not one. I know. I was there yesterday. I was driving home from the Post Office, the rain had stopped and the sun decided to pop out for a few minutes, I turned the corner, jammed on the brakes, jumped out of the car and ran into the end of the rainbow. The colors were so vivid in this full arch above the houses. And, yes, the end of the rainbow seemed to come down behind the house in the photo above. So, I slipped between the houses and into the general area when the strips of color disappeared into the moist air. Honestly, for having stood in the end of the rainbow, I don’t think I look any more like Tom Cruise than I used to, but my spirit got a huge boost and I felt a sense of gratitude. Genesis 9:13 all over again! ”The sign of the covenant…” As I think I have mentioned before, there are signs of Presence everywhere; signals that a promise is a promise. Maybe you won’t see a full rainbow today, but if you pay attention, you will get reminders that we are not alone in this amazing experience called life. Stunning or subtle, they are there. 

The voyage of the USS Manzanita is about done. The Captain gave the order yesterday: Navigator, plot a course for Arizona. I said: Aye, aye, Captain. When the Captain’s on the bridge, everybody pays attention. We don’t get underway for a couple of weeks, but it takes planning and organization to stock supplies, haul out the footlockers, make sure that everything is shipshape so that the voyage to homeport is successful. It’s only about 1,500 miles, and we’re hoping for fair winds and following seas. Our sturdy ship was fully loaded on the voyage here and that’s the case sailing home, too. One extra souvenir T-shirt will sink us. So, in a short time, when all is ready, the Captain will give the order to haul in all lines, call upon the Chaplain to bless our days underway, and stand on the bridge wing as the crew “mans the rails”. With one long blast on the ship’s horn, we are off, leaving behind the wonderful experience of this coastal port, pointing the bow toward home. I will keep you posted as I mark off each day on our “short timer’s calendar”. By the way, I advise standing aside if you encounter the Captain in a passageway. She has a lot to do. 

I share with you the traditional words of the Midshipman Prayer offered weekly in the chapel at the U.S. Naval Academy. While distinctly Christian in wording, this beautiful prayer has also been set in Interfaith language. 

Almighty Father, whose way is in the sea, whose paths are in the great waters, whose command is over all and whose love never fails; let me be aware of Thy presence and obedient to Thy will. Keep me true to my best self, guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and in deed, and helping me so to live that I can stand unashamed and unafraid before my shipmates, my loved ones, and Thee. Protect those in whose love I live. Give me the will to do my best and to accept my share of responsibilities with a strong heart and a cheerful mind. Make me considerate of those entrusted to my leadership and faithful to the duties my country has entrusted to me. Let my uniform remind me daily of the traditions of the service of which I am a part. If I am inclined to doubt, steady my faith; if I am tempted, make me strong to resist; if I should miss the mark, give me courage to try again. Guide me with the light of truth and keep before me the life of Him by whose example and help I trust to obtain the answer to my prayer, Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.

In this reading this morning, let me tell you about another reading that I’m reading every morning. No, it is not about clarity in sentence structure. It’s about people who are picky and demanding, always expecting perfection. The ones who are not satisfied after the steak has gone back to the kitchen four times. They somehow believe that being very particular is an indicator of good taste and that not being satisfied unless their preferences are met is a sign of sophistication. The point that Mark Nepo wants to make is “one key to knowing joy is being easily pleased,” and that demanding impossible perfection will always leave us disappointed. Quote: ”The further I wake into this life, the more I realize that God is everywhere and the extraordinary is waiting quietly beneath the skin of all that is ordinary. Light is in both the broken bottle and the diamond, and music is in both the flowing violin and the water dripping from the drainage pipe. Yes, God is under the porch as well as on top of the mountain, and joy is in both the front row and the bleachers…” if we are generous in our acceptance of life in the moment.

Acceptance of life as gift doesn’t mean liking everything that comes along, but it is quite different from demanding perfection, seeing life as never quite good enough, and living in perpetual disappointment. One more quote: ”the devastating truth is that excellence (perfection) can’t hold you in the night… A person dying of thirst doesn’t ask if the water has chlorine or if it was gathered in the foothills of France.” My point in sharing Nepo’s point of view: Life is a gift put into the hands of imperfect people who rarely experience perfection. An attitude of demanding is not a good way to say “thank you” to the gift giver. My wife has told me more than once that the words inscribed on my headstone will be: ”It’ll do.” So, that’s my gift to you this morning. Please don’t be demanding of perfection in grammar, choice of words, punctuation or writing style. This is not about literary perfection. It’s about spiritual awareness. Don’t miss the jewel contained in Nepo’s idea. Give it some thought. 

I am grateful for Mark Nepo’s The Book of Awakening. The subtitle tells it all: ”Having the life you want by being present to the life you have.” May you find blessing and joy in this extraordinarily ordinary day. 

“Black and blue” usually has a connotation of pain or suffering, but not in the case of the Stellar’s Jay. This beautiful bird stopped by for breakfast the other day, just outside my window. He seemed to enjoy the breadcrumbs, ate his fill, gave me a wink, and off he flew. But my day was all the better for having this guest for breakfast. Maybe you won’t have a breakfast guest today, but you will have the opportunity to find at least one object of beauty nearby, take time to be with it in thought or thankful prayer, sit quietly in memories. Might be an object on a shelf, a view from your window, the face of a friend in your memory. Look around. You live in wonder. You are wonder embodied. The Stellar’s Jay is just another bird compared to you. Fly today. 

The photo you see here was taken after 8 p.m. in complete darkness. The Moon, surrounded by little white dots, stars, is the prominent feature. I share it with you for this reason: Light shines through darkness. The darkness cannot overcome it. Even in a pitch black night, it is still there. Even when my spirit, my soul, is dark, it is there. This is the message of the Christian Gospel, isn’t it. There is a strong echo of Genesis 1 and an affirmation of the claim of Jesus: ”I am the light of the world…” Right here in my backyard…yours, too. When I take time and pay attention, I become aware of many reminders and affirmations of the presence and power of The Light. Even when you can’t see it, it’s there. Live in that Light today. 

How can a bird fly without sky,
a fish swim in sand,
a light make sense expect to be shown?
How can the world function 
without music?
I woke this morning dry and vacant,
confined to the boundaries of sameness.
Today will look like yesterday
which is a forecast of tomorrow.
In a thoughtless effort to block out the painful
silence in my spirit, I stuck
pieces of what plastic in my ears,
tapped a musical note symbol on the
electronic device that both links me to and
separates me from reality, and
felt a vibration in my soul, the sound
of flood water coursing through the
dry river bed, rounding the bend,
exploding into playful gurgles and
clapping waves of delight.
My body moved.
My heart moved.
The curtain went up in my mind and there
was the symphony, on stage, in a crescendo
of harmonies and mystical magic.
May the God of soul cleansing,
life awakening music
know that one individual stands this morning
with arms raised to the sky
in gratitude and awe.
Thank you, Song of my Soul, for music.

An artist has been at work here! Welcome to The Gallery of Gratitude. Amazing how stunning the simple can be. What’s in the gallery where you live? 

“Just gimme a rock! I’ll show that guy!
Stand back and give me room!
He brags and boasts and struts around;
he’s full of gas, that pompous clown!
This day he meets his doom!”

“Now, David, please control yourself,
and look what’s here at hand.
Goliath there is ten feet tall
and you, my lad, are rather small
to take on such a man.

“His armor weighs as much as you;
his spear is twice your height!
Those muscles in his arms are huge
and you? O, David, you will lose
if you pursue this fight.”

“Get out of my way and hand me that stone;
today the giant dies.
That puffed up windbag’s in for a shock.
Let’s see if he likes this jagged rock
between his glaring eyes!

“See how he snarls and stamps his feet;
he tries to look so mean.
He thinks he’s caused us fear today,
but insults hurled are merely a play
to scare us from the scene.

“Well, Goliath, old boy, if you’ll turn just a bit,
a little more profile please.
Wrapped here in my sling is a present for you
delivered expressly from Yahweh and crew.
Let’s see how you look on your knees!”

“O, David,” they cried, “your aim’s found its mark.
Goliath is flat on his face!
We knew all along we could count on you, lad;
never a doubt that the power you had
was sufficient to end this disgrace.”

“That’s strange,” David said. I thought you were sure
that a small man would be in the way.
I remember you saying: ‘Go home to your sheep’,
that only the big men were able to keep
the giant from claiming the day.”

One little rock and one little man!
And now the people all say
that out of the turmoil and fear in the crowd,
David stepped forth, refused to be bowed,
and became a great leader that day.

(A reflection on I Samuel 17)