Shining Spirit

Friends walk through tough times together.

They stick by each other when the landscape is bleak. They walk side-by-side, each encouraging the other. That’s what friendship means. There is a place in the Christian scripture that says: “We love because God first loved us…” What if that applies to friendships? We befriend because we have been befriended. “I no longer call you servants; I call you friends…”

The ultimate gift and challenge of friendship? “No one has greater love than this, to lay down one’s life for one’s friends.” To have a friend, be a friend. That’s the way life works best. James Taylor has it right: “If you call out my name, you know wherever I am, I’ll come running…you’ve got a friend.” Yes, you do. Be glad.

It’s not clear, blue water.

In fact, it’s not water at all but thick,

black mud, in some places several inches deep.

The Bighorn Fire’s residue is a reminder of many sad

days when the fire raged in the beautiful Catalina Mountains.

But in this flash of a moment, it is beautiful.

Give it a few minutes and it will be back to ugly ash and

bitter memories. But now in this exact moment, never to be

exactly the same again, it is striking.

Today I will be curious and conscious.

Today I will be awake.

I will be ready to receive blessing.

And it will happen. No doubt.

Today I will see with the eyes of my soul.

And I will be astonished.

The title caught my eye, especially the part about relaxing.
I need to relax and stop fretting about plagues and politics.
Well.
I’ve discovered that I fret as much over crossword puzzles as I do
about other hand wringing things.  Relax?  You’re kidding.
I’m exhausted from trying to figure out “an inadvertently revealing remark”
or “a mild stimulant from a palm tree”.  Don’t tell me, please.  I don’t want to know.
But I do want to relax.  So I’m going to watch the hummingbird sip sweet
substances from the flowers and the wind play tag with the trees and
Toby, my little canine friend from next door, when he walks by
and looks up at my window.
And I’m going to remember the ancient advice about lilies in the fields
and birds in the air and green pastures and still waters and a Shepherd who
cares about me.
And gratitude will be the medicine that cures my anxiousness.
Why don’t you take a dose, too.  You look like you could use some.

Sunday morning…let’s see, what’s on the calendar for this day?
Virtual church and virtual church and virtual church.
Push a button and I’m in Tucson, then Dallas, then Nashville:
blessed by each one.
But even before my virtual traveling, I am prepped by the messages on two little packets of artificial sugar that go into my coffee.  On one:  “leave a little sparkle wherever you go.” Good idea.   On the second packet:  YOU GOT THIS!  Be your best today!”  I got it, and that’s a good idea, too.  But let me translate both into the language of The Way that Jesus left for us:  “Do for others what you would like them to do for you.”
Initiate kindness.  Forgive.  Lend a hand.
Be the first to do it.  Initiate.
Me first…you, too.

I invite you to sit with this photograph and let it speak to you.
Better yet, have a conversation with it.
On many levels, this provocative cloud formation is a commentary
about life and all of life’s “ologies”…Theology, Psychology, Politicology, etc.

It is multi-dimensional, beautiful and scary at the same time, very fluid, symbolic.
For some of us, the formation is interesting.  For others, informative…at least suggestive.
So, get to know each other and see what thoughts are prompted in your
mind and in your heart.  The time spent will be at least as rewarding as
coffee and cable news.
Press on.

Now isn’t this one of the most beautiful things you’ve ever seen?
He lives in the fire ravaged Santa Catalina mountains, thus a survivor, too.
He looks like a tiny warrior dressed for battle, but when we met he wasn’t
aggressive, afraid or timid.  In fact, he walked up beside me while I was
taking pictures of a fire damaged area, climbed up on a dirt mound
and stayed perfectly still, those dark eyes locked on my movements.

I asked if I could take his picture and he held his head up a bit higher.
Probably his better side.  I asked how he got here all the way from TCU
in Fort Worth, Texas.  Texas Christian University is the home of
The Horned Frogs.  He didn’t smile.  Maybe horned frogs don’t have
a sense of humor.  Anyway, I blessed him, said goodbye, and
walked away.

At first glance, he is a fierce little guy.  What do they say: “Don’t judge
a book by its cover”?  Not everybody is on the inside how they
appear on the outside.  Creation and its creatures can be
very good teachers, if we would only pay attention.
I wonder what lesson is waiting for me today?
And for you.

When the earth is scarred by accident or irresponsibility,

the Dawning Light brings healing and strength.

Like a soft, warm blanket, Light enfolds sharp edges

and jagged corners until all finally enter that

state of quiet rejuvenation. 

No darkness is too dark.

No pain too great.

No fear too intense.

Light heals.

Always

Somehow today, Lord, I’ve gotten myself all tangled up.
I didn’t set out this morning thinking this would happen,
but, here I am.  Help me to sort the stuff in my life,
to untangle the knots, so that I can begin afresh in
the morning.  Show me, too, how to avoid this
predicament in the future.  May I rest in you
this night so that your healing and restorative love
can prepare me for the morning.
I place myself and my life
completely in your hands.

Few things are more beautiful than morning over the mountain.

The first hint of the spectacular is the clouds,

gray, then pinkish yellow, then golden around the edges,

then an inferno of yellow flame.

Rays of the almost appearing sun shoot into the sky,

spill down into the valley and paint the mountain

side like an artist’s canvas.

It is worth the wait to sit on the cool

grass and become part of the unfolding.

No day should begin with less splendor.

But, then, how could it?

One remains.

In the field of death and destruction,

standing in the remnants of a savage fire,

a lone figure testifies.

A child will ask her parent, “What happened here?”

And the answer will come, “Do you see that one, tall saguaro

up there? Someday he will have many friends with him,

trees and grasses and little animals, and the mountain will be

beautiful again.”

“When, Mommy? Soon?”

“Some day, my love. At just the right time.”