Pond Ponderings

Living Simply Can Be a Blessing August 1, 2010

Approaching our Tuolumne Meadows campsite

As some readers know, I begin my mornings by reading scripture and devotional passages that follow the Revised Common Lectionary, a method of covering the entire Bible in three years.  The devotional writings come from the Upper Room Disciplines, an annual collection of thoughts and guided meditations by various writers assigned to each week of that particular year. This past week I read and meditated from inside my tent or under the pines of our campsite.  The readings covered a peek at how God may view his human creatures – like a loving parent who sometimes throws his hands up in despair yet loves his children unconditionally (Hosea 11:1-11).  From there, Psalm 107:1-9,43 reminded me to praise and thank God for that “steadfast” love and constant support.  Moving to Paul’s letter to the Colossians (3:1-11) and the Gospel account by Luke of how Jesus explained right living (Luke 12:13-21) it all became so solidly clear as I got to live out the message on our recent camping trip.

It has been said many, many times that we are blessed by “mountaintop experiences”, but thank God that being on a mountain is not a prerequisite!  Getting away from daily responsibilities and distractions certainly helps, but I know that sitting on my back porch and looking out at my koi pond and plants and flowers each morning  – or even just sitting quietly in my living room or bed – is enough of a “retreat” to gain some quiet and sense of God’s calming power.

Campground singing bird

But this past week we camped in Yosemite’s Tuolumne Meadows campground; we hiked, Tom and Scott flyfished, and I photographed the incredibly majestic mountain peaks and the tiny details of wildflowers and gravel.  We lived without running water, indoor heating, or electricity, yet I felt we couldn’t have lived better in a five-star hotel.  We had food, shelter, and friends to share the week with, and we were surrounded by beauty that can only be experienced individually.  So after coming home and taking my first shower in nearly six days, I read Luke’s account of a conversation between Jesus and someone in the crowd who had come to listen to him teach.  I immediately thought of the bumper sticker that says something like “he who dies with the most toys wins” and contrasted it with Jesus’ admonition to Take care! Be on your guard against all kinds of greed; for one’s life does not consist in the abundance of possessions.Possessions seem so unimportant compared to the ability to hike through high mountain meadows, splash in crystal clear snow-fed streams, hear songbirds in the trees and rocks, and see hundreds of colorful wildflowers and tiny trees growing out of rocks and water!  We had a tent to sleep in, a campfire to keep us warm after dinner, and enough food and water to keep us comfortably alive.  We have our health, eyes, ears and senses with which to experience God’s incredible creation, and bodies fit enough to walk for miles through majestic and awesomely beautiful places.  Moreover, we have resources to travel from our home (an awesomely beautiful coastal environment) to trailheads throughout the state, country, and beyond.   We are blessed beyond measure, and like “the birds of the air” and “the lilies of the field”, we have no worries if we don’t need mansions, the latest fashions, or luxurious cars to make us happy.

Lyle Fork of the Tuolumne River

Therefore do not worry, saying, “What will we eat?’ or “What will we drink?’ or “What will we wear?’ . . . indeed your heavenly Father knows that you need all these things. But strive first for the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be given to you as well. (Matthew 6:31-33)

Clearing Out Space for The Spirit May 18, 2010

Wildflowers in the yard

Wildflowers in the Frontyard

I read a short devotional piece by Jeanette Stokes in my daily devotional, The Upper Room Disciplines, this morning that really spoke to me as a gardener.  Her garden sounds just like my front yard – full of hardy perennials that come back time after time.  All I have to do is make sure I clear out the old growth, weed, and cut off flowers that have finished blooming and/or seeding – and there is room for new flowers to come up and bloom.  She compares spiritual practice to that – I need to make choices and figure out what can be cleared out of my mind and life and choose what is really important.  It’s a reminder of the “Priorities” talk on the Emmaus weekends – what really is important: what do I think about, what do I spend my money on, what do I spend my time on? 

If I want to be led by the Spirit, to be called a child of God, I must leave some places open and welcoming for the Spirit of God to break into my life.

Irises among wildflowers

Bird-Brained? May 8, 2010

This is My Father’s World April 7, 2010

I can’t let this morning go by without feeling and singing praises to The Creator for the beauty of this spring day.  The birds are singing, the koi are floating among the every-increasing waterlily pads, the tulips, irises, orchids, jasmine, and citrus blossoms are in bloom!  Over the past half hour, gusts of wind have begun to blow from the east – Santa Anas are going to bring warm weather to the coast.  And one more thing: I saw the first bee in the yard this morning!

Psalm 150 doesn’t need to remind me: Let everything that breathes praise the Lord!  Praise the Lord!  I have an old hymn floating through my head as I sit on the backporch and enjoy the sights, sounds, and scents of the morning.

This is my Father’s world,
and to my listening ears
all nature sings, and round me rings
the music of the spheres.
This is my Father’s world:
I rest me in the thought
of rocks and trees, of skies and seas;
his hand the wonders wrought.

This is my Father’s world,
the birds their carols raise,
the morning light, the lily white,
declare their maker’s praise.
This is my Father’s world:
he shines in all that’s fair;
in the rustling grass I hear him pass;
he speaks to me everywhere.

This is my Father’s world.
O let me ne’er forget
that though the wrong seems oft so strong,
God is the ruler yet.
This is my Father’s world:
why should my heart be sad?
The Lord is King; let the heavens ring!
God reigns; let the earth be glad!

http://www.hymnsite.com/lyrics/umh144.sht

Epiphany and Isaiah’s Vision February 2, 2010

This is the time of year on the liturgical calendar that is known as Epiphany, a time to discover the meaning of Christ’s coming to earth, to understand our role in the world.

1-30-10 moonset

Today’s and yesterday’s lectionary reading came from Isaiah 6:1-13, when Isaiah describes his vision of seeing God on his throne surrounded by seraphs. Isaiah is cleansed with a hot coal so he can go out and tell people to change their ways. ILM could really do that image justice but I certainly don’t envy Isaiah’s mission. Telling people to change their ways or suffer the consequences is not the most desired mission.  People don’t want to hear it.  Helping people who are homeless, hungry, or sick seems to be easier than telling people not to be judgemental and simply to help.

That’s where the “epiphany” comes in: our role is to help all those who need help, not just the ones we choose to help because we think they “deserve” help more than others.

It’s been a theme I’ve heard a lot recently, both in a positive and negative context. “Why help them when they are too lazy to help themselves?” “Those people are here illegally, those law-breakers don’t deserve this.”  On the other side, “Our role is to be God’s hands and feet – just make yourself available and let God handle how it turns out.”  It’s not our job to decide who  to help, it’s our job simply to help.  I loved the quote Jimmy used in his sermon this week: when Billy Sunday was told he was “rubbing the fur the wrong way”, he told them to “turn the cat around”.  Sometimes we just have to stand firm and not be afraid to tell the truth, in as loving a way as possible.

First crocus of the year: January 30, 2010

Sunrise over Ventura, January 30, 2010