Ferns and Sequoias

Posted on November 30, 2009 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

maidenhair fern in Hong Kong

This morning, as I watered my maidenhair fern and took it out of the bathtub where it sits when watered, I thought about what a range You have created, God.

Maidenhair ferns are so delicate and dainty. Sequoias are huge and live such long long lives. How amazing to have such diversity in the plant world. And it is so easy to appreciate them. So easy to give thanks for them. Easy, when they are right in front of me. I confess, redwoods have not made it onto my Gratitude List recently.

Do I hear You say WHAT GRATITUDE LIST? Well, I sort of have one. But, You’re right. I don’t keep a list to help me focus on BEING THANKFUL, BEING GRATEFUL. Funny, just this morning a friend asked if I had seen the article on how grateful people enjoyed better health and lived long than, I guess, the non-grateful.

So, today, God, please help me to open up my heart to all You have set before me and BE GRATEFUL! I confess, I tend more toward harried.

But as I look at this photo of a maidenhair fern growing out of the side of Victoria Peak in Hong Kong I think, WOW I got to see it. I got to be there! I have had such a rich and full life! The very small and the very big all gifts from Your Hand! Millions and millions of moments to be grateful for. . .

Ah, now, God, I can go forth into my day refreshed. Thank YOU! Amen

Posted in appreciation, gratitude

Walking in Kairos

Posted on November 29, 2009 by a moment with god — 2 Comments

Monkeypod tree by Atherton Chapel

monkeypod tree near the chapel

Out of bed, a quick shower and on our way to the 7 a.m. service at Atherton Chapel. A good way, God, to start this New Year. The first day of Advent. The first season of our Christian calendar. A day of new beginnings as we strive to make room in our hearts and lives for the Christ Child. Room for YOU . . . Help me VISUALIZE what that would look like, please.

NO RUSHING!
I am pretty sure that means making life a walk not a race and I see stepping stones set in a garden that is green and softly quiet. Ah, You WALK with us! Or should I say, You LONG to walk with us in the garden of our life. Not Eden, but YOU are the same and Your LOVE is the same as if we were Adam and Eve before we all went our own way.

You invite me / us all — to connect and step out of the Chronos time of squeezing each second and into YOUR TIME. Your Kairos Time. A spherical globe of Non Time. A timelessness in which all is well and all manner of things are well. And Your Spirit flows in and through us — out into a dry and thirsting world.

I can feel my feet dig down as if they were roots needing more nourishment. That is a good image. We are called to be Trees planted by the River — whose leaves do not wither and who bring forth fruit in season. I would like that. Help me like it enough so that I refrain from excessive doing and committing. Help me do it — lest I be pruned!

Amen

Tagged with: God's Time, Kairos, Psalm One trees, walking with God
Posted in a New Year, God's Time, Kairos, Walk don't Run

On being CALLED to stop

Posted on November 28, 2009 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Mid day, good heavens, I so rarely pause once the day gets going.

Odd how the flow of trivia carries me along.
Not that time with friends is trivial.
Not at all.

Still, I would like it if there were a CALL to STOP and focus on YOU. I remember hearing the call to prayer when we were in Istanbul. Wouldn’t it be nice, God, if we borrowed good ideas from others? Instead we judge and worse. . . sometimes, much worse.

Ah, but I don’t want to get sidetracked on our sins. I’d rather search for ways to make my life deeper. . . And now I hear You say DO WHAT YOU KNOW!

Caught! Searching for better does keep me from doing the good I know. Like reading books on fishing, instead of baiting the hook and tossing it in. Of course, if one has never fished . . . a book would help . . . but an experienced fisherman going with you THE BEST!

I’m sitting here pondering performance optimization. Is it our education that develops that? Or our nature?
In any case, I’d like to keep it from getting out of hand. And, imagine, God, if I did STOP 5 times during my day to pray.Not arrow prayers but a real time of connection. . . I’d like that!

SO WHY NOT?

Hey! You’re right!

AMEN

Tagged with: connections, doing what I know, performance obsession, stopping for prayer
Posted in connecting, doing what I know, stopping

Conversation as Prayer

Posted on November 27, 2009 by a moment with god — Leave a comment

Cappuccino and conversation

Sometimes conversations ARE prayers. This was one of them. Praying alone is good, but praying with others seems richer and keeps me more honest. Also, praying with another person slows me down so my thoughts don’t twist and snarl so badly. Mind you, they still HOP and SKIP around a bit. I had a boss who said I was always starting in the MIDDLE. I was. But, thank You, God that YOU can keep up. I really like bouncing. Or maybe it would be more accurate to say being sequential is boring. Boring but so useful. Yes, I could use more useful. But, maybe first I need to value the bouncing?

Tagged with: Conversations, prayers, time
Posted in Conversations