Like Coming Home

Long travel day for us today. Arrived in Columbia, SC after six this evening. Driving pretty easy except for some delays north of Charlotte. There was snow covered ground all through the state of Virginia and in the mountains in North Carolina.

It was 64 degrees when we arrived here in South Carolina's capitol. We lived here from 1979 to 1983 while I attended seminary at Lutheran Theological Southern Seminary on Main Street and whenever we return it feels like coming home. Our two oldest girls, Carla and Susan, remember our time here with fondness. This evening we ate supper at "Rush's" which was one of our family favorites. http://www.rushs.net/history/

Tomorrow we will attend worship at the church, http://www.redeemerlutheransc.org/, where I served as an intern for one year and as a pastoral assistant for the second year. The people there were so supportive of our family and the experiences in that congregation shaped me as a pastor.

Much has changed about the area and the traffic is very congested now. We did not stop at the Seminary campus this time but just being in the neighborhood brings back many memories.

Traveling

We are on our annual pilgrimage to Weeki Wachee, Fl. I feel so blessed that we have this opportunity at this season of our lives. It is amazing that this is our 9th year to make this trek and our 6th year in Weeki Wachee.

The trip has been without incident so far. The further south we go, the more snow there is on the ground. Here in Virginia, Winchester received 31 inches last week, the ground is still covered in white. We drove through a few snow squalls over the mountains on I81 in PA.

This evening finds us in Strasberg, VA. We ate dinner at an Italian restaurant next door. The food was delicious. I had spaghetti and meatballs, Mary had a Buffalo chicken stromboli (huge), and John had cheese pizza. http://www.castigliasva.com/

Tomorrow we drive to Columbia, SC.

Ripening

Richard Rohr describes the aging process as "ripening". I find this to be both a challenging and comforting way to think about this stage of life. Richard Rohr's Daily Meditation Ripening You Are Being Led Monday, November 3, 2014

“The life and death of a human being is so exquisitely calibrated as to automatically produce union with Spirit.” —Kathleen Dowling Singh Ripening reveals much bigger or very different horizons than we realize. The refusal to ripen leads to what T.S. Eliot spoke of in “The Hollow Men,” lives that “end not with a bang but with a whimper.” I hope that you are one of those people who will move toward your own endless horizons and not waste time in whimpering. Why else would you even read this? Perhaps these meditations may help you trust that you are, in fact, being led. Life, your life, all life, is going somewhere and somewhere good. Ripening, at its best, is a slow, patient learning, and sometimes even a happy letting-go—a seeming emptying out to create readiness for a new kind of fullness—which we are never totally sure about. If we do not allow our own ripening, and I do believe it is somewhat a natural process, an ever-increasing resistance and denial sets in, an ever-increasing circling of the wagons around an over-defended self. At our very best, we learn how to hope as we ripen, to move outside and beyond self-created circles, which is something quite different from the hope of the young. Youthful hopes have concrete goals, whereas the hope of older years is usually aimless hope, hope without goals, even naked hope—perhaps real hope. Such stretching is the agony and the joy of our later years. Old age, as such, is almost a complete changing of gears and engines from the first half of our lives and does not happen without slow realization, inner calming, inner resistance, denial, and eventual surrender, by God’s grace, working with our ever-deepening sense of what we really desire and who we really are. This process seems to largely operate unconsciously, although we jolt into consciousness now and then, and the awareness that you have been led, usually despite yourself, is experienced as a deep gratitude that most would call happiness. Religious people might even call it mercy. Adapted from 'Ripening,' Oneing, Vol. 1, No. 2, pp. 11-12

Believing

In these cold and gray days of January I am focused on preparing to preach and teach at an event for new pastors in their first call. This annual retreat is called “The Leadership Guild for First Call” and I have had the opportunity to participate as chaplain, workshop leader, and preacher for a number of years. In 2016 the event will take place during the final week of January at a retreat center in Hartford, CT.

One of the things that I stress in the “preaching workshops” is the importance of recognizing and naming how often God feels absent for both our listeners and ourselves. No one speaks to this experience of the absence of God more profoundly then the author, Frederick Buechner. Today I came across this challenging quote that I think reflects the reality of living a faithful life.

“If you tell me Christian commitment is a kind of thing that has happened to you once and for all like some kind of spiritual plastic surgery, I say go, go, you’re either pulling the wool over your own eyes or trying to pull it over mine. Every morning you should wake up in your bed and ask yourself: “Can I believe it all again today?” No, better still, don’t ask it till after you’ve read The New York Times, till after you’ve studied that daily record of the world’s brokenness and corruption, which should always stand side by side with your Bible. Then ask yourself if you can believe in the Gospel of Jesus Christ again for that particular day. If your answer’s always Yes, then you probably don’t know what believing means. At least five times out of ten the answer should be No because the No is as important as the Yes, maybe more so. The No is what proves you’re human in case you should ever doubt it. And then if some morning the answer happens to be really Yes, it should be a Yes that’s choked with confession and tears and …great laughter.” [Frederick Buechner, The Return of Ansel Gibbs, 303]

JANUARY

JANUARY

"The shortest day has passed, and whatever nastiness of weather we may look forward to in January and February, at least we notice that the days are getting longer.  Minute by minute they lengthen out.  It takes some weeks before we become aware of the change.  It is imperceptible even as the growth of a child, as you watch it day by day, until the moment comes when with a start of delighted surprise we realize that we can stay out of doors in a twilight lasting for another quarter of a precious hour."
-  Vita Sackville-West

“The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.” John 1:5

January, the first month of a brand new year; clean, new, open;

            pregnant with hopes……dreams………anxieties……possibilities.

Cold, getting colder……………………………………………..dark, getting lighter!

            Light pushing back darkness,

                        sunshine reflecting off snow covered lawns,

                                                             slippery ice beneath my feet.

Nights under quilts created and crafted by loving hands

                                                            keep me warm in body and heart.

Each January the light slowly, intentionally, forcefully wrestles each day

from the darkness; bringing with it, the promise of warmer days. (cs 1/3/16)

New Year's Day Prayer

A Prayer for New Year’s Day (from “Guerrillas of Grace” by Ted Loder)

Patient God, this day teeters on the edge of waiting and things seem to slip away from me,

as though everything was only memory and memory is capricious.

Help me not to let my life slip away from me.

O God, I hold up my life to you now,

As much as I can, as high as I can, in this mysterious reach called prayer.

Come close, lest I wobble and fall short.

It is not days or years I seek from you, not infinity and enormity,

But small things and moments and awareness,

Awareness that you are in what I am and in what I have been indifferent to.

It is not new time, but new eyes, new heart I seek, and you.

New Year’s Eve/Day

New Year’s Eve/Day

The ball drops, 10-9-8-7-6-5-4-3-2-1;

2015 retreats into history, 2016 advances as mystery.

Another year gone, wasted, squandered, savored, perhaps even treasured;

            like Mary, pondering and wondering about all these things;

Books read and unread, movies seen and unseen, friends present and missing;

            family times shared, birthdays celebrated, anniversaries acknowledged.

Trips, adventures, hopes, and dreams postponed, put-off, delayed and

            probably canceled, deleted, in fact, never to be?

The noise makers trumpet, the confetti  poppers explode in bright colors,

            couples share a fairy tale kiss hoping that their lives will magically,

 wonderfully change in the New Year. 

On The Second Day of Christmas...........

On the second day of Christmas my mind is filled with memories and feelings of this season.

                  From Thanksgiving to today, from turkey to ham, from gratitude to gifts.

                                               Gratitude for all that’s been,

                                                                        Hope for what is yet to be.

Sadness and grief for those who died in the midst of these days intended for joy.

                                                Prayers and tears for the grieving, the surviving, the battling,

                                                                                    who humble me with their courage.

My heart is filled with gratitude for Christmas trees hung with memories,

            meals shared with family, carols sung with gusto, gifts chosen with care,

                                    holiday bread baking in the oven, and gifts given and received.

I will carry into the waning days of the year the memory of a Christmas Eve worship filled

                                    with joyful music, exuberant greetings, illuminating candlelight,

                                                            a birth proclaimed, hope announced, peace promised.

And a Christmas Day injected with laughter, conversation, gifts unwrapped,

                                                      games played, food eaten, naps taken, hugs given. 

On the second day of Christmas my mind is filled with memories and feelings of this season.

                        For my life changed by the story of one born in a manger,

                                for Jesus’ message of love, for faith to see the light in the darkness.

Reading Across America

I read the following article in Entertainment Weekly and was inspired to begin a journey of reading. So far I've read three of the 50 books in the list. I put the date I finished reading each entry and a few remarks following the title. I will update as this reading adventure continues. Let me know if anyone else decides to take on this challenge.

The September 4, 2015 print version of Entertainment Weekly has an interesting feature by Keith Staskiewicz and Isabella Biedenharn on “The United States of Books.”

“Which novel captures the true spirit of Iowa? How about Texas? Or Rhode Island? Here, EW picks the one work of fiction that best defines each state in the union.”

Is it any surprise that John Updike was chosen as the author whose novel best represents the spirit and character of Pennsylvania?

In choosing Rabbit, Run as the book that captures the spirit of Pennsylvania, the authors write, “Updike’s most famous work, the first of his Rabbit Angstrom novels, follows a former high school basketball star after he abandons his pregnant wife and child, taking suburban Pennsylvania ennui to a terrifying precipice.”

Since there’s no online link yet, here are all the state selections:

Alabama—To Kill a Mockingbird, Harper Lee
Alaska—Julie of the Wolves, Jean Craighead George (9/15) This is a YA novel about a 13 year old Inuit girl alone on the tundra. She observes a pack of wolves in order to learn survival skills and eventually becomes part of the wolf pack. Well written with vivid descriptions of the beautiful and brutal Alaskan wilderness.
California—Play It As It Lays, Joan Didion
Colorado—Plainsong, Kent Haruf
Connecticut—The Witch of Blackbird Pond, Elizabeth George Speare
Delaware—The Book of Unknown Americans, Cristina Henriquez
Florida—The Yearling, Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings
Georgia—Gone with the Wind, Margaret Mitchell
Hawaii—The Descendants, Kaui Hart Hemmings
Idaho—Housekeeping, Marilynne Robinson
Illinois—Maud Martha, Gwendolyn Brooks
Indiana—The Magnificent Ambersons, Booth Tarkington
Iowa—Shoeless Joe, W.P. Kinsella
Kansas—Doc, Mary Doria Russell (10/18) A great historical novel that examines the life and times of Doc Holiday before the events at the OK Corral defined him in myth and legend. His life long battle with tuberculosis, his time in Dodge City, his career as a dentist, and his friendship with Wyatt Earp are all examined with care and attention to the way things were in the years following the Civil War. 
Kentucky—In Country, Bobbie Ann Mason
Louisiana—The Awakening, Kate Chopin
Maine—Empire Falls, Richard Russo
Maryland—The Accidental Tourist, Anne Tyler
Massachusetts—The Wapshot Chronicle, John Cheever
Michigan—Once Upon a River, Bonnie Jo Campbell
Minnesota—The Betsy-Tacy Series, Maud Hart Lovelace
Mississippi—The Sound and the Fury, William Faulkner
Missouri—The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn, Mark Twain (9/15) I, of course, had read Twain's masterpiece as a high school student. Reading it now, at age 70, was a totally different experience. While floating down the river, Huck and Jim grow to love each other despite the racism and cultural expectations of their time. 
Montana—A River Runs through It, Norman Maclean
Nebraska—My Antonia, Willa Cather
Nevada—Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, Hunter S. Thompson
New Hampshire—A Prayer for Owen Meany, John Irving
New Jersey—Independence Day, Richard Ford
New Mexico—House Made of Dawn, N. Scott Momaday
New York—Drown, Junot Diaz
North Carolina—Jim the Boy, Tony Earley
North Dakota—Love Medicine, Louise Erdrich
Ohio—Winesburg, Ohio, Sherwood Anderson
Oklahoma—The Grapes of Wrath, John Steinbeck
Oregon—Geek Love, Katherine Dunn
Pennsylvania—Rabbit, Run, John Updike
Rhode Island—Spartina, John Casey
South Carolina—The Prince of Tides, Pat Conroy
South Dakota—Black Hills, Dan Simmons
Tennessee—A Death in the Family, James Agee
Texas—Lonesome Dove, Larry McMurtry
Utah—The Monkey Wrench Gang, Edward Abbey
Vermont—Songs in Ordinary Time, Mary McGarry Morris
Virginia—The Known World, Edward P. Jones
Washington—The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian, Sherman Alexie
West Virginia—Lord of Misrule, Jaimy Gordon
Wisconsin—A Map of the World, Jane Hamilton
Wyoming—Close Range, Annie Proulx

The Good Old Summertime!

Summer means happy times and good sunshine. Brian Wilson

It has been a good summer with happy times spent with children and grandchildren. Here are some memories of Summer 2015. 

 A trip to Vermont in May to visit Josh and family.

 The swimming hole in Waitsfield.

 Noah and Clara.

 Fishing at Blueberry Lake.

Clara with Uncle John

 Todd and Sawyer accompanied me to the Eve of Destruction 

We watched a snowplow crash into a school bus

 Suzi, Jacob, Jena, Carla, Ted, and I attended dedication of flag mural 

in Warrensburg.

 This is the artist's car.

 In late July Mary and I did an overnight in Vermont.

I loved these flowers.

We had lunch next to the Odyssey Book Shop and

then spent a couple of hours browsing. 

 Attended a HUGE antique market where I 

spotted these ugly lamps. Brimfield, MA

Buttons and buttons

 wooden baskets

 On July 15th John sang the National Anthem at

a Valleycats baseball game. The theme

was Christmas in July.

 Players preparing for the game.

 Elizabeth and Grandson, Casey, with our family on the 

field before the game.

John singing the anthem.

 On Sunday, July 19th, we drove to Prospect Park in Brooklyn to attend John's biological family reunion.

 Aunt Yvette

 Uncle Tyrone

Aunt Rochelle 

 Uncle Dougie

 Aunt Elizabeth

The Chefs

John and his tiny cousin

 I purchased a new tent and on a rainy night; Jake, Jena, and

I camped on the porch.

 The next morning we went fishing at Round Lake

On the first weekend in August we came together for

our annual visit to Diamond Point. Below are the grandchildren who 

were there that day.

 And the children

The whole gang.

On August 6th we drove to Burlington, VT to attend

Garrison Keillor's Farewell Tour. (below)

 We then traveled to Waitsfield to help Noah sell his

Fizzy Maple Lemonade at the Vermont

Music Festival. Cousin jake also helped. (above)

In the evening they lit a huge bonfire. 

 Then we all participated as they released scores of lanterns.

Spotted this butterfly in our front yard!

 On the last day of August we were taking Jake and Jena out for

ice cream when we spotted this hot air balloon off in the distance.

 We followed it as it began to descend.

 Landing in these folks back yard.

Spring: Summarized

Well, I've weaned myself off of Face Book. Family and friends have asked why and I do not have a simple or easy answer but here are some of the reasons.

• I found it to be very addicting. It almost became a "need" to check Face Book.
• Going "on" Face Book became the easy thing to do. Easier then reading a book, going for a walk, working in the yard, planting something, riding the bike, talking to Mary, listening to music, etc. etc.
• I was strangely and uncomfortably disappointed when I posted something and no one commented. Weird!
• Face Book "friends" are not a suitable replacement for face to face or voice to voice friends but I almost fooled myself into thinking they were.
• In some ways it becomes like television. I'm witnessing other people "living" while all I am doing is watching.

Anyway, I am not posting or checking Face Book on any regular basis and I find that I do not miss it. It has also made time for activities and projects and relationships that bring value to my life. That's the bottom line for me and it is probably not true for others but it is true for me. Face Book did not and does not add any value to my life.

I also thought that I would give up this blog also for some of the same reasons. On further reflection I realize that the simple process of writing and reflecting does add value to my daily life rather any one reads this or not. I am grateful for friend, Dewey, for helping me to realize this. Thanks, Dew!

May and June have been busy and exciting months for us. We have completed all the repairs and renovations on the house following our broken water pipes this winter. As a result we have a newly painted bathroom. new floor covering in Kitchen and Hall, and my old office is now my personal space. In modern jargon it is a "man cave" but I like the old fashioned term "Den". I have two bookshelves filled with my favorite books, a comfortable chair, a large screen tv on which to watch the Mets and the football Giants, and table space for the computer. I am also moving our turntable and records into the space. My plan is to cover the walls with photos of family and friends and pictures of the good times we've enjoyed in the past.

Two other projects were also completed. The first is a backyard fire pit inspired by the one at our winter rental in Florida. I made it fairly large using one level of large fire pit blocks from Lowes, topped off with some fancy brick from Dewey's backyard. The inside and out is lined with river stone. 

We had our first fire Memorial Day Weekend.

The second project, both projects possible because of a generous monetary gift from the children for Father's Day, is a raised garden bed. As I age I find it increasingly difficult to get down on my knees to work in the garden. We also have a wood chuck and a couple of rabbits who gnaw on everything I attempt to grow. The solution? A waist high garden bed. I haven't built many things in my life and this turned out to be a fun project. 

The yard looks the best it has in years and I also cleaned up the old canoe, the folding boat, and the pop up camper. As a result, we were able to sell both the canoe and the camper. I purchase the canoe 30 years ago for 200 dollars and sold it for 225! 

That's the folding boat to the left of the canoe with the pail on top of it. I am hoping to try the folding boat in the water soon. It has been many years sitting in back yard.

We've also made two trips to Vermont to see Josh and family this spring and Josh and the children will be here this weekend. Family celebrations of Mother's and Father's day, Memorial Weekend, and grandkids sports activities have all made this a busy and joy filled spring. And I even had the opportunity to go fishing a few times. I can't wait to see what adventures summer has in store for us.