The norm is what we make it

A groomed cross country ski trail

Minoqua Winter Park

It was time to stop for gas on the way home from Wisconsin.  Also lunch. Somewhere north of the Illinois border, I found a Hardees.  I love their charcoal broiled hamburgers -- and haven't seen a Hardees in years.

The hamburger "to go" even had the wrapper thoughtfully turned back so you could eat without worrying about something dropping on your lap - the wrapper would catch the catsup or the crumbs.  Wonderfully simple and thoughtful touch.

I couldn't find the credit card slot at the nearby gas station.  Finally concluding there wasn't one, I filled my tank and went inside to pay.  The smiling clerk confirmed that paying is done inside -- after you have filled your car.

"Do you ever have anyone just drive away?"  I had to ask.

She paused, smiled, and "No."

It felt like another planet -- one where I'd like to live, where a sandwich presentation is thoughtfully designed to help the eater not make a mess, and gas stations trust total strangers.

Taking this feeling of joy and well being a step further, it was a glimpse of the Kingdom of God, I think -- where harmony, honesty, and thoughtfulness are the norm. 

Ordinary miracles?

How easy it is to take goodness, beauty, love for granted.  To assume that somehow the world revolves around us.  We are the center of what's important.  It's all about us, right?

Yet the seasons share their uniqueness impartially, rain nourishes the earth, sunrises and sunsets awe the eye that sees them; events somehow work out well against all odds.

This singer proposes in her own gentle way that each day is a miracle to be honored and valued.




American religious leader Mary Baker Eddy talks about "Day," as unfolding good.  If God is good, and I believe She is, then each day is filled with goodness -- if we'll slow down enough to recognize and identify its many quiet facets. 

Optical illusion of movement

The things we think we see are not always what they appear to be.  This is often illustrated by illusions.  In this case, the illusion of movement in these drawings is explained.

Thought you might enjoy this brief YouTube.  

Moral courage at the grocery store

Donna's a good friend, a devout Irish-Catholic with a strong sense of what's right and what's wrong, and a willingness to speak out against injustice.

At a post- Christmas gathering she was bemoaning racism.  It's all around, she said, and told this story.

"Just last week I was at the grocery store.  Two customers in front of me was an African-American woman.  The cashier was having a difficult time scanning the items.  The woman in front of me became irate that the check-out was taking so long, and began speaking abusively to customer in front of her.

"When she ranted on and on I stepped between them.  'Excuse me,' I said, 'It is the cashier who is having a hard time scanning the groceries.  It is not this woman's fault.'

"The abusive customer then attacked me with her foul language.  I said, 'Your language is offensive, you're way off base, and you need to shut up (and I don't usually use that term) and find another line.'  The abusive words continued. 

"'Would you like me to call the authorities?' I asked.  Finally she shut up and left.

"The African-American woman was in tears, and thanked me.  'Did you say that because I was colored?' she asked.  'Oh,' I replied, 'Are you colored?  No, what's wrong is wrong.'

"When I finished checking out, a security guard appeared and said, 'I will escort you to your car.'  I told him he didn't need to do that.  Very firmly he repeated, 'I will escort you to your car.'  I thanked him."

Listening to her story, I was grateful to see the completeness of her unselfish interference -- in the presence of the security guard who saw her safely to her car.

I wondered if I would have had that kind of moral courage.  I told Donna she was very courageous.  Her reply?  "Somebody had to do something."

I pray for all mankind daily.  I trust that my prayers support and inspire moral courage where it is needed.  And I respect my friend for hers.

Christmas -- every day

May your path

 to peace and fulfillment

 be bright with hope and promise.

Motherhood

Mothers come in all sizes, shapes, and colors.  Everyone of us has had one or, if we are particulary fortunate, perhaps more than one nurturer has been important in our lives -- grandmothers, aunts, neighbors. 

The best mothering expresses the motherhood of God -- patient yet firm, caring yet wise, nurturing yet willing to let go. 

God's mothering goes a little further, insofar as God is never on a coffee break, never out of town or out of touch, never too busy.

Hope you enjoy the wit and wisdom of an experienced, everyday mom in this video.

Through whose eyes?

A recent comment on another blog (Christian Science Fellowship - Metro Chicago) grabbed my attention. The writer referenced the story of Simon the Pharisee.

Briefly, Simon was a sceptic of Jesus, but invited him anyway to come to dinner. In that culture anyone could come and watch the wealthy eat. But one woman came whose profession made her completely unwelcome. Her motive was to honor Jesus' unconditional love for people even like her.

The tension grew. Simon was offended by her presence and could hardly stand that Jesus allowed this lowest-of-the-low to be near him. Jesus understood the woman's motive -- to somehow become the good and pure and useful person God made her to be. He blessed her deep desire and sent her away telling her her sins were forgiven.

The comment writer left me asking this question: Am I seeing the unwelcome guests in my life through the eyes of Simon -- criticizing, condemning, putting down? Or am I seeing unwelcome guests through the eyes of Jesus -- willing to discern honest repentance, to bless and to heal?

Interactive joy

These monks, it is said, have taken a vow of silence, but wish to be obedient and to make a joyful noise to the Lord.

The appreciation of the audience for creativity and precision adds to the joy.

Hope you enjoy this too.

Singing to the best

Peter, Paul, and Mary

Washington DC, 1963

A recent public TV documentary of the folk singers, Peter, Paul, and Mary, provided insight into their popularlity during turbulant times in the USA. But this post is not about revisiting those times. It's about something Mary said.

After many years performing together, they all went home to their families for what they wryly called a "seven year vacation." When they reunited for a California performance, they felt as if they had never been apart.

Then came Mary's profound observation.

She said, as best I can recall, that as singers, you have this ideal vision of who you are and what you'd like to be. She said she discovered that if you sing to that vision of who you could all be, all of you begin rising to that ideal, and you find you are becoming who you could be.

Soooooo, isn't this a basic truth of all relationships? That if we speak to our best vision of who we are and who the other person is or could be, that support is felt and becomes tangible.

And if God is wholly good, and has made men and women in the likeness of Mind, the image of Truth -- then is there any limit to who we could be or the good we could do?

Praying for those in danger

Look beyond the commercial. The point is selflessness. Asking something special for someone else, not asking for ourselves.

And hey, if you are a praying person, pray for the safety of those whose lives are every day on the front lines.