Drawing Close

"The lover of silence draws close to God.  He talks to Him in secret, and God enlightens him. Jesus, by His silence, shamed Pilate; and a man, by his silence, conquers vainglory."

-St. John Climacus (7th century)

Precious Moments

Here’s a crazy story of a serious old-lady mistake coupled with magnified gratitude.

Four days ago, while vigorously chopping in the kitchen (kale was the object), I sliced off the tip of my left thumb - flesh as well as skin.  Shock and pain introduced a percussion orchestra that throbbed like none other, but quick advice from a nurse friend and several online references got the treatment ball rolling.  The injury was nasty (will a crater remain after it heals?), and yet I was fortunate damage wasn’t worse.

Thanks to a thumb splint, yesterday I could (very carefully) share yard work and an unseasonal campfire dinner with a couple of vibrant grandsons and their parents.  These were such precious moments for me - ones that inspired heightened appreciation for the special people in my life, and the miracle we call healing.

A Tribute

It seems qualities like sacrifice, diligence, and intention are becoming more rare these days, along with homemade pie and bread, doors that need not be locked, and businesses that close on Sundays. 

And yet thankfully, virtue endures.  Friends have my back, and I have theirs. We forge our unique paths together while searching for wisdom on journeys of need, discovery, hope, and love.  We are a sisterhood.

I’m not patting any of us on the back.  Rather I stand in awe, for there’s a sacred element involved.  We are interwoven in profound ways.  

I appreciate this handful of vital people, just as I am grateful for divine provisions like food to eat, water to drink, and air to breathe.  We bless each other; we carry each other’s weight.  And as hours and days pass, and even amidst loss and heartache, something changes: our hearts expand and heal, and we thrive.

Now is the Time

Fog obscures, an all-encompassing  

Reminder to patiently persevere

And engage with life’s mysteries -

To discover grace with baby steps

That lead to childlike wonder.

Now is the time to be blessed;

Now is the time to hope.