Welcome

Zigzag Plant, November 2021

Late in the season

a burst of new growth arrives

on November's porch

 

Gathered

Bur Oak Acorns, November 2021

 The promise of trees

begins in a humble way

with what has fallen

Encircling Prayer

Watercolor, November 2021

         A circle of healing for the one who suffers.

        A circle of patience for the one who waits.

        A circle of hope for the one afraid to hope.

        A circle of friendship for the one who feels alone.

        A circle of rest for the weary.

        A circle of wisdom for the searching.

        A circle of peace for the anxious.

        A circle of joy for the listless.

        A circle of abundance for the one who feels empty.

        A circle of belonging for the one who feels excluded.

        A circle of sobriety for the one in addiction.

        A circle of wholeness for the one who is fragmented.

                Praise, praise to the One who traces circles.

Silhouette of Devotion

 Our Lady, November 2021
Benedictine Abbey in Pecos, New Mexico

 

Take Him in your arms

open your heart to heaven

join the Advent song

With You

Afternoon Walk, November 2021
Benedictine Abbey in Pecos, New Mexico

 

May I cross the bridge

into wonder and beauty

with you by my side

At the Thanksgiving Table

Vintage Postcard, November 2021

 At the Thanksgiving Table ...

    My wedding china.

    My grandmother's glass water pitcher.

    Another grandmother's cloth napkins.

    And another grandmother's vase.

    A great grandmother's turkey platter. 

    Wine glasses from my mother's friend.

    Recipes passed along by friends, mothers, grandmothers and great grandmothers.

    More than a hundred years of Thanksgiving represented at our table.

    And today we added our own. 

Each Day

Crystal Inkwell, November 2021

Write something each day

of how you were loved and how

you loved in return

Love

Tree Stump, November 2021
Benedictine Abbey in Pecos, New Mexico

 

May love fill every corner of my heart. 

Walk with Me

Walk with me

where the sky is bluest blue

and leaves spark and glow

pausing for spikes of purple 

 

Sabbath

Newly Eclosed Monarch, November 2021

 

A burnished beauty

the proof of resurrection

in her stained glass wings

Sunset

Brenham Sunset

November 2021

Today a beautiful sunset graced Brenham, Texas on our drive home. I loved watching it from the truck window and seeing the colors grow and fade right before my eyes. How I would love to have a porch with this view. I would sit until the stars came out. 

 

The Light that Shines

Pecos Light, November 2021
Benedictine Abbey in Pecos, New Mexico

I've longed for this light

that shines in the darkness and

is not overcome

 * This is the skylight in my room at the Abbey in Pecos. In the daytime, light floods the room from above. At night, I can see the stars. It's one of my favorite things about the monastery.  

Advent blooms early

A Neighbor's Hibiscus, November 2021

 

Let me get the gate,

Advent blooms early inside

the fence of my heart

True Friends

Beeblossom, November 2021

 

True friends walk with me

this November afternoon

I pause and give thanks

This Girl

Nala, November 2021

This girl has more love

in her soft and steady gaze 

than my heart can hold

Until Love

Climbing vine on Firespike, November 2021

Some days begin with

slow clinging melancholy 

until love arrives

Belonging

Family of Saints, November 2021
The Anchor House, Houston

 

Anchor yourself here

in the glow of family

find your belonging

A Walk in the Woods

 Camp Cho-Yeh, November 2021

Livingston, Texas 

Peace

Butterfly Vine, November 2021

 

November morning

petals washed in pearly dew

white wing doves speak peace

Listening

Votive Altar, November 2021
Benedictine Abbey in Pecos, New Mexico

 

O Lord hear my prayer

and then speak it back to me

so I too might hear

Until Next Summer

Fallen Hibiscus, November 2021

 Back porch tropicals

drop flowers as if to say

their autumn farewell

Sunrise

Sunrise, November 2021

Today began with a shock of red pink streaked across the sky. A true blaze of beauty and light. 

It's a wonder that ordinary days can begin like this. As Eugene Peterson says, "pure gift, all grace." 

I woke up my son to come see it. We stood on the back porch watching until it faded into the soft blue of day. It was good to share that quiet moment together before the busyness of the day. Pure gift, all grace. 

Promise

Cedar Tree, November 2021
Benedictine Abby in Pecos, New Mexico

 

O autumn bluebirds

your feasting tree is laden

promise to come soon

Rooted and Reaching

Sandy's Trees, November 2021
Benedictine Abbey in Pecos, New Mexico

Rooted and reaching

they spoke to her - and became

beautiful to me

* On an afternoon walk, my friend Sandy stopped to spend time with these towering and beautiful trees. Her wonder was a gift - her noticing helped me to notice too. 

 

Other Windows

Pecos at Night, November 2021
Benedictine Abby in Pecos, New Mexico

 

The dark path is lit

by light from other windows

glowing and golden

What Collects

 

Pecos River, November 2021
Benedictine Abbey in Pecos New Mexico

Thoughts and dreams collect

around the edges of prayer

wanting to be seen

Pecos Reflections: Obedience

Benedict, November 2021
Benedictine Abbey in Pecos, New Mexico

 

Up the stairs we go, where Benedict's gaze reminds us of the vows taken by the community. I consider how the three vows find expression in my own life. The vow of obedience is a call to surrender and submit to an authority greater than my own. Obedience is laying down the idea that I know what's best and ceasing my efforts to arrange for life to go my way. Living into the vow of obedience reveals how often I try to exert control and conjure potential solutions and improvements over the smallest circumstances in an effort to keep the feeling of being in charge. 

What does Obedience really look like? I volunteer at a local food pantry. Sometimes I look around and see how a small adjustment might the pantry more efficient for our guests. I may even ruminate over it for the whole day. If I wanted to, I could talk to other volunteers to get their opinion and possibly make the change happen. Except - I am not in charge. I am under the authority of the director, who is a good director. While I can offer suggestions, the director sees the whole perspective and determines what is best. And my efforts to improve and control can be damaging and bothersome, even when I think I'm being helpful. A posture of Obedience reminds me of my place and knowing my place frees me to serve our guests with a gracious presence. 

This is small scale Obedience - and small scale is a good teacher. If I can learn to relinquish control when it comes to arranging the shelves at the food pantry, something in me can live with greater trust when life calls for it - and life is calling for it.