Room to Grow

Salvia, April 2022

Learn from the garden

and give yourself room to grow

into new seasons

Hello to Yellow

Missouri Evening Primrose, April 2022

 

Seeds

Zinnia, April 2022

 

A handful of seeds

scattered late last season are

coming into bloom

Delight

American Painted Lady Butterfly, April 2022

 Greeting the new day

I never know what gift might

be resting nearby

Joy

Red Verbena, April 2022

 

Let all your joys meet

in the center of your heart

listen to their song

*This evening I am reflecting on all the small joys that occurred throughout the day. Small joys are potent and when I consider them all at once, they seem to multiply. 

Iris and Geranium

Dentist Office Art, April 2022

Red geranium 

and elegant iris find

friendship in the frame

* I have a new dentist and today was my third trip to the office where this art print puzzles me every time. The elegant irises seem to be planted in the ground with their floating blossoms filling the frame. The red geraniums look out of place to me. It is as if the artist was painting the irises and said to him/herself, "I need something red," looked around, and picked up a nearby pot of red geraniums to place in the scene. They shouldn't go together, but somehow they do. 

The Only One

Spring Snowflake wildflower, April 2022

She's the only one,  

the only one of her kind

on the two mile trail

Passing Through

Dutch Iris, April 2022
Painting by Kris Jodon

Fresh from the garden

she passes through a painted

gate that leads to spring

 

Getting Closer, April 2022
Dutch Iris with Painting by Kris Jodon

Receive

Blue Clematis, April 2022

Watch the curling vine,

receive her blessing by way

 of lavender blooms

 

Filled

Amaryllis, April 2022

My heart is filled with

the promise and presence of

your unfailing love 

First Light

Society Garlic, April 2022

 Lean in and listen

 morning stirs in the trees and

the world comes to life

Seen

Stafford Daylily, April 2022

From your golden heart

life flows to the world around

in fragrant glory

Late afternoons

Winecups, April 2022

Late afternoons lend

themselves to walking among

the wildflowers

Easter Sunday

Algerian Iris, Easter 2022

O golden hour,

we are caught in your glory

on this Easter day

Signs

Budding Mulberry Tree, April 2022

Signs are everywhere 

even on the oldest paths

here comes something new

Faces in the Crowd, Day 12: Good Friday

Green Aura Crowd by Hannah Lane

 This post is the end of an on-going Lenten series that began Ash Wednesday. 

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.

And after had had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray.    

When evening came, he was there alone," (Matthew 14:22-23)

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"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36)

The days of Lent and my Lenten practice for this year have led to Holy Week and to this day of Good Friday. Here are a few things I have learned over the last few weeks of prayer and exploration.

• There are many faces and aspects of myself that make up the "inner crowd" - some have been easy to name - others remain known only to God for now. 

• Engaging in soul work, making new discoveries and connections is both rigorous and revealing. 

• Jesus has more compassion for us than we have for ourselves- but we can learn from him. The compassion that Jesus shows to us becomes compassion that we can show to ourselves and others. 

• Sharing the journey with friends and companions is a gift.

• Art can help us look inward and make the movement from head to heart. 

• Choosing a few scriptures to frame these days and spending time with them has opened up Jesus's life in new ways. 

• The Lenten journey is not a straight path to Easter and Resurrection - there are many turns and detours. 

In Hannah Lane's painting, I see a crowd full of life and color who has been gathered in - each one belongs to the whole. I feel a moment of acceptance, joy and harmony -  even if it's not always that way - it sometimes can be.

Today's vista & prayer:

• Did you take on a specific Lenten practice this year? What has been your experience? What have you learned about yourself and God over these days?
• How does Hannah Lane's painting speak to you?
• We pray: Jesus, long ago you dismissed the crowd to be alone with God. On another occasion you saw the crowd and were moved with compassion. Teach me the ways of compassion so I might become a giver of compassion in my corner of the world. Amen.

 

Faces in the Crowd, Day 11

Around the Bend by Padraig McCall

This post is part of an on-going Lenten series that began Ash Wednesday. 

Immediately he made the disciples get into the boat and go on ahead to the other side,
while he dismissed the crowds.

And after had had dismissed the crowds, he went up the mountain by himself to pray.    

When evening came, he was there alone," (Matthew 14:22-23)

+

"When he saw the crowds, he had compassion for them, because they were harassed and helpless, like sheep without a shepherd." (Matthew 9:36)

As spring arrives, I find myself spending more and more time outside - and less time giving attention to the "inner crowd." I started this series as a focus for Lent - to see if I could name some of the faces that are part of my interior world. The aspects of myself I would like to dismiss and the aspects that Jesus meets with compassion.

Today I name the part of me that looks "around the bend" to see what's next. I want to know where life is leading and I want to skip over today and see it now. That aspect keeps me leaning towards an unknown future, guessing, speculating, and planning - and I miss today. I miss the ways that God is present in this moment, in this day. 

In Padraig McCall's painting, I am reminded that life bends like the road - into an unknown destination that will be revealed at the right time and not a minute before. I feel invited to take in the view from here and appreciate the beauty and life of "here" and "now."

Today's vista & prayer:

• In what ways are you tempted to look "around the bend"? 
• How does Padraig McCall's painting speak to you?
• We pray: Jesus, long ago you dismissed the crowd to be alone with God. On another occasion you saw the crowd and were moved with compassion. There is in me the desire to look ahead, even to skip ahead. By your grace I will plant my feet and my heart in the present moment - where you meet me with compassion. Amen.