This is a road not far from my farm. I love this photo! It portrays the quiet peace that a snow covered landscape brings to my world. But the snow is beginning to go. Soon my photos will be of gentle spring and delicate flowers. Go in search of beauty!
Tomorrow is Easter, a day of celebration!
The simplicity of the monastic way of life is bound to stand out in such a complicated world as ours. We are a society geared to sensory overkill. Monks have something to share when it comes to the rediscovery of simple enjoyment--the smell of hot coffee, or freshly mown hay, the sight of soft, early morning sunlight falling on the chapel floor. Monastic life is a sapiential life, a life of growing in wisdom. Its wisdom is nothing high blown or esoteric--it is rooted in the human.
~~Sister Donald Corcoran, OSB
Summer, Autumn, Winter, Spring, and Mud.
~~As a stay at home mom, my time is my own.
No one tells me to get tasks done on time--unless you count the question, "When is supper?"
If I do not start school on time, no one docks my pay.
If I sit at the computer all day, no one but my children notice.
~~At times I feel the burden of the "to do list".
A voice in my head says, "Hurry! You are behind! You need to get this done, and this, and this."
Other times the voice is muffled as I follow a rabbit trail of thoughts.
~~Neither the scurry of chores nor the joy of casting off cares is "Holy unto God", in and of itself.
It is our offering up of each moment of our life that makes our actions blessed.
It is in living our life, doing our tasks, and speaking our words to the Glory of God that we find peace.
~~Contemplatively choosing how to spend my time as I joyfully seek the Face of God--that is what I desire.
Is there more to life than this?
We've had a lot of wind over the last week.
While driving to pick up my daughter at college last Friday, there was so much snow moving, we had white-outs.
The snow turned to slush on the roads and would, at times, "drag" the car in a direction we did not want to go.
Even the semis were moving slowly.
Sometimes the snow, piled along the side of the road, being higher than the roofs of our car, would blow across the road above our heads.
For those who have not experienced snow, you can see it drifting across the driveway in the photo above, which, if the high winds continued for very long, would make the lane impassable.
The snow is beginning to melt.
Ice and snow are dripping steadily from the roof. Water is beginning to flow in rivulets.
Yet snow is in our forecast today. And tomorrow.
Today when I light my Lenten candle, I will recall all the the commitments I made on Ash Wednesday. Walking with an awareness of the presence of God is sometimes allusive, although it is always rewarding. Fasting on Wednesdays is an exercise in turning my face toward God and away from self. The rewards are unexpected--more peace, more joy, more contentment.
But now it is time to shut down the computer and start the day--to make myself beautiful for the family with gentleness and cheerfulness (perhaps not my natural personality!), to clean and organize my home to be comfortable and pleasant, to nourish my family with healthy yet attractive meals (which reminds me it is time to grind wheat), and to care for their needs through books and conversation.
I found questions to ponder for Lent (or any time of the year) and posted them on Listening to Silence, should you be interested. I pray your day be one of joy and self-giving!
Search for beauty--
Jean
I almost always find simplicity in beauty.
Many have asked about my mom. She is doing better and is back in her home again after being in and out of the hospital several times. It has been a long three weeks for all of us. Thank you for your prayers.
Moonset
My calendar says that yesterday was full moon. A full moon washes out the sky so that it is not the best time to star gaze. It isn't even the best time to moon gaze since one normally watches the terminator (the line where the dark and light meet) as it moves across the mountains, craters, ridges, and valleys, giving a 3-D perspective.
Even so, it doesn't matter if the moon takes center stage for a few days each month--for generations upon generations, its beauty and lore have captivated our hearts.
Today I plan to continue spring cleaning. The laundry room needs to be finished--curtains washed, shelves wiped down, the floor waxed. I want to do as much as I can before the nice weather comes, for I will want to paint a few walls and work outside then.
And to think--the sun is shining and no more snow is in the forecast until Monday!
Look for beauty--
Jean
Sunday's snow
On the Highroad to death
trudging, not eager to get
to that city, yet the way is
still too long for my patience--teach me a travel song,
Master, to march along
as we boys used to shout
when I was a young scout.
~Paul Goodman, Little Prayers and Finite Experience
"On the Highroad to death..."
I wonder how my perspective on life would change if I were to ponder daily the reality that my walk in life is a walk towards death. Some day, some moment, I will round the last bend in the road...
Would my possessions be less important--perhaps encumbering? Those things that I can take with me beyond death are few--the souls of those around me; laying up treasures...
Would my words be weighed more carefully before speaking?
Would I view the beauty of the world, the snow in winter, the flowers of spring, as gifts for the journey, reasons to celebrate?
Would I find more peace in the menial tasks of day-to-day living?
Would caring for others seem more urgent? Would these acts of kindness be a way to participate in placing expensive oil upon the feet of Jesus and wiping them with my hair as a preparation for His death and mine?
"Teach me a travel song..." Teach me to sing.
Sleet, ice, and snow--up to 15 more inches is predicted, and we have already had a record breaking snowfall this year.
My mom is still with us here at our home. She is slowly improving. We will see her doctor again on Friday.
Church is canceled due to the weather forecast. Our church is at the top of a long hill quite far from the nearest town. Many of our members are elderly. We tend to cancel whenever we are concerned about people trying to get to church on icy roads--and we've missed a number of Sundays services this year!
Sunday is not one of the days in Lent--it is a day of celebration. I will not light my Lenten Candle, and I will make a wonderful Sunday Dinner.
Rejoice!
