Clearing the clouds and discovering spring

It has seemed like the grayest stretch of what we here in Oregon call spring. It’s more than the fact that we’ve had the fewest days without a ray of sun on record in a long time. Spring has seemed to have been put on pause.

In some ways, I’ve felt my spirit has seemed torpid as well.
Torpid.
Inactive, sluggish, apathetic, lethargic, hibernating… dormant.
Lately my spirit’s season has been overshadowed in life by the clouds of my youngest son’s tough bout with a contentious lung illness; my oldest son had a spiral stress fracture in his foot causing him to have to miss the last half of a sport season; my father had been ill with pneumonia; my mother-in-law is ill with a rheumatic issue; a good friend is leaving; my daughter got a job in another state; I’m volunteering in a couple of capacities in certain areas of our community settings; went through bout of bronchitis; am out of sync with a couple of friends due to stages in mom’s life; still unsure of myself at times skill-wise in this part time marketing position I am now working; had to put on a new roof during rainy season; the 16 year old got his license and is driving – out there – alone. These are just some of the clouds that insist on hanging overhead.
Not sure which cloud was raining hardest before I started wanting a raincoat – how about an umbrella that won’t turn inside out with the next gust life sends. I am giving old Oscar a run for his title as GROUCH; I guess spirit wise I just built up my wall of sandbags and hunkered down – hibernated – went dormant.
Stepping back to Stand Still, I see the full view and shake my head. My Standing Still time as been experienced in the form of evening walks. I got my head above those sandbags I’ve had piled so high; took a look as saw that my life wasn’t as dormant as my self-focused, selfish, grouchy self thought.
While walking I noticed a little window that had grown open in a bank of clouds. The clouds framed a view of the top of a huge, puffy, bright white cumulous cloud tip. There was a stark contrast with the lower level gray clouds and this luminous white cloud above. It was a visible message from my Heavenly Father telling me that no matter how gray those clouds of life fill my sky, He’s there. Larger, brighter. Off the to right of what I had just seen a small rainbow appeared.
I laughed. I thought to myself “okay Lord, I got it”. As I finished the walk I took notice of spring, which even Oregon gray and rain can’t stop. Rhododendrons were in full bloom in so many colors – red, white, pink, purple, orange. Dogwoods have their cross-shaped blossoms open baring the middle ‘crown of thorns’. Irises begin to stand tall. The scent of lilac is in the air…
What was dormant is awakened, revived.
“Our Lord has written the promise of resurrection, not in books alone, but in every leaf in springtime.” – Martin Luther
Spring comes to my soul.
No longer torpid.
Resuscitated and beginning to be renewed.
“For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord (Romans 8:38-39).
Not even the clouds of life I allowed to overshadow my spirit - can distance me from my Father.
Here comes the Son… (and the sun).

Gratitude

Gratitude unlocks the fullness of life. It turns what we have into enough, and more. It turns denial into acceptance, chaos to order, confusion to clarity. It can turn a meal into a feast, a house into a home, a stranger into a friend. Gratitude makes sense of our past, brings peace for today, and creates a vision for tomorrow. - Melody Beattie

On a day that could bring sorrow, I focus on my gratitude.  I have such gratefulness … thanksgiving … appreciation in my heart.  Despite loss, I have gained immeasurably more than I could’ve ever imagined.  Although the ‘why’ may never be known or understood, choosing acceptance and trust allows me to live with joy instead of despair.  I am able to clearly see God’s presence as I reflect on the past.  Today’s peace comes solely from Him.   And it is by His grace I have HOPE for tomorrow and beyond.

Gratitude.

I am thankful for time spent, however short – yet precious, with a beautiful curly brown haired daughter.

I am thankful for three amazingly loving, gifted and blessed children.

I am thankful for a strong, loving, faithful and faith filled husband.

I am thankful for friends who are caring and enduring.

I am thankful for extended family that are close no matter the distance – providing love, encouragement and joy.

I am thankful for a Father who is, was and always will be love.

I am thankful for a Savior – Redeemer and Shepherd.

I am thankful for………………………… so many blessings to numerous to name.

I am thankful.

-In loving and grateful thought and memory of Christine Hope… Happy Birthday angel girl!


1 Chronicles 16:34   Give thanks to the LORD, for he is good; his love endures forever.

2 Corinthians 9:15  Thanks be to God for his indescribable gift!

1 Thessalonians 5:18  Give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus

Philippians 4:6-7  Do not be anxious about anything, but in every situation, by prayer and petition, with thanksgiving, present your requests to God. ⁷And the peace of God, which transcends all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.

Romans 5:5  And hope does not disappoint us because God has poured out His love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit whom He has given us.

 

Community

Several years ago our family took a road trip to see the redwoods in northern California. We experienced a profound sense of wonder standing in the midst of the Creator’s handiwork. Recently I learned a few facts about redwoods. Apparently they don’t really have individual root systems. Instead their shallow roots are interconnected as they are outgrowths of a parent tree which grow in a circle called a cathedral. They support each other with merged roots standing against and surviving Pacific winds, fire and disease.
Isn’t this a great picture of a community - roots bound together, supporting each other against adversity?
Community – a group; an association; a gathering; a circle; a body sharing support, a sense of purpose, a goal, a commonality, a connection, and a kinship.

Standing still, I close my eyes and in my mind stand in the midst of the redwood community. I am encircled. I ponder about the communities in which I actually stand – work community; school community; neighborhood; church; friends; and family. Each of these are segments of the community of my life. I think about the groups and how all the segments create a whole. What are the associations I have with the members of our existent community? What purposes are served? What is our ultimate goal? Are there connections and commonalities that draw us together to interconnect and face adversity – some of which will be our greatest trials, our greatest doubts, our greatest attacks, our greatest losses?
Life has shown me that the communities truly rooted in and established in love are those that are strongly rooted, entwined, and anchored in God’s Will and Word. Members of such a community possess love, compassion, patience, kindness, caring, sincerity and encouragement as they live and stand together.

Standing still I began to list those in my community who despite time and distance have held me strong. I have been blessed with:
-Parents whose priority it was for me to be raised anchored in faith on a firm foundation.
-a husband who is my greatest friend walking through great joy and great sadness holding me, helping me through, encouraging me to press on toward the goal
-children who’s faith often provides learning moments for me; a joyful witness; hope, sunshine and warmth as well as insight - all giving strength.
-two extremely loving friends for life who met each other half way, leaving husbands with young children behind as they traveled onward to come meet an angel who had very little time on this earth with us -they came to hold, hug and pray with all of us – compassion, comfort and love.
-friends who accept you where you are but love you enough not to leave you there – they grow you; batten down the hatches in stormy seasons of life but support you as they heave and ho to help you press on.
My community elements have God’s love as a base. I picture a cross in the middle of my ‘cathedral’ community.

Stand still in the midst of your “cathedral’ and picture your community. You may find many positive traits. Weigh what it means or could mean for your community to be rooted and established in love. Are you anchored in Him? Do your commonalities have purposes of love, hope, joy, peace and love? Is it time to reestablish a new community or a make an addition? Maybe a little renovation is in order - possibly a few cobweb sweepings.
My prayer for you is that your community will be rooted and established in love – His Love.

1 John 4:9 This is how God showed his love among us: He sent his one and only Son into the world that we might live through him.
Philippians 2:4 "Let each of you look out not only for his own interests, but also for the interest of others."
Ephesians 3:16-18 I pray that out of his glorious riches he may strengthen you with power through his Spirit in your inner being, so that Christ may dwell in your hearts through faith. And I pray that you, being rooted and established in love, may have power, together with all the Lord’s holy people, to grasp how wide and long and high and deep is the love of Christ,
Ephesians 4:32 Be kind and compassionate to one another, forgiving each other, just as in Christ God forgave you
Colossians 3:12 Therefore, as God’s chosen people, holy and dearly loved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, gentleness and patience.
Job 4:4 Your words have supported those who stumbled; you have strengthened faltering knees.
Isaiah 45:5 I am the LORD, and there is no other; apart from me there is no God. I will strengthen you,
Psalm 36:7 How priceless is your unfailing love, O God! People take refuge in the shadow of your wings

Encouragement

"You never know when a moment and a few sincere words can have an impact on a life."- Zig Ziglar

I came across these words. I smiled as I thought of several of those moments in which I had been the recipient of such a blessing – the blessing of encouragement.
I’ve been standing still with the concept of encouragement. The teacher in me dissects the word itself: prefix en- meaning to bring into the condition of, put into, intensification; and courage meaning the quality of mind or spirit that enables a person to face difficulty, determination, endurance.
Encourage is to hearten, inspire, prop up, reassure, restore, refresh, revitalize, strengthen, boost, cheer, fortify, invigorate, comfort, motivate, console, enliven, rouse, embolden, urge.
I am awed that a few sincere words can bring so much – appreciation, support, respect, motivation, inspiration, engagement, communication, cooperation, confidence, community and success. (There are so many more benefits that could be added to this list.)
Three immediate thoughts come to mind as I stand still with encouragement.
-I am deeply thankful for those who have offered a few sincere words in moments they were needed.
-I hope that I have offered such in moments others may have needed. And I pray that I develop an awareness of my words – do they more often bring some sunshine to those around me or create gloom? Am I more often lifting those around me up or inadvertently bringing them down? I become aware that I need to develop self awareness – monitor the negativity I may express; avoid speaking subtle criticisms and instead voice respect; support, and encouragement.
-I am especially thankful for Our Heavenly Father who is the Ultimate Encourager. He whispers those words so greatly needed straight to my heart. He speaks to my soul through others around me. He provides His reassurance in the proclamations found in His Word.
In the still moments of your day, may you feel the warmth of encouragement given.


Psalm 10:17 You, LORD, hear the desire of the afflicted; you encourage them, and you listen to their cry,
Romans 1:11-12 I long to see you so that I may impart to you some spiritual gift to make you strong that is, that you and I may be mutually encouraged by each other’s faith.
Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through the endurance taught in the Scriptures and the encouragement they provide we might have hope.
2 Corinthians 13:11 Finally, brothers and sisters, rejoice! Strive for full restoration, encourage one another, be of one mind, live in peace. And the God of love and peace will be with you.
1 Thessalonians 5:11 Therefore encourage one another and build each other up, just as in fact you are doing.

A "roundtuit"

I can remember the first time I saw one. My initial reaction was that it was somewhat playfully ingenious – insightful. People constantly say that things will get done when they get a ‘Roundtuit’.

If I actually had a Roundtuit I could accomplish all those things sitting in piles around my house - the pile of dishes, the pile of school papers, the pile of house papers needing to be kept filed, the pile of laundry that I never seem to totally complete, the pile of pictures I want to put into memory books. And this is only what comes to mind of what is actually visible. Peek into any other room or the garage and you can find more reasons for my needing a Roundtuit. That circular object would help give me the ability to get those things (and more) done that I’ve been putting off. Just think about it – no last minute struggles, no doubting if it can be completed, no facing what I’ve procrastinated.
Oooh, here’s a thought - I could get Kid 2 and Kid 3 each a Hoptuit. We’d really make things happen and get things done. Then what we really need is a few Sticktuits. All our jobs, projects, and plans would be completed then. Hmmm….


Time to get back to reality! No roundtuits, hoptuits or sticktuits that will magically bring about productiveness. I live with the reality that time is limited; waiting for perfect conditions never allows things to get done; and procrastination ends in slavery to never ending tasks.
So is there an answer or solution? Standing still I come to several conclusions.
First and foremost it is important to prioritize. The ordering of my tasks is necessary. I remind myself how important it is though to set aside the “Be Still” moments with my Father. When I do, all else seems to fall into place and is put into perspective.
Then comes planning. Several quotes come to mind: “He who fails to plan, plans to fail” and “Life is what happens to you while you're busy making other plans”. The quotes are contradictory at best. But both are true. Balance and flexibility becomes key to making plans. Possession of each will ensure productivity as I follow through.
Finally, I need to keep my heart into all that I do.


Rountuits, Hoptuits, Sticktuits – are wishful.
Perspective, balance and ‘heart ‘n’ tuit’ – is a productive reality.


Matthew 6:33 But seek first the kingdom of God and his righteousness, and all these things will be added to you
Matthew 22:37-ff Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your mind. This is the first and greatest commandment. And the second is like it: Love your neighbor as yourself.
Proverbs 16:9 In their hearts humans plan their course, but the LORD establishes their steps.
Proverbs 19:21 Many are the plans in a person’s heart, but it is the LORD’s purpose that prevails.