Bare Trees*

The trees are letting go of their leaves, one by one, increasing

 

the view from my favorite window.  In the summer the lush growth

 

restricts my view, but now I can see to the top of the ridge across

 

the road.  Sometimes it's only through letting go that our vision

 

clears.

 

Bare Trees*

 

 

*from Fields of Grace

Calm Waters

Calm Waters

 

 

 

 

 

 Stepping out
on the calm surface,
reflect on the beauty of silence.

Anoint your weary soul
with the healing waters
of tranquility.

 



Roses from Rock

Roses from Rock

 

 

 

 

        As I looked at the wild rose bush in bloom I felt a bit like Moses standing in front of the burning bush.  How could it be? 

 

       The moss and grasses were surprising enough - a flowering rose bush was beyond anything I could imagine in this landscape of rugged rocks.  And yet, there it was; not only surviving, but thriving.

 

        We are often reminded that all things are possible with God; but like Moses, we can find it difficult to believe.  

     

        In those times when disappointment and despair  threaten to overwhelm us, it's important to remember that the rose bush did not spring fully formed from the rocks - it began with a bit of earth and a tiny seed.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

            

 

 

 

 

 

Child-like Wonder

       We took care of our little granddaughters (ages 3 & 5) for a few days last week and were reminded once again that there's nothing like being in the presence of these little ones to awaken our sense of wonder.

       I had the honor of taking the 5 year old to kindergarten one day and the excitement in her face and the sparkle in her eyes as she showed me her room and introduced me to her teacher and friends was priceless. 

       The best part of all though, was when the school mascot (a large green dragon) came walking down the hallway. Her face lit up and she couldn't wait to tell her teacher and her friends that she had seen the dragon.  As I watched my little granddaughter I couldn't help but notice how this "wonder" was absent in the faces of the older students.  No doubt they had seen it all before; it wasn't new or exciting to them.

       After leaving the school, I thought about how easy it is to lose this sense of excitement and wonder as we grow older.  Each day can seem like the next - whether it's the sunshine, the blue sky, the traffic jam - we've seen it all before. The challenges and problems of our lives weigh us down and before long we are blind to the beauty and wonder that's right before our eyes. 

      The surprises have not left - each day is filled with its own unique gifts.  God is revealed to us through the people we meet and the world we live in.  Open your eyes and be prepared to be surprised!

 

Spider Web

 

Spider Web

 

     There are a number of lessons this simple spider web can teach us.

 

     Looking at the spider web, I admired its intricate design and the work of the single spider who had woven it.  I also realized that the spider, because it is so close to the web, will never see its full pattern; only someone at a distance can appreciate its beauty. 
    
     It can be the same for us.  How easy it is for us to dismiss the importance of a kind word or action as we go about our regular activities; we are tempted to believe that these small things "don't really make a difference."  And yet, a  simple word or action may have been exactly what was needed at that moment.

     The spider is also attentive to its web; continually maintaining it and aware of any disturbance.  
     
     Do we respond to the call to quiet and reflection; those times when God is trying to get our attention? 
    
     Do we recognize those times or places in our lives that need some repair?

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



 

 

 

 

Tree Branches in Autumn*

 

 

                                  Wrapped in black velvet;

                                     branches and trunks

                                     set off amber leaves,

                                     providing the

                                     framework for

                                     Autumn's spectacle.

 

                                  Do I remember

                                    it is Love's

                                    faithful Presence

                                    that supports and

                                    gives life

                                    to my efforts?

 

                                                                            *from Fields of Grace

 

 

 



Marsh Marigolds

(from Fields of Grace)

 

 

 

 

 

                                  A life spent high

                                    above the forest floor

                                    offers itself

                                    to future generations,

                                    its task completed.

 

                                 Its passing marked

                                    by golden voices

                                    raised in songs

                                    of praise and

                                    thanksgiving

                                    to the Author of Life.

 

 

 



Water Lilies

 

 

 

Water Lilies



 

     This is one of my favorite photos.  While it's not uncommon to see a field of wildflowers, it's unusual to say the least, to come upon a lake that is carpeted with water lilies. 

 

     I'm fortunate to drive past this scene nearly every day, and it always makes me smile.  I like to think that God also delights in this scene - inserting a bit of whimsy in an otherwise serious world.

 

     Like so many things in nature, water lilies offer an invitation to stop for a moment and be refreshed by the Beauty that surrounds us. 

Hummingbird

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

It's unusual to find a hummingbird sitting quietly.  Usually they're flitting from flower to flower, drinking in mid-flight.

 

As I watched this hummingbird at the feeder I was reminded of the importance of taking time for those things in life that feed our soul and spirit.

 

 

Sometimes we too, need to stop and drink deeply.

Weeding the Garden

I finally got around to weeding my big garden yesterday. Just to give you an idea of how bad it was, I filled up the wheelbarrow five times with weeds and grasses that had taken over most of the garden.

Somehow it was always too hot or too wet, or I was too busy to get out there and weed.  It didn't seem like it was that long since I had weeded, but the size of the weeds told me otherwise.

As I was bringing order to the garden I thought about how often I can forget to take time for reflection and prayer.  Too often I convince myself I just don't have the time, or that there is something more important to do first.  And before long I can't seem to find my balance - that's when I finally realize what I've been missing.

Taking time for quiet reflection/prayer on a regular basis is essential - it's kind of like keeping up with the weeds in the garden. 

The challenge of course, is remembering how important this is, and scheduling time for it.

Yellow Rose Bush

 

 

Yellow Rose Bush

 

I have several rose bushes in my garden, and sometimes I wonder if they're worth all the effort - and then the blossoms appear.  Their delicate petals and sweet scent are more than enough payment for all the effort.

Faith in the unseen can be hard to sustain sometimes, but the rewards can be heavenly!

Sparkling Waters

There haven't been many sunny days here in Minnesota the past several weeks, so when a sunny afternoon finally arrived I went for a walk.  

It was a beautiful morning, with a slight breeze, and as I passed a pond I stopped to admire the sunlight sparkling on the surface of the water. 

I began to realize that it was the breeze, moving the water into small waves, that enabled the water to reflect the sunlight to me. Looking at the sparkling water, I began to see a life lesson emerge. 

The difficulties that arrive in our life are like the breeze that blows across the water, disturbing our equilibrium.  These same "breezes," while they may be painful, also present moments which reflect the Divine in ways we have never before experienced. 

It makes no difference whether or not we recognize these "sparkling moments" at the time or not, just as it made no difference whether or not I was there to witness the sun on the waves that morning.  Love's Presence continues to accompany us all through our life.

Deer by the Side of Road

                    Deer by the Side of Road

I took this picture one morning as I was walking down our road.  I had taken along my camera as usual, in case I came along something I wanted to photograph.  As I came over a small hill, I first noticed the way the light played on the tire tracks in the gravel road. Seeing the deer I stopped, and had just enough time to take the photo before the deer retreated into the brush.

This photo is a reminder of the importance of slowing down and noticing the world around us. It's only when we realize that life is more than a straight road to our next goal that we begin to see the gifts at the periphery. 

The question to ask ourselves each day is, "What gift is waiting to be discovered today?"

Storms & Rainbows

                             Rainbow

With all the rain, flooding and tornadoes this Spring, the rainbow carries a new significance to many.  This sign in the sky is not meant to downplay the devastation that many are facing; it's not a "don't worry, be happy" message.

The rainbow reminds us that God continues to accompany us, sharing our suffering and loss.  God's faithfulness is painted across the sky, proclaiming that even now, in these most difficult times, the Love that created us continues to surround us - comforting us in our loss, and strengthening us as we go forward. 

                            Rainbow*
                                

                                Passing through
                                 water droplets,
                                 sunlight scatters
                                 into colors;
                                 a streak
                                 of vibrant hues
                                 crossing
                                 once-threatening skies.

                                A promise of faithfulness
 
                *from Fields of Grace, Everyday Encounters with the Holy, by Cathy Scherer Stubbs

Spring Field*

                            Spring Field

                                   
Spring planting season was an important part of the year on the farm where I grew up.  It was always exciting to see the transformation of a field that had been bare ground suddenly give rise to orderly rows of crops. 

It wasn't unusual to see a clump of trees growing in the middle of a field, and I remember that when I asked my father about the trees he told me the story of a particular clump of trees.  It turned out that when the field had been originally cleared there had been a lot of rocks which had to be picked up and set aside before the field could be planted.  The rocks had been piled in one central site, and over the years the trees had grown up around them since the soil hadn't been disturbed.  The trees also served the purpose of marking the area where the rocks had been piled so the farmer knew to avoid that spot.

                        Spring Field*
                
                                 Orderly lines
                                   fashion a pattern
                                   in newly-turned earth.

                                Seedlings in
                                  precise formation
                                  make way for the
                                  wisdom figure
                                  in their midst;
                                  acknowledging the
                                  presence of One
                                  greater than they.

                    *from Fields of Grace, Everyday Encounters with the Holy by Cathy Scherer Stubbs

Clothesline*

 

It seems that Spring will never arrive - we've had snow for the first few days in May - something very unusual even for Minnesota!

 

I managed to hang some laundry outside on one of the (very few) warm days in April. While I appreciate the convenience of the clothes dryer; at the end of the day there is nothing like crawling between sheets that were dried in the wind and sun.

 

 

Clothesline*

 

 

                  Rusted poles with

                         outstretched arms

                         balance gracefully,

                         frozen in time.

 

                        Drooping lines

                         abandoned in favor

                         of tumbled warmth

                         wait patiently
                         to be rediscovered.

 

                       Memories of heavy

                         burdens made light

                         sweetened with the

                         scent of sun and wind

                         hang in the air.
       *from Fields of Grace, Everyday Encounters with the Holy

Something to Ponder: 

The gift of God's love is always available - making heavy burdens light and giving us rest at the end of the day.

 

           



Boot Planter

 

 

This is the reflection I wrote that gradually gave way to the poem "Boot Planter" in Fields of Grace.

 

 

"Just when I think this is the end of my usefulness there emerges another way.  When I can no longer move, my stillness presents another way to grow.

 

The earth that I once walked upon now fills me - there is no separation between me and life - I take it all in.  It would be tempting to say there is nothing else I can offer now, but I would be missing so much.

 

I wonder what else in my life I am discounting, what else I'm ready to discard that could lead to new insights and provide me with unlooked-for graces."

 

 

 

Boot Planter

 

 

 

 

                         Thick soles,

                    now abandoned,

                    surrender quietly

                    to journey's end.

 

                   Usefulness,

                    once measured in miles,

                    redefined;

                    the future

                    no longer certain.

 

                   Travel-weary stillness

                    brings new insight;

                    transformation

                    brings new life.

Sacrament of the Present Moment - Awareness

"The present moment holds infinite riches beyond your wildest dreams..." 

Jean-Pierre de Caussade S.J., The Sacrament of the Present Moment

    
     Jean-Pierre de Caussade was born in Toulouse, France, and took his final vows as a member of the Society of Jesus in 1708.  In 1731 he was appointed spiritual director in charge of a Jesuit retreat house where he became the spiritual director for the Nuns of the Visitation.   His notes to the nuns form the small book, The Sacrament of the Present Moment.   

     I've come to realize that it is Awareness that enables us to "Find the Sacred in the Ordinary" and to appreciate the "Sacrament of the Present Moment."

   As you go through your day, take a moment every so often to simply

•       Stop 
•       Breathe deeply  
•       Look around 
•       Listen

     You may be amazed at all you have been missing.  Too often we take things for granted, and become blind to our surroundings.

     Messages of comfort, encouragement, love, consolation, challenge, hope, faith, and more are present in all that we encounter. 

"We learn through what happens to us from one moment to the next...Each moment is a revelation of God."    Jean-Pierre de Caussade S.J.  

Dandelions*

Spring seems to be arriving slowly in our valley - there is still snow on the hill across from our house even at this late date.

 

We are all looking forward to those first flowers of Spring; the crocus, daffodils and tulips.  But there is another flower that will soon show itself, and it's not welcomed with the same amount joy - the dandelion.  Yet, even this lowly flower has some lessons for us:

 

 

Dandelions

 

 

 

 

                       Unwanted,

                        unappreciated.

 

                       Appearing

                        like clockwork

                        each Spring.

 

                       Unfazed

                        by criticism;

                        emerging,

                        celebrating,

                        returning.

 

                       Dandelions

                        know how to live!

 

*from Fields of Grace, Everyday Encounters with the Holy,

  by Cathy Scherer Stubbs (c) 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 







Crocus*

Even though there is still some snow left here, it's time to think about Spring! 

 

Crocus*

 

 

 

 

                    Just when I'd

                     nearly given up,

                     you break through.

 

                    Stunning

                     testimony of

                     Spring's return.

 

*from Fields of Grace, Everyday Encounters with the Holy

  by Cathy Scherer Stubbs (c) 2011

 

 

 

 

 

 

 



Winter Sunset*

 

   I had hoped to be writing about crocus and daffodils by now, but winter seems reluctant to leave this year.

   Since the ground is still covered with several inches of snow, I thought I would use one last poem of winter.

 

 

Winter Sunset*

 

 

 

 

                          Not for winter

                      the raucous colors

                      of other seasons:

                      no blazing reds,

                      oranges and yellows.

 

                    Cold, brittle

                      days demand

                      classic elegance.

 

                          Muted tones

                      invite quiet

                      contemplation,

                      whispering of

                      Love's subtle Presence.

 

         * from Fields of Grace, Everyday Encounters with the Holy 

            by Cathy Scherer Stubbs, (c) 2011

 

 







Cemetery in Winter*

 

 

 Cemetery in Winter*
 

 

 

                            

                            Lives valued               

                      and remembered;

                      brief moments in time

                      marked by stone.

 

                     A holy place

                      of quiet reverence

                      where fragile,

                      sacred vessels

                      are laid to rest.

 

 

* from Fields of Grace, Everyday Encounters with the Holy

    (c) Cathy Scherer Stubbs, 2011





 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The Breath of God

The Breath of God

      At this time of year there is often a fog that forms overnight and in the morning everything is painted with a thin layer of frost.  The smallest branches and pine needles are coated one by one - there are no clumps. 
 
     When I find it difficult to believe that God could possibly be mindful of so many individuals, I think of the fog and picture it as the Breath of God surrounding each of us and covering every aspect of our lives with Love.