A mixture of random thoughts and readings from vacation.

It takes time to relax. When I first moved into my cabin in Willow, we lived without electricity for several months. We would use a Coleman lantern as well as kerosene lanterns for light in the dark hours of early spring. In the evening, getting ready for bed, we would turn off the Coleman lantern. I never noticed the noise until it stopped. Slowly I could feel the hair on the back of my neck start to lie down. The first few days of vacation at the lake were like that. The noise of life was still ringing in my ears and the brain was still going, not accomplishing mind you, just running. It took time to come around to the quiet and calm, to notice the ripples on the lake, the Sandhill Cranes strutting on the shore, the life that moved with or without my notice. It takes time to get into the word also. To open to a passage, breathe deeply and slowly, read it, think about it, read it again and then just listen to your breathing for a few minutes. Scientists tell us it is good for our heart, spiritual leaders will tell you the same thing.

Maybe an individual is measured in relationship to society, but a person is defined in relationship to God. In God’s sight every one of us is precious. For every one of us, She has a place, a purpose, a calling, a ministry.

There was a large party over the 4th weekend at the neighbor’s house. As usual, the call was for Pastor Dan to bring the blessing as if my blessing means more than the heartfelt words of anyone else attending. It is too bad we reserve grace for meals alone. How about saying grace before opening a great novel, or before a concert, standing before the stream with the fish running, an evening glass of wine, or perhaps even a good game, “For what we are about to receive Lord, make us truly thankful.”

Our neighbor had many children visiting with family coming from all parts of the country. How do you occupy a wide range of children for a period of time and give them memories. How about a parade, a Fourth of July parade! The word went out and preparations begun. There was grandma’s cane beating against the wash tub for a drum. There were children in hats and any red, white and blue combinations of clothing that could be found. There were whistles and noise makers and a 93 year old great grandma riding in a child’s rickshaw decorated with sand dollars and blue tape, throwing out candy that was old enough to harm teeth. It only went about two blocks, down a gravel road with three spectators, of which I was glad to be one, and four photographers. It will win no awards on TV and never make the news, but the story will live for generations. It is less important to create wonder than to awaken the sense of wonder within us each and every day.

The fourth of July filled the lake with seado’s. Each one it seems trying to outdo the others in a game of testosterone fueled stupidity. In the evening there were the fireworks, not organized, just random beach displays. With each explosion our old dog would shake and quiver some more. Finally in the wee hours of the morning she allowed us to sleep as she dove under the bed and the anxiety induced quakes, shivers and panting subsided. None of the rocket launching crowd was aware of her plight, and I doubt if they were it would have made a difference. Often it is easier to just not see, or regard the victims of our actions. Next fourth of July as we celebrate with the rockets’ red glare and bombs bursting in air, let us not forget how the headlong plunge into war these traditions glorify, as the solution to problems perceived, has left many with cupboards that are bare. Let us turn once again to the dreams of our forefathers who conceived a nation founded in liberty and freedom where the pursuit of happiness meant something different than abundance for some and a dim reality for others. Let us commit ourselves as a nation to strive for the pursuit of peace which cannot happen in the midst of ever increasing spending for war and profiteers who only want more.