Saturday, March 31, 2012

Nags Head Woods Preserve

Jeff and I have lived here for almost five years now, and we're still discovering new places.  Today we went to the Nags Head Woods Preserve for the first time.  We were amazed!  To think that these dense woods are so close to the beach, the sound, and the highway is just so cool!  We've been driving past for all these years and had no idea they were there.  It's a beautiful place.  The trees are amazing.  With every turn in the road, we saw something new and wonderful.  There's no doubt that I found God there today.




Friday, March 30, 2012

Devotionals

Two of the devotionals I read today had the same theme.  One talked about not just sitting around and waiting for God to show up in your life.  The second was that if you're not feeling Him, it's because you've moved or changed in some way because God is constant.  Basically, they're both saying if you actively look for God, you will find Him.  It's funny, because on our walk this morning I was telling Jeff that it was starting to get difficult to write this blog (I say that quite often!); that I was worried I wouldn't be able to complete the year of daily writing that I've tasked myself with.  I said this to him before I had read these writings.  Until today I hadn't come across the same theme in these two particular devotionals.  I think it was God telling me to dig a little deeper.  And that difficult or not, if I look hard enough I will find Him - every day.  It may just be that I have to look in a different place, or in a different way.  Because He is constant even when I'm not.  I found God today in the message He sent me through my devotionals.

Thursday, March 29, 2012

Cherry Chocolate Cupcake

I felt like I'd been baking, cooking, and cleaning the entire day!  I hadn't, actually, but it felt like it because I was interrupted so many times that it took me all day to finish.  Plus, I had tried a new recipe for cherry chocolate cupcakes, and I was anxious to see how they had turned out.  When I was finally done, I sat down, bit into that cupcake, and oh my.... The work was so totally worth it.  I definitely found God today in the pure bliss of that cupcake.


Wednesday, March 28, 2012

The Wind Chime

I was sitting here reflecting on my day and trying to figure out where I had found God.  I closed my eyes and prayed.  Meditated.  Shut out the outside world and looked inward... or tried to.  Just as I was whispering, "Lord, help me to find you..." CLANG, CLANG, CLANG!!!  It startled me out of my peace, and in the split second before I got annoyed I realized it came at the exact moment of my prayer.  There He was.  In that beautiful warm wind ringing that chime for all it was worth.  We have several wind chimes.  Most of them don't take much of a breeze to get them going.  But this one in particular looks and sounds like a buoy.  It takes a strong breeze blowing in just the right direction to make it ring, and it doesn't happen very often.  It left no doubt that He had heard my prayer.  And that is where He found me today.

Tuesday, March 27, 2012

The Dandelion

I saw a tiny dandelion when I started my walk today and realized I don't see many of them anymore.  When I was growing up they filled our yard.  But my dad never used weed-killer.  That would have ruined the harvest.  He used to gather the dandelion greens every spring and my mom would cook them up for dinner.  Somehow I don't remember actually seeing him do this, and it was years before I realized that the "greens" we had for dinner were the scourge of many a proud homeowner's lawn.  And I have to say when I saw them for sale at the grocery store, I laughed.  A weed!  But those weeds are awfully tasty.  (The other wild greens we loved as kids were something called "Vleeta" in greek.  Another weed that seems to grow near cornfields.  I still don't know the english word for that one.)
I looked for the rest of my walk and didn't see another dandelion until I got around to the marsh side of the block and saw a few growing next to the marsh.  One perfect flower stood out, and I had to take a picture of it.  It reminded me again that God's beauty can be found in so many ways.  In big ways like the grand, majestic scenes that I love taking pictures of.   But also in the smallest way - like this little dandelion with it's bright yellow flower and tasty, green leaves.  Weed?  Not in my book.  For I found God today in that beautiful little flower.



Monday, March 26, 2012

The Text

When I woke up this morning, I thought today was going to be an easy day.  I was wrong.  I had very little planned, but somehow the day filled up with unexpected things and became very hectic.  I still don't know where the day went.  I told Jeff I should have recorded myself throughout the day just so I could actually see what I've done!  He left for Maryland today.  In the middle of all the craziness, he sent me a text saying how much he hated having to be away from me for the next few days.  Somehow the wording of his message meant more to me on this day than just "I'll miss you".  It made me stop.  It made me smile.  It filled my heart.  And it's where I found God today.

Sunday, March 25, 2012

Evelyne

One of my goals in writing this blog is to inspire others to find God in their everyday lives.  Sometimes I'm almost embarrassed to write about what I feel is going to seem insignificant to other people.  But I write it anyway, because I feel it's what God wants me to do.  In his sermon today, Father Tom spoke of weeding out our "wants" from God's "wants".  And that is why I struggle with writing about the small stuff.  Am I writing what God wants me to write about, or what I want to write about?  I do my best, and I think God is happy with that whether I'm hearing Him right or not.
But the other thing I wonder is am I spreading His word?  Am I really touching anyone - doing any good?  I have a handful a people who read this regularly - and from time to time, share their "God moments" with me - so I have to believe I am.  Today after the service, my friend, Evelyne, made me believe even more so.  She came up to me all excited and said, "I bet I know what you're going to write about," and she pointed to the gorgeous tree blooming outside the window.  Birds were flitting in and out of it - how could you not find God there?  And I did, but I found Him more somewhere else.  She was so enthusiastic about sharing with me that she got me excited too!  It rejuvenated my feelings about doing this.  She was inspired to share a "God moment" with me, and in doing so, she became one herself.  So thank you, Evelyne, for your enthusiasm and inspiration.  That is where I found God today.

Saturday, March 24, 2012

The Cashier

There are a lot of nice people in the world.  But every now and then someone stands out.  I think we all have our moments when we stand out.  Whether it's a combination of events or feelings, I think we each have times when we are special - when we are noticed by someone else.  It's as if God points his finger and says, "Today, you are going to make a difference to someone."  Well, today it was the cashier at Harris Teeter.  We had to make a quick run in for just a couple things and his was the only register open.  He said he was new, and though efficient, he wasn't hurried.  He smiled and was pleasant as are most of the employees there.  But he had something about him - an openness, a welcoming nature... I can't really put my finger on it.  But we both left feeling uplifted.  God pointed at that young man today, and that is where I found Him.

Friday, March 23, 2012

Cross-Stitch

I picked up my cross-stitch today after being away from it for several months.  For some reason, I just haven't been able to find the time to work on it.  But today I did, and it felt so good to have it in my hands again.  The rhythmic movement of the needle, and the soft shushing sound of the thread sliding through the fabric is so soothing.  I'm sure it's the same with other hobbies.  You get into a zone when you focus in on what you're doing, and your mind settles into a restful place.  Plus, watching the picture slowly forming stitch by stitch is very satisfying.  It made me so happy to pick up where I left off; it was like meeting up with an old friend.  And that is where I found God today.  

Thursday, March 22, 2012

Sounds of Spring

It's another beautiful day here on the Outer Banks.  The windows are open, and I'm listening to our fountain splashing into the pool, the wind chimes gently ringing, and birds of all kinds singing.  They are the sounds of spring, and they make my spirit sing right along with them.  It's in these sweet sounds that I found God today.

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

The Ocean

I had to run a few errands today and decided to make a quick stop to look at the ocean.  I'm so glad I did.  It was beautiful - a cool breeze, warm sun.  This is where I found God today.



Tuesday, March 20, 2012

Strength

I haven't been feeling well all day.  I think it's some kind of bug, or maybe allergies.  There have been clouds of pollen blowing around all day!  I still had quite a lot to do today, though.  Mostly small stuff, but I wondered where I'd find the strength when I got started this morning.  I finally finished everything, but I still had my blog to write.  I was thinking through my day wondering where I had found God when it had been all I could do to get through the day.  And then it hit me - He is where I found the energy to keep going.  The Holy Eucharist says "Deliver us from the presumption of coming to this Table for solace only, and not for strength..."  And I realized that's what I usually do - look at my day and see where God has provided me solace.  Well, today I came for strength; and that is exactly where I found Him.

Monday, March 19, 2012

Dinner

Is it wrong to find God in dinner?  I think not.  He has provided us with such an abundance of foods and spices, and I have always been grateful to have enough.  But I'm also grateful for our food being so delicious.  How could we not find His blessings in that?
We had pork tenderloin for dinner today, and I was worried that I had overcooked it.  But I hadn't.  When I took my first bite it was so meltingly tender, and it was seasoned so perfectly that I just closed my eyes and sighed... But just for a second, then I dug in!  As a friend of mine used to say "If I'd had a third hand, I'd have choked myself!"  It was in that amazing food that God blessed us with that I found Him today.

Sunday, March 18, 2012

The Blueberry Bush

I do not have a green thumb.  I don't exactly have a black thumb - I don't kill every plant under my care - but I need them to be pretty sturdy stock.  If they're overly sensitive to too much or too little water, poor soil, or have specific sunlight needs, they need not apply to my garden - unless they have a death wish.  Well, last year we bought a blueberry bush.  I have no idea whether these are supposed to be hardy or not, but I wanted to try just because I love blueberries!  We planted it in a container on the deck so I'd be able to water it easily and eagerly awaited our bounty of blueberries.  When the first ones appeared, we were ecstatic!  And so were the birds.  Those little buggers were eating the few berries we had.  We tried all kinds of contraptions to keep them out before finally settling on a free-standing fence totally surrounding the pot.  Those birds are smart!  They found their way into everything else we tried.  So after all that effort, we managed to harvest maybe 6 more berries.  Oh well, at least the bush looked pretty - through the fence.  Then fall came, and with the berries gone we were able to remove the fence and see our pretty bush again.  But I also worried about it making it through the winter with my lack of a green thumb and all.  Well today, I'm happy to say we have fresh little buds of green on our bush!  Yay!  It made it through the first winter.  I know it won't be long before we have to surround it with the fence again, but for now I'm just so happy to see it alive.  And it's in those little green buds that I found God today.

Saturday, March 17, 2012

Grey Stillness

Happy St. Patrick's Day!  Jeff and I didn't have any special plans for today so we decided to drive out and look at the ocean.  It was a grey, foggy day for the most part, and the ocean was just beautiful.   There was a mystical quality about the whole scene with gentle swells of waves rolling out of the grey mist.  The blanket of fog muffled any sounds and left a cool dampness on our faces. We stood there together and took it all in.  And it was in that grey stillness with the mist on my face that I found God today.

Friday, March 16, 2012

The Sun-Catcher

It was a hectic day due mostly to a trip to the vet which took way longer than anticipated.  Forrest is fine - they were just really backed up today.  Once we got home, I had a few more phone calls to make and emails to write.  I tried a few times to think on what I wanted to write for my blog, but I just couldn't concentrate.  My mind was just too busy.  So I was sitting here, laptop open, fingers on the keys, my mind racing but going nowhere fast, when I looked up and saw the cross and shell sun-catcher that Sandy B. made for Jeff at his baptism.  We have it hanging in a window so I see it all the time, but for some reason just as I was praying for God to still my mind, my eyes were drawn to that sun-catcher.  I felt my mind calm; my breathing slowed.  I could feel God saying to me "Be still"... and that is where He found me today.


Thursday, March 15, 2012

Warm Wind

What an amazing day, huh?  It definitely seems that spring has come early.  I opened all my windows to enjoy the beautiful weather, and then went about my business - cleaning, cooking, and various chores.  I was standing at my newly opened kitchen window doing dishes when suddenly a warm gust of wind blew through.  It felt so good against my face, and it was strong enough to blow my hair back.  I closed my eyes and reveled in it.  It's the first time that's happened this year, and that is where I found God today.

Wednesday, March 14, 2012

Cathedral of Clouds

It was a glorious morning!  I was so excited to set out for my walk today.  The sky was filled with beautiful, fluffy clouds, and the birds were singing their little hearts out.  I pray when I walk.  And the thought popped into my head this morning that I was praying in a cathedral of clouds with a choir of birdsong.  Actually, I don't think these thoughts really "pop" into my head, I believe it's God speaking to me.  I'll be walking along speechless at the natural beauty around me when suddenly the perfect words to describe how I'm feeling are suddenly there in my head.  He said it exactly right - I felt like I was walking in a cathedral of clouds, and that is where I found Him today.





Tuesday, March 13, 2012

Wet Road

It started to rain lightly just as I set out for my walk this morning.  I thought about turning back but decided to go ahead and take my chances.  I'm so glad I did.  Besides the expected pleasures of walking in the rain - watching the raindrops on the pond, hearing them hitting the leaves - I experienced one more that I hadn't in a long while.  The smell of the wet pavement.  It only seems to have that smell right when it first starts getting wet, then it goes away.  It reminded me of being a kid.  We lived on a dead-end street and always met the other neighborhood kids outside in the road to figure out what to get up to next.  We were outside constantly and only came in when it was raining.  But we always waited till the last minute, and there was always that wet pavement smell right before we headed inside.  It's a gorgeous afternoon -  bright, sunny, and warm; but it was in the unlikely perfume of a wet road on this rainy morning that I found God today.

Monday, March 12, 2012

Clearing the Clutter

I collect recipes like crazy!  I have so many there's no way I could ever cook my way through them.  But I can't seem to stop myself - at least, not completely.  I'm better than I used to be, but there's still room for improvement.  My worst habit is tearing pages out of magazines and saving them because some recipe just looks so good!  I try to stay on top of them by filing them in folders and notebooks, but I have too many.  I end up with such a big stack of magazine pages that it's just too daunting to even bother trying to go through them.  But today I did.  I spent a good part of the day sorting through them and tossing the ones I know I'll never get to.  And hopefully, I'll actually try some of the ones I saved and not just file them away to be forgotten.  But the point is it felt so good to clear away that clutter!  Dumping all those excess pages into the recycling bin really made me happy, and that is where I found God today.

Sunday, March 11, 2012

The Welcome

I've been going to our church for close to two years now, and yet today I felt welcomed by a newcomer.  This young man and his friend had never been to our church, but he walked in with his hand extended and a smile on his face as he introduced himself.  He said they were sprucing up his parents' home which was nearby and decided to come to the service.  Although clean-cut, they didn't look the type to make church a priority mainly just because they were young; it reminded me again not to go by appearances.  So many young people would have just chosen to sleep in especially after losing an hour to the time change.  It was refreshing to see someone of his age so eager to participate in our worship, and his enthusiasm was infectious.  I felt renewed by his energy.  Today I found God in a stranger who welcomed me into my own church.

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Thin Place

We had our Healing Team meeting today, and I always get new insights to God there.  We have a book that we read from, but I never seem to get much out of it on my own.  However, listening to the others opens my eyes.  Today in particular, Pat said she thought we lived in a "thin place".  I agree. I feel closer to God in these surroundings and in this community than I ever have before.  But I also think we create a "thin place" with our discussions.  Suddenly, something that was too clouded or too "thick" for me to see is clearer.  And I think it's because of the insights of the wonderful people around me.  I thank God for them and for their insights; for creating a "thin place" which brings me closer to Him - for it is there that I found Him today.

Friday, March 9, 2012

Difficult People

I have a couple of people in my life who are difficult to love.  Recently, even more so.  Jeff and I were just talking about it this morning during our walk, and it bothers me to feel this way.  When I got home, I read one of my daily devotionals, and today's focus was loving difficult people.  It quoted Luke 6:32 "If you love those who love you, what benefit is that to you? For even sinners love those who love them."  God knows my struggle, and He was reaching out to me - telling me to try a little harder; reach a little deeper.  And that is where He found me today.

Thursday, March 8, 2012

Glorious Wind

What a gorgeous day!  Warm, sunny, breezy - well, a little more than just a breeze.  When I walk my block, it's always more windy on one side than the other depending on the direction of the wind.  Since it was in the 70's I was in short sleeves, but I was still pretty warm by the time I got around to the last stretch of my walk.  What had been a light breeze on the other side of the block was a strong wind on my side, and it hit me full force as I came over the hill at the end of my street.  It felt amazing!  I stretched out my arms and just let it blow through me.  If I had wings, I think it would have carried me into the sky!  I closed my eyes and smiled as this glorious wind rushed past - and that is where I found God today.

Wednesday, March 7, 2012

Rising Mist

It was a cold morning but warming fast.  The mist rising off the pond was beautiful, and this is where I found God today.


Tuesday, March 6, 2012

A Deep Breath

When I pray, meditate, or do yoga, I often consciously breathe God in.  But today I found God in a deep breath!  I had a lot to do today and was feeling extra tired when I got home.  But I still had a few more things to take care of - sound familiar?  So when I finally finished, I sank down on the couch, took a deep breath... and there He was.  Totally unexpected - calming me, relaxing me, taking on my long day... all in the space of a breath.

Monday, March 5, 2012

One of Those Days

It's was one of those hectic, stressful days, and the turmoil in the weather just fit right in.  One minute it was sunny, the next raining, and the wind blowing like crazy the whole time.  So I put on some music and came across one of my all-time favorite pieces by Yanni - "The End of August".  If this isn't music to "soothe the savage beast", I don't know what is.  The dreamy piano and the soul-stirring violin - this is definitely where I found God today.  If you'd like to hear it, click the link. (The actual song is under 4 minutes, the video is longer.)

The End of August by Yanni

Sunday, March 4, 2012

Blackberry Cobbler

Jeff and our son, Morgan, left for a business trip today.  Morgan lives in Maryland so I don't see him often, but since he works with Jeff I get to send stuff up to him once in a while.  Morgan is fasting for Lent the Greek Orthodox way - no meat (including eggs) and no dairy until Easter.  It's hard to find things to eat with no meat and no dairy - especially when you're traveling.  So I decided to bake one of his favorite things for Jeff to take to him - blackberry cobbler.  It just so happens the recipe I use has no eggs and since I can't eat dairy anyway, I've already adapted it for that.  So after church, I came home and got to work measuring, mixing...  And as I was dropping in the blackberries a contentment came over me.  It felt so good to be doing the "Mom" thing for my boy (even though he's a man now!); especially at a time when I know he can really use it.  And that is where I found God today - being Mom.

Saturday, March 3, 2012

Beautiful Words

My sister-in-law's family suffered a great loss recently, and today they were memorializing their lost loved one.  My sister-in-law and my niece posted beautiful thoughts in memory of her.  This is all we can do as humans when faced with tragedy.  Feel for each other, grieve for one another, pray for each other and hope that our words can bring some comfort.  I pray for them and their family, and I found God today in their beautiful words.

Friday, March 2, 2012

The Stick

Today's entry is a little offbeat.  I'm always finding God in small ways, and today was a very small way but significant - at least to me.
A few days ago someone had let their dog do his business right in the middle of the sidewalk.  I've watched for it during my walk so as not to end up with an unfortunate mess stuck in my shoes.  Well today I was watching all the cool, grey colors in the sky (see the pictures below!) and totally not paying attention to where I was stepping.  When suddenly, I tripped over a stick which caused me to take an exaggerated step forward, missing - you guessed it - the doggie droppings!  First words out of my mouth were "Thank you, Lord!".  Now it might not be the grandest image of where I found God, but I sure was grateful that He was there watching my step while I was watching His lovely sky.



Thursday, March 1, 2012

Soup and Sweets

We were just talking yesterday at our Pastoral Care meeting about how giving food makes us feel good.  Well, I got to do that today!  I had made a huge pot of soup and a cake yesterday.  Today, I was making chocolate peanut butter cookies (all gluten and dairy free, of course!).  I had way too much so I called my dad to come over and take some home. He brought my mom with him, but she waited in the car.  As I've mentioned before, she has dementia.  At this point she really can't be left alone for long, but she's also not very mobile.  Anyway, I walked out to see her before they left.  I think she knew it was me because she said "Hi, Darlin'!" right away.  It made me smile to hear her sound like her old self.  I told her I was sending some goodies home with her, and she seemed happy about that.  I know my dad was!  But more than anything, I was happy - very happy to be able to give them some food made with love.  And that is where I found God today - in the joy of giving soup and sweets to my mom and dad.