I love flying.  Something happens when I step into an airplane.  My heart beats faster and my palms grow clammy as I anticipate the journey and destination.  Buckling myself in tightly, I sit back in wonder over the invention of flight.  It’s fascinating and truly amazing that we can move around the world so quickly and for the most part, comfortably.

Gorgeous!

As the roar of the engine builds up and the intensity of speed increases, I relax.  The window seat is my favorite.  As we climb higher, lifting above the pearly, white clouds, my spirit is welcomed.  Souring high and fast at 35,000 feet, I gain perspective as I am forced to slow down.  All my worries, fears, and anxieties slip away with the jet stream.   On a clear day, I see the tiny world below.  Cities turn into anthills, while the magnificent tapestry of the layered landscape jumps into focus.  From this view, my problems grow small.  Again, I am reminded of my size in this world.  I am but a tiny star in the galaxies of creation.

“You haven’t seen a tree until you’ve seen its shadow from the sky.”

~ Amelia Earhart

I sense that I’m not the only one that enjoys flying.  People around me, from all walks of life, seem to let their shoulders down when they rise above the ground.  As we are forced to unplug from everydayness, many envelop this space as a gift.  Some catch up on much needed sleep, while others dive into the passionate world of words.  Reading and writing (real writing) takes place.  Dreams and ideas take flight.  For a tiny while, we experience what it’s like to just “be.”

“The air up there in the clouds is very pure and fine, bracing and delicious.  And why shouldn’t it be?  – it is the same the angels breathe.

~Mark Twain, “Roughing It”

Last week I flew to Tennessee.  Along the way, I met a beautiful and eclectic group of strangers; each with a story and each with a different destination.  Yet, for a few hours, we shared life together; through conversation and through quiet time.  Through smiles and tears, we shared a child’s first experience of flight.  We witnessed a mother caring for her newborn, who undoubtedly rested in a deep seeded peace, knowing all would be well.

Playing in the Clouds

On my return flight, I met a man.  For a short while, we shared deep, wonder-filled conversation.  We cut through the small talk and wrestled with the real, authentic, “unknowing” parts of life.  We talked about God, the Bible, family, chemo therapy, building prisons (his occupation), and making eye contact with some of the worst of the worst in modern humanity.  The conversation was real.  Challenging, yet fulfilling.  The strange part about strangers is that they’re not so strange after all.  Yet, our modern times have hurried our pace, leaving us little room to interact with those in front of us, all the time, every day.  Our conversation that day was a blessing to my life.  Our words will remain with me for some time.

Flying reminds me that I don’t have all things figured out, and that that’s perfectly alright.  It teaches me to rise above, to see everything from a new view, in order to gain perspective and clarity.  It inspires me to keep going, to keep looking, and to keep curious.  It asks me to just live, and to live well.

“When once you have tasted flight, you will forever walk the earth with your eyes turned skyward, for there you have been, and there you will always long to return.”

~ Leonardo Da Vinci

I love flying.  How about you?

April – September = 6-month Blogging Sabbatical.  :-}

Ge’ez, where has the time gone!  I can’t believe it’s been so long since my last post!  Spring semester ended, summer came, and summer went.  As we circle back into the fall season, I feel excited about the change in the air.  Living in the Pacific NW, we are fortunate in that we get to experience distinct seasonal cycles.  And while I appreciate other parts of the year, this is particularly my favorite.

My husband turned 30 on Tuesday.  In our culture, the big 3-0 is a big scary deal (for most).  Yet, we’ve discovered and found joy in the fact that each passing year only gets better.  We don’t mourn that our 20’s are gone with the wind, but instead celebrate all the highs & lows.  It was a fabulous decade, filled with memories that will last a lifetime.

Kissed by the Sun

So, what did we do?  Living in Oregon, we are surrounded by endless outdoor options.  Yet, it was obvious that Tuesday’s celebration called for a day of relaxing and reflecting on the beautiful, picturesque coast.  Plus, the weather forecast called for 80’s and sunshine!  WOW — can’t get much better than that!

So, we packed up a picnic lunch and headed west, throwing all “to do’s” out the window.  As we found a prime beach location and hunkered down for the afternoon, I felt a flood of emotions.  Truthfully, it was a day ordered straight from the hands of God.  The sunshine, scenery, light breeze, and soft sand cradled us like newborn babies.  We were in awe over creation!  No words can fully define all that we took in.

Bathing in Creation

As I continue to study and live into simplicity, I’m discovering a new sense of freedom.  Few people shared the ocean with us that day.  Yet, all that were there felt something special.  It was  a day where time just seemed to stand still.  Everything and everyone slowed down.  For an afternoon, we all became children.  Basking in the glorious rays, digging our toes into the silky earth, living in the given moment.  A gift and a day locked into memory.

“To me a lush carpet of pine needles or spongy grass is more welcome than the most luxurious Persian rug.”

~Helen Keller

Simplicity, as some see it, is not about self-deprivation.  It’s actually quite the opposite.  As we choose less, we truly gain more.  Not more in the sense of material possession.  But more in the luxury of joy and real living.  Our values change and we begin to embrace something better.  Our eyes, the windows to our soul, gain new sight.  We are invited to bathe in nature and take in what we so often miss.  Our day on the ocean helped validate that simplicity and celebration go hand in hand.  Every day, every hour, and every minute of our lives count.  Yet, the rushing and busyness of our present day robs us of this pleasure.

“Study nature, love nature, stay close to nature.  It will never fail you.”

~Frank Lloyd Wright

How will today be etched into your memory?

What is the obsession with busyness, speed, and multi-tasking in our lives today?  Why does it (in our minds) equate to success and a “job well done”?  Now, don’t get me wrong, busy is not always bad.  There are seasons and reasons in our lives to be moving faster.  Hard work does not come easy, yet I often wonder, “What is it all for?”  Really.  Why do we do what we do?  If you take an honest look and peel back the layers, you may be surprised at what you find.  Good or bad.

During my time in Hawaii, I became fascinated by a tiny creature.  So small, yet so determined.  He would make his way each morning across the vast green covering.  Slowly, but steadily, inching his way to the other side.  One focus, one task.  Doing one thing, and doing it well.  Some may see this as strange, but I saw it as an important reminder and relevant metaphor.  In the rat race we often call life, I want to sit back in my old age and see that I lived well.  I want to know that I enjoyed the smaller moments, and praised the normal and routine parts of every day.  I want to know that slow was acceptable and that beauty really could be found here.  To study the lines and curves of creation (as the snail had to do to make its way through the tall blades of grass), I want to know I made time to do this.  I want to see, really see.  Yet, if speed and hurry run my days, I will miss the real gems and reasons for life.

Personally, I struggle deeply with worry and anxiety.  My mind regularly slips into the future and wonders how things will all work out.  I catch myself running into a black hole, where I lose sight of what is right in front of me.  I forget God and try to convince myself that I control my life.  I fool myself into thinking that I am so much bigger than I actually am.  Recently, I read a book called, The Way of the Small, by Michael Gellert.  While I have always been perplexed and awed by the grandness of space and infinite number of stars, Gellert helped remind me to keep things in perspective.  In the scope of it all, we are but a tiny speck.  Earth is a dot, sustained by the hands of God.  Have you ever considered how truly amazing this is?  Our lives are precious, and how we live them, matters.  Yet, addiction to speed and anxiety are thieves of our modern time.  They pull blinders over our eyes and convince us of their necessities.  They rob us, every day.

“My Chinese side wonders why Americans are so uneasy with time on their hands and must busy themselves with activities, the sweatier the better.  Why do they keep changing their minds and ways, jobs and towns and spouses?….Americans are a self-selected breed programmed by their genes to be forever on the go and cursed by the Fates never to enjoy luxuriating in the material comforts and spiritual splendors of home.  Is it any wonder then that they are always asking themselves who they are?  They just don’t stay put or reflect long enough to find out.”

~Bette Bao Lord

So, become aware of your time and how you use it.  Can you justify the hurry in your life today?  What if you focused this energy elsewhere?  How would your daily perspective and life change?

I had a vision the other day.  I was standing in the eye of an intense storm.  All around me, swirling faster and faster, were things representing my life today.  God, school, church, work, responsibilities, hobbies, and relationship commitments.  And, although everything was twisting around me rapidly, I realized I was planted firmly in the middle of it all.  With this realization, I was reminded that I chose many of these things and at any time, I had the ability to drop them.  When this happened, the spinning began to illustrate a slow motion clip from the movies.  As this took place, I started to see each object more clearly, completely defined.  My sight and focus came back.  God most definitely showed up to reveal something important.  He was offering me the gift of being present.  It was imperative that I see these things and know the choices behind the chaos.

How will you step into this season?

For the past several weeks, I’ve been noticing the pace of life picking up rapidly.  One of my favorite things to do is people watch.  I often wonder where everyone is going and what they are doing.  As always, the speed of life is fast, especially as we approach the holiday season.  Our ability to stay present, mindful, and in the moment is tested to its breaking limit.

As we enter into November and December, I’m beginning to sense the tyranny of the urgent in many lives.  Thanksgiving and Christmas become one more thing on the “to do” list.  Between turkey roasting and present searching, it’s all too much for some.  Whatever happened to the spirit of the holidays?  Where have the hearts of gratitude and joy gone?  How did this time of year become something that so many people despise or dread?  When did it become a time of selfishness and hostility?

“Blessed is the season which engages the whole world in a conspiracy of love.”

~Hamilton Wright Mabie

Working at the YMCA, I’m experiencing a bit of the holiday, economic, and political frenzy.  It’s almost as if the attitudes of some individuals switched sourly with this season.  Honestly, some people are just plain rude, aggressive, and mean.  Taking their frustrations and negative energy out on a complete stranger seems to be a strategy they are willing to expel.  In fact, anyone working in the service industry can attest to this right now.

So, who will you choose to be this season?  What attitude will you manifest?  If last year didn’t go so smoothly, what things will you change this time around?  How will you bring your spirit back into the Spirit of this sparkling, magical season?  Maybe going out for dinner is an option, instead of the traditional (often stressful) home cooked meal?  Maybe the gift of your time and presence could replace the material things you wrapped so meticulously last year?  Whatever it may be, our ability to step back and clearly see each day, one moment, is a gift.  Will you openly receive it?

“For many of us, sadly, the spirit of Christmas is “hurry”.  And yet, eventually, the hour comes when the rushing ends and the race against the calendar mercifully comes to a close.  It is only now perhaps that we truly recongnize the spirit of Christmas.  It is not a matter of days or weeks, but of centuries – nearly twenty of them now since that holy night in Bethlehem.  Regarded in this manner, the pre-Christmas rush may do us greater service than we realize.  With all its temporal confusion, it may just help us to see that by contrast, Christmas itself is eternal.”

~Burton Hills

How will you be present to those around you this holiday season?  What practices or disciplines will you adopt to invite the Spirit back into your heart and home?

I love Recipes.com!  It’s a community of people, sharing fabulous ideas and tips for the modern kitchen.  It is also a great space to organize and keep track of your own favorite meals, drinks, and desserts! 

In keeping with the fall theme from last week, I wanted to share the best recipe I have found yet for Apple Crisp.  It is the epitome of “Yummy!”.  So, gather your family and friends and take a trip to the pumpkin patch and apple orchard! 

Apple Crisp II (by Diane Kester)

• Prep Time:  30 Minutes
• Cook Time:  45 Minutes
• Ready In:  1 Hour 20 Minutes
• Yields:  4 servings  (Allrecipes.com allows you to change this according to your need)

Ingredients:

• 3 1/3 cups all-purpose apples, peeled, cored and sliced
• 1/3 cup white sugar
• 1 teaspoon all-purpose flour
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons water
• 1/3 cup quick-cooking oats
• 1/3 cup all-purpose flour
• 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
• 1/8 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/8 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 tablespoons and 2 teaspoons butter, melted

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C).
2. Place the sliced apples in a 9×13 inch pan.  Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples.  Pour water evenly over all.
3. Combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soad and melted butter togehter.  Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.
4. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 45 minutes.

Couple the warm crisp with a few scoops of ice cream and you have yourself the perfect treat to welcome and celebrate the season with those you love!  Enjoy!

What recipes or special treats fill your home with savory smells and rich memories? 

I absolutely love this time of year!  Can you smell the season in the air?  The cool, crisp nights and turning of the leaves make we gaze with wonder at all the change.  Many people experience a bit of sadness as we enter into the fall and winter months, but I have an overall sense of comfort and peace.  Although I enjoy the hot, long summer days, I always look forward to the turning of this season.  One of my favorite things in the coming months is cozying up to a warm, crackling fire, sipping steamy apple cider or soothing mint tea. 

Jeremy and I had the opportunity to visit Rasmussen Farms this past week in Hood River.  The location is spectacular, with views of Mount Hood and Mount Adams in the distance.  And while they carry a variety of fresh fruits, vegetables, flowers, jams, and gift baskets, I was most interested in the “backyard”.  A pumpkin patch and corn maze!  Seeing these two things immediately propelled me back to my childhood days and our annual family trips to pick out the best looking pumpkins and gourds.  Oh, and I can’t forget the petting zoos and hayrides too!  And during the week of Halloween, my precious dad exuded endless energy in decorating our home for the countless goblins and candy seeking ghosts.  All of these memories carry incredible joy and will forever be etched in my heart.  Ah, the sparkle of fall.  I think the teapot is calling my name! 

“Everyone must take time to sit and watch the leaves turn.”

~ Elizabeth Lawrence

What special memories and traditions do you hold of this season?  How will you take time to create lasting memories this fall?

Metaphors serve as some of the greatest insights to our world.  They are all around us, every day.  Do you notice?  What do you see?  How deep do you let them take you?

The other day, I was extremely tired and feeling a bit overwhelmed.  I said a quick prayer before closing my eyes for an afternoon nap.  Twenty minutes later, after a refreshing time of just being still, I awoke to this beautiful sunset.  The trees were neatly lined, covered by a soft, yet brilliantly colored silhouette.  Immediately, my mind focused on the similarity of what I saw and what I had just prayed minutes earlier.  Without a doubt, I was focused on the heartbeat of nature.  It looked so incredibly similar to a human heart on a hospital monitor.  For me, it was a reminder that God’s lifeline is all around us and that He hasn’t forgotten or abandoned His beautiful creation.  That He is so much closer than we know. 

As I was thinking more about this, I had another metaphor profoundly present itself.  To explain, I have to go back in time.  Our cat, Chewbacca, is one of the most loving cats you will ever meet.  He has truly been a joy for our family and has created a lot of laughter in our home through his clumsy ways.  As a kitten, Jeremy and I showered him with toys.  Stuffed animals, catnip, sparkly balls, fancy ribbon, bubbles, and bells.  We even purchased a large cat condo to lessen some of the boredom indoor cats can often protrude.  And, for a while, each new toy seemed to catch and hold his attention….for a while.  After a few days, that new toy didn’t seem so interesting any more.  Sooner rather than later, it ended up in the pile with all the other forgotten “new” toys.  A few weeks after he came into our lives, I witnessed something pretty incredible.  As I was opening a new bottle of milk, I tore off the ring around the cap.  Chewy immediately ran to my feet and began meowing (more like squeaking) at my feet.  He intently looked at me with his big green eyes, almost as if to say “Now you’re talking!  Throw that thing, let me at it!”.  So, without thinking much about it, I tossed it over the couch.  As I was pouring some cereal, I saw Chewbacca coming back out of the corner of my eye.  He had actually found the ring and brought it back to my feet.  Was I dreaming?  Did my cat just fetch?  I had never heard of such a thing!  Just to be sure, I threw the ring again, but in the opposite direction.  And, sure enough, he was off and racing to retrieve that little plastic milk ring.  A ring that was normally just tossed in the trash and cost us nothing outside of a regular grocery item.  How fantastic!  To this day, Chewy continues to play fetch.  If we let him, he’d go on for hours! 

So, as I’ve been focused on some of the metaphors swirling around my life, I realized this game of fetch revealed something extremely significant to our modern times.  As I’ve mentioned before, Jeremy and I do not have any (real) children yet.  However, I have noticed a particularly common pattern among families and parents today.  How many people shower their young children with the latest and greatest toy, hoping to dazzle their interest for an extended period of time?  And with that new toy, how much personal interaction is truly spent with that child?  Do you ever wonder why children have a shorter attention span today?  One of my best guesses is that they are lacking one on one time with mom or dad.  Time, which costs nothing outside of the lasting memory being created.  The fanciest, most expensive toy can never be a replacement for the relationships we share in life.

I could even go a step further and say that God revealed Himself in this metaphor.  With all the sparkling distractions that we allow into our daily living, God often gets pushed out of the picture.  The only thing He longs for and cries for, is our time and attention.  As the Father of this magnificent creation, He begs for us to throw a milk ring!  Will you play?

“All truths are easy to understand once they are discovered; the point is to discover them.”

~Galileo Galilei

What metaphors have you noticed around your life?  How have they helped open your eyes to some necessary truths? 

Do you ever just sit and watch people go by?  Where are they going?  Walking so fast, biking so fast, and driving so fast?

My husband and I live next to a very busy road.  And when I say next to, I mean within 50 feet.  At first, the constant buzz of traffic and thumping of music was hard to get used to.  It was loud.  Very loud.  But today, it has become merely white noise.  Someone even compared it to the rhythm of an ocean wave.  I’m still waiting to hear that.

Our Front Yard.

I often find myself staring out the window, wondering where everyone is going.  I get caught up in the split second conversations I see and emotions I feel through various faces.  Some look so content and sure of where they are headed, while others look completely worn down.  Singles, couples, families, and business people.  Some race by with little concern for fellow drivers, while others observe the posted speed limit and show respect for the road.  Some even have their feet hanging out the window, with the wind whipping and twirling their long hair!

Over this past week, I’ve been thinking about the road and how it mirrors many of our lives today.  We get in to our car to drive to a pre-determined destination.  Unfortunately, we forget to enjoy the journey.  We are so focused on getting there (on time), that we forget to notice the things along the way.  On the road and in this life, it is hard to slow down.

Since living next to a busy road, I find myself reflexively feeling anxious and stressed.  It’s almost as if my body absorbs the energy and pace of the traffic (and maybe fumes!).    It’s hard for me to focus, think, and be still at times.  There’s just no escaping the noise.  It’s everywhere!  And unfortunately, this is true for most everybody.  We all deal with noise on a daily basis, both externally and internally.  What are some of the noises in your life?    

As a result of the constant road traffic in our current living situation, I have to intentionally create space to breathe and relax.  I have to go somewhere that refuels my energy; a walk, the library, or a local coffee shop.  There are many places that lift my spirit, but these tend to create just what I need to clearly regain my composure.

Through all the busyness that is life, I often find myself misplacing God (Joanne Heim has a book coming out about this!).  And then I remember an amazing, calming verse from Psalm 46:10, “Be still, and know that I am God”.  I’m finding that a life of simplicity begs for our stillness and shouts for the Sabbath.  It just simply desires that we take ourselves off the road for a bit and seek a new direction.  A new destination.

“Uncontrolled, the hunger and thirst after God may become an obstacle, cutting off the soul from what it desires.  If a man would travel far along the mystic road, he must learn to desire God intensely but in stillness, passively and yet with all his heart and mind and strength.”

~Aldous Huxley   

How are you driving your life today?  Where are you going?  What places or activities refuel the energy of your spirit?