Snow.
The four of us…
tromped through it,
shoveled it,
rolled it,
rolled in it,
sledded over it,
sunk into it,
tunneled through it,
shaped it,
tossed it,
plowed through it…
We rolled huge snowballs,
built snow forts,
sledded down the hill.
We played!

Today’s gift…

This weekend’s flight into Boston was my second one ever and the second time in under a year. Last year’s visit was with a group of colleagues heading for a teacher’s convention. For this year’s version I was alone, going  to visit family in the area. The trip went well. No drama. No stories to relate to the folks back home. Pretty dull except for the view out the window.

When I fly, usually I’m an aisle guy and that was the case this trip as well.  Last year’s trip I was in the middle of pretty good nap when we descended over Boston Harbor to the airport. I missed the whole thing.   This time I was determined to catch the bay view.

And I did! Three seats away from the small porthole size window I saw small swatches of the harbor. I couldn’t make out much, just a little bit at a time. I wanted to see more, larger chunks of the beautiful bay. I guess the only one with the big picture was the pilot. I wasn’t in that seat. That’s a good thing.

I did mange to capture a window seat on the bus, the Silver Line, that took me from the airport to South Station where I was to catch a train to my final destination.  It was a bigger window, indeed, covered with a layer of winter grime that dulled the view. A view which changed little as we crawled though stop-and-go, mostly stopped, traffic. 

Inching along like that was frustrating. I couldn’t see where we were going, what was ahead or why we were going so stinking slow. Frustrating, yes. But I thought more than once that I was sure glad I wasn’t driving. The bus driver knew the road, knew how to get to our destination and could safely negotiate the bus around whatever obstacles were slowing us down. Indeed, I’m glad I wasn’t driving.

I made it to my final destination without a problem. I greeted my family, played ‘Sorry’, tramped around in snow that reached to my knees. We ate supper and as is the practice read from the Bible – Psalm 23… Another window. 

There are times when I wonder what’s ahead for me, where am I going, what does the future hold? But sometimes I can’t see past the next few days or weeks. I can’t seem to get the wide view, the big picture.  My window is too small. I can’t see where God is leading, yet I wonder.  So, today’s gift is the realization that I am not in the pilot’s seat or driving the bus, but…

“The LORD is my shepherd, I lack nothing.
He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters,
he refreshes my soul He guides me along the right paths for his name’s sake.
Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.
You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies. You anoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.
Surely your goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life, and I will dwell in the house of the LORD forever.” Psalm 23

Today’s gift…

We sang this today in church.  I thought I’d share.

O God beyond all praising,
we worship you today
and sing the love amazing
that songs cannot repay;
for we can only wonder
at every gift you send,
at blessings without number
and mercies without end:
we lift our hearts before you
and wait upon your word,
we honor and adore you,
our great and mighty Lord.

Then hear, O gracious Savior,
accept the love we bring,
that we who know your favor
may serve you as our king;
and whether our tomorrows
be filled with good or ill,
we’ll triumph through our sorrows
and rise to bless you still:
to marvel at your beauty
and glory in your ways,
and make a joyful duty
our sacrifice of praise.

-Michael Perry

I just loved today’s concert! The choir was excellent! The music was glorious! Due to the raging snowstorm, the appreciative crowd was very small.

What I appreciated most was the chat at the end by director Anton Armstrong. He told us that the choir’s purpose was not to entertain but to share their faith via the music… and they did… Isaiah 40, Micah 6:8… and then their signature song ‘Beautiful Savior,’ “…for whom we sing…,” he said.

It was a great concert!

St. Olafs Choir – Today’s gift.

I had a clear view of her from my seat. She was beautiful. She glanced around, looked back in my direction. She gave me that look. I smiled. It made my heart sing to see her there.

The organ cranked up prompting all of us to sing. And we did. The words were from Psalm 8.

“Infant voices chant your praise, telling of your glorious ways; weakest means work out your will, mighty enemies to still. How great your name…”

I stood singing, eight pews away from Fiona, a six month old. Tiny. If things would have progressed normally, her birthday would have been two months later than it is. Fiona, born early, tiny and weak… was clinging tightly to her mother. Looking around… smiling…  at me maybe… or filling her diaper…. or beginning to feel a wee bit hungry and getting ready to let her mom know…. Praising God.

How do infant voices chant God’s praise? In Fiona’s case, by God’s grace, surviving her early arrival. And whether it’s pooping, eating, crying or smiling… maybe even at me… by just doing what she was created to do she and the rest of us chant praises to God.  So on that Sunday, from eight pews away, Fiona and Psalm 8, were God’s gift to me.

The thing about paths is….

There’s a beginning and an end,

an A and Z

an Alpha and Omega

Three parts to the paths we trod are…

where we are

where we’ve been

where we’re going

Our paths have…

twists, turns, tunnels, terrain that tests us

on we go

one step, two

all things will work out for those who…

We travel on our paths with …

family, friends – people we love

or those we don’t

or … alone

But really, never alone

That’s the thing about our paths…

we’re never alone

but always with the One who loves us.

“Trust in the Lord with all your heart…and he will make your paths straight.”

A nice day in the Rocky Mountains… Today’s gift.

This morning’s lunar eclipse and celestial neighbors…  a dance …between sun, earth and moon… between light and shadow.  A dance that even I can appreciate…   today’s gift.

“… This is my Father’s world..”