The Duty of Delight

Posted on February 20, 2021 by Virginia

On this first Saturday of Lent, Virginia is contemplating delight. Do you ever think of delight as a duty? I usually think of delight as a bonus joy brings to the table. But, come to think of it, delight is a choice. Delight is also a fruit of joy.

Sowing seeds of despair does not yield delight. (Sowing despair tends to cultivate painful things like ulcers, whereas sowing seeds of joy yields things like delight.)

“How necessary it is to cultivate a spirit of joy. To act lovingly is to begin to feel loving, and certainly to act joyfully brings joy to others, which in turn makes one feel joyful. I believe we are called to the duty of delight.” Dorothy Day

Dorothy Day spells it out for us: we are to cultivate a spirit of joy. Cultivating something requires effort, energy, and careful tending. As we cultivate joy (carefully and tenderly) we must root out weeds of frustration, anger, and fear that choke our growth as doers of delight for the Heavenly Kingdom.

Lent is a good time to have a go at internal weeds choking our joy, so we can be about the duty of delight.

“Finally, whatever things are true, whatever things are noble, whatever things are just, whatever things are pure, whatever things are lovely, whatever things are of good report, if there is any virtue and if there is anything praiseworthy—meditate on these things.” (Philippians 4:8)

grace, peace & duties of delight

Virginia : )

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#LENT: ISAIAH 58 FASTING GROOVES

Posted on February 19, 2021 by Virginia

One of Virginia’s favorite Scripture passages is Isaiah 58. Years ago she read it, then read it again and again until eventually it became motivation for younger Virginia to step out of her comfort zone into new adventures as an overseas relief & development worker in 1992 (yikes, a long time ago!)

The truths in this chapter are not just for overseas workers or for the young and strong of knees, they are for us wherever we are, at any age, whatever we may be doing, and most especially as we observe Lent.

“… Is this the kind of fast I have chosen, only a day for a man to humble himself?  Is it only for bowing one’s head like a reed and for lying on sackcloth and ashes? Is that what you call a fast, a day acceptable to the Lord?

Is not this the kind of fasting I have chosen: to loose the chains of injustice, and untie the cords of the yoke, to set the oppressed free and break every yoke?  Is it not to share your food with the hungry and to provide the poor wanderer with shelter – when you see the naked, to clothe him, and not to turn away from your own flesh and blood?

Then your light will break forth like the dawn, and your healing will quickly appear; then your righteousness will go before you, and the glory of the Lord will be your rear guard. Then you will call, and the Lord will answer; you will cry for help, and He will say: Here am I.

If you do away with the yoke of oppression, with the pointing finger and malicious talk, and if you spend yourselves in behalf of the hungry and satisfy the needs of the oppressed, then your light will rise in the darkness, and your night will become like the noonday.

The Lord will guide you always; He will satisfy your needs in a sun-scorched land, and will strengthen your frame.  You will be like a well-watered garden, like a spring whose waters never fail… (Isaiah 58:5-11)

Water in a sun scorched land is not easy to find. (After working in sun scorched regions of the Middle East and Africa, take my word for it!) To fast as Isaiah dictates, we must go deep in our hearts and ask for God’s help dealing with scorched circumstances of our world: injustice, hate, oppression, poverty, hunger, homelessness, (disease, global pandemics…)

The whole list is daunting, but this Lent consider taking one issue and doing something about it. Speak out against injustice. Where you see hate, offer a tweet of understanding and love. Help fill up local food pantries. Support local homeless shelters. Clean out a closet and share your clothes. Buy warm coats for families who need them (especially given unusually frigid temps!)

So much is oppressive these days. Vulnerable folks have been homebound for almost a year – a word of encouragement goes a long way (phone, face-time, food and flowers left on their doorsteps?)

Isaiah 58 fasting grooves are not about one day of ashes and abstinence, but a lifetime of lifting others with God’s love in action.

grace, peace & fasting grooves

Virginia : )

Photos: St. George’s Monastery, Wadi Qelt

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#LENT: A Bluebird Sighting

Posted on February 18, 2021 by Virginia

First let me clarify, I don’t remember ever seeing a bluebird near our home in winter. Lots of cardinals flitter about, but bluebirds? Nada.

Last week searching for something in my bedroom, I heard tapping on the window. After a minute or two I looked over. A birdie latched onto the window screen, ho hum. But when birdie persisted, tap, tap, tap, I went over for a closer look.

A BLUEBIRD was hanging out on my window! As faithful readers know, my precious mama loved bluebirds. Sightings remind me of her.

Mr. Bluebird (view through window screen)

When Mr. Bluebird saw he had my undivided attention, he flew down to the ground. Preening one way then another, he showed off his glorious blue hues. To my great delight he flew up on a branch close to my window. Tweet, tweet, tweet! After five minutes he flew off to carry joy to someone else.

Virginia, you may ask, what does this have to do with Lent? A question that begs the question, are we open to wonder and possibility this season? Lent is like winter, dull and gray – fasting, ashes and abstinence – a bleak season of saying “no.”

Are we open to hear God tapping on the windows of our hearts? Can we drop things that press us down for a few ticks to dwell in worshipful wonder?

Lent can also be a season of saying “yes.” For the 40 days of Lent are we open to the possibility of what God can do in us? Are we willing to make (more) time for God in our lives, to open the windows of our hearts wide to encounter the hues of God’s mercy, grace and beauteous love?

“Knowing Thou needest this form, as I Thy divine inspiration, knowing Thou shapest the clay with a vision and purpose divine, so would I answer each touch of Thy hand in its loving creation, that in my conscious life Thy beauty and power may shine.”  Christopher P. Cranch

grace, peace & beauteous bluebirds

Virginia

p.s. Once again Virginia will attempt a post-a-day gig during Lent – a quote, picture, spiritual thought (or two.) I realize many friends and readers come from different faith traditions, but I hope you will join me on this journey to Easter, the victory of Heaven’s Hope. Spreading a little more Hope these days = a good thing!

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Ash Wednesday: Radiant Embraces

Posted on February 17, 2021 by Virginia

And so it begins, the season of Lent. This year instead of ashes visibly smudged on our foreheads, ashes will be sprinkled over our bowed heads.

Little did we know when Lent began last year how drastically things would change. Going to church on Easter became something we longed for when churches were closed to in-person worship. We can go now (very carefully) but I will never take church for granted!

Challenges continue to circumvent robust and feeble intentions lurking in our minds and hearts. This Lenten season presents us with a choice: to dwell in worry and fear or to dwell in wonder and possibility, of what God can do in and through you and me.

Here’s a poem by Madeleine L’Engle in her Glimpses of Grace daily devotional that portrays the dilemma:

If thou couldst empty self of selfishness
And then with love reach out in wide embrace
Then God might come this purer self to bless;
So might thou feel the wisdom of His Grace,
And see, thereby, the radiance of His face.

But selfishness turns inward, miry, black,
Refuses stars, sees only clouded night,
Too full, too dark, cannot confess a lack,
Turns from God’s face, blest, holy, bright,
Is blinded by the presence of the Light.

What does it mean to open our hearts to be embraced by God, to know the wisdom of His grace, to see the radiance of Christ’s face?

The embrace of God’s love is tender and gentle. It’s a two way interaction. You can’t embrace someone in a defiant arms-crossed stance. You must open up the arms of your heart to receive the embrace.

What does it mean to be embraced by God, Who calls us tenderly BY NAME?

Precious Child, You are Beloved…

It means we don’t need to be scared. If we open up our hearts to the radiant embrace of our loving Heavenly Father, His everlasting mercy will rekindle the darkest corners of our hearts into bright flames of love.

Smoldering wicks are not snuffed out in God’s embrace.

My prayer for the beginning of Lent?

Oh God, open our hearts to Your embrace that we may become sparks of love filled with Your mercy and grace.

Short and simple, but hey, it’s a start.

grace, peace & radiant embraces

Virginia : )

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Love! Love! Love!

Posted on February 14, 2021 by Virginia

“Love is the beauty of the soul.” Saint Augustine

HaPpY Valentine’s Day from Virginia!

You may think you’re off the hook if you don’t have a sweetheart to share the day with (wife, hubby, partner, significant other, boyfriend, girlfriend, doggie, cat…) but Valentine’s Day is an opportunity to celebrate all kinds of Love with all kinds of folks.

Valentine roses sent yesterday from my sis

Gestures of love don’t have to be gooey sentimentality, but can be shared with family, friends, neighbors, our whacked out world, and even ourselves (chocolates, a little pampering bubble bath, more chocolates?)

Chocolate cupcakes left in mailbox for Cupid’s Cuties (my brother & me) from a good friend: a love-ly gesture!

Whatever your relationship status may be this Valentine’s Day, take time out to contemplate Love (the capital “L” kind.) The kind of love that shares all things – good and bad, easy and tough, mountain tops and valleys, and humdrum status quo.

“Love seeketh not itself to please, nor for itself hath any care, but for another gives its ease, and builds a Heaven in Hell’s despair.” William Blake

grace, peace & LOVE

Virginia : )

“All you need is love. But a little chocolate now and then doesn’t hurt.” Charles M. Schulz

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Maxwell Leadership Maxims

Posted on February 10, 2021 by Virginia

Years ago my big brother Dean invited me to a weekend seminar given by business leadership guru John C. Maxwell. I had a pile of his books, so enjoyed attending.

This week I found notes from that seminar whilst doing a search and rescue of old notebooks. Thought several of Maxwell’s leadership maxims might encourage us today… (methinks these apply to everyone, not just leaders!)

“Your attitude will determine your altitude.”

“Teamwork makes dream work.”

“Encouragement is the oxygen of the soul.”

“Go out on a limb. Fruit is out on the limb. Don’t keep hugging the tree trunk.”

“Communicators take something complicated and make it simple.”

“People don’t care how much you know until they know how much you care.”

“Sacrifice is an ongoing process, not a one-time payment.”

And here’s a good one quoted in one of Maxwell’s books:

“A leader is the one who climbs the tallest tree, surveys the entire situation, and yells, ‘Wrong jungle!’” Stephen Covey

grace, peace & every day leadership maxims

Virginia  : )

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Quickie Quote: Transformative Time Grooves

Posted on February 6, 2021 by Virginia

Encountered an inspirational quote on Instagram today that definitely deserves a share. And for some reason pink flamingos make Virginia happy, maybe these will have same effect on you…

“You can’t give your life more time, so give the time you have more life.” Anonymous

grace, peace & transformative time grooves

Virginia : )

Photos: Ngorongoro Crater, Tanzania

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Snapshots & Whatnot: Warbler Bluesbusters

Posted on February 2, 2021 by Virginia

When we are having a challenging day and nothing seems to be going our way, maybe we should take a page from Dr. Seuss books and hear what he has to say…

Mr. Warbler with a bad case of The Blues

“I have heard there are troubles of more than one kind. Some come from ahead and some come from behind…” Dr. Seuss

“Tut tut!” said the doctor. “Such talk! How absurd! Your tail is just right for your kind of bird.” Dr. Seuss

“Unless someone like you cares an awful whole lot, nothing is going to get better. It’s not.” Dr. Seuss

“When the world says, “Give up,” Hope whispers, “Try one more time.” You have more potential than you believe you do.” Dr. Seuss

grace, peace & warbler bluesbusters

Virginia : )

Photos: Va. Beach Aquarium (February 2020)

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Indelible Bubbles

Posted on January 29, 2021 by Virginia

Last night reading Anne Lamott’s “Small Victories” this sentence jumped off the page:

“You can change the world with a hot bath if you sink into it from a place of knowing that you are worth profound care, even when you’re dirty and rattled. Who knew?”

That reminded me of a something shared awhile back about bubble baths, the divine kind…

God’s love is always here to keep us going, but do we take time out of our busy schedules to soak in the bubble bath of God’s love? When life beats us up and our hearts are sore, do we let God’s healing graces soften our hearts with bubbles of hope and restoration?

How often do we let God pamper us with luxurious Love, the kind that makes us know we are Beloved and precious in God’s sight?

When we’re stressed and slammed it’s all the more important to pause for a bubble bath of God’s love, even a quickie one. If you’re not near a bathtub, take a 10 minute break to sit outside, breathe and pray. Set aside a worship moment to notice a sunrise, sunset, or moonrise. Go for a walk in the woods, check out the majesty of leaves and trees,

Splurge on flowers to brighten your desk (reminder: God loves me!)

Splurge on flowers to brighten your colleague’s desk (reminder: God loves them, too.)

Take time to receive love from others, to be love to others, to share the bubble bath of God’s gentle grace and affirmation.

Here’s to a nice long soak, treasuring indelible bubbles of God’s love.

grace, peace & indelible bubbles

Virginia : )

“Our hope is not based on something that will happen after our sufferings are over, but on the real presence of God’s healing Spirit in the midst of these sufferings.” Henri Nouwen

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PERSISTENCE GROOVES

Posted on January 24, 2021 by Virginia

Today Virginia is contemplating persistence. (Something certain impatient redheads are not very good at.) But dang it all, persistence pays (so they say.)

Keep on going. Don’t give up. Fail. Fail. Fail. Get back up and try again.

Not easy getting back up when you’ve been knocked down a few times. Actually, it’s hard. Hence the need for perseverance with extra doses of courage mixed in for good measure. A goodly overflowing measure! It takes piles of courage to keep going when stumbling from one failure to another.

Fall down 7 times, get up 8. Maybe that 8th time persistence will prevail and the door to whatever we are seeking will open wide with fruition and opportunity.

Persistence pays – if we don’t give up!

Here are a few perseverance quotes to help in the “don’t give up” department…

“Go back?” he thought. “No good at all! Go sideways? Impossible! Go forward? Only thing to do! On we go!” So up he got…his heart all of a patter.”  J.R.R. Tolkien (“The Hobbit”)

“A river cuts through a rock not because of its power, but its persistence.” Anonymous

“There is nothing like looking, if you want to find something.” J.R.R. Tolkien

“Nothing great is ever achieved without much enduring.”  St. Catherine of Siena

“Real courage is when you know you’re licked before you begin, but you begin anyway and see it through no matter what.” Harper Lee

“Passion doesn’t negate weariness; it just resolves to press beyond it.” Priscilla Shirer

grace, peace & perseverance grooves

Virginia : )

Photos: Taken years ago @ Yellowstone Park during visit with Bill Warnock, a dear friend and mentor I blogged about previously here. (May his soul Rest In Peace.) Today is his birthday.

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