Snapshots & Whatnot: Going with the Flow

Posted on August 25, 2020 by Virginia

 “A good laugh heals a lot of hurts.” Madeleine L’Engle

Here’s something today from awhile back that still makes Virginia laugh!

Going with the flow @ Two Oceans Aquarium in Capetown, South Africa

“The opposite for courage is not cowardice, it is conformity. Even a dead fish can go with the flow.” (Jim Hightower)

…or maybe not.

Wherever you’re swimming in the rivers of life, if at times it’s tough going upstream against the current – Keep swimming! Keep swimming!! Keep swimming!!!

HAVE COURAGE! HAVE COURAGE!! HAVE COURAGE!!!

…& DON’T GIVE UP!!!

grace, peace & motivational photographs

Virginia  : )

Photo:  Jamestown Island, VA

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Amy Carmichael: (Faithful) Overflowing Shells

Posted on August 23, 2020 by Virginia

As shared here previously (…Immortal Flowers…) my precious Mama was a huge groupie of Amy Carmichael, an Irish author and activist who established a ministry in India to rescue young girls from sex trafficking and provide a safe sanctuary for them.

While searching in a drawer this week for something, I found a card Mama sent me eons ago during my first year working overseas in a challenging place. In her precious handwriting, Mama wrote out the following poem in its entirety with an addendum:

“Thought you might like this poem – our little shell you are. Never forget to let the Lord fill your life to overflow.”

The Shell

Upon the sandy shore an empty shell,
Beyond the shell infinity of sea;
O Saviour, I am like that empty shell;
Thou art the Sea to me.

A sweeping wave rides up the shore and lo,
Each dim recess the coiled shell within
Is searched, is filled, is filled to overflow
By water crystalline.

Not to the shell is any glory then:
All glory give we to the glorious sea.
And not to me is any glory when
Thou overflowest me.

Sweep over me, Thy shell, as low I lie,
I yield me to the purposes of Thy will;
Sweep up, O conquering waves, and purify.
And with Thy fullness fill.

Amy Carmichael

Sometimes it’s easy to let the nothingness of our lives (especially during a global pandemic) overwhelm our hearts and minds.

On this Sunday maybe it’s a good idea to ask Jesus to fill up the empty places in our lives with the fullness of His presence, the fullness of His love.

grace, peace & overflowing shells

Virginia : )

p.s. Virginia will be away this week, thus sporadically available in the blogosphere. (Altho she’s scheduled a few posts to keep faithful readers occupied ‘til she returns…)

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Mists of Anxious Perplexity

Posted on August 21, 2020 by Virginia

“Anxiety is the mark of spiritual insecurity.” Thomas Merton

There’s so much to be anxious about these days, it’s often hard to see the path ahead when mists of fear obscure the way.

We may feel small. And alone. Like this lonely little duckie spotted last fall on the misty Ohio River between West Virginia and Ohio.

Finding our way through mists of doubt and insecurity is perplexing at best, a hard task for most. We may not know where we are going on so many levels these days.

The path may not be as clear (or easy to find) as it was in the past.

“You do not need to know precisely what is happening, or exactly where it is all going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.”  Thomas Merton

No matter how misty things may be, the point is to face each moment with courage, faith and hope vs. despair. Despair doesn’t get us anywhere!

As a Thomas Merton groupie I’ve carried this prayer of his with me for years, pulling it out during challenging times of anxious perplexity. May it bless you today…

“My Lord God, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think that I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road though I may know nothing about it. Therefore will I trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.” Thomas Merton

grace, peace & anxious perplexity comfort

Virginia : )

Photos: Ravenswood Bridge, Ravenswood WV

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Snapshots & Whatnot: Mending Fences

Posted on August 17, 2020 by Virginia

In today’s “judgement culture” it’s too easy to close the gates of our hearts to others, especially those with whom we may disagree…

“Instead of showing someone the gate, try mending the fence.” Barbara Johnson

 “Love recognizes no barriers. It jumps hurdles, leaps fences, penetrates walls to arrive at its destination full of hope.” Maya Angelou

grace, peace & mending fences

Virginia : )

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And then there was ONE…

Posted on August 14, 2020 by Virginia

Visiting South Carolina for a retreat a few years ago, Virginia noticed birdies hopping about on the beach. Birds tend to like beaches, so that wasn’t so unusual.

But these birds were having a grand time on ONE LEG.

Four birdies traipsed about on one leg in the surf…

And then there were three…

And then there were two..

And then there was ONE.

“The one thing that you have that nobody else has is you. Your voice, your mind, your story, your vision. So write and draw and build and play and dance and live as only you can.” Neil Gaiman

grace, peace & ONE-legged verve

Virginia : )

Photos: Seabrook Island, SC

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Itzhak Perlman: Beethoven & Baseball : )

Posted on August 11, 2020 by Virginia

Today here’s a little humor and baseball fun in this short video from violin virtuoso Itzhak Perlman…(Email readers, you know the drill. Link to Roses website to view.)

 

My mama was a violinist in the Norfolk Symphony before she met my papa (and had 5 kids.) As a huge Itzhak Perlman groupie she would have really enjoyed this. My papa also loved his music – and watching baseball.

Go figure they are chuckling from their vantage point in the heavenlies…

“There are three things you can do in a baseball game. You can win, or you can lose, or it can rain.” Casey Stengel

grace, peace & Beethoven baseball humor

Virginia : )

photo: @ Baseball Hall of Fame (Cooperstown, NY)

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Tangling with Tornadoes

Posted on August 8, 2020 by Virginia

This week Hurricane Isaias wrecked havoc in the Caribbean, North Carolina and all along the East Coast of America. Impacting our area of Virginia as a Tropical Storm, Isaias dropped 6 inches of rain and knocked power out for many downing electric lines from gale force winds.

And tornadoes…

At 4:00AM Tuesday my phone went berserk with a Tornado Warning.

A Tornado Watch means be a little careful, but when a Tornado Warning goes off that means take cover immediately.

Stumbling out from under my bed covers I sleepily took cover in the bathroom, a fortified room in our home (we have no basement.) When the warning passed 20 minutes later I snuggled back under my covers.

At 4:30AM another Tornado Warning berserked my phone. Took cover in the bathroom again, this time for longer.

We were okay, but a tornado touched down in a neighborhood about a mile from us. One of my friends who lives there said it sounded like a huge freight train came crashing through. Hundreds of trees were knocked down, but thankfully there was no loss of life.

Tangling with tornadoes is No Joke! They leave huge swaths of destruction in their wake.

Damage from another storm @ our home

Sometimes storms of life swirl us about with gale force winds. Occasionally we may tangle with a tornado that hits our hearts and lives with destructive power.

When freight trains of fright and worry crash into our faith, decimating our calm, we need to immediately seek shelter in the Everlasting Arms of God.

Maybe the storm will pass, maybe it will hit us full on – but from the shelter of God’s Arms encircling us with everlasting love, we can face what comes.

One faith-filled moment (however nerve-wracking) at a time.

“Have you heard the saying, ‘Don’t tell God how big your storm is, tell the storm how big your God is?’  The Lord, Who is bigger than anything you face, will give you the courage and endurance to deal with your challenges.”   Pope Francis

grace, peace & tornado faith

Virginia : )

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#PrayForLebanon

Posted on August 6, 2020 by Virginia

My heart and prayers are with the people of Lebanon…

PRAYING FOR LEBANON

“Let us pray for the victims, for their families; and let us pray for Lebanon so that, through the dedication of all its social, political and religious elements, it might face this extremely tragic and painful moment and, with the help of the international community, overcome the grave crisis they are experiencing.” Pope Francis

grace, peace & prayers

Virginia

“Out of suffering have emerged the strongest souls; the most massive characters are seared with scars.” Khalil Gibran

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Tough Turtles (a little inspiration from…)

Posted on August 3, 2020 by Virginia

Ever have one of those days when all you want to do is crawl into a protective shell and hide? From everything and everybody?

Like Mr. Turtle in defensive mode. Not going anywhere!

“Behold the turtle. He makes progress only when he sticks his neck out.” James Bryant Conant

Turtles are hard to crush in their tough shells, but to move forward they must put their vulnerable necks out. That might take a bit of courage facing the unknown, but lots of courage when the known is filled with lots of scary stuff.

Mr. Turtle peaking his neck out (tentatively, a good start.)

“Fear has two meanings: ‘Forget Everything And Run’ or ‘Face Everything And Rise.’ The choice is yours.” Zig Ziglar  

Fear wields paralytic power. In our current whacked-out-world context it might be tempting for us to retreat into quiescent shells until the next century.

At the very least until 2020 is over.

Or, taking inspiration from Mr. Turtle we can let courage toughen us up enough to keep moving. To stick our necks out. To stick it to our fears.

Have a go at them, one step at a time.

Mr. Turtle says, “It’s time to face your fears and keep going!”

“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.” Maria Robinson

grace, peace & tough turtles

Virginia : )

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A (Powerful) Prayer for Our Times

Posted on July 31, 2020 by Virginia

Today is the feast day of Saint Ignatius of Loyola (1491-31 July 1556.) As previously posted here (Ad Majorem Dei Gloriam)  Virginia is a groupie of Saint Ignatius, the founder of the Jesuits. As we celebrate his life and Jesuits the world over, including our beloved Pope Francis, here’s a prayer from Saint Ignatius for hearts to ponder.

“O Christ Jesus, when all is darkness and we feel our weakness and helplessness, give us the sense of Your presence, Your love and Your strength. Help us to have perfect trust in Your protecting love and strengthening power, so that nothing may frighten or worry us. For, living close to You,we shall see Your hand, Your purpose, Your will through all things.”  Saint Ignatius of Loyola

grace, peace & powerful prayers

Virginia : )

“He who carries God in his heart bears heaven with him wherever he goes.” Saint Ignatius of Loyola

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