Courageous Persistence: Paths to Prayer

Posted on April 8, 2020 by Virginia

“Have I not commanded you? Be strong and of good courage; do not be afraid, nor be dismayed, for the Lord your God is with you wherever you go.” Joshua 1:9

Virginia has written and spoken about courage before, but these days fear is kicking my butt. Not just fear of freaky viruses, but about The Future and many things.

It’s easy to stumble off the paths of prayer when dark storm clouds crowd the horizon.

There’s something to be said for courageous persistence. Even if we can’t see the way clearly, we keep walking the paths of prayer with courageous persistence.

“The path to prayer… is now a glorious path through the meadows, now a peaceful country road with no obstacles where we can abandon ourselves to quiet thought, now a rough mule-track winding up the mountains, now a way over the bare rocks on the summit.  Sometimes it is like a city street full of noise and distractions, at others it follows the water off the streets into the underground drains and so to the river or sea, carrying with it the rubbish and filth of life. But it is always prayer.”   Carlo Carretto, from God’s Name is Love

grace, peace & courageous persistence

Virginia : )

p.s. Bountiful blessings to Jewish friends around the world as Passover begins tonight. Peace be with you!!

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BELOVED OF GOD

Posted on April 7, 2020 by Virginia

Our emotions can shake our hearts up and down like a roller coaster, especially in times of stress. We may start to feel underappreciated, misunderstood, and unloved. Hurts that have smashed us may reappear, threatening our fragile sensibilities.

We may let fears decimate who we are, who we want to be. Uncertainties may push us further down emotional tunnels of negativity where we can’t see our real ‘me.’

Or, we can take a moment to breathe in, breathe out. To listen to the still small voice of God within, the voice Who calls us: BELOVED OF GOD.

“Our emotional lives move up and down constantly. It seems that they happen to us rather than being created by us. As we feel our emotions shift we must connect our spirit with the Spirit of God and remind ourselves that what we feel is not who we are. We are and remain, whatever our moods, God’s beloved children.” Henri Nouwen

grace, peace & Belovedness

Virginia : )

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#HOLY WEEK: LAVISH LOVE

Posted on April 6, 2020 by Virginia

“Mary took a liter of costly perfumed oil made from genuine aromatic nard and anointed the feet of Jesus and dried them with her hair; the house was filled with the fragrance of the perfumed oil.”  (John 12:3)

On this Monday of Holy Week, we remember Mary’s act of costly love anointing the feet of Jesus with fragrant perfume. I’d like to imagine Martha, her sister, sitting next to her with a towel (so nothing stained the carpet.)

Martha & Mary*

Sometimes I resonate with Martha getting things done, cooking in the kitchen, a make-it-happen person. Other times I aspire to be like Mary sitting at the feet of Jesus, listening to His words, basking in His presence.

Navigating our lives of faith it’s really both and, not either or. Mary made a gesture of costly worship, but consider Martha’s intrinsic role in the household. If Mary blew a whole year’s worth of wages, wouldn’t Martha have a say in it? In a sense this sacrificial act of worship came from both of them, but in different ways.

Just like at times our acts of love can take different forms: changing diapers, cooking, care-giving, giving of ourselves (our presence and presents), reaching out to irascible friends and colleagues, laying down our lives for others, spending time in prayer and adoration…

All we do can be acts of love, costly perfume, if we offer them up to Jesus and do them with the fragrance of His lavish love.

“It is not how much we are doing but how much love is put into doing it.” Mother Teresa

grace, peace & lavish Love

Virginia : )

* Handmade wall figurine from In the Company of Saints (Natchez, MS)

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Our Palm Sunday Strength

Posted on April 5, 2020 by Virginia

This may not be the Palm Sunday we anticipated when Lent started 5+ weeks ago. Holy Week is upon us, but we cannot gather in our churches to prevent the spread of a deadly disease. Instead, we must raise our palms together in virtual worship in front of our laptops and TVs. As COVID-19 death tolls continue to rise, it’s hard to sing Hosannas.

But, here’s the thing about Palm Sunday.

At the center of everything is the Cross and love of Jesus Christ. Every lash and nail of suffering He endured for us that we might know His love and be set free.

That is our strength.

“What has the Cross given to those who have gazed upon it and to those who have touched it? What has the Cross left in each one of us? You see, it gives us a treasure that no one else can give: the certainty of the faithful love which God has for us. 

A love so great that it enters into our sin and forgives it, enters into our suffering and gives us the strength to bear it. It is a love which enters into death to conquer it and save us.”  Pope Francis

grace, peace & Palm Sunday strength

Virginia : )

p.s. Yesterday our church hosted a morning “drive through” pick up for palms. As each car drove around the big circle in front our our church, we stopped and received a bag with palms and Holy Week worship aids. Our senior pastor, Msgr. Joe, stood at another stopping place and gave each one of us a blessing.

Never has a blessing meant so much to me!

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A Retro (INSPIRATIONAL!) Song for Saturday

Posted on April 4, 2020 by Virginia

Under mandatory work and stay-at-home orders here in Virginia, my younger brother and I are coping. When Dwight is not here my vintage turntable usually blasts music throughout the house. He calls my vinyl collection “the Academy of Ancient 80s Music.” It’s filled with hundreds of albums I pulled out of storage a few years ago (here’s a previous blog about that: Multifarious Vinyl.) Treasures all!

Since Dwight is not such a fan of my treasures, as he took off for a bicycle ride the other day I switched on the stereo and whisked an oldie onto the turntable. One I have not heard in eons: The Grateful Dead’s American Beauty. (“Truckin” is a fav.)

Playing it brought back memories of fun times spent hanging out with university friends managing the stress of student life in the 1980s. Fun that continued after graduation when I worked in Washington, D.C. for a nonprofit foundation. One night as I worked late in our Capitol Hill office my friend Kim called to see if I was up for an outing. She and a group of her corporate work buddies were headed to see the Grateful Dead at RFK Stadium, located a few blocks from my office.

Someone couldn’t go at the last minute, so there was a free ticket for me (the nonprofit penny-pincher) if I wanted it. When they swung by to pick me up they were all wearing appropriate tie-dyed apparel, then there was Virginia in a navy blue dress suit and pearls. (That was What We Wore to work in those days.)

At RFK a huge sea of tie-dye greeted us, but after the music started I didn’t care about my attire – the concert was totally AWESOME.

Listening to the American Beauty LP this week I played the B-side three times. “Truckin” is a fav, but another song had me tearing up. The words seemed to “Ripple” right into my heart, as we search to find still waters amidst new COVID-19 realities.

Since I’ve been humming it all week, today here’s a (very) inspirational rendition of the Grateful Dead’s “Ripple” performed by a diverse ensemble of international musicians connected through Playing For Change, an organization that promotes world peace and social change. This brought a few tears to Virginia’s eyes, too. (Watch and see why!)

Email readers you know the drill, link to the Roses website to watch the YouTube…

 

Reach out your hand if your cup be empty
If your cup is full may it be again
Let it be known there is a fountain
That was not made by the hands of men

 There is a road, no simple highway
Between the dawn and the dark of night…

(Song writers: Jerry Garcia/Robert C. Hunter)

grace, peace & (powerful) ripples

Virginia : )

“He leads me beside the still waters, He restores my soul…” (Psalm 23:2-3)

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Let There Be Peace Within…

Posted on April 3, 2020 by Virginia

Since Virginia missed commemorating Saint Teresa of Avila’s 505th birthday last week, here is a quote of hers to contemplate on this Lenten Friday.

“May today there be peace within. May you trust God that you are exactly where you are meant to be. May you not forget the infinite possibilities that are born of faith. May you use those gifts that you have received, and pass on the love that has been given to you.

May you be content knowing that you are a child of God.

Let this Presence settle into your bones, and allow your soul the freedom to sing, dance, praise and love. It is there for each and every one of you.”  Saint Teresa of Avila

grace, peace & infinite possibilities

Virginia : )

p.s. Another challenge…

“Let your prayer take shape. ‘Lord, if you are willing to suffer such things for me, what am I suffering for You? Why should I complain? Let me imitate Your way.’  If you refuse to try this, it is not likely that you would have remained at the foot of the Cross either.” Saint Teresa of Avila

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Mountains, Lakes, Icefields & More…

Posted on April 2, 2020 by Virginia

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing.” Helen Keller

Virginia’s Canadian Rockies adventure continues from where we left off yesterday, arriving by Rocky Mountaineer train in Jasper National Park. Tour buses, a hired car, hiking shoes and more memory makers filled our Rocky Mountaineer tour of Canada’s National Parks in Alberta. From my stay-at-home armchair to yours, here are glimpses of what we experienced…

Waterfalls and mountains (Jasper National Park)

Gushing grandeur (Jasper National Park)

On a warm summer’s day we encountered a snow storm riding in an Ice Explorer up to the Athabasca Glacier in the Columbia Icefields. Zipping up our raincoats (padded with layers of shirts underneath) Dwight and I scurried out onto the glacier.

Photo credit: random tourist who offered 

Azure water @ Lake Maligne (Jasper National Park)

Turquoise water falls (Banff National Park)

A bride photobombed my pic @ Lake Louise!

Our Rocky Mountaineer tour took us to this posh place with grand views of Lake Louise from our windows (that continued ’til 10:00 at night!) Instead of laying out for fancy dinners, we ate at a pub type place and splurged on an Afternoon Tea reservation.

Enjoying delectable tea and treats in the elegant dining room overlooking Lake Louise is an experience we’ll never forget.

Sunny day traipsing around Banff National Park

Our Rocky Mountaineer bus tour ended in the town of Banff, but we tacked on five more days to explore more places with a hired car (and our hiking shoes.)

A three mile hike to these waterfalls in Banff’s Johnston Canyon was worth every step.

What would a visit to Canada be without seeing a Moose?

Gloomy clouds filled the sky as we walked an hour or two around Moraine Lake on our last day in Banff National Park, but then…

THE SUN CAME OUT!!

grace, peace & armchair adventures

Virginia : )

“I love to think of nature as an unlimited broadcasting station through which God speaks to us every hour, if only we will tune in.” George Washington Carver

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Trains, Mountains & Waterfall(s)!!

Posted on April 1, 2020 by Virginia

Since most people can’t travel now due to COVID-19 containment efforts, today Virginia invites you to take a photo journey to beautiful Canada. An inspirational escape from stay-at-home orders from the comfort of our armchairs…

Rocky Mountaineer departing Vancouver

The year after our parents passed my brother Dwight and I took a bucket list trip to the Canadian Rockies. After visiting Vancouver (as blogged here previously Victoria Day in Canada and Butchart Gardens) we boarded a Rocky Mountaineer train for a two day trip through British Columbia toward Jasper National Park in Alberta.

A “gorgeous” gorge sighting

and curvy wonder winding around beautiful B.C.

+ lots of trees and wooded enclaves

and majestic Mount Robson (awe inspiring!)

An incredible view of Pyramid Waterfalls –

so much beauty from the windows of the train!

Nearing Jasper National Park, what a view.

Arriving at our destination in Jasper the train trip may have ended, but our Rocky Mountaineer adventures continued by bus, car, and hiking shoes in some places. (To be continued…)

grace, peace & armchair adventures

Virginia : )

“My soul can find no staircase to Heaven unless it be through Earth’s loveliness.” Michelangelo

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Starry Interdependence

Posted on March 31, 2020 by Virginia

Virginia realizes that she shared this quote from favorite author Madeleine L’Engle in years past. Given current circumstances wherein many of us are unable to go to our places of worship, it seems even more relevant today…

Photo credit: NASA, ESA, Hubble 20th Anniversary Team

“If we look at the makeup of the word disaster, dis-aster, we see dis, which means separation, and aster, which means star. So dis-aster means separation from the stars. When we are separated from the stars, the sea, each other, we are in danger of being separated from God…

We need to remember that the house of God is not limited to a building that we visit for only a few hours on Sunday. The house of God is not a safe place. It is a cross where time and eternity meet, and where we are – or should be – challenged to live more vulnerably, more interdependently. Where, even with the light streaming in rainbow colours through the windows, we can listen to the stars.”  Madeleine L’Engle (from Glimpses of Grace)

grace, peace & starry interdependence

Virginia : )

“If we limit ourselves to the possible and the provable, we render ourselves incapable of change and growth, and that is something that should never end.” Madeleine L’Engle

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#LENT: Still Waters

Posted on March 30, 2020 by Virginia

On this Lenten Monday, here’s comforting assurance from a (very) familiar Psalm:

“The Lord is my shepherd; I shall not want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures.

He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul…” (Psalm 23:1-2)

No matter how many rocks line the shores of our lives right now, God will lead us to still waters – if we let Him shepherd us into the stillness of His presence where peace reigns supreme.

Let go, and let God lead you and me beside still waters.

grace, peace & still waters

Virginia : )

Photos: Lake Louise (Banff National Park, CANADA)

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