The "Thin Places"

Today's Scriptures and liturgy were exactly what I needed. In the moments of my days I long to build tents to just hang out with Jesus. Yet, God's actions quickly sweep in to interrupt my silly plans with visions and displays that are simply grand.

Over the past bit of time, I have been taken to task about how I do not return telephone calls quickly enough (Friday morning after a a Wednesday afternoon message with no urgency conveyed), not visiting folks in the hospital (notwithstanding the fact that the patient had only a loose connection to our parish), not using the altar missal for our worship service and using a hand-held binder instead, asking communion assistants to handle pew communions rather than doing it myself as the pastor.

I was relieved today to relish in the words of the Gospel as we experience the Transfiguration of Jesus. And I was grateful for the words of friends who recalled the "thin places" in which the divine comes so very close to us that we can almost taste it, those places in which the veil between the human and the sacred is paper thin. Those holy holy moments in which we are present at this beautiful display of Jesus' glory.

This week the Lenten Journey begins and I embark on a spiritual direction path that offers new opportunities. I trust that these will reveal even more "thin places."

Blessings abound,
Pam

Knitting It All Together

Over the past few weeks I have been working on knitting a scarf. This sounds simple enough and, indeed, the pattern said that it was "easy." I cast on and then knitted the pattern -- but then the number of stitches was off. Ripped it out and started again -- same result. Ripped it out and started again. Ah, got to the third row this time -- success! But then the fifth row brought unexpected results. Time after time I started and undid and restarted. And finally, I was so stumped that I put the project aside until I could get some help from my friend Connie. It just so happens that her daughter Jeane, an expert knitter and yarn shop owner, was in town from North Carolina. She quickly found my mistake, knitted a good foundation of the pattern, and then handed it back to me. When I found her notes for me to correct my mistake, I thought, "Of course! Now I get it!"

Over the past several days I have realized a great deal about knitting things together. And it doesn't always result in a tidy well-fashioned scarf.

When knitting, sometimes there are changes in the color of yarn. It seems simple enough. And the end product looks like it is simple enough. But the changes in the colors must be planned for well in advance of the actual change. I am learning that I need to plan for the change of Advent well in advance of Thanksgiving. I need to consider the next yarn, its texture, its color, how it will be knit into the season that precedes it and into the festival that follows it. I need to be knitting in advance of the pattern change.

There is a rhythm of knitting. I look for patterns that let me knit nearly mindlessly. Stitch after stitch. Row after row. Just rockin' along. But then there is something that happens that turns it all upside down, results in messy dropped stitches, lost places in the pattern, a change in yarn that simply doesn't fit into the pattern. This is such a messy diversion.

Yesterday was a day of diversion for me. Many things were on track for our Advent and Christmas preparations. There was a planned schedule of getting things done that need to be done for the Season.  But then it all went topsy turvy. There was another pattern to be knitted together. Sitting with members of the family of faith, telling them bad news, bringing the box of tissues close for frequent use, figuring things out for the coming days. All of this is a wild and crazy pattern. But at the base of things, we were being knitted together because of our love and care for each other.

But, damn, this knitting together is not pain-free.

Tomorrow, I'll pick up the scarf and knit a few rows now that I have the corrected pattern and rest into the rhythm of the stitches and rows.

All is being knit together.

One gratefulchik bids
Shalom,
pam

Today's Gratitude x 5

These past few days I have been traveling and wrapped up in the events and circumstances where I am staying. I have not been as intentional about thankfulness as I otherwise may have been, though it is during these times that I should be even more intentional about gratitude. Nonetheless, here are today's top 5 of things that I am grateful for:

Nurse Trudy who cares not only for her patient but for those sitting watch with her patient.
Good coffee on a cool morning
A terrific filet from Barney's Meat Market, the hands that prepared it, and the easy conversation with a good friend as this meal was shared
The gift of sadness over friendships lost; this sadness reminds me of how valued these friends were in times past.
The gift of a home to head home to.

Blessings,
gc

Today's Gratitude x 5

I am grateful for more than one friend for whom I will fly across the country
I am grateful for lotion to smooth on to hands that spent (too) much time in water and detergent today.
I am grateful for Swiffer  :-)
I am grateful for the ability to dream about what might be.
I am grateful for groceries on sale.

shalom,
pam

Today's Gratitude x 5

This is a condensed version of the last two days:

A Super 8 that really was super
A borrowed GPS named "Hazel"
A repeat of "Drops Like Stars" by Rob Bell
Walking blocks and blocks of sidewalks new to me
Knitting a prayer shawl while praying for my dear dying friend.

Thanks be to God,
pam

Today's Gratitude x 5

Open windows and breeze through the house
Friends across the miles
Vacation time
Beautiful art
Coffee every morning

peace friends,
GratefulChik

Passages

She is one of "those" friends -- you know the type. We can spend time together everyday with nearly non-stop talk and laughter as well as very easy silences. And after weeks, and occasionally months, of not talking, we pick right up where we left off, not missing a beat. She is twenty years older than I am and has always freely shared her wisdom, questions, opinions and youthfulness. And, now, she is going through another passage in her three year battle with Stage 4 bone cancer.

This dear friend and I have shared with each other many of the passages in our lives -- even the difficult ones -- over the thirty years we have known each other. She and her husband provided safe harbor for my partner-in-life (PIL) and me as we were in a very antagonistic setting during a time of deep mourning.  She is one of those persistent personal cheerleaders encouraging me at the many shiftings and changings in my life. She is one who  wouldn't settle for only a manicure when adding a pedicure took just a little bit more. She teaches me the importance of persistence and commitment and perseverance through these many passages.

My PIL and I are planning a trip to see her in the weeks ahead. I pray it won't be the last visit, though it well may be. Please pray for her and her husband, her children and her grandchildren and her great-grandchildren during this next time of passage.

shalom,
pam

photo from http://vanessaleighsblog.files.wordpress.com/2009/03/doorways-to-other-worlds.jpg