Showing posts with label color. Show all posts
Showing posts with label color. Show all posts
Sunday, November 11, 2018
Monday, January 8, 2018
after celebration and storm
Well, Merry Christmas Epiphany!
Today was our sabbath - that is to say, our day of rest - on which I try to spend time outside and also do some walking, both of which lift my spirits considerably.
I thought I'd go look for a few ducks late this afternoon on my way to do errands. I knew things were pretty well frozen, but the black ducks had made an appearance on the shore near us earlier in the day (binoculars!). The river mouth and the Powder Point Bridge over the bay are often good gathering places for ducks, so I headed out in all optimism.
Not so much.
At the river mouth, there was some water between the bridge and the otherwise iced-up inlet, but nothing stirring. As I was preparing to leave again, an intrepid little bufflehead popped up.
She was determined to find something in the water flowing back with the incoming tide from under the ice.
At the Powder Point Bridge, nothing but pigeons and a few gulls, high up. It only took a glance to see that my vision of eiders, loons, scoters, and buffleheads was not to be. The bay was completely frozen over; even the water I thought was open had ice not far underneath.
I only made it half way across before turning back, realizing that the return walk would not be at all fun in the stiff, cold wind.
What I saw, however, was lovely in its own stark way. The colors were stunning.
Not much of a birding expedition, but an experience of beauty for which I am grateful. Perhaps at some point I can paint it. (I did learn on retreat one year, however, that watercolors freeze very fast outdoors in January. My spiritual director was quite amused.)
May God grant you such beauty and serenity as well.
The wreaths and ribbons and lights are all coming down now, which always makes me sad, especially when it is cold and grey.
The candles in my prayer corner remain, however; their warmth reminds me of that which really matters.
I thought I'd go look for a few ducks late this afternoon on my way to do errands. I knew things were pretty well frozen, but the black ducks had made an appearance on the shore near us earlier in the day (binoculars!). The river mouth and the Powder Point Bridge over the bay are often good gathering places for ducks, so I headed out in all optimism.
Not so much.
I do hope she found something eventually. Nothing much seemed to be coming her way; nevertheless, she persisted.
At the Powder Point Bridge, nothing but pigeons and a few gulls, high up. It only took a glance to see that my vision of eiders, loons, scoters, and buffleheads was not to be. The bay was completely frozen over; even the water I thought was open had ice not far underneath.
I only made it half way across before turning back, realizing that the return walk would not be at all fun in the stiff, cold wind.
Not much of a birding expedition, but an experience of beauty for which I am grateful. Perhaps at some point I can paint it. (I did learn on retreat one year, however, that watercolors freeze very fast outdoors in January. My spiritual director was quite amused.)
May God grant you such beauty and serenity as well.
Saturday, October 28, 2017
morning blessings
from this morning:
We're not that long out of silence, and already this day is full of blessings. Thought I'd share them with you.
My day opened with Morning Prayer, of course (after a nice, strong cup of coffee, which is its own blessing). Today we remember St. Simon & St. Jude, and the reading for the day from Ephesians particularly struck me as wonderful and appropriate for prayer. Imagine if we were all to pray with this daily.
Ephesians 2:13-22
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
(You can see the rest of the daily office readings here and the Eucharistic lessons here.)
As I returned from setting up the oratory for the Eucharist, I was greeted with a stunning view out the hall window as the reds of dawn began to lighten the sky and reflect off the bay. I wish I had a picture to share. I did, however, take my folding chair down to the end of the road for a time of contemplation before the Eucharist, and I took a few photos.
Another gift of this morning was celebrating the Eucharist. I have always loved communion services, and now being able to preside gives me an extra joy on those days I am assigned. And we sang a favorite hymn of mind reminding me of the greatest gift we've been given: Jesus Christ, our sure foundation and sign of God's love, embodied.
Who knows what the rest of the day will bring? We are hosting two church groups, and I hope their time with us will be a gift and blessing to them. Perhaps their day will be as good as mine has begun to be. I'll pray that this be so - and that yours be a good one as well.
We're not that long out of silence, and already this day is full of blessings. Thought I'd share them with you.
My day opened with Morning Prayer, of course (after a nice, strong cup of coffee, which is its own blessing). Today we remember St. Simon & St. Jude, and the reading for the day from Ephesians particularly struck me as wonderful and appropriate for prayer. Imagine if we were all to pray with this daily.
Ephesians 2:13-22
But now in Christ Jesus you who once were far off have been brought near by the blood of Christ. For he is our peace; in his flesh he has made both groups into one and has broken down the dividing wall, that is, the hostility between us. He has abolished the law with its commandments and ordinances, that he might create in himself one new humanity in place of the two, thus making peace, and might reconcile both groups to God in one body through the cross, thus putting to death that hostility through it. So he came and proclaimed peace to you who were far off and peace to those who were near; for through him both of us have access in one Spirit to the Father. So then you are no longer strangers and aliens, but you are citizens with the saints and also members of the household of God, built upon the foundation of the apostles and prophets, with Christ Jesus himself as the cornerstone. In him the whole structure is joined together and grows into a holy temple in the Lord; in whom you also are built together spiritually into a dwelling place for God.
(You can see the rest of the daily office readings here and the Eucharistic lessons here.)
As I returned from setting up the oratory for the Eucharist, I was greeted with a stunning view out the hall window as the reds of dawn began to lighten the sky and reflect off the bay. I wish I had a picture to share. I did, however, take my folding chair down to the end of the road for a time of contemplation before the Eucharist, and I took a few photos.
Another gift of this morning was celebrating the Eucharist. I have always loved communion services, and now being able to preside gives me an extra joy on those days I am assigned. And we sang a favorite hymn of mind reminding me of the greatest gift we've been given: Jesus Christ, our sure foundation and sign of God's love, embodied.
Who knows what the rest of the day will bring? We are hosting two church groups, and I hope their time with us will be a gift and blessing to them. Perhaps their day will be as good as mine has begun to be. I'll pray that this be so - and that yours be a good one as well.
Monday, April 6, 2015
rainbow 'round the sun
I was praying and got distracted by the crows chasing a red-tailed hawk out of our grove. Not very nunlike, I suppose... You've heard the joke about INFP's at prayer... "And, God, thank you for... oh, look, a bird!... all this beauty..." Anyway, I looked out the window, and this is what I saw! A round rainbow! Wow.
Actually, I think it was God who "distracted" me... Seems to me that God loves to share the beauty of creation with us, and so many times when I see such a thing, I catch my breath and move into a place of greater thanks and praise. God is so good and so beautiful!
It seems especially appropriate during Eastertide, when we're celebrating God's salvation and promises, of which the rainbow has been a sign.
Genesis 9:12-16
God said, ‘This is the sign of the covenant that I make between me and you and every living creature that is with you, for all future generations: I have set my bow in the clouds, and it shall be a sign of the covenant between me and the earth. When I bring clouds over the earth and the bow is seen in the clouds, I will remember my covenant that is between me and you and every living creature of all flesh; and the waters shall never again become a flood to destroy all flesh. When the bow is in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and every living creature of all flesh that is on the earth.’
What makes a halo around the sun or moon? | Science Wire | EarthSky
Monday, March 30, 2015
pothole daffodils on which to meditate
This could make a wonderful meditation...
"Tired of Edinburgh roads being so bad and having reported a major pothole several weeks before, cycle courier Sara Griffin took matters into her own green-fingered hands. She filled the pothole in question with 35 litres of compost and added a floral display to create her own plantpothole.
Griffin told the Scotland’s Worst Drivers website that she had reported the pothole on Castle Terrace to the council city centre team a few weeks before, but while they had repaired all the nearby potholes and road defects, they ignored this one."
Spring is here and the potholes are in bloom
(Thank you, KB, for finding and sharing this!)
.jpg) |
| Plantpothole by Sara Griffin (@cyclemor3) |
"Tired of Edinburgh roads being so bad and having reported a major pothole several weeks before, cycle courier Sara Griffin took matters into her own green-fingered hands. She filled the pothole in question with 35 litres of compost and added a floral display to create her own plantpothole.
Griffin told the Scotland’s Worst Drivers website that she had reported the pothole on Castle Terrace to the council city centre team a few weeks before, but while they had repaired all the nearby potholes and road defects, they ignored this one."
Spring is here and the potholes are in bloom
(Thank you, KB, for finding and sharing this!)
Friday, May 24, 2013
Place Boyer
.JPG) |
|
Place
Boyer, Pétionville
|
+-+not+quite+finished,+though.JPG) |
| not quite ready yet |
A few days later, I came upon this article in the Nouvelliste, the local paper, about its inauguration. Place Boyer was home to a large number of people following the earthquake, but it was one of those places from which people have now moved. I hope they have now found homes and that they can come enjoy the park under better circumstances.
L'inauguration de la Place Boyer
Le Nouvelliste | Publié le :14 mai 2013
Hansy Mars
Le lundi 13 mai 2013, le président de la République, en compagnie du Premier ministre, a procédé à la cérémonie de remise des travaux de rénovation de la place Boyer à Pétion-Ville. L'inauguration de cette place est considérée par le chef de l'Etat comme un signe annonciateur de développement pour les trois prochaines années.
To read more: http://www.lenouvelliste.com/article4.php?newsid=116756
+looking+up+from+the+street.JPG) |
| looking up from the street to the main level |
+steps+up+from+the+street,+orange+planter.jpg) |
| bright red-orange planter with flowers at the top of the steps from the street |
Saturday, September 15, 2012
your daily color
...courtesy of Haiti!
 |
| Hey! Tap-taps have slogans in English, too. |
Hey! There is a lot more color left to come. Port-au-Prince is a big city.
 |
| looking out over Port-au-Prince from one of its many hills |
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)
