Adventures in the Art of Dwelling

Dwell: To abide in a place with contentment and intentionality.

dwell: Consumed by a past sadness or pain. 
To daily battle against the past, that it might not become the present.

We are now shepherds. I don't feel prepared to lead little lambs, but they are here and they are ours. Living, breathing, beautiful creatures they stare at me with timid, yet curious expressions. Why sheep you ask? We have embarked on the adventure of small animal husbandry, in part, to Dwell. 

I'm so done dwelling. You know what I mean: the past always threatening to overtake the present. Do you face that each day? Your past decisions, losses, betrayals, and pains threatening you? How quickly the past tries to steal the promises and potential of today. Today, the sun is shining in all her glory. "Embrace me," she says, "Soak in the present and bask in His presence and warmth." But, the past lurks in the dark and tries to steal. Like a black night sky full of clouds, the past has no stars to guide the way. 

This mama is trying hard to leave the past behind. I want to Dwell where planted and embrace today. I want to be present, here and now. I want to create a nest where I've been planted, but so many days I fall short. Like the little bird I held in my lap yesterday, it's tempting to look into another's home and decide their nest is so much sweeter. Unfortunately, the land of discontent is not a great destination. Discontent is a window into disillusion. When I slam into discontent, I end up flat on my back, gasping for air with all my feathers a-ruffle. I am learning to Dwell in my own nest. I'm learning to create a contented nest in the forest.

How does one create a nest in the place God has asked you to Dwell when you're tempted to simply dwell? Stick by stick, we pick up what has blown in and blown down, and fluff our nest. We fill our home, twig by twig, with goodness and God's grace. Then? I'm learning to sing from the porch. I'm learning to invite those passing by into our abode. Invite fellow wanderers into your home. Invite them into your heart. Yes, your heart may be broken, but then again, it may expand.

 "A bruised reed He will not break." (Isaiah 42)

This beautiful bird house sat for so long. 

But now, someone's moved in, created a nest, and is singing.

As for the others in the nest? My husband Dwells carefully. He pondered for weeks what kind of fencing to install and he diligently answered the call. After long days, he yet humours his wife and supports her need to Dwell by lending a hand to bring about her desires. He is a Dwelling place in himself. He is a place children launch themselves upon and snuggle into. A ready shoulder and ear he gives freely. He is planted in the Word. He hears his sheep and answers them. He ministers to and guides his little flock. He Dwells by simply being present to us – in all our moments. 

The children? One child Dwells in deep and rich stories. She sits and reads for as many hours as we will permit. Emerging from her cocoon, her plans are often quite grand. She talks to the sheep and coaxes them with small handfuls of grain. I bet in time, she will woo them. The sheep know the voice of their shepherd and follow. The other child? He loves to run and chase. He dreams of the best way to catch the sheep and move them to other pastures. He, having helped his dad install the fence, is happy to instruct me on its usage. 10,000 volts fascinate him. He Dwells on every green hill he can run freely to - his imagination at his fingertips. 

"He who Dwells in the shelter of the Most High, will abide in the shadow of the Almighty." Psalm 91

The Eucharist

Made from dust, we eat dust, that our souls may live.  I'm chewing thoughtfully, this profound collection of essays on feasting, fasting, fellowship, and food.

This is the most profound description of communion I have ever heard or read.

And since God has created the world as food for us and has given us food as means of communion with him, of life in him, the new food of the new life which we receive from God in his Kingdom is Christ himself. He is our bread-because from the very beginning all our hunger was a hunger for him and all our bread was but a symbol of him, a symbol that had to become reality.

He became man and lived in this world. He ate and drank, and this means that the world in which he partook, the very food of our world became his body, his life. But His life was totally, absolutely Eucharistic - all of it was transformed into communion with God and all of it ascended into heaven. And now he shares this glorified life with us. "What I have done alone-I give it now to you: take, eat...."

We offered the bread in remembrance of Christ because we know that Christ is Life, and all food, therefore, must lead to him. And now when we receive this bread from his hands, we know that he has taken up all life, filled it with himself, made it what it was meant to be: communion with God, sacrament of his presence and love.

Essay by Alexander Schmemann  in The Spirit of Food, 34 Writers on Feasting and Fasting Towards God

Mt Angel Abbey

Let us not forget to seek wisdom. Let us take time to be still.

There is beauty all around.

Let us be still and behold it.

Let the mother hold fast her young.

Let the father embrace his child.

He is beckoning to you and I.

The door is before me. I choose to knock.
Will you?

I asked for help and He heard my cry. 

Psalm 118:5

This life is but a breath, and the bell is tolling.

Yet, wisdom continues to call us.

Even death cannot silence wisdom.

 

Reading the Beatitudes everyday this week. 

Join me?

He said:

³ “Blessed are the poor in spirit,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
⁴ Blessed are those who mourn,
    for they will be comforted.
⁵ Blessed are the meek,
    for they will inherit the earth.
⁶ Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
    for they will be filled.
⁷ Blessed are the merciful,
    for they will be shown mercy.
⁸ Blessed are the pure in heart,
    for they will see God.
⁹ Blessed are the peacemakers,
    for they will be called children of God.
¹⁰ Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
    for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.

Mathew 5

Our Spring

Spring

 OBT's Swan Lake

Four acts and three intermissions and

the kids stayed awake through it all.

Amazing!

Photo by Blaine Truitt Covert

Sea 

Kicking around Astoria for a few days. 

 

 Bruce's - Is there any other?

 

Easter at the Sea

 

 Celebrate ~ Eight is Great!

It's soccer time again. But, this time we are using a new futbol. 

We are so excited about the One World Futbol.

It stands up to even the toughest kid and Airedale.  

Seattle on Amtrak's Schools on Trains

SAM

Right now, Rembrandt, Van Dyck, and Gainsborough are guests.

 

 Sorrow 

We miss her, but have hope. 

She's in her forever home with Jesus. 

We remember your love Grandma in all we do.

 You are an amazing woman.

Eight is Great!

We've so much to be thankful for each day. 

I'll be back in this space soon.

When Grandma Flew Home

The night sky was crystal clear, the morning she flew home. The finger prints of God stamped all over the heavens. The comet's heavenly trail displayed His handiwork. But bound to lower plains, the mourning doves cooed softly. They did not mourn, but heralded the presence of the Spirit. At their coos, the noisy crows flew away. No more chaos. No more pain.

I sit and see pavers, etched with the word peace, lining her path to heaven. A peace pathway laid by prayer and His presence. Her journey to peace guided by the one true Peacemaker. But first, family cheered for her, just as she had cheered for them on our earthly plains.

And little ones, learning it was time for her to leave, joined praying hands, after a day of water and laughter, and asked Jesus to share their love with her. “Meet her at your gate Jesus. Tell her how much we love her. Please thank her for all she did for us. Thank her for loving us.” He heard them and as the doves coo, I hear, "I told her. She knows little ones.” She was greeted at the gate with words of love and grace. Truly, she met Grace and Love at the gate.

That evening, the boy sees yellow foiled chocolate chicks and starts to say, "Grandma would love..." but he pauses. He knows grandma is in the land in between. He's unsure. Can she like earthly things anymore since she's heavenly bound? No longer with us, she's back in the fertile crescent, the land in between the waters, where dust came alive and she's becoming alive again. I finish his thought for him, "Yes, you are right. Grandma would love these chocolate chicks, she really would." Big smiles all around. Cause we know she really would love them. She delights in chocolate chicks and her children, grandchildren, and great-grands too!

She always delighted in you. She who sent Easter cards and saved Easter stickers. She always remembered you. She added color and love to our lives. She was not perfect, but she had time and an encouraging word for all who would listen. She weathered many troubles in her life and yet her face was so unlined. She gave her troubles to God. She folded her hands together and she made Jesus her stronghold. Psalm 46 was her favorite passage. Her Bible was always near and her Jesus never far. He now holds her hand. This Easter season, she is rising with her Lord.

Why It's Hard to Get to Mars

 The heavens declare the glory of God; 

the skies proclaim the work of His hands.

Psalm 19:1

Did the stars align or was God having a whole lot of fun tonight? I think both. He knows what He's doing with the stars and us, and He sure knows how to have a good time.

We had a Mars adventure tonight and here's how it began: Last week, brother had the privilege of author Liz Rusch coming to talk at his school. We had the option of buying her books ahead of time through pre-order, but you know us, we'd already read many of them by the time she arrived, thanks to our local library. So we passed on purchasing and simply enjoyed her visit and an after-school writing class she offered.

Saturday arrived and we made a trip to OSU. While on campus, I saw a flyer for a campus visit by Dr. Stan Love of STS 122. We just had to go! I talked to the kids and they were game. And then I started wishing we had a Mighty Mars Rover book for Dr. Love to sign. Ack! All the local sellers in the area were out of copies. Liz was awesome about making two books available, and we went and made a memory.

His one hour presentation about the difficulty of getting "men" to Mars was fascinating. Great slides and a good sense of humor made the information accessible. Especially, for those of us with earth bound bums lacking boosters beneath our britches. 

His figures about fuel, Mars, mph, and transit orbits were staggering. Further, I might actually be able to dialogue about it next week! Or, maybe even in 8.2 months, which is how long it would take to get a team of astronauts to Mars, then there's the return home. Psychologists are convinced six astronauts might be able to handle a 32 month Mars mission without killing each other. Two didn't fair so welling in testing, but they did make it out alive. I can't imagine 32 months in mini-van sized Mars messenger machine. (The moon takes 3 days with a rocket under you rear :-)

One of many funny points: The kids loved learning about recycling on the ISS. As Dr Love shared, "Today's coffee is being recycled to become tomorrow's coffee on the ISS." (Don't think to hard about that or you might never drink coffee again.)

 

Liz was also sweet to sign our books. She wrote in brother's, "Follow your dreams-you never know how far they will take you!"

Coming home the night sky was crystal clear. Tomorrow may be rain and clouds, but tonight was clear and cool, very cool.

I'll head back to my quiet place now :-)