Seeing Anew

How often do you miss seeing little things that are right in front of you?  Last week I was at the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge, focused on bird watching.  I stopped to talk to two folks who were at an overlook, peering down into the bushes.  I asked them what they were looking at.  Tiny Pacific Tree Frogs!  I never would have seen them on my own.  I was looking for birds, especially ducks and other water birds.  Much bigger than frogs.  I don’t know why these frogs caught their eye, but once I saw these two, I started seeing many other frogs in the bushes around the overlook. 

Talking to this couple about the frogs changed my outlook that day.  Some geese flew overhead as we were talking.  One of them asked what’s flying over head.  I responded Canada Geese.  She said no—the sound is different, it’s higher.  Later, I asked one of the refuge volunteers about the geese.  They weren’t Canada Geese—they were Cackling Geese, a smaller goose that looks very much like a Canada goose, but with a higher voice!  Because of my conversation with them, I also looked more closely at a field of what I assumed was full of Canada Geese.  And I found there another surprise, the Greater White Fronted Goose, which migrates through this area.  Before this trip, the Cackling Goose and the Greater White Fronted Goose were only pictures in my bird book.  This couple opened my eyes that day to new things.

Where in your life do you need to open your eyes and see something new?  Where are you assuming it’s just what you’ve seen before?  Or perhaps, seeing something you’ve seen before but with new eyes?  Where in your life do you need to listen more closely and hear something new or different?  We make so many assumptions!  Open your eyes, your ears, your heart to the newness around you.

Transitions in life

I don’t really know what causes this kind of transition line in the water.  I guess it’s probably something to do with the currents and tidal changes.  I saw this particular line from a ferry, crossing from Vancouver BC to Sidney BC.  As I looked at it, I kept thinking about transitions in life.  Our life transitions are a lot like this line.  There’s something going on below the surface that is not visible to a bystander; sometimes not even visible to the individual experiencing the transition.  Waves of change break in some places; others are smoother.  And it’s not a straight line!  Just as in this picture, there are curves and blips.  The waves of change may be events occurring in our lives, in our community.  They may be the call of God to a new way of life.

One of the things that fascinates me about this photo is the change in color, which is what makes the difference so visible.  I wish there was something that made my own transitions so visible!  Or the transitions of those I love.  Or are they visible?  Am I choosing not to see the change happening right before my eyes?  Journaling and meditation help me to be awake to the changes that are happening within and around me, to the call of God in my life.

At other times in my life, change has felt like I’m starting over a tall waterfall, threatening my very existence.  The change reflected in this current doesn’t seem so dangerous. And yet, it is as demanding of my attention. 

Are you awake to what is happening within and around you?  Are there currents that you need to be aware of?  I imagine that if you were steering a boat across this transition point in the water, you’d need to be prepared to respond to the currents.  Similarly, in our lives, we need to be prepared—or at the very least, paying attention.  Changes can happen that we cannot expect, but we can have spiritual tools in place that help us to respond.  What tools do you have in your tool box to assist you in responding to change?

O God, help me to see the gentle waves of change in my life and to ask for Your guidance in responding in a way which meets Your call for my life.  Amen.

Opening Vision

 

1 Corinthians 13: 12-13.  For now we see in a mirror, dimly, but then we will see face to face.  Now I know only in part; then I will know fully, even as I have been fully known.

Sometimes we have so much difficulty seeing clearly what is ahead of us.  This winter I was at Holden Village, a retreat center in the mountains above Lake Chelan.  The photo to the right was taken out my bedroom window, which was covered with snow.  The colors were beautiful, but I couldn’t tell at all what was beyond my window, other than the snow.  Less than 48 hours later, because of melting snow, I was able to see the trees and buildings beyond my window. Life can be like this—we struggle and struggle to make sense out of life, not seeing our way out of a difficult situation. 

Then something happens that changes our vision and brings sudden clarity.  The confusion and struggle melt away as the snow did, opening up to an answer.  The snow melts when the temperatures get warm enough.  One can wait for that to happen or use a shovel to dig your way through the snow.  When our vision of a situation is blocked by something, we may have to wait or perhaps there is something we can do to bring clarity.  What or who helps you when you are in the midst of confusion and struggle and need clarity?  Since my blocked window was on the 2^nd floor, I wasn’t capable of removing the snow.  I had to wait.  Are you able to wait when nothing you can do removes the block, when struggling is futile?  How is God a part of finding clarity? How is God a part of stopping the struggle and waiting?

Letting Go

As I walk through the woods, or even my back yard, this time of year, I see trees that still have a few leaves hanging on tight.  It's almost time for new leaves to be budding out - what are these old leaves doing still hanging there?

I've been thinking a lot about that lately.  Why do I hang onto some things - possessions, ideas, ways of doing things - long after they are of use to me?  The truth is that some of those things I hang onto actually are a hindrance, not just be of no use.  Even when new ways or ideas show up, I have trouble letting go sometimes.  As I was pondering that question this morning, the daily devotional from the UCC showed up in my in box - on that subject.  Amazing how messages show up exactly on time.  Lillian Daniel reminded me that I may be clutching to something instead of letting go.  She said to ask God to bless that which I am clutching - and to see if I could loosen my grip just a little, if I can't fully let go.  That was a good reminder. If you want to see all she wrote, you can find it at  http://www.ucc.org/feed-your-spirit/daily-devotional/cell-phones-on-the-altar.html.

Blessings on your letting go - may you find your grip becoming looser.  Let go and let God handle whatever is troubling you.  Peace be with you.

Waiting patiently

I visited the Nisqually Wildlife Refuge yesterday.  I almost missed this heron because he was standing so still.  I stood and watched him just standing there.  Then he'd move a couple of steps and stop again.  Waiting patiently for a frog perhaps?  I've watched them in the water too, just waiting patiently for something to come close enough.  Even when they do move, it's in slow stately steps.  When they fly, it's not a sudden take off like you see with other birds.  I wonder at the patience that has been a part of this bird's evolution.  I pray that I might develop this kind of patience, to wait and see what will come my way instead of rushing and forcing my way into what I think should be next.  Perhaps I might be surprised by what God has in store for me if I wait patiently!