New growth from old ways

Recently on a walk at Earth Sanctuary, I was noticing the many different nurse logs and old stumps from which new growth was coming.  This one in particular drew my attention because of the way the new growth has split the old stump.  I started thinking about other situations in which the new grows from the old.  Must the church (local or universal) split in some way for something new to emerge?  I don’t mean split like it has many times over the centuries into new denominations.  Or for a  church to start with a portion of an old one.  The new plants emerge from the decay of the old stump, pushing their way through the old one, pushing parts of it away.  In the church (and many other human institutions), we are so inclined to fight change, to keep doing things the way we always have.  We resist having old ways pushed aside to make room for new possibilities, new seeds of growth.  Yet, if growth is to happen, old ways need to give way – to split away.  It’s actually a healthy way of growth.

I wonder what the new growth is in myself, as I look at the idea of retirement and of moving to a new community?  And what is it that needs to give way in order for that new growth to happen?  What is the new growth in you – what needs to split away for that new growth to happen?  I think this is how resurrection happens.  Resurrection happens when we allow the Holy Spirit to blow through us and change us, push us to allow death of the old and birth of the new.  

Ritual often helps us to allow that splitting away to happen - ritual that honors and celebrates what has been, while acknowledging the need for the new in order for life to continue.  How will you celebrate that which you need to release in order to grow in your life?

Intentional Living

On June 13^th, 2019, a good friend left this life. She is now without pain, free of a body that was no longer functioning as it should.  We gave her a wonderful celebration on the 29^th of June.  So many wonderful words were spoken; beautiful music; stories told.  We also had the opportunity to celebrate with her before she died – to share stories with her and sing together.  As I reflect on these last few months with her, I wonder if I’m doing that enough with people I love.  How often are we walking through life, side by side, but not really paying attention to those we love?  Diane, you have left me with a desire to live more intentionally; to spend less time in constant motion and doing; to just be with others and to be with myself. 

I’ve been reflecting for over a year now about doors and bridges.  My experiences with Diane have led me to a bridge into a new way of life.  How I live this out is yet to be seen.  I wonder though, how are you being called to live more intentionally?  Our culture demands constant action and reaction.  Yes, sometimes we need to react and/or take action.  Perhaps though we can slow down and live in a way that calls us into intentional relationship, into paying attention to one another.  Where or how are you being called to live differently?  In Mary Oliver's well known poem, Summer Day, she asks, and I think Diane asks us, What is it you plan to do with your one wild and precious life?

Musical Peace

Sitting outside at dawn,

a symphony of sound brings

music to my ears.

Songbirds, crows, squirrels,

a light, welcoming mist of rain.

Nature’s musicians.

Music brings deep peace to my soul,

opens a window to God,

turns off the sounds of human arrogance,

releases my fears.

Music flows through me,

Nature, symphonic and choral music.

Breathe in, breathe out,

Let the music flow through me,

bring peace to my soul.

Thresholds

                                        T    A threshold

                                       H    has appeared,

                                       R    ripening,

                                       E    encouraging,

                                       S    silently.

                                       H    Hazy possibilities,

                                       O    opening to newness,

                                       L     lightness,

                                       D    and darkness.   Discernment.

S    Stand still on

T    this threshold

A    and wait for

T     time to open the door.

I     Invitation to pause,

O    open to the liminal space.

 P   Pause and wait.

E    Eventually you will

R    realize when you are called

E    to exit this place

G   with grace,

R   with respect,

I    in love and in faith.

N  Next step still unclear,

A  without anxiety or angst,

T   toward the

I    in between place

O  opening up to you.

By Marcia McLaughlin

March 15, 2019

Statio:  Practice of stopping one thing before beginning another

Peregrineatio:  Pilgrimage in a boat without an oar or rudder

Promise of Christmas

Advent

Promises of God

of Hope, Peace,

Joy, Love.

Promises of God

which we find elusive

as we look at our world.

A world of

      Hatred

      Violence in word and deed

Unrest

Climate change threatening

the existence of creation

Fear

Homelessness and hunger

Grief and loss

Mary, did you fear the future?

Or did you trust God’s promises?

Surely, you too had doubts.

Trust

in the midst of darkness

is difficult.

Yet, the truth of Christmas

is God,

God walking with us

in the darkness.

God does not promise

that there will never be darkness.

God promises that we can,

with the help of God,

find light and healing

in the midst of the darkness.

With God’s help,

we become

the bearers of light

bringing peace and healing

to our world.

The invitation of Christmas

is to be in the darkness

and to become

bearers of light

to a weary world.

Marcia McLaughlin

December 2015

January and A New Year

January

Cold, wet

Gray days

Short days

Long nights

Snow and ice

Frozen ground

Crisp, cold air

Mountain winds

Birds huddling

At a feeder

Seeking warmth

In the trees

Promises

New growth

Small green shoots

Tiny signs of spring

A new year

New chances

New starts

Forgiveness

A gift

from God.

by Marcia McLaughlin

Who will betray the Son of God

God created the heavens and the earth.  

The earth and all that is on it are the children of God. 

  

Who will betray the child of God?

Is it I? Is it I?

Betrayal:

a conscious act

a non-action

unawareness

apathy

not awake

Who will betray the child of God?

Is it I? Is it I?

God’s children are

polluted,

destroyed,

unsheltered,

hungry,

sick,

in prison.

Who will betray the child of God?

Is it I?  Is it I?

Betrayal

or

Wake up!  

Change!  

Act!

Resurrection is possible.

Poem and photography by Marcia McLaughlin

Good Friday, 2013