by Liz | Jun 28, 2010 | main
My neighbor called about 11:45 with an offer of sweet corn. They bought in bulk, and would be freezing most of it. Corn is best RIGHT NOW – so she offered me some.
No surprise that I waltzed right over and picked up 4 ears that came home and in to the microwave. The perfect accompaniment to the cucumber sandwich that was my planned lunch. (We buy at a local farmers market, and it is indeed high season right now).
Lunches like this bring the beauty and goodness of all creation in to the forefront. Not fast food that is the same everywhere. Not a fancy meal prepared by a chef. (which is really good to eat, mind you) But, the local fruits of the earth. Fresh. Not transported great distances. A touch of the local, the real the now.
Yum.
Bless us oh Lord and these Thy gifts…
by Liz | Jun 23, 2010 | main
Today was one of those days that started out feeling like nothing would go smoothly. Just before leaving house for my group meeting, I got a call from another member. She asked if I could possibly give her a ride from the car detailing place so she could make it to group and get her car cleaned. Sure! So I took my time, but still forgot my gym bag. Got to the car place – no Gail. I waited a while, then decided I had better meet the other member of this morning’s group (I wasn’t sure if I had Rosie’s cell phone, and I didn’t know whether she would have it at all — maybe I don’t even know if she has one!);
Feeling a bit disordered, I call home and get Gail’s number. No answer. Oh well — off to Panera. Call home again — the husband’s eyes were foggy — he gave me the wrong number the first time. I said — I’ll give that a try. Luck! Answering machine this time! Leave a message. Get to Panera, get my coffee and scone. My cell rings! I had missed Gail by not waiting 60 seconds longer. Go figure.
Leave scone on the table with Rosie. Back to get Gail. Feeling really discombobilated (is that a word? I sure it’s a valid feeling) now. Wondering what else can go wrong – as I also realize that I left my gym bag at house. Drat!
Breathe. Go with the flow. Get Gail. Return to Panera. Wonderful sharing and pray. Aah. More peace.
Back in the car to take Gail to the car place. It’s not ready! She’ll have to wait another hour.
Oh – did I mention that place is a car detail shop and a barber shop which caters primarily to African American men? Oh, and the barber shop is the only place to wait that has Air Conditioning (this is summer in the deep south, folks).
Brief discussion and Gail and I head off to the gym. I am wearing my sneakers, so we walk fast and talk for 50 minutes. Then she decides to play coach while we do some ab work. Then back to the detail/barber shop (I’m getting tired of this place now!).
It makes me happy to have been able to go with the flow. I know Gail much better now. We shared a lot this morning getting to know each other better. I feel like I truly do have a new friend.
So — despite what I thought must be attempts to separate me from God and my peace of mind, it turned into a grand morning, all in all. Some days you do have to look for God in the whisper (not in the storm or fire or earthquake). Some days, you just have to be open and listen. (Maybe I was listening when I elected to wear my sneakers instead my flip flops). Some days, it just pays to remember that little prayer:
God, grant me the Serenity to accept the things I cannot change
The courage to change the things I can
And the wisdom to know the difference
Couldn’t change the car guy, couldn’t have a “do-over” and wait and another minute… Could go back, could go back, could pay attention, could change my plans…
Thanks Lord.
by Liz | May 29, 2009 | main
Maybe Friday Sonshine?
Not so deep, but I am so glad to see the sun today… and to hear that we are expected to have sun and clear skies through the weekend. My ark was over half finished.
Gratitude sometimes requires reflection. And being grateful for the rain that we have had of late offered the opportunity to reflect and be grateful. We are no longer in a drought. Drought seems far away now as I wade through puddles and dodge raindrops.
So today I hum to myself a tune from my youth, with words from Ecclesiates: To every thing, there is a season… turn, turn, turn.
by Liz | Nov 5, 2008 | main
I’m watching/listening to MSNBC as they reflect on the fact that Obama appears to be the president elect. I heard John McCain’s concession speech – and I found it good. I couldn’t support him in his run for the presidency, but I believe him to be a good man.
I’m hearing the black men with shaking voices — almost in disbelief. It’s moving to see Jesse Jackson with tears in his eyes. My eyes are opened to what this means to many people in this country.
As I reflect on it, I see something more. Obama is being designated as “african american.” Interesting, as it seems to me that he is more a “multi-ethnic american.” A Kenyan father, a caucasian mother from Kansas. Raised partly in Hawaii (I’ve lived in Honolulu – it’s the only place where I remember being offered a menu of [Korean] kim-che, Polish sausage and Japanese beer by a smiling Samoan). Despite being a product of civil rights era Alabama, I find that I am often “color-blind.” I don’t think race ever entered into my decision process.
I remember hearing Obama speak at the Democratic Convention 4 years ago, and thinking – “This is a future US president.” The “something more” I see in this election is that Mr. Obama has been able to offer hope and a vision. I hear a touch of JFK. The “something more” is possibly that the US electorate responded to that hope and vision – and broke with the white, male mold that has generally embodied our leadership.
I feel privileged to be alive and a registered voter in a year that saw an election seriously contested by women and a man of color. It’s been a long time coming.
by Liz | Oct 15, 2008 | main
Yesterday a colleague and I were walking back from a meeting when I stepped on a very hard, round acorn on the sidewalk. Much like stepping on a marble… I felt my ankle twist, I fought for my balance, and then hit the sidewalk pretty hard. The result was a skinned knee and a scraped elbow. Oh, and not a little embarrassment. After checking that there was nothing truly wrong, I got back to my feet. My friend picked up my tea from the sidewalk, and then, once he knew I was OK, he chuckled. I had slammed to the sidewalk without spilling my drink or losing my cigarette.
I have to think – what is wrong with this picture? I’m scraped up and my ankle is a bit sore, but my drink and my smoke are in fine shape. Somehow, I think I’m too attached to caffeine and nicoteine. After all, in the flash of the moment of falling, that’s what I protected.
It’s happened before. I’ve been shown what I care most about. When I was accompanied in to my house that had burned the night before, I recall that the first thing that popped out was — “My guitar is in there!” Granted, I knew that my family was unharmed, so that wasn’t an issue. But, of all the items that had been in the house, the first thing that raced to the front of my “concern line” was my guitar. And the same seems to have been true when I took a tumble in the choir loft at church which resulted in a swollen knee, but a completely unscathed guitar.
I take some comfort in the realization that these moments of light also reflect that I never questioned God’s love for me. I never cursed (and believe me, I am capable of that). But, it’s interesting to know what things I cling to a protect. Are these objects and habits a part of my identity? It seems so.
And so, I have some work to do. It’s not comfortable to think that a cigarette and a glass of tea might be more important than a kneecap or an elbow.
Thank God that with my unstable balance and my seemingly weak ankle, I’ve learned to fall gracefully. I just hope I’ve not learned to fall from grace.
