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Gratefulness
Today I am grateful to be alive, to feel, see and know the grace and power of something we call Spirit. That alone is joy and gift enough!
Oh, that would be my wife of 46 years! And even though I thank her in various ways regularly, it never feels like quite enough. I am both thankful, and grateful each and every days for the years we have had one another thus far.
A joy of nature, specifically anything having to do with the ocean and shorelines, which I continue to focus on with my camera to this day. Back when I was a kid I owned a Kodak Instagram camera, with the little 4-part flash cubes. When the roll of film was fully exposed, I’d crank it back, then drop it off at the drug store for processing and return in two weeks to pick it up. I think about this today with my digital camera equipment as I slide my flash card into my computer with hundreds...
A joy of nature, specifically anything having to do with the ocean and shorelines, which I continue to focus on with my camera to this day. Back when I was a kid I owned a Kodak Instagram camera, with the little 4-part flash cubes. When the roll of film was fully exposed, I’d crank it back, then drop it off at the drug store for processing and return in two weeks to pick it up. I think about this today with my digital camera equipment as I slide my flash card into my computer with hundreds of images on it and “develop” the works on the spot!
By keeping my mouth shut and my listening ears open.
For nineteen years I have had the opportunity to be a part of a rowing team that has largely remained intact. We have grown together as friends and as a team, and now, year by year, we’re growing old together as well. Within the hour I will dress for the conditions and head down to the boats and prepare to row, to see the sun rise, to feel the wind and waves and hear the seagulls overhead. We’ll talk about whatever, content for one more morning to share place and time and friendship once ...
For nineteen years I have had the opportunity to be a part of a rowing team that has largely remained intact. We have grown together as friends and as a team, and now, year by year, we’re growing old together as well. Within the hour I will dress for the conditions and head down to the boats and prepare to row, to see the sun rise, to feel the wind and waves and hear the seagulls overhead. We’ll talk about whatever, content for one more morning to share place and time and friendship once again. That to me seems like opportunity enough.
I don’t know about spreading my wings, but I am being “invited” to get my rack of bones to the gym to start my day! We’ll see which way I fly after breakfast! (After staff a retreat with middle school-aged young people all weekend, that’s about all I can predict at the moment!)
Sure, this one is easy to commit to, because I believe it to be. The real challenge though is becoming clear specifically on what to commit to with passion in order to have the greatest impact for good on the world as a whole.
Oh gosh, there are so many people who have touched my life in so many unexpected ways. Almost too many to mention here, from dear souls who have long since left this earth to present people, including children, who have overcome such phenomenal odds and yet find a way to thrive as best they can.
Whenever I spend time with my grandchildren, and, whenever I staff weekend retreats with Quaker children. (In fact, I leave today at noon to spend the weekend at a retreat for junior high-aged Quaker children.)
I have always admired Fred Rogers, of Mr. Roger’s Neighborhood. Honestly. The man had a way of reaching and drawing in not only children, but adults too who spoke with him. He had a way of slowing down the world and helping people of all ages to see things in a different light.
The process of watching young people grow, warts and all, into the adults they’re becoming is a miraculous gift that I treasure.
I think that I can safely say that I am passionate about rowing whaleboats with my team, photography, family and responding to calls of ministry as the Spirit may lead.
Though I sometimes wish that my life’s circumstances allowed me to travel to some of the neediest places around the world to be of service in some way, I know in my heart-of-hearts that I am also a proponent of the following life-focusing principle: “Bloom where you’re planted.” So I look around the corner and over the next hill for things hidden in plain sight that might benefit by my attention and labors. I have made relative peace years ago that if God wanted me to be elsewhere, th...
Though I sometimes wish that my life’s circumstances allowed me to travel to some of the neediest places around the world to be of service in some way, I know in my heart-of-hearts that I am also a proponent of the following life-focusing principle: “Bloom where you’re planted.” So I look around the corner and over the next hill for things hidden in plain sight that might benefit by my attention and labors. I have made relative peace years ago that if God wanted me to be elsewhere, then God would open my way for that to happen.
The “gift” of being able to take the challenging situation to prayer for comfort, clarity and action on moving forward.
Occasionally, people whom I do not know personally, usually parents of previous clients or adults whom I worked with when they were young and who I don’t recognize anymore, stop me and tell me how I had helped them “way back when” through a rough period in their lives. It happens totally out of the blue and always leaves me speechless, humbled and grateful. I receive these comments as precious gifts that I hold with gratitude and joy in my heart.
Thank you, Nancy. My best to you.
Yes indeed, Ose! And how! Have a great day.
Oh wow….! All I got was George McGovern for my college graduation in 1971! I night have gone even back then if Fred Rogers had been speaking!
Humbled, indeed….thank you for your words here, Aine. They surely ring true for me and many others….. My best to you.
Oh, I love this, Eva Liu! Makes me think of the old Neil Diamond song with a line that goes, “like a page that aches for a word.” Though I didn’t include it in my little list of things I’m passionate about, I too enjoy writing, in my blog and elsewhere, even though I’ve been more focused on my photography these last several months than I have been to writing. >> Have a splendid day!
Ah yes, Doreen, that’s how the Holy Spirit does its work, tenderly and quietly. It’s the real “payday” for those of us engaged in ministry. There are lots more hands needing holding out there too. Cheers and blessings to you.
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