Observing Thanksgiving 2020

November 26, 2020 / law2374 / 2 Comments

The weather in our area turned more traditional for November this week with grayer skies, cooler temperatures, and periods of wind and rain. This admittedly was a bit of a let down from the weeks’ prior clearer skies and warmer temperatures. However, it is November after all, and we have enjoyed some great stretches of nature’s finest beauty, so we consider ourselves thankful. To be able to find thanksgiving and gratitude is not something we did well in the past, but time has allowed us the grace to grow in perspective so that we are able to do so even when circumstances are not considered optimal.

“I don’t have to chase extraordinary moments to find happiness—it’s right in front of me if I’m paying attention and practicing gratitude.” –Brene Brown

Theme of the Week: Thanks Indeed

Each year around this time, we take stock in our household of what we are thankful for and reflect on what we have learned. Many of our learnings are through hard lessons, but time takes the edge off the hardness, softening the blow to the point of feeling more like a gentle push in a different direction. This year is no exception, as many people we know have had to endure some severe hardships. We have had our own spells of drama and uncertainty, leading us to wonder about our direction in life. However, we have also found a profound sense of peace in simplicity, making each day special.

One thing we do each morning in our household is exercise. We do this for physical, mental, and spiritual growth. The routine offers a sense of a good start to the day, along with a comfort zone to each day, even when things do not go so well. Through the years, we have found that even if we wake up feeling awful, something in our exercise routine will start us heading in a better direction. It is not easy to keep this mentality, but we do our best because it helps build inner strength to draw upon when negativity looms large.

Part of our exercise routine entails readings of various sources. These readings often act as a compass for the day, offering wisdom and knowledge to lead us when we don’t feel so certain or strong. Many of the readings contain quotations from the Bible or famous leaders and thinkers. Looking back on how these quotations have both directed and influenced us makes us thankful to have read the words, thankful for the bright minds who put them together, and thankful for the publications that keep these words alive through every time and season of life.

“If we are strong, our strength will speak for itself. If we are weak, words will be no help.” –From the address John F. Kennedy was to deliver in Dallas, TX on November 22, 1963, but never got to do so

Song of the Week: Thanks To Thee

Our day is never complete without listing to some music. Lately, we’ve taken a liking to gospel songs and hymns that are like old friends whose words ring as true today as they did when written years ago. And maybe that is the neat thing about music—it remains true to the heart and soul long after its popularity has peaked. Many of the songs we like offer a sense of thanks for the little things in life. One of the songs running in our minds this week is a favorite hymn about thanking God for all the gifts each day provides as well as His to stay by our sides and even carry us when needed.

Now Thank We All Our God

Lesson of the Week: Power of Memories

As we collect our thoughts on what we are most thankful for, we also recall people met along the way who helped us learn, grow, or find our way. November is one of those months for me personally that is full of great memories of very influential people. Some of these people are now watching from heaven above, others are still here on earth but living miles away, and still others are right here with us in life at some point each week.

To think of the power in the lessons these people taught me is almost overwhelming at times. This week alone I was able to reconnect with several great influences for whom I am most thankful. Each experience was not planned, very impromptu, and not of any great length, yet each one took me back to when we first met, through all we had experienced together, and to the here and now as we navigate through some of life’s tougher times.

Given the gray skies this week, the encounters with these people were like little splotches of color to brighten the landscape and the world around us. As fate would have it, we also found a very fitting quote in our readings to capture the essence of what we felt.

“Let us be grateful to the people who make us happy. They are the charming gardeners who make our souls blossom.” –Marcel Proust

Experience of the Week: Thanks For Nature’s Peace

Though the skies were gray and at times rainy, I still managed to run and bike every day this week. The sights along the way in nature allowed me to find a sense of peace amidst life’s turmoil. This is another gift of grace from exercise that I have come to cherish and hold dear every time I am able to do so. My Sunday morning run was one of those great experiences where you don’t want it to end. I had set out to run 8 miles, but got so lost watching the skies and looking at the landscape that I ended up running 9.6 miles instead and even managed to write a poem in my head along the way.

I suppose the fact I could write in my head given how heavy my heart and soul were that morning illustrates the impact of nature’s peace around me. Even though the sky was gray, I could see hints of light amidst the clouds at times, almost as if God was urging me on toward a better place in time and a better mindset.

With sunset at 4:57 PM, I don’t have much daylight to run and bike after getting home from work, but I do my best to fit it all in. There is something about running as the sun is setting and feeling the power of nature as day turns into twilight that invigorates the soul. Being able to do my runs and bike rides is something I am most grateful for each day. Doing so this month was especially meaningful to me after having a rather major health issue at the end of September. The days since have been difficult and challenging due to the amount of pain endured. However, by the grace of God and lessons of nature, I’ve managed to work through things and feel thankful to have gotten this far along in recovery.

“The most amazing thing about grace to the suffering heart and soul is its utter sufficiency.” –Bill Bright

May we learn to find thankfulness through many different life circumstances. May we open our minds and hearts to the gifts of each day, and somehow find the strength and courage to say thankful are we.

Thankful Are We

Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to God for His many blessings. Thanks also to our influences in nature and music for helping see us through trying times. Thanks to all our readers, followers, and supporters for sharing in the journey of life.

Lisa, Sadie, and Leo

Observing Thanks for Teachers

November 20, 2020 / law2374 / 1 Comment

This week is American Education Week (November 16-20), and we thought we’d use this post to share some important teachings we have learned through a variety of sources. These sources qualify as teachers, though not each one is what one would consider a conventional view of a teacher. Our adventures this week acted as both reminders and reinforcements of simple and complex lessons, as well as memories of the teachers who brought these lessons to light for us.

“Teaching should be such that what is offered is perceived as a valuable gift and not as a hard duty.” –Albert Einstein

Nature, Life’s Teacher

Several of our adventures this week involved nature, which is one of my personal favorite teachers. Nature teaches us 24/7/365 without any compensation save for the gratification of getting through to her students. With sunrise at 7:12 AM and sunset at 5:00 PM, we don’t have as much daylight to view nature’s lessons, but one of the neat things about nature is it does not necessarily need the light to teach.

In the night sky, we have the moon, planets, and stars, as well as the clouds to help us find our way directionally. The myths and legends behind the constellations of the stars offer additional teachings to augment what nature shows us. The new moon (which is not visible to the naked eye) started off our week and each day has grown into a crescent shape. This weekend will mark the first quarter moon, visible as a sliver of light on the right side of the moon’s face. By the end of the month, the moon will be at its full stage, where the entire face appears lit.

The changes in the moon’s appearance occur because of the moon’s position relative to the earth. It takes approximately 29.5 days to go through all of the moon’s eight phases: new moon, waxing crescent, first quarter, waxing gibbous, full moon, waning gibbous, last quarter, and waning crescent. The term waxing indicates the lit portion of the moon is growing. Waning indicates the lit portion is shrinking. Gibbous refers to when more than half of the moon’s face is visible, and crescent refers to when less than half of the moon’s face is visible.

In addition to the moon, I had a special education lesson while running this past Sunday morning. It was very early, about 15 minutes before sunrise, so the skies were still dim. At one point I looked up and saw a streak of light. The light moved from west to east in the sky, then fizzled and faded. What I saw was a meteor, also known as a shooting star. Meteors occur when bits of debris in the atmosphere are vaporized. A portion of meteors or shooting stars seen are predictable, recurring year after year around the same date. These events are referred to as meteor showers and happen when the earth passes through the orbit of a bygone comet. What I saw was most likely a remnant of the Leonid meteor shower, which usually occurs around November 16^th. Another well-known meteor shower is the Perseid meteor shower, which occurs in early August each year.

Chrysanthemums Once Yellow Now Orange and Rust

Yet another lesson came to us through chrysanthemums we had planted back in August. When we planted these flowers, they sported yellow blooms. After the plants bloomed, I cut the dead heads off and transplanted the plants with the hope of getting a few more months of growth. The plants did grow and even bloomed. However, the blooms were orange and rust colored.

This made me wonder what was going on with the plants. I realized that the plants were grown in a nursery in late spring and early summer when the days were much longer and temperatures were warmer. My dead heading and transplanting happened at the end of summer, so any growth occurred in cooler temperatures under less daylight. The end result was a pigment change in the blooms, which allowed more orange and red pigments to dominate the plant structure. So, we now have some very nice orange and rust colored chrysanthemums in our landscape beds to brighten our days.

“The most exciting happiness is the happiness generated by forces beyond your control.” –Ogden Nash

Change, the Teacher Within Nature

The above examples of nature’s teachings occur because of changes. Change is one aspect of life that is inevitable, and also a constant teacher. Often change is viewed in a negative light and not embraced for the wealth of knowledge it tries to convey. While not all changes are natural, most occur over time, which I think is nature’s way of trying to help us better accept what is to come.

Change is also a challenger of character and resolve, two factors that play a part in how teachers present lessons to us and how we in turn receive these lessons. Character and resolve are not visible aspects or assets, but rather invisible forces that can be seen through action and interaction. Our character and resolve often help define who we are to others.

Character and resolve create energy, which in turn stirs creativity and imagination. This movement within fosters the motion needed to learn and accept new notions and ideas. Whether these forces work for or against each other often depends on circumstances and environments. The mystery of these forces is they don’t need much room to work, only a hint or a spark is required to get things moving.

“Life begets life. Energy creates energy. It is by spending oneself that one becomes rich.” –Sarah Bernhardt

Faith, the Teacher in and Through Change

A number of our lessons this week came through the teaching of readings. These readings came from a variety of newspaper articles, scripture passages, short stories, textbook passages, and reflections written by others. A common theme among these readings was that of faith of varying origins.

One article written by a local teacher talked about how his faith in his students is helping to foster a learning environment through the challenging circumstances of online education. Another article illustrated the character and resolve of communities brought about by faith in each other and in God’s guidance to face challenges of change. One reading spoke about thanks and praise even when the outcomes are not what was expected and how faith can help accept such outcomes while teaching valuable life lessons. One psalm from the Bible illustrated glory in and through faith through times of change.

“We will find grace to help us when we need it.” –Hebrews 4:16

Love, the Teacher in and of Moments

Yet another reading spoke about love and how it can take moments of varying circumstances and turn them into valuable life lessons. The reading was about two boys who met in eighth grade. The boys names were Max and Larry. Larry was new to town, so Max encouraged him to try out for the football team. Larry did so and promptly took Max’s spot on the team, winning the position fair and square. Max tried to be happy for Larry, but admitted it was hard. A few weeks into the season, Larry got hurt in an accident, and Max then got to play. Max tried to feel sorry for Larry, but again, this was hard. However, Max and Larry did their best to remain friends and in turn learned a deep lesson regarding love for others.

This reading brought back a fond memory and life lesson for me, one that I have carried for almost forty years now. The scene was second grade, and the teacher asked the class to be creative when coloring a hat and set of mittens that would be on display in our classroom over the winter months. There would also be a prize for the best effort. I thought I put a good deal of effort into my hat and mittens, trying to replicate a favorite team emblem with appropriately matching colors. The boy who sat in front of me in class and with whom I was friends diligently colored away long after I was done. He drew a simple zigzag pattern on his hat and mittens and used every color crayon in the box to fill in the zigzag pattern.

The teacher viewed each student’s work, taking her time to evaluate every hat and mitten. Many students did what I did to replicate a known design or emblem. Only the boy in front of me made up his own design. The teacher declared him the winner of the contest, and rightly so. I remember sitting there listening to the teacher explain why she chose the boy’s work as the winner—he had followed the instructions in a neat and creative manner.

Admittedly, I was disappointed in myself, yet I was happy for my friend. From that day forward, every time I was given an assignment that involved creativity, I thought back to that day in second grade. It was admittedly a hard lesson for a seven-year-old to learn, but it was a good lesson that helped me build character and resolve, which as the years went by helped me grow in faith and love. The neat part of this story is the boy went on to be a teacher by profession and has helped shape the minds of many students in his career now. I could not be happier for him or more thankful to him for the lesson he taught me all those years ago.

“You want to plumb the depths of your love for someone? How do you feel when that person succeeds?” –From Max Lucado’s A Love Worth Living and Grace for the Moment Volume II

Thanks and Grace, the Teachers Who Tie It All Together

November is one of those months in our household that is bittersweet. We have a number of anniversaries of life moments in the month, some of which are harder than others to accept. There are two anniversaries, however, that we truly celebrate, for they mark the beginning of two teaching careers that have left an indelible mark on life in a short time.

The anniversaries are the adoptions of Sadie and Leo, who just happen to be two of my greatest teachers in life. Like the dogs before them, they have managed to wrap their paws around my heart and mind, resulting in the stretching of my perspective, imagination, creativity, character, resolve, and love. This week we celebrate Leo’s fourth year with us, and on the 29^th, we celebrate Sadie’s twelve years of influence in my life.

What have I learned from these two teachers? The lessons are more than I can count, but a few highlights include:

It never, ever hurts to try, and trying more than once does not mean you have failed.
Character comes in every shape and size imaginable and is a perpetual building project with no end.
The art of love is to live your life to the fullest each day.
The science of life is really art in the disguise of grace.
Love carries with it many emotions, all of which sharpen and hone that love to a deeper depth.
If you are thankful for what you have, you will never be in need.
The good and the bad in life do even out, and in time blend together to create a deeper experience than one ever dreamed possible.

May we find it in our hearts to be thankful for the many teachers in life. May we learn to accept their lessons in time, and may we come to see grace through life’s teachings.

Life’s Teachings

Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to the many teachers we have had in and throughout our lives. From parents to siblings, neighbors to teachers by profession, and everyone in between, we say thank you for all you have helped us to learn along the journey.

Lisa, Sadie, and Leo

Observing Dwelling Places

November 13, 2020 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Our time enjoying Indian Summer weather ended this week when rain and cooler temperatures moved into the area. We had a nice stretch of days prior with sunny, blue skies, warm breezes, and brilliant colors in the landscape from the green grass and deciduous tree leaves. The rain brought down a number of the tree leaves, leaving behind a bleaker landscape with gray bare branches reaching into the cloudy skies. Contemplating this change, along with some reflection readings done this week, led us to our theme of the week, which we share in this post.

“Well, life is divided into two sections, light and darkness. If you are in one, you are not in the other and vice versa.” From Max Lucado’s No Wonder They Call Him the Savior and Grace for the Moment Volume II

Theme of the Week: Dwelling Seeds

Our theme this week is that of dwelling. Watching the trees lose their leaves made us realize that nature is preparing for a change of seasons, moving towards a slower pace and less color in order to survive and sprout anew in spring. The deciduous trees shed their leaves to preserve nutrients in the root and branch systems. This rationing of nutrients allows the trees to survive the colder temperatures and decreased light of late fall and early winter. In a sense, the trees are stopping processes internally to dwell, or remain for a time in a state of dormancy.

This change in the trees puts a bleakness upon the landscape, which as a whole also seems to be dwelling to reflect upon what was. The remnants of aster and goldenrod blooms now ashen in color catch the rays of the early sun’s light along with the frost and the dew. While this is sometimes a sparkling scene, it also is a reminder that nature must stop in order to carry on. While there are still many processes in nature going on unseen, the majority of the activity has decreased to a slow plod, like the drip of water. This slow drip pace allows the plants to store up energy so that seeds can be produced when spring arrives.

The bleakness in the landscape can set the mind into a sense of dwelling as well. Dwelling on the bleakness, the state of the world, fears, anger, any number of emotions conjured up by what is before our eyes. However, there is a flip side to this dark dwelling of thought, that of the great love that nature encompasses so that it can sustain us through whatever is to come. This may be a hard concept to embrace given the negativity promoted by the media these days, but it is a concept of truth. Why is it true? Well, if it were not true, we would not have the new seeds in the spring, the sunshine each day (no matter how long or short its appearance lasts), the stars in the sky to guide us at night, or the waters in the rivers, seas, and oceans that keep the rhythms of life going.

“There is no exercise better for the heart than reaching down and lifting people up.” –John Holmes

Dwelling for a Spell

On a particularly rough morning this week, I was struggling to find a common thread in my morning readings. Each reading had a different angle and approach from the author to the subject matter. One reading was direct, the other very subtle, still another making references to many different Bible quotes. What were all these readings trying to teach me? One was titled Sharing the Spirit, another Let Him Change Your Mind, another simply the day and the date.

Each reading explained a personal experience that involved a thought process, faith, what was, and what came to be. The fact each writer took some time to get from the onset of the experience to where they are today is what started my realization of the dwelling theme. Each writer spent time in different stages with different feelings and circumstances surrounding them. These people had to navigate with the help of faith, hope, and love in a variety of forms to find their way.

This realization took me back on my own life and faith journey, one spent doing a lot of running literally and figuratively, one whose miles have been rough, long, winding, and less than stellar. There have been a number of negative experiences that seemed to leave me in pieces on the ground, like ashes in the wind, and with only a flicker of a flame of life. However, all these experiences have helped build character, strength, stamina, and perspective. Had I not had these experiences, I most likely would not be a writer or even attempt sharing stories in a blog.

Often, I drew strength and inspiration from faith and examples of others around me. I tried to embrace what I liked or felt most from these people, adopting their characteristics but putting my own style on them to create a better me. This remains a process, one that can be rewarding and frustrating all at once. It is also a process that makes me dwell for a spell every now and then to gather thoughts, lessons learned, and observations.

“When we seek to discover the best in others, we somehow bring out the best in ourselves.” –William Arthur Ward

Dwelling Spaces

In seeking solace in nature, I have discovered many facts, seen too many wondrous and amazing sights to count, learned more life lessons than I care to admit, and found a place to just be me. All my runs, bike rides, and walks these days are full of multi-tasking, yet each one has a moment or moments of enlightenment which not price can be placed upon.

Another place of refuge for me is church, where the aura of holiness quiets the soul to a point of deeper understanding in faith. While not every church experience is the same, each one is filled with potential. With the many restrictions on congregating during the pandemic, attending an actual mass has been difficult, however, the few masses I have attended reminded me of why I first sought solace in the wooden crosses and stained glass images that comprise the buildings that hold and help sustain the faithful. While many of the traditions have been challenged recently, these traditions are the foundations that helped move the church and the faithful eventually find a sense of new beginning.

Born Again (White Yarrow Still in Bloom)

“We must die to the old before the truly new can be born.” –Richard Rohr

Song of the Week: Dwellings in Thee

Our song of the week is one I learned in church. It is a favorite hymn with a simple yet profound message, and this message might just be the inspiration needed in the world today. It also just happens to deal with dwelling.

Dwelling Place

“It is not by spectacular achievements that man can be transformed, but by will.” –Henrik Ibsen

May the thoughts and experiences we dwell upon lead us on in our journeys. May we not dwell too long in the wrong places, may those we dwell among help lift us up, move us on to a new dwelling place.

A New Dwelling Place

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to our late canine friend, Nikki, whose birthday was November 6. Nikki’s time on earth led me to one of my dwelling places in nature, and I will always think of her as the rock I leaned upon. You can read more about our relationship and adventures in our book Nikki Jean.

Lisa, Sadie, and Leo

Bonus Post Observing Veterans Day 2020

November 11, 2020 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Offering up a special, short post to thank the many veterans who have sacrificed so much for freedom’s sake.

Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Thanks to all the men, women, and canines who have served or are actively serving in the US Military branches at home and abroad.

Lisa, Sadie, and Leo

Observing Time and Lines

November 6, 2020 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Editor’s Note: This writing was to appear October 29, 2020, but was delayed due to technical difficulties.

The past week brought October to a close with a number of rainy and cloudy days in our area. While temperatures were moderate or cool, the skies were not their historically clear and bold. This fact put an exclamation point on the rapidly decreasing daylight hours. With sunrise at 7:45 AM and sunset at 6:20 PM, we’ve lost a lot of daylight compared to summer’s peak of sunrise at 5:50 AM and sunset at 8:55 PM. The change in daylight, along with entering the heart of autumn and soon into the month of November set our thoughts to thinking about time and lines (either distinct or blurred), and how these elements play a part in one’s perspective and journey in life.

“New beginning is intrinsically disorienting and anguishing; it builds on the wreckage of what has been outgrown but not yet relinquished. As the veils are lifted and our familiar reference points dissolve, it is only on the timeless path of surrender…that we find our way through the darkness and into the new beginning.” –Cynthia Bourgeault

Time and Transformations

The sharp contrast in the skies from this week to last week did not happen immediately, but took place over several hours’ time. We watched the sun-soaked, blue skies vanish as clouds formed and moved into our area last Sunday. By early Sunday evening, rain moved into the area and dominated the weather for much of the week. This was the first significant stretch of cloudy skies we have had since autumn began on September 21^st.

Needless to say, I had some rather wet runs and bike rides this past week. The cooler temperatures also forced me to change running gear and plan a bit more each day so that I had enough time to run, bike, and do the normal daily tasks along with the added seasonal task of cleaning up leaves in the yard. We had to experiment a little bit with combinations of activities this week due to other circumstances as well. These circumstances also did not happen overnight, but rather culminated through strings of events that spanned a number of days.

All the circumstances and changes around us made us focus more on what matters most. This can be a tough topic to evaluate in today’s world where we have everyone and everything clamoring for our time. We also have technological devices that are supposed to help us with our time and tasks, but in our experiences, the technology only adds different headaches and required efforts to the existing task. While we appreciate what technology has to offer, we also find more value in plain old hard work and elbow grease as the sayings go. Our experiences have led us to this conclusion, and have helped us to discern a bit better what matters most to us. What matters most to us may not be what matters most to others, and that is the nature of life.

“Only the Divine matters, and because the Divine matters, everything matters.” From Thomas Keating’s What Matters

Transformations and Identifications

As we went about our tasks and activities this week, we noticed many of the leaves on the trees have changed color and fallen to the ground. The absence of the leaves on the trees can make it hard to tell which type each tree is, unless the bark, structure, or other characteristic are recognized as an identifying factor. While we know the trees in our yard and even most places on our property, there are other trees along my route to work or running and biking routes that I don’t know without their leaves.

This thought made me wonder a bit more about how we humans often break things down into categories and types to help us process information. We place labels on people, places, and things that are supposed to help us understand who, where, and what they are. However, there are times when these labels or categories do not properly represent the true identity of what we are trying to define.

There are several reasons we bring this to consideration in this week’s post. First, if we contemplate the current divisions between social, economic, political and religious issues, we might just find that labels placed properly or improperly have led to misunderstanding and misrepresentation within society as a whole. One of the priests at a church I have been attending touched on this subject in his homily last Sunday. It seems as if by attempting to identify things we have lost not only the identity of the subject, but also in some cases, our own identity. The misrepresentations presented in media and social outlets have caused confusion, which in turn has led to anger, sorrow, unrest, and in some cases, hatred.

If we look at a tree or a leaf as an example, we notice certain features like color, shape, or texture. We accept these elements as simply part of nature, what that particular tree or leaf has to offer, and move on. Conversely, if we look at another person or organization, we notice features or characteristics based on outward appearance, professed beliefs, or allegiances. We may or may not accept these elements as part of nature, culture, or background circumstances. If we accept them, we find a way to live with and among these people and organizations. However, if we do not accept them, then lines are drawn, territories and boundaries are formed, and negativity becomes a breeding ground for other issues.

So, I am wondering why we look at elements of nature differently than we look at others in life. All are part of life, and as such, have a position or job to perform, similar to how each part of the body has a function that allows the body to mature, grow, and adapt to changes in life. Yet we don’t always break our thought process down so simply, and often find ways to complicate matters with information that may or may not be true.

“All men are almost led to believe not of proof, but by attraction.” –Blaise Pascal

Coloring Between the Lines

The second reason we bring the label consideration to this week’s post concerns perspective. The deciduous tree leaves actually hold their red, yellow, orange, and other color shades inside for the life of the leaves. The reason the leaves appear to “turn green” and remain green has to do with chlorophyll and the photosynthesis process.

As the daylight hours increase through the spring and summer months, more and more chlorophyll is produced, masking the other colors within the leaves. As summer wanes and autumn arrives, the daylight hours decrease, in turn affecting the amount of chlorophyll produced in the leaves. In our area, this change usually starts in September and continues through October into November until the winds and rains knock all the leaves from the trees to the ground.

The changing of the landscape’s colors has many effects upon the human mind, wildlife activities, and society as a whole. The bleaker, paler, darker skies put a dampening effect upon each day. Some people are affected by Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), depression, or other illnesses. Many of the wildlife plants and trees go dormant while the mammals and birds prepare to move to different climates or hibernate. Decreased daylight hours force people and organizations to alter activities and schedules.

All these changes typically come with a negative undercurrent that has the potential to further affect larger parts of each community. However, it is important to remember that like the colors in the leaves, the sun is shining somewhere, whether we can see it or not. Time is moving us to new places of mind, body, and spirit every day. Life is going on whether we notice it or not. The negative undercurrent is only one of many perspectives.

Also like the colors in the leaves and sun in the sky, we humans have traits, skills, characteristics and qualities that may or may not be seen, but are imbedded within us. The labeling placed upon us may be factual or simply perspective of how we appear to others. But this appearance does not have to define us.

In the same homily mentioned above, the priest talked about how certain holidays came to be and how commercialism and society have taken away from the intended meaning of these holidays. He cited examples of St. Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, and Halloween. All of these holidays had origins tied to the church. All of these holidays have been stripped of their spiritual senses in order to make them more appealing and make money. In doing so, traditions and values have been lost, along with the intention of these days, which in years prior fulfilled a need for hope.

In contemplating the message of the homily and sights in nature around me, I concluded that we often have what we need, but are too impatient and feel the desire to shorten or take away from the context of thoughts, ideas, or traditions. We are short changing ourselves in the process and contributing to the mislabeling and misunderstanding around and within us.

Much of what we fill our lives with each day centers around computers and technology, which seem to fulfill our wants of instant gratification and answers. However, there is a major component missing with the responses we receive, and this component is love.

“Those who live in love live in God.” -1 John 4:16

Extending Beyond the Lines of the Times

This brings us to the third reason for contemplating labels and how we identify things in life. Jesus did not use a computer to help him discern fact from fiction or who he should or should not help or save. Imagine if he did need a computer and any of the following happened:

Sorry, Jesus, your password has expired. You cannot heal the leper today.
This platform is no longer supported by our company. You will need to install new software before you can feed the multitudes.
No Internet connection. Please contact your system administrator for assistance to expel the demons.
Access denied. You must register your device before curing the blind man.
Trial software has expired. Please contact the purchasing department to upgrade and install software to preach to the people.

He did not need a computer because he had all he needed in his Father’s love. And this love transcends any labels (and ensuing technological and communication issues) we come up with in this world.

There is much freedom to be found in love. We have come to demand what we don’t deserve and have forgotten the freedom that comes with serving others, living simple lifestyles, and being thankful for what we have. We are all striving to return to a sense of “normal” amidst the pandemic, but in the process are instead fostering and feeding both the immoral and unethical aspects of life. We can’t feel God’s or others’ love because we’ve watered down the value of love and misplaced the place for love in the world.

The monsters created in this world—fear, hatred, and other unethical activities that go on—will only continue to be fostered if we allow them. The best and perhaps only proven way to stop these monsters is to show our love—love for others, God, and self—regardless of the labels placed upon these groups. Why do we feel this is a proven way? Because God so loved the world that He gave his only son to save us. This saving grace has fostered civilization for over two thousand years and created the natural wonders of the world that mankind cannot match.

“Let him (Jesus) into the mire and muck of our world. For only if we let him in can he pull us out.” -From Max Lucado’s God Came Near and Grace For the Moment Volume II

May the changes in the autumn season allow us to see life from a different perspective. May we find what we are seeking in nature’s solace, and move beyond the world’s dividing lines.

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to Father Chris, whose homily started the thought process, which led to the questions and observations in nature, to help us navigate through some very challenging days. Thanks also to our circle of supporters who have shown us much love as we move onward from some potentially life-altering events with the hope of keeping a positive perspective along the way.

Lisa, Sadie, and Leo

Observing Indian Summer

November 6, 2020November 6, 2020 / law2374 / Leave a comment

We got a major gift from nature in our area this week with the arrival of Indian Summer. The gift did come with a bit of a struggle, as weather Sunday contained sun, rain, sleet, snow, clouds, and blue skies. The high winds blew many leaves from the trees. Branches, twigs, and other debris rained down leaving quite a mess in the landscape. We awoke Monday morning to the first snow of the season. Temperatures rose Monday afternoon as the winds subsided, and after six days of gray clouds and precipitation, we had clearer skies with sunshine and no rain or snow. The events of the week led us to learn several interesting facts, which we thought we’d share in this week’s post.

“It is always in season for old men to learn.” -Aeschylus

After the Running

While running Sunday morning, before all the wind and weather moved through the area, I saw several deer. My first sighting was not far from home, a buck chasing a doe with another doe following. Twenty minutes later as I circled back through the same area, a different buck came into view above the pond. His rack had a different configuration than the first buck, which is how I was able to tell he was not the same as the first I had seen. He seemed to be searching for something, running then stopping to look across the road into the adjacent woods. Rustling in the woods confirmed my suspicion of another animal in the area. The buck took his time meandering above the pond before running off to the southeast.

Later in the day in the field below our house, we noticed two figures lying in the grass. Binoculars helped us see the figures were a buck and a doe, just lying there in the afternoon sun. The buck was about ten feet from the doe, situated to the southwest. This was the first time in my life I had ever seen such a sight. I wondered what had brought them to this point and time and then started surmising that they had been chasing each other and had grown tired. I later learned this was most likely the case, for it is mating season for white tail deer in our area, and the bucks chase the does until they are exhausted.

This buck had yet another configuration to his rack, so he was not either of the buck I had seen prior in the day. Doe are harder to tell apart, so I was not sure if this doe was one of the does I had seen prior. She did seem to have a larger body than the other does based on what I recalled. The pair stayed in the field over two hours, just lounging in the sun as it slipped between the clouds. The sun glistened off their tan and gray bodies like water reflected on a lake. I kept watching them as I went about cleaning up leaves in the yard and doing other chores.

At one point, the buck seemed to grow uncomfortable with how close I was to the field. He got up and walked to the wood line. The doe slowly followed. They walked together over the hill into the woods, their bodies camouflaged by the brush.

The experience made me reflect on how often what I see while running in nature leads me to ask questions and learn more about what I see, think, or feel. This led me to realize the gift of wonder, and how much we miss when we don’t pay attention to our surroundings in nature. Though I am sometimes tired after running long distances like the buck and the doe, I find the strength to move forward with the help of God’s grace.

“And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm, and steadfast.” 1 Peter 5:10

When the Sun Goes Down

We turned the clocks back one hour over the weekend, which makes sunset appear an hour earlier than it had in the past week. Sunset is now at 5:12 PM, just eighteen minutes longer than the earliest it can occur (which will happen at 4:54 PM in December). The changing of the clocks back has never gone over well in our household, and apparently we are not alone. Several editorial articles in the newspaper this past week expressed discontent with the turning of the clocks.

One informative article cited recent studies that appear to discredit the previous theories on energy savings and other positive aspects of the time change. There is now a major movement to stop the changing of the clocks. The debate in this matter now focuses on whether to adopt the daylight savings time format (which we just changed from) or standard time (which we are currently in) as the time format going forward. As with any debate, each side has its pros, cons, supporters, and dissidents.

The location of the sunset is now more towards the southwestern sky, as opposed to the due west location it was in at the autumnal equinox in September. This shifting location is something we’ve talked about in other posts, and it is significant to those of us who love to be outdoors as much as possible.

In our household, we are not adverse to turning on the spot lights to keep working after the sun goes down. We do find it easier to do so when temperatures are warmer or when our to do list is long and we are driven to accomplish the tasks at hand. Colder temperatures or shorter task lists seem to make us less eager to stay outside past sunset. There is most likely a psychological reason for our change in mindset.

Humans are conditioned to be active in the light. Darkness is a natural signal to the body that it is time to rest. Warmer temperatures are more inviting and conducive to accomplishing tasks. Colder temperatures often put obstacles in our way like loss of feeling on our hands and feet, which may cause us to ask what we are really accomplishing if we stay outside instead of going inside to do other tasks and warm up.

“Immerse yourself in nature. When you can’t be outdoors, feel deep within you the cleansing breeze, the lake’s calm, the bud’s promise.” From Acceptance Therapy by Lisa Engelhardt

What is Indian Summer Anyhow?

Growing up, I was taught Indian Summer was a time, usually in the second or third week of October, when the weather warmed and the skies were clear and bright. I recently learned that Indian Summer can occur anytime in October or November, and there are criteria in order for it to be called Indian Summer. The criteria include: a string of dry, warmer days with clear skies, usually occurring after a rainy spell. There is some debate about the definition, however, there is agreement on the warmer days and more comfortable weather part.

The term Indian Summer does not have a clear origin, for there are different thoughts on which culture coined the term. Some information sources cite European influences and observations, while others cite Native American tribes. One thing most people do agree on when it comes to Indian Summer is it is a welcome time of mild weather before autumn turns the corner heading toward winter.

“And all at once summer collapsed into fall.” –Oscar Wilde

May we come to realize the gifts of each season in due time. May this realization lead us toward a path of peace, and may the inner child be brought to life through the wonders of Indian Summer.

A Note of Thanks

Thanks to nature for making our week brighter with Indian Summer. Thanks also to friends and family members who helped us learn more about life, ourselves, and the seasons this past week.

Lisa, Sadie, and Leo

Natural Deltas

Exploring nature's changes by Lisa A. Wisniewski

Month: November 2020

Observing Thanksgiving 2020

Observing Thanks for Teachers

Observing Dwelling Places

Bonus Post Observing Veterans Day 2020

Observing Time and Lines

Observing Indian Summer