Observing Grace

December 30, 2021 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Editor’s Note: This post was to appear December 23^rd, but was delayed due to technical issues and life circumstances.

We’ve been riding a bit of a roller coaster as far as weather in our area with both cold and warm temperatures, rain and snow mixes, and even some clearer, sunny moments. These fluctuations are not always easy to navigate, especially when trying to prepare for holiday events or even just get through each day under extenuating circumstances like being in the midst of a pandemic or economic or political unrest. What we discovered this week was the true definition of grace, being able to navigate through things with the help of faith and not so much worrying about what it looks like in the short term, but rather the long term outcome.

“If we only believe and ask, a full measure of God’s grace is available to any of us.” –Charles Swindoll

Theme of the Week: Grace’s Seas

Our theme of the week is one that kind of build up over time. We kept reading about grace in our devotional and mass readings for each day, and one day every single article or passage was about grace.

Well, then that settles what our blog post topic will be, doesn’t it?

One of the readings was especially poignant with the author writing about an experience with clogged pipes in his house. The man tried chemical clog removers to no avail. Finally, he broke down and pulled out his tools to take the pipes apart. The physical experience was not exactly pleasant (which is the case with most plumbing issues as we can attest to from our share of such chores). However, it was through the physical experience that the man realized the connection between his feelings and the situation. Internally, he had been harboring resentment, anger, fear, and bitterness over a period of time. He found no relief from his feelings when using the human quick fix reactions of yelling or not forgiving. However, once he took a deeper look and reflected upon his feelings, realized he was in his own way of getting relief.

We all have similar experiences in life when things get out of hand and our desire to be in control of life aspects backfires. The many offerings of society’s quick fix schemes only help the façade, but leave the remaining support structure crumbling. If we are fortunate to realize the depth of the issue AND willing to do the work required, we can not only make the façade better, but also build a better foundation so that the next time issues start to clog up our minds, hearts, and time, we have the wisdom and energy to not only do what is required, but also be grateful for the experience.

This is grace. Recognizing, acknowledging, letting go, and working through the issue first hand, in real life with or without the support of those we love. Yes, sometimes we have to move on and recognize the unhealthy relationships so as to build healthy relationships. This is not an easy task, but it is doable if we keep the most important relationship in our lives in focus—our faith relationship with God.

“The amount of power you experience to live a victorious, triumphant Christian life is directly proportional to the freedom you give the Spirit to be Lord of your life.” –Anne Graham Lotz

Lesson of the Week: Poise One Does Not Need

Our lesson of the week is a tag-along to our theme of the week. As we navigated through some tricky life situations, we felt like we were fumbling along. Despite all the flexibility and strength training exercises we do daily in our household, we still end up on the clunky side most days. This is frustrating, but this week, we learned we don’t need poise to experience grace. Actually, it is when we are the most discombobulated in life that grace shines best. Perhaps this is because in comparison to our life gymnastics, grace’s simple presence appears perfect. It is not trying to outdo anyone or anything, not trying to win a contest or prove a point; grace is simply there, and in all honesty, that is enough.

We had another lesson in the grace of learning this week. While the full moon appeared on December 18^th, the moon actually looked fuller on the 21^st. Wondering why this was set us to some research and the discovery of what is known as the moon illusion. The moon illusion is one of the oldest psychological phenomena, dating to ancient China and Egypt. While this scientific puzzle remains fully explained, there are some theories behind it.

One of the more scientific explanations is based on the moon’s position in relation to the horizon. When the moon is near the horizon, the ground and horizon make the moon appear close. Since the moon changes its apparent position in depth while the light it emanates remains constant, the human brain’s size-distance mechanism alters the perceived size, making the moon appear larger.

So, once again, we have learned more by simply asking a question and doing a little leg work to find some reasons why. It is the why’s of life that lead us to the grace of life. Asking sometimes takes courage, and not knowing can make circumstances seem more dire, but the beauty of learning is part of the wonder of grace.

“Courage is grace under pressure.” –Ernest Hemmingway

Question of the Week: What Comes to Be

Our question of the week is based on our lesson of the week. Is what comes to be grace in disguise?

Though we have no proof or scientific experiment to reference, our experience has been that yes, what comes to be, be it deemed in the short term as good, bad, indifferent, or somewhere in between, is indeed grace in disguise. You see, grace is not an instant panacea. It is a patient, understanding, tolerant essence that takes time to fully encompass the circumstances and slowly move all the messiness of the parts into a more recognizable art form.

“Grace comes into the soul, as the morning sun into the world; first a dawning; then a light; and at last the sun in his full and excellent brightness.” –Thomas Adams

Sight of the Week: Grace in the Dawn’s Deep

Our sight of the week was a most welcome one. While running early one morning, I watched the sun rise between the scattering clouds. The colors and movement of all the parts was most magical and calming. It was poetic and fluid, like the Holy Spirit drawing water from heaven’s light to pour down upon the weary soul watching all that was transpiring.

A number of my runs lately have been long, eight or ten miles, and I have found that the added miles allow for some extra time not only to destress, but also listen to nature and God. This listening has been most helpful in calming the inner eight year old, who has been both anxious and excited for Christmas to arrive. It has also helped the adult in me better understand Advent, the season that occupies the four weeks prior to Christmas in the church calendar.

Prior to this year, Advent remained a real mystery and misunderstood concept to me. I did not have any luck historically sticking to an Advent structure, always getting sidetracked by holiday happenings, illness, or some other crazy life issue that seemed to need all my attention and energy. This year was different, perhaps because of all the running and truly taking a few moments each day to just listen. Again, there is no conclusive evidence to my experience, save for the experience and following inner feelings of finally getting somewhere spiritually after spinning in circles for so many years.

In addition to my running experiences, the dogs and I had several occasions in the wee hours of the morning to stand outside, breathe in the cold air, and watch the stars fade in the rising sun. This time of day has always been a favorite for me, and Leo and Lena appear to be catching on to the magic and wisdom nature offers at these times. By watching and listening, we find an inner energy that allows us to get through the circumstances of each day.

“An appreciative listener is always stimulating.” –Agatha Christie

Words of the Week: Let Grace Speak

Our words of the week from the Daily Word were: joy, letting go, light, happy, and grace. Joy is one of those things that can feel elusive in today’s world, but if we let go a little, allow the light to shine in our hearts, and not get hung up on what appears to be the definition of happy in society today, we can not only find but really experience grace. Grace is really God’s gift to us all year, not just during Advent or Christmas.

May we learn to find our way by letting go in life. May the experiences we have lead us to the gift that keeps on giving, grace itself.

Grace

Grace be yours, grace be mine

Grace before and after the night,

In the sun and in the rain,

In what is to come and what remains,

In the dawn and in the dusk

Across the pond and through the trust

Of faith in God above

Through His ways and His love.

Grace be yours, grace be ours,

Grace in the storm and the rainbow’s showers,

In the earth and in the water

In the dirt and in the fields’ coffer

Over the hills and the valleys

Where spills the galleys

Of love unrestrained

From heaven above throughout our days.

Grace be yours, grace be mine,

Grace before and after the light,

In the skies and in the clouds

In hands of time round about

Beyond what is seen and understood

In what comes to be deemed as good

Through the hope that carries on

As time goes, so comes another dawn.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to our late canine friend Luke, whose birthday was December 21^st. Luke taught me a lot about grace in his own artistic way. It was not the most graceful relationship between Luke and me (or anyone else in our lives who came to know Luke through his raucous behavior), however, time led us to a mutual understanding.

In addition to Luke, we thank our buddy Leo, whose birthday is December 12^th. Yes, just flip the numbers and you have either one of their birthdays. Leo is what I call a vanilla version of Luke, much less of a rebel and more a gentleman (but with a curiosity that would give Luke a good run for his money).

Thanks guys, for helping us come to know grace in life!

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Observing Every Little Thing

December 19, 2021 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Sunset inched back to 4:55 PM this week, though we are still losing daylight with sunrise as late as 7:37 AM. The slight shift in time was another reminder of how little things in life can have a huge impact. One minute in our household (and most likely many other households) can mean the difference between success and catastrophe. We also moved to the third Sunday in Advent, with a focus on rejoicing in all things in life, whether good or bad, big or little, simple or complex. These miniscule details in the short term may seem trivial, but when combined and reflected upon can lead to a number of life adventures and discoveries. We thought we’d share some things we learned about the seemingly little aspects of life in this week’s post.

“Practice is an essential reset button that we must push many times before we can experience any genuine newness.” –Richard Rohr

Theme of the Week: Little, Well Maybe…

Our theme of the week started on the way home from church. I was contemplating why I could not find a good song on the radio. Normally, this is an easy task, for there are two stations that play the songs I like, two more stations that I tolerate, and a “wild card” station I have programmed in the Jeep that is a mix of all genres of music. Surely, one station should have something worth listening to right after early mass. Nope. All commercials this morning. Wondering what was going on, I glanced at the clock and saw the time was 8:23 AM, a full seven minutes before our normal dismissal time of 8:30 AM.

Well, that explains a lot. It is too early for the two radio programs with the retro playbacks I like, too early for the two country countdown stations, and the one time the wild card station plays commercials instead of music. Wonderful.

The CD player in the Jeep broke years ago when I had no extra money to get it fixed, and well, one day lead to one week, to a month, and here we are years later with the same condition. So, my predicament was my own doing, though not really under my control. While having no music to listen to is not the end of the world, it can be frustrating for busy people who work a lot and don’t get much time to do things they enjoy for any length of time unless maybe it is squeezed in with another task (like driving to and from church or work).

Normally, I would have tried to focus on a hymn from mass, but focusing had become difficult lately. After much thought about why this was suddenly the case, I faced the truth that I had been cramming everything possible into life lately to avoid the grief I’ve felt inside since my dog Sadie passed away in June. You would think six months would be adequate to get a handle on such a matter. Nope. Not in this case. Not after almost thirteen years of beloved devotion by both parties through thick and thin, right and wrong, hope and fear, and every combination of emotions and life circumstances possible.

Well, I guess I could pray, but I don’t feel like talking,

Well, you don’t have to talk to pray, you can just listen.

Then that’s what I’ll do. Just listen.

So, I got to hear the rattles in the Jeep, hum of the tires on the road, other traffic, silence when stopped, and yes, even God. Little things that one could easily overlook, dismiss, forget, or simple not acknowledge. How much do we miss when we miss the little things?

“To know how to say what others only know how to think is what makes men poets or sages, and to dare to say what others only dare to think makes men martyrs or reformers—or both.” –Elizabeth Charles

Lesson of the Week: Every Little Thing Do Not Leave…

Our lesson of the week came from our beloved Lena. Being only nine months old, she is going through a chewing phase. Now, not just any chewing phase, but an everything she can get her paws on chewing phase. You name it, she’s figured a way to get it into her mouth. Everything from pens to spoons, drain covers to alarm clocks, batteries to drywall, and yes, even things she is allowed to have like toys. Given the situation, I have tried to be vigilant with leaving things on the counter or desk. However, the inevitable happened the other night when I was in between work and getting ready to go to a special Advent church service.

I entered the kitchen and found Lena in the doorway chewing my wallet. Oh, Good Lord…

As I gently pried what was left of the wallet from her mouth (and tiny, sharp, white teeth), I noticed something shiny on the floor beneath her paw. Oh, no!

Oh, yes. She ate my watch, too.

“Lena, I’m not sure what to say except Santa is not happy right now,” I said in my calmest voice, which admittedly was a bit tired also.

What else could I say that would make a difference? What was done was done and now we both had to live with the consequences and move on. Consequences are little things that can grow into big messes if left unchecked. Then again, anything can turn into a big mess if left unchecked. We have examples of that every day in life all over the world.

Upon reflecting on this, we have concluded that while it is best to allow certain things in life to pass as they are, other things need attention. Attention now. Not in a while or when we feel like it or if the stars align and we win the lottery (which will not happen in our house because we don’t play the lottery). Attention to the little things allows us to leave this life with a clear conscience, but the little things left unattended have the potential to haunt us forever.

“Little things console us because little things afflict us.” –Blaise Pascal

Song of the Week: Little Things Tell the Story

Our song of the week is an old favorite that did eventually come on the radio Sunday. The song is a story song, telling how a love came to be. The lyrics are a bit different, especially at the beginning of the song, making the listener wonder what the ending will be like. (Until of course you play the heck out of the song and know it by heart). The song also speaks to how the little details affect us in life and how their consequences find a way to fruition.

She’s in Love With the Boy

Katie’s sitting on the old front porch
Watching the chickens peck the ground
There ain’t a whole lot going on tonight
In this one horse town
Over yonder, coming up the road
In a beat-up Chevy truck
Her boyfriend Tommy, he’s laying on the horn
Splashing through the mud and the muck

Her daddy says, “He ain’t worth a lick
When it comes to brains, he got the short end of the stick”
But Katie’s young and man, she just don’t care
She’d follow Tommy anywhere

She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
And even if they have to run away
She’s gonna marry that boy someday

Katie and Tommy at the drive-in movie
Parked in the very last row
They’re too busy holding on to one another
To even care about the show
Later on outside the Tastee Freeze
Tommy slips something on her hand
He says, “My high school ring will have to do
‘Til I can buy a wedding band”

Her daddy says, “He ain’t worth a lick
When it comes to brains, he got the short end of the stick”
But Katie’s young and man, she just don’t care
She’d follow Tommy anywhere

She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
And even if they have to run away
She’s gonna marry that boy someday

Her daddy’s waiting up ’til half past twelve
When they come sneaking up the walk
He says, “Young lady get on up to your room
While me and junior have a talk”

Mama breaks in, says, “Don’t lose your temper
It wasn’t very long ago
When you yourself was just a hay-seed plowboy
Who didn’t have a row to hoe”

“My daddy said you wasn’t worth a lick
When it came to brains, you got the short end of the stick
But he was wrong and honey, you are too
Katie looks at Tommy like I still look at you”

She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
What’s meant to be will always find a way

She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
She’s in love with the boy
What’s meant to be will always find a way
She’s gonna marry that boy someday
She’s in love with the boy

(Written by Jon Ims, performed by Trisha Yearwood)

The lyric that sticks out most in this song for us is “what’s meant to be will always find a way” for that is the truth of life.

“Almost everything comes from almost nothing.” –Henri Frederic

Sight of the Week: Behind the Clouds and What May Come to Be

Our sight of the week is actually something we did not see, but wanted to share as a little science learning thing. The yearly Geminids meteor shower peaked this past Tuesday. This meteor shower occurs when Earth encounters the dusty path of the asteroid 3200 Phaethon. Phaethon is named after the son of Helios, the sun god. It is made of mostly rock, and heat from the sun causes sodium on the surface to fizz, creating a comet-like tail. While other meteor showers are caused when debris from comets are encountered along earth’s orbit, the Geminids meteor shower origin is an asteroid. It is a little detail, but one of significance when it comes to understanding the intensity of the meteor shower.

We also have a sight of the week to report that we actually saw. This sight was most welcome, for it means we have much to look forward to in the coming year. We found tiny buds on the lilac and buckeye tree in the yard while walking this week. The buds will remain dormant until spring. Some may fall off or not be able to recover from the upcoming winter (which officially starts December 21^st) weather, but most will become lush leaves in spring.

“The pleasure isn’t in doing the thing, the pleasure is in planning it.” –John Green

Words of the Week: Rejoice in Deeds

Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional are love, healing, give, prayer, and free. Love has the power to creating healing. As we heal from past wounds, it becomes easier to give. Through giving of ourselves to others, we offer and may receive prayers of hope. It is in giving that one becomes free from the anxieties of life. And it all starts with love, a little word with a lot of little details that affects everything on earth. Amazing!

“Love many things, for therein lives the true strength, and whosoever loves much performs much, and can accomplish much, and what is don in love is done well.” –Vincent Van Gogh

May the little details of life encountered every day lead us to live with a deeper love and appreciation for others and ourselves. May what we encounter, be it painful or joyful, be viewed as building character, and may our character building lead us to and through every little thing in life.

Every Little Thing

Every little thing, every little detail

Is what love brings as it comes to sail

In and through the blue of the skies,

The truth of the light,

The depths of the valleys walked,

The rest that rallies the limbs’ stalks,

And the trials and tribulations

That come in the style of salvation.

Every little thing from seed of the earth

To the reed in the dirt,

From bird and bush to bee and hive

Comes to push, weed, and divide

The wheat from the chaff in the wind

From what one has and has not lived

So that what is shared in kind

Prepares for life.

Every little thing, seen and unseen

Leads the song to sing as the soul is set free,

Free to fly in time

Across the skies in the light

Past the fall and winter cold

To the all of spring and summer’s hold.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week is for our church community, which reminded us to rejoice always in whatever life offers. While it is often hard to rejoice (like when the dog chews your wallet), we must also realize it could be much worse (without the dog, you may not know love).

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Observing Vision

December 17, 2021 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Editor’s note: This post was to appear December 9^th, but was delayed due to technical issues.

With sunrise at 7:34 AM and sunset stuck at 4:54 PM in our area, we only have nine and a half hours of daylight this time of year. This makes seeing certain things difficult, especially if one’s activities and work schedule occupy or take away time from the daylight hours. We are also in the second week of Advent, which has this year led us to ask some questions about how well we see things in life, and how good our vision really is at any given time of the day. We thought we’d share some things we learned about vision in this week’s post.

“The best vision is insight.” –Malcolm Forbes

Theme of the Week: Well Let’s See

Our theme of the week started on the way home from church. The radio was playing some songs I really enjoyed, each one very different from the other. At one point, I asked myself why I liked each song.

Well, let’s see…Each one talked about relationships and brought to mind different people I have known in life. Each one spoke to emotions within me. Though only one song was by a favorite singer, the other songs still had something to offer either through an uplifting beat or a touching lyric.

Looking at what was before me, I thought about how we see both visually and perceptually in life. Why I thought about this was kind of a mystery to me, save for the fact the curious eight-year-old never ceases to amaze the adult in me (or others who know both her and me) with the level of details and insatiable appetite for knowledge. Vision is one subject I’ve always been curious about since I have a medical condition that limits my vision severely in one eye. The condition is due to a birth defect, so there is no cure or way of changing it.

For a very brief time in my life, I remember asking God why He created me this way. The condition made learning difficult and an additional issue with a cataract for a period of seven years made me a huge target for kids who liked to tease in school. Quite frankly, there was a point when things got so bad that I wanted to just disappear to avoid the teasing. I also worried about all the things I was missing or not seeing due to the condition. This created extra stress and anxiety, often clouding my perception of matters. Add all this up and you have a huge mess inside a broken heart.

All these thoughts and memories flashed before me as I drove along looking at the sky, houses, and yards along the way home. It hit me hard how far I had come with not only seeing but also perceiving things. What years ago caused me to pretty much unravel really did not phase me now. (Though admittedly I do still wonder how things would look if I could see with both eyes instead of just one). I also realized how much physical, mental, and spiritual exercise it had taken to get to this point in life. This was often hard work, not necessarily in the action but more so in the facing of the truth and the decisions required to move onward. The path ahead if often far from clear in such matters, and it is only when we really look the issues we have in the eye that we find the reasons why along with the song that gets us by.

“Your vision will become clearer only when you can look into your own heart. Who looks outside, dreams; who looks inside, awakes.” –Carl Jung

Lesson of the Week: Hope Seen and Unseen

Our lesson of the week was a tag-along to our theme of vision. Going about our tasks this time of year can be a challenge with the lack of daylight and all the “holiday” distractions. It is easier to get off track than stay on the course, but being the determined posse we are, we keep trying, even when the odds and statistics are not in our favor.

There were several days where the weather cooperated, allowing time for work, play, running, biking, and holiday preparation. There were also days when not much got done despite all the efforts. The common denominator between the days was the hope each morning brought. Whether visibly sunny or cloudy, the sun was still shining somewhere. Maybe not in front of us, but somewhere light was flowing in streams of color and with great intensity.

On a particularly challenging day, I looked at both dogs and asked, “How is it we can still believe what we do? I mean, this is nuts…”

Four innocent, watery, deep brown eyes stared back at me with a love no words can describe.

Well, that’s how. Guess that answer was obvious.

“True confidence is really a blending of both faith and hope. I don’t understand the alchemy of that union, but I know when it is present and when it isn’t. It often feels like something which I have accidentally discovered, something given from nowhere…” –Richard Rohr

Question of the Week: What We Really Need

In going through our activities this week, we came upon some very well-written and interesting articles. Like the songs mentioned earlier, the subject matter and presentation methods varied. However, each article had a distinct and clear message regarding what we see and need in life.

One article was about a woman who had an accident that left her unable to do her favorite activity—running. This accident happened later in life, so the odds were very much against her, along with additional health issues discovered during her recovery. However, it was the determination built up by all those years of running that allowed her the will to walk again after years of therapy, trials, tribulations, questions, and longing for a sense of normalcy. The woman reported that she can walk, swim, drive, do most household chores, and yes, even run, albeit at a pace not much faster than walking. What struck me most was this woman’s vision. Not just an apparition or dream of what may come to be, but a planned course of action that she carried out with dogged determination despite tears and dissuasion from others (including her own doctors).

Another article was about neighbors helping neighbors. The author explained the painstaking process in her area of collecting enough fire wood for the winter and how each neighbor helped the other with equipment, labor, and nourishment in forms ranging from food to good thoughts to prayers. The task for each household was monumental, but when every neighbor and family pitched in, became not only easier, but enriching for the lives of all involved. The article resonated with me from a work ethic perspective. Often in life, we encounter tasks that may challenge our vision (along with other characteristics), but we need not view these tasks in a negative way. We have a choice to find the positive (in either our own efforts or with help from others).

Also this week, we celebrated the Feast of the Immaculate Conception. The mass readings that accompany this feast in the church calendar speak of the vision of God and how the path was prepared for both Mary, the Virgin Mother, but also Jesus. Both Mary and Jesus had vision beyond the circumstances around them. Mary’s answer to the circumstances was faith and willingness to do what God asked. Jesus responded similarly, but with more questions for those challenging Him. He had the vision to ask in order to help others see from a different perspective.

The articles and readings led us to ask what is vision? It is not only sight, but belief. Not only physical in nature, but with mental and spiritual ties. Vision is simple and complex, shared and unshared, real and imagined. It is what keeps us going physically upon our paths, mentally with dreams and goals to accomplish, and spiritually with the questions that build our faith, hope, an love. Vision is what the world needs yesterday, today, and tomorrow.

“Let your eyes look straight ahead; fix your gaze directly before you.” –Proverbs 4:25

Memory of the Week: Dr. Pettapiece

In addition to the articles and readings this week, we came across a tidbit of information that put an exclamation point on our theme of the week. The tidbit of information was about Dr. Milton C. Pettapiece, Jr. Dr. Pettapiece was the doctor that diagnosed my vision condition was I was but a child. Every summer, my mom had to trek to Oakland with me in tow to see him. It was always an adventure for I was a handful and more than once needed six people to hold me down so Dr. Pettapiece could put eye drops in my eyes. After many years of struggling with me, he came up with the idea of tilting my head back with my eyes closed, putting a puddle of fluid in the corner of my eyes, and allowing me to “blink in” the drops. Oh, how much better that was!

Dr. Pettapiece was always patient and kind when describing the latest state of my condition to my mother and me. He also had great toys to play with in his huge waiting room, the best Tom and Jerry cartoons to watch, and the spiffiest sports jackets I ever saw. His favorite jacket was a rose colored one that he said he liked because his wife had given it to him. (He was way ahead of the fashion times with that jacket).

He was my ophthalmologist for over twenty years and the person who helped free me of my vision anxieties by removing the cataract that complicated matters when I was fifteen years old. I remember the summer day vividly, going to Children’s Hospital in Pittsburgh at the wee hours of the morning, scared about losing my vision altogether. Dr. Pettapiece reassured me all would be well. (Little did he know that I would have an allergic reaction to the anesthesia and stop breathing in the middle of the procedure, almost giving him and my parents a heart attack).

The surgery was ultimately successful, allowing me to see physically better, but not enough to alter my condition. However, the process we went through as doctor and patient through the years gave me a different kind of vision, one that comes with maturity, hope, and faith.

Though he practiced pediatric ophthalmology, he continued to allow me to be his patient until he retired. During our last visit, he was wearing his favorite sport coat and beaming about spending more time with his family. At the time, he was in his mid 60’s, and I was in my early 20’s. That day was a turning point and moving on for both of us, each one with a clearer vision of the potential before us.

Sadly, the tidbit I was reading was Dr. Pettatpiece’s obituary. He passed away at age 85 after serving his patients and family and even his country.

“If I find myself a desire which no experience in this world can satisfy, the most probable explanation is that I was made for another world.” –C.S. Lewis

Words of the Week: Vision’s Means

Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional were peace, guidance, protect, strength, blessing, and prosperity. If we have vision in life, we can often find a sense of peace, though it may take some time to feel the peace inside. The guidance of nature, relationships, and faith can help clear our vision, allowing us to see not only peace, but the protection, strength, and blessings granted to us each day. These gifts lead to prosperity not necessarily in a monetary or economic sense, but in an overall sense of good health.

“Hope’s home is at the innermost point in us, and in all things. It is a quality of aliveness.” –Cynthia Bourgeault

May our relationships in life lead us to better perspectives and perceptions. May we share our experiences along the way with others, allowing for increased faith and vision.

Vision

Vision

Intraspective seen and hidden

Sent from heaven above

In the tethers of love

On the wings of the wind

Never leaving, always a friend.

Vision

Inspection

So that options may be viewed

In a variety of ways in pursuit

Of and in and through our days

Needing and being and finding new ways.

Vision

In grace given

So that all might see

In the dark and light’s beams

Opportunity through faith, hope, and love

Nestled in the days granted us.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to Dr. Pettapiece for his care and concern of the many people he met and helped in life. May he rest in peace with the other angels and saints in heaven.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Observing Stillness

December 7, 2021 / law2374 / Leave a comment

We transitioned from November to December and started the season of Advent this past week. While these events are admittedly not on our list of favorite things, we have come to realize going through them is necessary to get to some of our favorite things (spring, summer, long days, short nights, etc.). Leo and I have learned that this time of year is full of stillness in our surroundings, but this does not mean we have to be still. We can still do lots of activities, though we may need to be creative at times depending on weather and other circumstances. Since Lena is so small, she is only learning about stillness, and true to any young heart, she is not all that happy with it. However, she has a more patient streak at times than other dogs we have known, and she seems content with watching life happen amidst her curiosity. We thought we’d share some of our latest stillness observations in this week’s post.

“If you wish to find Me, in yourself seek Me.”-Teresa of Avila’s interpretation of God speaking to her

Theme of the Week: Stillness Speaks

Our theme of the week started in church with readings and songs about the season of Advent. Advent is the beginning of the church’s liturgical year. The name Advent comes from the Latin advenire, which means to come to. The season of Advent covers the four Sundays and weekdays leading up to the celebration of Christmas. Advent is a time of preparation for the coming of the Lord Jesus. This coming is in reference to both the second coming of Jesus and to the birth of Jesus. The readings for the first week of Advent focus on the second coming, whereas the readings for the remaining three weeks focus more on the birth of Jesus.

In all honesty, I never really understood or cared for Advent as a young child, teenager, or even young adult. Only in recent years have I come to understand the celebration and reason for it. This slowness to understand and embrace it is a mystery to me, for why wouldn’t a person want to prepare for Jesus?

Perhaps because preparation usually entails some sort of patience (which I had little of until about ten years ago) the entire season did not resonate with me. Though I went through the motions of activities in Sunday school and church readings, I really did not grasp the concept of the coming of Jesus aside from it being his birthday. Along with patience, the readings also spoke about stillness. Given I historically equated stillness with being idle, this aspect of the season was not at all inviting to me.

You want me to be still when the days are shortest and trying to get all my required tasks done in the daylight is already a stretch? No thank you.

However, about three years ago, I had this experience while running that changed my perspective. Though I was running and actively engaged in my surroundings, there was a sense of stillness inside that I had not noticed before. After some reflection on the experience, I realized that I can still be active and open to inviting Jesus into my life. If I allow the silence of stillness to speak to me, I can find renewed hope, energy, and inner resources to face the challenges of the day. What a revelation that was!

“True silence is the rest of the mind, and is to the spirit what sleep is to the body, nourishment and refreshment.” –William Penn

Lesson of the Week: Listening is Activity

Our lesson of the week was a tag along with the whole stillness theme. The lesson came as I was running and just listening to nature in the early morning one day. I realized my mind was so preoccupied with thoughts that trying to hear the birds calling and the wind blowing was actually hard work. In other words, my focus was just not there and it really needed to be. This experience starting a contemplation process that lasted a few days and took a few experiments to prove my suspicions correct.

Each day, I tried to listen for a certain sound, be it the wind, my breathing, the dogs’ tags on their collars tingling as they ran, the wind chimes outside, or some other sound. What I found, especially when running and biking while listening to the breeze or the birds was that it was not only hard at times, but also if I allowed myself, I could get really lost just listening to God speak to my heart.

Then I thought some more and realized that listening is a verb word and verbs describe actions, so all this listening and in turn being still so to speak (at least on the inside) was really activity. Eureka! The mystery is solved! My misgivings of Advent’s stillness all these years were rooted in misunderstanding of not only word meanings but also life experiences. Like many people, I was brought up in an environment where you worked for everything, every day. Yes, you rested when needed and took time to do certain enjoyable activities, but every aspect of life was measured by how much you did.

This is not a bad environment to grow up in, and it certainly builds character, faith, and ethics along the way. However, it is easy, especially for a younger person, to soon be lost in all the activity and not really engaged in life. By this I mean simply doing things to do them and not really considering the reason behind all the doing. The reason behind the stillness and preparation of Advent is to be ready–ready to receive the gifts of the season to the fullest extent. As we actively listen, we tell others we respect their time, thoughts, understanding, care, concern, friendship, love, etc. When we listen most, we may utter fewer words, but our actions say all we and others need to know.

“Saying nothing sometimes says the most.” –Emily Dickinson

Song of the Week: A Different Stillness and What It Means

Our song of the week takes a different meaning of the word still into consideration. The song was a huge hit on country and pop radio and speaks of the lasting effects of a relationship. Though the song is about two people in love, it could also be used to describe our relationship with Jesus, especially for those who open their minds, hearts, and lives to His presence.

You’re Still the One

When I first saw you, I saw love
And the first time you touched me, I felt love
And after all this time
You’re still the one I love

Looks like we made it
Look how far we’ve come, my baby
We might have took the long way
We knew we’d get there someday

They said, “I bet they’ll never make it”
But just look at us holding on
We’re still together, still going strong

You’re still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You’re still the one I want for life
(You’re still the one)
You’re still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You’re still the one I kiss goodnight

Ain’t nothing better
We beat the odds together
I’m glad we didn’t listen
Look at what we would be missing

They said, “I bet they’ll never make it”
But just look at us holding on
We’re still together, still going strong

You’re still the one

Yeah (you’re still the one)
You’re still the one I run to
The one that I belong to
You’re still the one I want for life, oh yeah
(You’re still the one)
You’re still the one that I love
The only one I dream of
You’re still the one I kiss goodnight

I’m so glad we made it
Look how far we’ve come, my baby

(Written by Robert John Lange and Shania Twain)

Treat of the Week: 4:54 Finally!

Our treat of the week also has a connection to stillness. We reached sunset at 4:54 PM, the earliest the sun can set in our area. Sunset will remain at this time for awhile, but sunrise will continue to creep further and further to the latest time it can occur on December 21^st. After December 21^st, the winter solstice, the days will start to get longer and we will be doing our annual dance of joy in our house for having made it through the darkest months of the year.

We find it interesting that the winter solstice, or when the winter sun appears to be still, occurs during the advent season. Even nature seems to be waiting in anticipation for the coming changes of the seasons and what these changes have the potential to offer to each of us if only we open ourselves to experiencing them.

“The primary cause of unhappiness is never the situation but thought about it.” –Eckhart Tolle

Words of they Week: Drum Roll Please!

Our words of the week from our Daily Word devotional were hope, forgiveness, smile, fearless, and compassion. These words have ties to Advent in different ways. Obviously, if we are hoping, we are in turn waiting for an event or action to occur. If we are open to giving and receiving forgiveness, we are preparing the way for changes. If we smile as we do our activities, we share the inner silent hope and joy we have in our anticipation. Hope, forgiveness, and smiling give us the strength to be fearless, even when the stillness that comes along with these words is a little scary. It is through compassion to others and ourselves that we find paths of opportunities never thought possible.

May we learn to accept being still for the potential it offers to us and not be afraid of the façade of inactivity often associated with stillness. May we come to see the action required to be still and to prepare ourselves during the Advent season for what is to come. May we apply various techniques in life so that we arrive at a sense of peace through stillness.

Stillness

Stillness

Time spent

In the early and late hours

Listening for the power,

Looking for the way

Nestled in our days

Enlightening and energizing

So that we may keep aspiring

Saved by grace.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to our late canine friend, Sadie, whose adoption anniversary is November 29^th. Though Sadie was not one to be still, she did teach me how to accept the stillness in life as a necessary passage to a better place. Love you and miss you Sweet Pea.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Observing God in Life

December 4, 2021 / law2374 / Leave a comment

Editor’s Note: This post was to appear November 25, 2021, but was delayed due to what we call life circumstances.

Upon turning the page in one of our calendar devotional books on Sunday morning, we saw a notation stating it was National Bible Week. It seems there is a week for everything these days, and while we admittedly do not keep up with such things in our household, we thought we would try to observe this celebration of sorts and be more open and interested in the celebrated subject. At the time, we did not know how this would play into our life adventures, but we soon discovered our theme of the week would be related. We thought we would share some details of our adventures and learnings in this week’s post.

“God is more intimate to me than I am to myself.” –Augustine

Theme of the Week: What Will Always Be

Our theme of the week started to take shape in our meditational and church readings, along with the music we were listening to. Each reading or song appeared to be sending us a message gentling nudging us closer to our faith (not religion, but faith—there is a difference). As we stepped closer to our inner souls, we felt reassured that despite all that is going on in life around us (pandemic, political unrest, social issues, financial woes, world economic issues, etc.) faith remains, as does God. Faith and God are there for us 24/7/365. All we need to do is to be open to what they tell us or ask us to do.

Granted, sometimes the message or the ask is not pleasant. But, and this is a big but, there is a reason behind it all, a reason we may or may not learn in our lifetime here on earth. There is nothing wrong with not knowing the reason. While human nature often makes us feel like we need to know, in reality, we need to exist in and through and beyond what we encounter in life. Not an easy task for any person on any given day. However, if we focus on existing, and by this we mean living, really living life, and not just going through the motions checking off boxes and running down to-do lists, we may just find that what we really need to know is right in the present moment, and we should be grateful and thankful for this fact of life.

“Aliveness springs from our making something of what we experience and receiving what experience makes of us.” –Ann Ulanov

Lesson of the Week: Simply Be

Our lesson of the week came from our readings and experiences in nature. I had the opportunity to go for several ten mile runs and some longer bike rides. (Admittedly, I had other things to do, but felt an inner force calling me to nature to deal with life issues). The experiences were amazingly wonderful despite some gray skies, rain, snow, and wind.

How can such experiences exist when circumstances appear on the surface far from what is desired?

I asked myself this question a number of times when running in the snow and rain under such gray skies that no ray of sun was visible. After running about four miles one day, I felt a sense of accomplishment in fighting the elements. After another two miles, I was able to clear my head entirely of nagging thoughts that had the potential to be detrimental. Around mile eight, the inner adrenaline and endorphins kicked in and this sense of calm came over me.

This is totally crazy. How can this be possible?

Then it hit me. Hard. This is life and perspective and our perspective is what makes or breaks every interaction, relationship, and living moment we have. If we choose to embrace all life offers, no matter what façade it is hiding under, we can find freedom. Finding freedom requires work, not only physically, but also mentally, spiritually, and emotionally. We must try in order to fly. And there is nothing wrong with having to try more than once or for an extended period to achieve the desired outcome.

If we choose to be in the moment, open, aware, understanding, and compassionate (with both others and ourselves), we have the potential to find not only what we need, but what others need from and in us. These others include God, relatives, family members, neighbors, friends, acquaintances, and pretty much any being or object we come in contact with on a daily basis. All have the potential to present opportunities to us. Some opportunities may be better than others. Some may force us to make hard decisions. Some may be healing, painful, easy, hard, simple, complex, wanted, unwanted, warranted, totally off base, and the list goes on.

All these relationships test and build the soul. Without the testing and building, we have a void.

“Soul is the blueprint inside of every living thing that tell it what it is and what it can still become.” –Richard Rohr

Song of the Week: Excuses We Plead

One of the songs running through our heads this week examines the relationships we have and how often we fail to use them to build a better us. The song admits some things are harder to accept than others, but in admitting these things, we come to see our own shortcomings and areas for improvement.

Alibis

She knows every move that a man could make
She knows every trick in the book
She knows how to give, she knows how to take
‘Cause so many times she’s been taken and fooled

By those alibis and lying eyes and all the best lines
Lord knows she’s heard them all
She’s been cheated on and pushed around and left alone
Lord knows what I’ve put her through
And boy, you can bet, if a move can be made
She knows how to make one on you

She once thought that love wasn’t just a game
Her feelings once came from the heart
One day I gave her a wedding ring
One night I tore all those feelings apart

With my alibis and lying eyes and all the best lines
Lord knows she’s heard them all
She’s been cheated on and pushed around and left alone
Lord knows what I’ve put her through
But boy, you can bet, if a move can be made
She knows how to make

Her own alibis and lying eyes and all the best lines
Lord knows she’s heard them all
She’s been cheated on and pushed around and left alone
Lord knows what I’ve put her through
And boy you can bet, if a move can be made
She knows how to make one on you

(Written by Randy Boudreaux, recorded by Tracy Lawrence)

The song got us thinking about the excuses we (and society in general) make in life and how God still seems to find a reason to believe in us and save us, often times from our own excuses. In essence, God uses the same alibi for everything—He loves us.

“The Lord will fight for you, and you have only to be silent.” –Exodus 14:14

Sights of the Week: Sun Amid the Trees

Our sights of the week came at sunrise and sunset. Despite a number of gray days, we still were able to catch glimpses of the sun shining through the bare branches of the trees. The sights were most welcome after hours of gray clouds slipping through the skies above.

The sun is a gaseous ball approximately 865,000 miles in diameter. It’s inner temperature is measured in millions of degrees and its energy source lies far beneath its surface. Intense pressure and high temperatures transform the hydrogen and helium that make up the sun’s composition into energy. This energy is transmitted to the sun’s surface and then radiated into space as heat and light.

Like the sun, we need interactions and reactions to find and define our inner energy potential. Unlike the sun, our inner energies can get misdirected easily, resulting in fatigue and less than stellar outcomes. Fortunately, the sun does not have the issues humans have, and can be a constant source of energy, power, light, heat, and hope.

“Every good gift and every perfect gift is from above, and comes down from the Father of lights.” –James 1:17

New Word of the Week: God’s Reach

Our readings took us to a new word we had not heard before. The word is numinous, which comes fro the Latin numen. Something that is numinous is an awesome, wondrous experience that pulls one into a transcendent moment. We suppose some of our moments this week would qualify (or at least plead a good case as) numinous moments. We had some really great interactions (and some less than stellar ones that in hind sight were we think to make the greater ones even better) and some quiet time in the stillness and dark of the early morning hours that felt magical.

“The ultimate aim of the human mind, in all its efforts, is to become acquainted with Truth.” –Eliza Farnham

Words of the Week: God Speaks

Our words of the week from the Daily Word devotional were grace, letting go, anticipation, prepare, thankful, and inner peace. The words tie back in many ways to National Bible Week and the Thanksgiving holiday. They also remind us God is everywhere in life, whether we see Him or not. The key is to acknowledge Him in our thoughts and actions, to try our best to live within His presence and love for us.

“God wastes nothing and includes everything.” –Richard Rohr

May we learn to see life for what it is—one running opportunity to become who we are meant to be. May our interactions and relationships with others help guide us, and may we recognize and be thankful for God in life.

This God of Life

He knows every excuse I give and make,

Yet still shows His love anyway,

He knows every place I have and have not been,

In the steps I take out of habit.

But this God of life

Still thinks that I’m

Worth saving for some reason;

Giving without taking away the seasons

That come and go

As I run from home

And come crawling back every time

Hauling what’s left intact inside

Through His saving grace

That keeps on taking place.

He believes I still have faith inside,
But some days I’m not sure He’s right

For I turn around and without a sound

Burn down like ashes upon the ground.

But this God of life

Still thinks that I’m

His child to hold

No matter how wild or old

I act or become

Trying to extract time where there is none,

Trying to see the dream

Despite being me

Full of reasons why I can’t seem to find whatever it is

But this God of life still thinks that I’m His,

And I guess I am despite what I can and can’t

Seem to do right or wrong,

But maybe that’s just part of living life’s song.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week is simply for being afforded the opportunities each day offers. We appreciate what life and God offer us, and we hope we don’t disappoint either with our responses.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Natural Deltas

Exploring nature's changes by Lisa A. Wisniewski

Month: December 2021

Observing Grace

Observing Every Little Thing

Observing Vision

Observing Stillness

Observing God in Life