Observing Necessary Elements

Awakening

Editor’s note: This post was to appear September 7, 2023.

With summer almost behind us, we’ve been shifting gears a bit in our household in order to prepare for upcoming events and seasonal changes. The skies above remain amazingly beautiful, offering us hope and encouragement through each day’s chores and activities.  We’ve seen sun dogs, rainbows, patterned clouds, and breath-taking sunrises and sunsets while running, biking, working in the yard, and fixing miscellaneous items in the house and garage.  Our recent adventures led us to a great life lesson, which unfolded in a unique fashion.  We thought we’d share this lesson in this week’s post.

Asiatic Day Flower

“Life consists not in holding good cards but in playing those you hold well.” -Josh Billings

Theme of the Week: Look and See

Our theme of the week started after reading a short article about writer, teacher, poet, and photographer Thomas Merton.  The article told a story about Merton’s photography philosophy.  Merton believed in what he called looking versus seeking.  His theory explains that when you are looking, you have something in mind for your eye to find.  When this happens, you search for the desired object and close off everything else you may encounter along the way.  When you are seeing, you are receptive to whatever you encounter.  You don’t have a particular object in mind, which means your mind is open to any object or event or lesson that happens to be in or along your path.

He also believed each object had a message to convey, and one way to silently convey the message of the object was through photography.  The image does not speak to us in words, but it has the potential to speak to us with its image, and often the image is far greater moving to us than any words could offer.

Silent Message

After reading the article, we became more aware and started asking whether we were looking or seeing and evaluating whether we needed to look or see, depending on what circumstances we faced.  We also thought about the pictures we take and how there are three elements needed to get the full potential of the picture.  The elements were space or an area in which the object resides, the object itself, and the mind that sees the image through the eyes and in turn responds by taking the picture.

The information in the article offered not only facts about Merton, but also much to consider regarding beliefs and style of creating and communicating.  Reflecting more on the article and incorporating the looking versus seeing mindset into our daily activities turned into a great learning experience in a very short time.  How is it in life that the slightest change in weather, perspective, effort, or environments can make such a huge difference? While the answer may differ for each person, the take away is that little changes can have a huge impact not only on ourselves, but to others around us.

Journey

“Find the beauty and joy in your daily rituals and you will find beauty and joy in your daily life.  To love your habits is to love your days, and to love your days is to love your life.” -James Clear

Lesson of the Week: Fixing Needs

Our lesson of the week came as we were trying to fix a chainsaw that was not running properly.  Original inspection revealed some opportunities for cleaning, which I did on my own.  However, the saw was still not running with enough power to actually cut the wood.  Additional research and efforts to rectify the problem did not help matters, so I contacted a friend to see if maybe he could help.  He agreed to stop by after work one evening.  Not only did we fix the saw, but also talked about work, life, faith, and current events.

In the conversation, my friend gave me a quick lesson on the elements required for any gas-powered engine to run properly.  He said, “In order to run properly, you need air, fuel, and spark.”

Air, Fuel, Spark

We put the saw in an open area and started with the air filter, which we found to be dirty upon removing the cover.  After cleaning the cover and all the components, we put the air filter back together.  We also checked the fuel and fuel lines for dirt or damage, which we found none.  Then we checked the spark plug, which was a little dirty, but had proper gap and was in good condition.  We filed the plug tip just a little to make sure there was good contact.  My friend then instructed me to start the saw, which I did.

The saw fired up immediately, ran better than when I bought it, and sounded like a content purring kitten.  We talked about what we had discovered and how a little dirt can cause huge problems, not only with equipment, but also in our lives.

Reflecting on our conversation and findings, I realized I had been looking for something obvious to be wrong with the saw in my original assessment instead of being open to seeing what may be wrong.  I also drew a parallel between the elements necessary for a gas-powered engine to run and the elements needed for picture taking: the air is the space; the fuel is the object; the spark is the mind.  This parallel led to more contemplation and reflection of the elements of air, fuel, and spark. 

Natural Elements

If we consider different aspects in our life, we may find that a form of air, fuel, and spark are necessary in order to get the most of those aspects.  Consider faith for example.  Faith needs air or space to work, which is life itself.  The fuel can be found in the Bible, reflection readings, or nature.  the spark lies in the heart or soul.  Another example may be in the work we do as our profession or job.  We need air or space, which is the working environment.  The fuel is the tools we use to help do our job.  The spark is in the creativity we put in to our work and the people we serve or products we create.

One element alone does not lead to the same end result, but the combination of elements does.  In finding the combinations required, we need to both look for specific details or characteristics, but also see or be open to seeing other elements that may prove beneficial or maybe even more effective than other elements to complete the triangle.

Wild Aster

Considering the triangle, it needs three sides to be a shape, otherwise it is just lines.  The sides are connected at the intersection points, bringing the shape to have its definition and purpose.  The triangle is also a universal image, or form of communication, which no matter what language a person speaks, is understood.  The image of the triangle communicates via its silent image the importance of the three components, or sides. 

Perhaps this helps explain to some extent the power and impact of what is known as the Blessed Trinity—Father (God), Son (Jesus), and Holy Ghost (Holy Spirit or just Spirit).  We need them all—Father, Son, and Holy Ghost—to fully see the gift of love God offers us each day. 

“You only know as much as you do.” -St. Francis of Assisi

May we come to find the air, fuel, and spark we need throughout our lives.  May our findings lead us to peace in time, and may we discover the beauty of seeing in its true sense.

Beauty of Seeing

Open Eyes

The eyes open the mind,

Spying the extents of the skies,

Bringing peace to the soul

Through the breeze that holds

The breath of life, the air unseen,

That helps beget the beauty nature bleeds

Which in turn moves the soul and the heart

To move beyond the old and the dark,

Beyond looking alone,

Bur rather the good of seeing the entirety of “home”.

Pointed to the heavens above,

One sees the anointed love of the sun,

Whose rays kiss everything in their paths—

The dew, the mist, the leaves, the grass,

All needed to sustain

Imagine

The beauty of silence’s refrain

Sung by the image of the flower, the leaf, the cloud,

The rain’s showers, the weeds’ towers, the rocks upon the ground,

In the pews of nature’s church

Where seeing unearths

The love of the Lord

That comes across the atmosphere’s shores.

Open the mind, open the heart,

Feel inside the unspoken art

Of listening for the wisdom of silence

That comes forgiving and forgetting in the quiet

Loosing the bonds of the chains

That sin heaps upon us in its’ rage;

Hey, Thanks!

See the opportunities in the sun, the moon, the stars;

Feel the newness that bleeds in the sunrise’s arms;

Take the moment and live in it;

Hold what is unspoken deep within,

Meet freedom face to face

By being willing to change.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to our friend, Gabe R., for helping us fix our saw, offering different perspectives on a variety of life’s issues, and sharing our love for learning.  Thank you very much, Gabe!

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

All We Need

Observing Summer’s Release

Summer’s Release

Editor’s note: This post was to appear August 31, 2023

With August behind us and September days before us, we noticed a marked difference in the amount of daylight, temperature fluctuations, and the general contents of nature and our days.  Gone are the humid and warm summer days and evenings.  The sun takes longer to appear each morning, and disappears almost two hours earlier from the skies as we fast approach the season of fall’s arrival.  Also gone are the high variety of flowers in bloom, replaced by goldenrod, tall iron weed, poke weed, jewel weed, and second crops of chicory and dandelions along the roadsides.  All these changes and more are as if summer is releasing its mesmerizing hold, slowly each day, trying to prepare us for the annual transition as time goes by.  We thought we’d share some thoughts on summer’s release in this week’s post.

Last Trumpet Vine Flowers of the Season

“If we could let go of our own obsession with what we think is the meaning of it all, we might be able to hear (God’s) call and follow Him in His mysterious cosmic dance.” -Thomas Merton

Theme of the Week: Reality

Our theme of the week started with Father Mike’s homily in church.  Father talked about how Jesus chose Peter to be the rock of the church, and how seemingly flawed that rock was.  After all, Peter was a bit wishy-washy with Jesus, sometimes boldly proclaiming himself a follower, other times denying Jesus and their relationship.  Father Mike offered what I thought was some deep insight on why Jesus chose Peter. 

For starters, all humans are not perfect, and in choosing Peter, Jesus chose someone others could relate to in some way.  Peter had feelings he made known, faltered in his faith, and walked a bit of a twisted path at times.  We all are like Peter, at least if we are honest.  Yes, really, we are all more alike than we wish to admit when you break down our characteristics, tendencies, habits, and responses.  The reality of this is as humans, we are what we are and yes, we can change when we put our minds to it.  The changes we make may be positive or negative, and we’ll experience both in our lives, and, as Father Mike stated, that is normal.

Tall Iron Weed

Secondly, Peter wrestled with his faith.  We may not all have such a deep encounter on the surface of our lives, but again, if we think about the “do-or-die” situations we’ve experienced, we can find moments when we’ve exhausted ourselves wresting with what we are to do, how we are to respond, who we can trust or confide in, where to find solace or peace (usually we choose a bad habit of sorts instead of our faith), and when to make a final or marked decision.  Personally, I’ve had a steel cage match of epic proportions going on with God (Jesus) since before Wrestle Mania was even thought of.  I can relate to Peter.  Yes, I believe and want to follow Jesus, but there are times when I don’t understand what the plan is and feel the need to fight the process required to uncover the plan of the divine.  The reality is I am human.

As I drove home from church and went about activities with Leo and Lena out in the yard, we came across the signs of summer’s release.  Reality staring us in the face.  Drooping blooms, dropping walnuts and apples from the trees, and passing through clouds with the shifting sun were all reminders of summer releasing its hold, slowly, with the hope we embrace both the memories is left and the season to come.

In between our activities, we stopped for a minute to watch the clouds passing by.  We saw a great variety of clouds, clear skies in the distance, and hues of blue in between.  The moments were magical, as if divinely placed within summer to give us hope and help us realize the gift of the present reality.  Thinking about this a bit more, something a friend once told me came to mind.  She said, “Lisa, from the pictures and writings you share, you always manage to find beauty in what surrounds you.”

Heaven at Sunset

The reality of her statement is we all have the potential to find the good or the beauty in and of life, even if we are stuck in a rut, walking a seemingly dark path, or going through a storm of sorts that has us feeling lost.  There is always a light to find, a piece of something to grab onto, a way to persevere.  The trick is finding what works for us.  What works for one person may not work for another, and like Peter and summer’s release, we may find ourselves ebbing and flowing with the tides of the times or the circumstances of reality.

“Most of the things we notice, we notice in passing on our way to something else; then, every so often, something gives us reason to pause…we’re drawn for a moment to ponder or reflect on that which awakened us in this way.” -James Finley

Lesson of the Week: Let Go and Breathe

Our lesson of the week came as we were trying to jam a long list of tasks into a rather short time (story of our lives in this household, and probably many households today).  At one point, we had to face the eminent outcome was not everything would get done.  Which was disappointing given our efforts and focus on the tasks at hand.  At one point, I stopped and sighed deeply.  It was now dark, the air was still, and silence enveloped us along with the stars above.  The only sound was the deep breath I had exhaled. 

Horse Tails

For a moment, I felt defeated, as if I had failed at pretty much everything that day.  Work had been rough at best with customer and staffing issues.  Efforts to make necessary appointments and phone calls were thwarted by needs of others.  Traffic was oddly heavy on the way home, which delayed getting things done once I got home.  Now, our list of tasks was far from complete, it was late, I needed a shower, and the alarm would be ringing to start another day in about 5 hours.  Not exactly a beautiful reality to come to terms with, but there in the silence a little voice said, “You did your best.  Let it go. Tomorrow is another day.  Just let it go.”

So, we cleaned up the tools, went inside, got a shower, and called it done.  Were we giving up hope? No. Were we to blame for our current state? No.  Were we going to mope about our current circumstances? No.  Well, then what were we going to do?  Let it go and breathe.  Give it to God and let Him work His magic so that in the morning we could start with a clean slate, a clean perspective, and clearer heads.  Release it—all of it—the good, bad, and everything in between.

Million dollar question: Will this be easy? H-e-double hockey sticks no.  BUT, it will be worth it in the long run.

Revelation

“We cannot get there by any method whatsoever; we can only be there.  The purest form of spirituality is to find God in what is right in front of us—the ability to accept…the sacrament of the present moment.” -Richard Rohr

Sight of the Week: Sky Beauty

We had some really great skies this past week, full of wispy clouds (also known as horse tails), cumulous clouds, bright sunshine, varieties of blue hues, and colors in the sunrise and sunset that no Crayola crayon box ever contained.  Fortunately for us, we did stop for a  few minutes each day to take in these sights, stand in awe at nature’s and God’s creations, and give thanks for all the contents the summer season has to offer, not just this year, but every year. 

“If your doorstep is clean, then your city will be clean.” -Greek saying

May we come to pause at times in life, give thanks, and accept reality.  May we take moments offered in times like summer’s release to come to know ourselves and all of creation better, and may this learning help strengthen our faith, allowing us to respond to life’s stresses with, “Let it go…”

Let it Go

One, two, three, four, five, six,

Lord, please help me just let it

Daisies

Go, let it go, let it go

Down the road, the road

With the breeze

In the trees

And the crickets’ sounds

In the thickets ringing ‘round.

One, two, three, four, five, six,

Let It Go

Lord, please help me just let it

Flow, let it flow

In the sun’s glow, the glow

Reflecting off the clouds

That trot around

The skies of heaven above

With time’s touch.

Poke Weed Fruit

One, two, three, four, five, six,

Lord, please help me just let it

Float, let it float,

Past the jewel and poke weed,

Beyond the tulle of the Queen Anne’s leaf,

Out to the vast expanse

Of what You have planned.

One, two, three, four, five, six,

Cumulous Clouds

Lord, I thank Thee for helping to lift

The heart, mind, and soul

In the art of life’s hold

With the sun, moon, and stars,

The water that runs, the gifts of nature’s art

Helping to settle, calm, and ease

The things I wrestle with occasionally

In an effort to learn and grow,

Thank You!

Turn, and let it go.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to Father Mike, whom we mentioned at the beginning of this post, for opening our minds to the possibilities within and around us and for reminding us what faith is truly about.  Faith is not perfect, but rather a journey of a lifetime, full of passion, purpose, and pronounced moments that make us stop and reflect.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Just Breathe

Observing Sharing

Shared Skies

Editor’s Note: This post was to appear August 24, 2023.

As a child, I remember having to share pretty much everything with my sister.  Given we were close in age and our family did not have a lot of resources, we did not have many of the things our classmates or friends had.  We did, however, have very energetic imaginations and wonderful cousins who shared their toys and ideas with us.  This arrangement did not seem odd to us at all.  We were little, did not know any better, and were having fun.  What more could two girls growing up in the late 1970’s and early 1980’s ask for?

As time wore on and we learned what others had, we simply said good for those people.  (Well, at least most of the time. There were a few instances where we wondered why things were different for us, but usually something one of our dogs did would end up distracting us from that thought and we’d just move on). We did our best with what we had, got jobs, worked odd jobs, did whatever we could to help anyone in need.  Fast forward to here and now and really not much has changed for either of us.  We do our best with the resources we have and share with others, partly out of habit, partly out of our sense of faith, and partly just because. 

Heaven’s Grace

Given all the turmoil in the world today, Leo, Lena, and I thought we’d offer up some thoughts on sharing in this week’s post with the goal of helping spread a little hope in the world.

“Kindness in words creates confidence.  Kindness in thinking creates profoundness.  Kindness in giving creates love.” -Lao Tzu

Theme of the Week: Sharing Seeds

Our theme of the week started as I saw clouds in the skies before sunset.  The clouds were as if painted, like God smearing finger prints all over the heavens in white tufts and patterns.  Admittedly, such skies are my personal favorite.  The cloud patterns weave a mosaic that I find inspiring, invigorating, and loving.  Like God is saying, “See this? See all these little dots and spots and patterns? They represent life’s variety and the extent of My love and hope for you.”

I spotted the clouds while running and started taking pictures of them with my cell phone along the miles.  The clouds made the sky seem overly vast, never ending, all-encompassing.  The patterns to all the white tufts and spots of clouds were amazingly beautiful.   A little voice inside urged me to share some of the pictures with others, so once I got back home, I did just that, sending out text messages with the pictures attached. 

Since we had a lot to do that night, I set the cell phone on the counter and headed outside with the dogs.  We worked on weeding and other chores until after dark.  Upon entering the house to take a shower, we discovered a large amount of return texts on the cell phone, most of which stated how beautiful the sight was and thanking us for sharing.  One friend responded, “Those are some ridiculous clouds. So much peace at sunsets.”

God Having Fun

We wrote back, “Yes, like God’s having fun splotching paint in heaven with an 8-year-old heart.”

Our friend responded, “Precisely that!”

The exchange made us feel thankful for the sight of the clouds, for the ability to share the sight with others, for the inspiration and renewed energy we found through the gift of sharing them, and for nature’s abundant ways of keeping us grounded, hopeful, and curious.  Those clouds were like seeds, starting small and turning into something larger, bearing the fruits of sharing, caring, hoping, dreaming, and seeking.

This was the second week in a row we had found something really neat to share with others.  The week prior, we found sun dogs in the sky at sunset and shared those.  (See our prior post for more on that experience).  This got us to thinking about how great the skies are, how much they provide for us in life, and the extents to which God and nature go every single day to help us find our way upon the journey.

“Sometimes you will never know the value of a moment until it becomes a memory.” -Dr. Seuss

Lesson of thew Week: Recurring Themes

Our lesson of the week spawned from several different readings, all presented in different manners, but with a shared message.  The first reading was a very short paragraph in the newspaper (yes, we still enjoy reading a newspaper, though five days a week it is delivered online and only two days a week in printed format). The paragraph was about what Americans want as a starting salary at a new job.  While the number was staggering to me, way more than I’ve ever made at a new or a tenured position, it did make me realize the shared statistic was not an opinion, but a real piece of data gathered through an extensive study and many interactions with people of various backgrounds.  This number is what was believed to allow for the best possible outcomes for the population, or in other words, best overall well-being.

Shared Space

The second reading was a short blog post about what the authors called “The Four A’s” or ways to become aware of our feelings.  The four A’s are: acknowledge, allow, ask, and accept.  Acknowledging what we feel gives a sense of presence, a way to name, label, or identify, which is important.  Allowing ourselves to experience these feelings is natural.  Our programmed responses may not be positive however, so it is important to monitor ourselves.  Allowing the feeling does not necessarily equate to condoning the feeling or subsequent actions we may take due to the feeling.  Asking the reason for the feeling helps sort out what led to it, where it came from, and what value it may or may not have.  Accepting that we are human and therefore have feelings acts as a reminding we are not perfect and have the power to forgive ourselves if need be.  The post illustrated a shared need to use the four A’s throughout the stages of our lives in order to cultivate necessary relationships leading to better overall well-being.

Several reflection readings talked about challenges of care giving and how the relationships of the parties involved had evolved, morphed, or changed.  The shared message was one of hope, faith, trust in God, and a sense that God is at work in all our daily activities.  Given God is involved with everyone and everything, He is the common denominator who often weaves numbers and other facets of creation together to create better overall well-being.

Peaceful Place

So, the shared theme based on my interpretation was better overall well-being.  Thinking about this more, I realized the reason I share anything with anyone is with the intent of better overall well-being for both the person I am sharing and myself.  This led me to wonder if maybe life is really about sharing—stories, time, events, feelings, triumphs, sorrows, best and worst of you name it.

But what about when we share too much in an inappropriate way (like social media posts that go off on a tangent), or if we share opinions that hurt others, or if we share germs (like during the pandemic), or if we share something that is not meant to be shared? Is it really sharing if it harms or is shared with the intent to harm? Ah, that is the million dollar question and possibly the hint to the answer.

If we look at the etymology (how the word came to be) of sharing, we learn it is from Middle English origin and the original usage had to deal with cutting something in pieces to benefit a larger group.  That intent is one of benevolence.  Though we found no clear cut answer to our question, it appears based on the etymology of the word, sharing with good intent is the true sense of the word.  Sharing with the intent to harm is not sharing.

Jewel Weed

“You are not here merely to make a living. You are here in order to enable the world to live more amply, with greater vision, with a finer spirit of hope and achievement. You are here to enrich the world, and you impoverish yourself if you forget the errand.” – Woodrow Wilson

Science Lesson of the Week: What is This Really?

We are not the only ones who share things we find in nature.  We have a number of friends and family members who share things they see or find as well.  A friend sent us a picture of a rather interesting insect. The insect was a leopard slug, also known as great gray or giant garden slugs are about four inches long with gray to yellow skin and black spots, hence the leopard slug name.  They eat pretty much any vegetation, making them a bit of a problem in some areas.  Leopard slugs live best near water sources or in moist environments.  They are native to Europe, North Africa, and Asia Minor, but are also found in North America.

Leopard Slug

“Nature will bear the closest inspection.  She invites us to lay our eye level with her smallest leaf, and take an insect view of its plain.” -Henry David Thoreau

May the lessons we learn each day lead us upon our journey.  May the time we spend augment the relationships we have, and may these relationships in turn help us to share our experiences.

Sharing

Sharing

Helping, caring

Allotting what one has

Reciprocating first and last

Including one and all

Not excluding those who fall

Giving with gratitude whole being in nature’s magnitude.

Sharing

Honest in heart wearing

An open mind

Rendering one to find

Intentions of one accord

Thank You!

Nestled in the extent of the Lord’s

Grace granted and received like a planted seed.

Sharing

Humble intents bearing

A touch of God’s love

Radiating from above

In an effort to reach

New heights with others in need

Gracious and growing in the spaces of sowing.\

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to my sister Lori and friends Loretta, Stacy, Matt and Tognarina for sharing their adventures and pictures with us through the years.  Special thanks to Matt for sharing his enthusiasm of the cloud pictures we shared with him, and Tognarina for teaching us more about leopard slugs mentioned above.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Heavenly Delight

Observing Sun Dogs 2023

Sun Dog to Left of Sun

Editor’s Note: This post was to appear August 17, 2023.

While running one evening, I spotted a different kind of light out of the corner of my eye.  Turning around along my running route, I got a better glimpse of the sun, along with the added light to the left of the sun.  At first, I thought it was a reflection in my sunglasses, but soon realized it was an actual column of light.  Cresting a hill near my house, I got an even better view, which allowed me to see the column of light was multi-colored, like a rainbow, but very short.  This got me to thinking about the seemingly odd sight.  Then I remembered reading about this occurrence (and writing a blog post several years ago about it).  What was before me was a sun dog, and what was to follow was pure magic.  We thought we’d share the remainder of this story, along with information about sun dogs in this week’s post.

Powerful Motives

“The three most powerful motives are curiosity, delight, and the desire to go something impressive.  Sometimes they converge, and that combination if the most powerful of all.” –Paul Graham

Theme of the Week: Sky Story

Our theme of the week centers around what we find in the skies and how sharing what we find can be magical.  This is not a new concept to our household, for we’ve been fortunate to see and share many wonderful skies in our life adventures.  This one was special because of how it unfolded. 

As stated above, I was out running.  My reason for running was not only as part of my normal routine, but also because I was severely frustrated with a number of things.  Faith and hope kept telling me it will all work out in the end, not to get too upset about any of the matters at hand, and that this too would pass.  Both the adult and the inner child know this to be true, yet both the adult and inner child are over-achievers who think and want to fix everything, anything, and anyone in life to make the world a better place.  (Living with both perspectives is a recipe for stress, but is also full of surprises and blessings, which is why we just do our best and don’t complain about it).

Sun Dog Emerging on Right as Well

So, there I am, out running on a warm and humid evening, sweating my tail off, trying to clear my head and along comes this light that catches the attention of both the inner child and the adult.  (This was going to be good no matter how it turned out because neither one of them has an attention span that lasts very long).

Looking at the light and contemplating what it might be definitely took my mind off the issues at hand.  The desire to keep running, to find out more, to get a better view definitely squashed any feeling of tiredness or lack of interest or energy.  Recalling what I had read about such light was impressive given all the information (both useful and useless) that has been processed in my mind in the past few years.  Then realizing what was before me, what a blessing it was to see this sight AND feel the presence of God RIGHT THERE was exhilarating.

No way on earth any medication, form of escape, or bad habit can beat being in the silence with God at work and knowing it because it is right before your eyes, the silence literally staring at you and asking, “Got a minute to stop and see this?”

Got a Minute?

Even if you don’t think you have the time, you say yes because who would tell God, “No, I’m busy…”

“Don’t be afraid to disappear for a while and see what comes to you in the silence.” -Michaela Coel

Lesson of the Week: Sun Dog Ease

Though I kept running for a few hundred feet before stopping, I did not take my eyes off the sky.  The light was now brighter and clearer to the left of the sun, and I could see the distinct color bands of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, and violet.  There were also clouds in the sky, and a lot of them, which made seeing the light initially like finding a diamond in the dark.  I kept looking to the right of the sun as well, hoping to see a matching or symmetrical light, but the clouds were too thick on that side. 

Instinctively, I knew more was to come, but I did not know what kind of time frame it would occur.  Not wanting to waste any daylight, I started running again, but kept an eye on the cloud movement and the light to the left of the sun.  The moments and miles ticked away and I felt more and more at peace, though still wondering what was going to happen with this light as the sun started to descend in the sky.

Sun Dogs at Sunset

As I ran and kept track of the light, I recalled information about sun dogs, also known as mock suns or parhelia.  They occur most often when the sun is lower on the horizon.  Often, they are more visible in winter given the ice crystals in the atmosphere act as prisms, reflecting the sun’s light in all colors of the rainbow or in only certain colors depending on the size of the ice crystals.  Sometimes the sun dogs only appear on one side of the sun, but more often appear in pairs, one to the left and one to the right.  Depending on the angle of the sun’s light and amount of moisture or ice crystals in the atmosphere, there can be two sets of light on either side of the sun, like two dogs sitting together watching the sun set.  The sun dogs can also appear to look like rainbows, similar to what I was witnessing.

Though the origin of the name sun dog is unclear, it is believed to be linked to Greek mythology and the belief that Zeus, the father of the gods, walked his dogs on the horizon.

As all the information came flooding back into my brain, I saw a very faint sun dog appear to the right of the sun.  Oh, this was getting really exciting now.  I quickened my pace to get back to a better viewing point along my running route.

Hey, Look at Me!

Cresting the hill from the other direction this time, the clouds moved off to the right of the sun just enough to see the second sun dog.  Oh, I wish I had my camera! What a day to leave it home on the counter.  I knew it would be a gamble, but if I high tailed it back home, I could possibly get pictures before the sight disappeared.

With the sun sinking fast and God and nature and the silence of a Sunday evening on my side, I sprinted back home, burst through the door, grabbed both my digital camera and cell phone, and ran back out toward the field across the road.  Poor Leo and Lena were wondering what was going on because I told them they had to hang on a minute before I could let them out.

Quickly, I took pictures with both devices.  The digital camera does not get colors as distinct as my cell phone, but the cell phone zoom function is not as good as the digital camera, so I jut kept taking picture after picture with both devices hoping to capture the moments and sight before me as best as possible.  While doing so, I realized not only were there sun dogs, but there was also a sun halo of sorts in a perfect circle amidst the clouds.  It was very faint, hardly visible, actually, but there nonetheless.

Whispering Wonders

Wow! Sun dogs, peace, quiet, a story to tell, and pictures to share! What more could a person want in life?

The light of the sun and sun dogs faded, so I turned to run back up the driveway and get Leo and Lena.  We then went out on the porch and started texting pictures of the sun dogs with a quick note about them to several friends whom we thought would enjoy them.  I soon realized I was really sweaty and dirty and it was late now and I had to be at work early the next day, so we went back inside to take a shower. 

While in the shower, I heard my cell phone going off.  Immediately, I knew the noises were responses to the texted pictures, all of them stating thanks for sharing and what interesting information to share.  Soon, it was time for bed and any issues that had been on my mind were washed away into the day now done, all thanks to the sun dogs and God’s plan of knowing what we need, when we need it most, and how to share it all to make life better for others.

“In a gentle way, you can shake the world.” -Mahatma Gandhi

Inner Spirit

May the things we stumble upon in nature and life help us learn and grow.  May we not lose our sense of hope, curiosity, or wonder as time goes by, and may we allow ourselves to be lifted by the inner spirit.

Inner Spirit

You and I,

Truth and life,

Grace and gratitude,

Changed ways and attitudes,

Chasing the wind and the rhythm

Through the gifts given

On the whim of the 8 year old inside

Look to the Skies

Yes, we can, even as beginners to it

Through the inner spirit.

String those words you feel in a phrase,

Look to the earth to reveal the way,

Look to the skies

For the hook and the lines,

See the power of the winds

Build the tower of the verses,

Hear the call of the birds,

Giving us all the words

Fun Dogs Leo and Lena

And there you have it

Another inner awareness habit,

Gift of God set to music

Through the lift of the inner spirit.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to nature for being the medium to deliver us literally and figuratively into a better place in life.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Sun Dogs August 2023

Observing Differences in Life

Heaven’s Playground

Editor’s Note: This post was to appear August 10, 2023, but got delayed due to life circumstances.

We have noticed in nature and life a number of changes to patterns that were once standard or seasonal.  These changes have occurred due to a variety of reasons ranging from global inputs to new-found perspectives on our part as viewers of our environments.  Some changes, such as less tolerance in the world for different opinions and major gaps between resources for people in different demographics are rather unsettling.  Other changes like realizing the benefits of flexible schedules or greater variety in what nature and life offer are easier to accept and embrace.  We thought we’d share some observations and thoughts on differences in life in this week’s post.

Black Eyed Susans

“You’re more likely to unlock a big leap in performance by trying differently than by trying harder…Remain focused on the core problem, but explore a new line of attack. Persistence is not just about effort, but also strategy.” -James Clear

Theme of the Week: Different Thinking Needs

Our theme of the week started Sunday morning when I had to work instead of attend church.  Through the years, I’ve learned to accept that this is part of my life given a career switch to stay employed and financially stable.  Do I like not doing what I have done for the majority of my life and trying this new approach? Honestly, no.  I’d rather attend church early Sunday morning and then go home to be with the dogs and work on our own projects.  However, it has become a necessity as part of a calling to serve God in non-traditional ways.  (In my case, working in retail at a local home improvement center and offering my customers knowledge and insight into their home projects or dilemmas of the day/week/month/year).

Many Perspectives

While my path to this new way of thinking and accepting not being able to attend church every Sunday morning has been rather winding and taken years to navigate, it has also been rewarding.  Opening my mind and heart up to the challenges of finding new ways to worship, reflect, and grow while working and still maintaining a household has not been easy by a long shot.  However, being more open and willing to do things differently has led to opportunities that would have otherwise not materialized.  I’ve also formed relationships with a rather eclectic group of people, and these people have helped serve as sounding boards, advisors, mentors, “adopted” family members, and resources in times of stress, need, or frustration.

One thing I learned many years ago was that there is always another method to try.  While resources, processes, and other inputs may vary, the outcome can still be positive and desirable if we allow ourselves to stop, assess, ask for help, and acknowledge what we do and do not know about or in life.  Taking the time on the front end of matters creates better end results.  As my one mentor and good friend likes to remind me, “Sometimes you have to go slow in order to go fast, Lisa.”

Admiral Butterfly on Butterfly Bush

“You change your life by changing your heart.” -Max Lucado

Lesson of the Week: Alternate Means

Our lesson of the week came as we pondered and tried to plan some future needs and projects.  Assessing our resources soon brought a severe gap to light between what was necessary versus what was available.  While it was disheartening and frustrating at the moment, we knew it would also serve as fuel for the fire of creativity and imagination within us to find a way.  While the details to finding a way remain rather fuzzy, we are pleased to report we managed to start forging a path forward.

Additional reflection made us realize that this is really how we’ve always operated, but in years prior had a little more to work with at the onset, along with a more standard or consistent work/life schedule.  This brought to the forefront a rather large question—do we value time more than money? In our case, a resounding YES was the answer.  But then we asked do we value time more than energy and that question put us into deep thought. 

Always a Way

Fortunately (or at least we think it is fortunate) we’ve always had a lot of energy in our household.  While this is still the case, we have fewer blocks of time to use that energy in what we feel are productive ways (like getting the grass cut, house cleaned, vehicles washed, or scrubbing everything in sight).  We do have smaller portions of time that we’ve tried to use to help develop skills like critical or analytical thinking, spiritual practices, or creative activities.  One thing I’ve always struggled with is allowing myself time for me.  In my heart and mind, I’d rather be helping someone else or doing something with an outcome of visible productivity.  However, God and a number of important people in my life have made it clear to me that sometimes productivity cannot be seen, but progress is still being made, and sometimes we have to step back from everyone and everything else in our lives to take care of inner needs of the heart, soul, and mind.

Stillness Personified

Taking all the above into account, we learned this week that alternate means or different ways to do or think about things in life are blessings.  Yes, they can be totally full of frustration, anxiety, and mistakes, but in the end, they lead to a better place.  (And if you are like us, you take the most circuitous and winding path to get from point A to point B, which it totally fine in God’s eyes and is really part of His plan, but can frustrate both the inner eight-year-old and the adult to no end).

“In the midst of movement and chaos, keep stillness inside of you.” -Deepak Chopra

Science Lesson of the Week: What the Clouds Mean

As we went about our activities and alternate routes and differences to life routines this past week, we also noticed a wider variety in cloud types in the skies above us.  We wondered what was creating this change.  Though we found no formal, scientific answers, we did come across a few facts that were interesting. 

Clouds of All Kinds

The first fact had to do with weather patterns and changes in the air temperatures.  Given the time of year (late summer) and amount of wild fires all over the world, the atmosphere has been subject to many conditions offering fertile opportunities for cloud forms.  Higher temperatures in the atmosphere allow the water molecules in the air to remain in a more liquid state (versus solid state of ice or gaseous states which are not visible to the human eye).  The molecules combined with other air particles to create the clouds. 

With all the smoke from wild fires, there are more ash and dust particles in the air.  As these particles meet the moist atmosphere, they form clouds of various kinds, ranging from solid haze or fog to thick, puffy cumulous columns to lower thin clouds similar to cirrus clouds. 

There was also a psychological theory we came across regarding one’s perspective and environment.  If we are constantly exposed to or focused on negative or darkness in life, we as humans, start to be affected in our thought process, life patterns, and outlook.  We may experience more sadness, moodiness, or anger in such circumstances.  If we are exposed to or focused on positive or brighter aspects of life, we ourselves may react with more openness, energy, and positivity. 

I See You Standing There

One may not think this psychological finding to be significant, however, the mind is a very powerful instrument, and can make or break our outlook or life perspective.  This is where being exposed to different circumstances and learning situations can help.  We learn what is good or bad for us, what motivates and invigorates or slows and angers us.  We learn who we are, who we can become, and if we are really perceptive, we can see the triggers and form a plan to react in ways beneficial not only to us, but to those around us.

“You are the sum total of everything you’ve seen, heard, eaten, smelled, been told, forgot—it’s all right there.” -Maya Angelou

May we find the way in and through life doing the best we can with what we have.  May we learn to see the light in the dark, along with the values of differences or changes that may at first be uncomfortable, but ultimately lead toa sense of peace.

Ways Unknown

Sense of Peace

We may never know the reasons why

We go through some things in life

The key is to not get stuck

On memories of

The past gone by

We have what we have and are blessed by

God above every day

Through sometimes His love is hard to take

Bright Spots in Life

In the way that it is given

As seasons change and gifts are hidden

In the winding paths we travel on

Arriving at last to the new dawn

Where in the light and in the breeze

We come to find a sense of peace.

Questions abound and solutions remain

To be found in our problems’ wake

Yet there is hope and there is love

Cumulous Clouds

As we go upon the run

Of the river’s current

That delivers us each moment

To the here and now

Past the fears of ‘I don’t know how’

To the presence of ‘I can try’

Thanks to blessings sent from the skies

In the extents of the breeze

Offering a sense of peace.

No, we may never know, but we can always change

Our ways along the road to accept God’s grace

Reflections

In each here and now that comes

To steer around the child within us

And though the paths may be winding at best

We can be grateful for what we have if we let

Our eyes and ears be open to the promise

Of the light God sends upon us 

Creating the lens we need

To experience a sense of peace.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to God for helping us work through some physical and mental road blocks.  In going through the steps along the way, we also gathered added strength, insight, and hope for the remainder of the journey.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Endless Dreams

Observing Martha and Mary

Heavenly Skies

Editor’s Note: This post was to appear August 3, 2023, but we hope the delay in getting it published does not take away the message in the content.

As with many things in life, what once was is not always meant to be forever.  Time moves us in directions we do and do not plan or wish to go, and events transpire for reasons known and unknown leading us on a winding path of lessons.  One such change we recently learned about was the changing of the Feast of St. Martha (celebrated on July 29^th each year) to the Feast of Sts. Martha, Mary, and Lazarus in the Catholic church.  The change took place in 2021, so many churches are still adjusting how to properly recognize Martha, Mary, and Lazarus after years of recognizing Martha only.  While this may seem like a ‘what’s the point?’ to people unfamiliar with the scriptures or Bible stories, there are several key take aways that may apply to everyday life for every person.  We thought we’d share some of these key points in this week’s post.

Time Passages

“Time passes whether I stand still or move.” -Anne Barngrover

Theme of the Week: What Does This Mean?

Our theme of the week started while listening to Father Mike’s homily about Martha and Mary.  Now I admit I was really curious with how Father Mike was going to tie his presentation together.  Father is new to the parish, and like most priests, has his own style of delivering his message to the congregation.  Being a younger priest, he also has a sense of the challenge in creating a message that people of all ages can relate to or find meaningful. 

Most commentaries about the story of Martha and Mary focus on Mary choosing “the better part” by attending to Jesus instead of helping Martha with the serving, cleaning, and hosting of guests.  Father Mike chose instead to highlight points from Martha’s view of matters.  He explained how he thinks Martha feels—she is wondering why she is stuck with all the work and not getting any help.  Have we not all at some point in our lives felt the same or similar?

If we are honest with our answer and ourselves, we most likely will admit that yes, we’ve all felt at some point we were getting the short end of the stick.  However, is the seemingly short end of the stick really a bad thing?

Rose of Sharon

Well, no it is not, for it does build character and leads us to questions we may otherwise not ask.  Questions like who, what, when, where, how, and why, in addition to what is in this for me and why don’t I have the same view as others.  It takes courage to ask these questions, along with willingness to face (and embrace or at least acknowledge) the truth in the responses we find. 

What the story of Martha, Mary, and Lazarus offers us is a lesson in honesty, compassion, servitude, and faith.  Martha is honest, compassionate, willing to serve, and faithful from her perspective.  Mary is honest, compassionate, willing to serve, and faithful from her perspective.  Jesus realizes the value in both of these women’s actions, and though he appears to be siding with Mary regarding the best way to go about life, what he is really doing is offering Martha a sense of peace if she is willing to change her perspective on the matter.

Are we not all confronted day in and day out with requests to change? Have we not at some point in our lives been offered a chance to do something different, to improve ourselves in ways we had not envisioned, or to take a moment to regroup or refocus?

As Father Mike pointed out in his homily, what the story means to each of us may be different.  We may have different views on matters, different ways of dealing with life, different skill sets and talents to help ourselves and others.  The beauty of and in life lies in the variety of ways our faith manifests itself.  We may struggle with it or easily profess what we know with confidence and grace.  We may share it or hide it.  We may even be fearful of our faith at times.  All of these reactions and feelings are part of growing in our minds, hearts, and souls.  All these reactions and feelings are part of living, and not just going through the motions, but really, truly living life to the utmost degree.

Water Droplets on Grass

“The meaning of things lies not in the things themselves, but in our attitude towards them.” -Antoine de Saint-Exupery

Lesson of the Week: What One Needs

Our lesson of the week ties into our theme of the week and came as we remembered a dear friend now in heaven.  Like the story of Martha and Mary, we often have trouble seeing each other’s viewpoints. Such was the case with my late dog, Luke, and me.  He had a very creative way of getting his point across, which usually involved a harried chase through the neighborhood or the house and a lot of chewing of things.  What I found over time (eleven years with him to be exact) was that he was really trying to help widen my perspective, get me to stop for the finer things in life, and love me in his own way.  Yes, there were many, many moments of what part of no don’t you understand between both of us and many, many moments of character building along the way.  It was not easy or funny.  Honestly, it was hard work.

Stop for a Minute

However, in his final days with Sadie and me, we finally came to an understanding.  He was who he was, I was who I was, and we were both put on earth for reasons.  Our paths met to help us learn and grow and come to accept life in all its joy, sorrow, blessings, sufferings, sunrises, and sunsets.  Like Martha in the Bible, I was always about working and serving and making sure things got done.  Luke was like Mary, more focused on other things (or at least that is how I viewed it).  Neither of us was wrong in the long run.  We just had different approaches to life and what it meant to live it. 

“Your time is limited, so don’t waste it living someone else’s life.  Don’t be trapped by dogma—which his living with the results of other people’s thinking.  Don’t let the noise of others’ opinions drown out your own inner voice.  And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition.” -Steve Jobs

Sight of the Week: Heavenly Sea

Heavens!

Our sight of the week was a great reminder of how the finer things in life can be quite simple if one takes a moment to stop, look, listen, and reflect on the present moment.  We saw some wonderful skies with cirrus clouds wrapped in patterns as the sun’s beams shone through in patches.  It was as if God was reaching down from heaven in the light and quietly asking for our attention. 

If we think about it, that is really all God wants from us—some attention, not only to and with him, but with time and each other.  Attention is what Jesus asked of Martha and Mary.  Just a few moments to focus on what is important in the moment, which is not to say the level of importance will never change, but rather that as we go through life, we will find our priorities change as we learn, grow, and become who we are meant to be.

Peace!

May we come to recognize the present moments in life for what they are—gifts given to us by God’s grace, whether we are like Martha, Mary, Lazarus, or someone else.  May we learn to accept and acknowledge that God’s will is the plan.

God’s Will is the Plan

God’s will is the plan

Coming to till time’s grains of sand

In the hourglass like seeds

Of past memories

As the seasons change

Pink Weed

Along the way—

Spring and fall, summer and winter,

Bring on them all, loving and living

Through new starts and reasons why

Of each today beneath the skies

Freeing the soul and the heart

Releasing control to embark

On lessons learned

Even in the messes of this earth.

Delphinium

God’s will is the plan

Helping us fill our demands

In the break of day

And slate gray

Of the night that comes to call

Taking His time to run through all

The clouds and the clear

No doubt, I pray He hears

What I do and do not understand,

Thank You!

For God’s will is the plan.

-Lisa A. Wisniewski

A Note of Thanks

Our thanks this week goes out to our late canine buddy, Luke for having the courage to teach us through his most unorthodox ways how great the finer points of life are for us if we take a moment to stop, even once in a while, and look at the world through child-like eyes full of wonder, compassion, and thanks for all we are given.  Thanks, Buddy! We still love you despite all the struggles and we know you are watching over us from heaven with that wide smile and tail wagging in circles.

-Lisa, Leo, and Lena

Morning Has Broken