The Peace of Wild Things...

The Peace of Wild Things
Wendell Berry, Collected Poems

When despair grows in me
and I wake in the middle of the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children's lives may be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water,
and the great heron feeds. I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. for a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.

celebrate the Sabbath...with rest...

“Six days shalt thou labor and do all thy work (Exodus 20:8).

Is it possible for a human being to do all his work in six days?

Does not our work always remain incomplete?

What the verse means to convey is:

Rest on the Sabbath as if all your work were done.

Another interpretation:

Rest even from the thought of labor.”

~author unknown

a whole lot of lying around...

...and so, with this last post about the seals, I share with you what they do a whole lot of while they're on the beach... in between fighting, birthing babies, taking care of pups, defending turf, flipping sand, and occasionally chasing away a male challenger, there is a whole lot of 'down time' to conserve energy... in other words--lying around.

This, actually, is pretty much what I looked like most of the day today...ahhhhh...Saturdays!

And, now and then, in between naps, there is a bit of this--very entertaining traveling across the beach. I like to call it "galumphing," and it never ceases to cause me to smile!

Then, there MUST be more of this...

...don't know about you, but this little pup's all ready for some more nappage...

* * YAWN!! * *

And, with that happy ending, I shall make tracks... er, take my leave...

(I couldn't resist this wonderful set of tracks made by one of the alpha males!)

Thou hast created us for Thyself,

and our heart is not quiet

until it rests in Thee.

~Saint Augustine

Tonight I must just be still and know that He is God...

I pray your night, and your heart, is restful as you rest in Him.

"Be still, and know that I am God..."

~Psalm 46:10

I Need A Silent Night...Amy Grant

I thought some of you may be able to relate to this song right about now in the season. I've heard it on the radio for the first time this year, and I really like it. (I'd put the audio on my post, but I haven't yet figured out quite how to do that yet!)

I Need A Silent Night
by Amy Grant

I've made the same mistake before
Too many malls, too many stores
December traffic, Christmas rush
It breaks me till I push and shove
Children are crying while mothers are trying
To photograph Santa and sleigh
The shopping and buying and standing forever in line

What can I say?

*

I need a silent night, a holy night

To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise

I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here

To end this crazy day with a silent night

*

December comes then disappears

Faster and faster every year
Did my own mother keep this pace
Or was the world a different place?
Where people stayed home wishing for snow
Watching three channels on their TV
Look at us now rushing around
Trying to buy Christmas peace
*
I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night
*
What was it like back there in Bethlehem
With peace on earth, good will toward men?
Every shepherd's out in the field
Keeping watch over their clock by night
And the glory of the Lord shone around them
And they were so afraid
And the angels said fear not for behold
I bring you good news of a great joy

that shall be for all people
For unto you is born this day

a Savior, who is Christ the Lord
And his name shall be called

Wonderful Counselor, Prince of Peace
*
I need a silent night, a holy night
To hear an angel voice through the chaos and the noise
I need a midnight clear, a little peace right here
To end this crazy day with a silent night

Don't forget to take time out for a silent night, a holy night, so you may hear those angels' voices as they proclaim good news of great JOY... He is here... the Prince of peace... let us welcome Him...

celebrate the Sabbath... with rest

Life and blessing will attend

the man who observes the Sabbath.

The Sabbath of rest

is a continual lesson to him

to turn his eye from all created objects,

and look to that heavenly rest

into which God is entered,

and which is promised to man.

~James Milner

created for God...

Thou hast created us for Thyself,

and our heart is not quiet

until it rests in Thee.

~Saint Augustine

living in the now...

Neither go back in fear and misgiving to the past,

nor in anxiety and forecasting to the future,

but lie quiet under His hand, having no will but His.

~ H. E. Manning

A fellow blogger had posted this quote on her blog today, and I thought I would also share it. (I hope you don't mind, Robin!) It seems to perfectly address where I, and I'm sure many others as well, am at emotionally and mentally the past couple of weeks.

So much of the time, we struggle with living in the here and now. Many times we think about what "was"--whether it was good or bad. Regrets for mistakes or poor choices. Sadness over loss. Wishing for circumstances to be as they were "back when." Or, on the other end of the pendulum swing, we focus on what is to come. Anxiety over the 'what ifs' and uncertainty of the future. Worrying about what may or may not happen. Waiting for some elusive day in the future when it will be the time for this or that.

I don't think it is only I...but I know I do have to battle to stay "in the now." To focus on the present...on each day while it is here. I believe that is what God has called us to do. He tells us not to worry about the future: "Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own." (Matthew 6:24) He tells us to stay in the moment, to focus on today. He tells us to trust in His care (Matthew 6:29-32); He knows our needs and will provide.

Though you may have heard it said before, it is worth repeating: God does not call Himself "I WAS," nor does He call Himself "I WILL BE." God says His name is "I AM"...the God of now, of the present, forever. And that is where He calls us to live... in the now, where He is. May this be the prayer of our hearts today--that we would not look at the past or the future but rest ourselves quietly in the I AM...

...and as I promised yesterday, the answers to the curiosity questions:

• a - the sand 'stood up' like that because the morning was very cold on the MI beach, and there was ice around the little formations which had melted by the time we saw it!!
• b - oh my, yes! this little plant is as soft and fuzzy as a kitten's tummy fur!
• c - those are the 'skeletons' of a wonderful sea creature called a "By The Wind Sailor" which 'sails' on top of the ocean in groups... not common to see but beautiful (Google them if you get the chance! they're a marvelous blue color under their sails)
• d - the tree bark was wonderfully rough and scratchy mixed with smooth silky spots
• e - there was nothing up those hidden stairs...not any longer, anyway. they were part of an old home foundation.
• f - it was a jellyfish of sorts (no tentacles), and it was extremely firm and rubbery to the touch (heavy, too).
• g - that sea creature is an anemone out of the water. it holds bits of stones and shells to its body as a sort of camoflage. it is extremely squishy if you poke it! : )
• h - the thistle was prickly but also soft if brushed in the direction of the pokey bits.
• i - I don't know who set the chair up there in the first place, but I did take my turn sitting in it to gaze out to the ocean!
• j - we are not sure what these are! I asked a marine biologist friend of mine, and he believes them to be the eggs of some sort of mollusk or octopus. they're very, very small and amazing in color and shape! (look like Christmas lights to me!) if you know what they are, please, by all means, let me know!!
• k - I'm really not sure why sometimes we can see the moon so perfectly in the day time! I really need to research that... but I do find it fascinating!

lesson from a seagull...

Lesson from a Seagull

On the surface all is quiet and still,
the appearance of gentle gliding across the water,
but looking below the surface, reality i see--
how furiously the seagull's feet are paddling
to keep the little head above the water.

At times, my life is like that swimming seagull:
an appearance of calm and smoothness,
gently gliding through life with no effort...
but beneath the surface is frenzied activity,
struggling, fighting to keep my head above the water.

The seagull sees a rock and climbs upon it;
it rests from its wearying swim,
safe and warm, calm and at peace...
no striving, no effort...
just resting in the safety and strength of the rock.

I see the hand of Jesus stretched toward me,
that mighty Rock and Refuge sent for me.
I climb upon the Rock and rest from my wearying struggle...
no striving, no effort...
just resting in the safety and strength of the Rock.

imagination and a little vacation...

No worries for me this week! I'm on vacation! Ok...so, not really. Actually, I'm PRETENDING I'm on vacation, and so far, it's been a pretty good one (except for the work part thrown in each day)!

Very gracious friends of mine are away for the week, and they kindly gave me a key to their kingdom (condo) and free reign (I think!?) to use the amenities: balcony, grill, washer&dryer, pool. My clothes were cheering at the thought of being washed in a home-washer, and my outdoor-lovin' self was jumping up and down at the thought of eating a freshly-grilled dinner on the balcony while drinking in the glow of the sunset! And a pool! What a delicious ending to each day!

So, this week I've been using my imagination and pretending that I am far, far away from home on a resort vacation. I do have a very active imagination, but it hasn't taken too much of its resources to actually 'feel' far away (though it's only 4 mi from my apt)! They live very near the ocean on an "island" with a canal running around it (see photo), and there are delicious sea breezes, brilliant blue skies, great green palm trees, and the quiet of a small community. It has been a wonderful treat for the senses!

"Come to me,

all you who are weary and burdened,

and I will give you rest."

~Matthew 11:28

I love how God knows us so thoroughly and completely--that He knows the deepest needs of our hearts and spirits. The past couple of months have been difficult ones for me, and I have been much in need of "rest." He, Who knows me so well, has given me this few days of "away time," "eyes to see" it as such an opportunity, and an imagination to enjoy it to the fullest. I am grateful that He loves me so much to provide in this way for the unspoken cry of my heart.

Be at rest once more,

O my soul, for the LORD

has been good to you.

~ Psalm 116:7