School Outreach

The man in our church (Tom) who is in charge of Mission and Outreach spoke in church yesterday about the "school outreach" project.

A program was envisioned where members of the church would spend time with elementary school children sharing some area of enrichment---art, reading, drama, etc.

Tom said that the idea was really to share the love of God.  He commented that the idea of the love of God is kind of vague--- hard to really identify, describe.  He said he thinks of it simply as kindness.

I was one of the ones who participated in that program at the school  "teaching a class"  "leading a club" offering an opportunity for the children to interact with poetry.   The way that turned out, I did not feel especially successful.  Sometimes there were very few students there.  From week to week, it was different students, making it hard to get to know them well.  Half an hour was not really much time to 'teach poetry'. The location was less than ideal.

After Tom's explanation,  I feel differently about my experience.  I guess I was measuring my "success" by the number of participants.  (Churches do that, too!!).     But if, in fact, the goal, the idea, the intention was kindness,  then I know that my efforts were completely on target.

Maybe I didn't impart valuable information about poetry.  But I know I was always kind.  Therefore, it's good to know that the goal was met, the purpose fulfilled.

(Thanks, Tom, for that reminder!)

Sometimes we simply have to re-frame our thinking!

Upgrades

It is always nice to have a few upgrades once in a while, just to keep one from getting too much in a rut, and not noticing things any more.  

Gerry re-built the platform and steps leading out to the patio.  That landing and stair set was there long before the patio was added, and actually did not match, as the old version was made out of wood, which was old and warped and the paint was peeling.   The new boards, made of some sturdier product, not wood, are long lasting, and do not have to be painted.

It only required a few boards to do the job, but those had to be delivered, as they could not be transported in our vehicles.   They were delivered, all tightly packaged from the manufacturer, and enclosed on top of a long wooden pallet.  So once you got the boards out of the package,  there was this long wooden pallet that required disposal. I thought that was extremely wasteful, and should be somehow re-cycled back to the company.  Not having that option,  Gerry broke it down as much as he could.  Thankfully, we have a son-in-law who lives in the country and was willing to take the wood for their outside fire-pit.

Another upgrade took place inside the house.  For a long time now,  I have been wanting a full size couch.  In our living room, we had two 'loveseat' size couches, plus an older one in the sun room. (from living in various places and moving around a lot).  The problem, for us at least, is being able to get rid of the old thing, in order to bring in the new thing.

I donated the sun room older couch to the Salvation Army.  It was also a sofa bed, and in great condition, so I trust that someone will appreciate it.

After a bit of musical couches,  we are now the proud owners of a new full length couch, which came with five large couch pillows, an unexpected bonus!   The colors in the couch pillows look like they knew exactly which living room they needed to match.  I'm glad they found their way home!

Picnic at the Park

Once a year, it is a very nice experience to have an informal worship service and a church picnic at the park.

  That happened this past Sunday.  The pastor wore shorts and an casual shirt, as I would have expected.    I really teased the singer on the far left of this picture for wearing a tie to a picnic.   Then I remembered---he just came from leading worship at his own church, where he is the pastor.  So of course, he would not have had time to go home and change.  He still participates in both the church he serves, and the one from which he came, whenever that is possible.

Though you cannot see it, the guitar player sitting on the stool also had on a tie.  They were the only two.  This particular quartet is made up of two couples and they provide the music each year at the park on the church-picnic Sunday.  Together, they sing the four choral parts.  What a talented bunch they are!!

It did rain,  but since we were under the pavilion, we simply had both our worship and our meal 'under the roof'.

Unfortunately, some of the baked beans that I put inside the picnic basket managed to spill and make everything inside rather sticky!   Next time, I'll be sure and remember to take a roll of paper towels.

We washed our hands in the rain water dripping from the roof!

Forest System

I saw a fascinating video on Facebook about forest ecology and how there is so much sharing, communicating, interfacing going on beneath the forest floor, unseen and little known.  In the brief video, a forester shared her research.

According to the forester,  the trees are not competing to survive, as Darwin might have suggested,  but in fact are participating in a fascinating below ground community.   A large "mother tree" is networked into all the trees around it, as far as the eye can see.

Trees send down carbon, and just beneath the forest floor fungi connect one plant to another.  There is a constant shuffling of C02 and nitrogen,  sent to where it is needed most, a complex ecology.

But for me, the most fascinating part of forest system is how the trees leave a legacy.   I vividly recall seeing burned forests out west, when we did a National Park tour a decade or so ago.  I was very struck by how the floor of the forest was covered with new growth, despite the destruction of the fire.   I understood then that when the mature trees died,  that let in enough light for the new growth to start a new forest.

But that is not the whole story.  Trees that have been cut down also leave a legacy for the next generation.  The dying trees will move their resources to the living young trees before they go,  passing their legacy from one generation to another.

In many ways,  the tree is like our inverted body, the root system our brains.  Our brain functions very much like a tree root system, sending out complex messages to the limbs and trunk, tending to its life, via veins, arteries, capillaries, not unlike that of the tree and the forest ecosystem.

I am deeply moved to learn of the inter-connected-ness, and the 'consciousness' of the forest.

I've always loved trees,  but I have never seen them in this particular light before.  They,  too, want to share with the community and leave a legacy for the next generation.

The Last Wedding

"Eve" is the last of my daughters to get married.  Hers is the last wedding at which I expect to officiate. As a non-appointed retired clergy,  doing weddings is not something I have done in my retirement. At least for me, those grew out of my relationship with a particular parish.  And as a Methodist pastor, when you leave a parish, you are not supposed to go back and do weddings.  You leave that for the new pastor, and stay out of the way.

 The last wedding at which I officiated was that of my youngest daughter.

I have always hoped that "Eve" would someday get married,  but I wasn't really sure I would ever live to see that!   Now, a wedding is scheduled to take place in early September.

Eve has been through so many huge changes and challenges this year.  If you looked at the list of the major life stresses,  she has had them all.  She has moved away from the area where she has lived her entire life, to move in with "Ivan".   It is only an hour away,  but still,  that is away.  She left the manager's job she had done for the past dozen or so years, working her way up. She sold her house and got rid of most of her worldly goods.   She was hospitalized with emergency surgery.  Her car died, and on and on the list goes.  Life has never been easy for Eve.  It is as if Eve and Struggles are joined at the hip. Yet, somehow, she always manages.  Hard work.  Perseverance.  Dedication.  Blood, sweat and tears.

Eve and Ivan's wedding will be at a state park, informal, perhaps a picnic, outside, with a reception in a pavilion---a simple celebration with family and friends.  Nothing fancy.  But a very happy occasion.

While I do not think that marriage necessarily makes the struggles to go away,  I am certainly most grateful that she will have someone with whom to share life's challenges,  someone who loves her and accepts her and appreciates her.  Having a supportive partner is so much better than having to do it all on your own!

Watermelon

I have a daughter who always "gifts" me with things that are watermelon-themed.    I assume that is because she has memories of us eating watermelon together when she was a child.  {Or more specifically, having watermelon-seed-spitting contests.}

There is a watermelon piece of art she has given me, which hangs in the kitchen.
I always assumed that is us.

Also:  Watermelon napkins.  A couple of pair of watermelon earrings. Anything watermelon she sees, she thinks of me!  She even sent me a picture of a bikini with a watermelon print!   I said I thought I would pass on that one!

My own attachment to watermelons goes back to my childhood.  My grandfather grew truckloads full of watermelons, which he sold.  They were always free in my world.  Whenever we went to visit, we brought home a trunk full.   Why, occasionally, I might even open one up and eat only the heart!!  That would be the absolute epitome of sinful indulgence!

 I've never gotten over the shock of the price of a watermelon in New York!

I saw a "food art" picture which I thought watermelon-daughter might enjoy.   This is for you, dear:  A Gondola Ride on the Watermelon River!

Binge Watching

I have learned a new term this summer,  because I have done a new thing.

Binge Watching.

Even though we have 63 channels provided by cable, most of the time I cannot find anything at all that I am interested in watching.

I discovered that there are a number of television shows on Netflix.  I no longer get the DVD's in the mail, but opted for "streaming" so everything is right there on the television at any time.

 Often the shows have multiple seasons available for watching.   One example might be Downtown Abbey.  I could watch four seasons of that show.  Generally, a season has 13 episodes.  

Binge watching is watching the same television show, episode after episode, season after season, until the series ends.  I binge by watching one episode per day of a particular show.  But what that means is that I might watch three years worth of shows, with the same characters and story line, over the course of a couple of months.  Imagine watching 52 shows, one after another!

That does play havoc with one's mind.  You get saturated, overdosed, obsessed, possessed.  And sick of the story.  But you keep watching because you want it to be over, and to see that happens.  That's the disadvantage.

The advantage is, you can watch a television show on Netflix whenever it is convenient for you.   And since I watch mine on my Ipad, I can also watch in any location, any room, any comfortable chair.

Oh, how technology has changed our entertainment habits!

Old Fashioned Church Wedding

I call this an "old fashioned church wedding" because the bride grew up in the church, and anybody who is part of the congregation was invited to attend. The bride and her sister both sing in the choir, even as young adults today.

Most of those folks there have known her since she was born.  We, of course, only in more recent years.

It was definitely a Christian wedding, with hymns and scripture selections. Many weddings nowadays are more generic and less religious.  In this case, both the bride and groom are active church folks, grounded in their faith.

Back in the days of my youth, in a simpler time and place, weddings took place in the church, and there was typically a reception in the church fellowship hall following the service.  That was also true today.

For closer family and friends, I'm sure that there will also be a more formal reception in another location,  with a presentation of the wedding party,  the typical dances, a wedding cake and other festivities.

We are just delighted that we got to enjoy being a part of the church portion of this wedding ceremony.  We wish them many blessings!

Non-Holiday

It is July 4th today,  but the day is much like any other day for us.

That is not to say that I take for granted the significance of the Independence Day event.  How fortunate we are to have been born into this remarkable country!

This evening we will watch the fireworks,  from Washington, from New York City, and from our front porch. (put on by the nearby golf course)

But today,  Gerry has cut the grass.  I have been doing the things I usually do, from food prep to weeding the garden to Netflix watching.  Then Gerry and I played tennis for our daily exercise.

On the drive home from the tennis courts, I noticed that all the stores seem to be open.  I expected Wal-Mart to be open, and the grocery stores.  But somehow, I did not expect all the stores to be open for business today, including even the Auto-Parts store and the Salvation Army store!

I'm not sure what I was expecting for this holiday,  but that was not it.  All businesses seem to be open as usual!

For some reason, I thought about Christmas and realized that it is the last remaining day for stores to be closed.  This past year,  Thanksgiving took the fall from a holiday status to a day for business and consuming, in the build-up to Christmas.  I do believe that in the next few years, Christmas Day will no longer be "sacred",  or safe from holiday consumerism.

And certainly, not all Americans are Christians.

When the stores all stay open on Christmas Day, and I believe they will,  I wonder if employees can opt out of working, for religious reasons?

And will they?

Clematis Climbing

A few years ago, I planted a clematis vine.  For perhaps the first three years, it was eaten off each time it reached a few inches high.  Either the woodchuck or the deer.   I gave up on it, completely discouraged.    I guess it grew a few more inches and maybe put out a flower or two,  but I didn't pay much attention to it, because it seemed dead and gone to me.

 In the past couple of years, it has actually grown into a climbing vine.  It is growing profusely this year.  We tied some string to a pipe near the roof line, and at the top of a window for it to climb on.

This year it is so prolific that I think that if I could tie a string to a star, it would climb all the way there!

Clearly, the climbing clematis is teaching me life lessons here---- not to give up too quickly, to be patient, not to make assumptions.

And also, I suppose, every vine has its time.

Glass Museum

We enjoyed a day trip to the Corning Glass Museum today.  We have not been there in probably 25 years!

There is so much to see and experience. That includes many artifacts from antiquity, perhaps from as far back as 3000 years ago.  I don't remember the exact historical time frame of discovering glass making,  but it definitely goes back into the ancient B.C. era.

Those artifacts include many small vials which were primarily used for perfumes.  That, of course, evoked a biblical scene of Mary pouring out the expensive nard on Jesus.

There are very small artifacts which were recovered that are thousands of years old, and very large items which are unique modern sculptures.  I tend to enjoy the brightly colored ones.  The fruit bowl pictured here is around four or five feet in diameter, and the pear may be three of four feet high.

We did see some of Dale Chihuly's work, which we greatly appreciate from seeing an entire gallery of his sculptures in Seattle last year.   We discovered that the possibilities for artistic expression in glass are absolutely infinite.

The offerings included  a combination of the artistic, and the educational.  The Innovations section told of the contributions of the glass blowers to the creation of light bulbs, and television screens, among many other marvelous cultural and functional contributions.

There was also quite a bit of stained glass on display.  This one was popular for standing in front of and taking photographs.

The Museum was a feast of color and light and a celebration of artistic genius.