A grand adventure
picnics outside, stories read, bread baked,
moments to treasure.
Friends gather, sharing
faith, food, laughter, challenges.
Cherished connections.
A backyard surprise
to share with family and friends
sweet, juicy peaches.
When I served in Hong Kong as a missionary, one of the Chinese cultural traits we learned was that one always gave and received gifts with both hands. Somehow I connected this tradition with having an undivided heart (a heart that is whole). When I looked online, I didn't find anything to support my supposition. One of the reasons I found on the internet for giving with both hands was to show that one did not have a weapon. Personally, I prefer my own idea that giving gifts with two hands represents wholeheartedness.
Being wholehearted in our spiritual lives requires that we love God and love our neighbors. Mark reminds us of the first great commandment to love the Lord with all our heart, soul, mind, and strength. And follows up with the second great commandment to love our neighbors as ourselves. (Mark 12:30-31)
I'm borrowing some ideas from a recent address, "The Crux of the Cross" delivered by Jared Halverson at the Restore conference that I attended recently. It's one of those addresses that I want to reread and ponder. At this point, all I have are my notes trying to catch the gist of what he was saying, but often losing my way as I captured half of his thoughts while he moved on to the next idea.
Being wholehearted requires that we learn to live in the contraries of our lives, that we are seeking both truth and harmony, a destination (heaven) and an approach (peacemaking). Taking up my cross daily to follow Christ requires me to bear the beams of love by engaging in communities where I practice loving all my fellowmen.
"Teach me your way, O LORD, that I may rely on your faithfulness; give me an undivided heart, that I may fear your name." Psalm 86:11, NIV
I look forward to reading the comments of fellow Spiritual Journey travelers regarding wholehearted, Ruth's word for this year. Our Spiritual Journey Thursday community is an open group. All are welcome! Join us in sharing your thoughts on the theme for a given month.
A "grand" tradition
batter-licking joy
My intent was to find a back-to-school poem. We have three grands in school now, a little sister in pre-K and two littles eager to start preschool next week. I'm not sure how we arrived here. Times flies! Anyway, when I opened poets.org, a poem found me. And I guess it fits in the back-to-school theme. If my six grands are growing up, then I must be aging.
You can read "Ode to Aging Bodies" here.
I enjoyed this bit of background provided by the poet, Jan Mandell:
“I drafted this poem in a writers’ workshop four years ago shortly after turning seventy. I had just lost my husband, was diagnosed with osteoporosis, had a hip replacement, and then, defiantly, I climbed down and up the Grand Canyon. This is an ode to honor aging bodies rather than to mourn them.”
Here are the final lines, a call to wake up daily, jubilant in our aging bodies:
"Calling to every aging body
to rise up
And do it all again"
Wonders While Walking
Snakeskin abandoned
I wonder, where is the snake?
Far away, I hope.
I spy . . . a houseboat?
Fellow walker corrects me
It's a party shack!
Morning walk's treasure
a heart leaf discovery
as love flutters down
- Ramona Behnke
surprising mushroom
interrupts my earnest steps
flower wannabe
Abundant moisture
debuts new walking partners
mushroom pop ups
