Fresh Expectation

Little bunches of Spring happiness are poking out in the garden under the window of David's house at the front of our property here on Sandra Avenue.  

I love these first tiny surprises of beauty, having hid themselves away under the snow all winter, now braving the frost warnings to announce the new season.  

It's not like I was completely unaware of the front flower garden.  I had lots of Gramma visits before we made the move here.  But this being our first Spring, and me being outside yesterday wanting to help with the outdoor upkeep a little, everything feels fresh.

Also, I've discovered a happy bonus of the orientation of our new little house.  This time of year, the sunrise happens literally right outside our front door.

Please excuse the mess of this 'before-landscaping' picture.  We're in progress with big plans for the spring and summer.  Hopefully I will be able to post pictures of things as they develop.  But for right now, just look at that sunshine pouring in!  It's like I open the door and the day just bursts in all possible.

In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;

in the morning I lay my requests before you

and wait expectantly.

Psalm 5:3

There is much to make us fret in these uncertain days.  Maybe we might not want to open the door to a brand new day, given we are never sure what the day will bring.  In fact, the whole of this morning song we know as Psalm 5, despite the hopeful tone of verse 3, is actually a cry for help against forces that threaten.

But there is a solid strength in waiting expectantly.

In opening the door to the new day and defiantly welcoming the fresh and the beautiful and the possible.

Perhaps the difference between worry and expectant waiting is faith.

God knows.

Counting down to Election Day.

God keep our land.

Creatures of Habit

 

"In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly."
Psalm 5:3

At this point the blue jays have figured it out.

They're out on the deck railing even before I'm all set up, calling for some breakfast. The chipmunks too, putting little paws on my toes and looking way up, even before I can get the canister of peanuts in place.

Ken, who observes all this creaturely interaction from an amused arm's length, says, "Your friends have stopped by."

It's a morning ritual, as I set myself up on the deck to pray and work and read and write every day, weather permitting. Arrange the lounge chair, quilt and pillows, crank up the umbrella, gather my computer, Bible and any other books I'm going to need, put down my morning shake....and feed my friends.

They know to come because it's the routine.

I found this comforting when we were at Hot Springs too; the regular rhythms of the day. Especially in the mornings. Early worship, hearing the kids sweeping and singing during morning chores (yes, singing, and I'm not making that up), breakfast with my cup of jasmine green tea.

Rituals to begin the day. Regular ways to begin a morning that help to set the tone, get things going, feed my friends....and my soul.

Perhaps it's because my life seemed so upended for so long that I am relishing the routines now. The simple steadiness of knowing where to reach for a pen, or to know for sure where I last left my toothbrush, or to be able to pause long enough for morning reflections, brings a comforting reassurance that all is right with my little world for the moment.

It is sometimes said in my circles that God has had to 'get my attention' in some extreme kind of way. Some unexpected and disruptive event, or something of that sort. I've even heard people describe it as "God hit me up the side of the head." I can't argue with other people's experience of God, to be sure. God does move in mysterious ways, and He knows what's going to work best with any one of us.

But I'm just wondering if there might be a correlation between a regular quiet habit of sitting still long enough (measured by something like the time it takes for blue jays and chipmunks to trust you perhaps?) and the experience of God's gentle presence and loving guidance in ways less dramatic.

I don't have this thing in the bag (or the peanut jar) by any means. This is just something I aspire to. Being spiritually available in a regular, ordinary kind of way, I might call it. And I'm so grateful for this time and space to revel in that right now.

We're hoping to get at some painting today too. Started all that back in June, and we just keep working it, section by section.

Happy Tuesday...I still had to think about what day it was just there. So jet lag is almost done, I'd say.

Wishing you some good soul-quiet and whatever happy routines keep you grounded.

Monday Morning Exhale

You know you've had an abundant weekend when....

You barely had enough time to take any pictures, let alone post anything, let alone stop and reflect on it all.

So here I am sitting in the relative quiet of a brilliant Monday morning, feeling 'spent but well-spent', and taking a pause before I begin the week.

I'll write about this in a little bit, over on the Highview to Haiti blog, and those most involved have heard already, but we were able to exceed our $10,000.00 fundraising goal towards the care of ten vulnerable seniors in Pignon, Haiti.

Just as a recap, these dear ones live at a place called Auberge des Vieillards, under the care of staff and leadership provided by the Pignon Church. Again, more details at the Highview Haiti blog later, but for now, let's just say, I am over the top grateful to be part of something so true. And I couldn't be more in awe of all the volunteers that came together and worked really, really hard to make it happen!!!

Also this weekend, adventurous members of my family returned from a trip to Florida, just in time to celebrate Jayden's birthday. He's seven, if you can believe it! It was great to see them, and to hear the stories, and to eat cake. They had saved up for four years for this. Lots of great memories made for sure.

If I dip back into the latter part of last week,
there was also the Intercultural Leadership Conference at Tyndale on Thursday,
and there the celebration of life for an incredible woman, the mother of a friend, on Friday.

So yes, an abundant past few days.

That brings me more or less to this morning, and the sunshine. It's 'fake spring' I know. We'll get more snow and wintery temperatures yet, I know. But in spite of myself I'm starting to make plans for setting up the patio out back.

But not today.

Today begins a week deliberately planned to recover and catch up and reflect.

One of my favourite texts from the Psalms expresses well how I feel about Monday mornings.

Psalm 5:3
In the morning, LORD, you hear my voice;
in the morning I lay my requests before you
and wait expectantly.

Every morning yes.
But especially Mondays
when the week is barely unfolding itself out before us.

Take a deep breath, my friends.
Feels like there's so much potential for good things ahead.