Tripping Into Grace
Friday, May 12, 2017
Challenges for the journey
Thursday, December 29, 2016
Tulsa Time
Living on Tulsa Time
Being an Oklahoma girl I love Don Williams song "Living On Tulsa Time".
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=O6MbPWzIFUk
I have traveled lots yet I still feel that draw, that connection to Central Standard Time. The only reason I point this out is that since we are in California for just a few days I decided we should stay on cst. Well, sort of...a bit closer to it.
Which is why we rose a good bit earlier than we might've otherwise. We set out around 6:30 am in search of a Starbucks. It was less than half a mile from the hotel. But on our way we saw a man step out of a little shop with an espresso. He sat at a table on the sidewalk.
It was an Italian bakery (but of course it was, we were in little Italy). When we went inside we were greeted by the delicious smells of coffee and pastries and delightful young woman named Vickie. She was from Russia. We felt like we had stepped into a little cafe in Europe. Thank you Pappalecco!
Afterwards I took a walk. Fast paced from the hotel towards the San Diego Bay. Two things on my walk that caught my attention. One was the lone bride dressed in her wedding gown scurrying up the steps of the county courthouse before 8 am.
I wondered was she late? Was the rest of the wedding party waiting for her inside? Did she drive herself to her own wedding? Was there a groom or perhaps a bride? I kept walking as I pondered.
The other site was of an old man near the water. I could see the Star of India and other boats to my right
but on my left on the grounds of County Courthouse was this older gentleman looking up in the sky and then he started clapping. So, I too looked up. And there were seagulls flying, no more like dancing in the air--soaring high and then diving low. And the price of admission? Well, I must say--it was priceless.
And the day just got better from there. A visit to Old Town San Diego where the family walked around and then had lunch. Interesting and insightful look at one of the oldest European settlements in California. And then a most fun and lively visit with my nephew David and his girlfriend Katie. We enjoyed a few pints and good conversation at the Taproom.
And we ended the day with a lovely dinner at Sorrento's in Little Italy. The food and the company were the best. We laughed and told stories until it seemed we were out of stories and laughter...which of course we aren't but simply all just tired and needing to make room for others who needed our table for the same sort of joy.
And that's how we spent the 4th Day of Christmas in San Diego
Tuesday, December 27, 2016
Traveling Again
Traveling Again
It's been awhile since I posted, but I I feel the urge to write again...to be truthful I feel the urge to travel again. Maybe it's because my daughter Lindsay is getting ready to do a study abroad program in Spain and I miss traveling. I want to travel too. And truth be told I want to write about traveling. As we sit in the airport in Las Vegas on our way to San Diego to see our son William and his girlfriend Lauren I find myself itching to travel...travel anywhere and everywhere...well almost anywhere. And I find myself noticing the most mundane but beautiful things. The scenery flying into Las Vegas is spectacular.
The mountains are beautiful but I must admit the airport at first, not so much. It's full of slot machines, weary travelers. And then I took a longer look... at first I heard and saw a mother yelling at her children but then finally sitting down on the floor playing games with them. There were lots of neon lights on the slot machines but some of them were on some tennis shoes that were just fun. The airport food was expectedly overpriced but our server brought us joy as she told a customer how she reminded her son that Christmas was more than just one day. And then we heard "All I Want for Christmas is You" and "I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas" over the sound system and it made me smile this 3rd day of Christmas in the Las Vegas airport amidst slot machines, weary travelers, and overpriced food. And now we are on our way to San Diego and I will be able to be able to be with Jim and Lindsay on their first visit to California...wishing everyone a Merry Christmas! :)
Friday, July 29, 2016
Remembering To always be grateful
Well, maybe not simply…you know me…
Thank you. I felt your prayers and support and presence every day and in every step of my journey, even since I have been home. While I was gone I felt you peering over my shoulders as I saw beautiful vistas. I felt you humming and singing along as I sang songs to get up high mountains or through the heat of the day. I felt you with me during times of loneliness giving me comfort and aid. I even felt you with me as I sat gathering my strength after I had fallen for the first, second, third and fourth times. I felt you with me when I walked into Santiago the first time but even more so the second time. I felt you with me as I sat on the rocks in Muxia watching the sun sink into the ocean. For this I am grateful to you and to God.
Thank you. While I was gone I never worried about things at home. Oh certainly I was concerned about loved ones, family and friends and prayed daily for each of you. But the day-to-day workings of the church I serve and the house I was not worried I knew they were in good care—and I trusted the people left to deal with matters at home and I trusted God. You have no idea how comforting that is. And for this I am grateful to those who helped and to God.
Thank you. I am so grateful for the love and support from all of you for those who helped me to get ready, for the opportunity to get to take this journey, for the reflections that I have shared and the times that I have said I can’t talk about it yet. I look forward to sharing with you my experience. I will continue to post more pictures as well as more thoughts from the way because there is more to share I just haven’t put it all into words yet nor gone through all of my pictures. But I will. But for today I just wanted to say…
I am grateful to be back among you and with you. For this I am grateful to you and to God.
Thank you!
Monday, July 11, 2016
Re-post
Saturday, June 25, 2016
Crap...you are telling me something!
A year ago I was so close to reaching Santiago. These were two of my favorite days. With all the noise in our world...noise of fear, noise of hate, noise of anger...it is difficult to listen for the whispers of nature, of the divine voice in the midst of the day to day...
It is there, though, in the subtlety of a bird's song, a frog's croak, a leaf turning, a friend's voice...and more. Watch and listen for the divine and act appropriately!!
So yesterday I was walking alone all day.
It was fine...I quite enjoyed the solitude and the time to reflect.
At lunch I stopped at a little coffee bar and got some bread and cheese which was enough for three so I packed part of it up and took it for later.
While I sat I decided to call ahead to see about getting a bed. Since there are so many more people walking the Camino since Sarria (the 100 km boundary spot) so they can receive their "Certificate of Compostela" it's much more difficult to get a bed. I called seven places. Finally deciding that I obviously was not going to walk as far as I wanted. I tried the town before Ribadiso which was really just a hamlet. And apparently the albergue only had 6 beds. I was sure I was going to be calling another place in another town.
They answered the phone and I asked, "Hable Englis?" He said, "un pequeyno." Or something like that. So I said, "camas por hoy?" Hoping that I had asked for a bed for today. He asked, "today?" "Si!" And he did. One. I reserved it.
When something like that happens you walk with a little joy in your step. Plus you don't feel like you have to hurry quite as much. I was disappointed that I wasn't going to be farther along but relieved I had a bed. It is miserable to walk up to albergue after albergue and have them say completo/full/no room.
As I made my way along the path and the day got hotter and hotter and I was happier and happier that I was not going farther than Castaneda.
However, I was about 2 kms from my destination when I came around a bend on a wooded path. There on one of the familiar marked stones with the shell and a yellow arrow was a little tiny bird with a bright orange chest. I wish I had a good camera but I thought I could still get a good picture. I stood very still and and got my phone out of my pocket but she jumped down from her perch to the ground and hopped several steps and then flew high in the air. Disappointed I said out loud. Are you trying to tell me something? And with that turned another corner and sure enough there was a small hill to go up. I looked in the air and said "thanks for letting me know that I had this small hill to climb!" And I started climbing. As I reached another bend there was another marker...
...only this time there was a much larger blackbird sitting on it. My first thought was "crap, this can only mean one thing!" And with that the large blackbird jumped down from his perch and hopped on the ground for a few steps then flew high in the air. I thought "you are telling me something!"
And with that I turned the corner and laughed. And said, "crap this hill is five times as big but then that blackbird was at least five times as big as the orange-breasted bird. At least they warned you and you were paying attention!" And I kept laughing as I climbed.
Looking down about two thirds the way as it curves on down!!!
I got to the albergue and was met by the most delightful people. The woman fixed me the most amazing dinner. I stayed with three other guests Daryl and Mary from Australia (I'll tell you more about) and Estelle from Madrid, Spain.
Wednesday, June 22, 2016
Listening for Grace--"...in a relaxed manner"
Walking, I am listening to a deeper way.
Suddenly all my ancestors are behind me.
Be still, they say. Watch and listen.
Yesterday while visiting with my medical doctor we agreed that there is so much noise, so many opinions, --people talking and shouting; so many people telling you what "they know" but so few people asking questions, spending time in dialogue, listening--or listening well.
As I sit here at my desk working, busy-ing myself, meeting deadlines I am reminded of the path of a pilgrim--listening to nature, listening to one's body, listening for the voices of those from the past who echo God's word...be still and know...
For a moment I got quiet and remembered the path to Santiago---and then with gratitude I realized I'm still on that journey--be still and know...listen...watch...get quiet and still so that you can
listen and watch with your heart.
Buen Camino today as you move through this day. May you and I journey with joy and wonder as we listen and watch...this day.