Ordinary Holy – Page 116 of 176 – Honoring the Holy in Our Everyday Lives

Featured, Presence

Maybe the Trees Love Me Too

February 27, 2021

It is always good to go out in the morning and walk with a friend by the trees. It was cold this morning, even though it was supposed to get up to near 60 degrees today. The road we usually walk is cut into the side of a mountain, so while it is mostly flat, there are many areas where the sun doesn’t reach this time of year. We especially savor the sunny sections and walk a little slower through them, taking time for our backs to warm.

My friend’s dog romped and ran up the hills, and down the hills, and into the waterfall, and alongside the road into every little puddle she could find. Her golden paws turned dark with mud. She was so happy, and my friend didn’t mind.

I have lived in many different places over the years, but I think this place is my favorite. I get to walk among these trees everyday, and everyday I can pause and maybe wander to the side of the road and rest my fingers on bark, put my cheek on bark, and just breathe with the tree Continue Reading…

Daily Grace

Closing in on the Creek: Another Blackberry Project Episode

February 27, 2021

Progress! Cut by cut, getting closer to the creek.

The weather has been beautiful, and I think I could just about set out a lawn chair and sit and listen to the creek without berry bushes scratching up my legs. Every twenty minute session makes a difference!

Ordinary Holy is a place for stories. My stories. Yours, too. Our stories remind us that God is here in this world that is beautiful, and broken, and blessed. They help us remember that God is present in all our lives, in every beautiful, broken, and blessed moment.

Centering Prayer has been an integral part of my story these past years. The sections of this blog- Power, Security and Esteem- are where I share how I am becoming more aware of my desire for these in my life. My goal? To walk through my days without a thought for power, security, or esteem. To be content with God’s love and presence alone. Honestly, this is a long road. I confess that I am quite a fan of safety, and being liked, and being in control.

And the Presence section? That’s where God breaks through, in spite of myself. It’s where I get glimpses of God, right here in my ordinary moments. I often don’t see very well, though. That’s one of the reasons for writing here: to help me remember. My prayer is that through these stories, you will see God in your broken, beautiful life, too.

I just want to be safe. I want my family safe, and my friends, and my pets. Also, the trees around me. Could they stay clear of the ravages of the bark beetle? And the native plants. Invasive plant clearing party, anyone?

Additionally, I would like all public servants to be safe. The highway workers. Our firefighters. Police. Anyone driving on the highways. Anyone breathing on the planet today. How's that for a list?

Sometimes, it seems like the only way to get through my days is to pretend that we are safe. Also, a strong, delusional part of me thinks that if I work hard enough, I can make it so. If I just stay alert. Anticipate potential disasters. Have enough insurance.

Except, it's not true. We are not safe. None of us. It hurts me to write that. It makes it hard to breathe. But that's the truth. We are not safe, as much as I like to think we are. This page is full of stories about my struggle with security. Lack of. And of trying to get to a place where that is OK.

Sometimes, I trip over the holy.

It's not the kind of thing you can plan. It just is there, when I least expect it, when I most need it.

These entries are little altars to holy moments, altars built in my mind, because building them where they actually happened would be awkward. I would have altars at the dinner table, on the drive to school, on walks with the dog, at track meets and concerts, at work and driving home. They would be everywhere. This is just a small beginning. It's something that will help me see.