Peace in the Simple and Ordinary

Dear Reader:

The older I get, the more I revel in “the simple and ordinary.” As I pointed out in yesterday’s blog I don’t believe our spiritual lives should be lived minimally (instead wide open to God’s calling) but I do find myself wanting to live in a less cluttered space on earth…the place, in this life, I call home.

I only want special items around me that have meaning on different levels. That is why I took a picture of the end table in my den (first seen as one walks down the stairs) as an example. Everything on it speaks to me of the blessings in my life.

My love of flowers and beauty have become such an integral part of my life that I no longer even remember a time without flowers around me. Flowers make me smile and every morning when I open the shutters…I want to start the day with fresh flowers of all types and variety… some from the garden or perhaps the store… simply fresh flowers to begin the day.

Joan gave me the beautiful wooden-distressed cross that catches the early sun’s rays through the panels…and brightens the table.It becomes even more meaningful as we enter Holy Week.

The symbolic stone that simply says “BEGIN” was given to me by Anne…she had picked it up from the gift shop at Mepkin Abby in reference to the creation of the garden in 2013. The only way to have a garden or anything else in life we dream about is to “Begin.” (With a lot of help from friends!)

…And speaking of friends, Linda Carson brought me the coaster that says: “Friends are the flowers in the Garden of life.” Nothing could be truer! I would not have a garden without my friends’s encouragement…period!

The beautiful little tea cup and saucer was given to me one Christmas by Doodle from “Time Well Spent.” It is very special because it is from a collection of Royal Albert English Bone China titled “Country Scenes” and this particular scene is: Dingle Dell.

*The surname “Dingle” means a valley or a dell: Dingle is a town in County Kerry, Ireland. The only town on the Dingle … A narrow dale; a small dell; a small, secluded, seaside valley.

* When Anne and I first drove into Dingle in the summer of 2014 we certainly knew we were heading down from the surrounding mountains into the the most beautiful valley to find this postcard-looking harbor town.

I will have to say, after reading this book for two or three years I finally moved on to other devotionals until the other day I came across one short devotional in it that spoke to me again.

Another God Wink:

“Let me infuse My Peace into your innermost being…You can sense my Presence and my Peace growing within you…opening up yourself to receive My blessings.

People today find it hard to acknowledge their neediness. However, I have taken you along a path that has highlighted your need for Me; placing you in situations where your strengths were irrelevant and your weaknesses glaringly evident.

…You have discovered flowers of Peace… Peace blossoming in the most desolate places.

You have learned to thank Me for hard times and difficult journeys, trusting that through them I accomplish my best work.

You have realized that needing Me is the key to knowing Me intimately, which is the gift above all gifts.

……………………………

So until tomorrow….Let me never forget and misplace the “key” (prayer) that opens the door to God’s direction and guidance.

“Today is my favorite day” Winnie the Pooh

*I always keep a memoir of St Jude’s Chapel within sight of my daily comings and goings! *Thanks Honey for your shared talents!

Sis Kinney said she now has a pink geranium that she is hoping will turn into ” Big Pink.” Do share a picture with us Sis!

Jo sent an email telling me her daughter, Kelly, is in Ireland with a group of district teachers over spring break… and a couple of days ago they were touring the Cliffs of Moher. I told her I was so jealous…what exciting memories…just beautiful!