Deal Me In!

Last night I watched history being made when Hillary Rodham Clinton accepted her party’s nomination for President of the United States.  I was surprised at the emotion I felt, but I was certainly not the only one who was moved by this historic moment.  The cameras caught young girls and women of all ages with huge smiles and tears in their eyes.  Earlier in the week, when the delegates cast their votes, a 102-year-old woman cast the votes for Clinton from the state of Arizona.  Women were not even able to vote when she was born.  This was a moment for us all.  I think it was especially poignant for older women like me.  We can remember the discrimination and the way women and girls were treated like second class citizens.  I can remember as a young teenager looking over test scores and being told that I could do anything I wanted when I grew up but the message behind that still seemed to be—teacher/nurse, teacher/nurse, teacher/nurse. . . My daughters have had many more choices in their lives.  Women are not equal yet but we have come a long ways.  Hillary’s nomination is another barrier that has come crashing down.

For me, it is meaningful that Hillary Clinton is the nominee.  This strong, intelligent woman has been in the public eye for decades.  As President Obama stated last night, Hillary Clinton is the most qualified person who has ever been nominated for President.  However, the lies about her and the vitriol directed at her are incredible.  Why do people have such a negative view of her?  When she first came into the public eye, strong women were not accepted; she was scorned as a 1960s radical feminist.  Women are viewed through a different lens than men.  In a traditional male field we must work twice as hard as men and even then we are not treated the same.  Hillary is a private person and has not shared much about her life.  Last night she said that she knows people don’t understand her so she told some personal stories as a way to humanize herself.

In many ways I get Hillary Clinton.  We were both raised in the Methodist Church and are active United Methodist Women.  I was excited when she used this Methodist quote:

                Do all the good you can,

                By all the means you can,

                In all the ways you can,

                In all the places you can,

                At all the times you can,

                To all the people you can,

                As long as you ever can.

This quote explains how we are to live as followers of Jesus.  It is meaningful to me and clearly it is to Hillary Clinton too.  It is how she lives her life and it is how I try to live mine.  Last night we heard how she has worked for women and children all her life.  (This is a United Methodist Women emphasis.)  Hillary Clinton is a doer and a hard worker.  It’s just how she operates; I understand that.  She is a detail person.  So am I.  Hillary is pragmatic.  She is someone who plans, pays attention to details, works with others, and gets things done.  She is not glamorous or a great speaker but are those things really important for the office of President?  I want a President who is smart, compassionate, and will work for the good of all Americans.  I believe that Hillary Clinton has what it takes to be a great President.  Deal me in!  I’m with her!

Written on 7/29/16

Retreat to Vancouver Island

My husband and I left the country during the Republican Convention.  Although that was not the reason we left, we were not sorry that we missed it.  Actually, we were disconnected from a lot of things.  While I did stay connected via email and social media, I left a lot of daily responsibilities behind.  And it was good.

We spent 5 nights on Vancouver Island near Nanaimo Bay.  We had a deck that overlooked the water.  We watched the tide go in and out.  Families played together on the grass below us.  Usually I try to see as much as possible while on vacation and there is a lot to see here.  I purposely resisted the urge to do that this time.  We took a walk along the sea wall of our resort then kept going and ended up in a nature reserve.  On another local walk we investigated the tide pools.  We took a short drive to visit some nearby beaches.  Today we took a short but very steep hike up a hill for a fantastic view of the bay.  It was worth the effort. 

The only all day outing was our trip to Victoria yesterday.  We visited the Royal BC Museum and enjoyed the short-term exhibition on mammoths.  The highlight of the day was Butchart Gardens.  Although I ended up very tired after walking through all the gardens, I was touched by their beauty.  The sunken garden, formed out of an old quarry was my favorite.  We ate dinner there and listened to a concert.  It was getting dark as we left.  The lights transformed the garden into a different place.

I enjoyed sitting on the deck reading.  It was delightful to watch the sunset while standing on rocks near the water.  Lazy mornings drinking coffee on the deck refreshed me.  Tonight we grilled dinner at the barbeque area next to the water.  We were there at sundown.

I really hate to leave tomorrow.  We have a long drive ahead of us.  I realize that I need to spend more time on my own deck at home enjoying our lovely view.  I believe that I am beginning to learn how to relax.

Written on 7/21/16

 

 

 

Find the Quiet Center

This past Sunday my pastor preached about keeping the Sabbath.  She pointed out that in Genesis it wasn’t God who needed rest on the seventh day; it’s an example for us.  We sang “Come and Find the Quiet Center,” a peaceful hymn that reminds me to take time to be still.  We all need a day of rest.  In Bible study my pastor stated that I am probably the one who has the hardest time with this.  Unfortunately, I think she’s right.

I am over-committed and tired.  I do need to take time to rest.  I am actually doing that right now.  On Tuesday evening my husband and I arrived at our favorite campground along the Salmon River; we were lucky to get one of the best campsites right next to the river.  Now it’s Thursday morning and soon it will be time to pack up and go home.  I’m not ready.  I wish I was staying another day.

Yesterday we took our time getting up because it was a cool morning.  When we finally emerged from our tent I cooked our breakfast and then we sat for a while and enjoyed the river.  We watched rafts and kayaks float by.  A bit before noon we left our campsite to do some hiking.  The Sawtooth Mountains are magnificent and there are so many choices of trails.  We stopped by the ranger station to ask some questions and then we were off.  Following instructions, we soon found ourselves on a narrow, rocky dirt road that was not maintained.  We have a high clearance vehicle but it’s not four wheel drive.  My husband used to do lots of field work in his government job so his experience helped.  We had trouble in one spot.  He had to get out, move a couple rocks, and recalculate which way to go up the steep grade.  We made it past that spot and before long we arrived at the Upper Trailhead for Hell Roaring Lake. 

The trail was fairly easy, mostly flat, rocky in places and smooth in others.  We were in trees most of the time.  Early on we glimpsed some of the tall, snow-covered peaks of the Sawtooths; this encouraged us to go on.  Less than a mile out we encountered two logs over the river that we had to cross.  One log had a flat, even surface while the other was bumpy and sloped outward.  I watched my husband carefully walk over this bridge first.  I was so nervous, worried I would fall several feet down to the river below.  I was wearing my hiking boots which are great for walking over rocks but are not very flexible when I need to step carefully.  Slowly, slowly I successfully made my way across—and then I could breathe again.

Just after I commented that I hadn’t seen any wildflowers, a bunch of tiny daisy type flowers appeared in front of me.  I stooped to snap a photo.  I take great pleasure in trying to capture some of the beauty I experience on my hikes—my camera is always with me.

After about a 3-mile hike we arrived at Hell Roaring Lake.  It was certainly worth the walk.  Jagged, snow-covered peaks framed the marshy lake.  We sat and ate our snacks, taking in the scenery.  I took photos of the lake, the peaks, and my husband.  And we just sat.  We didn’t stay long because it was getting late and we needed to get back.  I had planned a dutch oven dinner and I needed time to prepare it.  We returned to camp tired but satisfied.

Hiking 6 miles may not sound like rest but in a way it is.  This outing was good for both my body and soul.  It was a break from my usual activities and it gave me the chance to appreciate God’s beautiful creation. 

This morning I am once again sitting by the river.  The sound of the river rushing by is both relaxing and refreshing.  Happy people float by in rafts with either paddles or fishing poles in their hands.  It is easy to rest here, to observe Sabbath.  But once I am home, how do I find the rest I need with so many distractions and demands on my time?  Obviously this is something I need to figure out.

Written on 7/7/2016

Come and Find the Quiet Center

Come and find the quiet center

in the crowded life we lead,

find the room for hope to enter,

find the frame where we are freed:

clear the chaos and the clutter,

clear our eyes, that we can see

all the things that really matter,

be at peace, and simply be.

Silence is a friend who claims us,

cools the heat and slows the pace,

God it is who speaks and names us,

knows our being, touches base,

making space within our thinking,

lifting shades to show the sun,

raising courage when we're shrinking,

finding scope for faith begun.

In the Spirit let us travel,

open to each other's pain,

let our loves and fears unravel,

celebrate the space we gain:

there's a place for deepest dreaming,

there's a time for heart to care,

in the Spirit's lively scheming

there is always room to spare!

                        By Shirley Erena Murray 

Campfire Magic

Bright orange flames dance around the wood inside the fire ring

Their warmth and beauty invite me closer

I add another piece of wood and the flames dance higher

Tentacles of fire reach out as if attempting to escape

It crackles and spits, perhaps in anger at its confinement

Glowing red coals begin to form at the bottom of the pit

I move closer, enchanted

Smoke arises, stinging my eyes

I poke the fire and flames leap up

Once again the flames dance, slowly consuming the wood

The flames diminish and the coals burn brighter

As the fire burns down, I eagerly anticipate what comes next

Roasting marshmallows for s’mores!

Written on 7/6/16

Tree Gazing

We’ve endured a string of hot days with temperatures in the 100s.  Today and yesterday are cooler—mid 90s.  I’ve been closed up in the house by afternoon, enjoying the comfort that comes with an air conditioner.  This morning I worked in my vegetable garden before it got too hot; the sun is so intense.  I was done by noon.

Right now I’m sitting on the deck in the shade.  A slight breeze causes the leaves to dance above me and makes sitting outside bearable.  I am not one who sits still easily.  People know this about me.  As I fight the urge to go back to my “to do” list, I gaze up at the trees.

A feeling of peace fills me as I study the thick canopy of intertwining maple tree branches overhead.  Birds chirp and trill, a lovely chorus that almost drowns out the traffic noise.  The highest tree branches appear to wave at the plane passing overhead.  A butterfly drifts over the deck.  The squawking of a distressed bird nearly compels me to go investigate but I remain still.

I am aware of my oneness with the living things around me.  We are all connected.  I am just one small piece in this creation and that knowledge humbles me.

Written on 7/1/2016