CELEBRATE 2012

My new year has begun and I am awash in stored-up-for-pondering moments:  The parties and gatherings strung day-to-day as jewels about my heart, a precious necklace, a gathering of sweet-sweet gifts.  I reaped quiet joy from all the parties thrown, invites accepted, hospitality served, moments shared. 

All Good. 

All Merry. 

All Bright. 

A Serendipitous Treasure Trove.  

  

Caves filled with glowing gems 

Surprise the happy wanderer, 

Whereas stock returns 

Merely mop the sweated brow 

Of an anxious investor. 

Treasure delights the heart 

In ways that a planned heist never can. 

 [a page from my journal]

* * * * *

I guess my greatest lessons of 2011 involve the washing away of tallies from yesterday and To-Do lists destined to harness today, leaving the day’s blackboard open for spontaneous doodles, unexpected love notes, and serendipitous moments of pure joy.

I found a lasting souvenir of serendipity from 2011 on a day-trip into The City (San Francisco, of course) during post-Christmas week: 

A thoughtfully planned itinerary blew away in the winds of mayhem and mobs of merry-makers filling the streets, shops, and restaurants.  Missed turns and clotted intersections met us at the city gate (Golden, of course), and forced me surrender my “plan” for the day.  I shrugged and danced along, sometimes being dragged, pushed, or prodded.  I played along nicely and actually found it freeing and fun to just go from here to there without a schedule.  We would see what we would see and it would be enough, I kept encouraging myself. 

We encountered cable car madness as we attempted to board and ride down from Union Square to Ghirardelli Square for dinner.  Throngs of people, some disrespectful of lines (and sometimes manners) thwarted our efforts for over an hour.  I began to grumble.  I grumbled again when we finally secured outside bars here and there around the car, separating our party into single entities hanging outside the car.  Hrmph!  Not the plan! 

When the car lurched forward the grumbling stopped as a giggle of sweet anticipation rose in my throat.  I looked across the car to my brother-in-law and saw his formerly furrowed brow relax as his grip tightened.  My sister, up ahead two bars, turned and flashed a wide grin.  I couldn’t see Gary for the obstructing brake man, but I trusted he held fast up near the front of the car.  Lurch!  The adventure began.

My grumble turned to humble as I noticed the sunset hues spreading ‘cross the skies.  Pink and lavender and gold flowed in and through the bluest of blue.  Quilted clouds perforated by the golden good-bye brought tears to my eyes.  The seeping fog blanketed the Bay, enveloping Alcatraz in quiet beauty for the right-sided riders to revel in, while we on the left had a stunning farewell symphony from a glorious day in The City.  The mist-chilled air rushed past, planting kisses upon all cheeks turned to the wind. 

The car climbed up, up, up, whizzed down, down, down, careened around corners, and slipped deftly past twin cars passing close.  “Lean in!” yelled the brakeman as I yearned to lean out and catch a passing hand.  “Hold on!”  He bellowed amidst the screeching of metal as we turned sharply and climbed higher.  Riding an hour earlier would have pre-empted the sunset; riding inside the wooden car would have cut the misty embrace – the waiting brought the beauty that my planned and expected results nearly stole.  “Serendipity,” sang the cables under the street.  “Enjoy,” squealed metal rails leading us on.  “Whee!” laughed my heart as I hung on and let go.

* * * *

“Good bye 2011!  You’ve been fantastic!” I sing full-throated.  You’ve taught me so much . . . you’ve given me so much and asked for nothing in return.  You simply came to me in unexpectedness and left me serendipitous.  Most of all you brought me to a crossroads and offered me freedom.  Personal keys fitted into personal locks that flung wide the iron bars from a heart now free to love and live and laugh most wholeheartedly. 

In 2011 I threaded my timid fingers through the bold hand of the Lord and set out across a scarred landscape without a map.  Finding my way through forests of forgiveness, over mountains of challenge, through valleys of despair did not discourage me because each step of the way I found beauty, unexpected beauty everywhere.  The burdensome molds of expectation coupled with the painful scalpels of perfection proved too heavy to heft up and down and all around this madcap journey without a map . . . so I dumped them and embraced the moment fueled by spontaneity.  If my foot got stepped upon I winced, forgave, and moved on without hesitation toward the music, eager to dance despite the smarting reminder that I had just been trod upon.  Serendipity met me and provided refreshment.  2011 felt good. 

Slipped on easily like comfy favorite slippers and a soft flowey skirt, 2011 was simply made for dancing.  And I danced regardless of the music.

My resolve at the dawn of 2011 to live in Serendipity flushed the pipes and set me on a wild and delightful adventure.  Gone the days of tense list making, meticulous evaluations, and intentional harnessing of details ensuring expected results; replaced with:

FREEDOM

As I let others be free, 

running true to themselves despite expectations,

So I let myself run free . . .

AND I LOVED IT!

Most notably I drink in the freedom of living side-by-side in love without the demand to do, be, give, make, supply.  Loving someone does not command one to meet their every need.  I can love freely.  Just love.  Love doesn’t come with a price tag or a To Do list or even an apron string . . . it simply comes. 

Love shouts “Boo!” from around the corner ahead.

Love rings the doorbell unannounced.

Love plants a kiss on a cold cheek and flushes it warm.

Love dances with Serendipity, making a fabulous couple.

Love is.

* * * * *

Still dancing to the joyful chorus of Serendipity echoing from 2011, 

I resolve to carry forth the loving and 

CELEBRATE 

in 2012. 

Having tossed out intentions and expectations in 2011, I favor the random spilling and splashing of goodness and joy and sweet, sweet love as it overflows the banks of one life and floods its neighbor nourishing them today.  Jesus promises tomorrow will take care of itself (Matthew 6:34) and God will take care of me (Matthew 6:30), so I am free to love . . . simply love . . . obedient love.

This is my commandment,

That you love one another;

Even as I have loved you.

John 15:12

Here it is seen that he loved us and did everything for our benefit,

in order that we may do the same not to him,

for he needs it not,

but to our neighbor. 

This is his commandment,

and this is our obedience.

 Christ helps us, so we in return help our neighbors,

and all have enough.

~~ Martin Luther ~~

* * * * *

“. . . who is my neighbor?”

Luke 10:29

* * *

And Jesus answering said, 

A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.  And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side. And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side. But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him, and went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him. And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee. 

 Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?

And he said, 
He that shewed mercy on him. 

Then said Jesus unto him,

Go, and do thou likewise.

Luke 10:30-37

* * * * *

December 12, 2011

Note to Self:

Forget about the myth you have created wherein your whole family gathers together to celebrate Christmas.  Remember, Mary and Joseph left family and journeyed far before they experienced Christmas.

In a makeshift “home”

Surrounded by those who followed the star

(Their only connection)

They celebrated Christmas.

Animals, shepherds, wise men, precious gifts,

All melded into an expression of answering a call.

No one expected.

No one forced.

It just happened.

[A page from my journal]

* * * * *

Though I haven’t packed a single map or directive to carry forth, 

I am more than equipped for the journey into 2012 

Because my heart brims with 2011’s gift of Serendipity.

So, I’m off!

Here I come!

Are you ready to 

CELEBRATE 2012

with me?

:  D

Sunday Wonder

MERRY CHRISTMAS!

 

Now the God of hope 

fill you with 

all joy and peace in believing, 

that ye may abound in hope, 

through the power of the Holy Ghost.

 Romans 15:13

*

For Unto Us a Child Is Born

How Sweet the Gift.

Hallelujah!

Simply Christmas

Holiday To-Do List (update):

SIMPLY CELEBRATE

For it is good to be children sometimes,

And never better than at Christmas,

When its mighty Founder was a child himself.

~~ Charles Dickens ~~




But Jesus called them to Him and said, 

“Let the little children come to Me, 

And do not forbid them; 

For of such is the kingdom of God.

 

Luke 18:16

I have found a deliciously quiet moment – a moment without an activity or a preparation for an activity or the jammy-seeking tiredness that follows the close of an activity.  You know of what I write:  parties, teas, performances, crafts, table settings, dish washings . . . the list trails off in a delightful peppermint-stripe of fun and frolic as we gather together to celebrate the beauty of our happy walk toward Christmas. 

Though I do nearly nothing in the way of shopping conventionally, I do go all out in flinging wide my door to gatherings big and small.  A friend drops by to deliver goat’s milk because she was caught in a traffic jam when Gary came by to purchase and I put on the kettle.  A delightful time strolling through the gardens (unseasonably warm and still in bloom here and there), followed by a fragrant gathering in the tree’s glow as we sipped strawberry-vanilla tea and nibbled at some dark chocolate became a gift.  She pronounced it the nicest tea she had ever had – did I mention she’s a garden gal who loves the outdoors more than I?  I’m sure her teatimes generally include a mug in hand taken to a bench under the fig tree.  To simply sit and chat and sip proved a gift to all of us, as my girls gathered around eagerly.  Girls-and-tea-and-such just happens spontaneously around here, while the boys snicker from another room or pass on through swiftly, pausing for a sweet and portable treat before vanishing.

Speaking of treats, tomorrow a dear friend-like-a-sister and her daughter-like-a-niece will be joining us for a Cookie Day.  Gingerbread and Sugar cookies will spread out in all directions and the frosting-sprinkles-candy-sweets will rain down in happy abandon.  By afternoon’s end we will have decorated, sampled, dressed up, and even dropped a few of the plethora baked in anticipation.  Like Santa’s elves we will create magic and then we will send them out on plates for this neighbor or that, to friends here and there in our town, taking care to reserve sufficient supplies for our own holiday merrymaking.  My sister arrives on Christmas Eve, thus missing this event, but we will surely duplicate it while she is here.  You can never have too many cookie days, can you?

For those of you that know I tend to “healthy eating” and whole-food mania, you can rest assured that I have fortified our family body with ample broths and meals in prep for the sweet-treat onslaught.  White sugar and flour will be welcomed for the season as I have yet to find a suitable “sugar” cookie made from coconut crystals and whole-wheat flour – but I haven’t stopped looking!  I had thought of sharing from my treasure trove of sweet, simple, and healthy recipes for parties, but as time has slipped and I have sought serendipity over stress, that post will have to wait for another day.

As I gently roll my mind back over the past year I smile and celebrate the word “Serendipity” – my chosen word to guide 2011.  At so many unknown turns in the road called 2011 I fell back on my special “word” and let the stress roll on by, murmuring gently to myself, “We’ll see . . . we’ll see what God has in store.”  Though I could seldom find a rhyme or reason for some of the stuff, I did find comfort and pure joy in leaving off the stress of trying to control it all.  I simply rode the waves and laughed (between screams) despite the raucous ride.   I held tight to those I love and reminded myself to breathe as life’s coaster dipped and whirled and navigated the loop-de-loops set squarely in my path.  Whew!  It’s been quite a ride, and I’m ready to board 2012 with equal delight and anticipation.   In fact, I tasted the sweetness of freedom with such relish this past year that I have already chosen Serendipity’s close friend as my word for 2012: 

Celebrate!

Not being one for surprises, I have decided to unwrap the gift of “Celebrate” early and put it to good use right alongside “Serendipity.”  So, if you stop by this Christmastide don’t bother looking for me on the fringes with a bedraggled smile and a load to carry, I’ll be the one right by the tree with a cookie in hand and a teapot at the ready.  Serendipity taught me that life doesn’t need my fears and worries in order to find the joy; in fact, they obscure the way and siphon the energy that is better used for broad merrymaking than for sweating small details.  Opening up the heart and hands, throwing wide the doorway to possibility, and letting expectations blow away has blossomed into a truly wonderful year filled with simple moments of unexpected joy.  Please join me in Celebrating all that will come to us and upon us this Holy Season of the gift of great joy for ALL people.    

 * * *

Now, if I don’t manage to find my way back here before the special day arrives please accept this as my special gift:

From My Family to Yours

 MERRY CHRISTMAS!

* * *

* *

*

Sunday Wonder

And the angel said unto them, 

Fear not: 

For, behold, 

I bring you good tidings of great joy,

Which shall be to all people.

For unto you is born this day 

In the city of David 

A Saviour, 

Which is Christ the Lord.

And this shall be a sign unto you; 

Ye shall find the babe 

Wrapped in swaddling clothes, 

Lying in a manger.

And suddenly there was with the angel 

A multitude of the heavenly host 

Praising God, and saying,

Glory to God in the highest, 

And on earth 

Peace, 

Good will toward men. 

Luke 2:10-14