Dear Peeps,
Happy Wednesday! Could you use a little extra vitamin D for your soul?
Solomon has put his glasses on again.
This is usually your indicator that there is a lot of inner work going on here at the TSJ headquarters (aka Ms. Margie’s head and heart). with help from Solomon, our inner wizard. . . or wizened inner Shepherd.
But, first of all, welcome to our new subscribers!
For you who are new here, let me share I never, ever planned for this blog to turn into a reflection on the journey through grief. But our beloved Tom’s spirit left for his heavenly home exactly four months ago today. That is clearly part of a bigger plan than mine.
Wednesday Wisdom (WW) is about us peeps learning to be shepherded while we shepherd others.
The bigger plan, of course, includes the ability to discern the Chief Shepherd at work in all of life, not just the parts we think are amazing.
David, the shepherd of biblical times, wrote about a bigger plan of discerning God at work through nature in Psalm 23 (the Shepherd’s Psalm).
And smack in the middle of that psalm he wrote, “Though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, you are with me.“ As a shepherd, he knew what he was talking about. He knew about valleys, tough terrain, dangers, and passing storms. He learned to discern God at work in nature. The God of creation is the same God who transforms our sorrow into joy, ingratitude into gratitude, and distress into rest.
Yes, I yearn to discern God’s presence.
How about you?
Just how do we discern the Spirit of God in the valleys, in the messiness of life, in the muddy pastures, in the pinch of pain or the ache of loneliness for lost loved ones?
Well, nature (if we pay attention) is a very good teacher and healer. And it is an individual matter.
It seems we humans often more easily “see” God in the power and beautify of nature. By actually feeling the ground beneath us and gazing at the skies above us we somehow mysteriously sense both our smallness and our largeness as well as our connection to all that lives.
Discerning spiritual lessons from the physical world also takes practicing the art of gratitude and openness/receptivity to mystery.
Spring time is a good time to turn toward nature for answers to heart longings.
It is time for a dose of spiritual vitamin D – – -Discernment – – – of God at work, don’t you think?
Here in upstate New York, the winter has left a lot of debris behind. Crud. Leaves, pine cones, pine needles, twigs, broken branches and the occasional lost paper.
Our gardens and yards are yearning for our attention.
Fortunately the weather has been perfect for outdoors work. So with a heavy heart I asked for strength to do the annual spring clean up without my beloved Tom by my side.
Removing dead leaves and pine needles from the beds of plants and flowers revealed creator God at work. New life is struggling to make its way through the soil. Thick layers of dead leaves hide their beauty and could well stunt their growth. Those leaves are from a past season…a bridge from fall to spring. They flourished and then yielded to seasons of life.
As I worked in the dirt this week, I cried and raked, and hauled off load after load of debris in my wheelbarrow.
I was at work in the gardens and God was working in the garden of my heart.
The more time I spent in nature the less I cried. I grew increasingly grateful for life and health, for sun, rain, and air to breathe. I was even grateful for the inventor and designers of garden gloves and rakes!
Once again, I was reminded gratitude is a mysterious medicine for the soul. It diverted my attention from the debris in my heart and like with every layer of debris removed from the plants seemed to make them pop up in joy, I could discern small flutterings of joy in my heart.
I felt close to creation and Creator God. I am celebrating life again, including creatures both great and small. The robins particularly amused me as they did not seem bothered by my scurrying about.
Still learning about discerning Spirit God in all circumstances….through valleys and vistas, in sorrow and joy and seasons of the soul. 
And you?
Another place I discern God’s spirit is in people. And you, dear peeps, radiate love.
Every act of Love is an act of God. Now THAT is vitamin D for the soul!
Happy Shepherding!
Margie and Solomon, SJ, and Lovey
