the post

This guard post blocks traffic from entering a city square. Very utilitarian but beautiful. May i see beyond the first glimpses of people and see their beauty within.

Rainbows

Its good thing I like rainbows. The colours of the Mission and Service Fund are rainbows to show God's promise of love to the world. And it is pride week this week and it shows that all people are welcome to join in diverse celebrations. And I guess the best thing is that in a rainbow, you can bet that at least one of your favourite colours might be there. A sign of promise. a sign of hope. A sign of welcome. What a great symbol.

the balloon lady

This doulton figurine makes me smile. Her kindly face chases thoughts away of riots and living in a police state like environment.

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Beauty

In the midst of the riots happening around the G20, I need to look at beauty. Beauty can overcome violence anyday.

a hinge

A hinge on the door. So simple yet so important. Without it, a door cannot open and close. A simple tool that does so much. May i appreciate the simple things in life.

The weathered decoration on the fence

Looking at this ball on the fence, I wonder what all it has been through. The extremes of temperatures. The rain and snow. The different coats of paint. Bird droppings. People hitting it with sticks and stones. And yet it still stands, a bit weathered maybe, but there it is.

Its the same way with people. We don't know of all the knocks that they have gone through. The pain, the sorrows, the sticks and stones which have afflicted one physically or mentally. All of us bear the marks of life. May we stand strong like this ball of iron on the fence post.

Humbleness

An earthquake happened today. Not a big one- just enough to let you know that in the face of nature, our power is quite small. It must fill one with awe, because we never will match that power. They say that tall buildings are designed to sway so they can survive winds and earthquakes. God make me that flexible so that I will bend in the midst of greater forces. And may I realize my smallness in the midst of the vast array of nature.

old and new

Life is always a mix. Older traditions new thoughts. How do we meld these things together? What do we keep, what get's thrown away. It is always a dilemma.

who decides

Some plants are considered desirable. Crops, flowers, orchards are all planted by human hands for a reason. Other plants are considered undesirable. Weeds grow where we don't want them. They pop up in gardens, grow in crevices, even though we don't want them. Yet weeds have a beauty all their own. They are there for a reason. Is it the same with people? Some we nurture and cultivate friendships. Others are less wanted. Yet all have a beauty of their own.

a closed door

at the 85th anniversary service today, our moderator posed this question- do we have enough faith to die- do we trust that God has a plan for our church even as our old ways die. I remember in the musical, The Sound of Music, the mother superior reminds Maria that whenever God closes a door, he opens a window. May I have the faith to trust God and let go.

design on the door

How many times do you pass by a common everyday thing and not notice its intricacies. Take for example this door. It has probably been opened thousands of times, but how many have ignored this metal work.

Good Fences

Robert Frost said that good fences make good neighbours. But I am always left to wonder. What is the fence built for? Is it to keep people out, or to keep people in?

Rooted

This stump stands in front of a nursing home in Sackville, New Brunswick. In looking at it, I am reminded of a family tree. I remember one family tree that my grandmother had drawn up. It showed the picture of a tree. From the main branch, gnereations ago, branches and twigs sprouted out showing the different generations. My grandmother was represented by a tiny twig at the edge of the tree. When I took classes in Buddhism though, my professor said that one school of Buddhists do it somewhat differently. The centre of the tree is the present generation. This trunk splits into two with the mother and father. Their branches split into two with the grandparents etc. But no matter how you do it, we are all connected. Whether we are the main trunk or a tiny twig, we are all part of one common tree.

Balloons always make me smile. To imagine, not a worry to be had, nothing to ground them, just waiting for a bit of wind to carry them away. Of course balloons do have some concerns, sharp edges which might cause them to pop or the ever present threat that someone might forget to hold on tight, and you will go floating away to points unknown. But still it is pretty easy to be a balloon. I think we as humans, get into trouble when we don't act like a balloon. Holding on for dear life, afraid that change might threaten us. Not having the ability to go with the flow. Being weighed down with burdens and worries, and not letting our true selves take flight. God make me more balloon like, but never forget to hold tight to my string.

Music. My heart fills when I sing. I am amazed when my voice reverberates off the walls. Not my voice- but the spirit of music fills me and comes out of my mouth. It is a holy experience for me. And I hope for others too. Maybe it is the way the artist feels about her canvas, or the dancer about his dance. It is something beyond them.

Anguish

Looking at the anguish on the faces of the parents as they send their boy off to war, one has to but wonder why peace does not reign supreme. You can almost feel the hearts of the statues break as they say goodbye. How can anyone with a real heart do the same?

standing out

A flash of yellow standing out among the green. Difference is the spice of life. May I remember that when I go with the crowd or when I find my path lonely because I have gone my own way.

In the movie "Places in the Heart" the film closes with Sally Field sharing communion with the man who killed her husband and her dead husband. The movie showed communion wasn't just a one time event, but each time we share the bread and the cup, we share it with all believers living and dead. I used to think it was a neat idea, but nothing more. But last evening, as we shared communion at the 85th anniversary, I really did feel all souls and all saints who make the United Church what it is today surrounding me in the meal. Powerful

reflections

A great celebration for our church today. In this picture the old is reflected in the new. Maybe that is the way our future minisries will be. They will be strong and mighty, but will also offer a glimpse of the past.

Remember Renew Rejoice

Today the United Church turns 85. A day to give thanks for what has been, what is, and what will be. May we blossom in the garden of life.

A wonderful family

Under the coloured napkins are pieces of communion bread for an 85th anniversary celebration held at Schomberg on June 6th. As we shared communion on that day, I realized that I am communing not just with the souls gathered that day, but with all United Church folk who have gathered for the past 85 years. A wonderful family indeed.

The thistle

We don't think of the thistle as beautiful. It is drab compared to the brilliant green around it. It has sharp barbs which cause pain. But just look at its complexity. Its many different parts. It is beautiful. Is this the same with people? Some are drab and uninteresting. Some have tongues or personalities that are sharp. Yet they too have an inner beauty. Open my eyes to the beauty that surrounds me.

what we don't see

We walk by something every day. Yet we don't really see what is there. This photo is actually part of a park bench which sits in front of Runnymede United Church. Yes the same park bench that appears in my previous post. But just taking a look at it from a different angle, we see shapes and designs that were not there before. The intricacies of the back rest part of the bench take on a new life of their own. The shapes, the angles all form their own unique beauty. How often do we walk by the holy and not see that is there? How often when we meet other people that we do not see the spark of God in their hearts? How often do we pass by a miracle?

Chained

Seeing this chained park bench made me think. Are people worried it might be stolen? Is it like a vicious dog that needs to be held back? As I look at I wonder are there things in me that I need to protect or restrain.

Door knockers

In scripture, we are told "Behold I stand at the door and knock" (Revelation 3:20) I wonder who is knocking at our door- the poor, the oppressed, the downtrodden. Will I be the gatekeeper, or will I let the people in? Is my door open or closed? Is everyone welcome, or just some?

Colour the spice of life

I've always liked bright things. A flash of colour. Something beyond the ordinary pale. Above the grey. Frank L Baum in the Wizard of Oz describes Kansas as grey and dull. It is only when Dorothy gets to OZ that she discovers life. She decides to go back to her grey life saying there is no place like home. Not me, colours reveal so much. Through the colours of the rainbow creation shows its vitality- God's diverse pallette before us. May I always revel in this technicolour world.

beauty

The beauty of the leaf is evident. The veins in the leaf carry its nutrients. The colour is such a lush green. And the bugs look like tiny red dots, sprinkles on top of a cup cake or an ice cream sundae. A mini Christmas surprise in the month of May.

Trust

Steel and Rivets hold this bridge together. I am not an engineer. I do not know how things work. What makes a bridge sturdy? How does my camera work? How does my car go? That part of my brain doesn't work. I just have to trust. Like the person who can't do math. Like the person who is colour blind, I need to trust that others know the answers. I can't do it all myself. I need to rely on others. Only then is life possible. Trust is necessary. May others trust me as I rely on them.

Light sparkling from the sun. Dancing, spinning, lifting,as it shines through the glass. Reflecting off everything it grazes. Giving new life to all it blesses. May my good works reflect off others

and give them such life.

the eyes

They say eyes are the windows to the soul. What do Bella's eyes say?

Wild Flowers don't care where they grow

Dolly Parton sang a song, "The Hills Alive with Wild Flowers" It talks about how the singer was freer than any wild flower. At times I know I like to go my own path. At other times I know I am rooted like any flower. Perhaps beauty can be found in both paths.