On recent walks, interspersed with lovely gardens like the middle photo below, I've noticed sweet little children's play areas outside, along the sidewalks. They make me smile, with their whimsical gatherings of small toys. Fun amidst the challenges of our world, along with imagination and play...
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Without fail, when I start to feel discouraged and sad and upset and tired about all that's wrong with our world, I spot something beautiful. For today, it's sidewalk gardens and a small reminder in the form of a sign. For our Tuesday....
It seems hard to find joy in our troubled world, particularly in the last few weeks. Pain and violence and our dark history - these are so present and heavy and fundamentally heartbreaking. And then the first dahlia bloomed in my front garden, and yesterday after I participated in a very hard conversation about racism I looked out of the window and there was a robin sipping water from a puddle on the deck, and a few moments later a hummingbird visiting a red flower. Little signs of the holy, it seems to me. Of joy.
I think I'll stop my count of the weeks in shelter in place now... Instead, I'll note that here we are at the beginning of June. I meant to write yesterday, on Pentecost, the birthday of the church. I was able to watch three online services in which we commemorated this joyful part of the church year, while at the same time holding the tragedy of racism in our country and the continued danger of COVID-19. Holding both grace and pain seems to be where we are right now. Oh, and looking everywhere for the hope. For me, I see hope in God's creation - so here are some red Pentecost examples for June 1.
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Margaret DC
Deacon at St. Aidan's Archives
December 2020
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