The First Day of My 50th Year

The first day of my 50th year on this earth was spent making a drum.

I didn’t plan it that way, at least not intentionally.  But seemingly Spirit had her hand in the thyming of events.  And it was good.  Many months ago I felt a stirring within to try drumming and this was even before I learned that drumming would be a part of the Spirations program that I have begun.  And then Bette wrote about her drumming experience ~ as I reread her story I was reminded that it was for her 50th birthday. 

The “drum kit” arrived a couple weeks ago and my friend Mimi and I set a date that worked for both of us ~ today.  Earlier this morning I had set the frame on the table in the kitchen, and, if there’s anything to sit in Brita will find it.  So upon my return to the kitchen I found Brita sitting in the frame.  Kodak moment.  Then Kendall appeared next to Brita as if to say, “What about ME?”  Another Kodak moment. 

 

The hide and lacings had been soaking in the washtub.  Mimi arrived with Native American tea and 4 Native American CD’s to choose from.  We enjoyed lunch, started the music, then set about birthing my drum.

We spoke of gifts of and gratitude for the one who gave its life for this drum.  I offered words of thanks and blessing.  And we began: working with our hands and hearts, sharing stories as the drum took shape.  When we weren’t sure what to do, we consulted the guide and spoke a truth that as one begins 50 years of life, rules are followed when they seem appropriate, and from there we decided what to do next.

I tied lots of square knots, and then untied a few, giving thanks for my years as a Girl Scout.  I was grateful for my midwife, who literally and symbolically put her finger on the knot to hold it for me.  At this point Hershey became very interested; perhaps he smelled the rawhide and hoped for a treat.

                                        

When the drum and drum stick were complete to our satisfaction, and we marveled at our work, Mimi had more gifts to share:

~Story: She read the creation story of the Manitous.  Earthy, grounded, feminine.  “And she breathed the breath of life, growth, and abundance into the earth.”  A beautiful story full of affirmation of the feminine.

~Wapum: Something of her own to give to me.  She brought 2 talking sticks and I was to choose one to keep.  The first had a spiral carved handle and laquered bubble-like rattle on the top.  The second was a deer’s jaw attached to a stick with feathers hanging on one side, and a turle painted on the jaw.  They both spoke to me but I chose the first for its spiral handle, and because it doesn’t have feathers for the cats to chase and maul!

And now we wait for the drum to dry and for Spirit to present the next offering and opportunity…

  

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Hospitality ~ Invitation

The invitation:

Come…bundle up with your boots and woolies to gather under the almost full moon and around the bonfire!

Come…celebrate the darkness on the Winter’s Solstice Eve and give thanks for the Light that is coming!

Come…there’ll be hot cocoa, wassail*, and s’mores.  Bring a plate of cookies if you’d like but it’s not required.

Come…Friday, December 21, 6:30 – 8:30; come for 20 minutes or stay for 2 hours!

Come…follow the luminarias to the barn in the back!

                                                         

   The luminarias were lit…

                                            

The fire roared…

 

                                                   

The table was spread…

 

                                          

A snowperson was built (at least 8 feet tall)…

                             

And, Winter began!

                                                                                

*Wassail:

Mix together 1 gallon of apple juice, 12 oz can of frozen orange juice and 3 cans of water, and 6 oz can of frozen lemonade and 3 cans of water.  Put in cheesecloth or teaball: 1 teaspoon cloves, 1 teaspoon cinnamon or 2 short cinnamon sticks, and 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg and put in the pot.  Bring to a boil, then simmer for 30 minutes or more.  Makes your house smell wonderful.  Serve hot!

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“Come, Ye Thankful People, Come”

Come, Ye thankful people come, Raise the song of harvest home.

Creator of all seasons, Giver of autumn: with grateful hearts we offer our thanks for the gift of life itself, for each of the earth’s seasons, for each day, for each hour, for each breath we take.

All is safely gathered in, Ere the winter storm begins.  

O Holy One, You invite us to a life of paradox.   In this season we both gather up what has been planted  and we are called to let go, to release our need for control.   Thank You for the farmers harvesting their crops and for the trees losing their leaves ~ both which invite us to this paradox of faith.   

God our Maker, doth provide, For our wants to be supplied.  

God of Abundance, indeed You provide in familiar and mysterious ways.   We offer these words of gratitude for Your provisions…    

Come to God’s own temple come, Raise the song of harvest home.  

In all times, in all places, with all people, You are present.   Wherever we are, we are in Your temple and for this we offer our thanks.    

All the world is God’s own field, Fruit unto his praise to yield.  

We marvel at the ways You bring us together, the stories we each  bring from places near and far, the experiences that have shaped  our lives and now add fragrance to our lives.  We praise You for  Your fields everywhere and offer our prayers for all Your people  living and working in each corner of the world, seeking to share  the message of Your love and grace.   

Wheat and tares together sown, Unto joy or sorrow grown.  

It is by Your grace that wheat and tares grow side by side,  both the joys and sorrows filling our lives.  In this season  of Thanksgiving, with an emphasis on family, we name those  who live in times of despair and sorrow right now, asking for  Your abiding love and comforting grace to be present with them…   

First the blade, and then the ear, Then the full corn shall appear.  

Over and over the natural world reminds us of Your wondrous ways.   Quiet our hearts, O God, when we are anxious about the future.   Give us pause to wonder at the miracle of the seasons and  the cycle of growth of all living things.   

Lord of harvest, grant that we Wholesome grain and pure may be.

You call us Your beloved and desire that we draw closer to You.   This day we ask Your blessing on our fellowship, our sharing,  our seeking, our desires that we may grow in our likeness of You.   This, and all prayers, we offer in the name of the One who fully lived Your love.  Amen.

 

(Adapted from the one of my favorite Thanksgiving hymns, “Come, Ye Thankful People, Come.”)

                                                                         

 

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“Rising Like the Sun”

My dear friend Martha Louise shared this poem with me yesterday and I’m pleased to share it with you.  She was writing poetry when we first met ~ it was our very first day at Alma College ~ and I marveled at her use of words then, wondered how someone writes poetry.  I’m now learning.  And, I’m rejoicing that she is once again putting pen to paper and sharing the words of her heart and the journey of her soul.

                          

Rising Like the Sun

The water will

never be the

same

again,

neither will

the  sun.

Neither will

my life again,

rising,

just begun.

 

                        

     

 

 

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A Barn’s Perspective on Healing

The Alchemist continues to gather good folk in her back yard, just in sight of my windows so I am privileged to watch these gatherings.  This thyme they gathered on the Autumnal Equinox ~ a day of equal light and darkness, a day of balance.  She seems to be striving for that in her life.

                         

First they gathered at table, sharing in soup, hearty bread, and drink.  Next, an altar was set up by the bonfire ~ a stole bearing the names of Biblical women: Eve, Sarah, Rebekah, Rachel, Ruth, Naomi, Esther, Judith, Mary, Elizabeth, and Mary of Magdala was wrapped around the edges of the altar.   The Circle of Friends candle-holder, which was once placed within my walls, was on the altar as was a basket full of candles (I haven’t seen her do anything significant without candles.)  There was a small bottle of oil and a box of tissues.  A few more people arrived and they all gathered around the fire.  Prayers were offered and sung, pain was named and released and buried, stories were read, gifts were claimed with light, she was anointed and blessings were offered by all.  I could feel it radiating out in all directions ~ a deep sense of God’s healing from the circle.

                          

And this is one of the mysteries of healing that I have witnessed through these windows and over the years: even though the original invitation was for one, healing was offered and received by all in the circle.  Balance came in unexpected ways.

                   

With blessings from

The Barn

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Favorite Dessert

Last week I spent time with 3 high school friends at our annual summer reunion.  As usual we ate well, went to the beach, laughed a lot and then laughed some more, stayed up late playing Hand & Foot, and ate some more.  We shared stories of parenting and families and pets, and ideas about how to eat better or how to at least have more fun eating.  We make a great group, and I’m sure our names give us a special identity: Cathy, Cathy, Kathy, and Dana (she’s the tall one.)  But one of the things I like best about our time together is dessert ~ that is, dessert at breakfast.  Organic Dark Chocolate for dessert at breakfast!

Now I’m debating whether to keep up that tradition at home to enjoy all year, or let it hold it’s “specialness factor” just at our summer reunion.  Hmmm…..

Do you have a favorite dessert for breakfast?

 

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