I have a bit of time on my hands right now, recovering from knee replacement surgery. And I notice that

Goodness! Where did the year go? I did not write one single blog. Perhaps, like you, I had some ups and downs, joys and sorrows during this past year.

2021. It’s a New Year.

I have always loved to get outside and get my hands in the dirt. This spring,

Who ever would have thought that the planet would be connected by an invisible enemy? Now we are all hiding out in our homes, fearful of looking out over the horizon to see if we are safe. Goodness!

The call of the desert is to choose life, and let go of all lesser considerations, all illusions, and in every situation, choose what your heart knows to be more loving and more life-giving.

Many of you may know…

Identifying a “word of the year” has been a ritual for me for the past number of years. Last year, my word was ‘transition.” I thought early on that this year’s word would be ‘embrace.”

“The point of traveling is not to arrive, but to return home laden with pollen you shall work up into honey the mind feeds on.” R. S. Thomas

Anticipation: The act of looking forward with pleasurable expectation.

“Are you excited?” my friend asked me, as she knew that I am anticipating an upcoming trip out of the country. I have to say honestly that there is a mixture of pleasurable expectation with the realism of possibilities that the trip may include unexpected challenges. This comes from past experience, I guess.

March 17th is celebrated in many places around the world as the day Patrick’s Day, patron saint of Ireland. I learned a couple of years ago the interesting fun fact that, one of the reasons people go to pubs and drink green beer for St. Patrick’s Day because March 17th lands in the middle of the Lenten season…a season of frugality with restrictions on eating and drinking alcohol (mostly for Catholics and Anglicans) before Easter. But the Irish were allowed to break their fasts and feast on this particular day.

I don’t know about you, but a fresh year seems to help me re-orient my life a bit. I love to think ahead to a new year and set goals, consider longings for change and growth. This year, however,

The word “advent” in the English language generally means “to come” or “to arrive,” and is a time of waiting. We use the word in the season before Christmas to prepare our hearts for the celebration around the coming or arrival of Jesus in the Christian faith.

We all would like life to be fun, enjoyable, life giving, and purposeful. But, in reality, there are times when we face difficulties that cause us to feel empty, alone, dry, and possibly worn out or worn down. The desert is a landscape of harsh terrain that is barren, dry and frugal. In the desert, we thirst, we sweat, and desire to escape from the unrelenting and highly uncomfortable heat and sun.

Webster's definition of "vacation" is a period spent from home or business in travel or recreation.  It is a scheduled period during which normal every day activities are suspended.  Rest, a change of scenery, a visit to an interesting destination...these may all be considered a time of vacation.

I've been thinking a bit about growth and change recently.  Stagnation, which could be the opposite, can be comfortable, but boring after awhile.  I believe we as human beings, are wired by our Creator to grow and change physically, but also mentally, emotionally and spiritually.

Spring is in full bloom here in Georgia.  Walking in the woods yesterday near our mountain cabin, I reveled in the newness of the leaves appearing on the trees, the ferns unveiling, and the tiny violets along the path. 

Some thoughts while walking the road...

A threshold is an entry point into a new or different space.  We go through thresholds many times on an average day:  going from one room to another, inside to outside, outside into our workplace.  Think about how a threshold often defines a new or different place, space and atmosphere.

While all is snowy and cold on the outside right now, I am warm by the fire, drinking a mug of coffee and enjoying the quiet.  As a counselor, I work with alot of folks who cannot find either warmth or quiet within. "Deb, my thoughts just bombard me!"  or "Where do I go to find comfort?"