Update-3 months later

Back on November 19th I posted a photo of the woods across Troupe Rd. from us, where, we think, an Events Center is being built. Things there have been quiet for most of the time since, but in the last two weeks clearing of the woods has picked up.

We walked in there today and here is what we found: four or five huge mounds of trees and brush formed by a large bulldozer that has been working there for a couple weeks. Some burning was taking place Friday, which makes more sense as we saw the cleared areas. They seem, gratefully, to be keeping a kind of buffer of trees and brush for 20-30' from the road into the clearing. That would be nice, not just for us, but for traffic noise and to have the place totally surrounded by woods/nature. We shall see as things progress.

Thirst

 

Most years I re-read Mary Oliver's marvelous book Thirst during Lent.

As the inside flap describes it: "...she strives to experience sorrow as a path to spiritual progress, grief as part of loving and not its end....she chronicles for the first time her discovery of faith..."  Thus, even more apropos this year living under the little cloud of grief that has settled over us from the weeks preceding Lent.

Here's the an excerpt from the first poem, perhaps one of the most well-known of this collection.

"Messenger"

My work is loving the world...

Are my boots old? Is my coat torn?

Am I no longer young, and still not half-perfect? 

Let me keep my mind on what matters,

which is my work,

which is mostly standing still and learning to be astonished...."

Two new sights

 

On my daily route into Erie for ministry, I drive pass this area that has a clear view of the morning sunrise--no houses, electrical wires or other buildings. This week I was able to get my first clear shot of the sunrise in about 4 months---at about 7:35 am. Welcome early pre-spring!

Equally not seen this close to the house for quite a while, this young doe came right up 
to the row of bushes that line the short sidewalk at the east end of our building. She was munching away for 5-10 minutes when we caught sight of her outside our laundry room window.

Such wonders can be seen when we have more than 9 hours of sunlight a day!

An ordinary week

We've just completed a weekend composed of "ordinary" things---in contrast to the last four that were composed of extraordinary things. I saw sisters doing their laundry, cleaning the area they are responsible for, laughing and chatting in the community room around a table of card playing. With the sun this afternoon many went for a visit to family or friends, a ride around the peninsula or just a quick trip to do some errands. 

We even returned to everyday menus: meatloaf, hotdogs, grilled cheese, chicken, pizza. In contrast to all the large steamer pans of pasta, spaghetti and other casseroles which were prepared for the unknown number of guests that would show up for all the funeral rituals--meals that could easily "stretch."

A bouquet of flowers was delivered to a sister whose birthday was Saturday, I just laughed when I saw it--just what we need, I thought, another arrangement of beautiful flowers. There are still a half dozen still alive all around the first floor general areas, including chapel itself.

But all in all, the sweet and lovely references to the four sisters we lost last month still abound in our conversations and certainly in each of our thoughts. This lovely month-long remembrance is at the entrance to our chapel, and although we have never had a foursome before and therefore, it is a little stunning, it is quite beautiful---as it keeps them in our minds and hearts, as we struggle to come to grips with their absence.