Glad to hear you are feeling better. And thank you for e-mailing us just before going to the emergency room, good of you to get the prayer support on the way to medical relief. Also, I am very happy to hear your report after requesting prayer. For me, part of being a pushy old queen is hating the suspense of finding out what happened next!
Yes, there was a snowfall Wednesday morning, mainly across Southern Vermont, the banana belt. Marshall, born and raised in Southern California, is always thrilled with the first snow. After all these years in Vermont, he still thinks that snow is exotic. The rest of us grumpy old New Englanders were less cheered by the lovely white stuff covering beautiful autumn colors. There was a thorough nip in the air, enough to remind me I need new snow tires, wonder when the two cords of wood we ordered last spring will come, and grateful that appointments for undercoating the cars comes soon.
We left early during the snow on Wednesday morning, Marshall has a conference in Quebec City. We drove north for 6 hours into warmer and sunnier weather. It’s very beautiful here in Quebec. We strolled the old city this morning. My French is less than minimal. But my love of pastries and baguettes, confirms a certain loyalty. Maybe, now that it’s colder here, I’ll stop thinking that Vermont is the north pole. Ask me if I mind that Marshall’s parents invited us to celebrate their 50th wedding anniversary in the desert in January.
To my sisters across country, I am so sorry that life hurts so much. If I could surround us all with more than Light and help smooth the road, I’d do it in a heartbeat. But I think we are in the graduate school of life to love one another and ourselves through the hard places. Whether we are looking at leaving or sticking around, there’s plenty of pain either way and so much to learn in whatever time we have. I am hoping that we can become more merciful inwardly with each hurt, that trouble brings us to seek more light instead of wince, become impatient, or blame. This is so much to ask and yet, all the other plans fall short.
Please, as we screw up and become messy in the difficulties of life, don’t insist on perfection- let it rip, be terribly honest, and then settle into the silence to seek Light. Don’t postpone the screaming AND don’t get stuck there.
I send much love to each and everyone one of us, John
Here’s a prayer for us all as the war drums beat louder.
Dear Great & Holy Spirit,
Again the madness of violence resounds
Amongst your strongest children.
Vengeance and greed make plans
For the loss of life
Of our own and theirs,
Of all of us.
We who pray and work and
March and vote for peaceful moves
Mourn the limits of wisdom
Grieve the worst to come
Again, so soon again.
The last war, the one before,
All so painful and sad
So many dead,
So many wounded,
So soon again.
Wash us of our despair
To hold forth
And find the Light
As we go into
This next time again already.