Beyond Day SixMy sometimes-daily blog of a photograph or two with a few words, celebrating all the days of life that flow through creation into perspiration, inspiration, reflection, sabbath, and resurrection. HoneysuckleMy very first summer as the associate pastor at Effingham Centenary UMC I was introduced to Little Grassy Camp near Carbondale. We went there a lot over the years: summer camp, confirmation retreats, Youth weekends, Emmaus weekends, Board of Ordained Ministry meetings, workshops, training events. Michael and Amy were married at Inspiration Point 24 years ago last week. And one of my most lasting memories is the smell of honeysuckle that seemed to be everywhere in the spring. So it's a delight to me that on the northern fence of our yard is an abundance of honeysuckle. Good memories that surround me with fragrance.
Gardening WinsWe went to St. Louis in February, and besides visiting with family and friends, we went to one of our favorite places--the Missouri Botanical Garden. And there in one of the interior spaces was the glimpse of spring. Little did we know that it would be one of the few trips in 2020. And little did we know then how important gardening would be to us as we have spent the last 10 weeks isolated from family and friends. In spite of it all, gardening wins!
In Every PlaceToday is the Sixth Sunday of Easter. Portions of another sermon from St. Paul appear in Acts 17:24 "God, who made the world and everything in it, is Lord of heaven and earth." and 17:27-28 "God made the nations so they would seek him, perhaps even reach out to him and find him. In fact, God isn't far from us. In God we live, move, and exist." In this time when everything appears to have unraveled, it is good to remember this affirmation that God is near to us in every moment, and in every place.
She Was With Me Nearly Every TimeThe stress of being home, and missing family and friends, and everything else is getting to me and yesterday I was complaining, feeling sorry for myself, and barked at Judy. Later as I apologized and talked to her about my remarks, I began to unpack some of the possible reasons that had provoked my response. One of those was that I had no one to photograph with, no buddy who I could go out and take pictures. Ain't it awful! But later, I realized to my embarrassment, and I am confessing now to her and everybody else, that she was with me nearly every time I pushed the shutter. She carried the tripod, she pointed out flowers or bugs or rocks that I might be interested in. How many times had she walked the trail, or stood next to me or posed as the human element in a landscape? And when we made the transition to digital and could immediately see the resulting image, who did I show the photo to first? She was always appropriately awed at my composition. The reality is that I do have a buddy to photograph with and sometimes she even carries the camera!
Not So CuddlyNo, this is not a microscopic view of the coronavirus. But is a photo of cactus at the Missouri Botanical Garden, photographed pre-pandemic. Our politics are prickly and has invaded all the places in our lives where it should not matter. I am distressed when we have massive unemployment claims, incredible amounts of money going who knows where, and a global virus that has killed hundreds of thousands which has no cure or vaccine, that we are divided by the poison of partisanship. Add racism and fear of all kinds to the brew. What a summer we are going to have!
Ready for ReleaseI've been thinking about cars and traveling the last several days, and looking through some of my photos of cars and automotive items. Back when cars had prominent radiator caps, an entire industry developed making elaborate ornaments to be fastened to the top of the cap. This one is for a 1930 Cadillac and depicts a woman leaning into the wind with her hair and cape flowing behind her. Must be super-woman! We have limited our exposure to COVID-19 by mostly staying home and wearing masks when out in public. I suspected when this all began more than two months ago that hand-shaking would be a greeting that would disappear for a while. Now I grieve that the precaution of wearing a mask is a political statement, and I felt uncomfortable in the local hardware store with clerks and customers not wearing masks or maintaining social distancing. So this ornament expresses my yearning for the future when our spirits can be free and healthy.
September in Springfield2008, the hotrods, customs, gearheads, food stands were thick in downtown Springfield, Illinois. I had found a parking spot early in the evening and the cars paraded through downtown for what seems like hours and then parked for a street party, complete with oldies bands on numerous corners. What an amazing evening! It felt like I was back in high school. What fun! I'm pretty sure this is an early Oldsmobile, probably about 1952. Spinners on the hubcaps! And teardrop spotlights, and laker exhaust pipes!
Loving LaneI love auto museums. I love cars. So I've visited the Crosley Museum in Paducah (it's a definite must; there is nothing like it). And probably my favorite is the Auburn-Cord-Duesenburg Museum in Indiana. Well, there's also the museum at the Indianapolis Motor Speedway, and the one at Darlington, South Carolina. Oh, and I forgot about Henry Ford Village in Greenfield, Michigan, that one was amazing! I can't forget going to the National Corvette Museum in Bowling Green, Kentucky. There's an interesting auto display at the National Transportation Museum in St. Louis. And then there's the car collection at Harold Warp's Pioneer Village in Minden, Nebraska. Have you been there? I've probably forgotten even more than I've listed here. Today's photo comes from The Lane Motor Museum here in Nashville, a fascinating collection of vehicles with a display that has been different every time I have visited. I love going here as well. Because I love cars.
What We Went to SeeOne of the places that I wanted to see and photograph on our early March trip to Hunting Island was the beach with driftwood trees. I had seen photos by others and wanted to visit that beach. Of course, the weather that day was abysmal, not in the dramatic photo way, and there is a significant beach restoration project underway near the lighthouse. But we did find a beach with large driftwood and I did manage a few pictures. This one was one of the more interesting.
Not Everyone Wants to Hear about HopeFifth Sunday of Easter. Acts 7:55-60 is part of the lectionary readings for the day, and follows the longer section in chapter 7 of Stephen's sermon. His message differed in tone and content from Peter's sermon in chapter 2 with a crescendo of examples of the failures of God's people. Eugene Peterson paraphrased the critical part of the concluding passage of Stephen's sermon as follows: "Your ancestors killed anyone who dared talk about the coming of the Just One. And you've kept up the family tradition--traitors and murderers, all of you. You had God's Law handed to you by angels--gift-wrapped!--and you squandered it!" At that point they went wild, a rioting mob of catcalls and whistles and invective." Stephen is stoned, killed, praying for forgiveness for those causing his death. And concludes with "Saul was right there, congratulating the killers." And there follows one of the most stunning stories of transformation as Saul becomes Paul, the prominent leader of the Christian movement. It might have been how Stephen chose to deliver this message or the content that angered his audience, but he stirred quite a reaction. I have noticed some of the same reactions in our current crisis where a message provokes opposite passions. Truth is not heard. Facts are discounted. Messengers are accused of fraud. How can it be that grace is unfair and the poor can be ridiculed and abused? Not everyone wants to hear about hope and love and peace. But it's the only message we have. Essentially, Stephen told his audience that they were in God's way, opposing the movement toward wholeness and justice and restoration. And they didn't want to hear it.
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