Uphill idealist

The collection of treasure on my windowsill might not look like treasure to someone else, but it is treasure to me.  I see a plaque that a family member gave me over 10 years ago to announce news of the grandhuman.  I see a freshly transplanted plant, that I nurtured from tiny cuttings on a greenhouse visit.  I see an adorable mushroom planter I found at Citiot on vaca that was a perfect home for my baby plant. I see a handmade pog-chip affirming all-body positivity created by Borderline Normal . Our vision sometimes needs an adjustment to see the treasure right before us.  What treasure do you see around/in you today?

In the book “Untie The Strong Woman” by Clarissa Pinkola Estés , I heard a story about Mary the Mother of God and how she navigated a call to be engaged on the earth, care for the poor and connected with the sacred.  She navigated middle space between Heaven and Earth with grace with a resounding, “Yes”.  Today on August 15th,  the Catholic Church, and those who are drawn to Mary, celebrate her Assumption Day. This day declares that she was taken up to Heaven, body and soul, at the end of her life. Even in her farewell she said yes to the both/and.  (Photo of stained glass window comes from Our Lady of Knock Shrine in East Durham, NY.) What does saying yes to the sacred and the earthy mean to you?  What middle place do you feel the most comfortable?  What is challenging about being in the middle? Where do you feel most connected to your body and spirit?

This week at Holy Shenanigans Podcast , we celebrate the release of the book,   "Youth Are Either Leading or Leaving",   by Lyle Griner.  To get your copy, go to:   https://store.bookbaby.com/book/youth-are-either-leading-or-leaving Lyle Griner , is Executive Peer Ministry Leadership Director: A connoisseur of “Aha” moments as soulfully curious youth and families wrestle with the nuances of faith and life! A writer, teacher, youth minister, spiritual director, working across the country, with multiple denominations to help congregations expand and deepen their abilities for youth and young adults to find purposeful ministry in every day life.  < www.peerministry.org > Support the show When in Western New York, please join Pastor Tara in worship at  First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown NY  on Sundays at 10:30 am.

“Yaya, I chose this table to sit at because I know you love sunflowers and Van Gogh.”  What a gift to be known and loved. My grandhuman is especially gifted at noticing and celebrating the things they know about the people they love. May your day be blessed with being known, loved and remembered.  Do you have a story of being remembered? Share it in the comments.

Welcome to episode #147 of Holy Shenanigans Podcast from the   2023 Wild Goose Festival   - this week I visit with a new friend,   Jon Carl Lewis , on the topic of    Spiritual Direction/Companionship.   Jon Carl Lewis is a spiritual companion dedicated to helping followers of Christ connect more deeply with Christ—and each other—so that they might live with abundant joy, loving God and their neighbor with all their heart, soul, mind, and strength. He lives in Trenton, NJ, with his husband of 27 years and Alfred the cat. He feels a special affinity with contemplatives of any tradition and the LGBTQIA+ community. Jon Carl is always open to chat.  Please schedule a free hour with him at  https://calendly.com/joncarllewis/60min  and find out about all of his projects at  linktr.ee/joncarllewis . Support the show When in Western New York, please join Pastor Tara in worship at  First Presbyterian Church of Jamestown NY  on Sundays at 10:30 am.

Matthew 11:28-30   "Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light.” This spring I read the book by Rev. Tricia Hersey from The Nap Ministry and have been returning to it as a well of encouragement to live into regular rest practices. I n her book,  “Rest Is Resistance”, she tells the story of an elder in her life who practiced rest daily by taking a pause to, “Rest their eyes.” This story reminded me of my neighbor Ms. Estella who had a similar practice of, “resting her eyes” every afternoon. As a child it was a puzzle to me, but her commitment to this practice made a big impression on me.  The ways we all rest is different, but what if “resting our eyes” was something we all engaged in?  This photo comes from last week’s vaca time.   As the last campfire burned down, I collected some glow-