Second Chances

I met Ragu at Kertiyasa, the bungalow villa where I stayed for a month in Bali. It is an enchanting place. The lush greenery envelopes the ground and the mating turtle doves' cooing invite love and wonder across the paths.

The steps at Kertiyasa

     Ragu seems to be a manager of sorts, although he works on the lawn, greets customers, helps hack down coconuts and has a plethora of information. There is no hierarchy apparent to my eye, but a cooperation that supersedes roles. Each worker is graceful, happy, tender and eager to assist at every request.
    This particular exchange with Ragu that has lingered and made a mark on my heart, happened early one morning. I noticed from a distance that Ragu was crouched low to the ground and picking up dead flowers that had fallen from the bushes and the trees. Bright yellow and red ones were scattered on the grass. He carried them softly in his hands and began to place them at the inner cracks of the steps where they would not be trampled. He saw us coming and stood quickly to greet us.
"That is beautiful." I said.
 "I give the flowers a second chance," he beamed as he spoke.
  Something inside me awakened and flashing before me were all the dried and wrinkly petunias that I had "dead-headed" as we called it. Daily I would snip the old flowers and pitch them. Yet, here he was making something one might consider useless, or event past its prime - a thing of beauty. Every step was a majestic welcome.

Ragu cutting coconuts for us

  I was struck with wondering just how many times I dismiss people and things as "no longer being useful."  His very action was giving new purpose to the flower. It jolted me a bit as I thought about second chances. Too often when people have wounded me or screwed up, it has been easy to write them off as unnecessary and trouble in my life.  I felt both shame and wonder.
   I like second chances. I am a person who doesn't easily get it right the first time. I think second chances are about forgiveness, but even more so - about raising one to a greater beauty. It's such a slight paradigm shift, but oh so powerful. Too often I judge people's value by what they do or what they have been. I am often blind to the potential of growth, love and possibility when I am stunted by seeing people as they were, not as they can be.
Over and again, my time here in Bali teaches me that beauty is reborn whenever I open my eyes to see it. Thank you Ragu for teaching me about second chances!

Our morning walk

Leaving for Bali - an Unsettled Delight!

It is a beautiful day as we leave for the airport in San Francisco. It's chilly here in the beautiful Sierrra mountains and I guess we shall love it for where it are going promises to be hot and humid.

You might be wondering about the title of my post. It has a dual meaning. The program in which I am participating is called Unsetteld.com. I call it a Delight for I think it is going to be exactly what I was hoping to find in my sabbatical journey. In addition to being refreshed physically, I wanted to have my mind challenged, my spirit embraced and new experiences to help me open to the many ways God is speaking to me and the parish I serve.

So off to Bali we go! It is a spiritual place with so many temples that it is called the "land of the gods." I long to pray and meditate, to find new balance.

Being a pastor is work and a calling I love. The last five years have been an incredible blessing and I thank God for the way the parish and I have grown. But I am ready to be renewed, open to possibilities that will help me live with deeper gratitude and compassion.

Today my prayer was that I would be aware of the love of God in every moment, every encounter and  so far it is just that.

We had lunch at the Yucca restaurant in Standford Shoppng Center. Then a short nap as we prepare to board at 1:15a.m. It will be on to Hong Kong, then to Singapore, then to Bali! Phew! I think I'll need to sleep when I get there!

Already I have met people in the service industry who are kind and accomodating. What a great way to start our journey!