A Gate with no Fence!

 

Sometimes in life, something pops up which startles you, or causes you to be curious. I have been driving by a gate for weeks now and I finally decided to stop and take a photo.

It is quite strange. It is a beautiful fence, recently crafted with lovely lights posted on the top. The wood seems to be carefully chosen, and the hinges are gorgeous, standing out in beautiful black. The odd thing about it, there is no fence. There’s a gate with no fence! Imagine that, and besides, the gate is open most of the time.

I came home and said, “Daryl you’re not gonna believe this, but there’s a house that has a gate with no fence. It’s magnificent. I have no idea why they put it there but what a great symbol for our lives. A gate with no fence. A gate that is open. It seems like a marvelous invitation to come in and see the treasures that await beyond its openness.”

Being practical, as my sweetheart Daryl is, he said to me, “Bonnie Lee, they don’t need a fence. All around the front of the property is a deep culvert. A car could never get over it without severe damage.” “You’ve got to be kidding me,” I said. Here I thought it was this welcome invitation. Instead, it’s just a way to keep people out when it’s closed. “Well yes,” he said “that is probably true.” 

 I stopped the other day and took a photo of it because I couldn’t get it off my mind. Imagine my surprise when the house was for sale. At the end of the gate is a magnificent structure, a gorgeous house waiting to be filled with love and laughter.

 As I looked a little closer, I noticed that there was a sign posted right next to the open gate. If you look closely in the photo, or enlarge it, you can see it. It says ‘guard dogs on property. They will attack. Notify owner before entry.’ No way! Unbelievable! Who would put such a sign beside this lovely gate? I was astounded, but then I remembered that the house was for sale and maybe they just didn’t want people wandering around the property without an appointment.

But soon I began to think about my own life. The gate seemed like it was a symbol. I consider myself open, loving, welcoming, and my effort is for people to find a refuge with me, a place to call home. I like when people confide in me and find solace when we are together. I do have a reputation for complete strangers to tell me intricate details of their lives.

 But then that open gate with a deep culvert and the sign caused me to stop and think more deeply about my openness. Sometimes we say we’re open, but when a friend doesn’t agree with our political view, it’s almost as if we put our hands up and say ‘stop it I don’t want to hear it.’ What about the relative who we label as a tin hat, or conservative, liberal, or other such names that I can’t even write here. I’m not going to their picnic, we say, it’s just too hard. We don’t think alike and I can’t listen to their shenanigans.

 What about the person who plays very loud music in their backyard when I’m trying to have my quiet time? I stomp around and say ‘don’t they have any sense?’ Of course, I keep it to myself but my thoughts are so ugly. This morning Mother Theresa reminded me in my devotional that Christ lives in us and through us. Oh dear, I’m not a very good example of that when I have such thoughts am I? So, the gate has become a reminder to be more open, to take the sign of guard dogs away. (Possibly not even have guard dogs, but then again I live in a place of safety) Yes, my soul needs protecting sometimes from the meanness of the world, don’t get me wrong, but so often I shut the gate with a snap before I look deeply into the person’s eyes and hear the wounds of their souls. God forgive me. I was a pastor for many years, and I think about the ways we claim to be an open and welcoming congregation, but on Sunday mornings, do we talk to the newcomer? Well, a lot of the times we just chat with the people we already know. "It's the pastor's job to welcome visitors," we say. If someone’s theology doesn't quite align with our sensibilities, we make comments, ‘perhaps they’re not suited to us.’ That’s like having the guard dog sign there. God help us.

When I spend time meditating before Saint Francis in my garden each day, I’m reminded to love everyone to love all creatures, yes, even the spiders too, which scare the wits out of me; that’s a really hard one. I have a friend who loves spiders. I never quite understood it, but you know what, her spirit is like that too. I don’t know a person that she doesn’t love. Her invitations to parties and gatherings are always open.

So maybe the gate is there to give me a lesson in God's good welcome. May it be so for you today. Sending you my love with all my foibles, Bonnie Lee.

 

Life is Full of Surprises!

Hey, it’s me! I’m back. Well I didn’t really go anywhere, but many of you have been asking when I’m going to Blog again. I don’t know I got stuck I guess.  (This is going to be longer than one trip to the toilet!)

Retirement, well, I don’t know what it is. It’s way better than I expected, but not all what I thought it would be. First of all, I absolutely love my early mornings on the patio, reveling in the garden. It’s comforting, peaceful, majestic, and the result of much hard labor. It reminds me that God is present in all things. On the other hand, I don’t know why I can’t sleep in. It doesn’t matter because I can take a nap if I want to. Well most days I can take a nap, when I’m not running between doctor appointments. 

 

That has been the other surprise during retirement. I thought that I would be free of doctor appointments; that my body would somehow magically rejuvenate from all the rest and less stress that you often face when you work. Ha! Well that didn’t happen. Less stress, for sure, if you don’t consider that our son lost his house to a fire, or our daughter with a chronic illness has faced some critical issues, or that our political situation frightens me on any given day. But I’m full of Hope!

 

No, I’m not a Pollyanna, but you can go ahead and call me that if you like. I’m more like a Dolly Parton kind of girl without the boobs and the money! Life is just a lot more interesting, peaceful, and invigorating when I look at it through the eyes of gratefulness.

 

Yesterday was the most incredible day. It was not at all what we expected. We took our truck to get serviced. The guy told us to show up at 9 AM which we did. He said it would be a couple hours so we went for breakfast. We found this little diner called Eggs Up Grill. Everything was tasty and the atmosphere so delightful. We still hadn’t received a call from the mechanic so we decided to pick up a few groceries. As you probably know by now, a few groceries usually turns into a cart full. But I got some fresh kale so that counts for something right?

 

We headed back to the auto shop. The car still wasn’t ready and the gentleman said it would probably be about an hour so we decided to take a nap in the car. I couldn’t nap so I started walking around. We went back in and he said well it’s actually gonna be longer.  By now it’s noon and so we headed for lunch. 

 

Now I have a strange craving for cheesesteaks. Since moving to South Carolina, I have not found any place that  makes good cheese steaks and of course not Philly cheesesteaks. But Daryl happened to find one online that was called Cheesesteak University close to Coastal Carolina University so we thought we’d try it out.

 

Oh my, we went there and was I ever excited! Daryl and I shared a half of an original cheesesteak and it was phenomenal. I saw people eating soft ice cream and I said to Daryl "they have ice cream here as well." So I went over to the counter and said to the gentleman, "I would like to buy some ice cream." "Oh ma’am,"he said, "our ice cream is complementary. You just help yourself." You have got to be kidding me! Cheesesteak sandwiches and free ice cream! I have just now found my favorite place to eat! What fun!

 

So you see all that waiting turned out to be a great benefit. We headed back to the auto shop and it still wasn’t ready so Daryl and I sat together in the waiting room and basically looked lovingly at one another. It’s OK to take that kind of time you know. Remembering the love and making googly eyes at each other! 

 

The truck was finally ready, and the gentleman told us that our truck is an excellent shape and that we are taking good care of it. OK, I already knew that since I’m the one who checks the oil most of the time and looks under the hood to inspect it. I have no idea what I am inspecting but it seems like a good idea in case anything has made a home under there! 

 

Next, our stop was to the DMV of South Carolina in Conway. Now I have to tell you, DMV offices get a bad rap. This place was run like an Amazon plant and filled with kind people. We went in and asked the first lady how she was doing. She kind of laughs and says, "oh just peachy." I said, "well that’s a good answer, but I don’t think that’s really what’s happening." She said "let’s just say peachy shall we?" And kept a smile on her face. It’s so happen that when they had issued Daryl his South Carolina license they had not put his motorcycle designation on it. We were so happy to find out that he did not have to take the test again, but they would reissue him a new license for free! We took a number and sat down. 

 

It wasn’t very long before they called our number and he had his photo taken and we were out of there. People were so nice and they were working so fast, but it didn’t feel like you were being rushed through. Now, how did they get like that? I don’t know. Maybe it’s all those miniature glass figurines on top of their computer monitors that cheer them up and make them smile, but their attitudes are beautiful! 

 

Now you might think that that was enough for one day and I could go home and take a nap but I couldn’t sleep so I made a new kind of dinner with a new recipe. All I can tell you is, it didn’t work. Ever since I retired I thought that I would become this really fantastic cook and I would do new recipes and we would just have great food. Well, it’s unfortunate but not one single recipe that I have tried has really been delicious. Daryl is so kind and just eats it and says oh that was OK. But this definitely was not OK. Yeah, I’m gonna put everything in the crockpot tomorrow with Sweet Baby Ray's barbecue sauce, and I’ll tell you it is gonna be good!

But what happened after dinner was probably the most rewarding part of our day. We went out to water the lawn, because we’ve got new grass that was just seeded and that’s when the people start walking. A young mother and her son introduced themselves. She stayed and talked and talked, and I just loved it. Then a couple came over and said to Daryl, "we’d like to talk to Bonnie Lee." So Daryl had me stop my watering and go call them and they came over and went inside. They had never been inside our home and even though we were polite with each other previously,  we did not really know them. It was a beautiful meeting. They shared a concern with which they thought I might be able to help. 

 

Next, I had written a message to someone in our community that I’d like to talk to them personally over some situations that were happening in our community. They said yes they would be there in half an hour.  Oh my, was that ever the crowning glory of my day. A man, his wife and their baby

came and stayed two hours. It was a great delight. We shared our garden with them. We sat in the house and they looked at all the paintings and the art on the wall.  We shared our struggles of living in the community and our great joys of being here. They were intrigued by the organ and their young son was wideyeded as Daryl played the Native American flutes and he loved the loudness of the organ! We found kindred spirits. Once they left, I said to Daryl, "my cup is full and running over." That wasn’t to be the end of the day!

 

Our very dear friends from California called and we chatted with them and then just as I was getting ready for bed my sister called me. She kind of forgot what time it is cause she’s retired but I absolutely love talking to her. She is so funny and so witty and just makes the best out of life. So I sat in my recliner and chatted with her a bit. And finally with a contented heart and a weary body, I snuggled down to the best man in the whole wide world. 

 

So there you have it, my dear friends, nothing very inspiring, no great truths, no insights to give you; just to tell you I love you dearly, Bonnie Lee

Ash Wednesday has new meaning

My Dear Ones, most of you probably know by now that our son Jordan lost his home due to an apartment fire that totaled the duplex in which he and his partner lived. Praise be to God they and the animals are safe. Thy were able to salvage a few things that had been in bins under their bed but almost everything else was a total loss.

We are in awe of the generosity of our family and friends who sent money to help refurbish their home. Unfortunately, they are still not in an apartment and Daryl and I are housing them in a hotel. The landlord had three empty apartments but none of them were ready. The work to get one of them in condition for habitation is slow but we are hoping by the end of this week they can make a new home. 

I am unsettled by Ash Wednesday this year. I usually welcome this someber season of the church year as we prepare for the forty days of Lent and head toward Easter. In Lent I can mourn the sad condition of our divided nation. I can wail for those who are hungry and displaced and tortured as I sit among the sorrow of Jesus journeying to the cross. This year however, I am distraught by the ashes. I do not know if I can have them put on my forehead. The vision of Jordan digging through the ashes of his home unnerves me. At one point he found a piece of jewelry for his girlfriend and she burst into tears and joy at the same time as she hugged him. 

Those ashes are a bit like I feel at the moment - exhausted, frustrated and trying to have hope. Those burned out pieces of furniture feel like the rupture of unity in my soul. I weep as I long for brighter days of laughter and togetherness.

Yet again, hope springs eternal. New friends from church, whom we know only slightly, have donated items and money. Long time friends and of course our deep family have sent money and loving emails, texts and phone calls. These reignite the happy cells buried deep under the mass of sorrow. Thank you, thank you, thank you! 

Yesterday was a warm sunny day and I was able to take a walk in our garden. Much to my surprise, the camellias were blooming and the mint tea has started to shoot through the dirt. The irises are pushing hard to dance in the sun. I cannot help but be delighted. Hope is on the way!

I also was able to lead a class on "Art and Faith" at our church. Oh my, the dear sisters who attended just blessed my soul! We laughed, cried and discovered so many treasures together. I also am taking piano lessons from my sweet Daryl and they revive something in me. 

So perhaps today I will receive the ashes after all. I will be reminded that "from dust you came and from dust you shall return." This sacred action will stir in me a deeper longing to notice the beauty, to tell you more often that I love you, to share the food, the shelter and the joy that I have with others. My dear ones, you are in my heart and I know I am in yours. May today turn you towards hope - even amid the ashes. Standing in the losses and knowing I am loved, Bonnie Lee

 

Weary!

Hello, my Dear Ones,

Oh my, where does one begin amid all the tragedy and sorrow we are witnessing in our country? I don’t know about you, but I am having a hard time sleeping. I had a nightmare last night when I was reaching out to a little girl to save her from drowning, but she was just out of my reach and I could not get to her. I woke up startled and distraught. The irony of it all - the little girl was me and the adult was me!

As I am trying to decipher all this, I know that it is reflective of my state of mind. I am drowning in despair and wringing my hands to discover what I can do to save the children who are being ripped from their families. I am overwhelmed with helplessness. I strive to cling to hope, as that is my nature, but it is daunting and exhausting.

To all of you self-analysts out there, I can assure you that I am aware that this resonates with me because of the severe separation from my own parents. I have had counseling to work through this, and this is way bigger than you or me. This is a nation turning on its own children. Each day I wake up and cry “how long or God how long!”

Some days even my precious devotional time seems  hollow and the calm eludes me. Yet again today, Author Charles Ringman brings me back to Christ. He says, “In a world of new “tribal” animosities and new polarizations of hatred and fear, there are new opportunities for Christians to show Christ’s way- a way of love and peace.” [1]

All I could pray this morning, was “God help us.” Some days I cannot connect with the news because it is just too painful. Yet every day this week I have looked at the little five-year-old boy who is detained by ICE. My heart is broken. 

So where is the hope? My dear ones, it is in you and me and countless others who dare to love in the face of danger. Even as we cry in desperation, we know God is with us. Reading the Psalms, especially chapters 140 and 141, help me.

The other blessing for me is that Daryl sings this every morning with his coffee, Taste and See That God is good, happy are those who take refuge in God. What a marvelous reminder. May it be so for all of us today. Loving you with weeping in my heart, Bonnie Lee

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[1] Ringman, Charles. Washing the Feet of the World with Mother Teresa. 2008. Regent College Publishing. Pg. 218

 

The Blessing for a Lifetime

 

My dear ones, did you ever have something happen to you a long time ago that impacts you today in a “good way?” Many of you know that I was a foster child for most of my childhood and tossed about. I endured homes that should have done me in, but I had a life-changing event at probably four or five years old that set the paradigm for my entire life.

One day I received new roller skates. Probably a neighbor donated them to our poor family. Anyway, I loved those roller skates and whirled around everywhere I could. As far back as I can remember, I was a tree climber. I tore so many dresses climbing trees that my clothing was usually hung together with a safety pin. That day I decided to both climb a very large tree and wear my roller skates. I have no idea how I did it, but there I was comfortably watching the world go by in the tree I had come to love. I don’t know how long I was there because time has a much different length when you are a kid. It started to get dark. I tried to get out of the tree but every time I put my feet on a limb, my foot would slip out. No matter how hard I tried I could not get out of the tree. I began to yell for help. At one point my drunken mother came to the door and yelled, “Shut up, I have a headache.” “ Mama, mama,” I cried “Get me down.”  But she only slammed the door and went back to her drinking. It was to be one of many lifelong rejections.

I began to cry and I was getting cold. Suddenly, I had this idea to pray. “God,” I said “if you get me down out of this tree I will serve you forever.”  How I had learned about God is hard to say. I do not remember going to church and the Bible was never read in our home. As a matter of fact, the only time the word God was used was usually to curse him.

“Please, please get me down. I promise and I mean it.” I pleaded with this unknown God.  Soon I heard my dad’s car in the driveway. He had been working on a construction job and was weary. “Dad, Dad,” I screamed, “Come help me. I am stuck. Help, I wailed.”

He turned and saw me and came running. “Well Bonnie Lee,” he said, “What is going on?” “ I can’t get out of the tree and mama won’t help me.”  “Well honey, just climb down.” “ I can’t -my roller skates keep slipping.” He looked shocked. “Well just take them off and then you can climb down.”  I had never even thought of that. I quickly unlaced the ties and threw them down. It was easy to climb barefooted because I had done it often.

He caught me and held me in his arms. It is the only memory I have of my dad every holding me in a gentle way and I’m sure it felt like the arms of God. Sometimes we are the face of Jesus that heals someone.

That night as I lay in bed. I said “Thank you God, I’m going keep my promise.”

You know, that promise guided me all through my life. When circumstances became horrendous, I did not turn to drugs or alcohol, instead I gave my life to Jesus. I became a foster parent myself, raised a family, worked hard and stayed out of trouble (well some of you will have a hard time believing that!)

This morning however, my promise hit me with full force again. A person dear to me wrote an exceptionally heinous comment on Facebook and it ripped into my soul. “How can I ever talk to that person again,” I asked Daryl. “ I no longer wish to be their friend.”  But of course, I started to remember my promise and continued with my routine of having a devotional every day and reading the Bible. Wow, it challenged me!

Of course this passage in Colossian 3 would be the lesson for the day! The writer is reminding us of what it means to be like Christ: “As God’s children, holy and beloved, clothe yourselves with compassion, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.” Oh dear, there it is again, serving Jesus through it all. So here I am, remembering my promise in the tree and being challenged to shift my paradigm to love. It is slowly changing me.

I don’t know what you are facing today, but remember that you are holy and beloved, and I am sure love will follow. Joy in the Journey, Bonnie Lee

Healing at the Beach

My dear ones, Today I was at the beach as it was 75 degrees at our home. As always, the ocean inspires me and I thought of you all – my dear friends and family. It certainly has been a while since I have written. It is not because I don’t love you and miss you deeply. It is because I have been stymied by the horrific injustices that are going on in our world today. I find myself unable to read or listen to the news. Some of you may say that I am burying my head in the sand. For my own body’s sake, I need to listen to my own emotional, physical and spiritual health. I have never stopped praying. There are times I want to get on my soapbox and say, “This is wrong God, can’t you change what is happening!” The murders, the violence, and the harm to children, overwhelm me at times. I keep looking to Jesus and say, what would you do? And then I remember that Jesus spoke against the machinations of the political system in his day. Yes, he angered some people, and the disciples wanted him to do much more than just talk. When Jesus’ followers saw what was going to happen, they said, “Lord, should we strike with our swords?” ⁵⁰ And one of them struck the servant of the high priest, cutting off his right ear.

⁵¹ But Jesus answered, “No more of this!” And he touched the man’s ear and healed him. (Luke 22:49-51)

The response of Jesus was to show justice and mercy, and love all. For me it is remembering that even amid my actions of social justice, I must cuddle them in Mercy and Grace.

 This is hard to do. Mother Teresa says, “Be sure that you love Jesus… after that you cannot give your thoughts, your tongue, your heart to bitterness.”[1] It is our heart that needs to be aligned with love and mercy and justice. When I want revenge, I am not following God‘s way. When I wish harm on those who murder others, I am not serving God or my neighbor with love. Have mercy on me, Oh God.

So, you see I am struggling and while I often have posts that are optimistic and full of blessing, I wondered if I could do that this time. But I have discovered that there are people everywhere who bless me, even strangers. I met a doctor in an elevator in Texas. As we chatted, he told me that he was going to a breast cancer conference. We talked more and he learned that I had two bouts of breast cancer. He asked me what medication I was taking. I told him and he said there is a brand-new medication just coming out. That is going to help your kind of cancer! Make sure you tell your doctor about it. Then he asked the name of my doctor.  I told him I live in Myrtle Beach South Carolina and gave him her name. “I know her,” he exclaimed. He said “She’s great. Talk to her when you go see her.” Some might call it serendipity or luck. I call it God‘s moment where two souls who needed to talk, had a rare moment in an elevator. I forgot to ask him his name. I didn’t see him again. But the impact of that conversation might make a difference in my health.

Many blessings evolved in the Christmas season. One of our neighbors had a party and we made new friends. We held a salon organ concert in our home where Daryl delighted us with incredible music, and I was able to share a meal and the little nooks and crannies of Christmas decorating in our new home.

During the month of December, we were able to spend time with Family. It was a great joy to be with children and grandchildren. A special time was gathering around the organ and singing Christmas carols. We sounded like a little choir! So, my heart is full of blessing, even amid the turmoil of trying to find answers to a weary world. I know that for some of you, this is your first year sitting without your spouse in this holiday season. A couple of you are facing significant health challenges and are weary of it all. In spite of everything, the joy of the Lord is our strength. I don’t know where you’re at today; you might be facing very tough situations, and so it is my prayer that you will feel my arms around you and God‘s beautiful comfort. Loving you as always, Bonnie Lee.

 

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[1] Ringma, Charles, Washing the Feet of the World with Mother Teresa. RegentCollege Publishing, 2008., Pg 207.