We have twelve months in the year 2020 to see, feel, hear, taste, touch, embrace, consider, reject, ignore (and the list goes on). However, never again will we have a year that can speak to us at both the level of 20/20 physical vision and the level of 20/20 spiritual maturity – insight.
The metaphor of 20/20 vision is apt for many who were born with vision issues. As we age, eye issues like cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration can surface and cause problems with the ability to read, maintain balance, see well at night or even during the day.
Gratefully, scientific strides have been made and today’s ophthalmologists, optometrists and opticians work hand in hand with one another as well as with pharmacists and various companies so that medication and eyeglass wear has greatly improved. More and more, people who anticipated restricted or no vision in their senior years are finding help in improved medication and eyeglasses.
Vision – such a gift!
Here we are, at the beginning of the year 2020 and my mind can’t help but reflect on possible connections between this year 2020 and the clarity that 20/20 vision can bring.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful, as the image says, if this were a year of “perfect vision”: a year where we saw … reason, truth and commonsense replace lies. … politicians, seeing the damage done by their selfish opposition to climate change, enact stringent environmental protection laws. … corporations put people before profit. … politicians put country before personal gain. … humanity took the call to ‘love one another’ seriously and put love into into practice in homes, communities, neighbourhoods, streets.
A “year of perfect vision” … physical sight and insight. I pray for that.
The song by Robin Lamont is a wonderful reminder of the need to be ever mindful of the clarity about the future that we all need … one where we “see” more clearly; love the Creator/one another/ourselves more clearly; follow the path of the holy ones whose lives modelled thoughts and acts based on love: Day by Day, Day by day. Oh, dear Lord, Three things I pray: To see thee more clearly. Love thee more dearly. Follow thee more nearly. Day by day. <lyrics by Robin Lamont>
May 2020 be a year of “perfect vision” for our world.
Flight 753: 176 souls lost … 63 Canadians and many Iranian students returning to Canada to continue their post-graduate studies along with grandparents, parents, children, siblings, plane crew. So much loss.
In the midst of global tragedy where fires in Australia have re-ignited and people are being told once again to evacuate; the United States has added new sanctions against Iran; Puerto Rico has had another earthquake today while still trying to recover from the hurricane forcing people to sleep in the streets … it may look to some as if the end of the world is coming to pass but … it is not.
Modern communication not only means that news of such tragedies can be shared almost immediately they have happened, it means that news networks can have their journalists/reporters comment almost ad nauseum, leaving little room for people to grasp what is happening.
What is happening is not the end of the world – it is life in a world that is in chaos. We must all take a moment (or several) to breathe … and then breathe again.
May the souls of all who have perished in all of these tragedies rest, and may the hearts and minds of those who grieve their loss be comforted by the outpouring of love and concern, prayers and practical assistance.
And may this little daffodil be a reminder that even in the midst of the brutality of a cold winter … even in the midst of death, there is life – and with life, there is hope.
The clothing rod in the bedroom gave way last week and the clothes had to be removed from the rod. My DH, Hans, had used that rod for his shirts, but when he died, and I donated his clothing, I moved my sweaters, jackets and slacks to that rod. But they were too heavy for just that one rod support. So I went to Home Hardware and bought two new rod supports and accompanying plates. And here’s where the fun began.
First, I tried to find a stud. No luck. Then I found a stud. I tried to put screws in the rod support plate. No luck. The arthritis wouldn’t let me tighten the screws all the way into the stud.
When I borrowed an electric drill to screw them in, I quickly discovered that I’d screwed the support plate in … backwards.
After figuring out what to push on the electric drill, I reversed the screws, got them out of the wall and put the support plate in the proper way. Success! Sort of …
I couldn’t figure out why, but the plate and hanger don’t want to work together. So I went into Hans’ workshop to find his hammer to pound it in. I knew he had a couple of hammers, but darned if I could find even one. But I knew I had a hammer in the Studio that I use for crafts and got that. Hans always chuckled at it because it was so tiny, delicate … and useless.
I am calm. I am a handywoman. Nope. Not. Even. Close.
This week I will head back to Home Hardware and ask “What did I do wrong?”
I am calm. I *will* be a handywoman. It’s just not happened … yet.
Sweet little bee, so industrious, so intense. You didn’t see me get oh, so close. I waited, holding my breath, expecting you to fly away but you didn’t. I took your picture and you kept on working, burrowing your head and once again I was in awe. Creation. God. Beauty. Wonder. Holiness encapsulated in a busy bee.
Grateful. I am grateful there are still bees. Bees being busy. Bees “doing their thing.” May humanity recognize the importance of keeping this planet safe for you and for themselves. May you always be here “doing your thing,” busy bee.
A prayer … this night and every night.
can be prayed … for others (we)
can be prayed … for self (replace ‘we’ for ‘I’)
This night
and every night
may we be blessed.
May we be blessed with
a healing night of sleep
a release from pain
a gentle respite from worry and fear about possibilities of nuclear war blessed with a peace that passes understanding.
May we be blessed by Grace that surrounds, undergirds and infills.
When we awake
may we be mindful of Love that envelopes
casting out fear
fear of the known
and fear of the unknown.
This night and every night
may we be blessed.
Amen.
The haunting “what if” questions about the past “What if …” … Mother Nature hadn’t unleashed such fury … ‘xyz’ hadn’t been done or said … the stock market hadn’t plummeted … the relationship hadn’t gone sour … an election hadn’t turned out the way it did … the accident hadn’t happened … a loved one hadn’t become so ill or died can bring about distress, anxiety, fear, depression, anger, self-blame, guilt, and cause our heart to beat irregularly.
We so often forget that what has passed, has passed and cannot be undone.
The pondering “What if” questions of the future “What if I …“ … journey down path ‘A’ instead of path ‘B’? … say yes to an invitation extended my way? … take the risk and explore a new line of work, vocation, interest? … join a group, take a course? … make time to ‘be still’ and consider the gifts within me? … pick up the phone and call someone who is hurting? … reach out in love to myself as well as to God and my neighbour? … vote? … help others to get out and vote? … stand up, speak out, get involved in my community? can lead us to discover hope, challenge, and the joy of soul-enriching possibilities.
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if we could keep in mind that what lies ahead has yet to unfold and *can* be done. May we walk down the Path Of Can Be Done.
