Sugar In My Pocket

I ended my last post in July on 'Comfort in Troubled Times' relating to what animals give to their human friends in the way of comfort.  Among other meanings of comfort is to cheer, to soothe and give solace and relief.   Horses are quite attuned to this companionship that brings comfort between mammal and humankind.  Sugar was one such horse who came to live on our ranch when she was older, around 15 years of age.  In human years, that would be about 48.  Not too old, right? - But not a teenager either.

She was a gentle and trusting friend.  I took this picture of her when she first came to live with us and called it  'Sugar in my Pocket'.  She happened to be nuzzling inside of Jim's jacket.  It is one of the better photos that I took with my first digital camera years ago.  It is one of those moment pictures that tells a story.

The photo below is one taken of our grandson's first ride on a horse that happened to be Sugar.  He was barely a year old but Grandpa had him secured in his arms to get a short ride on Sugar.  I don't know who enjoyed this the most... Grandpa, Grandson or Sugar!   Our grandson is now 16 years of age and a High School Junior.  He'll soon be starting his own adventure in life bringing with him good memories of 4-legged friends that he encountered on the ranch.  And time rolls on....

You may have noticed that I have referred to Sugar in the past tense.  She passed away simply of old age on October 12th.  She had spent 15 more years with us, making her age into the thirties.  So a 30+ year old horse would be close to 90 in human years.  She led a good life with us, free to roam the pastures and hills with her friends. Occasionally, she would tolerate being saddled up to give a ride to a human friend.  One such human friend is Father Julian Cassar who came out to visit us while he was pastor at a parish in John Day.   Sugar impressed him so much that he also wrote a post about her on his own blog that you can read at this link....  https://dungiljan.blogspot.com/2020/10/so-long-sugar.html

Yes, so long Sugar...  you have now entered eternally rich green pastures where time does not exist, nor does old age.  You are safe in the Master's hands, ready to give Him a ride.  What a ride that would be between the Creator and the created!

Until we meet again at The Turn-Up Patch,  I leave you with a beautiful quote by Ronald Duncan...

"The horse.  Here is nobility without conceit, friendship without envy, beauty without vanity.  A willing servant, yet never a slave."

 

Comfort in Troubled Times

Sorry!  It's been awhile since my last posting.  And now that I am back, have discovered that blogger will be doing a new interface, so I will have to hone up on my electronic skills to figure things out on the upcoming blog format changes.  Meanwhile, will take advantage of the old version.  Would be nice if blogger just left things alone; at least it was understandable and doable for those of us not acquainted with all the ways of the tech world.  Sigh!

As it is with most of you, these past months are dismaying with all that is happening around the world and particularly in our own country - the good ol' USA.  As if adjusting to this new situation regarding the battle against COVID-19 isn't enough, the civil unrest across the land is jaw dropping.  It is times like these during head and heart shaking moments, that we look for a greater comfort  beyond self.  We look to God for hope, strength and resilience to get through these times into a saner tomorrow.  We look to family and friends for a shared buoyancy that uplifts through love. We look for humor to neutralize the acidity of daily news.  We look for solace in all its forms to soothe the soul.  One such solace are our beloved animals if you are blessed enough to have a family pet.  Here are a few recent photos taken of our four-legged friends who bless us with unconditional love in their hearts....

My rescue cat, Turnup

Our Border Collie, Ring

Patty, who is a Catahoula Australian Shepherd mix

Jim with 'Warhoop'

Love is two-fold.  An animal respects the hand of care and protection that oversees in a friendship with a trusted master.  Here is a quote by Alfred A. Montapert that speaks a truth... "Animals are reliable, many full of love, true in their affections, predictable in their actions, grateful and loyal.  Difficult standards for people to live up to."

See you next time at The Turn-Up Patch and let us all look forward to a better tomorrow.

The Tapestry and the Golden Thread

As I look back through the years, I notice a common thread interlaced through each and every stage of my life.  Golden in the love of God, this thread has weaved time together throughout infancy, early childhood to older adolescence and adulthood, middle age and into senior years. He knew my name before I came into existence.  He knew at which time in the passage of my years that I would awaken unto His reality.  He knew when I would come to view Him as my Savior and Source of life, called to be His own.  Filaments within His thread are forgiveness, grace and mercy meant to shield a life from becoming raw and unprotected. There are other filaments that give strength in healing and hope bringing peace and assurance.

God is Creator and He made His own tapestry that we call creation in all its forms.  Our own beings are also a tapestry in the interaction with His creation called life.  His golden thread interlaces all the defined moments lived in and lived out.   Family, friends, desires, obligations, purpose, pursuit and choices are patterned within a personal life journey.

There is a beautiful quote by William Stafford called  'The Way It Is'....   There's a thread you follow.  It goes among things that change.  But it doesn't change.  People wonder about what you are pursuing.  You have to explain about the thread.  But it is hard for others to see.  While you hold it you can't get lost.  Tragedies happen; people get hurt or die; and you suffer and get old.  Nothing you do can stop time's unfolding.  You don't ever let go of the thread.

 I hope you will check back at The Turn-Up Patch for a future visit with words and photos...


 

Reflection and Illusion

I'd like to share a recent happening that turned into a life lesson taught by a robin.  Startled by a banging sound, I went to the location of the house that it was coming from.  A robin stared at me beyond the window.  As I quietly watched, the bird appeared to attack the window causing the banging sound.  Repeatedly, this robin would fly to the tree branch and observe the window and fly into the window either with its tiny claws or beak.  Concerned, I stepped outside to discourage the bird - she would fly off only to observe me from afar and once I was out of range, she'd repeat this odd behavior. 

After investigation, I found out that after a bird selects a nesting place, the surrounding area becomes their territory.  If your window is within that territory and the bird sees its image in the reflective surface, it mistakes it for a rival and tries to drive it away.  A robin is one of the notable species that exhibits this behavior.  I looked for the bird's nest and found it tucked high among wires and eves near the roof of the house.  I read that it is best to be patient - that the bird would eventually leave after breeding season.   The robin did finally leave after several days of disturbance and exhibition of amazing energy in the conflict between bird and reflection.

As I watched this bird attacking an imaginary rival, I thought of how we humans can do the same thing influenced by illusion.  We can build an image of self from the narrative of our own minds.  Depending on that narrative, it can be destructive or constructive.  In the case of the robin, his reflection became his own enemy, believing it to be a rival bird.  We can do the same thing; we can become our own rival out of what we think of ourselves within life's experiences.  Our illusions can be replaced with God's reality as this chart illustrates with just a few mindsets in a chorus of many....

COME!  And visit me at The Turn-Up Patch next time.  In the meantime, may hope and new life spring within you as you meet each new day....

 

New Life and COVID-19

Much has happened since I wrote my last post on March 23rd.  As all of you know, the world is in crisis due to the Corona-virus.   I won't elaborate on this insidious disease that has basically shut the world down in quarantine, death and disarray.  It seems we just celebrated the Christmas season a few short months ago, unaware of the impending disaster coming in a form of a tiny viral droplet.  By now, we have seen the effects of COVID-19 both on the human body and on the world's economic system.    In a matter of days, our lives have moved from the familiar routine of work, school, social interaction to a surreal change in restricted living.   It is a lesson not to take our freedoms for granted when we are temporarily deprived to move about and do as we please.   Churches are shut down and that was particularly difficult during this Easter season where, as believers, we could not gather to celebrate our Risen Lord.   We could gather and join any number of virtual services that TV networks offered to the faithful, and that was a blessing.   I am reminded that the Presence of God does not reside in a building but rather within the hearts of people who become the "living church".  Union with God does not require a structure of sticks and stones but rather a temple of flesh wherein Love sets up an eternal home in relationship.  The Hallelujah of Christ can be celebrated anytime and anyplace within the heart.

Eventually, the world will return to a type of quasi-normal while experts move towards a vaccine discovery.  That will happen and hopefully, mankind can live in a better tomorrow in all ways.  Meanwhile, nature seems normal.  Birds are still singing, geese still flying, trees still budding and beautiful sunrises and sunsets.  A photo to share with you that tells it's own story....

New life springing from rocky ground

Until next time, join me at The Turn-Up Patch.  I leave you with a great saying to live by during these present times.... "Fear does not stop death.  It stops life.  And worrying does not take away tomorrow's troubles.  It takes away today's peace."





 

A Tribute to a Star - Kim Anita Chesley

The country experience of viewing night skies in eastern Oregon can be awesome. The stars shine brightly and seem dense in number when not obscured by clouds and competing city lights.  If you can imagine the stars as humanity, there is a scripture that comes to mind..."Those who are wise will shine as bright as the sky, and those who lead many to righteousness will shine like the stars forever,"
Daniel 12:3  

This post is dedicated to one such star; Kim Chesley.  Kim was an amazing woman, full of spirit, adventure and compassion in naming just a few of the attributes she contained within.  She inspired those around her to be a better person through example and counsel.  A talented and educated woman, she had had the opportunity to travel and live in other cultures at a young age.  These experiences increased her personal expansion in richness of heart that Kim possessed.  As time went on, she became a teacher, wife and devoted mother of four children, now grown.  Each possesses the star quality of their mother - she left her legacy within them.  

Kim Anita Chesley  (1954 - 2020)  A Star

I was fortunate to cross paths with Kim and was struck by her beauty that she wore in humility.  A talented woman, she was an artist and a poet.  Her creative hands could hold a brush for her paintings and a pen for her poems.  Her hands were skilled with carpentry accomplishments and could use a saw, hammer and nails with gusto.  She was an able gardener and tended to the land as well as tending to the elderly that came under her care in later years.  Kim was a star upon this earth.  She carried a light within wherever she went and whomever she'd meet.  

Kim battled cancer during the last year of her life.  As her life ended in this earthly realm, she began her life with the Keeper of the stars in His realm.  Kim wrote the following poem that whispers of her connection with God and how it would be to meet the Master of the Universe....

   The Embracing

Oh, open wide the Kingdom Gates
For traveler home has come!

And line her path with warm embrace 
Fly banners! Beat the drum!

For one is home from journey long -
There's dust upon her feet.

Take basin, then and water pure
And oils for whom you greet.

And offer her on plates of gold
Sweet fruits and nectared wine.

Sing greetings to her joyous smile
And sit with her, and dine.

Then wrap her frame in whitest robe
And ready her to greet

The Master of the Universe
And seat her at His feet.

For one is home from battlefield! 
Her sword does in sheath rest,

And peace may now descend on her
For truly, she is blessed.

Written by Kim Chesley
October 27, 2006

 Salute to you Kim... until we meet again.

Sunsets, Space and Helen Sharman

We have the most amazing sunsets and sunrises in Grant County.  In fact, the night skies can be spectacular with hundreds of twinkling stars that shine so clearly without being hindered by city lights and haze.  I can only imagine how deep the universe is, filled with galaxies and planets and mystery, that continues forever beyond our sky.  For the moment, I can take simple pleasure in looking up to see color, form and movement dancing across heaven's horizon and leave the depth of the universe to astronomers. In the photos below, you can see the edge of the moon set within a framework of clouds touched by colors cast by the sun's descent.  

We observe the heavens above from earth below but there have been others who observe the earth from the heavens above.  One such person is Helen Sharman, a British chemist and astronaut.  In May 1991, she became the first British citizen in space and participated in a mission to the Soviet modular space station Mir.  This is a quote from her after that experience....

"Because we were orbiting the earth faster than earth spins on its axis, we went around the earth 16 times a day, an earth day, which meant 16 periods of lightness and 16 periods of darkness in 24 hours.  Every so often you'd look towards the earth, and often you could see lightness and darkness together, and dawn and sunset were spectacular."

We can look at images of the earth that were taken from the Hubble Telescope that gives us some perspective; this is one such image...

Such an awesome earth teeming with all sorts of living forms, including mankind.  And life came into existence by the hand of the Creator who made the heavens and the earth!


Hope you will return to visit me next time at The Turn-Up Patch....