Click here to play today’s new podcast episode.
“Tea! Bless ordinary everyday afternoon tea!” – Agatha Christie
Miss Tea Cup and I have been talking about how most of life is lived in the ordinary:, the daily chores, sleeping, eating, cleaning, working. Yet, it is the rhythms of grace in the ordinary that keeps us going with delight. Today, the sun came out for a glorious couple of hours and we sat together on my bench outside my house and drank in the warmth. Chatting together, we had hope for spring coming around the corner.
Sunlight, a very ordinary treasure on many days in summer, becomes an amazing gift when you have not had it for a while--winter seems it will never end, but sunshine comes and promises that the long season of winter—be it in the earth, in our hearts, in our lives,, blossoms stick their lovely heads above the ground and remind us that fresh seasons are ahead.
Rhythms that fill my cup along the minutes of the ordinary days are:
The 30 minutes of reading in the mornings, with tea!
My morning walks--for most of my whole adult life—an every day practiced rhythm, even when my children were small.
My music that follows me all day—all sorts to fit my mood..
The afternoon 20 minutes of teatime in my home with whoever is there, over conversation, brings a lifetime of every day friendship with so many, won in small daily slots of stopping, breathing and enjoying..
The candlelit, music adorned nightly meal at the family table. Goodnight blessing and “I love yous.” We have defense from depression and darkness by the ordinary rituals we keep.
I have been enjoying a new channel on Spotify when working around: Calming Acoustic
Sarah and her 3 precious ones came for 2 days and we celebrated every minute. Lilian, as the oldest, sleeps with Clay and me. She starts out on a little palet on the floor--and sometime during the night, she awakens and crawls into bed with me. Four o'clock found me deeply asleep when a little warm body squished as close as she could, pulled the blankets (mine) and blankies (hers) over her head. Then a little hand groped for mine--"Hold hands!" she announced.
Sweetest moment well worth the wake-up--falling asleep soon after, but holding hands--lasted most of the night.
So much more—you’ll have to listen to the podcast! Umbrellas, spiritual trends in America, a new book, The Resilient Pastor, a chat with Pastor Glenn Pakiam. I decided I could slip in one more Tea Time Tuesday! I am off to surgery in a few hours. Happy Tuesday.
“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.”
Pope John Paul II
