Hope

This morning, I read an inspiring post about the weight of hope, and it has me pondering the difference between hope and resignation.  Sometimes we are resigned to the inevitable, and perhaps we ought to be.  But if we are resigned to something without hope, I think our God is too small.

This little flower on the right grows out of rock on the blue dot trail that runs from Overlook Park into White Rock Canyon.  Seriously, it is all rock there. And yet, its tenacity in producing a lovely blossom speaks not just of it being resigned to its spot on the earth, but it speaks of the hope of a brilliant and big God, who works outside the boxes we would make for Him.

Be resigned where you must, Gentle Reader, but never lose hope.

Wednesday without words

A new school year begins

Like dawn breaking over the mountains, a new school year is beginning: full of promise and unknown adventure, heartbreak and hard work, bother and beauty.  As I start this school year, I pray for my students and myself as we enter this realm called learning.  May we be humble and teachable, may we be excited and enthusiastic.  May we prioritize what really matters. May we know God better at the end of this year than we did at its beginning. 

So far this year, I have started  an online class and forgotten to turn my mic on, and gotten confused about class times and tried to end a class early (the student who politely and respectfully pointed out my error was not extremely popular with her classmates!)  And that's just after the first day!  Teaching requires a humble attitude, too, and the ability to laugh at one's self. It also requires that the teacher love what he is doing and love the pupils God brings his way.  I am enjoying getting to know this fresh crop: ~40 composition students, and 4 Worldviews students.  I hope we have a marvelous year together.

And may you have a marvelous year, too, Gentle Reader, as you continue to learn in your own place in life.

Our labor this Labor Day

 For a long time I have wanted to make the Blue Dot- Red Dot loop in White Rock.  You go down from Overlook park on the Blue Dot trail to the Rio Grande, follow the River Trail for a couple of miles, and then climb up the Red Dot trail.  But I have, quite frankly, been afraid I would be one of the many people who have to call search and rescue to get out once they get in.  The loop has around 2,000 feet of elevation change, between about 5,500-6,500 feet above sea level, and is almost 5 miles long.  And the uphill is all at the end. Well, I decided that today was the day! So at about 7:15 this morning, we dropped off the edge and into the canyon.  You can see the trail sign above.  And below, you can see one of the "Blue Dots" that mark the trail in the foreground and another toward the middle of the photo.  Yes, that IS a trail! We switch-backed in rocks for about a mile, going over level benches, then dropping again through the rocks, until we leveled out with the river below.

 When we hit the river level, these dots below showed us which way to head on the River trail to meet up with the Red Dot trail.  We hiked downstream beside the river for a couple of miles.

 Below: it was an awesome sight to look back at where we'd come from!

 We were quite surprisedto find there is a real "bosque" along the river: a forest, wet environment that was quite different from the surrounding area.  What a difference a little water makes!

 We came to the falls of the Pajarito Spring.  It was a lovely spot with a deep pool, and so unlike anywhere else in or around White Rock.  No wonder they call New Mexico the Land of Enchantment!

 Around the falls, we lost our trail a little, and had to search for some dots.  We eventually found the Red Dot below, along with the fauna: a local centipede.  We saw dozens of these along the route, along with dragon flies in bright blue, and swallows and other birds.

 The last mile of the Red Dot was back out of the canyon-- and, as you can see below, it was pretty steep.  It went up like this across rock faces for most of that mile.

 We were heading to the top of these cliffs:

 

It was quite a climb!  But lest I pat myself too hardily on the back, I should mention that my mother-in-law, who will turn 85 on Wednesday, kept up with me every step of the way!

 It was a beautiful hike, and a real accomplishment for me.  We climbed out just before noon, and were happy to climb into the car we had left on that end of our route before leaving from the other end. Now we'll see if I can still move tomorrow... What wonderful labor this Labor's Day! I hope you are having a wonderful day, too, Gentle Reader!

Sabbath Songs

We are singing this in church this morning.  The song contains lovely images from both Scripture and Bunyan's Pilgrim's Progress.

On the joy of having energy

Today has been a productive day.  I exercised vigorously-- at least for me-- before breakfast.  (That means completing my third day this week of Week 2 of the Couch to 5K program-- I am doing the workouts three times a week, but going slower than they say.  For instance, I did week one for 6 weeks before moving on this week to week 2! So I am now doing Curves three times a week, and jogging three times a week.) Then, after breakfast and a shower, I washed all the windows, with little breaks for quilting when I was getting tired.  I love clean windows.  But I have to sheepishly admit that I have not washed both the inside and outside of my windows since before my cancer diagnosis three-plus years ago.  I have not had the energy! But today, the windows are done, and most of the blocks for a quilt are, too, and we did a little garage-sale shopping and watching of track and field worlds to boot!

When one has energy to work hard, one hardly ever appreciates it.  But now, to return to that energy level after not being there, makes me very grateful to God.  I think I felt horrible for a good while before my cancer was diagnosed, as my body fought the weight I had put on as well as the cancer. .  And after three surgeries and radiation, it took me a longtime to recover. I know some people never really do. I am so grateful that God has given me that grace! May I use this lovely energy to glorify Him!

I love September

I love September for many reason. Here are just a few:

• School starts, full of fresh hope and enthusiasm, and I dream big dreams of all that will be accomplished.
• The pungent smell of roasting green chile fills the air.  This is an acquired taste, but now it says "Fall!" to me.
• The coolness of the mornings which remind me of fall, and the afternoon reminders of the heat of summer. Those cool morning temperatures call me out to hike, and the afternoon heat encourages me to hole-up inside with something to drink and a good book
• The sense of the changing of the seasons and the changing of the light.  I don't know if I was just too distracted in my younger days to enjoy this sublime change from one season into another, and more than that, the changein the quality of the light as winter approaches.  Perhaps that is more evident here in the Southwest, where you have so much sunshine and can see so much of the sky than it was in the Midwest, where the trees can make one claustrophobic, the portion of the sky you can see is usually gray, and the humidity is stifling.  But the bright, white light of the summer sun is beginning to mellow and fade, and i enjoy its golden hues.
• The aspens will soon change and display their richness, rejoicing with the change in the seasons.
• The roses are in their final glorious bloom for the year.
• The fresh tomatoes and green beans from the garden are abundant, and more flavorful than anything you can buy. The pears are weighing down the tree. As I prepare to freeze or can these delectables, there is a sense of preparing for the winter and providing for my family that is very satisfying.
• Our sweet Nikki joined our family in September, and I don't know what we'd do without her.

I love September, Gentle Reader.  Don't you?  What do you love about it?