ZZZZZennias

 Peacefully sleeping

With all of my friends

We were ZZZZinnia seeds

So comfy, so cozy—-

 Suddenly the roof was ripped off our home

Fingers pinched us

and scatttered us in a row

Spaced apart from the rest.

I prefered being a part of my 

family not apart from!

I liked being as we were.

But it was time to change.

Then, we were covered with

dark soil which after a while

felt oddly comforting. 

But I am so lonely

Missing my friends,

afraid of this new unknown world.

I feel a warmth from above

moving closer.

Each day, inching my way 

toward that warmth.

Breaking ground,

I see that warmth is making me stronger

I look around for my friends

And I only see Marigolds

In full bloom

Cheering me on with their

Bright yellow pom-poms

I urge my friends to try 

this new arrangement

and one by one they follow me.

With support and encouragement,

We are content:

We are  ready to bloom.

Thin Places

 

Saturday, August 2, 2014

Thin Places

A few days ago, V. Sherman posted on Facebook "Just about to load the car to go to the sand dunes at a place that I think of as a 'thin place'. "  

She also included a link to an article about "thin places" from the New York times (Click here).  The first time I had heard of "thin places" was when Kim Skilling gave a series at St. Mark Presbyterian's Midweek on Celtic influences on Christianity called " Beneath the Celtic Cross of Jesus" where she talked of Iona (one of the "thin places" mentioned in the article).   I always thought there was maybe a list of "thin places"---it never occurred to me that they could be personal and maybe not be places recognized by the spiritual community as being "thin".  Reading the article and V's comment about the sand dunes, it didn't take me long to realize where my "thin place" is.

I had just said last weekend, I must visit Shaw's Garden (Missouri Botanical Garden) several times a year to feel restored.  When friends post on Facebook that they are there, I feel a tugging in my heart.  I always thought it was because I grew up near there:  it was where my family including grandparents went every Sunday after church.  Even when we moved to North County, I found myself drawn there.  Just this year, I posted on Facebook a photo of nothing special at the Garden, but commented, "I am in Heaven."  I even told my daughter, "If your dad and I renew our vows at 50 years, this is where I want the ceremony."  

I am very fortunate that my "thin place" is close and not several hundred miles away like V's is. Where is your "thin place", where you feel Heaven is close to earth, where you feel your soul soaring, where you feel complete, restored, alive?

Cherbourg

 Cherbourg, in Normandy, was the only ship excursion we went on:  Panoramic Cherbourg.

 We drove along the coast where we saw a sea wall made of vertical stones. . .

 ships in the harbor. . .

 and sleepy little villages.

 Our destination was Chateau des Ravalet.  Do you see the "ghost of Ravalet"?  I confess, this was taken out a bus window. . . that's me.

We didn't really go inside since the gardens are the focal point.

But if you want to know more about the history of the chalet, click here.

I loved the autumn colors mixed with tropical plants in such a beautiful setting.

 After a walk through town (this is one of the places a person could walk to town from the ship, but there was a shuttle for $9), we hopped on the bus to go back to the ship.

 Cherbourg was the last place the Titanic was before it headed across the Atlantic---that is our ship in the background.

 Although we walked right onto the ship, by the time we got to our room, a line had formed. . .

But, we just sat on our balcony enjoying the view.