My Photography – “Lonestar”

It had been over two weeks since I’d taken my last pictures. Those pictures were for the local newspaper right before the beginnings of social distancing. This morning I noticed a lone flower that had bloomed in the back yard, so I thought it would be a subject for a picture. And here it is.

I do look for symbols in the world around and this flower is speaking to me today. There it stands, on its own, much like myself inside this house. And just like it, I am sometimes blown by the winds of change. Just like it, there are times that I close to the world outside me. And just like it, and this is most important, I continue to shine forth despite what transpires around me.

And the flower and I are doing just fine!

David Lee

Daily Readings for Sunday, March 29th

Meditation for the Day

I must live in the world and yet live apart with God. I can go forth from my secret times of communion with God to the work of the world. To get the spiritual strength I need, my inner life must be lived apart from the world. I must wear the world as a loose garment. Nothing in the world should seriously upset me, as long as my inner life is lived with God. All successful living arises from this inner life.

Prayer for the Day

I pray that I may live my inner life with God. I pray that nothing shall invade or destroy that secret place of peace.

From Twenty-Four Hours a Day

Getting Needs Met

Picture yourself walking through a meadow. There is a path opening before you. As you walk, you feel hungry. Look to your left. There’s a fruit tree in full ripe. Pick what you need.

Steps later, you notice you’re thirsty. On your right, there’s a fresh water spring.

When you are tired, a resting place emerges. When you are lonely, a friend appears to walk with you. When you get lost, a teacher with a map appears.

Before long, you notice the flow: need and supply, desire and fulfillment. Maybe, you wonder, someone gave me the need because someone planned to fulfill it. Maybe I had to feel the need, so I would notice and accept the gift. Maybe closing my eyes to the desire closes my arms to its fulfillment.

Demand and supply, desire and fulfillment — a continuous cycle, unless we break it. All the necessary supplies have already been planned and provided for this journey.

Today, everything I need shall be supplied to me.

From The Language of Letting Go by Melody Beattie 

So I did a thing today…

After yesterday’s evening journey of getting the lawn mowers working and the yard mowed, I decided to work inside a bit today…a long overdue housecleaning.

I started with the kitchen since that’s usually a place I spend a great deal of time. After cleaning the counters, throwing quite a bit away. I also swept the floor and emptied several loads of trash.

Next, I made my way to the living room, where I also spend a great deal of time during the week. I started with the table that my computer is on, since once again, I spend a great deal of time there during the week. I threw quite a bit away and put some of what I’d collected in a box. Quite a few paper towels were used to get the table nice and clean. And felt a lot better about my workspace.

While I was cleaning the living room, I found an Outback Steakhouse gift card that I had gotten from a student for Christmas. I hadn’t used it yet and thought it might be nice to have some “real food” for a change. I ordered a steak online and it said it would take 20 minutes until it would be ready to pick-up at the restaurant. It came with a baked potato, salad, and bread. The total bill came to $18.18 and I figure the six dollars and change that would be left on the card I could leave as a tip.

So I made my way to the restaurant and waiting a short while until they brought the food out to my car. I gave a bit of an extra tip and made my way home. I have put the salad and baked potato in the fridge for a meal tomorrow. I had the steak and bread and what a treat it was! I don’t think I’ve ever tasted such a great steak in all my days. Just one of the things that we too often take for granted in life. And yes, I shared some with my German shepherd Abby.

David Lee