JoDee Luna's Blog, page 35

The Heron of Hope

 

My brother tells of a heron, hunting squirrels around his barn. He sees the big bird in his mind’s eye as he describes this odd occurrence to me at a family gathering.

“JoDee, there’s a heron hanging around our barn. It’s this tall I tell you.” He motions with his hand.

I wonder whether he thinks this big bird is a sign; A messenger of hope sent from God to encourage them in their time of grief.

You see, pain swims in their home, due to the recent death of my sister-in-law’s father. Piranhas of the soul—grief and despair—lurk in the waters.

“Herons hunt fish,” my brother explains, “and also squirrels. I think this bird comes from a nearby marsh.”

A marsh in the upper desert? I think. I don’t want to doubt his reasoning but his story seems as odd as a visit from this tall bird in the country valley where my brother and sister-in-law live. In fact, the only water sources around are a couple of ponds. I remember seeing them as a kid.

I don’t speak the obvious, why is this bird hanging around your barn? Yet I come home and look up herons online and find some interesting information. Herons are extremely protective of their nests and will attack intruders: http://bible.cc/leviticus/11-19.htm

Photo Credit: Margaret Scaglione

http://www.pics4learning.com/details.php?img=grtblu.jpg

Herons are also known to have angry flair ups, which, interestingly, is Step 3 of the grief process. http://www.recover-from-grief.com/7-stages-of-grief.html

I go online to discover Christine Grote’s post; The Blue Heron pays a visit. Christine knows about processing grief. In fact, in her memoir, Dancing in Heaven, Christine shares her family’s story about her younger sister Annie:

“Dancing in Heaven is an inspirational story about Annie s life, death, and her significance in the lives of those of us who loved her and others who were touched by her. This memoir provides a window into my family’ s life with a severely disabled member. But more importantly, Dancing in Heaven is a testimony to the basic intrinsic value of human life.”

I’ve learned to listen to people like Christine who have passed through the stages of grief. I respect the feathers of hope they pass on to the rest of us that encounter our own piranhas of the soul.

Now, I too, find myself believing that the appearance of these herons is a sign.

I’m linking up with L.L. Barkat’s…

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Floral Center Piece Craft Ideas

Spruce you home up with unique country decor floral arrangements. These center pieces are created with rusty bed coils, nests, and bird houses. I found the rusty springs in the field behind my home. If you don't have rusty springs, try substituting other unique antiques. You can follow the floral drying method by selecting this post link: Saving the Last of Summer's Roses. Here is another link that provides an easy to follow floral design lesson: Spring into Spring. Have fun this spring and summer with floral crafts that will make your heart sing and home shine.

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Who Taught You How To Love?

Here are some excerpts from my recent post, "Who Taught You How To Love."

Photo Credit: Rachel Vintayen

As I age, I find that I am in a constant state of balancing these three ways life: to expect perfection, question, and still have the ability to trust and love others. As I get older, I find that I lean, in many ways, towards the male figures in my life.

Sure, on the outside, it may seem that I am just like my mother, nurturing, loving, trusting.

But in reality, I am constantly questioning and analyzing everything around me, making personal judgments on the people in my life, and acting on those when necessary, whether or not that means cutting them out of my life entirely. READ THE ENTIRE POST…

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The Treasures of Family

Easter was a wonderful day spent with family and a couple of our close friends. We milled in and outside of my parents' home, warmed by the sun that danced upon the green Leona Valley hills of my childhood home.

I noted the simple, rich moments through the lens of my camera. My brother lifted a garden snake that my husband spotted, while the rest of the family gasped and wriggled with relief that it wasn't a rattlesnake.

I snapped photos of Grandpa and Stephen looking for the garden snake that Frank returned to the ground.

I captured my daughter, Elya, teaching her cousin how to take pictures.

Our family's newest member cradled in Susan's loving arms while Stephen comforted her with, "It's alright baby."

The men watched golf in my dad's "Man Cave."

Before we feasted, Dad gathered us together in a large circle underneath the patio cover. "I don't know if I'll be here next Easter, so I want to share something with you." He then spoke of his hope for all of his children and grandchildren to be with him in heaven someday.

Eyes filled with tears and moans of "Dad, don't talk that way" filled the warm spring air. His words shattered the cheery mood that floated through breezes along with a bright orange Oreo. The bird landed on the bird feeder dangling from a rod iron hook as if to listen.

No one wanted to consider the inevitable. We had just lost Buster a short time ago and the sting of our first Easter without my sister-in-law's precious father moistened our eyes.

Yet as we held each other's hands and listened to Dad pray the dinner blessing, I knew in my heart that our future celebrations would eventually change. Like the tides rolling in and out, some of our family would pass from this earth while new members would be born. My sister expressed these sentiments out loud as she held her newest grandbaby to her chest. "The Lord takes and the Lord gives. Buster is smiling down on us from heaven and we have new ones who have joined us."

Tears streamed down cheeks, and I felt blessings well up inside my soul. Family is my fortune upon this earth—a joy unspeakable and a security unrivaled. My family delights and undergirds the very fabric of my being. Together we create a swirl of laughter and promise. In my opinion, family is the ultimate expression of creative living.

Grandma and Elya

 

 

 

 

 

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Kingdoms of His Reign

When Jesus walked upon this earth, people tried to make Him their king. Yet, he eluded the crowds and touched the one: one woman who bled, one crippled man who longed to walk, one wayward disciple who denied his master.

Jesus wasn't impressed with earthly kingdoms then, and He isn't now. He still searches for kingdoms of the heart in which to reign.

Neither is he impressed with religious sacrifice. We humans can boast in religion—working our way into God's good graces; or as some promise, to become gods ourselves. Yet the sacrifice of the cross eliminates all ability to boast in human effort.

The message is simple and yet remarkably profound: He paid the price that sin required in order for humans to inherit eternal life from a holy God. This truth is difficult to embrace, let alone to believe, if you are into the exaltation of self.

I love Easter because the holiday reminds me of where my faith began so very long ago. He is risen!

 

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Night Whispers

Is it presumptuous to believe that we can receive and record night whispers? I think not. Even if we err in our accuracy, I believe the heavens are gracious and God patient.

As Easter Sunday approaches, we remember the darkness before the dawn. Yet, may we not only revere the Lord's sacrifice, but also embrace his invitation. Because of the cross, He is not only an awesome God but also a personal friend.

Tomorrow, my family and close friends will gather together for an Easter celebration.

We will remember, "He has risen," in the midst of musing, feasting, and laughing.

The little ones will hunt for eggs and remind the rest of us what it means to believe in night whispers…those little presents God tucks inside our souls.

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Finding your Way to the Sea: How to Follow your Life Purposes

My ideas outnumber the available minutes in the day. Artistic possibilities inundate my mind—floods of future fun I could follow. I wonder: How can I swim to the top of this madness? Which waves should I ride the crest of and which should I let pass on by?

Then in the midst of my mental wrestling, contemplation creates a comfortable cove—a much-needed rest from the intensity of thought that threatens to drown me.

Last night, my daughter challenged me, "Mom, why don't you write more posts about your vulnerabilities? Be more real. Let people see your struggles. Your former dating life and marriage, alone, would provide lots of great content."

"So you want me to expose your dad's past weaknesses online?" I chuckled. She paused and had to think about that one. In spite of my chiding, I got what she was trying to say. I don't tend to get too personal with my posts.

Yet, this morning her words swirl through my brain, like a mountain stream finding its way to the sea. Crisp and cold—yet refreshing—her idea tugs at me, inviting me to float away on another life-sorting excursion.

You see, I've struggled with a type of artistic double-mindedness. No, to be more exact, I'd call it a multiple-mindedness. My current creative crisis is all too familiar. I adore far too many things and each rises and rushes my heart like those foamy sea waves that surfers ride.

I'm an educator to the core, an innovative teacher who delights in tantalizing my (often bored and unimpressed) middle school students with creative learning opportunities. Yet, I'm also a writer, artist, crafter, and blogger who longs for more alone time so I can create.

Recently, an innovative educational company, Flocabulary, posted one of my lesson plans along with some of my students' projects on their blog. I created the lesson to accompany their hip hop video, "How to Be An Entrepreneur." The content caught my attention because I've always had a hankering to be an entrepreneur and wanted to inspire my students to consider this option.

An email from the Editorial Director, Aliza, soon followed. It was an invitation to become a guest blogger. My rational self argued: JoDee, you've got to be kidding. You're already posting every day on your creativity blog. How on earth are you going to take on another project?

Yet her invitation stirred the waters of my heart, and I wondered whether this was another stream finding its way to the sea. I also wondered how many creative eclectic educators there were out there—people like me who feel torn with multiple desires.

So I decided to take on the challenge and see where this stream leads me. I hope that perhaps my posts and projects will connect with other teachers who desire a more innovative approach to engaging students.

Yet, you don't have to be a teacher with multiple desires to find your way to the sea. If you feel the waves of choice pounding you, consider regular times of contemplation to sort through your conflicting desires.

Imagine you are floating in a mountain stream that winds its way to the sea. Go back to what you last really enjoyed or consider something new. Follow that stream of thought until you see some actual steps you can take to pursue the idea. I guarantee that taking this time out of the hustle and bustle of life will result in a clearer purpose. Try writing about what you love until you connect with something you can float in. Dare to live differently.

Floating on the Truckee River with my sister, Gina

*A special thanks to my daughter, Elya, whose poem, "The Mighty Blast," I featured. You can visit her amazing blog by selecting this link: http://elyafiller.wordpress.com.

 

 

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The Missing Element

We humans were never intended to walk through this world along. Now, I'm not talking about the blessings of family and friends, which, of course, soothe our souls in hard times and elicit laughter in times of emotional bounty. Nor am I referring to the benefits that connection with our creativity can bring.

Neither am I referring to the wisdom that philosophies have to offer. In fact, we can possess impeccable self-awareness and yet still miss out on the most essential element that God intended for us humans to possess…His Spirit.

As I approach this Easter Sunday, I reflect on a small group of bewildered men and women that huddled together in a house. Full of fear and confusion, they didn't understand why their Lord had been crucified. They were like "…sheep without a shepherd."

But when Jesus returned to them after He rose from the dead, He promised to send the Holy Spirit:

"But the Helper, the Holy Spirit, whom the Father will send in My name, He will teach you all things, and bring to your remembrance all that I said to you." John 14:26

Perhaps the greatest travesty that the philosophy of self-reliance has unleashed on humanity is the belief that we can achieve spiritual perfection without "The Element"…that we humans posses the capacity for goodness in and of ourselves…that the human heart has some magical quality, which will guide a person into his or her divine destiny.

I don't believe this anymore, nor do I search inside myself for some kind of innate spirituality. I look for the Spirit of God to stir my heart towards the way of grace. I seek divine guidance for the life decisions I must make and embrace the truth that I often err in this process.

I try to acquiesce my human will to a divine Spirit who is greater than my finite mind can wrap itself around and understand let alone control. This is a presence so very real at times and yet so mysterious at others—a source of unending creativity.

No, God never intended for us humans to walk through this world alone; yet if we insist, He will respect our free will to do so. We all know scores of people that seem just fine going it alone.

God does promise that if we confront and confess our human frailties, besetting sins, and self-sufficiencies, and if we believe in Jesus's atonement for our sins, then His Spirit is ours for the asking. We can embrace, receive, and follow "The Missing Element."

 

"Scripture quotations taken from the NASB."

 

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Searching For The Purpose of Life

Last night, I watched the Tree of Life. It fascinates me how a movie can have the ability to see into your soul.

I've been thinking a lot about my future, lately, and what I want out life and what defines happiness? I live, like many others in Los Angeles, with the pressure to succeed, make money, and have a nice fancy title so that I can go to parties and feel proud when people ask me what I do for a living.  I have always been an ambitious person and have grown up my entire life with the mentality that I would do well in my career and achieve more for myself than my parents ever did.

But as I continue to age, I find that my definition of success is constantly transforming. In college, I defined success by receiving straight A's. I cried the first time I got a B in my "Cancer of Biology" class and swore that I would never fail again.

After graduating, I defined success by how independent I could be, and how far I could separate myself from my comfort system, primarily my family and friends. How many countries I could travel to. How many new experiences I could try. How far away from my family I could go and still be okay. READ THE ENTIRE POST…

 

 

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Butterfly and Boxwood Wreath

If you're looking for a wreath to spruce up your home for spring, check out Kate Coury's selection. Here's one of the many wreaths that business owner, Barbie Knoop, has designed. Just follow the link below the photo and blog excerpt.

This weeks featured wreath is our "Butterfly and Boxwood Wreath"  It is sold in both 18″ and 24″ diameters.  This wreath is a great choice for spring decor and would make a lovely Easter wreath. READ THE ENTIRE POST…

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