Defeat Despair

The fantastic show

Julia ♦ May 3, 2020 ♦ 10 Comments

This is one of my favorites of our many azaleas, photographed in April 2008

“There are some shrubs that seem to scream, ‘Look at me!’ With their showy flowers…planting just one of these shrubs can light up the whole yard…azaleas are sure bets for a spectacular flower show…Their intensity makes one stop and take notice and perhaps feel compelled to give Mother Nature a round of applause for the fantastic show.”
— Duncan Brine

I grew up in the South, and during the twenty years I lived far away from there, I suppose azaleas are near the top of the list of things I missed most. The first springtime we spent in Virginia reminded me of just how much we’d been missing; I had forgotten how spectacular they can be. They grow quickly and bloom brilliantly, with vivid colors that really to light up the landscape.

If azaleas can grow where you live, I highly recommend adding one for a spot of color where you’d most like to see it. We have tried many varieties, including the “bloom again” types that will bloom in summer and fall as well as spring, but we find that these do not even come close to the flowers of springtime. If you can’t grow azaleas where you live, plan to visit one of the fabulous gardens that feature them, such as Callaway Gardens in Georgia. Thanks to the internet, you can see the azaleas online even if you are too far away to visit them in person.

What shrubs bloom most brilliantly where you live? Post a link in the comments below and we’ll all brighten the day today with splashes of color!

The original post, comments and photo are linked, along with two other related posts, below. These links to related posts, and their thumbnail photos, do not appear in the blog feed; they are only visible when viewing the individual posts by clicking on each one. I have no idea why, nor do I know how they choose the related posts. That’s just the way WordPress does things.

Don’t forget the present

Julia ♦ May 2, 2020 ♦ 2 Comments

December 2005: the Hertford Bridge at Oxford, a fitting symbol of the past meeting the future.

“Remember the past, and prepare for the future, but don’t forget: the present is where you live.” — Ashleigh Brilliant

The Hertford Bridge pictured above is part of Hertford College, of the University of Oxford in England. It connects the Old and New Quadrangles of that college, with administrative offices in the older building and student accommodations in the newer one. Normally we wouldn’t describe buildings that were constructed over 100 years ago as “new” but when some of the older ones go back to medieval times, new is a relative term.

If the college itself represents the past, its current students must certainly represent the future. At Oxford the two are even more obviously linked than at most universities, so the bridge is an apt symbol. It would be very easy for people affiliated with Oxford or similar places of learning to become over-focused on either the past or the future, but what is happening in the present remains the most crucial consideration for both students and faculty.

Most of us have strong ties to the past, whether they are linked to relatives, vocational experiences or personal memories. And even for those of us who are getting on in years, it’s tempting to spend much time planning for the future. Both past and future are worthy of our regard, but it’s all too easy to let the present slip away without much notice. For me, it happens in various ways; time “frittered away” on unimportant distractions I didn’t intend to prioritize; energy wasted on fretting about unforeseen glitches in my plans; relationships marred, temporarily or permanently, when I allow a bad mood to affect my interactions.

I’m not sure of the origin of the phrase “redeem the time,” but it seems more desirable a term than other verbs we use to describe what we do with time: spend it, pass it, or worst of all, kill it. “Redeem” carries with it a sense of obligation for how we use the ultimate gift of life. We are not all allowed the same quantity of time, but whether our years are long or short, we probably will use it best if we avoid excessive fixation on the past or future. The present is where we live. Let’s make the most of it!

Have a picnic

Julia ♦ May 1, 2020 ♦ 4 Comments

With friends at one of our favorite picnic spots, Crissy Field in San Francisco, February 2003

“…if you have a place where you can go and have a picnic with your family, it doesn’t matter if it’s a recession or not…” — Jim Fowler

One of the best ways to make an ordinary day into a special occasion is to have a picnic. It can be elaborate or simple fare, and the spot you choose can be close by, or a few hours’ drive. You can find a secluded, quiet corner or settle in a nice shady area near a famous landmark. You can spread a blanket on the ground or use one of many picnic tables provided in parks, welcome centers and other public places. No matter what combination you choose, there is something refreshing and calming about sitting down to rest and eat in a lovely outdoor setting.

Jeff is not quite as fond of picnics as I am, but he is wonderful at packing for them. Sometimes when I plan a picnic with a friend, he will offer to pack for us, and it’s a great surprise to unpack it later and find what is waiting for us. He always errs on the side of too much food and too many choices, which is delightful. Fruits, cheeses, crackers, nuts, those delicious imported cookies dipped in chocolate, sparkling juices and several types of sandwiches (with lettuce and tomato packed separately to prevent soggy bread) are just some of the things I tend to find in any basket he’s packed.

Springtime is a great season for picnics, before it gets too hot and the insects are out in force. I hope you will have at least one festive picnic or cookout in the next few weeks. It’s a good way to have fun that doesn’t involve some sort of electronic screen, and doesn’t cost a lot of money. If you take along a camera and send us a photo, I’ll post it here. Bon appetit!

Each moment an occasion

Julia ♦ April 30, 2020 ♦ 6 Comments

Pasha looks out on the beautiful waters of Lake Tahoe, August 2004

Pasha looks out on the beautiful waters of Lake Tahoe, California, August 2004

My dog lives freely
each moment an occasion
to cherish and leave

— Drew Denton

Years ago I found this haiku, along with several others, among some handwritten drafts and school papers saved from Drew’s 10th grade year. He was probably around 15 years old when he wrote this, and I doubt he even knows I saved it. I loved it immediately because it captured the very essence of what dogs and other animals have to teach their human friends.

Today, I hope each moment for us will be an occasion to appreciate, enjoy or maybe even cherish– one that we can pass through with gratitude and remember without regrets.

Happy 16th birthday today, to our aging but still lively Pasha!

This post was originally published seven years ago today. The original post, comments and photo are linked, along with two other related posts, below. These links to related posts, and their thumbnail photos, do not appear in the blog feed; they are only visible when viewing the individual posts by clicking on each one. I have no idea why, nor do I know how they choose the related posts. That’s just the way WordPress does things.

The day of liberation

Julia ♦ April 29, 2020 ♦ 2 Comments

I photographed this memorial at Dachau, August 2005

I photographed this memorial at Dachau concentration camp, Germany, August 2005

“So now, muster your strength, and don’t lose heart. We shall all see the day of liberation. Have faith in life. Above all else, have faith. Drive out despair, and you will keep death away from yourselves…The same smoke floats over all our heads. Help one another. It is the only way to survive.” — Elie Wiesel

On this day in 1945, the Dachau concentration camp was officially liberated. The eyewitness accounts of troops and survivors testify to the atrocities that were only beginning to be known to the world. Yet even out of these pits of despair came examples of faith, courage and hope that continue to inspire us.

When we visited Dachau in August 2005, it was a haunting reminder that there have always been those who “bear with unbearable sorrow” and somehow survive. May we remember those who suffer, and open our eyes to ways we can help. And may this brief remembrance enable us to see more clearly the many blessings of our lives today.

Souls yearn

Julia ♦ April 28, 2020 ♦ 2 Comments

A November 2004 photo of a bedroom at Colonial Williamsburg.
Was life really simpler for our ancestors?

“When the fever-stricken patient is undermined with heat and craving with thirst, he dreams in his dozing of a fresh brook where he might bathe or a clear spring where he might drink in long drafts. In the same way, in the complex agitation of modern existence, our wearied souls yearn for simplicity.” — Charles Wagner

The most remarkable thing about today’s quote is that it was written in May 1895, as part of the author’s preface to his book A Simple Life which is now available for free downloads at Project Gutenberg. I found the quote in one of the original editions of the book, a lovely antique (published in 1905) which was a gift from my Aunt Peggy, to whom it belonged for many years.

I have to wonder what could have been complex about life before electricity, telephones or automobiles were widely available, not to mention smart phones, iPads, DVRs or other trappings of our times. Yet the term “complex agitation” was applied to life over 100 years ago. Could it be that this tendency toward over-stimulated frustration is more a function of human nature than of any particular era or location? If so, then its opposites, serenity and simplicity, would seem to be traits that require cultivation regardless of external circumstances.

Today, whatever our day is like, I hope we realize we can choose between serenity or agitation no matter what comes our way. Contented simplicity is probably no more easy or difficult than it has ever been. The good news is that it surely lies within our reach. Given the multitude of advantages we enjoy compared to the audience to whom Wagner was writing, we have the perfect opportunity to choose wisely.

Built in hope

Julia ♦ April 27, 2020 ♦ 15 Comments

The road to Wieskirche, a place of hope for many pilgrims, near Steingaden, Germany, August 2005

The road to Wieskirche, a place of pilgrimage near Steingaden, Germany, August 2005

“The road that is built in hope is more pleasant to the traveler than the road built in despair, even though they both lead to the same destination.” — Marian Zimmer Bradley

I love the book Life of Pi, especially the ending where Pi asks the skeptics a valid but often overlooked question: which is the better story?

There are those who see optimism as just another form of delusion; who feel that faith is nothing more than wishful thinking. I think most of us who have suffered in any way can understand and sympathize to some degree with the disillusionment of the cynics, but perhaps their pessimism is actually more defensive than the determined forward motion of the hopeful. Perhaps it is just as delusional to put one’s trust in what appears to be objective reason; after all, how many times has “established fact” been proven erroneous?

I’ve struggled with depression more often than I care to admit, and while pain can teach us much, I think it’s a tragedy to be permanently chained to it. Contrary to what some people may believe, optimists are sometimes the most realistic of all. It’s not that they are blind to the sorrows of life; it’s simply that they refuse to be defined by them. That’s why the song “The Impossible Dream,” said to be the favorite song of Robert Kennedy, is a favorite of countless other people as well. Don Quixote does not sing of happy endings and certain victory. He celebrates the refusal to surrender to sorrow and despair. “And the world will be better for this.”

Whatever sorrows and troubles you may face in life, I hope that you will always find your way back to the road built in hope, where traveling mercies abound.

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A kind of beauty

Julia ♦ April 26, 2020 ♦ 8 Comments

A few of the imperfectly beautiful shells I gathered in January 2013, Captiva Island Florida

“There is a kind of beauty in imperfection.” — Conrad Hall

During our brief getaway to Captiva Island in January, I spent blissful hours walking along the shore searching for seashells. Sanibel and Captiva are duly famous as a shell-gatherer’s dream. I had never seen so many shells washed ashore anywhere. Initially, I was searching primarily for the elusive perfect seashells, the kind you pay for in stores. Scavenging for these was a fun challenge, and I found them just often enough to keep me searching.

After awhile, though, I began to notice that the imperfect shells were beautiful, too, and far more unique. Each had its own details and characteristics. The rough pounding of the waves had lain them open, exposing the amazing inner structures that are concealed by the perfect surfaces of the undamaged shells. In many shells, the sand and sea had smoothed the damaged edges, creating a polished appearance that could have been an intentional work of art.

Months earlier, my friend Kathy had written to me about a trip to Sanibel, and how she had learned to see imperfection in a different way as she gathered shells. I now know exactly what she meant.

Our imperfections, as much as our virtues and strengths, make us who we are. Perhaps this is the lesson inherent in the beautiful verse in 2 Corinthians 12:9, where God tells Paul “My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.” This does not mean that we should not work to improve our lives or ourselves. But even our less appealing traits can be smoothed and polished into a uniquely beautiful character.

We may be uncomfortable with our flaws, particularly those related to physical appearance, because we live in a world that projects mostly idealized images through advertisements and carefully edited media presentations. But each of us has something to offer the world that can come only from us, and our individual gifts are shaped by our struggles and imperfections. May we all value ourselves enough to see our own inadequacies as opportunities to grow, not barriers to hold us back.

Start again

Julia ♦ April 25, 2020 ♦ 4 Comments

I saw this beautiful stained glass in a shop in Bar Harbor, Maine, June 2012

The birds they sang
at the break of day
Start again
I heard them say

— Leonard Cohen

I can’t recall a single time when hearing the birds singing did not lift my spirits. Sometimes they sound cheerful and perky, sometimes insistent, almost alarmed, but they never sound depressing. Birdsong goes perfectly with the other delights that often accompany it: soft breezes, sunshine, or the cool dusk falling as late afternoon becomes evening. Sometimes it’s the trill of a single bird against the quiet, other times it’s an amazingly loud chorus creating a wonderful din, but always they communicate to me the wonderful persistence that confirms my optimism is not unfounded. As much as any other animal, birds defeat despair. Listen for their singing and be blessed!

The gateways

Julia ♦ April 24, 2020 ♦ Leave a comment

Drew inside a redwood turned gateway in Mariposa Grove, Yosemite, 1992

“The obstacles of your past can become the gateways that lead to new beginnings.”
— Ralph Blum

If you’ve ever seen the arcade game called “Whack A Mole,” you may feel as I do: that it’s a pretty good visual representation of what life is like. Troubles keep popping up all over, and as soon as you deal with one, two more appear. I tend to think of myself as trying to clobber these little vermin with the big hammer, but maybe Blum’s analogy is a better one.

Some of our blessings come directly or indirectly from misfortune or unwanted change. But that’s often not obvious at the time, and maybe it will take years to look back and realize it. If we can keep taking steps in the right direction in faith that better things lie ahead, we will be more able to recognize the gateway that may lie within the obstacle.

Not quite refined

Julia ♦ April 23, 2020 ♦ 6 Comments

This scarlet macaw stole my button, but I didn’t know it until I saw this photo.
Roatan, Honduras, March 2011

“She was not quite what you would call refined. She was not quite what you would call unrefined. She was the kind of person that keeps a parrot.” — Mark Twain

There is nothing profound, instructive or inspirational about this quote. It made me laugh, so I wanted to share it. Twain’s whimsical description somehow hits just the right note, and I fancy it describes a woman who was rather like me in many ways. I’ve never had a parrot, but I wouldn’t rule it out if I live long enough to be even more eccentric than I am now.

I hope this will bring you one of many smiles you enjoy today. Comic relief is a blessing, and we all need more of it. Feel free to post links to funny photos, quotes or videos in the comments below. I didn’t get too many jokesters on April Fool’s Day, but it’s not too late! Laughter really is the best medicine.

SPECIAL NOTE to Sheila: I schedule these posts in advance and believe it or not, I had already scheduled this one before our humorous exchange about your sun conure! I assure you I was NOT thinking of you when I read Twain’s funny quote!

Capture a moment

Julia ♦ April 22, 2020 ♦ 11 Comments

One of hundreds of photos being taken all around the Tidal Basin. April 2013

“What I like about photographs is that they capture a moment that’s gone forever, impossible to reproduce.” ― Karl Lagerfeld

A couple of weeks ago I went into D.C. for the afternoon to see the cherry blossom trees at their peak. Not only was it indescribably beautiful, but I had perhaps the greatest opportunity ever to unobtrusively take photos of other people taking photos, which is one of my favorite subjects to catch on camera.

During my years as a photographer for my college newspaper, I learned that cameras add significantly to an already festive atmosphere. When people are happy and friendly, add a camera and you have an instant party. That’s how it felt that afternoon around the Tidal Basin. It was like being at a big party where no one knew everyone else, but none were strangers.

Although camera phones are everywhere now, it’s still easier to get good photos (particularly from a distance) with one of the many lightweight, full-featured digital cameras available for very reasonable prices. Try taking one along to your next happy gathering, and see how much fun you have capturing precious moments that will happen only once in a lifetime.

Fishermen know

Julia ♦ April 21, 2020 ♦ 4 Comments

In September 2007 we visited the historic fishing village of Peggy’s Cove, Nova Scotia

“The fishermen know that the sea is dangerous and the storm terrible, but they have never found these dangers sufficient reason for remaining ashore.”
— Vincent Van Gogh

Fishermen are among many who labor at occupations fraught with potential hazards, but our lives and well being depend on workers who understand that benefits often outweigh risks. Where would we be without their courage?

Caution is helpful unless it causes us to be paralyzed with fear. Fishermen and other professionals use fear as motivation for preparation, wisely learning how to read the weather, evaluate the limitations of their craft, and recognize when they need to remain ashore temporarily to minimize the risks. Then they press on, and we are all better for their refusal to be intimidated.

It takes a different type of courage to respond thoughtfully to others, whether in person or online. To make one’s thoughts available to an unknown public, even in the relative anonymity of a blog site, can be intimidating. I want to thank those who blog or respond with thoughtful and positive comments here and elsewhere on the web. Those of us who put our thoughts online do so with full knowledge that we may encounter argument, disdain or disapproval. Readers who respond in conversation are extending a type of generosity that not everyone is willing to risk. Those of you who do take the time to read and post comments are deeply appreciated, by me and my fellow bloggers, and also by many others who read your comments.

Almost all of us face fearful circumstances from time to time. I hope we will use that fear as a motivator to learn and prepare, not an excuse to retreat or withdraw. There are risks in connecting with others, but these are insufficient reason to remain isolated. May we continue to draw strength and courage from each other as we share our diverse but strangely unifying struggles.

A species of talent

Julia ♦ April 20, 2020 ♦ 22 Comments

Matt and his Daddy, happy together from the very beginning, 1986.

“…happiness is a species of talent, for which some people have superior aptitudes.”
— George Will

Our younger son Matt was born with a rare genetic disorder that would not be diagnosed for many years, at which time there were only about six known cases in the world. At birth, what we knew immediately was that he had a raggedy mess of a heart; four separate defects that would require repeated open heart surgeries for as long as he lives. The need for surgery in infancy was balanced against the risk of undergoing such an extensive procedure on so tiny a baby, and the cardiologists waited as long as they could. He had his first open heart surgery just before his first birthday.

Because of the limits on physical stamina his heart condition created (and also because of the developmental disability that goes along with the genetic disorder we did not yet know about) he was late with many of his milestones in infancy, but a few of them he reached quite early. In particular, he began smiling what all witnesses agreed were genuine smiles at just one week old, and has not stopped smiling since.

Those smiles decorated countless photos taken in childhood, and continue into photos taken in adulthood. The severe limitations of his physical heart were apparently compensated by heart of a different kind. I can say honestly that I have never known a person more forgiving, more ready to love people and life itself, more gifted at the rare talent of happiness. May we all value and imitate those who have this gift.

Solace in the seedlings

Julia ♦ April 19, 2020 ♦ 4 Comments

My tiny flower garden in the wooded half of our lot was a cool, quiet retreat, May 2008

“…all of this time in the garden is stolen, snatched away from other priorities that clamor for attention before or after hours: family, meals, reading, household chores. This clamor is barely audible to the commuter gardener, though, for he has found his solace in the seedlings and flowers and fruits that come from the bits and pieces of time and trouble he spends on his garden.” – Conrad Aiken

Considering that Aiken was born in 1889, it’s interesting to read his comments about the conflicting schedule demands facing the commuter. Apparently our frustration at having too little time is nothing new. In most respects my life bears little resemblance to Aiken’s, but I certainly connect with his observation that time spent in the garden must be seized from other claimants. My excuse is that it’s more beneficial to my spirit than it is to the plants I tend. Whether you have a large garden, a small flower bed or just a potted plant or two, I highly recommend the therapeutic benefit of botanical pursuits. As Aiken attests, even small bits of time spent in the garden are wisely invested.

See also

Bounty enough

Doing something worthwhile

To see takes time

Slowly — but painlessly!

Julia ♦ April 18, 2020 ♦ 4 Comments

This beautiful stairway in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico (March 2004) reminds me to enjoy the climb!

“By taking steps so tiny that they seem trivial or even laughable, you’ll sail calmly past obstacles that have defeated you before. Slowly – but painlessly! – you’ll cultivate an appetite for continued success and lay down a permanent new route to change.”
— Robert Maurer

Often despair is the result of feeling totally overwhelmed by misfortune. Or, less dramatically, procrastination is the result of feeling overwhelmed by a task. I’ve found it helps tremendously to apply a process that Matt’s occupational therapists used to call “task analysis.” Basically, it means breaking a task or situation down into very small, almost unnoticeable steps and pinpointing where difficulties arise, working on them one by one.

When I was in graduate school full time, I had to juggle the meal preparation, housework and other demands of caring for two kids in grade school, along with all the medical and educational needs of our younger son. Every semester when I would attend the first day of classes and get the syllabus for each class, I would panic and think there was absolutely no way on earth I would get through this semester. Then I would come home, print out four month-at-a-glance calendar pages on my dot matrix printer (that’s how long ago this was) and take every assignment in each syllabus and break it down into tiny steps, penciling them in on each month’s page. I would then plan my menus for the next four months according to what I had to do that day for school, and then fit in Matt’s special education meetings, cardiology appointments and so on.

There was something reassuring about proving to myself on paper that it really wasn’t impossible to get through the coming weeks. In fact, it was fairly painless and I ended up enjoying school as much as I’ve ever enjoyed anything that demanding. I learned to anticipate the feeling of panic at the beginning of each semester and accept that some anxiety was an inevitable part of the process. Then I’d just print out my blank calendar pages and break it all down. Having the steps clearly plotted, I was able to relax and enjoy life in Hawaii despite all the challenges.

When we are not so overwhelmed, we can see the beauty of the staircase and even enjoy the climb. If you are feeling overwhelmed by life, I hope you will be able to take a deep breath and design your own steps, going at your own pace and enjoying as much as you can along the way.

The power to speak

Julia ♦ April 17, 2020 ♦ Leave a comment

This cub was as curious about us as we were about him! Near Skagway, Alaska, June 2000

“An animal’s eyes have the power to speak a great language.” — Martin Buber

On a highway near Skagway, Alaska, we noticed a few people stopped alongside the road and quickly found what attracted their attention: a baby bear had ambled right up to the guard rail, looking at everyone with friendly curiosity. It was raining lightly as I took several photos of one of the cutest animals I had ever seen in the wild (and only later realized that this might have been fatal if an angry Mama Bear had come after me).

Anyone whose household includes an animal (or two or three or more) is well aware of their ability to communicate without words. Those who aren’t familiar with animals may think us overly sentimental, or accuse us of anthropomorphism when we insist our animals talk to us with their eyes and mannerisms. But to ascribe the ability to communicate to an animal is not to equate it with a human. Indeed, some animals may achieve a higher rate of successful communication with each other than their human counterparts achieve among their peers!

In any case, I fail to understand how anyone could look into an animal’s eyes and not see a form of intelligence behind them. From the sophisticated, almost disdainful glances of gorillas or lions at the zoo, to the watchful awareness of a rabbit or deer deciding exactly how close it will let me come before it flees, animals say many things with their eyes. Whether or not we interpret them correctly is a different matter.

I wish for you many delightful (and safe) encounters with animals of all kinds!

Libraries will get you through

Julia ♦ April 16, 2020 ♦ 5 Comments

The public library of Rockland, Maine is one of many beautiful libraries that welcome you!

“Libraries will get you through times of no money better than money will get you through times of no libraries.” —Anne Herbert

Whenever I am feeling grouchy about paying taxes, I try to think of the wonderful public libraries that have given so much to our family over the years. I can think of few places that have enriched our lives on so many levels, at no direct cost. Even before I became a librarian I was bewildered that many people never walk into a library. It’s unquestionably one of the best bargains around.

The public libraries of today have much, much more to offer than traditional books. You can now look up all sorts of full text publications, 24/7 from the convenience of home, via research databases that formerly cost hundreds of dollars to access (and unlike a Google search, these databases are pre-screened or peer-reviewed for accuracy and quality). You can download in seconds the newest audio or e-book bestsellers to play on your iPod or MP3 player. You can even download free hit music, yours to keep permanently, via an online service called Freegal that is now available in many public libraries. You can check out DVDs of countless movies. If the titles of your choice in books, music or movies are not available, you can get on a waitlist for them. For all these services and more, we’ve never paid a cent outside of the taxes we pay whether or not we use the library.

Even if you’re not into books, music or movies, there are other great possibilities at public libraries. Some are now lending all sorts of non-literary things: hand tools, cake pans, knitting needles, telescopes, fishing poles, home energy meters and other items that can be more practical to share than to own. There are even libraries that host seed exchanges, where gardeners can “recycle” seeds from their gardens. You can apply for passports, get documents notarized, hear free concerts and take free classes. And some larger libraries now have machines that will download from your flash drive a manuscript you’ve written, and turn it into a book! (This particular service, of course, is not free.)

If you are a library fan, thanks for visiting my blog – you are among many like-minded people here! If you are not taking advantage of the immense wealth offered in your local library, I hope you will check it out (no pun intended) and find out how much fun you can have for free.

See also:

The books themselves

This post was originally published seven years ago today, but it is more relevant in the age of COVID-19 than ever before. I am so grateful to be streaming movies, books, and music at no cost from the seven public libraries where I keep active borrower accounts, giving me endless cost-free entertainment while we are all shut in. And I have many print books that are on indefinite loan from two different public libraries, as they too have closed their buildings but continue their work online, rolling forward the due dates on whatever I was lucky enough to have checked out when they closed temporarily. Libraries will get you through all sorts of difficulties, including those nobody could ever have predicted. As the post-COVID recession lingers, remember Hebert’s words!

Flowers have an expression

Julia ♦ April 15, 2020 ♦ 4 Comments

Bromileads (we think) on display just inside the door to the Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution in DC, March 2013

Bromileads (we think) bloom just inside the Sackler Gallery, Smithsonian Institution,
Washington DC March 2013

“Flowers have an expression of countenance as much as men or animals. Some seem to smile; some have a sad expression; some are pensive and diffident; others again are plain, honest and upright…” — Henry Ward Beecher

On a recent visit to the Sackler Gallery at the Smithsonian Institution, I was delighted to see the beautiful flowers pictured above, growing just inside the front window. Unlike most flowers at the Smithsonian, these did not have any labels that named or described them. I asked around, and staff were not certain either, but the general consensus was that they were some form of bromilead.

When I came home I did a bit of research and found out some fascinating facts about this particular family of flowers. They are incredibly diverse in appearance, ranging from the pineapple (surprised? I was) to Spanish moss (which is neither Spanish, nor moss) to brilliant varieties similar to the one pictured above. I thought of Beecher’s quote when I saw these flowers, which certainly have an expression unlike most others. How would you describe them? Words that come to mind for me are cheerful, serene, elegant, and vivacious. I hope they will brighten your day as they did mine!

This post was originally published seven years ago today. By the time I returned to the Sackler for a subsequent visit, the bromileads had been replaced with a different display, and I missed them. I’m glad I had my camera and got the photograph when I did.

Just enough intelligence

Julia ♦ April 14, 2020 ♦ Leave a comment

Niagara Falls, the USA and Canada, May 2009

“As a human being, one has been endowed with just enough intelligence to be able to see clearly how utterly inadequate that intelligence is when confronted with what exists.”
— Albert Einstein

Niagara Falls is one of those places that can’t be adequately described; one has to be there, hear the roar and feel the mist to fully appreciate the magnitude and power. This site is among several places that were much more impressive in real life than I had expected them to be. I first saw the falls in 1976, when my college roommate was Miss Kentucky, and was competing in the Miss USA pageant held nearby. As exciting as it was to be there for the live telecast, the most wonderful part of my trip was seeing the spectacular show nature stages at the falls 24 hours every day regardless of how many people are in attendance.

What’s even more amazing is how many places all over the world are equally remarkable. It took me awhile (and some advice from Jeff) to decide which photo would go with this quote, since I’ve snapped so many photos of wondrous sights that took my breath away. Einstein said it well; even the most intelligent among us is duly humble in the face of creation. I wish for you many chances to thrill to such abundant natural magnificence, and vivid memories to treasure with awe and gratitude.

Like life

Julia ♦ April 13, 2020 ♦ 6 Comments

“Pink snow” surrounds our cherry blossom trees, covering the lawn and sidewalks, 2012

“Do not watch the petals fall from the rose with sadness; know that, like life, things sometimes must fade before they can bloom again.” — Author unknown

The cherry blossom trees of Washington DC are justly famous, but the ones I most enjoy are right outside the front door of our townhouse in Alexandria. Until we lived with them, I never realized how briefly the cherry blossoms are in bloom. We have less than a week to enjoy their beauty at peak bloom time when most of the petals are open. If it rains, the petals fall even more quickly, leaving the ground covered in what I call “pink snow.” The feather-light petals can be annoying as they stick to cars and windows, and get tracked into the house in clumps on the soles of our shoes. But they are also beautiful, carpeting the ground with a fluffy loveliness unlike any other.

Wednesday as I was admiring the amazing blossoms in DC, the petals were just beginning to fall. The past two days they’ve been fluttering through the air almost continually. I’ve been sweeping, vacuuming and cleaning up pink flower petals off my floors all day.

Though I feel a bit sad when the blooming period is over, I also rejoice in the unique reminder left behind by the petals. I take comfort in knowing the trees will bloom again next year. Meanwhile there will be other flowers to enjoy. It seems an apt metaphor for life; the glorious happy times that are over before we know it, leaving lovely memories that bless us even as they touch our hearts with sorrow. We wipe away the tears and look to the future, trusting that new blooms will spring up.

This post was originally published seven years ago today. Every year since, the cherry blossoms have bloomed and faded, with peak bloom time varying according to the weather. This year, peak bloom was about two weeks ago.

Our song

Julia ♦ April 12, 2020 ♦ 2 Comments

The rose window of Sainte-Chappelle, Paris, 2005

“Do not abandon yourselves to despair. We are the Easter people and hallelujah is our song.” — John Paul the Great

Though I have never been a Roman Catholic, I was drawn to the writings of John Paul II. His erudition and resolve impressed me, but I connected most with his steadfast devotion to the theme that came to define his papacy: “Fear not!”

Today is the most joyful holiday in the Christian calendar, the culmination of the story that begins with the incarnation of “God with us” that so many people celebrate at Christmas. Whether or not you observe Easter as a religious holiday, I wish for each of you who read this message the confident faith, enduring hope and unshakable joy I feel today. May we all live in recognition that “hallelujah is our song.”

Divine surprise

Julia ♦ April 11, 2020 ♦ 6 Comments

Washington National Cathedral, April 2005

“The story of Easter is the story of God’s wonderful window of divine surprise.”
— Carl Knudsen

It’s possible to hope with complete assurance for something, and still be delightfully surprised when you get more than you asked for. That’s how Christmas morning often felt to me in childhood– the anticipation, though great, never quite captured the magic of what we saw when we rushed downstairs before dawn. It’s also how I felt when our sons were born. No matter how much I imagined we would love them, it didn’t come close to the joy of actually holding them and seeing them face to face.

Thus it is that we can live a life of deep faith and steadfast trust, and still we cannot begin to imagine what lies ahead. As promised in I Corinthians 2:9, we wait in confident expectation for things we are now unable to fathom: for the miracle of divine surprise.

This post was first published on Saturday, the day before Easter Sunday, 2013. I read it again now, seven years and too many heartbreaks later, scarcely daring to hope for good news as the morbidity and mortality numbers continue to climb all over the world. Yet stubbornly, I still do hope– for what, I’m not exactly sure anymore. But that’s the whole point of surprise, isn’t it? Believing in the reality of what we wait and hope for, though it is beyond our ability to imagine.

Just three days

Julia ♦ April 10, 2020 ♦ 2 Comments

One of several remarkable sand sculptures adorning the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, in March 2004

One of several remarkable sand sculptures adorning the beaches of Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, March 2004

“Earth’s saddest day and gladdest day were just three days apart!“– Susan Coolidge

The gospel story of Jesus and his victory over death was foreshadowed centuries earlier, and not only in the writing of the Old Testament prophets. In the book of Psalms we find this hopeful verse: “Weeping may endure for a night, but joy comes in the morning.” (Psalm 30:5 NKJV) What Christians think of as the Easter story is actually a promise worth celebrating every day: even the longest night will not last forever, and death does not have the final word.

An oft-quoted saying declares that the darkest hour is right before dawn, but I confess there have been times when I’ve reassured myself with that thought, only to find that I had not yet seen the darkest hour. Yet sometimes, just when we are ready to give up, we discover unspeakable joys in our future, much closer to us than we would have dared to dream. May the coming of spring awaken in your soul the courage to hope!

This post was originally published on Good Friday, 2013. The original post, comments and photo are linked, along with two other related posts, below. These links to related posts, and their thumbnail photos, do not appear in the blog feed; they are only visible when viewing the individual posts by clicking on each one. I have no idea why, nor do I know how they choose the related posts. That’s just the way WordPress does things.

In even the smallest matter

Julia ♦ April 9, 2020 ♦ 4 Comments

Detail of a bead art picture in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico 2004

“Be satisfied with success in even the smallest matter, and think that even such a result is no trifle.” — Marcus Aurelius

If you’ve ever been to Puerto Vallarta, Guadalajara or certain other well-known Mexican cities, you probably have seen the beautiful artwork created with tiny seed beads or yarn in the tradition of the Huichol people. With painstaking exactitude they create brilliantly colored items with complex designs that delight the eye and intrigue the mind. In many shops, tourists can watch the artists at work and marvel at the patience and care with which they produce unique treasures.

While I love the yarn paintings, I am most fascinated by the intricate beadwork. Those of us who have reached “a certain age” might find it difficult to even see the tiny beads, let alone place them one by one with delicate precision until a large work is finished. But the artists handle their miniscule materials with practiced expertise. They remain focused intently on their designs, apparently not distracted by the tourists streaming past to observe works in progress. The finished art collections display convincing evidence that cumulative tiny actions can achieve impressive results.

For the most part, our days are made up of small, seemingly insignificant actions that we scarcely note. With practiced habit we keep house, tend children or execute countless tasks that make up our paid or unpaid vocations. It can be easy to feel unimportant when most of what we do garners little notice or admiration, but we are building a lifetime of accomplishment, the ultimate results of which we likely will never see. As the words of Zechariah 4:10 ask, “Who dares despise the day of small things?”