Awakening a Keen Observer

Scratching where it itches

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Thu, 03 Dec 2009 19:05:00 +0000

Grace and Peace this first week of Advent.
So I'm driving over to work a couple of days ago and it was foggy. The road between my home and work is fairly straight and you could see ahead though visibility was limited. On a clear day the road stretches out like ribbon candy ahead about 20 miles. You can't see the whole of it but enough. Today with the fog I hadn't been able to see very far at all. I had been thinking about the future. You know the what-if kind of wondering we do now and then. What-if-this or What-if-that. And I laughed out loud.
Why? Because on the north side of the road with a small herd of horses was a donkey scratching its neck on a fence post. One of those metal kinda pointy ones. I mean it really lined up next to it scratching. Ok, I can't say, and wouldn't try to say, that donkey looked satisfied. What did come to mind was this donkey had a problem and had right there found a solution. Itches? Scratch! Sigh, however as multi-tasking,list-making, ever-perfecting, people we often don't look for a solution to our questions that is so uncomplicated. We'd rather make lists of why-to or why-not. We'd rather consult with others about the wisdom of...
So, now, back to the road. It came to me that what I needed was not to see the whole way but just what I needed to see ahead of me to be safe to complete the journey. Only a little at a time. (trusting that overnight someone hadn't come and rolled up the road and it ended just there, add a grin.)
Life lived more simply is what we need to do in Advent. We know where the Advent road leads and we know who walks before us. We know we will sing joyfully on Christmas Eve. We believe that there is a plan for our lives and it is for good.
Enjoy this time, this very time, this very day and keep it simple.

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

thanksiving Coming Friday five's

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Fri, 20 Nov 2009 16:10:00 +0000

Revgalblogpals has a question each Friday... here are my answers to the questions. You can play along post your answers, I really want to know, in the comment box.

The Cure-Ginger Andrews

Lying around all day
with some strange new deep blue
weekend funk, I'm not really asleep
when my sister calls
to say she's just hung up
from talking with Aunt Bertha
who is 89 and ill but managing
to take care of Uncle Frank
who is completely bed ridden.
Aunt Bert says
it's snowing there in Arkansas,
on Catfish Lane, and she hasn't been
able to walk out to their mailbox.
She's been suffering
from a bad case of the mulleygrubs.
The cure for the mulleygrubs,
she tells my sister,
is to get up and bake a cake.
If that doesn't do it, put on a red dress.

--Ginger Andrews (from Hurricane Sisters)
So this Friday before Thanksgiving, think about Aunt Bert and how she'll celebrate Thanksgiving! And how about YOU?

1. What is your cure for the "mulleygrubs"?
watching a favorite movie .. Pride and Prejudice- either version

2. Where will you be for Thanksgiving?
Yet to be determined, perhaps with some friends, taking my husband to the airport,
may eat at the India Restaurant in OKC.

3. What foods will be served? Which are traditional for your family?
Here's what makes it thanksgiving for me. Turkey and gravy, dressing (stuffing), white mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes mashed, cranberry sauce home made, applesauce home made, pumpkin pie, Nap

4. How do you feel about Thanksgiving as a holiday?
As a preacher I like thanksgiving as after a community service I have it free from responsibilities. However, this is a hard part of my family memory as we have had a lot of losses this time of year. "we will meet but we will miss him"

5. In this season of Thanksgiving, what are you grateful for?
Health, continued faith and hope, sense of humor, family and friends, and our pets who bring us constant smiles..

Please let me hear from YOU
God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

Stumble Upon

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Wed, 28 Oct 2009 01:21:00 +0000

Two Wolves
by unknown

An elder Cherokee Native American was teaching his Grandchildren about life. He said to them, “A fight is going on inside me… it is a terrible fight and it is between two wolves.
“One wolf represents fear, anger, envy, sorrow, regret, greed, arrogance, self-pity, guilt, resentment, inferiority, lies, false pride, superiority, and ego.
“The other stands for joy, peace, love, hope, sharing, serenity, humility, kindness, benevolence, friendship, empathy, generosity, truth, compassion, and faith.
“This same fight is going on inside you, and inside every other person, too.”
They thought about it for a minute and then one child asked his grandfather, “Which wolf will win?”
The old Cherokee simply replied, “The one you feed.”

I sumbled upon this and thought it really good. I will probably use it in addressing All Saints Day.

Good luck
feeding the right
wolf

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

upon my feet

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Sat, 17 Oct 2009 16:07:00 +0000

revgalblogpals posted the above photo. it came as part of the friday conversation. this week it was about shoes. here are the questions posted and my answeres

1. What is your favorite footwear at this time in your life? birkenstocks

2. What was the craziest shoe, boot, or sandal you ever wore? heels that were silver glitter (ok it was halloween)

3. What kind of shoes did you wear in your childhood? spalding saddle shoes black and white, and bass weejens loafers in college

4. How do you feel most comfortable? Barefoot, flip-flops, boots, or what?
flip flops made by teva unless it is in the sand

5. What kind of socks do you like, if any? eh not so much

The fun part of this whole question and conversation was that we had just been looking at women's pumps online at a very expensive store. There were many in the 500$ range and others in the $700 range and one pair was $2000

It took my breath to see the cost of these shoes...and so very many styles to choose from and the NAME brands that I think made the shoes start at 200.

what does it say about us that there are so many things that have become accepted at an amazing price? it's ok for shoes or a bag to cost several hundred dollars. we can rationalize that we deserve these things. that we have worked for these things. that we can have one indulgence.

can we?

perhaps we can --but we may not. we may not if we are people who have eyes to see and hearts that melt and hopes that do not just include our little tribe. we may not if we are people who can say that others will take care of 'them' or that 'they' just don't try to work hard enough. we may not if we think that because of our own effort alone we are where we are.

may denotes permission. if we're christian i'm pretty sure we don't have that permission.. Jesus Christ...have mercy on me...a sinner.

on my first trip to India we were walking back to our hotel and there was a man walking ahead of us dragging one of his feet. we thought he was crippled. as we passed him and looked down his very basic flip flop thong on his right foot had pulled out and was broken...he was not dragging his foot he was keeping his foot protected by dragging the flipflop

God abides
bobbie giltz mcgarey
@2009

bobbiemcgarey on facebook and twitter

Heavy burdens

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Mon, 12 Oct 2009 14:03:00 +0000

Visiting our dear family Matthew and Annie in Kotigiri India a few years ago we watched these men building a road up the mountain.
These tribesmen had some amazing ability to carry very heave loads. Look at this man carrying this rock on his back. It has already been shaped to fit into the roadway. He carried this with a smile.
For him, what for me would be impossible, was possible and even carried with a smile.

what could we carry for a friend whose burden right now seems too heavy? what could we lift from the shoulders of a stranger? what could we do for the world around us that carries so heavy burdens that war and killing seem the only relief?

let's pray that today each of us can take the burden from someone we encounter and then lift it up to God. For with God all things are possible.

God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
photo by bobbiemcgarey all rights reserved
@2009

give act pray

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Sat, 03 Oct 2009 19:12:00 +0000

This photo comes from the Presbyterian Church website. The world is watching the continued hits that Indonesia and the area are taking from Typhoons(Hurricanes) and Earthquakes and Tsunami. Deep breath.

Because it takes my breath away to image how these folks are coping with the continued troubles, rain and flooding they are having. I have heard another typhoon is heading their way. That seems so strange since no hurricane hit the US this year.

when I see folks in this kind of trouble I am amazed. I am amazed that they can continue to cope.

Thousands they think, thousands are still trapped in the buildings that collapsed at the beginning of the week.

Friends it is time to pray for those folks so hit by these tragedies
and I think it is time to give $$$ to help them through their trouble
And it is time to pray. Give act pray
www.pcusa.org

God abide
bobbie giltz mcgarey
@2009

vacation end

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 15:49:00 +0000

wow hope the photo comes thru. we have had a good vacation Clearwater and Clearwater Beach have for over 30 years been a place of rest and refreshment. we feel that way after a week.

today we start home to oklhoma. the weather there has been really hot. here it is in the 80's and on the beach there is always a breeze.

we had perfect weather for everything we wanted to do and having time with Martha (betsy) was wonderful. seriously it was so great.

we laughed a lot

gave award winning good bye

john is packing the car and i'm thinking about this weeks sermon and the introduction to joshua.

life returns to what it was...

my parents now long gone still seem to have a presence here and for me and i believe for all of us is a joy albet bittersweet.

be well all
god abides
and this i hold dear
god abides

bobbie giltz mcgarey
@2009

Martha's Birthday 28

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 22:29:00 +0000

Our daughter Martha celebrating her birthday today. we've talked with her several times and it has been so good. She is wonderful and me and the world are a better place for her being her. She has always been an incredibly compassionate person. while on a mission trip with a group from the church, Martha came along and she was about 5. One of the young men got a sore throat and didn't feel well. She and I went in to see him. He looked and asked why she was crying...and she pointed to Dan... she felt bad for Dan.
Every day in every way our family is blessed by her. She is living in Bethlehem, PA and we are most certainly proud of what work she is doing but we are mostly grateful to the bone for who she is.

Happy Birthday Martha Elizabeth McGarey

I love you mom

God Abides

Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

2 am

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 07:55:00 +0000

2 a.m.
and I am
wakeful after storm
so loud so bright

candles found
by stove lighted
flicker light teasing night

lost connection
modem sleeping in the storm
outside window
now door open
a new frog churps
welcomes rain
suddenly summer
may be passing
marked by change
of heated earth
summer still will
heat us warmly
temperatures not so high
this time
rain and thunder distant echo
still the storm around us creeps
why am i waking
to the lightening
thunder bumping with the flash
think of other
summers passing seem so close
yet far away
in the mountains on the beaches
in the desert with the heat
not like monsoons
do our rains come
those with rain
that fills the streets
ours more gentle
drunk by dry land
grain still waiting in the field
when the rains come
after waiting
all the sweeter is the smell
life returing
hope abiding
baptized by the heaven’s hand

bobbie bane giltz mcgarey august 27, 2009 Oklahoma

God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

Are you not amazed?

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 19:34:00 +0000

Are you not amazed by something in your life just now. Something that has come to you or people told you or you have felt in all you do? Have you not seen something Awesome in the truest sense of the word...something that pointed you to God's creative hand?

There are moments when I visit with folks or talk to folks and I find that somehow in the midst of the conversation I notice something amazing about them. It could be that they have beautiful eyes or hands or a smile that is gentle and reassuring. Sometimes I remember to tell them what about them I've observed. Yes, I'm still listening but part of that is absorbing the person to whom I'm listening.

Try it. Today, sometime today, as you greet someone or someone serves you at a table or there is a family that walks by all looking happy tell them so. For example I was happy when after the dad, daughter son and mom walked by as I was eating lunch in Atlanta Bread company I said to the mom, What a handsome family. She smiled. They were you could tell, or it felt like you could tell they were happy.

Is not one of the jobs of the church to help people recognize the wonder around them? I believe it is. To marvel at a sunset or a rainbow or a face or a puppy and know that life is good. I believe that we miss the wonder with schedules and cell phones and... and...and...

Look for amazement it will surely find you.

And leave me a note what happened. You can do that by registering on comments below... lets share eh? what did you see that amazed you?

God abides
keep watching
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Tue, 21 Jul 2009 02:59:00 +0000

Do you remember as a child the wonder of a Kaleidoscope. You would peer through the hole and turn the end until you got those little chunks of plastic to fall in exactly the right pattern...then you would want to show someone so you'd gently gently gently hand it to them....chances were great that the image would shift before they saw it completely....and then they'd look... the color schemes would change and the patterns different. It's not the same but here's a link to an online Kaleidoscope
http://aleph0.clarku.edu/~djoyce/java/Kaleido.html

What is it about the temporary nature of these images that fascinates us so much? Is it that we know that beauty is fragile? Is it that we know that time moves quickly and we have to grab for the wonder when we can? Is it that we are the first, and probably ONLY ones to ever see that particular configuration and it cannot be saved? You tell me.

For me it is the temporary nature of beauty. This too shall pass. Good or bad...this too shall pass. Joy or Sorrow...this too shall pass. Comedy or Tragedy...this too shall pass.

Like the beautiful image of a kaleidoscope...

Be not perplexed
Be not afraid
Everything passes
God does not change... Teresa of Avila

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

Oh thanks for reminding me

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Mon, 13 Jul 2009 19:04:00 +0000

I hadn't read this passage in a while. Today it appeared in something I was reading and on this hot hot hot summer day it seemed to cool down a lot of things...

Isaiah 43: 1-3

Do not fear, for I have redeemed you;
I have called you by name, you are mine.
When you pass through the waters I will be with you;
and through the rivers, they will not overwhelm you;...
For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Thanks, I needed that.

God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

Calvin's idea

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 01:51:00 +0000

COR MEUM TIBI OFFERO
DOMINE PROMPTE ET SINCERE, “I offer you my
heart, Lord, readily and sincerely.” John Calvin

Grace and Peace,
How much is enough?

Ok, why are we surprised that it is 100 ...it's July and we are in Oklahoma. We put up a large mosquito net over the patio to bring a little shade and it was 10 degrees cooler than the day before without it. Just that little bit of netting made such a difference.

So many times we think we have to do something BIG for God for it to be worthwhile, for it to make a difference, for our lives to make a difference. But I don't think that is altogether true. I believe, and have seen in action, how little things can make big changes. How a smile here or there, a kind word, a gift of something simple, all these things can make all the difference in someones life.

We watched an old movie, The Bells are Ringing, with Judy Holiday and Dean Martin and at one point they are on the street corner and she says that if you just speak to people they will be friendly in return. They do this...and sure enough, (ok it is a movie) people start speaking and saying hello and introducing themselves. What if we did that?

What if when the waitperson came to your table and said..Hi I'm Sue and I'll be serving you today. You responded. Hi I'm Bobbie and this is John and we are going to be your patrons today.

Have you ever noticed sometimes you go into a store and you don't even make eyecontact with the check out person?

I guess what I am rambling on about is that we need to see God in those next to us as much as to watch for some humdinger of a whizbang epiphany. Maybe they are the same?

Mother Teresa wrote, "Do something beautiful for God"

Let's do that all day, all week, all the time

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey

d365

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Thu, 02 Jul 2009 11:42:00 +0000

Children's shoes outside the dining room in Varanasi India
"We have everything - We have Jesus!"

Check out d365 website for a great touchstone way to start your days..

Susan Reed wrote
The example of Christ is something that is hard to grasp. There is an irony in this verse from Corinthians: “so that by his poverty you might become rich.” I think most people would be willing to give up something so that others do not go without. For example, if you had a foot-long sub and someone else had no lunch, would you give them six inches of yours? Probably. Sharing is something we learn at a very young age.

However, if you had a foot-long sub and someone else had no lunch, would you give them your entire sandwich? On a much grander scale, that’s what Christ did for us. Jesus came to live on earth — not so that we could have a little bit of a relationship with God, but so that we could have a full relationship with God. The life and death of Christ happened so that we could have life — life in abundance, life lived in communion with God, our Creator.

Susan Reed

How many shoes do you have? How many feet do you have? How many pairs of shoes can you wear at at time?

Humm

Happy Summer day...

God Abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009
Photo by MarthaMcGarey all rights reserved

Time F L I E S

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:18:00 +0000

Grace and peace to you all. Wow how can it be July? I have got to get back to a regular routine of writing to You.

Is it not amazing how things come to us when we are open and receptive to them? I flashed on the picture of Jesus standing at the door and knocking...and inviting him in. When you open yourself up to God's activity in your life things come to you...especially when that activity in your life is outward focused... when we work for another/one another.

Not long ago in a conversation with a man that my husband John had recently met we recognized that we both have a passion for mission in India. He has connections and I do as well so it was going benefit both of us. The odd part is that God led us to this through stories of planes being delayed. If I'd never had a plane delayed... we wouldn't have begun or sustained this conversation... There suddenly in the middle of it was the connection the flight from Delhi to Chicago.

Open yourself to the workings of the Spirit all around you and be sure that God's presence is full and real waiting...waiting for you to open that door..

God abides
Happy Summer

Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

What me Work?

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Thu, 11 Jun 2009 15:33:00 +0000

Hello Friends,

David H. Jensen writes in the Austin Seminary publication Communitas:
"Christian worship does not simply occur as a pause at the end of the week; rather, it begins the week, the time that we have, by announcing good news to the world for all time. As God gives time to the world, there is always enough to go around. Christian worship both occurs in the midst of ordinary time, at the beginning of the work week, and beyond time, as God breaks into an ordinary day and promises communion to a time-starved and often bread-starved people." (pg 9, v.5)

In recent years daily calendars and planners have Sunday not at the beginning of the week but at the end. The week planning starts with Monday. There has always been something unsettling about this for me. To be honest my week is often focused on the next Sunday...but is this not then a reminder for me that Sunday is the beginning...for all of us. Is this true for you? (you can leave comments you know) Is Sunday the beginning of your week or the end of one...
Seems to me I read somewhere that most heart attacks happen between 8 and 9 am on Monday morning. Perhaps what we need to remember as we prepare Sunday worship is that
we are setting folk out for a dangerous time.

Jensen continued... "Good work extends the gift of time to others, where the time I spend working in some way rebounds to others' enjoyment of the time they're given."

Think with me about these things. What is it that gives meaning to what we do? Our work is not limited to those things which provide payment. Our work is our daily way of Being in this world.
Our work is in sharing the abundance in which we live. Our work is to love the Lord our God with all our heart, soul and mind, and our neighbor as ourselves.

Therein lies great meaning and peace.

God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

Meet-ing

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Fri, 05 Jun 2009 05:38:00 +0000

Friday morning at 8:30 is the beginning of the Presbytery Meeting in Tulsa. That's about 3 hours from here...without morning traffic that I hope to avoid.

Our daughter went to medical school there at OSU-College of Osteopathic Medicine.
So I know the way to tulsa. I wish I had time to see my best friend and also cousins that are there but it just won't work this time.

We will meet from 8:30 to 8:30 with some time in between for little meetings and worship.
The vice Moderator of our General Assembly, that's presbyterian speak, will be there and I am looking forward to meeting him face to face. My husband John met him this past week in TX.
My goodness the moderator and vice moderator travel a lot!

We get together in one or more rooms for meetings. We greet one another, check out one another's name tags, and discuss , pray and vote on different issues. It should be a good time.
I like it when we play together as churches, and this time all the Presbyterian churches in the whole of Oklahoma will be together.

Tell me something I didn't know...I'm always ready to learn...

Our son and daughter in law are coming up to help us sort,toss and pack some more in the house. I am going to leave instructions that if the sentence contains the words..."mom will never notice" they are to stop what they are doing, packing, throwing, etc... Grin... no seriously
grin...no really

God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

Chorus

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Sat, 30 May 2009 03:50:00 +0000

In a movie I watched not long ago a man from NYC was visiting Savannah and before he goes to sleep he turned on a tape recording of car-big city noises-- these apparently made him feel at home.

If you open the windows this time of year where we live in Oklahoma in the evening the frogs singing are a beautiful chorus... They sing through most of the night. We have also had the Midnight mockingbird return. Seriously it's midnight between 12-3am (don't ask how I know). This singer, they say it is the males who sing at night, had 14 songs he sings. I've counted them three times... It's not as hard as it sounds.
These sounds make a difference in the world. You can hear them and focus on them and enjoy them.
We also have a train or two that come through at night. The one from the south is full as you can hear the difference in the way the train cars sound as they go by. I'm really not sure what they are hauling but really does it matter?

Somehow this world has sounds that we miss because the sounds of engines and people are everywhere. Here in the Middle (Oklahoma) there is a lot of quiet. And it is delightful.
Enjoy the quiet. Enjoy the pauses in your life.

What nature songs make you feel at home...?

listen

God Abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

What is ahead

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Tue, 19 May 2009 21:28:00 +0000

I don't know not really what is ahead.
That's not a silly thought or depressing...it just is.

I know what I have planned and what I am making plans for...ahead
But I don't know if that will work out..
The what if's of life are real...

And that has to be ok

Because we are not really in control
We are part of
We are actors
We are movers and shakers
Be we are not in control...

And that has to be ok

We can box in ourselves and say we will stay this way only
We will be exactly like this
Our money will last until....
But we are not in control

And that has to be ok

And faith says... that IS ok.
Because we already have all we need and even more..
So instead of storing all the extra
for the maybes of tomorrow in the storage units of life..
let's let go..
And it's great we are not in control

And that IS ok.

Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

Yes...that is ok

Happy thoughts

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Fri, 15 May 2009 18:03:00 +0000

Driving to work the other day with the radio on... with road noise... with all that was going on the trill of a meadowlark came through it all
( I got this image from www.statesymbolsusa.org/Montana/bird_western_meadowlark.html) You can hear the song here...

Anyway driving along thinking about lots of things bursting into whatever thing I might have been mulling over.... came this song... reminding me of the world there... just there... that I was driving by.

We need I think to enjoy who we are where we are now. Baba ram Das wrote a book in the
60's Be here now...
And that is a really good reminder that we need to be where we are. Present to the present tense of our lives. Yesterday is past...tomorrow is only a dream... we have now.

You have now..
Where ever you are
in whatever situation
Paul wrote in all these things I shall be content.
not surrender... but rather living into that place or thing.
Do you know how that feels?
It feels really sweet.

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
Wait..remember to listen to the meadowlarks in your life calling you to L I F E

@2009

Just Thinking

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Tue, 05 May 2009 18:07:00 +0000

I was watching PBS Dickens: Old Curiosity Shop. I know somewhere I must have read this but didn't remember well enough..It left me crying.
I'm ok now really but it was one of those things that grief does....you think you are ok and 'thru' it and then boom you are in it again.
Here is the line that got me.

Oh! it is hard to take to heart the lesson that such deaths will teach,

I thought of some losses I've recently experienced and realized they were 'fresher' than I knew...
So I decided to look up the book and found the whole of it here:
http://www.online-literature.com/dickens/curiosity/

I turned to the last two chapters and found the line in Chapter 72 Here friends is the fullness of the quote which makes it better.

Oh! it is hard to take to heart the lesson that such deaths will teach, but let no man reject it, for it is one that all must learn, and is a mighty, universal Truth. When Death strikes down the innocent and young, for every fragile form from which he lets the panting spirit free, a hundred virtues rise, in shapes of mercy, charity, and love, to walk the world, and bless it. Of every tear that sorrowing mortals shed on such green graves, some good is born, some gentler nature comes. In the Destroyer's steps there spring up bright creations that defy his power, and his dark path becomes a way of light to Heaven.

It is a rainy grey day here... but this is beautiful in its own way...

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

Even in the Rain..

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Wed, 29 Apr 2009 11:52:00 +0000

Grace and Peace
There have been storms all around us these past few days but none have really brought rain or thunder here. This morning I woke with the birds. When they are just waking they all try out their voices and sing their songs... later you rarely hear so many at the same time but at the pre dawn time they began their song. Usually it is one bird that starts the chorus and then the others join in. Even though it was/is a grey morning they sang.
I listened to the birds with my morning prayers and then when the rain came and the thunder continued they were harder to hear...but they were there singing.

So apparently we have to understand that even in the rain the birds sing. We all too often just give up when 'storms' come into our lives... What could we do to teach ourselves to sing... no matter the weather in the world around us.

Sara Lee Guthrie, Arlo's daughter and Woodie's granddaughter has a beautiful song...
You Gotta sing...all the time..you gotta find yourself a simple song and sing it all day long...
You gotta sing....

Find your song today...
God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

bobbiemcgarey on facebook and twitter.

Banquet for the Senses

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Tue, 21 Apr 2009 22:04:00 +0000

Wow what a great day for the senses
Started out with the bluebonnets and indian paintbrush flowers in the middle of the road
A Meadowlark, (bright yellow chest) sang so loudly it was awesome
A really big Great Blue Heron flew past
A field had just been mowed and smelled so very sweet
The feel of the earth in your hands saying goodbye to a treasured lady
It was wonderful

Awake I'm awake

God abides
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009

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Easter is coming

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Sat, 11 Apr 2009 18:19:00 +0000

We have had really severe wildfires here in SW Oklahoma. The precipitation is down the winds are up and that makes for some real problems....
so....
when the news report said that there was an 80% chance of storms, will hail and rain and wind, we all took a breath.
It is Easter tomorrow.... but the earth needs the water, the fields need the water,
and
nothing
can
stop
Easter
from
Coming.

I pray for all who celebrate Easter. I pray for all who don't yet know that God knows us thru and thru and loves us still.

Happy Easter
God Abides
Bobbie G. McGarey
@2009

Red Tail Hawk

noreply@blogger.com (Bobbie Giltz McGarey) — Thu, 02 Apr 2009 02:28:00 +0000

So for the past 9 years I've been driving along highway 7 from Duncan Oklahoma to Lawton. Seven years of that time I went on to Frederick, Chattanooga or Grandfield Oklahoma. Right now I stop in Lawton where I'm the Interim Pastor.
In those years I've driven 250,000 miles.
Along the way I've observed the birds,of varied kinds -- hawks, great blue herons, cattle egret, one eagle, and meadowlarks. I've watched a Hawk next about 12 miles west of Duncan. It's on the south side of the road. Each year I've watched in the spring a beautiful nest and each year there's been a hawk on the nest. Only a few times have I seen one of the pair perched on the side of the nest. Most of the time I just see a head lookout over the edge.
On the way to work today I was approaching the nest ready to look across and see if I could see the bird on the nest. But then, on the side of the road something caught my attention. It was a hawk, red-tailed you could see from the feathers, dead on the side of the road. I immediately slowed down and looked toward the nest...as much as I could...but couldn't see any sign of the bird on the nest.
sigh. sigh...
Hawks have territories so I wasn't sure about if this was one of the pair that had nested. All day with all that went on in the office---I kept thinking about the hawk, the nest, the eggs...
It was a long day about 7:24 I was approaching the nest, this time from the west on my way home. I slowed.... I looked.... was there a head? was there?
Perched on the side of the nest was a red-tailed hawk. I couldn't tell in the twilight if it was the male or the female. But there was a hawk at the nest. There is a chance this brood will make it to maturity.
Funny, how this day was bookmarked by a bird, it's nest, and the wonder of it all. Keen observers what will you see in this new day?

God abide
Bobbie Giltz McGarey
@2009