"i will sail my vessel...."

"and I will
sail my vessel..."

I woke up this morning with two things on my heart: the story of Jesus calming the sea. And Garth Brooks': "The River." And I wept.

My heart was a tumble of images. A world panicking over a second "wave," of COVID cases. A humble savior asleep in the bow of a small boat. And, four "good boys," laughing and praying in Timberline - the cabin just below mine - almost thirty years ago. Garth Brooks and Grateful Dead music mingling in my heart, as the tie-dyed colors of that summer fluttered on the clothesline behind their cabin...

So, what do all these things have in common? Good men, prayer, music, the calming of storms? Not sure. I only know that these were the gifts of the day -- and I have accepted them, and will let them lead me to the "other side," of my prayers.

It is almost impossible -- even here at camp -- to not be aware of the deep concern for human health that is washing over the land. I am so grateful to be here in this place so devoted to finding spiritual solutions while it wrestles with very human issues.

This morning's series of images and sounds were the perfect reminder of something that was shared during a Wednesday testimony meeting a month or so ago in relation to the story of Jesus calming the sea:

“And there arose a great storm of wind, and the waves beat into the ship, so that it was now full.

"And he was in the hinder part of the ship, asleep on a pillow: and they awake him, and say unto him, Master, carest thou not that we perish?

And he arose, and rebuked the wind, and said unto the sea, Peace, be still. And the wind ceased, and there was a great calm."
 

This story has always been very meaningful for me. My husband and I had an experience many years ago while sitting on the tarmac for a flight home - that seared this story into my heart. I was alarmed by an intuitive sense that there was something very wrong with the plane and wanted to "get off," immediately.

I had heard stories of other spiritual thinkers who had had the same experience and were led to deplane. Later to find out that the flight had been buffeted by bad weather, or a failed engine, or in one instance - a crash landing.

I thought that God was urging us to take the same course of action -- "get off." But my husband, reminded me of this Bible story and said that we needed to pray - not just for ourselves, but for all the other little "ships." Jesus calming the sea, benefited everyone on the water that night. We could do that too.

I changed my mental course, and within minutes we were told by the pilot that a problem had been detected and that we would have to deplane and board another flight. It was the most harmonious and efficient change of flight I have ever experienced.

So this morning, as I was praying about camp, and the world's concern for a "second wave," I was not only grateful to be in a place that was prayer-based, and peace-inspired, but I was reminded of something that was shared in a testimony, during a recent zoom church service one Wednesday evening.

During her relating of a healing that was inspired by Jesus' calming of the storm in the above story from Mark, my friend Natalie shared this statement that has been with me ever since:

“The disciples
woke Jesus to their storm;
He woke them,
to his peace..."
 

Today, as spiritual thinkers, our camp administration and staff are not letting the world alarm us with reports of a second wave of fear or even the surging storms of doubt, that seems so riotous. They are - with every humble, active prayer - waking our brother (and sister) man, to the peace that we know and feel deeply within us -- within the kingdom of God, where only harmony reigns.

And not only ourselves, but all the other little "ships" on this sea of humanity, must feel the collective peace of this calm.

Jesus didn't dismiss the disciples' concerns about the storm. He didn't turn on his side and go back to sleep. He rose, rebuked the storm, assured all who were listening that "peace, was still - nevertheless. And he stayed awake as the surging waves ceased, and there was a perceptible calm.

Mary Baker Eddy puts it this way in her Message to The Mother Church in 1902:

“O glorious hope! there remaineth a rest for the righteous, a rest in Christ, a peace in Love. The thought of it stills complaint; the heaving surf of life's troubled sea foams itself away, and underneath is a deep-settled calm."
 

This promise stills the raging sea of human fear - individually and collectively. It gives us a shiftless position to navigate from, and anchor our hopes in.

Edwin Markham wrote a little poem. It is written on my heart and speaks to me every day:

"“He drew a circle that shut me out.
‘Heretic, rebel, a thing to flout.’
But Love and I had the wit to win.
We drew a circle that drew them in." 

Our prayers for humanity's peace, health, and confidence in Love's ever-presence, omnipotence, and universal grace - are drawing a bigger circle. And no one is left out.

One thing I learned from that summer of Garth Brooks and the Grateful Dead, tie-dyed t-shirts and Tevas was that the prayers of a few good boys, grow into a generation of good men. And when that circle of love is pure and expansive, no one is left out - all are helped, and healed.

offered with Love,

Kate

"everyone knows God..."

"Yes, I'm thankful for
the Lord above,
the gift of His unending love,
the promise kept
that there is so much more.

These are the things
I'm thankful for..."

Dillon Cate's cover of Garth Brooks' and Trisha Yearwood's Thanksgiving anthem,"What I'm Thankful For,"* was my husband's solo offering at our church service yesterday -- and it took my breath away with its simple beauty.

Because I knew the love, devotion and humility Jeff brought to sharing that gift with the congregation -- for me, it was less a performance, and more - a prayer.

Our service is a simple one that concludes with time for sharing testimonies of healing by those who are gathered in worship. We'd brought a friend who was unfamiliar with this Thanksgiving tradition, and I have to admit I was listening to everything that was shared at the service, through the lens of his heart. What was he hearing? Would it make sense, resonate, inspire?

Most of the remarks were thoughtfully shared and filled with reverence and thanks. But there was one testimony that brought me to tears. It leveled the playing field. We were no longer a congregation of church members and visitors, we were all one - in the thing most essential.

My friend, Linda Clarke, rose and began her testimony by saying that, although others in the congregation had shared how many generations of family members had practiced our faith, she was a first generation Christian Scientist. In one sentence she had swept away all sense of religious heredity, hierarchy of faith, or any distancing one might feel from the direct and immediate relationship to divine Love -- that is inherent in each of us, and unites us all.

Then she went on to share an experience she'd had at a recent Bible Workshop she'd hosted as the Adult Program Director at the Adventure Unlimited Ranches. She said that in the opening session, Bible scholar, Kristy Christian, had said:

"everyone knows God.
I want you to think about this..."  

It was so simple, and so profound.  Yes! Because everyone knows love -- and God is Love -- everyone knows God.  Because everyone experiences Life -- and God is the Source of all being -- everyone experiences God. It was an accessible truth.  One that unites us all. 

Later, when interviewing Linda for this post, she said, "I always try to look at people as the image and likeness of God -- in perfection. But this was different, to see a homeless person, or someone I might not agree with, or even someone who has done something I can't support, as really "knowing God," -- able to hear His angel messages -- this has given me a lot to think about. It has made such a difference for me."

The deep love for others, that resonated through her remarks, was like the "cup of cold water," that Mary Baker Eddy speaks of "millions of unprejudiced minds," waiting and watching for. I couldn't imagine anyone - in that overflowing Thanksgiving Day gathering of friends, family, and guests - who wouldn't feel loved, honored, and included through this view of themselves and others - as knowing God.

In her remarks, Linda went on to share how trusting in this fundamental fact -- that everyone knows God -- frees us to love unconditionally.

Linda's testimony was the perfect message for each of us --from the "third, forth, or fifth generation" Christian Scientist, to our unprejudiced young guest. It lifted any sense of exclusivity -- a secret handshake or password-protected entry into the kingdom of God. It affirmed that this kingdom is within each of us.  That it is accessible, and has one Sovereign -- omnipotent and omnipresent Love -- who as Mary Baker Eddy assures us in Science and Health with Key to the Scriptures is:

"impartial and universal
in its adaptation and bestowals."  

What a gift to us all. This, for me, was the message of messages.  It is the basis for true individual, familial, local, national, and global peace. Everyone knows God. When we trust this Truth -- we can live fully, share generously, and love freely.    


This message of God's inclusive love is something I am deeply grateful for -- thank you Linda.

offered with Love,

Kate


*If you would like to hear Garth Brooks', Trisha Yearwood, James Taylor and Kim Taylor's performance of,"What I'm Thankful For," here is that link.

"Standing outside the fire...."

"We call them fools
Who have to dance within the flame
Who chance the sorrow and the shame
That always come with getting burned

But you got to be tough when consumed by desire
'Cause it's not enough just to stand outside the fire

We call them strong
Those who can face this world alone
Who seem to get by on their own
Those who will never take the fall

We call them weak
Who are unable to resist
The slightest chance love might exist
And for that forsake it all

They're so hell bent on giving, walking a wire
Convinced it's not living if you stand outside the fire

Standing outside the fire
Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire

There's this love that is burning
Deep in my soul
Constantly yearning to get out of control
Wanting to fly higher and higher
I can't abide standing outside the fire…"
-     Jenny Yates/Garth Brooks

I just left the fire -- but I am getting ahead of myself.

Last Friday morning I was standing in the middle of a dusty pasture with over a hundred other campers, counselors, ranch hands, and parents standing within the fire. 

To some it may have looked like a summer camp's session-end highlight…the rodeo.  But I knew better.  From the moment Garth Brooks' voice came over the loud speaker underscoring Cliff's hysterical play-by-play, I knew this song, "Standing Outside the Fire" would keynote today's post.  

I was watching the best -- be their best.  Everyone of us was there to discover what the fire of Love's demands would reveal of our best selves.   Campers were letting that unimaginable love for their horses reveal a deep inner trust in God's choreography in the arena.  Because of this love for, not only their horse, but for their fellow campers and counselors, they were allowing an enormous animal to carry them into the rodeo ring as fast as it could, make "on a dime" turns around barrels and poles, pivot in a keyhole, and bring them flying through a cloud of dust, at breakneck speed, to stop just before a metal gate. 

This same love was inspiring counselors to stand in 90+ degree heat in jeans, boots, and long-sleeve western shirts encouraging, comforting, calming, and cheering on each rider through three long hot hours of competition.

Ranch hands, dressed as clowns in wigs and clingy polyester circus garb, ignored the heat as they cavorted in the arena between events, refilled water barrels, cleaned up trash, and helped with logistics as needed throughout the morning.

Parents stood by, cheering -- and praying -- as their precious children mounted those  gentle giants and tore past them thorugh the open space between arena fenceposts at speeds they could not have even imagined them capable based on reports in letters sent home mid-session.

For me this wasn't just the highlight "end-of-session" event, it was a symbol of everything camp stood for.  It was a snapshot of what camp is for each of us - every single day of every single session. 

Camp is about "standing within the fire".  But it is a fire of love.  It is about letting love burn away any selfishness -- and the desire to exist within one's comfort zone …and discover what remains when you do.  In this fire of Love's demanding, we discover the gold in human character as the dross of self-interest and complacency melt away.

As I was standing on the sidelines, waiting for my opportunity to step more fully into the flames, I noticed a young girl who was weeping from her place astride a beautiful mount.  She didn't think she could do "it".  Riding into that arena, cantering around barrels and poles, flying out through the gate at the end - had her paralyzed with fear.

Cliff had called her name from the announcing booth, spectators were cheering her on, her counselors were encouraging her, comforting her, praying with her.  She just couldn't make herself do it. 

The crowd quieted, Cliff called the name of the next rider and all attention moved to the new competitor in the arena.  But on the sidelines our little rider was still sitting in her saddle weeping, her counselor comforting her with prayers of encouragement -- words of love. 

As I watched, a group of about nine small campers dressed in hiking shorts, jeans, dusty tank tops and mountaineering boots gathered around our young rider and her horse.  Softly they began singing the words of a familiar hymn of comfort and healing. 

With the attention off of her for the moment, she could listen to the inspired thoughts her counselor was offering, she could let the message of love from the hymn penetrate her fear.  Before long she was smiling and we heard Cliff's voice announcing her name as the final rider at her level in the event. 

She rode out into the arena head high and a bright smile on her face.  Parents, fellow campers of all ages, counselors and rodeo clowns alike all cheered her on as she trotted through the poles and cantered lightly out of the arena.

We were all aware of the fire she had been through - because at some point over the ensuing weeks we had each (and all) faced our own version of the flames.

Every brave rider, each trusting parent, all of those selfless counselors, persevering camp directors, and full-time staff had faced at least one moment in which love had pushed them out of their comfort zone and into the flames of self-consuming love.

A trusting, prayer-filled camper who has fallen out of her raft and been pulled into a suckhole while running the rapids of the Arkansas River. The self-denying counselor who dove into the raging cold water from another boat family to pull her out.  The mountaineer who fell back from leading the climb beside her best friend, to take the hand of a lagging patrol-mate who was feeling "like a loser" at the end of the line.   The bunkhouse parent who rose early each morning to make sure that the campers in her cabin were supported in countless spiritual (and practical) ways before they had even stirred from their bunks. 

The camp director who stayed awake all night in the lodge the night before a day off (his one opportunity to "sleep-in") in order to avert a bear's interest in the camp's dumpster.  The teen who wrestles with her own deep spiritual questioning while still serving the principles of the very faith she questions, because it is the most loving thing to do.  The full-time staff who work sixteen-hour days in order to make sure all campers have made their planes on departure days.  The counselor who has been up well before dawn feeding and readying the horses for a full day of riding and still has the spiritual stamina to stay awake with a camper who is homesick -- singing hymns, reading Bible stories, and praying long after the camper has fallen asleep.

Each of these remarkable spiritual heroes has stood in the fire of love's demanding - an unlimited adventure in discovering who they really are…the All-in-allness of God's being just waiting to be drawn upon each moment.  Dross consumed -- gold revealed.

I am so honored to have stood next to each of you within the fire.
 

"…Standing outside the fire
Life is not tried it is merely survived
If you're standing outside the fire…"

Always with Love, 
Kate