Weekly Message from Traceymay

Dear Friend,

By the lakeshores all over New England, bees are so busy gathering nectar from the purple pickerel rushes.  There is that saying, “Busy as a bee.”  The phrase can be traced at least as far back as the late 1300’s to The Canterbury Tales, by Geoffrey Chaucer, “For ay as bisy as bees.”

There are 21 species of bees native to New Hampshire and it’s a good thing they are so busy.  Did you know that one in every three bites of food we take can be traced back to pollination?  Pollination not only allows for fruit and vegetables, pollination allows for seeds to grow.  Where would we “bee” without seeds?
The bees are not thinking about making fruit and seeds, though. Pollination is just something that happens as bees travel from flower to flower in search of nectar.

I wonder about how much (unintended) effect we have as we go about our daily lives.  For instance, when I go in to the grocery store later today, I could be grumbling internally about the rising price of food, or preoccupied thinking about how to start off the sermon tomorrow.  I could be inwardly focused and nurturing a growing sense of stress.
Or…
I could go through those automatic doors and be grateful that I have access to good food and money in the bank to pay for it.  I could set aside worries about tomorrow and instead be present with what I am doing and present with the people around me.  I could move through the store carefully, thoughtfully, calmly, and ready to share a smile (people can tell by our eyes, even with masks on).
Quick story: yesterday I left the General Store and on the steps was a young girl, about 6 years old, and her mother.   The girl was crying and quite upset, but the mother was calm and seemed to have it under control.  I felt such an impulse to want to comfort the child, but it was neither necessary nor appropriate to intervene.  As I walked away, even without looking, I sent all the love in my heart out through the way I was walking, hoping that the young girl would see sense something and somehow be comforted.  And, Friend, as strange as it sounds, it felt really good to at least try something very subtle in hopes it would have some effect (and it did-even if only for me!).
We carry our energy wherever we go and we have an effect on the environment wherever we are.  When we are able, let’s try to make it a helpful, kind and compassionate effect.
The scriptures tell us that God operates with the same intention:
“The Lord God is a sun and shield; no good thing does the Lord withhold.”    -Psalm 84: 11

For the month of August I will be away.  I look forward to being back the first of September.  My family and I usually go on an extended camping and boating expedition, but this year I will be taking day trips instead, flying to NC with my youngest daughter to visit my father, and then spending 6 days at the Marie Joseph Spiritual Center in Biddeford Pool, Maine.  

Word from Dana Joy, the UCC minister in Marlborough:
 

We are having a music camp, community meal, and concert at our Community house on Main Street
in Marlborough on Sat. July 30th. It’s a marvelous bunch of musicians, and no experience is necessary for the workshops —
and the entire community will have a meal to share.
And it’s air conditioned!

Please join me in prayer if you wish.

God of each moment, I pray that I may be present wherever I am and with whom I share company, even when I am in the company of “strangers.”  Just as Jesus taught us to pray, keep my mind on what is happening today.  Help me to see the Godspark in each person and in every situation.  Save me from apathy and despair, Lord.  Empower me to speak up for what I know to be right and just.  Strengthen me to face all circumstances with equanimity.  Council me in what to take up and what to lay down.  Speak to me through my heart and fill me with the Holy Spirit of Love.  This I pray in Christ’s name.  Amen.

“Put on a heart of mercy, kindness, humility, meekness and patience.  Bear with one another and forgive one another, as the Lord has forgiven you.”        -Colossians 3: 12-13

Willingly,

Traceymay
603-715-0990
Traceymaykalvaitis@gmail.com

Copyright © *|CURRENT_YEAR|* *|LIST:COMPANY|*, All rights reserved.

*|IFNOT:ARCHIVE_PAGE|*
*|LIST:DESCRIPTION|*

Our mailing address is:

*|HTML:LIST_ADDRESS_HTML|* *|END:IF|*

Want to change how you receive these emails?
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

*|IF:REWARDS|* *|HTML:REWARDS|*
*|END:IF|*