Sunday Reflection: Goodwill and kindness

Today's reflection is brought to you by

Ephesians 4:31-32.

Let Creator pull the bitter roots from your heart, for they feed the rage and anger that takes you down a path of fighting, hurting and speaking evil of your fellow human beings. Instead, show goodwill and kindness to others, by releasing them from the things they have done wrong. For this is what the Great Spirit, through the Chosen One, has done for you.

First Nations Version: 

An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament 

(Downer's Grove IL: InterVarsity Press 2021, ISBN 978-0-8308-1350-6).

O Spirit,

some days I feel surrounded by hate.

Social media can be full of trolls.

The news media seems to love sensational stories.

Some talk radio loves to belittle,

berate and be miserable 

even to those trying to make the world

a better place.

Through Paul, 

writer to the community of Ephesus,

you remind us

to step away from those places

where it becomes too easy to let

empty angry talk

that harms

take us over.

Often the impulse is to give back

worse than we get,

but you invite us to let the anger go,

and respond kindly,

with words that bring forgiveness, 

strength and healing

to those who need it most.

You have marked us as your own.

Help us to remember

that we belong to you

and are your presence

by the goodness we can give

to a world 

that often seems addicted

to outrage.

+Amen

**Today's reading is timely. This week I discovered that that there has been a group of Not-In-My-Back-Yard neighbours badmouthing a local supportive housing development online, and their comments are verging on hysteria. Fortunately, other neighbours have let the Spirit flow through them, responding kindly by pointing out the beauty, goodness and truth they have seen coming through positive happenings from/with folks living at that housing development. I am very grateful to good neighbours who are letting the Spirit of love shine through their firm but gentle responses that encourage understanding rather than judgment of those who are recently housed and improving their lives.

A walk through the garden

Front yard garden this morning

This spring, my cabbage seed failed to sprout so I have none... and I had to replant my corn -- so it will be late. The strawberries fared poorly with the mulch I got from a friend (I suspect it was treated with something, but she wouldn't have known that). The heat withered most of the blossoms on our broad bean plants, but there are a still few precious beans coming for my favourite salad... 

As is usually the case come August, I'm feeling a bit overwhelmed when I think about all the work I'll soon be doing to harvest, preserve and freeze veggies from our garden. I've put away plenty of berries already, but there's a lot more effort to come, and with the price of produce where it is, I'm grateful to have a garden, period! I'm also loving this season of just walking outside to bring in supper!

So here's a little video walk through our back yard for anyone who is interested (mostly me as I sometimes look back on how our garden has grown and changed over the years). If you happen to be in the neighbourhood and want to come for an in-person visit, you're welcome anytime! And I'd even be happy to make you a homegrown tomato sandwich!

Monday Music Appreciation #36: Music for a rainy day

It's been very dry here of late, so when a storm blew in just after dark last night and the rain started, I stepped out onto our front step to just listen to the sound of it, to smell it, and ended up walking a few steps out from the overhang to turn my face to the sky in full appreciation. Welcome, rain!

Today is cool and overcast, and any number of rain songs have been playing in my head, but since I've already moodled about my favourite just last year, I decided to look for something different to leave here for you, dear readers.

I heard a piece of Beethoven's "Tempest" -- Sonata #17 Op. 31 No. 2, third movement -- during a Winspear showing of Beethoven Lives Upstairs some time ago, but this is the first time I've seen Valentina Lisitsa, the American pianist who plays it so beautifully below (though her body camera makes me a little seasick...) If you want to hear more, click here for the link to hear her play the full 26-minute piece. Enjoy!

Sunday Reflection: I thank my God

An anniversary bouquet
from the grandkids

Today's reflection is brought to you by

Philippians 1: 3-5.

This past week, my amazing and wonderful parents celebrated 60 years of marriage. My sisters found a statistic saying that only four percent of couples make it that far... and indeed, a few times during this past year, the idea of them reaching 60 years was a bit iffy due to health issues. 

But through determination and effort, they have rebuilt their stamina, and we just enjoyed a week's worth of little events to mark their marriage. They're a rare pair indeed -- best friends, great parents, solid business partners, and kind-hearted, generous and welcoming folks who have more children than just us three daughters.

Mom and Dad, this one's for you:

Whenever you come into my thoughts 

I give thanks to my Creator.

I always pray with a glad heart

when I send up prayers for you,

because from the first day [of my life]

we have walked side by side

in the telling of the good story.

I have no doubts

that the one who set your feet

on this good path

will keep walking it with you

until the day that Creator Sets Free

(Jesus) The Chosen One appears...

-- Philippians 1:3-6,

First Nations Version: 

An Indigenous Translation of the New Testament 

(Downer's Grove IL: InterVarsity Press 2021, ISBN 978-0-8308-1350-6).

May Creator continue to bless you,

Dad and Mom,

with good health, joy, peace, and togetherness.

+Amen

Monday Music Appreciation #35: Mandolins!

One of my kids picked up a mandolin at a neighbour's garage sale years ago, and I always thought it would be fun to learn to play it -- but I soon discovered that my fingers weren't nearly nimble enough on its narrow neck (there's a reason I play a 12-string guitar)! 

I'm always amazed by performances like this one. Vivaldi's Concerto for Two Mandolins (RV 352) is a delight to hear, and the work of Sebastiaan de Grebber and Ferdinand Binnendijk of the Dutch Mandolin Chamber Orchestra Het CONSORT is incredible -- their timing is bang on. See if you don't agree.

Sunday Reflection: Five loaves to twelve baskets

Today's reflection is brought to you by

Saskatoon berry-picking moon,
according to Indigenous (Blackfoot) wisdom
and there was an abundance this year!

John 6:13.

The disciples

(most of them)

are incredulous.

Feed all these people

with 5 loaves and 2 fish?

Are we really any different, 

though we know how the story ends?

We behave as if our Creator

has been stingy with creation.

We squirrel things away

for ourselves,

forgetting that none of it

really belongs to us.

But what if we all sat down 

and shared what you've given us

equitably?

It might be hard to imagine, 

but imagine we must.

Bless us,

O Lord,

for these your gifts

which we have received

through your bounty

have been hoarded

even though

Christ

was trying to teach us

to let all your goodness

flow through our hands

so that no one is in need.

Bless us

with open eyes, 

hands,

and hearts,

that we may share

your good creation

as you intended us to.

Once we adopt your sense of abundance,

we'll have many more

than twelve baskets of left overs!

Help us to live out, 

put out and act from

a deeper belief

in your abundance for all.

+Amen

Monday Music Appreciation #34: Jeremy Dutcher

Because I took June off from moodlings, I missed moodling about two very important things in June -- Indigenous Peoples' month, and Pride month for our 2SLGBTQ+ family members.

So here's a music video that combines both celebrations -- Jeremy Dutcher is a two-spirit Indigenous musician and tenor/composer with an amazing voice, who is using his talents to keep his mother tongue of Maliseet-Passamaquoddy alive through his music. He spent many hours listening to wax-cylinder recordings of Wolastoqiyik elders from his community in order to learn their music, and won both Polaris and Juno (Indigenous and Canadian music) awards for his first album.

Jeremy performed at the Winspear this past season, but unfortunately, I missed him. A friend said it was an excellent show, and watching YouTube videos, I can see why. I love this one, Pomawsuwinuwok Wonakiyawolotuwok, much of it filmed at a pow wow. Enjoy!

Sunday Reflection: Calling on the Shepherd

Today's reflection is brought to you by

Mark 6:34.

When you stepped off the boat

and saw the great crowd,

you did not judge them.

You simply 

had compassion for them

because they were like sheep

without a shepherd...

Shepherd Christ,

you clearly understood

that we all have our moments

of feeling completely lost.

Shepherd Christ,

you were with us this morning

as we saved the life

of one who almost lost it

because of addiction.

Shepherd Christ,

we need your help and compassion

to infect all those 

who judge people with addictions,

who believe safe consumption sites are "drug dens,"

and who threaten to close them all.

Shepherd Christ,

we need our leaders 

to put their ideologies aside,

to visit and learn about safe consumption sites,

and to understand

that often the first step

toward safety and good health

comes through compassionate health workers

who offer drugs that decrease dependencies 

via safe consumption.

Shepherd Christ,

be with all first responders 

and street outreach professionals,

and give them the resources they need

to help those with addictions

find healing and hope.

Shepherd Christ,

make us like you --

compassionate 

toward all those who are

like sheep without a shepherd.

We are all lost

until you find us.

Help us

to let go of our assumptions

about what is best for others

and to meet all your people,

lost and found,

as your beloved children.

We call on your help, 

Shepherd Christ.

+Amen

*** Naloxone kits are available FREE at Canadian drug stores/pharmacies. Anyone can save a life.

Sharing GOOD work

Throughout my education, I was always told how important it was to use descriptive words. Things couldn't just be good. They had to be superlatively so -- excellent, exceptional, favourable, great, marvelous, respectable, wonderful, etc., or I was falling down on the job as a writer. There are a couple hundred entries in the thesaurus that are better than good, I was told, and English teachers in particular sent me to Roget's often. 

Over the last while, however, I have come to a deep appreciation of the word good thanks to my Indigenous friends. They use the word good with deep respect -- walking the good road, appreciating good medicine, being a good person, sharing good things, offering good help. Good isn't just good for them, it is superlative in its own right, and why shouldn't it be? Is fantastic any better? Or just a fancier word for what's already good? My Indigenous friends have me thinking a lot about simplicity of speech and the simple goodness of good. 

My son-in-law, Landon, is a good person who does good work. He/they is a local social worker, smarter than I'll ever be, and uber-talented to boot (there I go with the superlatives again! But I'll stick with the masculine singular pronouns from here on). 

Recently, Landon completed his U of A Master's Thesis, which is titled "Who Cares About Us?": Insights and implications from survivors who reported hate crimes and incidents to organizations in Edmonton. It's good work that carries sixteen recommendations for organizations, three recommendations for police services, and seven recommendations for local, provincial and federal governments on how to help survivors when they report hate crimes and incidents. I'll use the word important for all those recommendations, which should be implemented everywhere. 

If a document of that size is a bit overwhelming, you can check out the executive summary and recommendations on pages 5-9 of the linked report. You can also click here to complete a short, free online training on the topic that Landon helped put together. 

After Landon defended the thesis successfully, another organization asked if he'd consider making his work into a documentary, which he did, simply because he wants to make the world a better place for everyone (and not everyone can wade through a thesis). Not only did he do all the documentary's filming and interviewing, but he spent many hours editing and writing music for it. 

Recently, To Be Heard was shown in a local movie theatre with two other documentaries, followed by a panel discussion around hate reduction in general. The event raised over $1000 to support the important work of StopHateAB. It was a very good evening, and we were glad we attended. 

Landon is a very thoughtful, articulate, and solidly good human being. You'll see him in the 20-minute documentary below, which is in the public domain on YouTube for everyone to learn from and share. Landon is the kind of guy who makes me want to use superlatives, but bottom line is, he's GOOD.

Our chilliest vacation yet

I'm still catching up from my June moodling break... in these beautiful summer days, it's challenging to spend time at the computer. So I'll keep this vacation summary short on words and a bit longer on pictures.

We drove to Southern Alberta on the last day of May,

and after a brief visit with my father-in-law in Lethbridge,

set up camp in Waterton Lakes National Park on June 2nd.

It was so windy, Lee had to drive the car in front of our tent

to protect it from 80 kmph winds. Windy and noisy! 

It wasn't easy to sleep, hearing the wind roar up the lake like a jet plane!

I wore my long underwear for all but the last day 

of our Southern Alberta vacation. Glad I did, too

-- it was cold at Cameron Lake, but we had a good hour's hike

along its edge. We were almost the only ones there.

Waterton Lake remained rainy and windy except for the day we left!

The Blakiston Creek hike was an easy, lovely walk 

and didn't disappoint, though, like much of Waterton Park

after the 2017 wildfires, the forests were gone.

When we got back from our walk, the view from

the Prince of Wales Hotel was promising... 

but windy and cold. I guess that's why Waterton

is more popular in July and August!

We moved on to camp at a warmer spot at Beauvais Lake

and had a beautiful climb up Baldy Mountain

-- there were bear warnings for the other two popular vistas, 

so we satisfied ourselves with this view.

Near Beauvais Lake we found the carefully preserved gravesite of

kind and good Metis settler John Whitford

and a pair of Trumpeter Swans! Beautiful birds!

(I wish I had a better camera...)

We spent some time driving through Castle Provincial Park

(recently protected from destructive recreational vehicles)

and I soaked my feet at Castle falls, 

which was running too cold and fast to be a good

swimming hole at the time!

We enjoyed watching wildlife from respectful distances,

and I took lots of wildflower pictures.

On our way back for another visit with Lee's dad , we stopped at

Head-Smashed-In Buffalo Jump (a UNESCO World Heritage Site)

and took our time in the visitor's centre. 

The cliffs above were hidden to the buffalo...

until it was too late, and down they plunged,

a feast for indigenous communities 

who carefully herded the buffalo to this place.

After a brief return home, we drove to see a few uncles and aunties 

in rural Saskatchewan before driving on to Saskatoon

to visit my godmother and my second-favourite river city.

I especially enjoyed watching an Oilers' playoff game with Auntie Jo!

Saskatoon's Bessborough hotel, a landmark from my youth.

Though those early weeks of June were the chilliest vacation Lee and I have ever taken overall, we made many good memories, and I managed to read a few good books while sitting in our car in the  worst of the lashing rain and wind. 

It was great to get away and see old and new places, but the best part was seeing the faces of Saskatchewan relatives. And, of course, enjoying the beauties of Creator's nature, human and otherwise. I think, though, that we'll pick a warmer time for our next trip to Waterton!

Sunday Reflection: Absolute trust

Today's reflection is brought to you by

Mark 6:8-9.

You told your followers

to take nothing for the journey.

A walking stick, 

a tunic,

a pair of sandals.

To trust that everything else

would be provided.

And here I am, 

my life encumbered

by so many things

I'd like to shed.

The simplicity

you taught

is in trusting

that there is always

enough.

But, 

magpie that I am,

I've collected more

emotionally,

materially,

and even spiritually

(baggage)

and it all 

weighs me down.

It sits in my mind

as distractions

to keep me from 

you.

How wise you are,

Teacher,

to insist upon absolute trust

in the way things flow

through Creator's hands 

to those who need them.

Maybe it's time to pray

a daring prayer:

teach me that kind of trust.

Help me to let go

and to rest 

in your love

alone.

+Amen.

Sidewalk stories year 2

The chalk box is under our community bench again this year,
 and I've been enjoying the art that people have left on our sidewalk. 
Here's some of my own:

Chalk artist Julianne has stopped by a few times too.

This version flummoxed a young reader...

So I translated.

Maybe I should offer 

a sidewalk chalk cursive writing course

this summer?

I'm hoping for more sidewalk art 

once this heat wave abates.

Stay tuned for more neighbourhood

sidewalk stories.

And if you want to see last year's,

click here.

Don't you just love summer?

Monday Music Appreciation #33: You are my sunshine by Ray Charles and Margie Hendrix

A few weeks ago, this song was on the playlist for my zoom dancing group (if you want to join us on Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday mornings at 8:30 MST, let me know), and did I dance? Like crazy! It's not your traditional folksy version of You Are My Sunshine, but there's something so... groovy about it that when I hear it, I can't keep still. Ray Charles is the man, but Margie Hendrix owns this song. See/hear for yourself, and enjoy!

Sunday reflection: Thorns

Today's reflection is brought to you by 

2 Corinthians 12:7-10.

Creator of all things,

don't you think thorns a terrible mistake?

After all, 

they can't enhance the beauty of roses

in any meaningful way.

Holes in my flesh aren't helpful

when I'm presenting beauty to people I love.

And thorns in my life, 

like Paul writes about to the Corinthians?

I could definitely do without them.

Or could I?

My struggles,

faults, 

foibles, 

and failings

sometimes keep me awake at night,

and often make me feel foolish

and less than worthy

of your love.

But I guess that's the point (ha)

of those thorns.

Even if there were no thorns,

you find ways

to remind humanity

over and over

that you love us --

by the vast and beautiful world

you have given to us,

the true and good people

in our lives,

and the love 

with which you surround us.

Nothing I do

(or consistently fail to do, 

or mess up, 

or catastrophize)

can keep you from loving me.

My thorns are part of the package

that you have created.

And just like you gave roses thorns

not to beautify them further,

but to protect them 

from hungry mouths that would devour them,

you give me my thorns --

those things

that I fail to do, 

or consistently mess up, 

or catastrophize --

so that my ego doesn't devour me.

As much as my thorns,

weaknesses, 

insults, 

hardships, 

persecutions

and calamities

are a pain in the

wherever,

I often

learn from them

and learn to rely on you

because of them.

Keep me open to learning

even when 

those thorns are particularly

sharp.

Only you are the strength

in my weakness.

+Amen

The return of the gardener/moodler

Hello, friends,

My summer break from Simple Moodlings is over, and I'm back again with a little garden video. I post these as much for myself as for you because I like to look back sometimes at previous years' garden reports, to remember how I've done things in the past, or what worked and what didn't. 

Cornelia Scarecrow is definitely working already this garden season, with a half dozen juvenile magpies and several baby crows around, waiting for her to look the other way (she doesn't). After I made this video, I realized that she needed a slight repair after standing out in the rain on Tuesday night, so she's in fine shape once again. It's just that the young magpies don't seem to be afraid of anything, even when I come after them for snapping the tops off my snow pea plants. You should see what they do to my pansies! I've tried to explain to them that bugs and worms are a much better diet for them, but they just laugh at me, HAA, HAA.

A simple reminder for my readers -- if you want a friendly email whenever I moodle about something, it really is easy peasy -- just put your email into the subscribe box on the right, and you'll get an email from Mail Chimp asking you to click if you agree to receive Simple Moodlings. You can easily unsubscribe at the bottom of those emails, too. I have a few regular readers, mostly family and friends, and I appreciate being able to share with you all.

I'll post highlights from this year's June vacation and other odds and ends soon, I promise. In the meantime, here's what my garden looks like on July 5, 2024. 

Happy Summer!

Sunday morning breakfast prayer

Thank you, 

Creator,

for the simplicity of my breakfast,

the Symphony of birdsong 

and the beauty of this day.

+Amen

Four hundred and twenty-one

Angel butterflies on the sashes
worn by volunteers at today's 
Homeless Memorial Service

At the Homeless Memorial Service organized by the Edmonton Coalition on Housing and Homelessness today, four hundred and twenty-one people who died of causes related to homelessness in 2023 were remembered, grieved, and honoured. 

The city medical examiner's report to city council listed the shocking number of 302 people who died with "no fixed address" last year, but this even more horrific number includes people who lived on the streets for years and whose health failed because of the effects of homelessness even though they may have been housed at the time of their death. 

Effie, who I met last July, was one of them. Effie, a beautiful butterfly like the Painted Lady butterflies released today in honour of the many people we have lost to the effects of homelessness.

My spirit is with everyone who attended the service to remember someone special today. My grieving heart tells me that we are all one family, and that we need to do whatever it takes so that no one, 
no one, 
no one is homeless.

It's time for change.

Taking a wee break

It's time for a little vacation, so Simple Moodlings might not appear in your inbox for the next few weeks (not that it's been very regular of late). 

In the last few months, Lee and I sold our car that had the capacity to pull our tent trailer to our kids, and bought a plug-in electric hybrid vehicle to cut our carbon emissions.

That meant that our tent trailer days ended too. We sold our 21-year-old Coleman trailer to a young family who will love it as much as we did, and bought a tent and a nice thick camping mattress.

And now we're off to Southern Alberta for a while, trusting our daughter and Creator's good weather to keep the garden going in our absence. I've scheduled one moodling for June 6, but will likely take the rest of the month off.

Have a lovely June! I intend to do just that.

Monday music appreciation #32: That saxophone

Sometimes I come home from my ushering shift at the Winspear Centre for Music with a new piece of music I have to hear a second time... and share with you.

This time it's the first movement of Rachmaninoff's Symphonic Dances, simply because of a gorgeous central section that gives the saxophone an interesting solo line that seems to be surrounded by lilting "birdsong" from other woodwinds. It made my heart feel a longing I couldn't name... before it moved into more exciting fanfares and a hymn-like ending (with birds seemingly singing along again). At least, that's how it sounded to me.

The entire three movements amazed me, but I'm just leaving the first here for you. Enjoy!

Sunday reflection: a conversation with the Trinity

A triple daffodil?

Okay, 

You Three,

what do you want from me?

Creator,

help me to see.

Beloved child, 

you know that I am with you

in all that surrounds you.

Only open 

your eyes

and your heart.

Brother Jesus,

walk along with me.

Beloved friend,

I am with you always,

even to the end of the age.

Hold my hand.

Beautiful Spirit,

let me rest, 

rejoice,

and trust in you.

Beloved one,

set down your burdens

and let me lift your heart.

Know that, 

in doing so, 

you will 
bear my fruits...

I, 

we, 

all three, 

are here now.

Join the circle of our embrace.

What more do you need?

Amen, 

you three,

I need nothing but you.

+Amen.

An update on homelessness

I've been really disheartened lately, and I'm not the only one. Here's why.

Since encampments for the homeless have been eradicated from downtown Edmonton, the homeless population has spread out through ravines and neighbourhoods, looking for places where they can live in peace. (Emergency shelters are not peaceful.)

FENCES AIN'T GONNA FIX HOMELESSNESS
-- a sign on the fencing erected where the last encampment was demolished in January

There is no peace for homeless people, because as soon as they find a corner where they can settle in what feels like safety with their loved ones, bylaw officers and clean up crews show up to displace them yet again and try to force them back into shelters. 

On Tuesday morning, officials were clearing the streets near the Bissell Centre by harrassing people who were sleeping on the sidewalks (they prefer that to the shelters, which says a lot). And a friend of mine reported seeing police tearing a blanket away from a fellow trying to stay warm in a transit shelter near the mall closest to where I live. I guess blankets are considered "temporary shelters" now, though had I been there, I would have been tempted to gently remind the officers that taking blankets away from people amounts to theft.

The Edmonton Police Service motto is Integrity, Courage and Community. I wonder how many of the officers are disheartened by what they are being forced to do to dismantle small communities of people who have no reliable places to live?

Other things have been taken away from the homeless, too. The Bissell Centre's drop-in space -- where many homeless people who are forced to leave shelters for the day were able to spend time doing laundry, taking a shower, receiving help, or having a meal -- has been cut to the bare bone. Forty-five staff members lost their jobs, and six hundred meals served there each day have vanished. 

The space that used to hold two hundred folks at any given time of day now serves only thirty at a time because there aren't enough staff to keep things running for people in need. The line up outside never ends, and people at the end of the line don't make it through the doors because hours have been reduced too.

Things are only getting worse and worse. The tents in the area have mostly disappeared in accordance with the city and province's "out of sight, out of mind" efforts to deal with homelessness by dismantling encampments, but the need is greater than ever. 

Pastor Quinn and I set up our table with socks, underwear, toiletries and snacks on Tuesday with four bags of supplies to pass out -- and everything was gone within fifteen minutes. Our two hundred Sunday lunches offered by faith groups who support Inner City Pastoral Ministry used to be given away in about forty-five minutes, but now it's more like fifteen, twenty if we're lucky. 

And what really breaks my heart is how many people are dying. In 2017, there were thirty deaths related to homelessness in Edmonton. Last year, we had a memorial service for one hundred and fifty-six people who died of causes connected to homelessness. Once again this year, the Edmonton Coalition On Housing and Homelessness is planning a service -- for at least three hundred, likely more. From thirty to three hundred in only seven years! It's absolutely horrifying.

All of this is hard to witness, but it's necessary to do so. The lives of these people who live on Edmonton's streets are just as important as my life. Ignoring them does all of humanity a disservice. We will never be whole until all are cared for.

If you are able, please join us for the annual Homeless Memorial on June 6, 1 pm, at the foot of the CN Tower across from City Hall. The lives of more than 300 people will be honoured, and perhaps it will be the start of a grass roots movement for change.

We can only hope.

Exchanging dandelions for clover

This year's tulips

Some years ago, I was told that dandelions are essential plants that help pollinators survive early in the spring, and that it was better to leave them for the many varieties of bees that come out of hibernation looking for food. 

And so, I've written many moodlings about learning to like dandelions for the bees' sake. I happily ignored the dandelions on my grassy boulevard as it seemed a losing battle anyway (though I still dig them out of my perennial beds). I live across the street from a small area park that turns yellow every spring, and blows seed into my yard.

But this year, the Edmonton Horticultural Society webpage was abuzz with the news that dandelion pollen offers very little nutrition to bees, who much prefer the early violas and flowering trees and shrubs that I have in abundance in my yard. The EHS experts explained that, contrary to earlier knowledge, dandelions offer nothing of value when it comes to breaking up compacted soil or adding nutrients, either.

So, dear readers, you can ignore all my previous dandelion moodlings (though I still like the cheerfulness of those bright yellow flowers) because, well, I was wrong on many counts (as were many other people). It's good to admit my mistakes!

When I mentioned my mistake and my decision to reduce my dandelion crop to my neighbour, Wendy, she offered me a bag of white clover seed that I was delighted to receive. So for the past week or so, I've been digging dandelions and planting clover in the space they occupied. The effort has been wreaking havoc with my carpal tunnel, but it's very satisfying to pull up those long roots and imagine bees enjoying clover flowers instead. 

While I was digging today, I met a passerby who said that she had planted clover last summer, and it was doing well. It's often softer and greener than grass, and I remember our little dog loving to roll in it!

And... There's nothing like honey that comes from fields of clover! Besides, if I really want more dandelion jelly, I can always visit the park across the street...

Breathe in us, Holy Spirit

Because I'm in the thick of garden work these days, I didn't get to my computer yesterday to post something for Monday Music Appreciation. I also missed marking the Feast of Pentecost on Sunday, which is my favourite Christian celebration of the year. So you could call today's moodling a Pentecost music appreciation.

Over the years, my relationship with God has undergone different phases. As a child who loved her dad deeply (still do), I had no problem appreciating God as Father. In my teen years, I spent a lot of time with a youth group connected to a retreat movement for youth known as Christ our Light, and while there, I really fell in love with Jesus. 

But as an adult entering into my senior years (I enter my 60th year on Thursday) and connecting more and more with Indigenous spirituality, my prayer now leans toward Creator, the creative and Holy Spirit who enlivens everything in the cosmos. And in the face of all the war in our world, of divisive politics, of the lack of understanding and empathy for those living in poverty or with addictions, of the unforgiveness that exists in society and even within families these days, all I can say is

Breathe in us, Holy Spirit.

When I first heard this music in October of 2016, I was sitting on the floor in the Church of Reconciliation in Taizé, France, and I experienced a major case of goosebumps. Being with several hundred young people in a spirit of deep prayer, it was easy to believe that the Spirit was breathing in us. 

Since then, sometimes, when I'm feeling overwhelmed and hopeless, I return to this song and beg the Spirit to help us to help our world to find the common ground that will bring us into compassion for -- and communion with -- all those who are offered judgment instead of love.

Breathe in us, Holy Spirit.

The cadence of the chant is like gentle breathing, and the many languages evoke the Spirit of Pentecost's multilingual celebration. On Sunday evening, our Taizé group prayed this prayer. As Pentecost lasts for 50 days, I invite you to pray it with me here whenever you like. 

Breathe in us, Holy Spirit.

Monday Music Appreciation #31: A catchy dance tune

This week's music appreciation is actually a video from 2021's remake of West Side Story, a movie I completely missed (thanks, covid). It came to my attention through the Symphony for Kids at the Winspear last week, M is for Music, as (I Like to Be in) America was used as the piece to introduce all the different sections of the orchestra -- brass, woodwinds, strings and percussion. It's a wonderful, lively tune, and it made me wish I was up on stage dancing with the lead performer because she was clearly having a marvellous time! America was written by Leonard Bernstein, lyrics by Stephen Sondheim.

The original movie (1961) featured a feisty Rita Moreno as the lead singer/dancer in a dark back-street-like studio, all in one piece and faithful to the story, but I like Ariana DeBose's version from 2021 even better because of all the sunlit street dancing (which doesn't actually jive with the timeline for the Broadway play). I think I'm going to see if I can find and watch both movies, just because my life could use a musical right now. 

Enjoy!

A Mother's Day Prayer

Creator,

thank you

for the many gifts and blessings

you have given.

We praise you for the beauty 

of the universe,

and this planet

which holds us 

in existence,

goodness,

and steadfastness

though sometimes we don't deserve it.

We praise you for the gift of love

that gave each of us a mother

who gave us life with your help.

We pray for all mothers

who have birthed your children,

especially those 

who are struggling in any way.

We pray for heartbroken mothers

who don't know where their children are.

We pray for heartbroken children

who don't know where their mothers are.

We pray for children 

estranged from their mothers

or whose mothers have died.

We pray for mothers 

estranged from their children,

or whose children have died.

We pray for mothers and children 

caught in dangerous places, 

that they may find refuge and peace.

We pray for new mothers

and great grandmothers 

and all mothers in between.

We pray for all those 

who have mothering hearts,

for all good women 

who mother 

those who need 

extra special care.

And we give thanks,

Creator,

for your mothering heart,

who gives us mothers

who love us 

and are loved by us.

+Amen.

Happy May!

May is my favourite month of the year. It's always been special for me because of Mother's Day and my birthday, but those fade into the background when flowers bloom and trees put out leaves and Spring abounds!

It's also a busy time, made busier these days by wonderful educational concerts at work (if you know any young families who might be interested, M is for Music is a wonderful show written and performed by a former Edmontonian and the Edmonton Symphony Orchestra this weekend), and planting starting in earnest. So far I've planted onions, Lee put in potatoes, and there's lettuce, arugula, spinach and garlic poking up. And today I moved my tomato and pepper plants outside into our covered garden box, where I hope they can stay until they are properly planted (though if the temperatures dip, I'll be sure to bring them back into the greenhouse -- I learned my lesson two years ago when I put things in before the May full moon and lost 40 tomato babies!) 

Here are the tomato plants... and other things in the yard just starting to bloom. Happy May!

Scilla, true blue

Tulipa

A few crocuses that the jackrabbit didn't eat...

and violas all over the place!

Happy Spring!

Monday Music Appreciation #30: The Unfinished Symphony

After getting my first university degree, I took a gap year to travel with an international, educational and cultural group of young people known as Up With People. My 100+ castmates and I toured through the US, Eastern Canada, and Western Europe performing a musical revue-type show known as Time for the Music, which featured a song called Unfinished World. It borrowed a musical motif from Schubert's Unfinished Symphony that still gives me goosebumps. 

Schubert's orchestral work was one that he wrote as an "audition" of sorts, and it was set aside for other compositions. He had no way of knowing that he would only live another 6 years. 

Then his score was forgotten in another musician's cupboard for 43 years before "premiering" in Vienna. It is far superior to the 80s rock-ballad that we were singing in Time for the Music. Still, it reminds me of a time of youthful exuberance, so I was delighted to hear it twice while ushering at the Winspear Centre for Music last week. 

The Unfinished (Symphony No. 8 in B minor, D759) has two parts, but I'll just leave the Allegro moderato here. The melody that starts at about a minute and a half into the piece and is thrown back and forth among the different stringed and wind instruments several times fills me with joy every time I hear it.

Who am I kidding -- the whole piece does!

Enjoy!