Return Flight

by Shauna Brown 

Often I have looked to the sky and observed pigeons flying overhead unitedly.  Homing pigeons have long been a fascination to me. My interest is peaked as I watch them circle together in formation and then after what looks to be training maneuvers, they return to their pigeon loft and keeper.   I hear no whistles, horns, or voices calling them home.  Yet, their trainer has instilled  within them the desire and will to return. It is through his tender care they develop the ability to locate and fly home.         As a child I remember learning about how important carried pigeons were in delivering vital messages during World War I. Some birds were traveling thousands of miles through formidable conditions.  Messenger pigeons have been used for thousands of years. In fact, ‘air mail’ came from the term and use of homing pigeons.      There is a detailed process in training a homing pigeon. Key is that the pigeons are treated kindly, and are fed extremely well.  They love their home. Little by little they are launched carefully into their outside surroundings, but essential to it all, they love to return to safety.         There are no tracking devises mounted or stitched within them, no GPS system to lead them back, no sound waves. They return because it is vital to their survival, and they know their trainer.        Have you ever felt homesick?   I mean, have you ever wanted to be back to that comfortable, loving spot where heaven takes hold of your heart?  Where you knew you once lived. Knew more of your divine potential?       I have felt of those homesick moments. I can’t explain them, I only have them on occasion, but they are real. They stimulate pondering moments  and trigger my soul to want to find my way.  To live with my master keeper.       Unlike the pigeon,  I believe each of us have a divine homing devise held within our hearts. It’s an innate feeling of purpose, unconditional love and eternal acceptance. It's real. We,individually, are the only ones who can disconnect it.        I have thought often about our Heavenly Father who, when sending us into the world prayed and continually hopes that we will find our way back.         I love that thought. God knows even when a sparrow falls. His interest and love is keenly aware of each one of us. His desire is to hold us once more within his hands.         Are not two sparrows sold for a farthing? and one of them shall not         fall on the ground without your Father.            Matthew 10:29         Imagine as God observes : Will the wind storms of life send us swirling in the gusted clouds of doubt and uncertainty? Will distractions of the world and voices cause us to veer and deviate off course? Will we be tempted?         Or, will he delight as he watches us fly higher, steadfastly seeking for the light. We harken and  journey forward with faith and trust.  He smiles, as we remember :         Matthew 11:25  Come unto me, all ye that labor and are heavy laden ,         and I will give you rest . Take my yoke upon you, and learn of me;         for I am meek and lowly in heart: and ye shall find rest unto your souls.       Enjoy your Sabbath     Love Shauna

 

               

                       LIFE LIKE KNITTING

by Shauna Brown 

     My mother thought it might be fun for me to learn how to knit. She was a skilled knitter herself, but realized that sometimes learning from someone else is essential. So she enrolled me in a knitting class, a class filled with middle and old aged women. At first I was a little self conscience, and worried that the ladies were watching me. At times some of them would look up from their work and reassuringly smile.  I wondered if they were thinking about the first time they held their knitting needles, were they as awkward and bungling as I felt? 

    One day that stands out and generated instant shock was when I discovered with great dismay and fear that I had lost a stitch somehow.  I hadn’t noticed it. But there it was a hole.  I was worried that I would have to unravel all of my rows of stitches and start over.  I’m sure I must have looked some shade of sick.  Seeing my chagrin Stella, my teacher, sat down quickly beside me and said so matter-a-factly, “We can fix that. We can fix mistakes, it takes a little time and a little effort, but we can do it! ” 

      I have thought about that moment many a times. I didn’t want to start all over. Yet, it was such a great learning experience. Stella showed me how  fix the mistake. Row by row she had me create a chain of stitches leading upwards. Then, as I reached the top row of stitches I could then continue on.  The mistake couldn’t even be detected. What a sense of healing. I was thrilled.  

     Life is like knitting. Some moments in life will differ, adding a variety of stitches, cabels and textures. Sometime there will be large loose stitches, while at another time the stitches need to be close and tight.  Following a set pattern is helpful. I learned early that following a pattern is essential. Errors and mistakes are lessened when I followed the directions. 

     Gratefully our Father in Heaven has not left us to our own making. We have been given directions of how we can live a happy life.  We all will make mistakes. Even if a mistake should be made, we all need to remember, ‘It can be fixed,” just like Stella said.   

   In knitting you must go to where the original drop stitch was made, correct it and carefully draw the stitches upward. Isn’t that interesting?  Upward.   

    I have thought about the following quote by Pres. Gordon B. Hinckley.... we are all truly a work in progress.  

“Things work out, it isn’t as bad as you sometimes think it is. It all works out, don’t worry. I say that to myself every morning. It will all work out. If you do your best, it will all work out. Put your trust in God, and move forward with faith and confidence in the future. The Lord will not forsake us. If we will put our trust in him, if we will pray to him, if we will live worthy of his blessings, he will hear our prayers.”    

    I believe!  So each of us need to keep knitting, and enjoy the satisfaction of life having known you accomplished something great, one stitch at a time.  

     Enjoy this Sabbath day

Warmly, Shauna Brown

Have a sunshine day. . . with a cherry on top!

                       

                          

                            Embrace the Day! 

by Shauna Brown 

     Recently I gave a talk about living more purposefully. I found several quotes that seemed similar in thought: people with the desire to live life to it’s fullest.  Their thoughts make me smile,  as I find myself wanting to accelerate my enthusiasm for life as well.   

        “I want a life that sizzles and pops and makes me laugh out loud. And I don’t want to get to the end, or to tomorrow, even, and realize that my life is a collection of meetings and pop cans and errands and receipts and dirty dishes. I want to eat cold tangerines and sing out loud in the car with the windows open and wear pink shoes and stay up all night laughing and paint my walls the exact color of the sky right now. I want to sleep hard on clean white sheets and throw parties and eat ripe to- matoes and read books so good they make me jump up and down, and I want my everyday to make God belly laugh, glad that he gave life to someone who loves the gift.” 

        Shauna Niequist, Cold Tangerines: Celebrating the Extraordinary Nature of Everyday Life 

        “I don’t want to drive up to the pearly gates in a shiny sports car, wearing beautifully, tailored clothes, my hair expertly coifed, and with long, perfectly manicured finger-nails. I want to drive up in a station wagon that has mud on the wheels from taking kids to scout camp.I want to be there with a smudge of peanut butter on my shirt from making sandwiches for a sick neighbors children. I want to be there with a little dirt under my fingernails from helping to weed someone’s garden.I want to be there with children’s sticky kisses on my cheeks and the tears of a friend on my shoulder. I want the Lord to know I was really here and that I really lived.” 

          Marjorie Pay Hinckley 

    Just yesterday, in conversation with my children I found myself wanting to embrace those similar shared feelings. When one gets to this point in life - a little over the top and then some-- life looks a little more fragile and uncertain. When good friends have passed to the other side, perspective takes on a whole new focus. 

     So let me just share a few of my heart felt feelings. Top of the my list:I would breathe deeper each morning, take longer walks and blow more kisses to God. I would share my mistakes more openly. I would laugh until the tears roll down my cheeks making them sticky.  I would dance in the puddled rain more often. I would allow those peanut butter kisses to remain longer on my face. I would treasure little fingerprints and smudges.  I would reach out and smile to more strangers.  I would hug my children and grandchillies longer and longer.  I would sample more perfumes.  I would learn Spanish so I could understand everyone around me. I would drive faster.  I would place a fresh bouquet of flowers on my desk at least once a month.  I would sing to the top of my lungs and beat on the steering wheel as I drive.  I’d be sillier.  I would visit more cemeteries. I would plant a new and different flower every spring. I would read more. I would make a brand new friend everyday. I would paint my fingernails blood red (for one day). I would seek to hold close the good friends I have. I would forgive myself quicker. I would take more chances and try harder things.  I would watch more sunsets. I would tickle and squeeze my grandchillies till their faces turn red. I would stay up late until I accomplished making someone a touch happier. I would wash my clothes in Tide, and write a thought for each day.  

          Funny, I just realized to be fully content and happy, I must change the “I would” into present tense:  “I will.” Imagine what the ‘presence tense’ can bring to life.  

    “The purpose of life is to live it, to taste experience to the utmost, to reach out eagerly and without fear for newer and richer experience.”  

                                        Eleanor Roosevelt 

     So for today, take a moment and reflect upon those things you wish to embrace as well. Some might call it “wishful thinking.” But at some point along the journey of life, each of us will sit back, reflect, and ponder how we experienced this earthly privilege.

    Hopefully, the: “I wish I had, I should have,why didn't I, would have’s,”  won’t generate any trama.  We will realize that here and now - the present  moments can make all the difference.     

    I believe, just as Marjorie Hinckley expressed driving up to the pearly gates...

    I want to meet my maker having accomplished all that I was sent here to do. That has been a lifelong worry and concern of mine. I wish God would define it more clearly.  I guess some prayers just don’t get direct answers.  So, whether it’s writing a book, scripting music, loving my children, mending a heart, being a good friend, being the best of sweethearts, bring joy to someone, and to God.... I want to do it right. You see I don't want to ever become another parable of an ungrateful servant. I want to return home with arms eager and open, because I know His are.   

I know that each of us are encircled in the arms of God’s love and tender care. 

      I can bear solid testimony that He lives, that He gives, and gives freely. All one has to do is go for a short walk, listen to the birds sing, watch the bumble bee, breathe in the fresh fragrance of flowers, watch the drifting clouds, smell the rain, and realize that all things, testify of our supreme creator. 

      I like how Hans Urs von Balthasar phrased it:   

        “What you are is God’s gift to you, what you become is your gift to God.” 

   Might we all seek to share our gifts freely, untying the ribbons daily for others as well as ourselves to enjoy. 

   Embrace the Day!  

     Love to all Shauna