Return to Sender

Why does coming home so often seem shorter than going away? Is it because anticipation has given way to confirmed satisfaction or disappointment with the destination? Does familiarity house both ease and, as they say, contempt?

Early in the Song's third chapter, 'the woman' is found distraught for want of the love she just fawned over. Her nights are restless with longing and looking for 'hymn' all over, yet on her daybed, until she takes her search to the streets. Shortly after passing those whose job it is to keep watch over all, she finally finds him and holds him dear. By verse five and again in 8:4, she appears to have matured volumes, learning that love (within or outside of her) is not to be stirred or roused before the right time.

So often our relationship with the Creator is initiated by parents and loved ones responsible for our upbringing. True to Proverbs 22:6, hopefully we are raised well and fed with good food for the body and soul. Sometimes loved ones are overzealous in this duty and force-feed others things they can't quite digest -- yet -- leading to heartburn, nausea, a distaste for that 'food' and any number of negative reactions. Believe me when I say I've got maps, (re:)marks and memories of my own departures from force-feeding, but God's guidance to the hear & now is a blessing.

It has been said that when a student is ready, a teacher appears. Having been and later dealt with the challenging student at times, I will expand upon that by saying what I've learned: a teacher will not only appear but come back if necessary. Love, not solely through the lens of the ego but with true dimension explained and exemplified in the Lord, might come with anxiety, is patient, kind and all that, but will leave an area of resistance to be where it's most needed and received, even for a moment. It is often in that Love's absence that we learn to appreciate its 'presents', amplify our newfound understanding beyond the prayers on our beds, couches or other intimate settings alone. We come to share that truth with mom, dad, any and everybody who will listen and invite it back home deep within, to our origins.

Cliche or touche as this may sound, the Creator's supreme Love given to us in myriad ways every day. Got it? Give it back, (right) away!

A Great Day






My tools aren't fancy enough to make you see or feel what I do and how... and that's ok!
There was some skin (which I'm happy and healthy in ~ as a momentary gym freak over a decade
 and some lbs. ago or as a mama some lbs. from now ~ without needing to display it outside of the moment).
More sun than what shows here. Many smiles and much Love. For the l(e)ast of these, I am most grateful.

Smooth...

Sunshine and contentment paved my path this morning ~ there is always something beautiful to witness in God's Work! A weeklong strip of road construction had made area traffic such a hassle for commuters, so the warmth and an unexpected joke were very welcome. Flipping through various drivetime shows, I happened upon mention of great summer concert series, controversy over Rihanna's "Man Down" video, contemporary praise & worship and an odd interview segment of a news brief. Apparently, a certain Caucasian woman had "just discovered the butters" and was upset that 'the Black people [kept] the secret of the cocoa and shea [nut] to themselves'!

Yea and yay for shea!



They made no mention of where the woman was from, but I have noticed that many convenience stores make Palmer's brand products very available, albeit processed. Natural shea butter is also increasingly present in many urban centers of commerce and online to reach a global market. Taking the blame route was a bit misguided, but I don't at all blame her appreciation of the products' effectiveness against dryness and other cross-cultural skin needs. A big tub of it will be in my family's beach bag this weekend, during which time my June writing goal will take a brief backseat to amusement park screams (unless they make our heads feel like jostled nuts), salty splashes, walking meditations, resting and digesting. The thoughts will be more internal or pen-and-papered until we return as God wills it. 

In keeping with the original theme, it was a bit of a stretch to link the concept of smoothness, which "the butters" also promote, and Biblical wisdom, namely that which is found in the Song. Before long, however, the answer became clear as beautiful skin! The relationship of the Lord and His collective Bride in times of political or technological rulership as well as the shepherd and the Shulammite's union in the time of Solomon the king are often beset by what chapter 2 verse 15 calls "the foxes". The wily energies and entities that seek to mock or distract Love at work can be pride, greed, attractive but hollow objects of lust, unnecessary strivings and any other "unhealthy desire". How they enter the proverbial vineyards or growth places in our lives is often by hearts and tongues bent on falsehood or even figurative drunkenness all of which sometimes give smoothness a bad name. When we seek God first and follow the Lord's Way, then overgrowth can be pruned and keep those foxes at bay.