On a battleship grey weekend in D.C., we decided to make another trip to try and find the two remaining National Historic Sites in the District that we had not yet visited.  Persistence is the key word in this effort.

Twice before we had tried to go to the African American Civil War Museum and were not able to find it.  Or, finding the right neighborhood and willing to get out and walk, we could not find parking!  But persistence won out on Saturday and we managed to find a parking place!  And, venturing into the neighborhood, we finally found the museum down an alley and behind an old school.   It was a lovely monument to African Americans who had fought for freedom and the museum was filled with information and artifacts.

Feeling successful, we decided to persist and try to find the National Naval Museum again.  So, Sunday we decided to skip the parking hassle and took Metro to the Navy Yard.  Once before we had found the Navy Yard, but because we had the car, the security was so tight that we would have had to sign our lives away to drive onto the base and park the car, so we gave up and got back in the car and went on.  But yesterday, without a car, we simply had to give over our identification and sign in to receive passes to walk the Naval Yard and visit the museum.

And, to our surprise, it was well worth our persistence.  The museum was a huge hangar type building that took the visitor through the ages of sea travel and exploration.  It was beautifully set out with many artifacts and pictures, paintings and photos, to accent the information.

We returned home satisfied that we had persisted in finding the last two points of historical interest in the District that are included on the National Parks Stamp program list!

I was reminded all over again what a grace persistence can be.  The old folk wisdom is certainly correct. If at first you don’t succeed, try and try again.

In what other ways do we need to be persistent?

I took my usual walk this morning – but didn’t manage to go my usual distance.  Seems I’m a little low on steam today.  So, in the beauty of the morning sun, amidst the barren trees along my path, I decided that this must be a day to just rest in God. The Psalmist’s words come to me often, but are especially reassuring on a day like today.  “Be still and know that I am God.”

Be still, indeed.  The very thing that can be the hardest for us to accomplish is to just be still and not try to do anything.  So, it is good for us to remember in the unrest; in the pain; in the chaos and uncertainty; amidst conflict and competition; deadlines and unreasonable schedules; it is good, so very good, to pause and remember that we are enfolded in the grace and heart of God.  Be still and know.

It always amazes me how, once past the Solstice, the days can seem longer as the light each day increases.  It’s only by a fraction, mind you, but eventually it accumulates enough for us to see more daylight.  Is it any wonder that in the dead of winter we string lights about so that our darkness doesn’t seem so complete?

And what about the light that is within us?  Are we content with the artificial light that we string to help ourselves into the light, or are we willing to allow the gift of internal light to emerge and shine forth from within so that others may see the increasing light that we have to shine to the world?

Perhaps this is a good time to put away our artificial lights, along with our seasonal decorations, and begin to let the natural light of our lives give increasing brilliance to our days.   It’s certainly something to think about for this New Year.

Each experience we have is a grace.  And each grace we experience provides more light.  Do we have the desire and the patience to allow the increasing light of our experiences and graces to shine through us so there is nothing artificial about us?

Already in this New Year I’m trying to remember what I have set my sights on.  Yes, all the things I want to do . . . and, trying to remember all the things I DON’T want to do as well.  It can be trying at times.  So many things come across our paths that vie with our intentions.  We get sidetracked and distracted.  Just doing an after Christmas clean of the apartment can put me off of my blog for a couple of days.  What else do I allow to get in the way of my newly made resolutions?

In prayer this morning the words of one of my favorite saints, Teresa of Avila, helped me to redirect and reaffirm my resolve.

“O Lord!  All our trouble comes to us from not having our eyes fixed upon You.  If we only looked at the way along which we are walking, we should soon arrive; but we stumble and fall a thousand times and stray from the way because we do not set our eyes on the true Way.”

A gentle reminder, but a powerfully good one.  Where have we set our sights for this year, this day, this hour?  What grace there is in being reminded of something so basic!

If you have never gone to an art museum with an art history expert, I highly recommend it.  Our son studied art and it was a thrill to go to the Hirshhorn National Art Gallery with him.  He shared insights about colors and complimentary shapes; perspective and art as expression; as well as about how art can push the envelope as social expression.  I felt my mind expanding just taking in the multiple exhibits that artists had created.

And, as I often do when viewing contemporary art, I thought to myself:  “I could do that!”  I can only guess what my son’s response would be:   “Then why don’t you?”

Why don’t I, indeed!  Why do we often hesitate to give expression to what our heart desires; what our mind’s eye captures; or what our memory wants to create?  It is a question I am taking with me into this New Year.  What can I create today?  It may be in story form or in painted colors.  It may be in a unique photo shot or words to a song.  It may be cuisine well prepared and served.  It could be in sculpture or dance and movement; music, voice or silence. 

Yes, what art are we prepared to create to express the grace and inner workings of our souls?

It was a special time over the Christmas holidays as one of our sons came to visit.  Just as when his brother was here in October, when our children visit as adults, it is a rare chance to connect with them on another plane.  It is a special and graced time.

Ben arrived on Christmas eve and we talked and laughed and reminisced about past years when he and his brothers were younger.  We ate old familiar family foods and just enjoyed each other’s company.

After church on Christmas day, we gave each other the gift of our presence and spent the day together walking the National Mall.  It was a gray day, typically winter, but not too cold.  While all the park buildings and visitor centers were closed, the Mall was still crowded with visitors.  Along with the usual stops and sights, Ben challenged us to find the Albert Einstein memorial, which we had not yet seen.  It is a beautiful sculpture to a brilliant man; humble and unassuming.

We returned home as the shadows fell and had our traditional Christmas dinner – homemade Chinese food from my mother’s special recipe.  The day was fun and holy and filled with grace.  I hope your Christmas was the same.

Yes, another year, another day, another chance to begin again!

I think that is one of the most wonderful things about our traditions and New Years.  We find it appropriate to re-think our habits and our directions and feel comfortable vowing to begin again – with something new, something untried, something novel or exciting.

So, in the shadow of this second day of the New Year, I have to share something that I read yesterday.  This person was reminding me that in all the things we set out for ourselves to DO in this New Year, we should also remember the things we DO NOT want to do.  She suggested making a list of DON’Ts to include with our resolutions for the coming year.

This really caused me to think!  Yes, there are many things that I DON’T want to do this year and I habitually fall into DOING them.  As an example, perhaps you’re like me and habitually say “yes” to something I would rather say “no” to.  So, on my list of DON’Ts for the year is I will no longer say “yes” when I really need to say “no.”  That’s going to be harder than losing weight!  I will say “no” to invasions of my time; to additional commitments I would rather not engage in; to food that is not good for me; to responsibilities that are not mine; etc., etc.  AND, I will NOT feel guilty.  Quite a resolution.

It’s a freeing thought, really.  There are so many things I want to do in this new year, I might as well start with saying “no” to the things I don’t want to do.

May this New Year fill us with the grace necessary to say “no” to the things we don’t want to be doing – and leave any guilt behind – so that we can be fully present to the things we DO want to do.