Lately the things that matter most are blending in with the things that don’t matter at all and all of that matter together is taking over the universe. I post these pictures now to remind myself of that which matters most.
Beaches and bonfires with loved ones…
The fourth of July with friends and sparklers…
Boxes full of baby chicks showing up on my doorstep in the middle of the day, drawing me away from the stress of all that resides at my desk and sweeping me away into balls of fur and sounds of gladness for a few moments…
An impromptu bridal shower in Dallas for my impromptu daughter with so many people coming to shower love on her; including friends and aunts and grandmas that she’s known since childhood and wild little flower girls that are still in their childhood, but will be grown before we know it…
A no-boys-allowed surf day, in which I tried (and failed) at surfing and had the time of my life trying, even though my foot cramped in the cold water the entire time and my muscles were sore for days afterwards. The pictures and the laughs and the conversation on the beach afterward were the perfect remedy to the universe full of matter that’s ready to blow inside my head. The other day, I saw a whale way out on the horizon, blowing huge fountains of sea water into the sky. The ocean and all that it contains helps to clear my brain of superfluous matter…
A house blessing for my daughter and son-in-law (and the little grandson who will join us soon), where we prayed and laughed and received blessings ourselves as the holy water landed everywhere and the prayers were lifted up all around us…
And one final shower, here in our new home of California, surrounded by love and laughter…
And weirdness…
And really serious cuteness…
And girls who have spent a lifetime being tired of having a camera pointed in their faces…
But I don’t care. I’ll keep dragging this camera around and pointing away. Because it matters and I need to remember that and sometimes this is the only way I know how. And eleven days from now, when we celebrate the wedding feast of our second-born, we’ll be right there in the midst of the matter, having done all that matters to prepare, and waiting with expectant joy for the look of love on the bridegroom’s face as his bride walks through the door, pure and beautiful.
And then we’ll dance.
Fierce Peace 