Good Friday Adoration of the Cross

Jesus did not invent the cross.

He, like every man [sic],

Found it on his journey.

The newness in his message

was to plant a seed of love

into our bearing of the cross.

The element of love

Turned the way of the cross

into a way that leads to life....

From his cross Jesus

invites us to do as he did:

Plant the seeds of love and hope

In the soil of each of the crosses

We encounter.

                                                            Cardinal Carlo Martini, SJ

Tonight's service included the invitation to hundreds of people to come forward to venerate the cross and claim it, and receive the seed of love and hope planted there for each individual journey, and the journey of the human family with each other.  The keeper told us of how she was mesmerized by the sea of people coming forward, carrying their losses, pains, struggles, reaching up to touch the cross, to reconnect with those seeds of love and hope, to touch the possibility of transformation. Time seemed to fly by, she said.

Good Friday Tre Ore

We asked her, "What is a Tre Ore?" We learned that this is a service from 12-3 on Good Friday in which the 7 last words of Christ are reflected upon in word and music and prayer. So, we asked her what pearls of insight she brought home to us.  Well, it seems she had quite a bit of insight.  She was fascinated with the 

"It is finished" reflection, for one, on how the death of Christ announces an end to one era of history where shame is king, as is alienation between God and people, and people and people, and people and nature.  It announces a new era of freedom and rescue by wondrous love. The only fitting response is gratitude and compassion. We liked what she was telling us and asked her for more food and a chance to run outside. We guess she has not developed that compassion response too keenly yet.

Holy Thursday

We hear that the Holy Thursday liturgy at the cathedral was grand, with early evening light, flowers, new candles, bells, good preaching, and the foot-washing. All new and shiny.  The foot-washing is such a lovely, messy, tender rite that blesses such vulnerability shared.  The new pope, of which the keeper is still fond, celebrated Holy Thursday in a juvenile detention center in Rome. He washed the feet of 10 boys and 2 girls.. He said, "Washing someone's feet  is [saying] 'I am at your service.'  And us too, among us, shouldn't we wash each others' feet every day? But what does this mean? That we must help each other, help one another."  So simple, really.

The Sacred Triduum Has Begun

We understand that the Sacred Triduum began at sunset last evening.  We haven't seen much of the keeper since she loves the Triduum.  She isn't as involved or as responsible for it as she used to be but she believes very strongly in living the three days, not just attending liturgies. She is very grateful to some incredible mentors and ministry team mates who helped make Triduum such an incredible feast over the years. So that's what is going on here...there is beautiful music and great incense in our house when she is home.  But the incense is not kind to poor Alice's allergies.

First Full Moon of Spring

It arrived. The first full moon of spring. This means Easter is coming. The keeper finally returned to us tonight after spending the evening at the Office of Tenebrae at the cathedral. It is not a real office, she said, but a liturgy of prayer and music.  She told us that the music was soul piercing.  As she came home she stopped to admire the first full moon of spring on the rise. We tried to go out to admire it with her once she got home, but, alas, she wasn't buying it.

Holy Week Wednesday

We barely had bid a fond adieu to our keeper this morning, when she returned again. For the third Wednesday in a row, she had neither internet nor phone service in her office.  We were thrilled to see her, but she was not as thrilled, it seems. But, after some time on line here, she split for more meetings in Seattle, and left our dinner for us to eat later. But we understand that even those Seattle meetings had to be cancelled or re-shuffled because other people were having equally crazy days. She finally ended up at SU's library to grade papers and admire the beautiful spring sky.

Palm Sunday Moon

The keeper spent the day going to church for three different services at three different parishes.Lots of palms, lots of red. he think she saw close to 3000 people.  At the first two she ended up doing lots of work, especially on immigration and listening to some pretty horrific stories. At the final one, she just sun into her chair and took it all in and let the prayers, the community, the music and the beauty welcome her into Holy Week. As she was returning to her car  from the cathedral, she spied the first moon of spring rising over First Hill. Sigh.  It rose over our house too!

Old Friends!

POL and SD are celebrating 139 years of birthdays this week. So, yes, there was another party with many of the same partyers from last  week!

SD's dad recounted the story of Steve's birth, except he got it confused with the second son's birth story. We learned he was supposed to be Suzanne.  And we all learned a lot about what it was like to have grown up in a household with 5 boys

No! Zags!

Well, folks, it was over before it barely began.  

If you didn't know this before, you do now...the keeper is fond of two groups---

Underdogs and Winners. And she likes it when those  two qualities appear in the same team or individual. And she loses interest quickly when they are not present together or separately.

So, we are done with the Bulldogs till next year.

Snow in Seattle, Sun in Olympia

 

There was sun in Olympia when we arrived at St. Mikes. A switch from  the snowy flurries in Seattle.

Returning Home

     On the way home from Olympia, there was nose counting, raffles, See's Chocolate, 

and some tired advocates. 

The Long Road Home

After a long day of advocacy, the weary but happy pilgrims rolled home. They even took a very scenic route through SODO  and Pioneer Square.

Go Zags!

Although we didn't watch or listen to the game, GU beat Southern Utah. Whew! That would have been embarrassing! On we go!

Day 2 of Spring: Snow and White Smoke

 The keeper chose to stay home with us.  It was either home with us or Starbucks in Bothell all day taking advantage of their wireless connections. The internet at the office is not working still.  So we had her all to ourselves, except her ear was stuck on the phone and her eyes on the computer screen almost all day long. We were able to have lunch together and marveled at the snow as it fell and quickly melted. Later we pointed out the white smoke from the Daphne --what a day for the so sweet little buds to begin bursting into flower! Brave spring souls!

Number One Seed

As most of you know, this is not a home which places much value on sports.  However, we are keeping a close eye on Gonzaga as they begin their run in the NCAA tournament. Guess who is an alum.

Via Crucis

The church in Duvall has an incredible view, and some gorgeous art, especially the glass stations which are backed in gold leaf.

In Just-

"In Just-

                                        spring        when the world is mud-

     luscious..."

Today we celebrate spring's arrival.  It blew in so strongly there was no power or internet at the keeper's office.  This was the second Wednesday in which she couldn't access her internet at work. This seems to make her crazy. But she headed to Duvall (who had power and internet) to meet with a wonderful staff, and had a hard time leaving. It seems very beautiful out there, and on top of that, friendly horses live next to the church.  They came to greet her. The horses were happily cavorting in the mud and all needed baths and some grooming. But they didn't seem to notice.

Pre-Spring Pruning

After all the papal celebration died down we all went to bed before the sun came up and slept till 10. Then the  keeper got up and we spent the morning and early afternoon pruning roses and clearing some beds.  We watched her fill the dumpster to the top and then some. We frolicked  outside while she clipped and clipped some more. She said that working in the yard was sheer pleasure, smelling the fresh earth and seeing everything sprouting and pushing forth. Spring is very close, thank God.

Goodness, Tenderness and Servant Leadership!

Francisco I on this Feast of St. Joseph called for lives that shine with tenderness, goodness, that protect all of creation and the most vulnerable and poor. He spoke of being hope in the darkness.  He spoke of those entrusted with authority who must be servants of all, caring for lambs, feeding lambs, feeding sheep.   We told the keeper, "Shades of Vatican II and the Gospel!"  She says this was worth staying up for.

The Papal Inauguration Mass

I decided I would stay up with the keeper to watch the Papal Inauguration Mass. She wrapped me in my red blanket for the occasion. We are finishing the Creed now, and I might go to bed. She may not.  She is also translating an article originally written in Portuguese, then in Spanish, to English.  We wonder what the author originally intended.

Finding the Miracle of the Ear

Our keeper is a bit odd, okay, maybe more than a bit. She had spent part of the aft at SU slogging through papers and a dissertation chapter, after which she participated in a profound reconciliation service at the cathedral in which the pastor channeled the new pope. That was a great remedy for the afternoon.

When she got home she pulled out her nearly 300 page dissertation because she wants her advisee to use it as an example. In stead of putting it on her pile, she picked it up, began to read, and found herself lost in it. She had been so sick of it once it was done that she picked up her diploma, shelved the dissertation, and went on with her life. But tonight, after reading parts of several chapters and the acknowledgements, she declared that it indeed was a very good read. She also told us that she had no idea of how she was able to pull off all that while doing everything else. We wondered if she had chemical help. She said no, just a driving force to write in the middle of the night.

We asked her if she found any forgotten treasure.  She said that she was quite taken by the idea of Pentecost  not only a miracle of the tongue, but of the ear as well.  So, we are praying for auditory miracles of listening as Francis I is inaugurated very soon.

Meanwhile. . .

Meanwhile, back at the cottage, while the keeper was celebrating a papal election and keeping up with the thing she does called work, our seeds were busy pushing through the soil.  We now have a whole flat of tomato seedlings, as well as leeks, broccoli, and kale.  They didn't wait long to break through and they seem to be reaching toward the window for more light.

Pancakes for Solanus Casey Center

This morning we waved a fond paw as the keeper left us to help out with the St. Paddy's Day Pancake Breakfast to raise funds for the Solanus Casey Center. It was a raging success...great energy, lots of people, incredible food, prizes, and great community.

An Evening of Irish Bliss

 The Italian tango dancer played Irish songs on her fiddle, and everyone, thanks to their I Pads, joined in the singing. 

There were poems and stories and jokes as everyone shared their party pieces. Jack even wore black tie...for awhile!

There were toasts and a table groaning with not so bland Irish fare.

And they concluded the night with, yes, decaf and a little more, and promises to do it again next year.

Almost Like White Smoke

At our house the wait for the white smoke was very much like our annual yearning for the first blossom of the daphne odora which opens and lures us into its fragrant web. We are still in a state of eager anticipation, but trust that very soon we will be seduced.

Hidden and Not So Hidden Treasure

 She brought us photos of the obvious fresh camellias and forsythia, but we were delighted to see
that this other very shy plant is letting us catch a glimpse of its midnight blue berries

Behold, the Ides of March!

Where has this new year gone? We know it has gone to papal elections, new hope, and early Lent, for sure. But late afternoon yesterday when the keeper came home, we both suggested that she accompany us outside to see what had been happening while she was out doing that thing called work. She took us up on the idea.  And then left us for a long walk down to the lake to contemplate all that has happened of late. We also got to stay outside with the rapidly changing yard and wait for her return.

Celebrating Francisco, il Papa

Last evening we had a party at our cottage. The Congregation of the SSD celebrated the new Bishop of Rome with drinks, great conversation, and a fine dinner.  Alice and I were so well behaved they barely noticed we were there.

Weeping from the Den

Before he gave the Urbi et Orbi Blessing to the world, even to us, he asked us all for a prayer for him, and he knelt. She held our paws and wept. Could this be a gift?