A Weekend at Fenner

Last weekend was the annual Maple Syrup Festival at Fenner Nature Center, a wonderful tract of land right in the midst of the city, which tends to be under-appreciated by the community at large.

But when we have our annual festivals-- this one in March, Apple Butter in October, people come by the droves and they remind us hard-core supporters of the reason we work so hard to keep Fenner's life going.

I worked at the used book sale and talked with people from all walks of life, many races and cultures. Several indicated they'd like to volunteer, which is music to our ears! In spite of cold, snow/rain weather, there was a steady flow of individuals, couples, families--many families--through the two days. Seeing the diversity in our community is one of the joys of these events.

Ironically, the City of Lansing, which has severely cut back on funds to support Fenner's nature education programming, the core of the Center's reason for being, is now currently seeking a large grant to "fix up", read introduce humans, to a large natural parcel across the street from Fenner.

My husband, Norris Ingells, a respected journalist, photographer and amateur naturalist, spent hours and hours on the River Trail in that area. He was strongly opposed to bringing in fill dirt and picnic tables and play equipment, etc., which he believed would ruin the natural character, the ecosystem, of Crego Park, as well as affect the adjoining acres of natural land, running from the Zoo to Hawk Island Park.

Lansing has many, many parks for human play. It has a lovely River Trail from which folks can observe nature. It doesn't need another "gentrified" park. It needs to maintain it's unique natural system for the sake of "the otherkinds", not just humankind. It is my understanding that with staff cuts, they won't have enough people to maintain yet another park. City officials, particularly the Parks and Recreation Department, need to look at the big picture here. They need to recognize the absolute necessity of nature and environmental education to our population, now and in the future.

So I will be pontificating on this subject whenever and wherever I can in the weeks to come. This will give me something to help me through another springtime without my partner. And it will be worth the effort, regardless of what "the powers" decide.

Oh yes, I need to remember to breathe, laugh, look, and love! You, too!

Actually, it may be a little late for lambing, but the sheep farm at MSU is such fun to visit this time of year. You can watch the little ones "gamboling" about. New life. New hope. Spring. Ahhhhh!

At Home in Relationships

Again and again throughout this book I'm trying to write I attempt to show that God is not "separate" from anything--anything. Most especially, God is not outside of human relationships, though many go through life with no such awareness. Our life in God is reflected, acted out, brought to fruition in large part through our most intimate relationships--lovers, spouses, parents, children, siblings, friends. I am not saying God "controls" relationships or manipulates them. Yet part of the Mystery is that at the same time, the actions of the Spirit seem overwhelmingly evident when we connect with someone who turns out to be a major player in our lives. A quite casual decision--I'll go here and not there, for example--can change the course of an entire lifetime.

When I was in college Norris Ingells was editor of the town's newspaper. Many of my friends knew him, as he was a familiar presence on campus and at our theatre performances, but I had never met him. The summer after graduation I worked at Interlochen National Music Camp. One day someone walked in and recognizing him, I said, "Norris Ingells, what are you doing here?" He looked a bit startled, I introduced myself, and we chatted a bit. It seems we were both moving to Lansing in the fall, so I gave him the phone number at my aunt's home where I'd be living. I didn't think much about it. He seemed like a nice guy, much older than me. It was all very casual. Those brief chats evolved into a healthy and delightful forty years of marriage. What if he hadn't visited Interlochen? What if I hadn't made it possible for him to find me in Lansing? Little things. A lifetime of difference. Was God actively involved in bringing us together. I don't know. I certainly wasn't thinking that way at the time. But in retrospect, God was undoubtedly there in some way.
More of the Mystery!

Wandering in the Wilderness

Tomorrow I'm preaching at a local church and the Gospel reading is Luke's version of Jesus' temptation in the wilderness. I have to confess that I've wondered how the writer knows just what happened to Jesus out there in the desert. Did Jesus reveal the story in detail to someone who told someone and many years later someone told Luke? Well, I guess the Holy Spirit told Luke. But that's not really the point, is it? The point is for us to learn from the story.

So I'm thinking about wilderness and why Jesus was led there just after being baptized and hearing a voice saying he was God's son. I mean that was a big deal! It makes sense, though, doesn't it? How would he proceed, having this knowledge, this awareness, this destiny? He was human, after all. He had some heavy thinking to do.

Many of us have wandered in natural wilderness, a forest or a desert or a mountain. Wilderness is largely unmarked, no clear path, no ability to see exactly where we are going. Wilderness is beautiful, beguiling, yet frightening. In wilderness we can realize at a deep level how very small we are. We aren't sure we'll find our way out or if we'll wander aimlessly until we die.

My natural wilderness is the high desert of Northwest New Mexico, where I've spent many weeks. No place I've been is so starkly beautiful and so lonely, empty and seemingly endless. The very spaciousness is frightening. How easily I could get lost and never find my way back!

Times in inner wilderness are often related to momentous life changes. Whenever we are presented with a challenge or opportunity, a reminder of our own power and potential, we are led into a wilderness where "the devil" by whatever name you call it, almost immediately shows up. That is, something within us takes over and shows us how good it would feel, how much money we could make, how much influence we could have. Of course, there's always a price to pay!

I remember lots of conversations where a great idea emerged and I could feel viscerally the power of its seduction. I would be sure this was finally IT! THE big thing I was meant to do in life which would change the world and lead me to fame and fortune. Yet it did not materialize in that spectacular way. Temptation isn't always about clear distinctions between the right or wrong choice. Each challenge offered to Jesus could have resulted in some sort of progress or success or power he could use for good. Choices, informed by the Spirit, resisting the seduction of the darkness, have to be made--after reflection and sometimes a whole lot of floundering around.

Let's say this is your wilderness: "Wow, if I take this new job I could send the kids to a good school or give more to help the homeless or enjoy prestige and influence in our town. So what if I'm seldom home till late? ... But then if I don't take it, I will have more time to nurture my children, support my spouse, give my gifts for the good of my community." Choices. Difficult choices. No easy answers. No one right way. No clear path out of the wilderness.

Christianity emphasizes Jesus' death and resurrection: Jesus died for us. But didn't Jesus also come to LIVE for us, to illustrate what it means to be a Godly human being and how we are to navigate the struggles involved? Jesus trusted the Spirit, which led him into the wilderness and led him out again. Jesus resisted the easy answers, instant gratification, material wealth, political power.

In whatever wilderness you wander this winter, pay attention to the still small voice, the glimmers of light, the signs and messages, and make the choices that lead you to deep nourishment and satisfaction. Don't leap on the easy answers, but with open mind and heart allow the Spirit to lead you. You are not alone. If you can trust that, even a little bit, you will be led through and out of that wilderness, with a deepened awareness of and connection to God, who will never leave you to face your struggles alone.