Look Closely

It's just an old log, right?
Nature Study is teaching children that there is wonder to be found, even in a rotten, decaying log.

Did you ever pause and wonder how those little holes got so round? And what made them? And how are those intricate crystals woven so delicately in that tiny little space? All these mysteries, sitting, like bumps on a log, waiting to be discovered. (I'm sorry, I can never refuse a good pun!)

Anna Comstock writes, in her Handbook of Nature Study, "Nature Study consists of simple, truthful observations that may, like beads on a string, finally be threaded upon the understanding and thus held together as a logical and harmonious whole." (p.1)

I think of connections, and how we learn by connecting ideas and experiences. Everything we learn is the foundation for more learning, Ms. Comstock's "beads on a string."

I think back to a couple of summers ago when we found brilliant blue jellyfish scattered all along the beach. We found out that they are Button Jellyfish. And now, looking at this solitary log, I see those jellyfish again in the crystals that have gathered in the holes. Do you?

Google Image of a Button Jellyfish

A wonderful book to use with children and studying nature is: The Private Eye. This book teaches children how to hone their powers of observation by using jeweler's loupes (5X) and analogy to study nature. "The Private Eye is a program about the drama and wonder of looking closely at the world, thinking by analogy, and changing scale." (From the back of the book)

 I used to think that I couldn't have Nature studies with my children because they don't always want to draw what they see. Do I? No. So why do I expect my children to? Nature Study can be just as profitable to children by simply observing the wonders of God's creation. I am sure Charlotte Mason would have used a camera if she had had one at her disposal!

"Nature study cultivates the child's imagination, since there are so many wonderful and true stories that he may read with his own eyes...at the same time nature study cultivates in him a perception and a regard for what is true, and the power to express it."
~Anna Comstock

It is worth mentioning that the first week I went walking every day, the children did not express a desire to come. When I came back from my walks replenished and enthusiastic, they wanted to have a share in that! Like most areas of home learning, children want to be part of what energizes their parents! Enthusiasm makes a great leader!

It helps to bring a basket or bucket to collect specimens. Make sure you teach your children what is appropriate to collect and what is not. Yesterday we had an impromptu lesson on trees and roots, when Sam wanted to pull an entire sapling out of the ground. We decided to wait until Spring, when we could replant the sapling.

Emily came on our walk yesterday, and she used my camera to take some incredible pictures. Cameras are wonderful to use for nature study, but if you don't have one, for heaven's sake, don't let that be an excuse for not doing it!

photo credit: Emily Smithdeal

photo credit: Emily Smithdeal

photo credit: Emily Smithdeal

photo credit: Emily Smithdeal

photo credit: Emily Smithdeal

photo credit: Emily Smithdeal

photo credit: Emily Smithdeal

How To Get Spiritually Fit

I can't believe my last post was almost a week ago! My mother came to visit on Thursday, and it has been a flurry of activity ever since! Also, my early waking time has caught up with me, and I am no longer a night-owl blogger. Can you believe I went to bed before 10:00 last night?

So.....lots to blog about. Will you humor me while I post some random pictures to accompany my philosophical wanderings? Emily asked me: "What happened to the family blog?" I took that as a hint to put more family photos and happenings here. So you may be seeing more of that in the next few weeks!

Have you ever stopped to notice the grass and leaves in their frozen states? Lovely!

Remember my huge book stack? Well, since I shared my book stack with you, another book that I was eagerly awaiting came in the mail. This book has exhorted and challenged me in every capacity in my dealings with food. I have always approached healthy eating and weight loss as a strictly physical issue. I am realizing now that the root of all food issues is spiritual. I will not try to explain the whole book in this post (please, get it for yourself!!); suffice it to say that this book has life-transforming potential- especially if you struggle in the area of food.

This morning I read first thing:

"For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places."
(Ephesians 6:12)

It amazes me how I can read a line in the Bible so many times, and it doesn't speak to me. Maybe because I have been reading the aforementioned book or because I have been battling my flesh lately, but whatever it is, I suddenly understood!

I understood that when we are struggling in any area that involves self control and temptation, we are not fighting our flesh; we are engaged in a spiritual battle. Somehow in my life I have seen temptation and sin as the big things- having an affair, stealing, lying, abuse, etc... In the back of my mind there is the idea that as long as I don't mess up in the big areas, I'm doing just fine, spiritually speaking.

Not So. Any time in my life that I struggle with self control, I am wrestling with "Principalities." Now, this 'revelation' could be downright depressing! I actually find encouragement here. Even when we are engaged in a spiritual battle in the smallest areas of our lives, we can call on God to help us. It is not to say I am sinning when I eat a piece of chocolate cake! But I am given the opportunity to strengthen my will and find comfort in God instead of food.

I am not fighting against physical, actual needs- I am fighting against a force outside myself.

We've all heard : "The devil made me do it!" and we chuckle...but there is some truth to that! Perhaps your area of struggle isn't with food- maybe it's the urge to gossip or the filling of a spiritual void by excessive buying. And- God help us!- Sometimes it's all three! Does it ever feel like we can't have any fun?!

The point is,
any time we have a small victory in our lives, with any struggle- we strengthen our will and resolve to be victorious in the bigger struggles.

Every time I say "No!" to that extra helping of mashed potatoes,buy that one more book, say that unkind word, I am fortifying my ability to resist much larger, more dangerous temptations.

And who knows? Maybe I'll lose a few pounds in the process!

Fiat

I go out early to find my place on this earth.

The sky dances wild with radiant light, clouds all heavy and breathing.

I almost said "No." No to all this grandeur, this majesty - too cold, too wet, too much to do, and do I really want to trudge up that steep hill?

"Go." The stillness of the morning whispers.
I am called- called to something larger than myself. Called to grace- called to Him, clothed in beauty.
The morning array.

I said "Yes."
"Yes" to the wind and the wet and the cold. "Yes" to the call outside of myself.
And doesn't all life begin with "Yes?"
With all our "yeses", this fiat to God, to life, we become alive.

I am thinking, as I walk , about today's great mystery: The Feast of the Presentation. We remember today that Mary and Joseph presented Jesus in the temple. Simeon was there, and he knew he had seen the Messiah, and that he could now die in peace, a prophecy foretold, come to pass.

But why? Why did Jesus, the Lord himself, have to be consecrated and presented? He IS Divinity, he had no need of man made temples and blessings. He did it all for US. For YOU:

"Therefore, it was necessary for him to be made in every respect like us, his brothers and sisters, so that he could be our merciful and faithful High Priest before God. Then he could offer a sacrifice that would take away the sins of the people." (Hebrews 2:17)

"Being found in appearance as a man, He humbled Himself by becoming obedient to the point of death, even death on a cross." (Philippians 2:8)

"Christ identifies himself with the temple. He is God's dwelling -place among people. As today Mary carries her baby to the temple, she is leading Jesus to her own true self." (Magnificat, vol. 12, no. 12)

 Mary carried Jesus to the temple. Mary carried Jesus in her womb for nine months. Mary watched as her son was crucified for a depraved humanity.
Every moment of Jesus' life is pulsed with Mary's yes; her fiat.

Every time we whisper "yes", speak "yes", shout "YES!", we echo that great "YES!" of Mary. The "yes" to God, to live with Him, to suffer with him, to abide with him.
Dear friend, you never suffer in vain. Every act of suffering you endure for the love of God is a beautiful
"Yes!" an everlasting "Amen!"

And as I stand on that knoll in  the middle of nowhere, I find myself in the one who gives life. The Lifegiver.
I look down at that yellow house in the valley, brimming with children, with life, and I remember: That first morning I woke up in our new home- I saw the snow capped mountains and the knotty old locust tree leaning on the fence. I had to go out. I ran and leaped with joy- all this beauty, all this mirth.

For years we had lived in military housing. All the homes were clustered together, and I felt penned in. True, we have many happy wonderful memories of our time in those places, but my dream was always to move back to Virginia. Back to the country. Back to my home in the mountains.

Every day I appreciate and savor the beauty of this place. Appreciation is a form of thanks, and I THANK GOD for this.

 I say "yes", and I walk, and I question the mystery, the gift.
How long will this drop of water perch on a thorn, cupped with the welling of life, before it can't hold it all and..
spills over?

 I look closely at all the gifts-picking up the pennies, and I discover new worlds, microcosms of mirth:
nests amongst thorns, tunnels under tree roots, lichens in the decay, an owl pellet, bleached bones, forgotten nuts, acorns, star studded moss, and pine cones.

I want it all...to take it all in, and I wonder if we can be too greedy for beauty. I collect a few specimens, reminders of today's found beauty, today's "Yes."

May all your moments today be "Yeses!" to the God who lives, the God who loves you, and the God who breathes life into your very soul. May you overflow with His life abundant as you echo the great Fiat, rejoicing always.

Mama In The Ball Game

Yesterday was the feast day of Saint John Bosco. I posted some of his sayings to my facebook wall. Here is one I liked:

 "The teacher who is seen only in the classroom and nowhere else, is a teacher and nothing more; but let him go with his boys to recreation and he becomes a brother."- Don Bosco

Sometimes I think we pray when we don't even know it. I have so many boys at home, and with this winter weather they have been going a little stir crazy. I must have been inwardly expressing this frustration to God, and He spoke through the humble words of this amazing saint.

When I read what Saint John Bosco said about teachers and children , my eyes were opened. I NEED TO EXERCISE, PLAY, RECREATE WITH MY CHILDREN. It is not enough to be mama in the kitchen, mama teaching lessons, mama driving the car, and mama WATCHING the ball game. I need to be mama IN the ball game!

Today at lunch I decided to give the saint's philosophy a whirl. Out to the driveway we all hustled for a game of basketball- we even did some jogging afterwards. We had a ball! (sorry-couldn't refuse the pun!) We all burnt off some of the indoor energy amassing in our winter bodies. It felt so invigorating. What's best is that the kids had such a great time. When I am participating in an activity with them- something they enjoy, it makes them so happy.

What are you waiting for? Get into the game! Before you know it, you'll be having fun, too.

Here is the link for the great sayings of Saint John Bosco- lots of food for thought:
Sayings of the Saints