“If I could reach out across time
and space to take your hand I would. If I could let you see the light my eyes
hold even over the greatest distance I would. But all I have are these words, these
fragile ciphers, scribbled on a screen, sent out like fireflies into the night
to carry my message of hope. They cannot hold you, they cannot see you, but
they can help you. Listen to what they say, for they speak the language of your
longing, the sacred sound of your own soul as it gives voice to the dignity of
your life. They are benediction. They are blessing. They are your new
beginning.” Bishop Steven Charleston, Episcopal,
Choctaw
SPIDER
MEDICINE
Grandmother spider is a wise old teacher and weaver of many stories. Her unique tapestry of life offers many paths to the center of oneself and creation. Her medicine speaks of connections and unity of spirit.
Spiders are light, delicate and not hostile to humans unless threatened. To those who require this special of the spider character, it teaches us to maintain a gentle and kind nature.
A poisonous spider signifies death and rebirth. As the poison of age and life's perils threaten our life, we use the venom to ward off future attacks or die.
The spider's web connects itself by silky threads to physical objects creating a net creating its home and place for harvesting food. The web reminds us of our connectedness to all things on earth - that we are related to everything in creation. The spokes of the web remind us to build links between ourselves and the Creator and all things.
When the spider appears, it is a sign to connect with the ways of spirit in the ways designed by the Creator.
The eight legs of the spider are unique from other insects who have only six legs. And unlike other insects, their bodies are divided into two parts instead of three. Two represents unity and a union of polarities.
In American Indian tradition, the first dream catcher was made by Grandmother Spider to catch the bad dreams of children. This legend reveals our belief that negative elements of one’s life may be screened out if we remember to keep the links between the Creator and ourselves strong and to always remember that all things in creation are one.
Tennessee
It will be one
month tomorrow that we have become permanent residents of Benton, TN in Beautiful
Polk County, nestled on a ridge and tucked in the midst of the Cherokee
National Forest. We are in South East Tennessee along the Ocoee River.
When we left
Central Florida I was about as close as one can get to being totally burned
out, about to burst into flames. To top that off, Jo and I left our house in
Clermont sick as we could be with upper respiratory infections. Packing, doing
Christmas with our girls and their families, losing mother in October, my
ordination to the priesthood, work full time and covering the church for three
weeks, topped off by the battle of egos and manipulation that was going on with
finding and training my replacement took a toll on me. I was especially upset
about how the sacred duty of selecting the right Chaplain for the needs of West
Orange County and the staff of a wonderful hospital came down to a battle of
the Titans among the Executives. It was not a process to find a high quality
Chaplain to serve a unique community, it became and still is a power struggle.
I said we were sick when we pulled out of the driveway; it was also raining
(storming) on our one truck four car caravan.
Can you imagine having to spend 12 hours on the highway trying to keep
four vehicle in so proximity of each other, given everyone varying needs for
food, restroom, and gas stops.
Thanks to our
good friends Amy, Goyo, and their wonderful children we did make it without any
major problem other than getting lost in Atlanta at a restroom stop. They were
and are a blessing to us. It took a full day to get the truck unloaded and the
boxes, bins, and furniture staged in the area of the house that we expected to
put them. They headed back to Clermont; we slept a full day, and then began the
task of unpacking.
The first
week was filled with coughing, sneezing, runny noses all encouraged by the dust
and dirt created by cardboard boxes, dogs, and tracking in and out of the
house. In spite of everything, we started the process of decompressing. What
helped most was knowing that it was God that brought us to this place (thank
you Jesus), that God had plans for us here, and that we both absolutely love
our new home.
After that first
week we got into a routine, found a Church to attend (St Paul’s Episcopal Church,
Athens, TN), spread out time out over turning the garden for March planting,
clearing and cutting up dead fall in the area of the woods directly behind the
house, enjoying finding just the right place for all the ‘things’ we brought
with us.
God is good.
We have both relaxed significantly. The
stress level in our new area is very low.
We love being rural, in a small community yet near to great medical care
and shopping malls (Chattanooga). And, Fred got a pick-up truck (4WD) and bib
overalls. We are not rushing into anything, just following God’s call when and
where he needs us. Eventually we will be a part of the West Polk County
Volunteer Fire Rescue service as chaplains to fire/rescue, local law
enforcement, and Rural Metro EMS. We are soon meeting with Bishop Young to
define what we can do to serve the Diocese of East Tennessee best.
By spring we
are going to be ready for visitors… warning once you visit you will want to buy
a place here and make the move with us. By the way country living is low
stress, relaxing, healthy, and we are losing weight. We are singing a new song.
Psalm 96
1 Sing to the Lord a new song;
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
sing to the Lord, all the earth.
2 Sing to the Lord, praise his name;
proclaim his salvation day after day.
3 Declare his glory among the nations,
his marvelous deeds among all peoples.
4 For
great is the Lord and most worthy of praise;
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
he is to be feared above all gods.
5 For all the gods of the nations are idols,
but the Lord made the heavens.
6 Splendor and majesty are before him;
strength and glory are in his sanctuary.
7 Ascribe
to the Lord, all you families of nations,
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
ascribe to the Lord glory and strength.
8 Ascribe to the Lord the glory due his name;
bring an offering and come into his courts.
9 Worship the Lord in the splendor of his[a] holiness;
tremble before him, all the earth.
10 Say among the nations, “The Lord reigns.”
The world is firmly established, it cannot be moved;
he will judge the peoples with equity.
11 Let the
heavens rejoice, let the earth be glad;
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
let the sea resound, and all that is in it.
12 Let the fields be jubilant, and everything in them;
let all the trees of the forest sing for joy.
13 Let all creation rejoice before the Lord, for he comes,
he comes to judge the earth.
He will judge the world in righteousness
and the peoples in his faithfulness.
Blessings to
you all from East Tennessee. We are looking forward to hearing from you
(drfred143@msn.com) and seeing you here or on our visits to Central Florida. I
is my plan to get back in the habit of posting a Quote of the Week on my blog
along with other of my thoughts and musings. ~Fred and Jo Wilcoxson
