Musing: Be Salt

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Salt Shaker. Photo: TLClark, 2/26/2020.

“You are the salt of the earth.”

Matthew 5:13a, CEB

I’ve been thinking about salt.

It started with a call from a funeral director. He had a family who was not connected to any church but wanted “prayers said for Craig.” I met with the family the next day and led the memorial service a few days later.

Salt Shaker with Box and Spilled Salt. Photo: TLClark, 2/26/2020.

Everyone who knew Craig knew that he always carried a bottle of Lawry’s Seasoned Salt. When asked why he’d say, “Everything tastes better with Lawry’s salt on it.”

It’s one of those quirky things remembered when someone has died. Having never met Craig, I would have forgotten it except for two sermons I heard the following weekend.

Salt Shaker with Poured Salt. Photo: TLClark, 2/26/2020.

A retired Catholic priest talked about throwing salt around. Be generous with it. Everywhere you go, fling it out into the world.

I’m still not sure about throwing salt at anyone. But I really like the image of indiscriminate extravagance. Spreading goodness and joy, love and laughter and kindness – anything that makes life a little easier or a bit more pleasant.

Salt Crystals. Photo: TLClark, 2/26/2020.

My pastor talked about being salt. Be seasoning. Add flavor wherever you are, wherever you go in the world.

The challenge: be salt even when it’s hard. Shake up a conversation when it turns negative. Speak up on behalf of one is marginalized or oppressed. Stand up for what is right no matter the cost.

Salt Shaker – Color. Photo: TLClark, 2/26/2020.

May you be salt, dear friends.
May you share salt with indiscriminate extravagance.
May everything taste better because of you and your salty goodness.

Photo Challenge: Number

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3.5″ Square. Photo: TLClark, 2/14/2020.

A few numbers in the life of a quilter.

Measure twice; cut once. And hold the ruler firmly before making that cut! (Couldn’t take a picture with one hand AND hold the ruler AND use the rotary cutter.)

Posted in response to Tuesday Photo Challenge – Number by Dutch Goes the Photo!

Somehow I never got around to posting for the prior photo challenge, but I took some pictures!! So here’s just a bit of the action required for creating a quilt block using the pink square shown above.

SEW: Sewing machine needle at rest and and then in action. Note that the horizontal screw on the right holds the needle in place so it has go up and down and up and down with the needle.

PRESS: First with fingers, then with iron.

Finger Pressing. Photo: TLClark, 2/14/2020.
Press (do not iron). Photo: TLCLark, 2/14/2020.

CUT: Stack two strip sets, cut into 2″ widths.

Sew some more. Press. Repeat as necessary.

Chain Piecing Four-patches. Photo: TLClark, 2/14/2020.

Finished block! One of more than 100 I’ve made for the 2020 Stash Buster Challenge.

2020 Stash Buster Block. Photo: TLClark, 2/14/2020.

Photo Challenge – Rest

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Rest: the silence in music that makes the music music.

Rest and Rhythm. Photo: TLClark, 2/8/2020.

Rest: asleep, safe and secure.

Rest in Grandpa’s Arms. Photo: TLClark, 9/25/2019.

Rest: quilts made with love and a prayer for sweet dreams.

Pick a Quilt! Photo: TLClark, 2/8/2020.

Rest: relaxing with feet up.

Fuzzy Feet Resting. Photo: TLCLark, 2/8/2020.

Rest: eternal peace.

Rest in Peace. Photo: TLClark, 9/27/2019.

Posted in Response to Tuesday Photo Challenge – Rest by Dutch Goes the Photo!

Tuesday Photo Challenge – Cat

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Bill the Cat. Photo: TLClark, 1/28/2020.

Our cat
is a hairless model
needing neither food
nor a litter box.

Staying Warm. Photo: TLClark, 1/28/2020.

Bill usually hangs out by the gas fireplace.
Today he got to look out the window.

“Don’t Make Me Go Out There.” Photo: TLClark, 1/28/2020.

For this photo shoot only, Bill was allowed on the table with his favorite book.

Bill and His Favorite Book. Photo: TLClark, 1/28/2020.
“Wow! Look at that!” Photo: TLClark, 1/28/2020.
“I Like It Here.” Photo: TLClark, 1/28/2020.
“What’s In the Box?” Photo: TLClark, 1/28/2020.

Pictures and Post in response to Dutch goes the Photo! Tuesday Photo Challenge – Cat.

Putting the Pieces Together

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Stringing a few words together to make a sentence,
A few sentences to write a paragraph,
And a paragraph or two to create a post
Seems tough going for me this week.

But piecing fabric into quilt blocks has happened!

2020 Stash Buster Challenge – Sunshine & Shadows layout plus fabric yet to be cut and sewn.

The 2020 Stash Buster Challenge has been a bit addictive. Whether it is yardage purchased for a project that never got made or pieces that just had to be taken home, most quilters have fabric stowed away. The goal of the challenge is to turn some of that stash into a quilt. (Find more information and the pattern here.)

The little four-patches just make me smile.

3.5″ unfinished Four-Patch

The larger four-patches are made with two small four-patches and two 3.5″ squares.
The blocks can be put together at least nine different ways to make interesting patterns.

First blocks for the 2020 Stash Buster Challenge – Strong Streaks layout.

In other piecing news, we finally finished this jigsaw puzzle! It has lots of irregularly shaped pieces that made the trees with snow fairly difficult. So difficult, in fact, we talked about putting it back in the box without finishing it.

Wherever you are, whatever you’re doing,
may the pieces fall together easily today.

Photo Challenge: Transport

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“Our wheelchairs are here for your usage and convenience.”

– Sign at the entrance to the Skyway to the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics from Parking Ramp 4.
Wheelchairs All in a Row UIHC. Photo: TLClark, 1/16/2020.

Wheelchairs to the right (above) and to the left (below) as you enter the skyway from level 2 of parking ramp 4 at the University of Iowa Hospital and Clinics.

I’m always struck by the number of wheelchairs here. With an early morning appointment this week, they were still neatly lined up and ready to roll when we arrived.

Wheelchairs Ready to Roll, UIHC. Photo: TLClark, 1/16/020.

Noticing how the arms of one wheelchair wrap around the one in front of it (see below), I thought of a hug. These particular chairs require a companion to transport the patient. It is a caring act – whether the designated companion is family, friend, or hospital employee.

Wheelchairs Hugged from Behind, UIHC. Photo: TLClark, 1/16/2020.

Posted in response to Frank’s Tuesday Photo Challenge – Transport.

Musing: Baptism and Buttons

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Bowl of Water with Blue Buttons. Photo: TLClark, 1/12/2020.

For local churches who follow the Revised Common Lectionary last Sunday was “The Baptism of Christ.” It is one of those holy days on the liturgical calendar that I rather like. Not only does it go without notice in the wider world, it has few – if any – expectations associated with it.

Remembering Baptism. Photo: TLClark, 1/12/2020.

Since I was leading worship for a colleague, I wanted to use water in some way to help us remember our own baptisms and the promises we have made to follow Jesus.

Plain bowls of water seemed boring (i.e., not visually interesting). Buttons have no liturgical significance. But I wanted something in the water and was reluctant to buy blue “stones.” And I have plenty of blue buttons on hand!

Blue Buttons. Photo: TLClark, 1/12/2020.

One image of baptism is to “take of the old and put on the new” – symbolized by the baptismal candidate wearing a white gown. I refrained from suggesting it Sunday, but maybe the buttons could be used to secure the new.

On a more serious note, here is a prayer from the Confirmation liturgy adapted for use on The Baptism of Christ Sunday.

By your Spirit, almighty God, grant us love for others, joy in serving you, peace in disagreement, patience in suffering, kindness toward all people, goodness in evil times, faithfulness in temptation, gentleness in the face of opposition, self-control in all things.  Then strengthen us for ministry in your name.  Amen.

Adapted from Order for Confirmation: Affirmation of Baptism in Book of Worship, United Church of Christ.