Taking our cue from the fish

It’s is officially the best time of the year! The herring are running again. For anyone who doesn’t have the distinct pleasure of living near the ocean, the herring (fish) swim upstream to lay their eggs in the calmer ponds.

The herring “runs” are some of the most beautiful, picturesque places I’ve ever seen. Small waterfall and pools, and a succession of sloops (like tiny locks in a river.)

There is a run about a five minute drive from Paraclete, where I took my family (twice!) in the last few days to see the amazing feat of determination that these fish perform.

I’ve always felt that the herring run is one of the most inspiring and heart-breaking places in the world.

These tiny creatures work so hard and their perseverance in the face of immense odds has always inspired and convicted me. Not only the incredible rush of water pushing them back, but also the birds.

I’ve never seen so many seagulls in my life, hunting in what seem to be the most unfair of circumstances!

On the other hand, I always walk away inspired to push through, even when things seem impossibly difficult.

Victory for Herring! (video)

A (sales) room with a view – Spring perspective

A grape vineyard grows right outside the window of our sales room, which gives a lovely view in the summer, when all the leaves are full and then in the autumn when they turn shades of red, gold and brown.Right now in the cold and damp spring season the vines are cut back to the graft.  The irrigation tubes and the aluminum posts that keep the rows straight are exposed, as well as peach colored plastic shelters giving protection to vulnerable new vine plants.

Last Saturday, I helped with placing these shelters around the new plants. One of the brothers in our Community who cares for the vineyard explained that these shelters provide a ‘micro-environment’ for growth for these new plants while they are in a vulnerable stage – protecting them from the elements or small animals.
Because of things that God is showing me in my life, I was reminded that even when things are closing in around me, or I feel that my world is narrowed for a time, perhaps God is protecting me, or giving an opportunity for focus upon growth and new life.

Evidence of Spring

Daffodil outside our front doorAfter a long winter, our blog is coming out of hibernation!

Outside our front door there is a tiny patch of daffodils, a little stunted by too many snows, peeking out reminding us that spring has truly begun.

Inside, the spring new releases have been pouring in, and we couldn’t be more excited! Just today we just received The Rule of Taize, (our first bilingual book) a treasury of wisdom for anyone seeking to live in harmony with others and with God.