Blessings, Bears, Beets, Battlestar Galactica...

Today is the final day of the Blessings week.  The challenge was to try to come up with at least 100 over the course of the last 7 days.  I got to 100, then blew past- and not just because I counted the silly ones too!  Today, even after I stopped writing them down, my thoughts kept circling the unwritten, obscure blessings in my quick-as-a-vapor life.   At one point I was reminded of an illustration told by George Buttrick:

"A lecturer to a group of businessmen displayed a sheet of white paper on which was one blot.  He asked what they saw.  All answered "a blot".  The test was unfair, it invited the wrong answer.  Nevertheless, there is an ingratitude to human nature by which we notice the black disfigurement and forget the wide-spread mercy.  We need to deliberately call to mind the joys of our journey.  Perhaps we should try to write down the blessings of one day.  We might begin:  we could never end: there are not pens or paper enough in all the world.  The attempt would remind us of our "vast treasure of content".

This has been a bit of a tough weekend for me.  My heart has been rescued by this exercise more than once.  Last night I re-read my blog entries over the last two weeks.  It feels good to see progress "on paper".   I have a feeling that I will need to refer back to these days from time to time...

76- Phone Calls- shorten the miles, ease the missing.


77- Mercy- undeserved compassion


78 Peace- the absence of debate, turmoil, war

79 Barns- old, rickety, a place of refuge, the smell of animals and dust and hay, the loft to play in, the scurrying mice, the smell of old leather and grain...

80 Tire Swings- the rush of wind, feeling of suspension just before the return swing, the creaking of the rope around the tree.

81 NASCAR- the soothing, comforting sound of tires on pavement, the excitement and pride of watching an uncle race, the love of cars and speed and engine noise.

82 Blue Eyes- six specific ones that look at me with trust and love and hope and admiration, whether I've earned it or not.


83 Purple- because I can make it work on me

84 Straightening Irons- because I remember the days without them and my hair has only gotten curlier over time.

85 Volleyball- the only sport I was (mildly) able to do! The blessing is in the team.

86 Making S'mores- the campfire, friends, chill of the evening and melty mallows and chocolate do not have to be explained.


87 Dark Chocolate- but only the smooth stuff.

88 Northern Lights- especially watching them next to me out of a plane window! Spectacular!

89 Fragrance of Rain- fresh and clean


90 Stranger's Smile- brings me out of myself, reminds me that people matter.

91 Friend's Smile- knowing encouragement.


92 Baby Smiles- eager, excited, pure.

93 Lip Gloss- especially in the dry Montana winter!

94 Fragrance of Leather- deep and rich and nostalgic.

95 Dimples- not sure why, but they bless me. What a gift that my daughter got a set!


96 Holding Hands- with a parent, friend, child, lover. 

97 Memory- the ability to hang on to life's experiences, the good and the bad, and to retain the growth that comes from them.

98 Salmon Fishing- makes trout fishing extremely uninteresting. Sorry guys.


99 The 20 Mile River- some of my best Alaska memories took place on that river- with old friends, family, strangers that became friends...

100 Back Rubs-  human touch, relief of stress, rare and relaxing.

101 Redwoods- if you don't understand , I'll just have to take you there...