Looking out the front window, I notice that the crab apple tree, in full bloom just days ago, is dropping her petals and decorating our driveway's dark asphalt in a blanket of white.  I'm reminded about the temporary nature of life's beauties and that, often, one beauty is replaced by another.  I'm called toward deeper appreciation.

 

       Memorial Day, celebrated today in the U.S.A., invites us to remember those to whom we're connected – which is another way to remind us about who we are.  We're asked to re-member, re-mind and re-orient to the passages of life and to the beauty of the temporary.

 

       Here's a poem by William Stafford – circulated in group on Thursday evening when the crab apple blossoms were in full glory, sharing their beauty and sweet fragrance with group members as they approached our front porch. 

 

 

Our Story

 

                        remind me again – together we

                        trace our strange journey, find

                        each other, come on laughing.

                        some time we'll cross where life

                        ends.  we'll both look back

                        as far as forever, that first day.

                        i'll touch you – a new world then.

                        stars will move a different way.

                        we'll both end.  we'll both begin.

                        remind me again.