The Gift of Magic

My doggy audience (Dawn the fifteen year old wonder dog) as I sing the first stanza of the carol running through my head...

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Kathy King

The Gift of Magic 

“I am beginning to learn that it is the sweet, simple things of life which are the real ones after all.”

Laura Ingles Wilder

How do you recapture magic?

How do you hold it in the palm of your hand?

Can you have a moment to feel like a child again?

To wonder, to dream, to imagine if you dare. 

To have a wellspring of hope that lights the way.

Could those feelings again?

Could they burn like a flame?

A torch, a flame that lights the way.

That torch that can illumine even the darkest place.

To sing, to dance, to recapture your inner child. 

Recapture that magic. 

Make it a part of you.

Today I could not get a Christmas Carol out of my head. It plays over and over. It strains whispers in my ears like a beautiful waltz. Yesterday I wrote about the first week of Advent. The Candle of hope is lit in anticipation of the Messiah coming. To be hopeless would be truly terrible, would it not? We as humans need hope to keep us going. We need hope to carry on. What about magic? Is that not a form of hope? I don’t want to offend my magician friends but does “real” magic exist? Probably not. But, could you find a place where you felt as if things might be magic? When I contemplate magic I think of my children when they were waiting for Christmas morning. What would they get? Their excitement was palpable. I do remember the excitement I had as a child as Christmas morning was approaching. There was a quickening in my spirit to know that I would get to eat sweeties and play until my heart’s content. I also remember the hope that is conveyed in the Christmas Carols. The certain carol that keeps playing in my head is called: “Bring a Torch, Jeannette, Isabella.” The carol itself was not originally a carol at all. It was a dance written for French nobility. It wasn’t until later that it was made into a Christmas carol in the Provence region of France. To this day the villagers dress as shepherds and milk maids. They carry torches and candles while singing the song on the way to mass. I think that sounds wonderful. The words are so simple yet beautiful. Bring a torch, Jeannette, Isabella. Bring a torch to the stable call. Christ is born, tell the folk of the village. The carol talks about bringing cakes arranged on the platter. They watch the child sleeping. They sing for joy. Simple yet beautiful. What sweet simple thing in life can you think of that gives you a little magic or hope? When I read the quote above I really thought of the little things, the small acts that truly do inspire hope. The “What happens in between” things. My husband calls it “doing ordinary things in extraordinary places.” When he says this I immediately think of hope, comfort, magic.  When the world wide bug came knocking on our door a lot changed in humanity. You can’t deny that people have changed a lot. For many years I served as a church pianist. When the bug came to fruition my role changed within a week. One week I was playing hymns and singing songs. The next. Nothing. Music is like a hug from the Lord. You need it to keep going. The service was an early traditional service. So the demographic was usually older and retired. Their lives were not only impacted by not going to church but also from doing just about everything. I saw this as well with the seniors at the senior living facility that I was going to a few times a week to functionally train them. That was their social outlet. They were all at once alone and unable to be with anyone. So much hope was lost. It was almost a year before I was allowed to return to see them. The change in their spirits was palpable. It was as if the light that was shining in their sweet faces went from beaming to almost completely dim. I do believe that this time stole a lot of magic. For my husband and I, we fell out of the habit of attending church each week. Sure, we watched it online but that is not the same. For the old folks, slowly but surely they found their magic again of getting to see people, to fellowship, to feel the magic that is good humanity. For my husband and myself, we found the fellowship of gathering together as a community that is church. Where can you bring your torch? Where can you sing? What in your life feels like magic? I encourage you to find it. Dress up in your Christmas gown, carry your candle and sing! After all, “Enjoy the little things in life.. For one day you will look back and realize they were the big things.” Kurt Vonnegut

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The Quacktastic Adventures of Ellie and Lord Barks a Lot

The Case of the Missing Moo-Cow Bell

The Case of the Missing Bumbly Wumbly Bee

The Case of the Missing Wellies

The Case of the Missing Honk Honk

The Case of the Missing Ornaments

Clean it Up! Wash it Up!

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Appalachian Allegory: A Southern Novel

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The Gift of It's Okay to be Tired

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I took this in Grindelwald, Switzerland. Those mountains... Wow... and people climb them!

Climb Every Mountain from the Sound of Music... I love singing this song.

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Kathy King

“I saw a quote that said, 'I know I am going to get through it. It’s just, sometimes I get tired of going through it.' And I felt that.”

It is okay to feel tired.

It is okay to raise your hands in frustration.

It is okay to say, “At the moment, I just don’t care.”

These emotions, these feelings, they are all a part of the human condition.

To think that life is truly perfect is an idea that deserves great suspicion. 

We are told that if we walk a certain path, our lives will never really see any grey. 

I am here to tell you dear readers, life sometimes subsists in the grey. 

It does not mean that you do not have hope for another day. 

Rather, you must find those promises in the realm of grey. 

As the quote states above, we all know we are going to get through it.

Of that we can be sure. 

But also, it is okay to be tired when you are going through it of that you can be sure. 

Take a seat, rub your temples, say a little prayer. 

When you are in the tired moment, don't despair.

Look around you and survey the grey.

Find the bits of color that pop in the midst of the grey.

Take those colors, file them away in your head.

You may need them again when the next situation presents itself. 

You see life is a wonderful, gritty, dirty and many splendored thing.

We have to take the good, the bad, and the ugly with all that it brings. 

It is okay to feel tired. Say it again.

Take that moment of rest, you deserve it, my friend.  

Today in our little corner of the south it is quite grey and windy (I love the British English spelling of grey.) There are a few pops of color still left as fall begins to wane. I spent the morning with a few little old ladies and gentlemen who are both hilarious and sources of great wisdom. Some have kids that are really “going through it” at the moment. Then, they themselves have many health elements that cause them to feel they are going through it. Each time I speak with someone they are going through it these days. What do we do? Well, as I mentioned above, raise those hands and just let it out. You may not have a long time to do so, but even a moment of catharsis is something. I was recently conversing with my Pastor friends about life, the universe and everything. He was quiet for a moment and then said, “Go and read the Psalms out loud. You will see that David did indeed, go through it.” He went through times of absolute despair asking God why He had abandoned him. He then went to the top of the mountain and saw the splendor that comes with overcoming a desperate situation. It seemed that there were times that he completely lost his faith. He never stopped expressing his feelings. He asked God to save him, please don’t leave him, and please help him not to feel alone. He was (in Psalm 6) worn out from his groaning, his weeping, etc..  Shortly before that in Psalm 4 David talked about how his heart was glad and his soul rejoiced. He was going to sleep peacefully because of God’s goodness. Why read the Psalms? Well, David experienced the human condition that all of us experience. Joy, sadness, anger, despair. Will this situation ever change? I have had those thoughts a lot recently. I did feel guilty because I felt I had a lack of faith. But then, after reading the musings of David. I felt human. Have those moments of tiredness. Look around you in the grey and see the bits of color that God has placed in your path. The beauty of taking that moment and breathing is that you can realize I may have these feelings, but I don't have to stay here in this place. In a previous musing, I wrote about climbing to the mountain top and seeing the glorious splendor of the view. You can’t get there without starting in the valley. You just cannot. When you see that next mountain on the horizon you will be stronger, you will have more bits of color in the grey when you reach the valley to scale to newer and better heights. I leave you with a quote by Andy Rooney, “Everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth happens when you are climbing it.”

Sources: Psalm 1-10 KJV

My Books are on Amazon!

The Quacktastic Adventures of Ellie and Lord Barks a Lot

The Case of the Missing Moo Cow Bell

The Case of the Missing Bumbly Wumbly Bee

The Case of the Missing Wellies

The Case of the Missing Honk Honk

The Case of the Missing Ornaments

Clean it Up! Wash it Up!

Coming Soon:

Appalachian Allegory

The Gift of Dreaming

I was playing around this afternoon with this song... to warm up. Dream the impossible!

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Kathy King

The Gift of Dreaming

“You are never too old to set another goal and dream another dream.”

C.S. Lewis

Do you dare to dream?

You hear leaders say to you, “Dream!”

Do you really take their advice?

To dream means to leave the realm of what is possible and to venture into what may be impossible.  

But what are we if we do not dream?

To imagine? To ponder a better life for both ourselves and others around us. 

Dream, imagine, take the chance! 

Some dreams are admittedly silly, some dreams are serious. 

But what are your dreams for your future and do you still try to attain it?

To stop dreaming is a hopeless place. 

Dreams have kept many a person from feeling dismay. 

So don’t stop dreaming even if you are feeling blue. 

That dream, that hope could give you the boost of confidence and respite.

Dare to dream! Grasp for the stars! Pray for it, do the work.

You can do it, know your worth.

Many songs have been written about dreaming through time.  The dictionary defines a dream as a cherished aspiration, ambition or ideal.  Do you dare to dream?  Or has your life become devoid of dreams?  Think about the songs about dreams.  Dream a Little Dream of Me, To Dream the Impossible Dream. Sweet Dreams, Dream Weaver, Wildest Dreams.  Having seen a few of these titles one could wager that dreams are quite important.  What happens when we stop dreaming?  We lose hope.  Our hope gives us expectations and desires for things in the future.  Hope is the pathway that helps our dreams come true.  Now, dreams don’t just come to fruition.  There is also hard work and discipline that is mixed in as well.  But if we don’t have that goal (even if it is small) or that dream to work towards, how will we not become stagnant?   Dreams help us grow, dreams help us have vision, dreams help us to keep going even when the going gets tough. Also, in our time of instant gratification realize that dreams do not always come to fruition as quickly as we would like.  Sometimes those dreams, that hard work, takes months and even years to yield fruit.  Even then, keep dreaming.  Stay focused, keep that vision in your mind and keep on the path of that dream. The quote that I shared earlier I have shared before. It always speaks to me each and every time. It is so important for the human spirit to dream. When I was younger I used to wish that I could play the piano like certain folks, draw like certain people (I cannot draw a stick figure)....I dreamed I was as beautiful as some of the other gals that were at my school. As I have gotten older I realized that each person has their gifts. There is no reason to want another person’s dreams and talents, we all have our own. As a pianist I can appreciate how each pianist’s personality is reflected in their playing. Some of the playing is soft, beautiful and contemplative. Other's playing is so technically correct that Franz Liszt would blush. To those who do not know, Franz Liszt wrote some very technically difficult finger patterns in his pieces. He had famously very large hands with long fingers. Then there are those pianists whose soul is laid bare when they play. They may not be one hundred percent technically accurate, but you know that piece is from the very essence of everything that they are. Then there is the combination of all that commands the room as soon as their fingers touch the keyboard. After making this realization, I thought why would I want someone else’s talent/dream? That is what makes music the speech of angels. What does all of this have to do with dreams? Well, paint that picture, write that book, take up that new hobby, minister to that friend, share your passion with others. Share your dreams. This morning when I was working with some little old ladies they were all talking about how they wished we could have a “Good News Network” that we could watch every single day. They didn’t want to completely ignore what was going on in the world by any means. They just wanted some good news. One little lady said that she believes that there are more good people, good dreamers, and good souls in the world than those who report the news would lead us to believe. That dreamer may be you!  I leave you all with this quote: “Dare to dream, then decide to do.” Annette White

My books are on Amazon!

The Quacktastic Adventures of Ellie and Lord Barks a Lot

Clean it Up! Wash it Up!

Coming soon!

The Case of the Missing Ornaments

Appalachian Allegory

The Gift of Casseroles

A recent visit to a cemetery at sunset.. I bet they made casseroles back in their time.

You Raise Me Up. I think casseroles are much like raising others up. Let's make a life casserole!

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Kathy King

The Gift of Casseroles

“Try not to be a person of success, but rather try to become a person of value,”

Albert Einstein

A pinch of this, a pinch of that.

A tablespoon, a teaspoon, a cup, and a pint.

A smattering of different spices that add to the recipe.

A heaping cup of cream to give it depth.

A stir of love to help the recipe develop. 

Some salt, some pepper, and maybe some hot spice.

To make the dish taste very nice. 

That is what we can be, to add to the recipe of life.

Be salt to some, be sweet to others, be spicy when the recipe needs a little kick..

Be a savory delight when someone is struggling. 

Be a bonbon or a sweet meat to someone who needs some tenderness.

Be patient, be forgiving, keep tweaking the recipe of life.

With time and fortitude, eventually the recipe will become a luscious delight for all to behold.

Casseroles.  A staple of the south, particularly in the church.  Recently my husband and I attended a funeral for a family member who had led a very long and fulfilling life.  After her celebration of life service, we were invited to come to the buffet with the family.  We were welcomed with open arms by a group of gray haired delightful church ladies.  When I use the word cornucopia of casseroles, that would be an underestimation of just how much food was on the buffet table.  Chicken casseroles, green bean casseroles, corn casseroles, macaroni casseroles, potato casseroles to name a few. Oh yes, and hand fried chicken.  On another table there were homemade desserts that were a sight to behold.  Fresh Georgia peach cobblers, cake, cookies.  To top it off there was southern sweet tea.  As I was sitting and enjoying the absolutely delectable food, I got to thinking about casseroles.  A lot of recipes for casseroles were passed down for generations.  Much of the preparation for the casseroles was in the similar situation that we were in.  A funeral, a sick family member, a new baby, or just to give a blessing to others.  As we navigate through life let us contribute to the recipe of others.  Some people need some salt, others may need some sugar.  In Christianity, to be salt to others is to deliberately seek to influence the people in one’s life by showing them God’s love.  Our world is in need of more casseroles.  More folks like the church ladies who with a lovely smile invite perfect strangers to enjoy the fruits of their labor.  This not only tweaks the recipe that is working in the lives of others but yours as well.  I leave you all with the profound words of Mother Teresa: “Not all of us can do great things.  But we can do small things with great love.”

My books are on Amazon!

The Quacktastic Adventures of Ellie and Lord Barks a Lot

The Case of the Missing Moo Cow Bell

The Case of the Missing Bumbly Wumbly Bee

The Case of the Missing Wellies

The Case of the Missing Honk Honk

The Case of the Missing Ornaments

Clean it Up! Wash it Up!

Coming Soon!

Appalachian Allegory

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