Plant a Tree...Save the Earth!

Arbor Day always brings back memories of the spring afternoon when our son, Matt, then about 6, decided to save the earth...all by himself.

I was out in the yard when he came tripping off the bus and up the driveway, backpack bouncing, shoes untied, struggling with a huge bundle of 'sticks' that was nearly as big as he was.

He and his classmates had learned about the benefits of planting trees and each were given a 'stick' (seedling) to plant at home. For some reason, many of the kids left the doors of school and chucked their 'sticks' as they ran to the bus or to their bikes. Upon seeing this, Matt positioned himself and began piling the abandoned seedlings. More kids passed by and added their sticks to his pile.

When I asked about the bundle he was toting, Matt told me how he was going to make the air better for us to breathe...."Trees suck up all the bad stuff in the air...." (Translation: Trees absorb carbon dioxide.)

Without being told, he changed his clothes, found a good shovel and began his task. He was on a mission! I didn't pay much attention but this little project kept him occupied for a long time. He finally came to the house for supper, red-cheeked and dirty...and all smiles!

After supper he proudly took me by the hand to show off his little plot. He had planted all his seedlings in the woods near our house. Oops, one problem. He had put them only a few inches apart! (Matt's compact reforestation project)

We sat down on the steps, had a popsicle and a little visit about how planting trees was like planting corn......and how it was different. In the end, he allowed me to help him transplant some of his precious seedlings to other places around the yard.

Twenty-seven years later here are some of Matt's treasures...

If every American family planted just one tree, the amount of CO2 in the atmosphere would be reduced by one billion pounds annually.

Plant a tree....save the earth!

One Foundation.......Volume 2

I just have a 'thing' for churches! I like visiting them, exploring them and taking pictures of them. I hope to feature some of those we visit during our weekly wanderings.

United Methodist Church

This week, we didn't travel too far from home to enjoy fellowship and a good meal. Our wanderings took us to the United Methodist Church in Villard. Although the church is 127 years old, its members are enjoying their new building, dedicated last summer. It stands proudly across the street from a building that previously housed the congregation.

Clearly, new life has come to this congregation.

After the meal, I left the church's large gathering area and I took my little walk-about, ending up in the sanctuary. As I approached the front I could see an inlaid wooden cross fitting like a giant puzzle into the wood floor beneath the altar. It was beautiful! Turns out that a local craftsman was responsible for the amazing work of art. A member told me that the young man did most of the work by the light of a kerosene lantern as the sanctuary hadn't yet been wired with electricity. I could just picture this young man, on his knees, consentrating on the details of fitting, measuring and cutting the small individual pieces of teakwood in the intricut pattern until, at last, the final piece was tapped into its place.

I see him stepping back, looking at what he had done, and saying to himself, "It is finished."

Holy Humor

At our church last Sunday, we celebrated "Holy Humor Sunday." People wore funny hats, team jerseys and lots of different garb. I didn't participate in the dress-up part but enjoyed the day and took some pictures. But it wasn't until today that I saw first hand God's sense of humor. Let me tell you about it.

It's my birthday today! And I started the day like I start every day...with a shower. And, as usual, I had a talk with God in the shower. (No, he's not in the shower...he sits right outside the shower curtain on the toilet.)

Anyway, on THIS day, I told him what my dreams were for the next year..what I wanted to do...what I wanted to achieve...where I wanted to be in a year...you know, that kind of stuff. I remember mentioning that I'd like to lose the pounds that I've gathered over winter..."I'm going to need your help with that," I said.

The girls at the office gave me a nice little birthday party, complete with sugar free Cool Whip! Mmmmmm! I had the rest of the day off so I headed home. I turned into our mile-long driveway and my 'little plastic car with the paper roof' quit...it died! Not a murmur nor a groan. There was no convincing it back to life. . . believe me, I tried. I even slapped the dashboard...no ducks! Battery was good, full tank of gas...no logical explanation what so ever!

I pondered what to do. Please understand, I could live in my car for a week with no problems. I've got blankets, clothes, treats and lots more. But today when I looked in the back seat, the first thing I saw was my tennis shoes! And I laughed. Yup, God does have a weight loss plan for me. It involves walking...and probably other things too, like sugar free Cool Whip! Of course I thanked him for answering my prayer...and told him how funny he is!

Anyway, I strapped on my walking shoes to begin the long trip up the driveway. I had a hard time deciding what, if anything, to take with me. I ended up taking my purse....and the sugar free Cool Whip. (Just in case I felt a little faint at the half mile point!)

Yup, I believe it. God has a great sense of humor...and a plan!

More Than Optimism...

"Who plants a seed beneath the sod and waits to see, believes in God..."

One Foundation

I just have a 'thing' for churches! I like visiting them, exploring them and taking pictures of them. I hope to feature some of those we visit during our weekly wanderings.

South Lake Johanna Lutheran Church

This quaint wooden structure and its surrounding cemetery are nestled peacefully in an oak woods along County Road 37 in Pope County. Although there was still snow all around the day we visited, it was a beautiful day for a walk. So after we finished a wonderful turkey dinner (and Paul continued visiting, of course), my camera and I took a little walk into the sanctuary, around the grounds and down the lane and I chatted with some of the members as I toured.

Words came to mind during my 'walk about'... natural splendor, simple truth and humble beauty.

On my tour, I learned that the congregation was formed 150 years ago and the first structure lasted 56 years before a fire destroyed it. But the faithful folks of the area found the funds to replace it in 1942. And so it stands today as a sign of the faith, determination and priorities of the people who knew the importance of coming together for regular worship experiences.

As I walked up the hill away from the church, I spied this little 'watch duck,' sitting atop a large wooden fence post, keeping a broken eye on the church in the valley.

Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth where rust and moth corrupt or where thieves break in and steal but lay up treasures in heaven where moth and rust does not corrupt and thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is there will your heart be also.
Matthew 6:19-21

A Tasty Cup of Kindness

Last week as I was exploring downtown St. Paul, I found the most unique little restaurant called the "Q Kindness Cafe."

It was 2 in the afternoon. I was weary and tired so I wondered into the cheerful little place and was greeted by a man standing behind the counter who explained that they were closing but that I could have something simple like a pastry or something. I ordered a coffee and a homemade oatmeal raisen cookie to go. After I got my treats, he said, "You know, we'll be around here cleaning up for a while if you'd like to sit down." My feet were hurting from all the walking so I accepted his offer and took a seat on a stool at the bar. They offered me a newspaper...it's free with every purchase.


As I sat there, I asked a couple questions about the name of the cafe and it's origin. The waitress, who turned out to be Lisa the owner, began to tell the story which she had undoubtedly told a million times. As she spoke she wiped counters, swept the floor and absolutely glowed with such an infectious smile and zest for life that I couldn't help but want to know more. It seems that she and her husband started this cafe to serve good food and lots of kindness.

At the Q, they believe in handing out random acts of kindness ....and they do it all the time. Somehow, it always seems to come back to them in some way, shape or form. As we visited, a teenage girl ran in and asked Lisa a question. "We'd love it," Lisa said. And just like that, the girl began to sing...and wow, could she sing!

There's a hero, if you look inside your heart,

You don't have to be afraid of what you are,

There's an answer, If you reach into your soul,

And the sorrow that you know will melt away...

The sound of two people clapping brought a smile to the young girl's face and she sang another song before she went running out the door to get back to class. Lisa explained that there's a charter school for the arts that is housed upstairs from the Q and kids from there drop by all the time to share their talents...and a little kindness.

Up near the counter, there's a large roulette wheel of kindness. All around the wheel, there are names of things you can buy at the cafe. . . a muffin, a cookie, a cup of coffee, etc. and some spaces have things to do written on them --acts of kindness. You spin the wheel and pay for or do whatever it lands on. The agreement is that if you pay for something, the next person to come in and order that item will get it free and you will have performed a random act of kindness. You will probably never know whose day you brightened or how they felt but Lisa assures me that there's a special joy that goes with having given unselfishly of yourself to someone else. "I've seen grown men moved to tears when some kind person pays for their cup of coffee," said Lisa. "It's just heartwarming."

Lisa's a big fan of paying it forward. You know, it's true...when I return a favor, only two people are involved but when I turn around and do something for another person, that's how this whole kindness thing spreads!

Check out their Website: http://www.qkindness.com/
or become a 'fan' on Facebook: The Q Kindness Cafe.
Lisa is always posting new ways to spread a little joy.

I enjoyed my visit to the little cafe, tucked into the center of the big city. As I left, I saw the little bowl of kindness quotes by the door. I picked one up and it said, "Kindness is infectious...pass it on. And I will!

At the Q Kindness Cafe, the 'Q' stands for 'Quality' ...and 'Kindness' is always on the menu.

It's RAK Week!

February 14 - 20 is Random Acts of Kindness (RAK) Week. Did you know that?

I've always liked the spirit of giving without expecting anything in return...no praise...no refund....no acknowledgement...so I decided to see if I could find ways to celebrate RAK Week this year.

Of course there's a Random Acts of Kindness Website (actsofkindness.org). As I read different ways to observe this RAK Week, I decided that, at least in the small town I'm from, there's a lot of RAKing going on day-to-day --it's really not such a rare thing. And of course we claim 'Minnesota Nice' as a virtue.

So, my immediate mission will be to spread some kindness and take note of others doing the same. So, here are a few RAKs I've spotted so far:

*****
I walked from the dentist's office to the coffee shop and saw an older woman doing the "Minnesota shuffle" across a huge patch of ice, guiding herself with a cane. A young person came up from behind and offered her arm in assistance. I could tell that they didn't know each other, yet the two of them continued across the slippery spot, arm-in-arm. A few words were shared and they parted.

*****
I spotted a 'chunk-kicker.' A young man was trying in vain to remove a huge chunk of ice/snow that had built up in the wheel well of his small vehicle. A big, rather burly guy made a bee-line across the sidewalk, gave it one crack with his steel-toed work boots and the chunk fell like a rock to the pavement. They exchanged a laugh, a handshake and each went on his way.

*****
Visiting the local grocery story after work, I stood in the checkout line behind a child who was purchasing a gallon of milk...and a candy bar. When the cashier said the total amount due, the child was a few coins short, probably because of tax on the candy bar. The cashier looked at the wide-eyed child, reached in his own pocket and made up the difference. The boy thanked the cashier who then said, "You're welcome...now enjoy that candy bar, ya hear?"

*****
It took me a while to get into the mode of actually finding ways to spread a little kindness but watching others has given me some new ideas. The acts of kindness I noticed were simple. It's about making a difference, one kind act at a time!

Okay...your turn. Start noticing random acts of kindness in your workplace, community or home. I know you'll be moved to share a little more kindness of your own. Let me know how it goes.