True to his nature, God has graced me with several sunsets that are true depictions of the term, “breathtaking.” The craggy cliffs of Mendocino, the crystal white beaches of Grand Cayman, and the majestic oceans of Kauai have all been postcard-perfect settings for the closing moments of day.

But this time, the location was anything but exotic. In fact, the sun spread its departing glory from one end of the horizon to the other, as we stood in awe - - in the very unexotic parking lot of H.E.B. No majestic mountains to frame its beauty. No roaring ocean to announce its arrival. Just your typical suburban noise pollution - - horns honking, carts banging, car trunks slamming. Yet in the midst of the mundane, a plume of cloud stretched up and over, like a rainbow’s arch. Directly over our heads, cotton ball clouds flanked the giant plume. The entire sky was streaked with indescribable colors, proclaiming the end of an otherwise, very ordinary day.

I was so grateful my husband was with me, and even more grateful that he was as awestruck as I. We leaned against the car together, aware but unconcerned that the Blue Bell was melting in our cart. Awestruck, we stood speechless in the presence of the Sacred.

The next day, in my alone time with God, I was still amazed by the entire experience of the previous evening. After thanking him again and again, he spoke to me in the way only God speaks. If I had to put it in human words, it would be, “That was just as valuable to me as any effort you’ve ever made to please me.”

I’ve learned so much by pondering his words. Daily quiet times are an effort on my part. I am the “doer,” and God is the receiver. Or so it seems. The same can be said of attending church, Bible studies, service projects, etc. But the sunset was his effort, and I was the receiver. I am deceived when I think my “doing” is more valuable to God than appreciating his “doing.” Maybe he’s not as impressed with my spiritual disciplines as I assume he is!

We think that what we “do” racks up more God-points than simply being present. We’re all about working, pleasing, and earning. He’s all about being, seeing, and enjoying. Since the sunset experience had nothing to do with any effort on my part, it couldn’t possibly “count” as much, could it? Ahhh, what a tangled web we weave!

Why do we pray, read the Bible, or attend church? Isn’t it for a sense of connectedness? To feel his presence? To know his heart? To experience oneness with him? That is certainly my intention. Yet standing in the noisy parking lot of H.E.B. without a Bible or a prayer list, I was more connected to God and to my husband than any other time I can remember.

If the goal is to truly connect with our Maker, does it really matter how or where that connection takes place? Better yet, does it matter who actually puts forth the effort – God or I?

St. Peter’s Basilica is holy ground when Handel’s Messiah resonates through its core. So is my favorite chair, as I sip a cup of Earl Grey and close my eyes to be still and know. And perhaps even more astounding, the asphalt H.E.B. parking lot is holy ground when a glorious sun slowly sinks into the horizon……… and two people stop to notice.

We broke out of our normal routine, which seemed appropriate for the day. I let her lead. She could sniff whatever she wanted, explore wherever she chose, and blaze a new trail, if that made her happy.

For the most part, it was great. I just wasn’t expecting her to discover a lake. Nor was I expecting her response to it. With the vigor of a child entering Toys-R-Us, she took off running, with me on the other end of the leash, holding on by my fingernails. I could’ve stopped her. I weigh more. Surely I would be justified in calling things to a halt, right? She’d had her time of independence and exploration. I had even let her lead, for heaven’s sake. Besides, my upholstery had just been Armor-All’d, and I didn’t have a towel, and the banks of the lake were really muddy, and maybe there were even snakes in it, and…blah, blah, blah.

I let go of the leash and cheered her on as she dived into the water. It was pure elation. She splashed, looked back at me, splashed some more, went for a swim, then plopped herself down on the muddy bank, with the look of a self-satisfied Olympian. It was quite a day. One I won’t let slip from my memory for a long time.

Sometimes, reflecting back on something makes it even more valuable than living it. Its significance somehow increases with our pondering. We suddenly realize its “unordinariness,” though it seemed meaningless when we were living it. Thanks to Marcus Borg and the Fifth Century Celtic Christians, I’ve learned such experiences could be called “thin places.” A thin place is where the veil between heaven and earth momentarily lifts, and we behold God. It’s anywhere are hearts are opened, and we experience “the earth filled with the glory of God.”

Watching Lady swim was a thin place for me today. I saw that I’ve mellowed lately, and it’s not just because I’m getting older. It’s because God is helping me let go of so many things I thought I could never part with. Today, I saw that I have let go of my own leash. A leash God never put on me. A set of restrictions he never intended. A list of limitations that defies the purpose of Jesus’ life. So why did I live so long on an unnecessary chain? Because it was safe. It was predictable. And it was very familiar.

But my leash is gone now. Just as letting go of Lady’s leash allowed her to dive, explore, venture, and experience, I’ve been liberated to dance around some new banks of water myself. Some have been muddy, and some have been clean. But all have been a necessary part of my freedom.

At the end of our beautiful-day-in-Houston celebration, I had a huge mess to clean up. Muddy paw prints all over the car, a puddle of water on the floorboard, slobber on the dashboard. But it was so worth it for one thing - the look of joy on Lady’s face. It’s engraved on my mind. I can’t help but think that my response is not too disimilar from God’s when he sees us checking things out, searching for truth, and totally experiencing life.

And the messy consequences of our explorations? Ah well, if we’ve truly broken free from the leash, I think we can leave even that to God.

INGREDIENTS FOR PASTA:
2 T evoo
1 med. onion, chopped
3 LR clovos garlic, chopped
1 - 16 oz. can Italian Plum Tomatoes, chopped - juices reserved (I found these at Fiesta)
2 tsp. dried basil, crumbled
2 tsp. dried oregano, crumbled
1 14 oz. artichoke hearts
1/4 c. dry white wine (+2T)
Fresh chopped Italian Parsley
12 oz. linguine, freshly cooked
1 1/2 c. grated parm cheese

CAESAR SALADS:
Dressing:
1 oil pkd anchovy filet, finely chopped
3 T grated parm cheese (packed)
2 T mayo
2 tsp fresh lemon juice
1/2 tsp Dijon mustard
1 sm. garlic clove
1/4 tsp. Worchestshire sauce
1/4 c. evoo

(using back of spoon, mash anchovy to a puree in small bowl, whick in all ingred except evoo., combine comopletely then drizzle in evoo until incorportaed. Can be made 1 day ahead)

Homemaid croutons:
3 T evoo
2 cloves garlic peeled & flattened
cubed sour dough bread (crustless)

Heat evoo over med heat, add onion, garlic & saute 5 min til softened, add tom (keep juice) add spices, and simmer til thickens, about 8 minutes, add artichokes & wine cook addtl 2 - 5 minutes, add pasta & 1/2 parm. cheese to sauce. Toss til heated through, season with s & p.
Transfer to serving bowl & top with rest of parm cheese.

Prepare chicken by coating with s & p and evoo.
lightly dust with parm cheese. Heat pan with evoo - sear chicken each side 3 - 4 minutes - adding adtl wine & parsley during last 2 minutes. Toss chicken into pasta just prior to placing in serving bowl.

Combine 1st 4 ingredients - bring to a boil, reduce heat & simmer 5 min- combine vinegar & corn starch in small bowl add to pan bring back to boil - cooking 1 min. stirring constantly. Let stand 5 min.
Thread skewers (make sure to soak skewers in h2o for ab. 30 min before using)- alternating ingredients brush with oil sprinkle with salt.
Prepare grill and spray with cooking spray.
place kebabs on grill start cooking and baste with glaze after 2 - 3 minutes. Turn & brush glaze over again. Repeat til glaze is soaked through & chicken has cooked.

LEMON COUSCOUS
Preboxed Cous Cous
2 T lemon rind
2 - 3 T chopped cilantro
1/4 c. evoo
5 - 6 diced green onions
Make couscous according to box -
as soon as it has soaked up all the h2o - dump into large serving dish - drizzle with evoo & mix in other ingredients - add s & p to taste.
this was served with sauteed summer squash & zuccini which had been sauteed in evoo, lemon juice, s & p and red onions.

Croutons
2 T buter
24 1/4 in thick baguette slices bread
1 c. grated Gruyere cheese
1 t minced fresh thyme
1 t minced sage fresh

Saute onion in butter add garlic & basil warm through - add rest of ingred. heat cooking 30 min on low.
Process in blender adding back to pan when complete whisk in heavy cream - bring to heavy simmer - serve with croutons:
Butter bread broil ab. 1 min - turn over & sprinkle with cheese thyme & sage & s & P , broil til cheese melts -serve on top of soup.

Grapefruit & Avocado Salad
Slice fresh Grapefruit trying to discard any pith
Slice Avocados
Clean stems from fresh baby spinach leaves
using s & P in bottom over serving bowl - smash 2 cloves garlic well, add greens & toss picking up al garlic mix with newmans own italian dresin add grapefruit & avocado

Blue Cheese & Walnut
Using bags of mixed salad greens simply add blue cheese & crushed walnuts - mixing with a popy seed dressing

Roasted Red Pepper Puree - -
1 c. choped drained roasted red pepper from jar
(I combined 1c. regular w/ 1/2 c. fire roasted)
1 T evoo
2 cloves garlic - chopped
1/4 tsp crushed red pepper flakes
(Process til smooth add s&P - keeps in fridge 1 day - serve at room temp)

Saute onions in evoo ab 10-12 min. add garlic, saute 1 min. add squash then add broth - bring to boil, reduce heat & cover ab 40 min.
Working in batches - puree soup til smooth, returning to pt once all blended. Add 1 tsp thyme & orange peel. If want thinner soup ad more broth - simmer and serve - top with RPP & sprinkle with thyme (also nicely presented when you add a spoon of RPP & sour cream & swirl on top of soup)
For ease in prep - I roasted squash rubbed down with evoo, s & p filled cavities with onions & garlic & sprigs fresh thyme - roasted in 400 oven about 20 min - sure makes peeling & chopping much easier)

Cook bacon - til crisp (reserve for topping)
Using ab. 1/4 c. drippings - add butter onion, bell peppers - saute apz. 10 min til soft & translucent, add flour cook 2 min add broth, squash, pot & thyme - cook 12 min. add corn, cream & bell peppers - simmer about 10 min. (can stop & chill here overnight - just bring to a simmer when ready to continue) add chicken, green onions, 1/2 c. cilantro & simmer 7 min.
Season with S & P - serve with cilantro bacon & sour cream

Boil first 5 ingred stirring constantly. Remove from heat & add apples - warm throughoughly in mixture. Pour into 8×8 pan. Combine next 4 ingred mix well.Combine milk & butter add to dry mix & spoon over apples mixture. Bake 375 for 40 minutes. (6 - 8 servings)