Cardamomo

Well, I'm still here. And today would've been our 62nd wedding anniversary. Jud and I were married May 31, 1963 in the chapel of the First Baptist Church in Greensboro, North Carolina. Sounds long ago, but doesn't feel so far. And today Chad and his family are in New Orleans to celebrate the wedding of his friend, Dave Bandrowski. Love lives on.

So what's with the title, Cardamomo? Well, it's the Spanish word for the cardamom pod that spices up the best rolls one can eat, especially if you have some Scandinavian genes. It's in some dishes from India, that I've tasted, as well as some chai.

But when I see cardamomo, it's a reminder of the name the Grands call me, "Momo." So, since I'm 70% Norwegian, 25% Swedish, it's as good a moniker as I could wish for: Cardamomo. And I think of my friend, Julie, who informed me of its Spanish name, after they visited Costa Rica. Then Heather, thoughtful daughter, brought some cardamom to me from her travels to India with Para and Kristina. Oh, and Peter Bayreuther, Alumni Relations at Gordon College, gifted me with some cardamom buns Thursday. Yummy treats delivered by precious people.

While cardamom's a spice, it feels like life's gotten too spicy. Tariffs and threats pepper us with angst, fear, uncertainty, which can feed hatred and distrust. Too many feel disenfranchised, discombobulated, disgusted, disoriented, deceived or denied basic rights.

Written and spoken words come salted with hate, distrust, discord or mean-spirited jabs. It's a time of moral relapse in speech and actions by too many in power. and within our culture. And too much kowtowing to appease or feign loyalty for favors, by some, who clutch power like a lifepreserver. They hope to preserve life as they like living it. Even if it makes life hard or impossible for others.

Well, if you're still reading, I'm grateful, if not surprised. So how to combat these anxious times? For me, it's those habits of the heart: reading the Bible and other devotional books, praying, singing, and choosing to be still, attempting to listen to God and nature.

But connecting face to face matters for emotional, physical and spiritual health. So I choose to be involved at church, participate in small groups, book clubs, and to spend time with family and friends. It's easier sometimes to stay home. But it's not best. And it's tempting to just tune out. But it's dangerous to get so used to evil being done here and abroad that we withdraw, wearied or overwhelmed by words, threats and broken promises. And I, like some of you, try to hold representatives accountable for their votes. And, it's important to remember that boredom, isolation, hedging bets, kowtowing , and ignorance can be lethal for you ], me, our world and The Church.

Just reread the above and thought, " You sound a lot holier than you are!" Somebody's going to think AI wrote this. So what else do I do? I play wordle(so does the new Pope), do Spelling Bee, read the Boston Globe and books. Watch movies and Jeopardy. Cut out cartoons from the Globe to send to my family who barely tolerate, much less appreciate, my sense of humor.

And then there's email, or writing letters the old fashioned way, to connect with friends, family and some who need encouragement. Oh, and I yell at the Red Sox when they bobble a routine play. or leave bases loaded. So sports help me deal with some of my anger over what's going on in this world. But, for sure, I still hunt humor. Gotta laugh. And, for me, Chris is my primary source for printable and unprintable laughter.

Sample these recent truths wrapped in a laugh, smile or, for some, eyerolls:

1. "Parenting turns you into a morning person, the same way being chased by a bear turns you into a runner."

2. "I went to an aerobics class the other day. I stretched, bounced about, fell over a few times, it was agony...By the time I actually got my leotard on--the class was over."

3." Not everyone was born to cook. I personally was born to hold conversations with someone who's cooking. Know your strengths."

Which isn't bad advice in times like these: Know your strengths. I'm still learning what mine are. But for sure, "God is my refuge and strength, always ready to help in times of trouble. So I will not fear..." (Psalm 46:1-2b, NLT) Sometimes fear's a choice. So I combat fear by singing hymns like, Great is Thy Faithfulnes, written in 1923 by a Methodist minister, Thomas Chisholm. If you research 1923, you learn the world needed then, like we need today, God's faithful provision of, "Strength for today and bright hope for tomorrow..."

But, if you're not into hymns, there's also the lift and gift of a cardamom bun.

You can trust me on that one. They don't call me Cardamomo for nothing.

Oh, in case you did the math and wonder what the 5% is that's unaccounted for in my DNA. I'm 5% Irish. Those Vikings got around.

Me, too. I'm going to Norway in June.