Sandra Heska King

daring to open doors

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Still Saturday: The Unfurling

May 25, 2012 By Sandra Heska King

A day filled with noise and voices can be a day of silence, if the noises become for us the echo of the presence of God, if the voices are, for us, messages and solicitations of God. When we speak of ourselves and are filled with ourselves, we leave silence behind. When we repeat the intimate words of God that he has left within us, our silence remains intact. ~Catherine de Hueck Doherty

May your heart unfurl in the echo and fragrance of His presence,

Welcome to Still Saturday where we pause after a busy week, move in quiet pilgrimage, maybe linger a while in some still place, and soak in the beauty of images and words. We’d love for you to join us. Get the details above, grab your favorite button, and link up below. We all like to hear if something especially speaks to your heart, but please don’t feel pressured to comment. Simply take some time to gaze long and drink deep.

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Filed Under: stories and reflections

Comments

  1. S. Etole says

    May 25, 2012 at 11:47 pm

    That is one powerful quote! Your photos have me hoping my peonies will soon unfurl.

    • Sandra says

      May 25, 2012 at 11:50 pm

      I watched this one bloom–but they are all popping now. The white ones anyway. The pink ones will follow. Love the fragrance!

  2. Kathy Schwanke says

    May 26, 2012 at 12:43 am

    Stunning photos Sandy!!!
    I love the quote. Will linger over that one in the morning. 🙂
    Thanks for this. It is very enjoyable to be “low key” on the weekend!
    Jesus bless your weekend!

  3. Carol J. Garvin says

    May 26, 2012 at 1:13 am

    Peonies are spectacular and this series of unfurling is wonderful, Sandy! I have three plants — a white, pink and deep rose — but ours aren’t anywhere near that stage yet… still small, tight buds. I love the quote. Wishing you the blessing of His silence and fragrance this weekend.

    I’ll be back to link up in the morning.

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:49 pm

      I said I had pink, but maybe they are really deep rose. Thise always open later. Praying the blessing of stillness and sweet fragrance right back to you.

  4. patsy says

    May 26, 2012 at 3:12 am

    Unfurling makes my breath catch in my throat! Patsy

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:47 pm

      🙂

  5. Patricia @ Pollywog Creek says

    May 26, 2012 at 7:35 am

    Beautiful photos, Sandy…LOVE the unfurling…the opening to praise! And that quote…one I need to chew on for a while.

    I’ll come back and link to my SS post when I get it up…soon…I hope.

    Have a beautiful Saturday, beautiful Sandy. xox

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:46 pm

      Love you, friend. Can’t wait to learn more about your conference week.

  6. kd sullivan says

    May 26, 2012 at 7:43 am

    I love peonies. I have my first blooms this week. I just planted the bush in fall, so I am excited to see His beauty unfold before my eyes!

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:45 pm

      Exciting! That’s how I felt with my rose bush. 🙂

  7. Jen says

    May 26, 2012 at 8:20 am

    I think about this slow opening. And I wonder if I could implement this unfurling no matter what the day holds. May I always go at His pace instead of my own.

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:42 pm

      I’m with you there, friend. Just resting on the stem, come rain or come shine.

  8. Shelly Miller says

    May 26, 2012 at 8:44 am

    Beautiful words, beautiful photos. Had some fun with that peony didn’t you? And I am listening to the voices of stillness today, on my way to Charleston for some adventure. Have a great weekend friend!

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:40 pm

      I did have fun watching it bloom. Enjoy your adventure. And have a wonderful weekend.

  9. Lyli@3dLessons4Life says

    May 26, 2012 at 9:26 am

    What a beautiful post! Love the quote and the amazing pictures. 🙂

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:39 pm

      Thanks, Lyli. I get so excited when I stumble across something that speaks to stillness.

  10. Jean Wise says

    May 26, 2012 at 9:27 am

    Love how you did this post. My peonies are full too. love this!

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:38 pm

      Thanks, Jean. My white ones always come first. Then the pink. Thank you. Have a beautiful weekend with some silent pockets.

  11. JoAnne Potter says

    May 26, 2012 at 9:43 am

    “A day filled with noise and voices can be a day of silence, if the noises become for us the echo of the presence of God, if the voices are, for us, messages and solicitations of God. ” Oh, my, yes. You gave words to a deep feeling. Think I’m going to follow. Thank you.

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:36 pm

      Welcome, JoAnne. I’m glad this spoke to you today. Joy to you.

  12. Michelle DeRusha says

    May 26, 2012 at 10:11 am

    Peonies have come and gone here…I miss their lush scent filling my house. That last photo of yours reminds me of a Kelly Sauer!

    Blessings to you on this holiday weekend, Sandy…

  13. Jennifer@GDWJ says

    May 26, 2012 at 10:23 am

    So pretty! And like Michelle, I saw the “Kelly Effect.” Well done.

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:34 pm

      The Kelly Effect! What a compliment. 🙂

  14. laura says

    May 26, 2012 at 10:57 am

    We watched a different sort of unfurling this week. And it was as you say–God in the noisy chaos. Lovely, Sandy. Happy Pentecost, my friend.

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:32 pm

      I’m so far behind in my reading, Laura. I need to get over to your place and learn more about your unfurling. Xoxo

  15. Martha Orlando says

    May 26, 2012 at 11:56 am

    This post was a blessing to me today. Thanks so much for sharing the lovely photos and reflection.
    Blessings!

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:31 pm

      I’m so glad, Martha. It was fun to pay attention to the progress of a single bloom.

  16. Linda says

    May 26, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    What beautiful words Sandy. And the pictures – absolutely exquisite.
    Have a blessed weekend sweet friend.

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:30 pm

      Thanks, Linda. And you, too.

  17. Ellen Grace Olinger says

    May 26, 2012 at 2:26 pm

    Beautiful photos and quote. The peonies will bloom soon here by Lake Michigan in Wisconsin.

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:29 pm

      I love the fragrance. My grandfather used to have bunches of them.

  18. Lynn Mosher says

    May 26, 2012 at 3:09 pm

    Beautiful, Sandra! Just beautiful!

    • Sandra says

      May 26, 2012 at 3:28 pm

      Thanks, Lynn. 🙂

  19. Patricia Spreng says

    May 26, 2012 at 7:15 pm

    sending hugs your way for bringing us all together! Have a beautiful weekend Sandy!

    • Sandra says

      May 31, 2012 at 10:05 pm

      I’m just so in awe of the love and beauty and serenity in these posts. They make my day, and I bask in them all week.

  20. Shari @ Leaving A Legacy says

    May 26, 2012 at 8:41 pm

    I loved how you captured the flower in this picture. Beautiful!

    Blessings~
    Shari

    • Sandra says

      May 31, 2012 at 10:06 pm

      Thanks, Shari. I hope you’ve had an awesome week.

  21. diana says

    May 26, 2012 at 9:12 pm

    Just gorgeous, Sandy. Thank you. All you who grow peonies speak of their fragrance. Here in CA, we only buy peonies – and they have no fragrance. Someday, I’d like to see them growing and discover that scent for myself.

    • Sandra says

      May 31, 2012 at 10:01 pm

      I can’t imagine a peony without fragrance. If I understand correctly, the fragrance draws ants that assist in the blossom opening. But then Christmas trees don’t seem to have the scent they used to when I was a kid–even when we cut them ourselves.

  22. Dawn says

    May 27, 2012 at 8:32 am

    LOVE THESE. Wow, these pics make me want to capture better pics and Praise the Creator!! Amazing!

    • Sandra says

      May 31, 2012 at 10:05 pm

      Yes, He’s amazing!

  23. Laurie Collett says

    May 27, 2012 at 1:10 pm

    These photos are breathtakingly beautiful — remind me of the peony beds we had in PA where I grew up. Only God knows how to unfurl a flower from bud to full bloom.

    • Sandra says

      May 31, 2012 at 10:06 pm

      Oh, amen to that.

  24. Michelle Ortega says

    May 27, 2012 at 3:23 pm

    That last photo is stunning. So you think that’s how God sees us, and we would see ourselves if we just let go and unfurled? Blessings this weekend!

    • Sandra says

      May 31, 2012 at 10:07 pm

      What a beautiful thought, Michelle. As I said to Diana above, I understand it’s the ants that are needed to break into the bud to stimulate the unfurling. Maybe we need more ants in our lives. 😉

  25. Joanne Norton says

    May 27, 2012 at 4:59 pm

    Neat blossoming stage… moving forward and forward and becoming more and more beautiful. Hopefully, we can do the same by relying on our Blossoming Loving Lord.

    • Sandra says

      May 31, 2012 at 10:08 pm

      Stage by stage, season by season, beauty to beauty. Yes.

  26. Heidi19 says

    May 28, 2012 at 10:44 pm

    Great post Sandra! Absolutely inspiring group of photos, well shot and i love the quote. Thanks for sharing this with us and i’m looking forward to read more from you.

    • Sandra says

      May 31, 2012 at 10:09 pm

      Thanks so much, Heidi.

  27. Born27 says

    May 30, 2012 at 2:56 am

    I love the quote Sandra and these are all great and beautiful photos. Thanks you so much for sharing this.

    • Sandra says

      May 31, 2012 at 10:09 pm

      Thanks so much.

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I’ve gotten several messages asking if things we I’ve gotten several messages asking if things were okay. Yes. I’ve recovered after 3 weeks in Covid jail. Also, I’ve been a bit scarce on social cuz we’ve been finishing up house renovations, and there is SO much that now needs to be cleaned and stuff put away. Also, we’ve had the second oldest grand with us for two weeks. I “should have” at least shared some stories about our adventures, but we’ve relished the time and kept busy. One can’t leave South Florida without a gator encounter, though, right? Tomorrow the two of us fly back to Michigan, and then I will spend a week with my sister where I expect I will be put to work in the chicken house and the gardens and become a glad(iola) roadside proprietor for a day at the Four Star in while she and my BIL attend a family reunion. I’ll also get to see my dad in the nursing home and spend a couple nights with my daughter. D will hold down the fort here. Then maybe by the first of next month, I’ll be able to finish putting things in order, breathe, find some writing space and get back to normal. Whatever that is.
I tossed and turned all night. And then the storm I tossed and turned all night. And then the storm started. I finally got up about 5ish and sat outside to watch. Until a couple mosquitoes found me. Also, the jasmine hadn’t gone to bed yet and smelled heavenly.
Sunday evening. That is all. Sunday evening. That is all.
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I had to look up “elide.” It’s not a typo. 😊
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Sara goes on to write, “The structure of this book is that of a piece of music. The poems are to be read in order…”
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No way could anyone ever convince me that this world in all its beauty and creativity and mysteries is here by accident.
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