What to do when it's 100 degrees

 

What should you do when it is 100 degrees outside with 99% humidity?

Some suggestions:

Learn about the history of angels and ponder if you have a guardian angel or if perhaps you have encountered an angel. I listened to a talk given by the author of this book, Angels, Peter Stanford from St. Paul's Cathedral back in 2019, and was fascinated by the history of angels through time, how it has changed over time, and how they remain a very important aspect for many people. We often glaze over the angels as we read Scripture, yet they play an important role in so many stories from Scripture. I am gaining to newfound appreciation of the angels in all the stories and throughout history. As a bonus, there are many things discussed that mingles with Dante and his angels in The Divine Comedy (which I am also reading now, currently reading Purgatory). I love when readings overlap like that with complimentary studies.

Whatever you do, do not accept an elusive, vague invitation (especially if it arrives on a letter from someone you do not recognize offering a free holiday) to an isolated island off the coast of England unless you want to end up dead. In And Then There Were None, by Agatha Christie, that is what happens. Ten strangers are invited to a modern mansion on an island. None of them know who invited them, yet they all have something dark in their past (which you don't, so nothing to worry about). Not long after they all arrive, they start dying. Is the murderer one of them? This was a re-read for me, but it must have been late high school or early college when I first read it. It was so mysterious, intriguing, and creepy, and I loved it. I knew I would want to read it again. This is definitely one where you can collect clues on the way (kind of like "Clue") to try to figure out who the murderer is.

Investigate a murder when a young woman's body is found in the library. It seems like it would be a simple solution, right? Solve the puzzle in The Body in the Library. The murderer would have been part of the household under the assumptions of a simpleton, except nothing in the evidence points to that. Miss Marple is sent for immediately to help shed some light in this strange case, and in her elderly wisdom and keen sense of observation, she is able to see some particular facts that are the hinge to solving this murder. 

Find a cool dark place underground, discovering deep caves, strange caverns, long tunnels, and tree root networks. In Robert MacFarlane's wonderfully enjoyable book, Underland, he recounts his travels to various places around England, Paris, and northern spots of Norway and Greenland, diving into the dark places of the earth. Exploring glaciers, caves, rivers deep underground, and the catacombs of Paris. Along the way, his lyrical writing brings us along learning about how these underground realms were formed, why they are important, and the deep time look at what these places will be for us humans in the coming hundreds/thousands of years. His perspective spans time as we know it, and I love the interweaving of that.

Dante's Flower - Bright Summit of the Hill

 

I am climbing the path round and round the mountain known as purgatory with Dante, encountering the different results of sins along the way, passing through each one and coming out the other side, to remove the 'P' from Dante's forehead (or “peccatum”, Latin for sin or wound. Seven 'P's are placed on his forehead at the start of the journey upon reaching the gate). He begins to feel lighter as he becomes more and more who he was made to be. His true self is coming through as he spirals up and in, closer to the centre of the love of God. This is the most loved and least quoted book of Dante's Divine Comedy, and I am quickly seeing why, as it is becoming my favourite as well. 

This morn I left the abodes of misery
And still in my first life I journey thus,
Though journeying thus I gain the life to be.
- Canto VIII, Purgatory

Oh, the lifting of spirits feels close to my own as he rises up and away from those haunting sins that hold people in a gross embrace. He sees those trapped in it, until they choose for themselves to break out and away from the sin that entraps them, causing delay in their journey.

The guiding light leads Dante onwards, and when he lets his guide and Love lead him thus, he reaches new heights of easier load and faster feet.

Trusting more and more of the journey to God and His goodness represents itself along the way through angels and gatekeepers; he takes the route up and as a result of his trust, and he grows less and less worried and weary.

Dante grows himself, deeper and more aware of the road and the perils of sins, but also the beauty of what God has created for us creatures who fall so low into pits. He sees that he is - 

Safe on the flower-bright summit of the hill,

And further on, Dante has noticed that he feels lighter. An angel had brushed his forehead with his wings and a 'P' was removed. Dante asks Virgil how is it that he feels a lighter load, as something heavy has slipped away from him.

Virgil explains that a 'P' has been removed rubbed clean, and that shall continue as they move through it all and -

Then shall good-will so over-rule thy feet,
That they will climb, and not be merely strong
And uncomplaining, but delight in it.
- Canto XII, Purgatory

Can we possibly delight in the journey? The burden starts heavy, but as we get through it (it must be passed through), and come out, our lightened load gives us the encouragement to continue with a new sense of rigor. I take this to heart as I muse that perhaps some of this happens now. In this life journey we all have these intense trials to overcome, sins to battle and break through their grip, and the round and round feeling that becomes our climb everyday. Do we give up and succumb to the despairing grip of inward selfishness, or do we hope and dare to move through a very perilous mountain pass? Do we trust in the light of God leading ahead? He has gone before us, Christ's path is the one we follow in our climb. His very footprints we step into.

For better waters heading with the wind
My ship of genius now shakes out her sail,
And leaves that ocean of despair behind.
- Canto I, Purgatory

Summer Storm Survey

I am watching a storm roll in. The black clouds look distant, and yet close enough to touch if I stand outside and reach up. Thick and billowy, like plumes of heavy smoke frozen on the sky halfway between tree and atmosphere of space. The wind comes in waves, like rushes of crowds gathering, swooping by with a palpable anticipation. Thunder follows the crowd of winds with a clash of noise and then suddenly all is hushed and still.

But only for a moment. In a flash the trees animate as the winds get under their branches with a jolt. 

Sometimes I cannot tell if it's going to rain. We are caught in between the deep breath before the plunge. The anticipation grows. The storm is hanging aloft, yet it is moving. The thunder grows in sound and frequency, announcing itself. 

I am at my desk to survey the matter. A citizen keen to observe and let the atmosphere brandish all kinds of images and words to tuck away for some use. No good words go to waste with me. I will welcome them and let my afternoon spin with them as they swirl in the air. I will test the words a bit as the words test me in my evaluation study.

One cannot get close to words without learning some of their secrets, while you reveal some of your own to them. It all might emerge later as some complex tale of intrigue and mystery. Indeed, that would be worth your time to pursue.

I am still waiting for the rain to break through, but the thunder strides on.

Summer Days June - July

 

Begin again another month of solemn, sultry, summer days, amidst the ever-heat-filled hours and breaks of soaking rains. Yes, July encompasses all those things, as well as lazy days of such heat you dare not move a muscle. Hot food and drinks take the backburner, as we seek out more of the cold variety to ease our heat-burdens. Though, admittedly,  I simply cannot replace my morning cup of coffee with iced coffee nor my evening peppermint hot tea, so I am a very poor example of living the summer life.

July holds hands with June in that continuity of their presence. We none of us expect much difference from one month to the next, except maybe more storms to watch out for crossing that wide open sea path from Africa. The same kind of intense heat hovers around every nook and corner, and stepping outside risks the need for another shower. Though I am not one of them, most Floridians head to the coast to keep cool, bathing in the sea water and gathering sand into every bag and shoe as a souvenir.

When you are a child, this is all a marvel, and the anticipation of holiday and beach days is a thrill beyond imagining. I envy the child mentality of not caring at all about the summer heat - they will run and play without a care. Doesn't matter that their hair is sticking straight up and their arms and legs are covered in a new skin made of sand.

Even so, we can all learn a bit from the example they set without knowing, and be a little more carefree in the summer. Letting the heat force us to slow down and reimagine our summer days as a child and how adventurous or fun it was. Even if it was not adventurous in the way of travel. I was always home for summer since Dad worked more (lawn maintenance needs escalate when the grass grows an inch every time you blink), but I loved my long days at home being imaginative and creative in my own ways. My episodes of being bored forced me to come up with creative ways to curb that boredom. I believe it is one of the best gifts a child can have for summer. 

Occasionally the rain will come and stay all day. Oh what glorious weather and atmosphere! It is a gift I am thankful for, as I know there are places where a severe drought is so extreme they would do anything for such a soaking rain, and here we are getting the water falling freely from the sky most of the days and our grass, plants, and trees are green and lush.

Until the next cloudburst comes, go appreciate your sun-soaked summery day to the full.