August 5, 2026
Rev. Kate Winters
Hummingbird chatter and the flapping of wings of all kinds encircle me. It is an active morning in the garden. If I wasn’t sitting in the screen tent, I’d have to be ducking the zooming little hummers as they chase each other toward and away from the sugar water. Just now, a song sparrow nearly collides with one of these flying torpedoes. It’s a traffic danger zone out here.
The sun is gaining strength and we are in for a few hot days. Hot for the coast of Maine anyway, on either side of ninety. A purple finch splashes in one of Joel’s birdbaths while the water is still cool. In a few hours, I’ll have to retreat inside where the blessings come not in feathers, but in heat pumps. I am beginning to appreciate the summer, now that I have a way to retreat from the heat and humidity.
As a pileated woodpecker flies overhead, I give thanks for all this life around me as I’ve been having a few rough years. People have assumed its because of all my hospitalizations and surgeries, three in three years. That may be part of it, but thanks to Joel’s loving care I’ve dealt with those pretty well. Leaving The First Church in Belfast after nearly two decades was not easy, so much of my life’s energy and love were spent there. But honestly, I was ready for a slower pace. Fortunately, I could bring the favorite part of my ministry with me – Joel and I continue preach and lead services when requested around the state. We still make a lively team, and in this challenging time in our country, I am grateful that I can still have a voice.
The difficulty has been about not really having a focus for my life. My first thought was to do research through life stories on the spiritual formation and development of elders. And yes, that idea still engages me, but without a plan or structure, or way to engage the population, I seem to flounder. Now, I know I could create all this, but I also admit I fear getting in over my head. I so love these quiet mornings with my avian friends. Do I really want to become a public person again? At this point, no one is looking for or trying to contact me. What peace! When I was very young, my most joyful moments were spent sitting alone where I spent summers on a stone outcropping in the woods next to the babbling brook just breathing in the spirit. Solitude has always fed my peace and helped me to feel at home.
My childhood dream in Brooklyn was to grow up to become a nun. Part of it was about my love for God, but I think I was most attracted to the idea of a semi-cloistered life. I would have my simple room, my books, my desk and bed, hopefully a window, and as much silence as I wanted. I could pray, read, think, and study, to my heart’s content. I didn’t feel guilty about that then as I often do now.
Of course, if I cloistered myself now, it would have to be with Joel. He would probably never be home, he is invested and involved in so many things. All in all, we balance each other out well. A question, have any of you written a “rule of life” for yourself? If so, would you share it? I think that needs to be the next step on this journey of mine.
Dwelling in Presence 