We begin again.........

"SUNFLOWERS AREN'T ALWAYS YELLOW"
Mixed Media Acrylic Collage 18" x 36"

"Always we begin again"

- St. Benedict -

In art, in life, in Lent, it is as St. Benedict says - "Always we begin again."  I suspect he might have referred to my practice of living in God's world attempting to be decent to others, trying to leave an honest legacy of some kind, planning (again) to live a holy Lent, trying to remember the force, power and love of God are within me, and yet falling short even in these first few hours of Ash Wednesday!  

Perhaps the idea that my morning is spinning out of control; first with the rain (I've decided not to walk in it - even though training for race days that hold no promise of sunny weather are something I need to consider), even though my quick photography of completed artwork finds my photos lacking clarity (how can I ever put together a decent portfolio if I can't handle the camera settings?!), even though my short and simple task of posting this a.m. has turned a bit sour as the "preview" link does not want to cooperate with me, even though my creative time is fleeting and still I insist on trying more photos, writing more words............what trivial complaints I have and then I remember the words of St. Benedict from this a.m.'s first reading (I did do that right:)  in the Abbey of the Arts Lenten Journey.  "Always we begin again." I give hearty thanks that the phrase has come to my mind.  Now I'm off to practice it!

Do I take God for granted?

Image via Wikipedia

Reading a couple of emails from friends the last few days has set me to wondering - do I take God for granted?  

My personal question is prompted by the messages I've received regarding someone's attempt to endorse the validity of Holy Scripture, to once more - PROVE - that the Holy Bible is accurate in its stories of God's wonder and power.  I read the messages with some interest but mostly I read them out of respect for the sender's sincerity in sharing the words with me.  The messages prove nothing to me - they're just stories that someone has made up OR proven, OR tested that makes them "right" in some way in their own personal beliefs about "the" Word.

So, do I take God for granted?  Or maybe it's the word faith that I should insert in my question rather than the word God - do I take my faith for granted?  Perhaps I do in that I find it unimaginable that anyone could prove to me that there is a God or is NOT a God.  I BELIEVE in GOD - there's no changing my mind.  Without literally accepting the Bible's creation stories, I wholly believe in God's existence and creation.  I wholly believe in God's power to move in my life, to draw me to the wisdom portrayed in Jesus' life and teachings - again, not necessarily believing that every word I read in Holy Scripture was transcribed by a heavenly stenographer from God's lips into the quills of human scribes.  I love the story of Noah, yet I don't have to believe that Noah built the ark and left all mankind behind to die; yet, I understand a  message to me about the importance of exclusive worship, honor and dedication to my Creator.

I can believe in the story of Jesus' Mother, of his Divine Birth, of the hardness of the circumstances of his birth without believing that there was a little drummer boy present - I know, I know, the drummer boy is not in Holy Scripture.  But the details of three (not 4, not 2 but three) wise men, shepherds, angels - I don't need to know the details - in the Bible's written word - they are lovely, they speak to me of the preciousness of the gift of my Savior.  It matters not to me that the story is told again and again in different versions, in different languages, in different understandings.  The literalness is not a cause for me to prove someone else wrong if they choose to believe the exact words and argue with me that I'm wrong in NOT believing the exact words.

Taking for granted my faith in God is to say that when I pray (and when I don't) I believe God is always there, always ready, always loving, always coaxing me towards his love, resurrection, redemption; always giving me opportunities, encouragement and discouragement in the daily decisons I'm drawn to make.

So perhaps my question could be restated another way...........my faith is something I take for granted, in that I believe there is a Creator, a Receiver, a Giver, a Lover to whom I owe my existence, to whom I choose to worship and to whom I dedicate myself to a living relationship of honor, worship, praise and prayer. 

And you?  Do you need to believe that the Holy Bible is the inerrant text from God?  Do you need to believe that another's faith is weak if they do not believe in that inerrancy?  Well, in the same way I read the emails of inerrancy or proof out of respect for my friends, I appreciate your reading this post today out of respect for my beliefs and writings.  Thank you and may the God that we both share in our lives bless you, keep you, and continue to be there for you for all eternity! 

Soul Collage Sunday

A simple Soul Collage card spoke out to me this week as I sat in prayer and listening.  In the language and discipline of Soul Collage* - I asked "Who are you?"

I am the child, the Christ Child

I am God, I am the Trinity

I am the new child, Child of God

confident in my ability to breathe in 

all of life's mystery

I am naked, vulnerable, loved and

unafraid

I am the one who stretches, who

flexes, who climbs to absurd, unheard

of high places

I am the one who builds strength on

the gifts you have given me

I am intentional, purpose-filled,

holiness driven

I embrace the white bird, the Holy Spirit

The blue of baptism, of rebirth, of openness

Of the vast universe surrounding me

 

 

*Soul Collage - www.soulcollage.com

New Direction - New Ears?

Recently, I've had a bit of struggle with my prayer life, complaining or perhaps confessing to my "resident" priest, as well as to my Renovare spiritual pals that something feels different, dry, unrewarding.  It just hasn't felt right for a few weeks - the usual morning time, usual chair, usual devotional tools - not bringing up any connection with God - as though God is on vacation, having forgotten to send me a temporary address for correspondence!


I suspect, of course, that I'm the one missing the point during my sparse meditations;  I the one, who has a list of requests, a list of thanksgivings, some awareness of what a text is wanting me to know and I, the one, who has little time to listen.  A conclusion about my being the absent one and the one not listening has been brought home to me on several occasions since I began questioning my spiritual desert.


First, quite unexpectedly - spur of the moment sort of thing - I decided to drop in on an a.m. session of a Stewardship Day at my local parish - it was tailored for Vestry members and parish priests of our Episcopal Diocese and I don't fit into either of those categories.  My spouse was a participating speaker/priest in the a.m. and I'd not planned to attend his session as I was already familiar with his text and powerpoint........yet, decided to drop by anyway.  Turns out that I just happened to be there for the Priest presenter who spoke of stewardship in terms of prayer life - prayer life being the active words that caught my attention.  She espoused that prayer is a two way conversation - with an emphasis on two-way and on the listening aspects of prayer life.  I won't go through the specific notes that I took that a.m. but I did feel I had been called to hear her words regarding prayer - that they had been prepared specifically for my ears to hear.


Next, in a casual Renovare group discussion over a light summer meal (we don't meet weekly in the summer months), my friends upon hearing of my sudden dry place of prayer, suggested that perhaps God was leading me to a new place in my prayer life, or a new place in my life in general and that patience, not words might be a more comfortable demeanor for me to maintain for a while until I was ready to receive more specific direction.  I found those words comforting and logical thought for where I might be in what I considered my desert right now.   As our time together ended that evening, we set the next date for our regular meetings to resume and checked out the next chapter from our continuing study of Richard Foster's Devotional Classics.  The chapter to be studied that day is entitled:  Evelyn Underhill: What Do We Mean by Prayer?  It probably goes without saying that I was assigned to lead our reading discussion for that September 7 meeting!

This past weekend I attended a Women's Weekend at an Episcopal church camp set on a beautiful lake shore site, surrounded by tall gently moving trees and glorious not too hot/not too cold August temperatures.  My sister and I were teamed together to present two sessions of Soul Collage for those  campers who felt inclined to participate in such activity.  Along with facilitating, I put together several small collages of my own and as we were all gathered together again and asked to report on how and what our collage cards had to say - do you need to guess - my cards spoke emphatically to me of prayer, praise, and thanksgiving.  Listening yet?  I was beginning to really listen.


Prior to Sunday a.m.'s Eucharist service, I took time to walk the camp labyrinth - a meaningful, thought filled, prayerful walk to center myself on the moment and upon the upcoming worship.
Lastly, with a full measure of emotional prayerfulness for the weekend of rest and recreation, I entered as fully as possible into the Eucharist service - it was beautiful!  As I prepared to leave the room, reaching for various prayerbooks, songbooks, and the random reading that had been left in the randomly-selected chair in which I sat for the service, I read with interest the following:  "The parting with what was can feel like a bittersweet pause at a crossroads, an urgent summons into alien territory, or even the ultimate surrender of crucifixion.  You are being separated from that which is no longer needed."  Wow, interesting huh?

Indeed my prayer life may be changing, right along with the changes in me as a woman, spouse, writer, artist, and maturing Christian in a sometimes confusing and complicated world but the changes are not losses, rather than the changes are gains and are ways that my human life and my prayer life in their ever-changing forms, transformations so to speak, are natural and O.K.  I'm not sure what human or spiritual form my prayers will present themselves as in the near future, but I am relatively certain that having been called to listen, that my new ears will find a way to listen themselves out of the prayer desert that I've been baking in this summer.


And you, does all of this listening rhetoric sound foreign to you?  Do you occasionally feel called to a new way of praying, to listening, to living your spiritual life, as well as your physical life, with intention?  For your sake, I hope so - change is not always a particularly comfortable place to wake up in but it is refreshing to find that I can still listen, still question, and that there will be an answer even if it's not immediately clear what that answer or direction is.

Sacred Life Sunday

Reading from the Episcopal Lectionary pages yesterday my eyes and mind paused and tried to absorb  these verses - seemingly a nice cap to my week of blogging about choices and changes:

Ecclesiastes 5: 19-20

Likewise all to whom God gives wealth and possessions and whom he enables to enjoy them, and to accept their lot and find enjoyment in their toil - this is the gift of God.  

For they will scarcely brood over the days of their lives, because God keeps them occupied with the joy of their hearts.

Choicing and changing, how can I avoid the undeniable gift of joy and free will, the opportunity to use my mind and physical being to care for others, to love those I would not love, to revel in the unimaginable beauty of this island home human creation calls earth?  How can I refuse to make the choices that will lengthen my life and the life of others, how can I refuse to live with no thought for the future of my great great grandchildren?  How can I deny for a single moment that God has given me the most wonderful gift of all - my life?

Choices and changes - may we all pay attention to those that we are called to make this day.  Amen

Subjects for Choices and Changes

Image by robinsan via Flickr

Spirituality - Active pursuit.....this spring I chose to engage in two outreach E-Courses offered by Abbey of the Arts.  The first walked me through the days of Lent with daily Bible verses and inspirational readings for reflection.  The second course took me through, what I consider a somewhat neglected season, that of the actual Easter season from Easter day up to the Day of Pentecost.  Both courses were choices I made to increase my spiritual connection with God and I was not disappointed. 

Although I try to engage in daily worship and a connection with my spirituality as a created being, I find participation in something unique from my weekly worship habits to be rejuvenating and enriching.  Abbey of the Arts is filled with opportunities throughout the year to pull one's little bell chain with new ideas:)  Having made these choices and changes for myself, I recommend The Abbey anytime you need an inspirational moment of reassurance, challenge, and/or change.

Books, more books - If you're a regular reader here, you'll be familiar with the choice coming up - a selection made while visiting The Sacred Gardens of Maui; I have cited this book's content and its quotes here at the MINDSIEVE often.  The book is Way of the Winding Path and I'll just say when I purchased it, I thought to myself, "do I really need another book about how to walk the labyrinth?" and the answer to myself was, "oh, go ahead."  Very good advice I gave myself.  I'm second time reading this great little primer for life - another choice that has given me the opportunity to make those small changes, almost unintelligible details that make day in and day out life so sweet as a child of God.  Chapter 3 entitled Appreciate the Journey is headed by this Jack Kornfield, quote - "As you walk and eat and travel, be where you are.  Otherwise you will miss most of your life."  How cool is that?!   I think you can order this book online......it's by Eve Eschner Hogan.

Soul Collage - am I a broken record?  If you haven't had an opportunity to participate in a Soul Collage Workshop, I can't recommend it enough.  I'd never heard of it either until my sister began using it in her counseling practice as a one on one tool, as well as then setting up a monthly workshop opportunity for her Seattle friends and contacts - a fun opportunity fellowship,  creativity and a peak at what's on one's, perhaps unaware, mind.  I was lucky enough to host a workshop here in Walla Walla and have used my collage cards in meditation and reflection many times since pasting down my first images.  Another great choice for me and a golden opportunity for reflection and realized change.

Exercise - I've been a proponent of exercise for a long time.  I actually enjoy the activity which is not the case for all my friends and family.  But exercise change is essential for it to continue to work for your body's well-being.  Having recently taken to the road to enlist my legs in the sport of jogging/walking/running - my style would be classified as all three together for the time being, working toward a running stride......eventually:)  This a.m. hearing the rain again, I donned a cap and water resistant jacket over my duds with my endorphins saying, yeah, you go girl and whatever the opposite of the endorphins saying, o.k., o.k. - we can get wet!  The change of heartbeat, mood, and deep breathing paved the road to a smooth yoga class at 9:30.  Choosing exercise - need I say more, it'll change anyone's life!

The posts this week, they're all about me aren't they?  Well not really, because what I want them to be is all about you and the fact that you have choices and changes that may be sitting around waiting to happen in your life too.  I'm getting such a high from the places my choices and changes are taking me and I want you to feel that bliss also.  So think about it a minute - you don't have to tell me - but isn't there something just ready to burst from you, a choice you haven't but can make, a change that you would embrace wholeheartedly?  If you want to share......

Soul Collage Card by Sunrise Sister
Photo via wikipedia - Red banners heralding the Day of Pentecost celebration

Called To Focus

Image by pittigliani2005 via Flickr

Psalm 4:6-8

There are many who say, "O that we might see some good!

Let the light of your face shine on us, O Lord!

You have put gladness in my heart

more than when their wine and grain abound.

I will both lie down and sleep in peace;

for you alone, O Lord, make me lie down in safety.

 (The New Oxford Annotated Bible)

I say as many do - alas, would that 

I see more good in this world....

Would that I see or would that I focus?

In my waking, working, wandering hours today

would that I focus on the brightness of your creation.

In sharp contrast, my blurry vision in remission;

Only the good drawn to with my mind 

is present.

From dawn 'til dusk my soul has rejoiced

At darkness, I tumble into bed and peaceful rest

Grateful for your call to focus.

(Sunrise Sister) 

Psalm 4:6-8

Why is everyone hungry for more? 

"More, more," they say. "More, more."

I have God's more-than-enough,

More joy in one ordinary day

Than they got in all their shopping sprees.  

At day's end, I'm ready for sound sleep,

For you, God, have put my life back together.

(The Message - Eugene Peterson)

Photo Credit Wikipedia - labeled Psalm 37 - not a reflection of this text today but such a beautiful image, I clicked it:)  As I checked the words of P37, my eyes landed on appropriate words for today's portion of Psalms I selected - "Refrain from anger, and forsake wrath. Do not fret - it leads only to evil."

Teach Me

Psalm 25:4 Make me to know your ways, O Lord:

teach me your paths.

(The New Oxford Annotated Bible)

Teach Me - Let Me Know

As oft as the hour, the minutes, the seconds

As number the pebbles under my feet

 As the sun sparks the warmth of the past spring day 

As the spring warm breeze summons my senses

As many times as the beat of my heart

Teach me, show me, let me know

Psalm 25:4  Show me how you work, God; 

School me in your ways. 

 (The Message/Eugene Peterson)

Weather forecast

From Christine Valter Paintner's beautiful new book, "water, wind, earth and fire - The Christian Practice of Praying with the Elements" - a quote from St. Francis of Assisi, as well as a quote from Theophilus of Antioch below*........

All praise be Yours, my God, through Brothers Wind and Air, 

And fair and stormy, all the weather's moods,

By which You cherish all that you have made.

-St. Francis

I've just begun reading "water, wind, earth & fire" and it fills me with refreshing, and spiritually fulfilling notions about how the world around us is created and full of the God's presence.  I trust that by reading on I will appreciate the chilly wind and rain that is briskly denuding some of the tree blossoms that arrived early in anticipation of what?..... the Resurrection - must have - why else would those trees have given up their bounty so early? I digress - or do I?

I do yearn for blue skies, spring's warm breezes, and the end of a snowfall possibility anywhere in the forecast.  Often, it seems, my yearnings are fulfilled and the actual progress of spring proceeds as usual - it's too early, the bulbs begin to pop too soon, the trees give forth their most magnificent blooming way too generously and then it turns chilly again.  Is the forecast too good, too soon and why do I allow myself to skeptically predict this won't last, this won't last!  When will I learn to just enjoy what is, keep my winter jacket in the coat closet and rejoice without skepticism with the good fortune and blessing of spring's too early gifting to us all.  

Enjoy your day, no matter what the weather - it's spring!!

*Author Eloi Leclerc's book "The Canticle of Creatures: Symbols of Union" writing of the freedom and detachment of St. Francis's words of praise for Brother Wind:  All its moods!  In fact, for Francis there is no such thing as bad weather any longer......the context of the wind is a world open and exposed and swept by a force that will not let you rest and carries you further and further, a force voice.  It is the breath of God that you breathe- and you are unaware of it. - Theophilus of Antioch"

Holy Wednesday Reading

Holy Wednesday was started in a very comfortable way - and that was with a solid night's sleep preceding its dawning.  Amazing how the body craves and sometimes even demands something as basic as rest to clear one's head and heart for the day ahead!

It's now midday here and I spent the balance of the a.m., aside from my yoga class, in reading and reflection.  My readings today rather sum up this season of Lent for me, so far, as an eclectic journey  commencing with Ash Wednesday in Maui with lots of personal time for reading, reflection, and writing, through days back home active with an online Lenten Study from Abbey of the Arts, volunteer work at the YWCA, the Carnegie Board of Trustees, and mentoring; medical checkups, spiritual formation study, catching up at lunches and on long walks with friends, Bible study classes, and physical body workouts.  Some days I found scripture speaking directly at me and to me, other days more secular reading grabbed my attention in unexpected ways.  I've taken on an assignment from a Life Coach and observed my own behavior in myriad ways......an eclectic month interwoven into the journey through Lent.

And now this Holy Week and Wednesday to be specific, I've been prompted by various readings and resolutions to continue this up and down/higgeldy-piggeldy journey through until Easter morn.    Reminded by Thomas Merton "That Christ and angels walk among us, everywhere" - and more Merton - "Jesus saw that all things were good, and He did not enjoy them.  He saw that all things were beautiful and He did not want them.  His love is not like ours.  His love is unpossessive.  His love is pure because it needs nothing."  And by bloggers - friend Bruno's reflection re "They will know we are Christians", Barbara's post about "What Makes us Brothers and Sisters" - Christine Kane's secular post, but to an observing eye and reflective heart, not necessarily so secular, entitled The Nine Skills Every Woman Should Master.  And for VERY good measure, I visited The Country Parson today and read an extraordinarily mind-provoking post regarding "Reciprocity and Atonement."

For the rest of the day - I'll have to see what happens.  At 5:30 I'll be in St. Paul's again celebrating the eucharist with fellow Christians, some of whom I may suspect find this homestretch into Lent, one of challenge, relief, and expectation.  At 7:00 p.m., I'll be around a table with yet another group studying what Hebrews has to say to each of us and once more, I anticipate hearing questions and answers regarding the final days of this year's Lenten journey.

If you have a minute, I hope you'll check out some of the readings that I did today and if you're a participant in the celebration of Lent and Easter, I'd love to hear where you'll be for the next few days.

SS Collage - "A Look Within"

What could be heavy about Holy?

Image via Wikipedia

Holy Week - sounds nice doesn't it?  I mean what could be heavy about holy?  I seem to forget each year what a heavy week is that, which we call Holy Week.  

Seems simple enough, visit church for a short time each day, think of my sins, think of the imminent death of the founder of my faith, participate in life with other worshipers who have been asked to share just a part of what their life with Jesus means to them, participate in Holy Communion, pray, remember those dead and dying, those in sorrow, need sickness or any other adversity, those held captive by enemies, those held captive from their own crimes, victims of war,.....my mind drifts to the terrorists in Moscow killing innocent commuters, the arrest of a group claiming to be a "Christian militia group" - what does THAT mean - a "Christian" militia group - I must have the distasteful sensation that every devout Muslim has when someone calls a group "a Muslim terrorist group"............come back mind to the prayer book!  There's a LOT to  ponder during this HOLY Week!

So tonight, only the second day of this week, I feel spent from a day of emotional highs and lows.  This a.m. the celebration of a friend's birthday with laughter, age jokes, stories of our kids, spouses, our childhood memories - some fond, some not so - the joy and sadness of lives attempting to be led with love, understanding, and compassion for others.  Later today the news of a friend's death,  news of successful surgery for a young boy, news of an upcoming surgery for a church friend, and the weather turning dark and cold today on top of the profusion of tulips, jonquils, and flowering trees that dress so many yards and street corners welcoming spring.

Yes, it's Holy Week.  I said to a blogger friend yesterday, this week is for me a week of hope.  Hope of the resurrection.  Hope of changed lives and loves.  Hope of peace and salvation.  And tonight, selfishly, just a simple prayer for an early lights out into a peaceful night.

Words from my Lenten journey

"Pilgrims are persons in motion - passing through territories not their own - seeking something we might call completion, or perhaps clarity will do as well, a goal which only the spirit's compass points the way."  - Richard Niebuhr, Pilgrims and Pioneers

Today as I sat quietly to pray and ponder, I read a couple of pages in *Eve Eschner Hogan's small book, entitled Way of the Winding Path: A Map for the Labyrinth of Life; it's where I came across the Niebuhr quote that stopped me to think about his words -

 

 Person in Motion

Person in motion, spirit-filled and joyful with the gift of creativity

 Knowing that what one thinks or creates matters in and of itself

Not necessarily of what others think or project on to one's art that matters  

Unique empowering feeling that thought brings

Even if one only tends to summon it upon occasion   

The Spirit's Compass

Where will the spirit's compass take me

To mingle with whom - perhaps angels or ancestors

Eager to show me the life-giving, well-trodden path

To wholeness of my own spirit mingled with that of the Holy

Where will the essence of the two spirits join

In prayer, in a stranger's eyes, at the easel

Where will I catch my breath

and know that my essence, my wholeness is Yours?

*More about Eve Eschner Hogan may be found at: The Sacred Gardens of Maui

Remembering the Desert Fathers and Mothers

Image via Wikipedia

Their cells darker than night

No beams of light, stars nor even the moon

Eyes squeezed tightly against the void,

Risking the chance of sleep rather than facing the exhausting persistence of their unknown internal, external, and eternal demons

God merciful, loving and weary of the darkness

spilled galaxies of light upon eyes seeking rest or deliverance from the blackness

The full moon illuminating for them sure and certain knowledge of their Eternal Creator's generosity

Cells transformed from initial doubt, panic and despair to promise

The ultimate recognition of their own shallow, tentative breathing in the dark

being the tiny human thread connected to eternity and the absolute breath of God their Redeemer

3/6/10 - Quiet Day Reflection re Desert Fathers & Mothers and their cell lives (as in dwelling - not as in their Iphones)

Cornerstone - the Christ

Home in the elements of nature - spring mosses, dashing sleet, stormy nights

Block of stone, enduring, hidden, unearthed, unturned

Discovered then as though pried from its foundation of granite, paraded heralded in honor

Choice to surrender, rage to call out

A plea for rescue 

The Stone - silently acquiescent 

Could not the Mountain have prevailed

Come down on the masons zealously selecting, then discarding, that which they considered theirs

The Mountain - silently acquiescent 

The Stone was moved yet remained unmoved 

Profound in its makeup - deceiving in its compliancy

Yielding, knowing of its power to balance the world, the universe, its destiny as Cornerstone

Matthew 21:42  Jesus said to them, "Have you never read in the scriptures; 'The stone that the builders rejected has become the cornerstone; this was the Lord's doing, and it is amazing in our eyes'?

A Great Cloud of Witnesses

Yesterday, lectio divina drew me to an unexpected verse.  It came from my John Baillie book of prayers; a daily book that has been in my a.m. worship since late 2007.  This was the phrase  (not new but unexpectedly fresh) from Baillie's prayer -

".....an ever-present remembrance of the great traditions wherein I stand and the great cloud of witnesses which at all times surround me."

It was the last full day of our rest and restoration in Maui and as I felt the fresh ocean breeze through our open lanai doors, heard the surf and the birds greeting the sun of the day, my thoughts flew to the rich culture and native ancestry of the Hawaiian Islands.  Surely the DNA of Maui's ancestors is still present from the times they sat on this mountain side - then a deserted place of beauty with worshipers akin to me savoring their gods' creation. 

The landscape, of course, has changed.  The hilltop is no longer forested with solely indigenous plants, nor visited by tiny red and yellow birds - the birds of color almost extinct now, the hilltop dotted with a multitude of condos inhabited by modern "worshipers" perhaps involved more in idol-like worship than in praise and thanksgiving for this beautiful island.  I honored the ancient spirits in prayer for their courage and perseverance in finding and settling this place, and for both theirs and my worship of the awesomely beautiful creation washing over our souls; I also gave thanks for their presence in my personal prayer time.

Do you have physical sites in your life that bring awareness of the great cloud of witnesses to the forefront of your heart and mind?  Maybe even as you close your eyes and pray for their support you feel them now?  I'd love to hear about your special places..........

Photos Sunrise Sister - #1. Overlook at Honolua Bay #2.  Maui Blue Sky:)

Create in me

Psalm 51:3-14

Psalm 51:3-14 is a lament of one's sins to a fierce, anger-filled, guilt-spewing God.  My mind could not absorb the fear and trembling that the writer expressed in the lament.  Like a laser, Verse 10* became the focus of my worship yesterday in the a.m. and during the day. 

By avoiding the groveling to assuage anger from the wrath-filled, vengeful god, portrayed in the psalmist's eyes, do I deny responsibility as a child of God or do I recognize and acknowledge my sins?  I don't think I deny anything; my sins disappoint me, I know they must disappoint my creator.  Sins cannot be recalled, no do-overs - I've erred and I'll continue to fight against being a repeat offender - sometimes I'll meet that challenge - sometimes I'll not.  I'll pray for forgiveness but in the meantime I believe that VERSE 10 and its action in my life will propel me a long way toward living the life of a beloved and redeemed sinner, child of God; farther than crying to God over sins I cannot wipe away.

 

*Psalm 51:10 - Create in me a clean heart, O God, and put a new and right spirit within me

Teach me to pray

Participating in a lenten journey with Abbey of the Arts, yesterday Christine encouraged us in the practice of lectio divina to use the Lord's Prayer as a starting point, considering it perhaps as a new place in our lives.  I prayed with it for a very short time in the a.m. and thought about it during the day.  Last night as I awakened for a time, I found words forming; perhaps a way to pray that prayer today.  This a.m. reconstructing the words that I've known since a child into the words of my prayer of the night......

Gracious Creator

Who lives in my time and always

Blessed be your existence and awesomeness

May I show your power in my life

May I use your strength to love all of your children

while my human life continues on this globe

Love shown as it is in your eternal space and time

Let me recognize with heart and mind all you gift me with today

Please forgive me when, through selfishness, I stray from your love

as I forgive those who seem to have sleighted me

Walk with me avoiding the dark and evil corners of my life

When I err, I ask that you lend me your hand in order that I may best be rescued in not an easy but a certain way

For you God are my creator and lover of my soul

You hold all eternity in your hand

You alone have created all beauty, all love, all human, plant and animal beings 

I glorify your name for these blessings

For all time and eternity

May it be so!

Any gold at your house?

One day in the last few after an hour of beachcombing,  the gorgeous rainbow  I've included here (yes, we did get a little wet on the beach from the rain) appeared; my spouse noted that the rainbow had hit smack-dab in the middle of a condo right down from ours.  He wondered aloud if those folks could see their place as the pot or when they looked out or would they see the end of the rainbow at someone else's front door?

Mightn't that be the way of our everyday lives; seeing the rainbow and pot of gold at someone else's door and not seeing that its presence surrounds our own selves; i.e., the neighbors have all the luck, I've never won anything, they seem to be blessed with good fortune, good health, great jobs, good hair - only kidding about the good hair - but you get the point.

I think taking a real look every day for the treasure in my life, I'll find that the pot of gold does reside in my house and in the houses of my neighbors and in the whole lives of all creatures great and small that've been given water to drink, air to breathe, resources for survival.  I think discovery and enjoyment of hidden treasures might be as simple as practicing daily scripture reading, prayer, and reflection, even inhaling and exhaling those huge bellows' breaths that many of us  practice in  our yoga classes.  Those moments are rich with sharing, with life, with faith that says I'm living in a pot of gold.

How about you - any gold at your house these days?  No, your fool's gold doesn't count - I mean real gold!

P.S. The words below were the 3rd verse of a hymn we sung yesterday at the installation of a new Rector's service and the inclusion of a growing Maui parish into full parishhood of the Episcopal Church in Hawaii. Congratulations to Holy Innocents of Maui......

Gospel Hymn "I Sing the Almighty Power of God, V3.   "There's not a plant or flower below but makes thy glories known; and clouds arise, and tempests blow, by order from thy throne; while all that borrows life from thee is ever in thy care, and everywhere that I could be, thou, God, art present there."
Words: Isaac Watts (1674-1748)

Photo Sunrise Sister - Maui Rainbow

Sacred Life Sunday

I like and related so much to the quote below that I absolutely lifted it from blogger Maureen at "Writing without Paper" I hope you'll read the quote then visit her site by clicking on the link's title below -

Thought for the Day: Lent's Challenges

Lent as a holy season challenges you to aspire to be as Godlike as possible in forgiving and loving. We've all heard how the average person actualizes very little of his or her potential mental powers; the same is true of our spiritual potential. Lent as a holy season challenges you to reach for that potential, to aspire toward the greatness of soul that comes from cultivating virtues 
like justice, mercy, and love.

~ Edward Hays

Photo Sunrise Sister - I'ao Valley Maui

 

Remembering yesterday's ashes

Even now says the Lord, return to me with your whole heart, with fasting, and weeping and mourning;

Rend your hearts, not your garments, and return to the Lord your God. 

Joel 2:12-13

So, Lord, I will return with my whole heart

But, I mean, these ashes on my forehead, can't I just clean up a little?

Is everyone going to be wearing ashes or just me?

I know I've sinned a little, some, all right, a bunch -

but what if I'm the only one that admits it and they all pretend they're perfect?

Oh, I see.  I can wash my face and everyone else can too,

You'll know whose face is dirty and why.........I guess I knew that.

Photo - Holy Innocents Church/Lahaina - Ash Wednesday 2009