Friday, March 1, 2024
Lamb of God
Wednesday, November 1, 2023
For All the Saints
Who Thee by faith
Thy name, O Jesus,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Thou, Lord, their Captain
Thou, in the darkness drear,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
We feebly struggle,
Yet all are one in Thee,
Alleluia, Alleluia!
The saints triumphant
The King of Glory
Alleluia, Alleluia!
Through gates of pearl
in praise of Father,
Alleluia, Alleluia! --William Walsham How, 1864
Friday, September 1, 2023
Blessed September
Wednesday, March 1, 2023
Consider*
Wednesday, February 1, 2023
Winter in All Our Lives
a chill and darkness that makes us yearn
for days that have gone
or put our hope in days yet to be.
Father God, you created seasons for a purpose.
Spring is full of expectation
buds breaking
frosts abating and an awakening
of creation before the first days of summer.
Now the sun gives warmth
and comfort to our lives
reviving aching joints
bringing colour, new life
and crops to fruiting.
Autumn gives nature space
to lean back, relax and enjoy the fruits of its labour
mellow colours in sky and landscape
as the earth prepares to rest.
Then winter, cold and bare as nature takes stock
rests, unwinds, sleeps until the time is right.
An endless cycle
and yet a perfect model.
We need a winter in our lives
a time of rest, a time to stand still
a time to reacquaint ourselves
with the faith in which we live.
It is only then that we can draw strength
from the one in whom we are rooted
take time to grow and rise through the darkness
into the warm glow of your springtime
to blossom and flourish
bring colour and vitality into this world
your garden.
Thank you Father
for the seasons of our lives.
- Author Unknown
Sunday, January 1, 2023
Songs of Thankfulness & Praise
Tuesday, November 1, 2022
Thanksgiving of Another Sort
Saturday, October 1, 2022
Mountain Lore
Tuesday, February 1, 2022
To a Beautiful Child*
Friday, October 1, 2021
Birds' Nests
"Temptations, of course, cannot be avoided. But because we cannot keep birds from flying over our heads, there is no need that we should let them build a nest in our hair." -- Martin Luther's Large Catechism, "Explanation of the Sixth Petition" ("Lead us not into temptation.")
Thursday, July 1, 2021
Fourth of July, 2021
This year's July post takes a departure from the typical, American look at the 4th of July. If you wish to seek those out, please see the link to the "summer" label at left. Or look for July listings in most previous years.
I will link this one post featuring beautiful places in the U.S.
Wednesday, April 7, 2021
Posh Hopkins
Here is Prince Charles reading Gerard Manley Hopkins' second most famous poem, "God's Grandeur."
"God's Grandeur" Prince Charles 2021 Easter Message
Here is the text for this poem, with explanatory notes, from an earlier post in this blog:
This is not a strong "resurrection poem"; Hopkins did write some Easter specific poems. If you click the "Easter" link, you will pull some up. But at least it does mention "the Holy Ghost." At one time, Charles seemed to be drifting away from Christian-specific matters, but that does not seem to be the case anymore.
I imagine Charles chose this, partly, because of the environmental theme. I also wonder if, as Prince of Wales, he did it for the Welsh connection. Hopkins was an English Jesuit priest, but his most favorite place of serving was Wales. He learned some Welsh. (For a poetry day event several years ago, the Prince of Wales read a poem by the Welsh poet, Dylan Thomas.)
Just for "fun", here is a poem I wrote as a "riff" off of a line in "God's Grandeur."
Friday, October 2, 2020
Volunteering
During this COVID time, we are limiting our travelling and exposure. We did take some time to do some socially distanced, responsible volunteer painting. (My husband held the ladder while I got up into the pinnacle!)
Thursday, June 25, 2020
You Have Searched Me
(Psalm 139:1-10; 14. An original translation.)
Yahweh, You searched me;
Thus You know me.
My sitting down and my rising up You know.
My disposition You discern from a distance.
My path and lying down you sort out,
And my entire way You make useful.
A word is not yet formed on my tongue,
And, yet You, O Yahweh, already know it.
Behind me and in front of me You close me in,
And upon me have You placed the palm of Your Hand.
Too wonderful for me is this Knowledge!
She is high: I cannot reach her!
Where could I go from Your Spirit?
And where might I flee from Your Face?
Were I to ascend to the skies,
You would be there.
And were I to make my bed in the depths of the earth,
Indeed, You would be there.
Were I to rise on the wings of the dawn
And were I to dwell at the edge of the sea,
Even there your Hand would hold and guide me,
And your strength would sustain me. . .
I praise You,
For I am fearfully and wonderfully made;
Your works are wonderful,
How rightly I realize this!
Sunday, March 1, 2020
The Bone that Has No Marrow
Posting this for Lent, though it does not have specifically Lenten language. Lent, besides reflecting on our personal sinfulness, is often a time of renewal, of seeking a new path. This poem hints at the need to do that, lest we flounder with no good purpose.
#127
What Ultimate for that?
It is not fit for Table
For Beggar or for Cat.
A Bone has obligations —
A Being has the same —
A Marrowless Assembly
Is culpabler than shame.*
But how shall finished Creatures
A function fresh obtain?
Old Nicodemus’ Phantom
Confronting us again**!
*A bone without marrow leaves nothing for a creature to eat. A bone without marrow cannot fulfill its obligations of holding up the body. A person who similarly can't hold up their obligations is shameful.
**The poet asks how creatures (people) without this structure can remake themselves. She revisits John chapter 3 where Jesus tells Nicodemus that a person must be "reborn" of the Spirit to enter the Kingdom of God. Nicodemus is puzzled. Jesus says the Holy Spirit has to do the transforming. Sometimes John chapter 3 is read during Lent.
Sunday, September 1, 2019
Light Shining Out of Darkness
Judge not the Lord by feeble sense
But trust Him for His grace.
Behind a frowning providence*
He hides a smiling face.
*Lutherans would likely not express themselves in terms of a "frowning providence." God is merciful, even when we cannot see it. The problem is we cannot see it. Part of it is the sorrows and troubles of living in a broken world. God does not automatically intervene at every turn. In addition, there are the blinders we have, such as Cowper's tendency towards depression (see below).
Gerard Manley Hopkins, also a poet of faith, also featured on this blog, once spoke of a heaven made of bronze, off of which his prayers bounced. He was in circumstances that drained him and had that same sensation, though at some level, he always knew God loved him.
Wikipedia: William Cowper
The Olney Hymns (Blair, Bob)