Sunday, February 24, 2013

Our Mothering Hen

Today’s Gospel reading from Luke 13 has the Pharisees trying to convince Jesus to run away from Herod in fear.

But Jesus doesn’t give in to the “what ifs” because there is nothing that will stand in his way of heading towards Jerusalem.

Speaking of Jerusalem, Jesus laments:


"How often have I desired to gather your children together
as a hen gathers her brood under her wings,
and you were not willing!"

I took this photo and the following prayer

(which was based on the Lord’s Prayer) from a previous blog post

because it was just that good!


"Our Mothering Hen
Who art brooding over us
hallowed be thy sheltering wings.

Forgive our unwillingness to come into your embrace
And gather us in, reluctance and all.
Free us from fear of foxes
And the sharp bite
of anything that separates us from you.

Open our eyes
To the plenty around us.
Open our hearts
That our plenty be shared.

Lead us not into contention
But into the dance of connection.


For thine is the grace that wakes us each new day
And thine is the mercy that puts our souls at ease
And thine is the love that sets our hearts alight.

For ever and ever, amen."

Tammerie Day - posted at Day at a Glance



Tuesday, February 19, 2013

bless our journeys

This past weekend while attending a retreat
at St. Andrew’s House on the Hood Canal
I walked over to Harmony Hill and spent some time
within this exquisite seashell labyrinth.

And this morning I came across
this prayer from the Iona Community
which fits perfectly:
 
“Lord, bless the journeys we never planned to take,
but through your surprising wisdom
discovered we were on.”
-Peter Millar, "A Time to Mend"
 
 
Which of us could have predicted where our
journeys have taken us?
Sitting on bench in middle of labyrinth,
looking forward to the journey back.
 
plaque at entrance to shell labyrinth
“In memory of all those who have
walked this path"- The Ferrari Family

Friday, February 15, 2013

without story

 
 
“Without Story,

information is nothing

but a lot of bricks lying about

waiting for someone 

to make constructive use of them.”


- Aidan Chambers


our stories connect us.
stories bring us home.

Thursday, February 14, 2013

happy valenswine's day?

Happy Valentine’s Day.

Oh No!

You just remembered that you gave up all sweets for Lent?

Never fear!

There is always roses...


And even better...Bacon and Roses combined!

Does it get any better than this?



photo from here


Wednesday, February 13, 2013

Season of letting go


When I was a kid this was the appropriate facial expression

for the season of Lent. Somber, Dutiful, Suppressed.

After all, we deserved wrath for our wickedness.


But this is the beginning of the season of letting go.

Letting go of all that hinders us from being who we really are.

Letting go of all that is false – not true.

For we are loved and cherished by God who never ever stops

giving to us. Recalling that we are dust and to dust we

will someday return is not all gloom and doom

but a call to wake up. Our time is short.

Love one another with a holy love.



What will that look like on your face this season?