prefer truth

It's ironic that my last post from August says "be here now" and yet I've been everywhere but here! 

As life unfolds I'm willing to go where Spirit leads. 

Today she led me to the blog and this photo of Morse Creek in Port Angeles, WA. 

I discovered the quote in Richard Rohr's Immortal Diamond.

May your path lead you to truth. 

 

 

 

 

"Christ likes us to prefer truth to himself,

because before being Christ, he is truth.

If one turns aside from him to go toward the truth,

one will not go far before falling into his arms.

 

- Simone Weil, Waiting for God

Moving On...

I have internet!  Finally!  I love my ipad and iphone but I'm most comfortable with my desktop computer. I enjoy the feel of the keys (instead of a screen) under my fingers. 

 

 









The past month has been all about moving out of our home.  As you can see from the photos all traces of our life have been removed. Such a long process deciding what to keep, what to toss, what to sell and what to give away.   But as I took that final walkthrough, I could almost feel the house aching from the change.  After all, it was built to contain our belongings, to protect our family, and to be a shelter for our stories.  As we move on our house is waiting for its second inhabitants....and it will be comforted by living into its purpose - to be a home.....As for us?  We too look forward to stepping over the next threshold....May we remain open to the possibilities before us....

"We look with uncertainty

Beyond the old choices for

Clear-cut answers

To a softer, more permeable aliveness

Which is every moment

At the brink of death;

For something new is being born in us

If we but let it.

 

We stand at a new doorway,

Awaiting that which comes...

Daring to be human creatures,

Vulnerable to the beauty of existence.

Learning to love."

 

- Anne Hillman

Chilean Magnificat

I wish I knew where this art came from.

I discovered it on Pinterest and it’s

presently my favorite “Lady of Guadalupe” image.

Then to discover a Chilean woman’s interpretation of

Mary’s Magnificat? Turned out to be a fine pairing.

 Magnificat

“With pride and dignity I sing my song of joy

when I feel the Lord’s presence;

I am poor and very ordinary,

but one day the Lord looked upon me

And the history of the poor will give witness to my joy.

God is unfettered and unpredictable,

He is called our great friend.

And throughout our history He has favored those of us

who are weak.

His triumphant force shows itself each day

when He exposes the foolishness of the powerful.

He uncovers the feet of clay of those in power,

and nourishes the yearning of the poor.

To those who come hungry He gives bread and wine.

And to the wealthy He exposes their selfishness

and the emptiness of their ways.

This is God’s desire: always to favor the poor.

Now finally we can walk.

He is faithful to His promises.”

- Chilean Woman

from “Soul Weavings” A gathering of Women’s Prayers”

edited by Lyn King, 1996, page 21

Jonah

Hello dear readers!

Some of you have asked for a copy of the sermon preached last Sunday at St. Paul’s.

Here is the link to the church website. I’m listed under Epiphany 2012.

Enjoy!

Vocation of Florence Li Tim-Oi

Today we honor the ordination of Florence Li Tim- Oi, who was born in Hong Kong, in 1907.  In 1944  Florence was ordained as an Anglican deaconess.  Months later Hong Kong fell to the Japanese & WWII began. Florence  was sent to Macau, where she served many refugees as the only ordained person.  Bishop Ronald Hall ordained her to the priesthood in 1944, in order to help her fulfill her responsibilities. 

When the war ended, Florence's being ordained created so much controversy that she made the decision to relinquish her license,  but continued to serve the church. After the Communist revolution, Florence was repeatedly singled out for abuse because of her ties to the English colonialists & her role as a female priest. For 16 years all churches were closed and Florence was forced to work on a farm and a factory. In 1979 the churches reopened and Florence resumed her ministry.  Two year later she was permitted to join family living in Toronto. There, in 1984, she was reinstated as a priest. She spent the last eight years of her life serving her parish and encouraging the acceptance of women into the priesthood. Florence lived to see the consecration of the first woman bishop.   

I read the following excerpt on Elizabeth Kaeton's blog today.  It is so powerful in light of all  who know they are called to ordained ministry but are not able or allowed to pursue their call.  May Florence Li Tim-Oi's story be a deep and lasting  source of encouragement in light of that pain.

" Vocation is something which is heard by an individual, witnessed in her life and validated by the community of faith. It begins with the individual but ends with an ever-deepening, self-sacrificial journey into the mystery and intimacy of community. To turn a blind eye to the witness of the Spirit moving and acting in the life of another speaks more to the spiritual and corporal arrogance of those in power than it does of the validity of the person's vocation. I have to believe there are consequences for the continued practices of injustice in the church and in the world. " - Elizabeth Kaeton

Visit Telling Secrets for more on Florence Li Tim-Oi's story

Icon written by the Rev'd Dr. Ellen Poisson, OSH

a life that is my own

"I can only trust that what lies ahead will be fuller, freer than the present.

I hope for a life that is my own, that has no false chains to bind me,

that allows me to move like a butterfly, on the wind and to stand,

when necessary, like a lioness in the high grass.

I want a life that is directed by the call within myself - not by an institution,

not even by what looks like the care and concern of others."

 -Joan Chittister - from Called to Question, p.54

(thanks E+)

 photo by Gary Voth found here

roadblocks

Luke 9:51-62

In today's Gospel reading Luke tells us that "Jesus set his face toward Jerusalem." Talk about steadfast determination! Nothing was going to get in his way, neither villages that refused to welcome him, nor people with excuses as to why they could not set their faces toward their own Jerusalems. Of course Jesus didn't travel in a straight line toward his destiny, and neither do we, but he did get there and with God's help, so can we. So where and what is your Jerusalem? Are you distracted from it because of your other obligations, or like me, have you just been avoiding it?

Call?

"Each person enters the world called." - James Hillman

Really? I watched Jenna Wolfe's segment on her return to her native Haiti on the Today Show this morning. In the middle of her piece she approached a little girl whose mother had died in the earthquake. It seems that no adult woman can comfort this child as she only wants her mother.

You know how some things affect you more than others? That little girl has haunted me all day. What is she called to? What am I called to? What are any of us called to? Tonight I'm just not sure if I really know.

Lord, comfort your babies from the pain of this tragedy. Protect these helpless ones from those who would take advantage: the abusers, the sex traffickers, and the kidnappers. Bring every one of these confused and frightened children into loving arms who will care for them. Provide a way for these babies to experience your peace through the love of your saints on the ground....and yes Lord, may we all act upon our call to love our neighbors in this time of overwhelming need. Amen.

no picture today - we're all on visual overload.

Look under your feet!

"No one longs for what he or she already has, and yet the accumulated insight of those wise about the spiritual life suggests that the reason so many of us cannot see the red X that marks the spot is because we are standing on it. The treasure we seek requires no lengthy expedition, no expensive equipment, no superior aptitude or special company. All we lack is the willingness to imagine that we already have everything we need. The only thing missing is our consent to be where we are."

Barbara Brown Taylor,
An Altar in the World,
copyright, 2009 pp. xiv, xx