forgive again

Forgiveness

Is a thousand pains

Placed one by one

In small boats

Kissed tenderly

And sent out to sea

Sometimes a few float back

The exquisiteness of the pain

Remembered

Kissed yet again

Then placed in its boat and sent out

As many times as it takes

Will they ever stop coming back

I can’t know

I can only send them out again

One by one

-Laura S. Walters

one can learn a lot from little ones about forgiveness

Prayer for the Aged

For the Aged

Look with mercy, O God our Father,

on all whose increasing years bring them weakness, distress, or isolation.

Provide for them homes of dignity and peace;

give them understanding helpers,

and the willingness to accept help;

and, as their strength diminishes,

increase their faith and their assurance of your love.

This we ask in the name of Jesus Christ our Lord.

Amen.

Book of Common Prayer

I read this prayer today on The Daily Office.

What struck me were these words,

"and the willingness to accept help"

Why is that so difficult for us?

sand art?

I am easily amused

by kitty litter puns!

a new kind of thinking

"You don't think your way into a new kind of living.

You live your way into a new kind of thinking."

— Henri J.M. Nouwen

photo of labyrinth on Irish beach

failte = welcome

Feast of Mary Magdalene

"It is clear that Mary Magdalene's life was radically changed by Jesus' healing.

Her ministry of service and steadfast companionship,

even as a witness to the crucifixion, has, through the centuries,

been an example of the faithful ministry of women to Christ.

All four Gospels name Mary as one of the women who went to the tomb

to mourn and to care for Jesus' body. Her weeping for the loss of her Lord

strikes a common chord with the grief of all others over the death of loved ones.

Jesus' tender response to her grief - meeting her in the garden,

revealing himself to her by calling her name -

makes her the first witness to the risen Lord."

Lesser Feasts and Fasts - 2006 p. 314

May we, like Mary Magdalene,

live as joyful witnesses to Christ's resurrection.

painting by Tanya Torres

visit her website to see her art.

This particular work is "Mary Magdalene of the Roses"

which is installed at Holy Rosary Church in East Harlem

"needing" the credit

It is amazing what you can accomplish

if you do not care who gets the credit.

- Harry S. Truman

but the problem is that I do care who gets the credit, especially if it's ME

and the photo powerfully shows what happens
when I make sure that I do get the credit. (Sigh)

it always goes back to relationship and loving one another,doesn't it?

Good News

“What was achieved in the body of Mary

will happen in the soul

of everyone who receives the Word.”

Gregory of Nyssa