loose the cords!

"Loose the cords of mistakes binding us,

As we release the strands we hold

of other's guilt."

Sound familiar? This is the first line of a prayer "Forgive us our Debts" written by Neil Douglas-Klotz. It's his translation from the original Aramaic of just one line of The Lord's Prayer: "And forgive us our debts as we forgive our debtors" from a book of prayers I purchased at the Spiritual Director's Conference in San Francisco....I have so much to process from the trip but it's always good to begin with forgiveness, is it not? Especially when it's ourselves that we need to forgive.

the art work was found here.

Road Trip

My perception of a road trip:

"A good traveler has no fixed plans,

and is not intent on arriving." ~Lao Tzu

My husband's perception of a road trip:

"If we pack a lunch, leave at 4 in the morning,

& drive straight through,

I think we'll make really good time." - David Hiday

The 5 of us are off to San Francisco in the morning!

I'll let you know how it goes.

photo is from the British sitcom, "Keeping up Appearances"

(the other 3 passengers are the wise men!)

57 Candles

This is what 57 looks like on fire:

"How long the road is. But, for all the time

the journey has already taken, how you have needed

every second of it in order to learn what

the road passes by."

-Dag Hammarskjold, Markings

ain't it the truth!

if you are lucky enough to have a birthday this year,

light all the freakin' candles!

then give thanks for each and every one.

and as you pull them from the cake,

recall something from each year.

and whether it's a good memory or not, give thanks.

for all of it has brought you to who you are at this moment,

a beautiful, loved, human being created in God's image.
and what could be better than that?

Torchbearers

                                             

This is Lydia and David -

Easter Vigil Torchbearers for the first time.

They did a marvelous job!

I'm so blessed to be their grandmother!

Easter Vigil

The Easter Vigil begins in darkness

and then the light is struck - breaking the darkness.

"May the light of Christ, rising in glory,

dispel the darkness of our hearts and minds."

Good Friday

"The cross was two pieces of dead wood;

and a helpless, unresisting Man was nailed to it;

yet it was mightier than the world,

and triumphed,

and will ever triumph over it."

- Augustus William Hare

                 

Stinky Feet

Welcome to Maundy Thursday. This is the night that we wash one another's feet at our church in the same manner that Jesus washed the feet of his disciples. So, being the clever gal that I think I am, I realized that a pedicure was definitely in order. After all, I had not had one since the day before I left for Ireland in October & I didn't want anyone to know that. What would they think of my nasty feet? Or more importantly, what would they think of me?


I called for an appointment but was told that they're closed until next week. Panic! I could have called another nail salon but something deeper began to arise from within....the thought that I am attempting to hide the real state of not just my feet but my whole self. God already knows the state of my feet and every other inch of my being and Loves all of me. Who am I trying to kid? People need to see the state of my feet with my bunions and crooked nails and with the lingering vestiges of red polish still visible in spots.

All week the thought that no part of following Christ can be sung as a solo has been knocking around in my head. Tonight is yet another opportunity to realize that I need the body of Christ. I need to hold & wash someone else's feet with all their corns and bunions and hairy toes. And I need someone to do the same for me. Just like Peter, who told Jesus, "no way" - I need to surrender those parts of myself that I think are the ugliest to the care of the communion of saints. Care to join me?