But By the Grace of God

Have you had one of those days were you are angry or frustrated?  When the phone keeps ringing every time you sit down to eat?  When someone asks you to fix something that they could easy have done themselves without having to complain too?

It has been one of those days.  A normal human day.  For whatever reason though the "normal" seems to much.  And then, when you sit down for a moment to chat with another human being, you realize that they too are experiencing the same, "normal as too much".  In the conversation and solidarity with the other, in the relationship of being honest and real, there is grace.  Drawing the conversation to a close, both leave to finish their day, but by the grace of God.

Grace from Osho's "Art of Tea"

Rejoice in everything,
even small things.
If you start rejoicing,
even a cuup of tea
starts having a sacred significance.

----------

Silence is not a word
it is an experience.
It is not a doctrine, a dogma
but a taste on the tongue.
Somethingto be eaten, to be drunk, to be digested
something that becomes part
of your blood, bones and very marrow.

Grace (U2 version of song)

The Power of a Poem

This weekend there is a wedding at the church and one of the readings is the Dr. Seuss poem, "Oh the Places We'll Go".  What a wonderful poem to describe a new adventure, a step into relationship, with an understanding of the ups and downs of life and committed togetherness.
Dr. Seuss' images are powerful illustrations of truths that preachers preach, teachers teach, and prophets prophesy.  His stories and poems remind humans of what is truly important and reconfigures how people see themselves.
Grace is found in the learnings of each of his stories: the deep theme, the important truth, the quirky characters, and of course the delightul pictures and the metered rhyme.
Take a moment to "google" - "Oh the Places We'll Go".  Enjoy this poem as a devotion for today.

http://www.hds.harvard.edu/news-events/harvard-divinity-bulletin/articles/why-i-love-the-bible

http://www.hds.harvard.edu/news-events/harvard-divinity-bulletin/articles/why-i-love-the-bible

Vacation: Day 1

This was a vacation day, the first one since last October -and that was really school not vacation.  The sun was shining: the first grace.  Eco-shopping at Value Village on their 1/2 price day was next: grace two.  The front porch has been washed and the solar lights put up, as well as hanging baskets: grace three.  A super full day, with all kinds of other happenings, and a good tired -tired from things that were done out of want not necessity - a good tired has come over the household: grace four.

Runner's Psalm

Runner’s Psalm         -Rev.Kimberlynn McNabb 2012

My God, my God, why have you forsaken me.

It’s been weeks since I have heard you.

I tie up my shoes to run away,

Sneakers running from chaos.

You have remained silent:

Quiet in the face of death, upon death

Funeral to funeral

You have stepped aside,

In crisis been invisible.

And the sneakers go, 5k

Angrily carrying me away:

Pray, pray, pray.

Silent you have been at home -

Teenagers rail as boyfriends change and life decisions overwhelm,

The brunt of tears and anger fall to me, parent.

And still there are no words, no comfort.

Where is the One who makes us lie down in green pastures,

leads us beside still waters?

And the sneakers go, 10k

Thumping out the rhythm: pray, pray, pray.

Hear the prayers of the people, O God

Incline your ear to me, to us:

For those suffering, for those places, of

prejudice and injustice

            Hunger and pain

            Darkness and malaise of the heart...Lord in your mercy...

And the sneakers go, 15k

Pray, pray, pray.

In loving kindness, have mercy on me, O God

For I am stubborn, busy, driven...

Create in me a clean heart,

renew a right spirit within me

And the sneakers go, 20k

Pray, pray, pray.

And there you are in kilometer 21

Almost home, you find me in exhaustion;

            Empty, prayed out.

Bless the Lord, O my soul, and all that is within me.

You sing for me a new song, envision a new race

And so I return home renewed,

Running in steadfast love, singing God’s faithfulness forever. 

Shaw Fill the Food Banks 2012

Riitta's blog: Have I ever told you?

Riitta's blog: Have I ever told you?: Have I ever told you why I decided to stay here in Canada and not to go back to Finland ? There was a man with a young family in my pr...

These are the stories and moments of our lives that are full of grace.  Embrace all your experiences and take them to heart.

Easter Season

This is the season of Easter; a time to reflect on resurrection encounters with the Holy One.  The sermon from Sunday talked about the disciples and other Jesus' followers gathered in a room, with the door clotsed.  The reflection had us think about what happens, how we gather, after a loved one dies in our own day. We reflected on communities that gather for survival, for protest, for meals, to share hope. Gathering in community, with people who understand, becomes a sacred place where Jesus comes and says, "Peace be with you".
 In the mourning and fear of the future unknown, weeping and tears become a sign of the resurrection.  As we cry together, for ourselves, each other, the world, Christ visits amidst the vulnerability, suffering, and compassion.
Erich Weingartner in his writing calls people to "Worthy Weeping".  What a way to bring resurrection.