The Past and Present

Many years ago, I was given a daily prayer calander, where each day one flips over the ring to the next prayer. The person who gave me this calendar is one whom I consider an example of what all people should be like: compassionate, listening, exciteable, motivated, deep faith and spirituality, flexible and loves tradition.  The calendar was given to me when I was on internship at Zion Lutheran in Sault Ste. Marie; it reminds me of the people who grew me to be who I am.
Todays prayer is lovely -on a day that is sunny and hot, with a brief afternoon shower:
"Thank-you for this day.
Make me aware, Lord, that today never returns.
may the sweet fragrance of Your loving kindness
follow me throughout the day.
Amen."

TEDxSF - Louie Schwartzberg - Gratitude

amidst giants and storms

The readings for Sunday service were David and Goliath, and Jesus calming the storm.
It was ask of those in attendance to consider the "giants" that this world faces today -those things that seem so huge that they are impossible to fight, let alone beat.  Giants: war, slavery, environmental degridation, epidmeics, poverty.
Then it suggested that such giants are not faced by one person but, rather by a community.  David goes out to fight Goliath on behalf of his community.  He goes with a deep trust and faith.  He also carries something extremely special and priceless.  David goes with FIVE SMOOTH STONES on his belt.
The stones were taken, not when Daivd was with Goliath, but when David was with his people, in community. Perhaps the stones are a reminder of the five books of the Torah and all the knowledge their in.
What is it that you learn in community, what stones have you found to take into the world to fight the giants?  Has your community given you stones of hope, grace,faith, trust, love, peace, humility, patience, more hope?
Choose your stones and with the whole community go into the world and dispel the darkness, slay the giants one stone at a time.

http://www.frankejames.com/debate/?p=9193

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.

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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.