The Word

Ash Wednesday prayer

I wrote the following prayer for the Ash Wednesday service at the church where I am doing my supervised field education. I incorporated a hymn called "Don't Be Afraid" from the hymnal More Voices, which I sang a capella. The Spirit moved in our midst as we prayed...

Compassionate God, lover of us all,

From scattered lives, we come to be reconnected…

            With bruised or broken hearts, we come to be healed…

Feeling isolated and alone, we come to be loved…

We long to be reawakened to the melody of your presence that sings through our lives…

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger; my love is stronger than your fear.

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.

In our times of distress, when the pressures of life overwhelm us

We sometimes worry others will not understand…and we become afraid to share our burdens for fear of judgement…

When we feel disconnected from our shared human experience…

When we no longer look into the faces of loved one’s to see our own beauty mirrored there…

We can lose sight of how wonderful we are as embodied expressions of your divine love,

We are numb to your Spirit moving in us and in the spaces between us. Our relationships begin to unravel…

O God, draw us back into community when we wander too far alone in the wilderness of life…

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger; my love is stronger than your fear.

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.

In the shadows of a lingering winter…

When cold temperatures and slippery roads often mean we are housebound and cut off from the incredible glory of the earth that sustains and shapes our being…

Our relationship with Creation can become weakened and distorted…

Life-giving God, breather of life and energy into every particle of the cosmos…knit us back together, as one body, on Spirit, one strand in the great cosmic web of the universe…

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger; my love is stronger than your fear.

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.

God, your healing touch renews our souls…

You enliven our life, our being, our relationships with one another…

Thankful for your eternal presence binding us together,

we tenderly offer the silent prayers of our hearts...

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger; my love is stronger than your fear.

Don’t be afraid. My love is stronger and I have promised, promised to be always near.

A Time to Act...A Time to Lament

As the news unfolded yesterday about the elementary school shootings in Connecticut, my heart was swollen with grief...how can this happen? Expressions of shock and pain rolled across the pages of my facebook newsfeed...every media outlet carried the story...it was inescapable. As it should have been...inescapable. Change doesn't come in those moments when we are able to turn a blind eye. Maybe this horrific event will be a catalyst for change.

One friend posted this: "I'm sorry, people, but posting on FB about how sad we are, raging at the "machine" and having some breakfast, will not make the children any safer. It's time for action. Anyone up for it????"

I pray people answer the growing call to action. Positive, fruitful action, that is. I am starting to see a lot of polarization around tangents and side issues that serve only to deflect our attention and prevent real change from happening.

But as important as it is to bring about change in the coming weeks, months, years...we also must be mindful of our very human need to grieve. Time to come together in community and lament. To weep in the darkness, waiting for the light to shine again in our hearts.

I read the Book of Lamentations yesterday and my eyes kept stopping at verse 16:

For these things I weep;
   my eyes flow with tears;
for a comforter is far from me,
   one to revive my courage;
my children are desolate,
   for the enemy has prevailed. 

I thought, yes, sometimes that is how we feel. Discouraged, desolate...as if the enemy has prevailed. Almost. But not quite. I also recalled the words of the Psalmist. Psalm 147, which President Obama quoted: "God heals the brokenhearted, and binds up their wounds." And Psalm 23, that source of great comfort in our times of grief: "Yea, though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: for thou art with me." 

And I saw my facebook newsfeed fill with an outpouring of prayers for all those affected, even from those who are normally (and often vehemently) non-religious. We wrap each other in the arms of comfort, setting aside our differences. And in the face of such love, the enemy cannot prevail. Now I pray that the anger and pain in our hearts gives way to justice seeking, and not vengeance or apathy.

"The light shines in the darkness, and the darkness did not overcome it." (John 1:5)

Grateful for Living Waters

I'm sitting here feeling so incredibly grateful for the amazingly beautiful and wondrous world that surrounds me...for the loves of my life...for the path I am walking (leaping, crawling) toward ordered ministry...for the movement of the Spirit and the mystery of life. The following words by David Steindl-Rast, shared in a video by Louie Schwartzberg called Gratitude, really resonate in my soul.

“It's not 'just another day', it's the one day that was given to you today. It's given to you...it's a gift. It's the only day that you have right now, and the only appropriate response is gratefulness.”

“If you do nothing else but to cultivate that response to the great gift that this unique day is…if you learn to respond as if it were the first day in your life and the very last day, then you will have spent this day very well.”

“And on this day all the people you meet, all that life from generations and from so many places all over the world flows together and meets you here, like a life-giving water if you only open your heart and drink.”

“And so I wish you will open your heart to all these blessings and let them flow through you...that everyone you will meet on this day will be blessed by you...just by your eyes, by your smile, by your touch...just by your presence.”

“Let the gratefulness overflow into blessing all around you. Then it will really be a good day.”

Amen, brother. Amen.

Saturday Photohunt: Seasonal

It's been a long while since I've posted an entry...but I was meandering around my yard the other day taking pictures in the rain and thought I would share a glimpse of what the season looks like in Nova Scotia right now...what a blessing to be surrounded by such beauty!

Check out Sandi's Photohunt page to enjoy more seasonal offerings!

ABC Wednesday: X is for...

Χριστός

The Greek Christos, the annointed...which is a translation of the Hebrew מָשִׁיחַ, the Messiah.

I'm taking an intensive course in liberation and post colonial theology, taught by a passionate and brilliant scholar/theologian from Guatamala. The past couple days we've been talking about queer theology, and how the theology expressed in many churches and denominations can be deeply damaging and oppressive for those in the LGBTQ community. Far too often, hate and rejection is preached and practiced by those who name themselves "Christian", instead of living out Jesus' Gospel message of love. Jesus was present with the poor, the oppressed, the marginalized. Jesus did not walk among the wealthy and powerful saying "By jove, you've got it, well done, give yourselves a pat on the back!" No...it was more like "Oh My God people! 'Love God, love each other.' It's so simple, why can't you get it?? Sigh...let me try to get it through your thick heads and hard hearts one more time..."

Granted we humans, including those of us who walk a path with Jesus, are far from perfect! But we must keep trying to love one another, to speak out for those who have no voice, to actively seek justice, to risk standing up for what is right. We have a loooong, long way to go before the light of the risen Christ shines fully in our hearts and in our world. June is, of course, Pride Month and so, as always, I stand in loving solidarity with my LGBTQ brothers and sisters...and I plan to join or at least cheer from the sidelines of Halifax's upcoming Pride parade. In the meantime, I will continue exploring the theology of the Queer Christ...and hoping homophobia will soon be but a distant memory in the dust of our earth...


I have no photos of the risen Christ depicted in art, but here are a couple pics of Jesus, living and crucified.

I encountered this piece of art in the Church of Santa Maria Maddalena in Castiglione del Lago, Umbria (Italy) It is a stone carving of a scene from the Gospel named for Luke (Lk 7:26-50), the woman anointing Jesus' feet with oil.

The Baptism of Christ by Pietro Vannucci, known as Il Perugino in the cathedral in Citta della Pieve, Umbria

Glazed terra cotta crucificion by Andrea della Robbia in the early Christian church (built in 996) Santa Maria Primerana in Fiesole (near Florence, Italy). Della Robbia was a Renaissance sculptor, specializing in ceramics, so obviously his work is a later addition to the church!






X marks the spot over on the ABCW website this week...check it out and see what treasures you uncover on the other participants' blogs!

ABC Wednesday: V is for...

Votive candle...

Votive candles are often lit to symbolize a prayer being offered for someone. This particular one was lit by me as I prayed for a fellow student. At the start of our school year last September,we had a retreat day and during one of the spiritual practices, we each took a rock and wrote our name on it. Then we put our rock back in the basket and withdrew a different rock (i.e. a rock with someone else's name on it.) The intention being that we would hold that particular person in our prayers all the following week. I personally continued holding "my" person in my prayers throughout the year. The candle itself, the prayer cloth and the other rock in the photo were given to me by someone else during an entirely separate spiritual practice...and remind me of my connection to my wider faith family...

There is a Veritable treasure trove of Very creative posts on the ABCW website this week - check it out here!

ABC Wednesday: U is for...

Under the Umbrian Sun...

Umbria...beautiful neighbour of Tuscany. If (hopefully when) I return to Italy, I could happily spend my entire time exploring the nooks and crannies and hilltowns of Umbria. Mom and I spent a couple days driving around the western edge of Umbria when we stayed in Cetona (S. Tuscany) last summer. We stopped in the tiny hilltop town of Montegiove, a frazione (sp?) of the commune of Montegabbione in Terni province of Umbria. What a delightful place. In my dreams, I think I will live here!

On the drive to Montegiove, you will pass by an enchanted forest...

Marvel at the stunning views of other surrounding hilltowns...I think this might be Montegabbione, but don't quote me! It might be Monteleone d'Orvieto instead.

In Montegiove itself, there are gorgeous courtyards like this one...

A church...a must in my books. I certainly meet God in creation and under the open sky, but I also love and appreciate the deepening of faith that comes with intentional worship in community.

Montegiove also has a most wonderful wine bar! Mom and I enjoyed a very delicious lunch here during our travels. a dish of melted cheese with black truffle on top - my first time tasting truffle. It was very good, but I suspect truffle is an acquired taste to truly appreciate its flavour.

La Bottega Menno e Gilda has a fabulous selection of wines from all over Italy, as well as a few other countries. (U also stands for Under the influence! The downside of being the designated driver was that I couldn't partake in much wine sampling...but driving in Italy was worth it, for me!)

If you choose to relax on the terrace while enjoying your refreshments, there is also a feast for your eyes...

After lunch, you can wander around and admire the charming remains of arched walkways... 

 ...and intriguing old buildings that appear to be in the process of being reclaimed by mother earth...

...and get carried away with dreams of buying a piece of abandoned land and creating your very own room with a view...sigh. Yes...I really could see myself living Under the Umbrian sun.

I wonder what others make of the letter U...let's find out over on the ABCW website!

ABC Wednesday: T is for...

Theology

"Of all disciples theology is the fairest, the one that moves the head and heart most fully, the one that comes closest to human reality, the one that gives the clearest perspective on the truth which every disciple seeks. It is a landscape like those of Umbria and Tuscany with views which are distant and yet clear, a work of art which is as well planned and as bizarre as the cathedrals of Cologne or Milan…But of all disciplines theology is also the most difficult and the most dangerous, the one in which a man is most likely to end in despair, or–and this is almost worse–in arrogance. Theology can float off into thin air or turn to stone, and worst of all it can become a caricature of itself.”

(Karl Barth: His Life from Letters and Autobiographical Texts by Eberhard Busch)

I love theology!! I got an A- in my Theological Foundations course this past year!! I'm such a geek!! Here are some of the theology books I have in my possession...some were texts for courses, others just for "light" reading! haha

This last one is one of the texts for an upcoming summer course called Liberation and Post-colonial Theology. Looking forward to it, have heard good things about the sessional professor!

Take a tour of more T entries on the ABCW website!!

Rise in glory, precious Liam

If you read my entry on Wednesday (or know me in real life or on Facebook), you know this week has been an emotional roller coaster. My dear friend Valerie's daughter gave birth very prematurely (roughly 24 wks) on Monday morning. Here is the photo I took on Tuesday...

Although he was strong and put up a good fight, Liam's tiny body was unable to sustain life on this earth and at 4:26 Thursday afternoon, he rose in glory into the arms of God.

Thursday was a day of agony. Mark named it the worst day of their lives...living the nightmare. When the news came Thursday morning that Liam was unlikely to make it through the day, grandparents and siblings rushed to be present, as did I and another close family friend. It was such a long day...but there was some comfort at least in our togetherness, in our loving arms in which to hold each other, in the many shoulders on which to cry. I held back my own tears until I got home, wanting to be a support to my friends, but my heart was breaking to witness their intense pain. Throughout the day, the doctors brought updates on Liam's condition, on his deterioration, and gently paved the way for the acceptance that Liam could not survive. Some could not help but get hopes up in the midst of darkness as Liam would briefly rally...others soon knew that it was time to pray for peace at the last. His primary doctor said when the time came, she would be the one to make the decision to take him off life support, for which we are deeply grateful. What a dreadful burden such a choice would have been for his young parents. The staff of the IWK Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) are incredible...they cared for Liam and his family with such deep compassion and loving kindness. God bless them.

In one of those mysterious coincidences, a professional sketch artist was in town giving a couple of talks. She specializes in infant sketches and happened to be in the NICU on Thursday. Upon hearing this little one was nearing the end, she offered to do some sketches of Liam and his parents. She is amazing, what wonderful treasures with which to remember Liam...

Liam's dad and grandpa got matching tattoos on Wednesday to honour this fragile new life in our midst. The design is an impression of Liam's actual footprint, his name, and words from a beautiful hymn based on Isaiah 40:31 and Psalm 91: He will raise you up on eagle's wings.

And now comes the long journey of grieving and healing. My heart aches for Liam's parents, for my friends who bear their own pain and that of their child's, and for all the family and friends so keenly feeling this loss. At first I was surprised at the strength of my own feelings of grief, but then considering how close I am to the family, it is not so surprising...their loss is my loss. I was blessed to be able to sink into the comforting arms of my own mother this afternoon...feeling lost and alone all day yesterday, I got up this morning and knew I needed to go see my mom today. I thank God for her presence and her love and for her understanding that even though Liam was not my flesh and blood, he was the grandson of a woman I love as a sister. And so I too grieve his death.

I am deeply blessed also to be able to draw great and sustaining strength from my faith, and from the words of my church's creed...

In life, in death, in life beyond death,

God is with us.

We are not alone.

Thanks be to God.

ABC Wednesday: G is for...

G is for God. The amazing, sustaining, astonishing, uplifting, loving, sometimes maddening mystery that is God, whose Spirit flows in and around and through me.

 God of grace and light...

whose Spirit joins with my spirit...

infusing my life with joy and passion and awesome wonder...

beating in the rhythm of my heart...
beloved...beloved.

Holy Mystery...Wholly Love.

In whom all things are possible...

To you, O God, I sing Hallelujah!!

And because Wednesday this week falls on the rare(ish), once every four years, leap year special day Feb 29th...I'm doing a double post.

(Ok so the double post is really just because I'm indecisive when it comes to choosing themes...
but hey it's my blog so you can't stop me...muahahaha!!!!!!)

G is also for...Goofy!!!

Get yourself over to Mrs. Nesbitt's ABCW website and see what's
 Going on in everyone else's blog space this week!