Peace
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Troubled Hearts
I have days of frustration,wondering how I'll continue,close to giving up. And I'll lay in bedand imagine God in the room,drawing close,putting a stilling hand to my forehead,sayng something needed, like,"I know it's rough,"or "I'm here with you,"or "Open your heart–just a… Continue reading
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You Are Here
Identity is transitory.The labels we useto draw boundariesaround our fragile egos(self-sufficient, faithful, husband, mother,employee, believer, athlete, friend…)can change in an instant.Nothing is fixed; all is in flux. When we wish it to be otherwise–for all to stay the same–we court unhappiness.… Continue reading
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On the Sixth Day of Christmas
If he's just arrived,isn't this when he needs us most–this neonate, this babe,so fragile, so absolutely dependent? Shouldn't we get the place ready,clean things up a bit,replace alienation with reconciliation,suspicion with trust,and greed with grace? He came in 2009,and we… Continue reading
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Pick Four
Pick four spiritual qualities or life attributesthat you highly value, for example:peace, wonder, love and delightor hope, compassion, joy and contentment.Write these down. Now combine these four qualitiesinto a simple prayer/intention for yourself:"May I know peace, wonder, love and delight."Repeat this many times in the… Continue reading
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Advent 17
Late Christmas Eveand, by the light of the tree, I sit in the living room writing.The final CD ends;quiet settles about me like an old wool afghan. So this is actually it–that about which we've endlessly sung–the silent night. I… Continue reading
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My Soul
My soulis a temple in ruins.Where thousands once worshippedonly the common starlings–black against the cracked white marble–pace and peck for seeds. Only a soul in ruinsallows in, without constraint,the sun, rain and wind,the incense of pines,the glow of yellow daffodils,the… Continue reading
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Advent 15
I write beside our Christmas tree.Its branches embracenot only the ornaments, lights and memories,but also the mist of old souls,old souls who bring patience,wisdom, hope and comfort. One year,when my soul has ripened,it will earn its placewithin the branches,within the… Continue reading
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Advent 14
Like Scrooge's trinity of ghosts,the Beloved takes my handand flies me skywardamong dark Winter's stars,beyond my sapped vision,beyond this succession of pea-sized moments,beyond my desk of dust and yellowing paper, endless analysis and digitized disorder…and for one brief momentreveals… Continue reading
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Winter
"I'm back," Winter says."Did you miss me?"He knows it's so,and so smiles as he asks. This is not only Winter 2011-2012,coming for his first visit.This is the same Winterthat shepherded Mary and Josephto the shelter of the stable;this is the… Continue reading
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Advent 6
Light breaks through. For ancient Romethe empire represented light–light for the world–the light of the emperor,the light of god. And along come Matthew, Luke, John–all making the radical (dangerous!) claimthat this new one, this baby, this neonateis the actual light of the world–not… Continue reading