The 60-Second Sabbath

grace

  • We’re All Immigrants

    It's easy to forgetwe're all immigrantswithout any claimto this space or time,wayfarers,both strange and poor. It's easy to forget we're being hostedby a gracious Innkeeper,who endlessly overlooksour unwillingness to clear the table,the clothes we leave on the floor,the lack of… Continue reading

  • Bargaining with the Moon

    Last nightwe bargained with the moon;"Your light," we said,"for this handful of dimes." The moon shook,spinning silver slivers across the sky,strands of light like firelies and summer sparklers."It's not my light," she laughed. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk… Continue reading

  • The Cat Shop

    There is a small shopin my obscure little neighborhood,staffed solely by cats. They sell cans of cat food, or course,and a variety of toys made of feathers, yarn and strips of colored foil.They also carry catnip,from the run-of-the-mill, Petsmart kindto… Continue reading

  • Grieving and Receiving

    Grieving, believing, receiving. Or maybe not:perhaps it's grieving, receiving, believing. Or possibly it's simply this:grieving and receiving. Shall the believing be optional? Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.  Continue reading

  • God in Love

    Why is God so in love with us–humanity gone mad–divided, violent, greedy? Because love is,by nature,irrational. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved.  Continue reading

  • The Tree of Madness

    In a seldom visited corner of the Gardengrows the Tree of Madness,so well hiddenits fruit ripens unforbidden. But one warm afternoonas she pushes curiously through the jungletendrils trailing over her bare shouldersEve comes upon it–    twisted branches,     spiny fruit,     roots coiling… Continue reading

  • Remembering My Mother

    My mother died on December 27, 2003. This is what I wrote for her memorial: Mom died last Saturday. I was with her, saw it, felt it…profound, awesome, frightening, wonderful. I comfort myself by thinking about Mom's dying–and my own,… Continue reading

  • Mercy

    What mercy do I need today? humilitypatiencestillness What mercy do you need today? Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading

  • The Ultimate Liberal

    How ironic that many conservative Christians use the word liberal to brand their political enemies, as if that's a bad thing. It's ironic, because the Christian faith is founded on one simple concept: grace. Hmm. Grace? Liberality? Generosity? God, according to… Continue reading

  • Am I Worthy?

    "Am I worthy?"  The question is irrelevant! Boring! No one cares (least of all God). It's not about judgement, it's about transformation. There is no jury;There is no judge.Open and waitingAre the steady arms of love.    (from "Out in the Open"… Continue reading