mystery
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John 16:12-13a, Part 1
"Oh, yes, there's more,"Jesus said to his followers,"lots more–but there's only so muchthat you can absorbin any one parable,in any one lifetime of listening…" "But how, then, do we continue learning?" "The important thing now,"he replied,"is less the learningand more… Continue reading
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Praise
I praise the One whose arms support me,who knows when to lift me above danger,who knows when to put me back down to face it,whose presence is ever with me.who keeps the unseen way clear. I praise the One who constantly surprises,whose… Continue reading
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Animal Tracks
Morning light licks my face, waking me.I groan, sit up, disturb the groggy cat,reach for my threadbare terry robe,and stand at the patio door beside the bed: Snowfall! Sometime during the night it snuck in,covered the grass, the deck chairs,… Continue reading
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The Light that Comes from Us
This evening,let's sit in silence as the sun sets,leave off the lamps,let the room be lit,only by the light that comes from us. As our eyes adjust,we'll discover our glowis bright enough to find our wayacross the room,down the hall,to… 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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We Return from the Mountain
We return from the mountain,faces glowingdesperate to describeour encounter with Mystery,but the words for which we reach elude us,don't yet exist–not in English,not in any human tongue. We try:"It's painful but welcome purging," we say."It's corrosive but compassionate reframing…" See? Even these words,like… Continue reading
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The End?
On August 31, 2010, I began what was (for me) a brave experiment. It was to be spiritual practice that started with a simple commitment to both God and myself to post a blog with original text and an original… Continue reading
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My Mystery
Blind me,that I may see.Deafen me,that I may hear.Mute me,that I may whisper your name. What must I loseto unite with you, my Mystery? Text, image and audio © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. To listen to this… Continue reading
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Seated at Dinner
Seated at dinner,others talk around me.I don't mind.I watch you across the table,a forest dense and enigmatic.I will explore your labyrinth of hidden paths.Somewhere within is the still, sun-filtered clearingof which I've dreamed. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk… Continue reading
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Poor Moses and Miriam
Poor Moses and Miriam–their entirely original vision of freedom,justice,equality,mystery,dancing,groaning,the dis-ease that leads us into the wilderness that is God, co-opted by the order,oppression,consumption,satiation,and certainty of Solomon. It is the death of faith. Is this our destiny as well? Text and image… Continue reading