Peace
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The Ear
I. It is the betrayal in the garden,and one of his disciples decides–bizarrely–to cut off a servant's ear; you wonder what his thought process was:"If I just cut off…let's see…that guy's ear…things will be okay." Really? "No," says Jesus, healing… Continue reading
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Peace Process
Instead of firing bullets of lead,instead of removing my well-fixed head,instead of grinding my bones for bread,let's sit together and talk instead. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk deVries. All rights reserved. Continue reading
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I Love Winter
The avenue on which we live,which carries us to and from the worlds of work and commerce,has disappeared beneath a soft overcoat of white. Nothing moves, nor wants to.Frozen respite. I love Winter. Text and image © 2011 by Dirk… Continue reading
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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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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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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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A Headline for the World
If, tomorrow morning, you had the opportunityto put your one, best line of adviceon the front page of every newspaper,or every website,across the globe,what would it be?If you could boil downto one two- to six-word headlinethe organzing concept of your… Continue reading