Vessel

Since I have been away from this blog for quite a spell, a new year is a good time to return.  It has been my custom on the first day of the new year to choose a word or phrase that serves as a guide for me throughout the year.  As I was listening for my word last night I felt drawn to choose a word just for January.  This year I will choose a different word each month.  I like this idea as it may help me be more faithful to my word.  Each month's word will be saved and  will eventually become part of my collage of guides for 2013.

As I was praying out the old year, clear as a bell, my word came to me

  Vessel 

 I am to be a vessel this year, a container.

I am to be a vessel of delight, a vessel of joy

a vessel of  sorrow, compassion and beauty

a vessel of God.

A vessel: that can receive and hold gifts!

A vessel: out of which one can pour forth gifts!

To be filled and poured out

To receive and to give and be given!

I think I can live with that!

So last night as the bells rang out the old,

rang in the new

I was preparing my very simple altar in my room.

,

What you see below is my altar.

I am trying to keep it simple

A reminder to receive the gifts given each day

and then, to the best of my ability

allow myself to be poured out as gift for others. 

O Giver of all Good gifts,

Thank you for the fragile vessel that I am

In the earthenware jar of my being

I will gather the gifts of each day

holding them carefully, faithfully

until that moment arrives 

when I am called to give them back again.