tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-43959701394722418202024-03-05T10:43:34.049-08:00Under the Sycamore TreeMacrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.comBlogger175125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-14760514836077865162015-05-09T10:42:00.002-07:002015-05-09T10:42:13.549-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>Just to let you know that we are working </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>on a new blog site for me.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>Under the sycamore tree was fun </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>but I've moved away from the sycamore tree</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>and will be returning</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b> hopefully with new spirit in my bones.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>To check out the progress of my new blog</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-size: large;"><b>bookmark www.macrinawiederkehr.com</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqk6GtVFWGVKMdvawAVqd6jRdDv93rZT__jBy7RhjJ_K5RKBuON6QVOiZID_HnYa2XNG47vtuQQb5YxPC1utSnO66djB-qSqgpBzXl2YkPmHwtOFMLOQr2VCE3Px5FlbHEMUGdZwrwbTX/s1600/sycamore+beanch.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="298" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhWqk6GtVFWGVKMdvawAVqd6jRdDv93rZT__jBy7RhjJ_K5RKBuON6QVOiZID_HnYa2XNG47vtuQQb5YxPC1utSnO66djB-qSqgpBzXl2YkPmHwtOFMLOQr2VCE3Px5FlbHEMUGdZwrwbTX/s400/sycamore+beanch.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<br />Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-61526147300093426452014-12-20T19:54:00.002-08:002014-12-20T19:54:31.958-08:00Don't give up on me<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b>For health reasons I will not be posting for a while.</b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #e69138; font-size: large;"><b>Don't give up on me. I hope to return.</b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtm3Ftph8Ozbz7lNmjVFtS1mhNKxLoKAoThy_CV5tW086OV7yAydbNG2vRYxTzZncKgtiOsEwhUVJzqtFS3YFYTvp15zw1aatId7FLcdtg66lOhrh8C7bdITIAGHj2GZFmZuiVVvZ473Eo/s1600/Epiphany.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjtm3Ftph8Ozbz7lNmjVFtS1mhNKxLoKAoThy_CV5tW086OV7yAydbNG2vRYxTzZncKgtiOsEwhUVJzqtFS3YFYTvp15zw1aatId7FLcdtg66lOhrh8C7bdITIAGHj2GZFmZuiVVvZ473Eo/s1600/Epiphany.jpg" height="247" width="320" /></a></div>
Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com13tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-81242633678911054092014-09-27T08:58:00.004-07:002014-09-27T09:00:00.830-07:00Wonder<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b><span style="color: #990000;">Wonder</span></b> is
our prayer word for the month of September which is just about to slip into
October. In his many beautiful words Thomas Merton once wrote, <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;">“Some people never see a tree</span></span><br />
<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"> until
they are ready to saw it down.”</span><span style="font-size: medium;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8api1Y6spYEMB-xmgJun27WsnDOS1ovONE3oV3R52MCfYNqF8d2CsbkyBRNpKKTtJDn2Hi0pS819kxHXUapOXSvs32MeWWZN5k1LDSgFrfoxFXUmAQg1OWL0fkFHAiYZ4H-pcbZcxivY/s1600/my+tree.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiW8api1Y6spYEMB-xmgJun27WsnDOS1ovONE3oV3R52MCfYNqF8d2CsbkyBRNpKKTtJDn2Hi0pS819kxHXUapOXSvs32MeWWZN5k1LDSgFrfoxFXUmAQg1OWL0fkFHAiYZ4H-pcbZcxivY/s1600/my+tree.jpg" height="239" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">You are a creature of wonder.
You are a poet. You are a poet
not because of what you write but because of how you see. Not everyone has discovered the hidden poet
in their souls. In the following reflection
I am offering you some images that will hopefully draw forth the poet in your
soul. </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Where do poems live?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">
</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">How well do you see?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Bring forth your receiving eyes.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Come forward with a seeing heart.</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">Listen carefully, and you will hear a quiet
voice murmuring:</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">May I have your
attention please?</span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span><span style="font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;">We will never be
people of wonder until we learn to pay attention.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Where do poems live?</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93vj5K7n6H-fKQQflXbdfu8TXr-3n-phlMIndoQnPRnb4fsUFhYTI7qQS6k-4EE1tc3ASzc8bJ0CGenyzcbVpcczb8kvS1CdvILsLmhRpURyj3r773JR6nszKOIZxLrltdrKV1H8RWqFT/s1600/Morning+Flight,+stolen+from+Joe+O'Riely.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh93vj5K7n6H-fKQQflXbdfu8TXr-3n-phlMIndoQnPRnb4fsUFhYTI7qQS6k-4EE1tc3ASzc8bJ0CGenyzcbVpcczb8kvS1CdvILsLmhRpURyj3r773JR6nszKOIZxLrltdrKV1H8RWqFT/s1600/Morning+Flight,+stolen+from+Joe+O'Riely.jpg" height="209" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 12pt;">In the early morning hours</span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---they fly through the
sky singing.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They ride on the rays of
the sun<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---and breathe open the
sleeping buds.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They fall from the sky<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---in a thousand tiny
raindrops.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They dance in sunlight<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---on shining waters.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They sing through the
darkness<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---of the star studded
night sky.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They flash forth lightening<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---from dark, stormy
places.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In tall swaying poplars<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---they build their nests.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They rise up like
blessings<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---in the steam from your
coffee<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">They gaze in your window <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---from snow covered branches.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><span style="color: #990000; font-size: large;"><b>Where do poems live?</b></span><span style="font-size: small;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In new budding leaves<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---and in dying foliage<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">In all that is blossoming<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">---and in all that is
withering,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt;">At birth and at death<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 12.0pt;"><span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">---between birth and death.</span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-kLm1qcXc-DBlflZ9OLOaXMxC7cl-nKDr-pm2rchrAQmvqnKbUo1oN4ziOUIdC4VmMNl-xLzg7yo3aWa9SwqpZCz_foHZbdYXD12C7TyNz-mY7AEbRFsr_PaJ_0D6EfANFJgu4qyZjsn/s1600/Comforting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9-kLm1qcXc-DBlflZ9OLOaXMxC7cl-nKDr-pm2rchrAQmvqnKbUo1oN4ziOUIdC4VmMNl-xLzg7yo3aWa9SwqpZCz_foHZbdYXD12C7TyNz-mY7AEbRFsr_PaJ_0D6EfANFJgu4qyZjsn/s1600/Comforting.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wherever you go<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">---they are waiting to greet you.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">When you return home<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">--they meet you at the gate<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Wherever you stand<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">---they stand beside you<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">Persistently they call out<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNoSpacing" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;">“May I have your attention please!”<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> ©Macrina
Wiederkehr<o:p></o:p></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>And what about you? </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b> Where do poems live in your life?</b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkKA6T3UOIB09nc6lLquIAO4dOazTb8uHlW4qZuEIrjF3wLTIoWGdzZHldITE6Sc30ryFiZENCJPd09sPkOpz7EVhaOtODUOUaHTBA7-tLk7mdztV_8LPvMO4_VNSbAe-vbZW4iVUK3Wk/s1600/leaf.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhpkKA6T3UOIB09nc6lLquIAO4dOazTb8uHlW4qZuEIrjF3wLTIoWGdzZHldITE6Sc30ryFiZENCJPd09sPkOpz7EVhaOtODUOUaHTBA7-tLk7mdztV_8LPvMO4_VNSbAe-vbZW4iVUK3Wk/s1600/leaf.jpg" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><b>It is there you will find the gift of WONDER.</b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
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<span style="font-size: 12.0pt; line-height: 115%;">--<o:p></o:p></span></div>
Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-88255669919520498052014-09-06T10:38:00.000-07:002014-09-06T10:48:41.824-07:00Solitude<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrzLCcDg8-FiCGavF19ug9vMDxBiQ0ONO1no0qc3ew-HO4zVHQsC8Bi1JIKhIp6NyGKmiTcbb2tITw3fRPJwLTJZwA6hZj0UhoSLMZeFaUC_iCCHGOGY2WdGzFjZDplTu4zWGSml3EL0u/s1600/Pat1.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrzLCcDg8-FiCGavF19ug9vMDxBiQ0ONO1no0qc3ew-HO4zVHQsC8Bi1JIKhIp6NyGKmiTcbb2tITw3fRPJwLTJZwA6hZj0UhoSLMZeFaUC_iCCHGOGY2WdGzFjZDplTu4zWGSml3EL0u/s1600/Pat1.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: x-large;">SOLITUDE</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #222222; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-image: initial; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial; background-size: initial; color: #222222;">
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I just turned the page of my 2014 calendar and drank in the new
word that is to be the theme for this month. My word to live for the
month of September is WONDER and I am in dire need of sitting in its
shade. But then I remembered that I hadn't written about my August word
yet so I turned the calendar back to August and gazed at the word SOLITUDE.
<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The picture for the month depicts my friend and sister in
community sitting in a lovely outdoor dwelling with a cup in her hand,
presumably coffee, and I ask myself, "does this really depict deep
solitude?" What would need to go to truly depict solitude? Probably
the cup and the caffeine! But let's not get hung up on semantics.
This is just my take one it.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Recently I saw a lovely outdoor scene with a woman lying on a
diving board reading a book. The caption was: SOLITUDE! I
found myself saying, “wrong!” Throw the book in the lake.
Get off the diving board. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So truly, what is solitude?
Are you afraid of it? Do you find
it healing? When you are in solitude, do
you look for distractions? Or, do you
slowly begin to taste the sweetness of solitude? I believe that can happen only after we learn
to be comfortable with the gift of stillness and silence. When I truly learn how to be alone by
choice—how to embrace solitude as friend, I slowly cease looking for
distractions. I learn to melt into <i>being</i>. I begin to be comfortable in being with the self that is <i>me.<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In looking at the word solitude I see a relation to the word
latitude. The <i>sol</i> of solitude suggests <i>aloneness
</i>which also points to space, the space around us and even within us. The word, <i>latitude,
</i>points to space: geographical space, universal space: the breadth, width, size of something. Why not personal space? Although I have not taken the time to look
this up entomologically I can see a kinship.
And so when I use <st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:place></st1:city>’s
beautiful words from Ephesians 3: 16-19
I find myself being moved into solitude.
The space around me seems to grow larger and I find myself move into a
greater stillness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The more I practice this kind of solitude alone, the more I will
discover that when I am with a group of people some of that space around me lingers and it is easier for
me to remain calm in troubling situations.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>Out of his infinite glory, </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>may you be
given the power, <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>through his Spirit, </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>for your hidden self
to grow strong, <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>so that Christ may live in your hearts </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>through faith, and then,<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> planted in love and built on love, </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>you will
with all the saints <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>have strength to grasp the </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>breadth and
the length, </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>the height and the depth; </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>until knowing the love of Christ, </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>which
is beyond all knowledge, <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="color: #274e13;">you are filled with the utter fullness
of God.</span><span style="color: #38761d;"><o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: x-small;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ephesians 3: 16-19—<st1:city w:st="on"><st1:place w:st="on">Jerusalem</st1:place></st1:city> Translation</span><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-kqEXHLMgbe6z4mqFLmYsskSBfZ32YPwTbal84a0TqP18rB4VefQOG6hphiH3aFSiYiahtoyhYQq4ieZCtKX2XcWIdd0my4yKePvxpALkXF0OCwmCc7VnwPmdSomiyH-dtf8BhmKDSbv/s1600/WalburgaAbbey+012.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZ-kqEXHLMgbe6z4mqFLmYsskSBfZ32YPwTbal84a0TqP18rB4VefQOG6hphiH3aFSiYiahtoyhYQq4ieZCtKX2XcWIdd0my4yKePvxpALkXF0OCwmCc7VnwPmdSomiyH-dtf8BhmKDSbv/s1600/WalburgaAbbey+012.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
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<b><span style="color: #274e13;">Find a space alone and ask yourself, What is the latitude of my heart!</span></b></div>
</div>
Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-38400241141948493562014-08-03T07:14:00.000-07:002014-08-03T09:06:38.892-07:00Tracking the Mystery<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b>OOPS</b></span></span><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><b>--</b></span></span><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">July is gone </b></span></div>
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">...and I never got around to writing about my word for that month. </b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> The word was MYSTERY! </b><b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> </b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">My neglect in writing did not prevent me </b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">from attempting to dwell in the heart of mystery. </b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">July is my birth month. </b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Truly it was a mixture of birth/death, wounds/healing, doubt/faith,</b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">hope/discouragement and more.</b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></b></div>
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<b style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> </b><b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">I've always loved mystery stories. </span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">The greatest of all mysteries is the story of one’s life. </span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">In this month of my birth I prayed with the mystery of my life. </span></span></b></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">The symbol I used for my prayer was a path, call it
what you will: a road, a trail, a track or footpath. The path I chose at the beginning of July was
one that led into a forest. It reminded
me of the path I used to take through the forest of our old homestead in Arkansas to my Aunt Annie’s
house.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">On a pathway there is mystery. You can’t always see what’s behind the next
tree. Nor can you detect the animal
sounds in the forest. Is it
friendly? Is it harmful? For some reason, in those young years of my
life, I was seldom afraid of the path through the woods. It was mysterious yet strangely known, kind
of like God.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">As I moved into the month of July it occurred to me
that it might be fun to take a different path every few days and re-experience some
of the mystery stories of my life. There
was</span></span></div>
<div class="MsoListParagraphCxSpFirst" style="mso-list: l0 level1 lfo1; text-indent: -.25in;">
</div>
<ul>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="line-height: normal;"> </span></span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">the hillside trail leading from the valley
where I lived, up the hill and through the woods that led to St. Mary’s Church and School</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">the</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"> path around Lake Fort Smith that I miss now
that the new lake has been created</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">a path from the Quiet House at Laity Lodge
(Kerrville TX) to the upper rim of the canyon where I could watch sunrises and
sunsets </span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">an unforgettable green moss trail in the
Blue Ridge mountains of North Carolina (Maggie Valley)</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">the winding labyrinth path on the grounds
of St. Scholastica Monastery, Fort Smith, Arkansas</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">the path through the vineyards of Altus, Arkansas that I traveled with my brother, praying the rosary, when my little sister was dying</span></li>
<li><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; text-indent: -0.25in;">t</span><span style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;">he deer trail through the forest
surrounding San Damiano Retreat in Danville, CA</span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">the little country roads where I could walk
through farmlands in Canterbury, NZ viewing the amazing pastures of sheep</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">the walking trail around St.Mary's Lake (Notre Dame campus) July of 1997 when I feared I might have cancer. I'll always recall those morning walks filled with both angst and therapeutic beauty</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">the forest trails at Jamberoo Abbey (New South Wales) quietly trekking through the woods at dusk looking for wombats. (never saw one)</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">and then there are those inner trails that run through the path of my heart and soul nudging me into creativity, exploration, continual growth. I am always tracking the mystery.</span></span></li>
<li><span style="line-height: 115%; text-indent: -0.25in;"><span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">In between all the trails of my life I have never forgotten that Christ is my way!</span></span></li>
</ul>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> Many paths of memory! Each path holds a mystery story of my life! I could pray a trail for the rest of my life and never be finished reading the pages of my life. I want to allow the holy-healing mystery of life to continue its journey flowing through me like a stream or bubbling brook. The quiet trails are like gentle streams. The rushing brook is full of obstacles and yet as the poet, Wendell Berry, explains, It's the obstacles that help make the music. I want my life to remain a song. </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">O Beautiful Mystery </span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Where is the life that once held me</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"> in its sometimes gentle, </span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">sometimes terrible grasp?</span></span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">That life lives on; I am every age I've ever been!</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">How easy it is to forget as I walk through the day</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">that I carry within me layers of life, layers of ages.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">My life is a mystery story still unfolding</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">It is a good life full of joys and sorrows,</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">promises kept, promises broken</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">memories and forgetfulness.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">O God of so much mystery</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Continue to dwell in the layers of my life.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large; line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">Be my way when I lose the way.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000; font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span>
<span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">May it come to pass!</span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><br /></span></span>
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Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-63834184218804210692014-06-13T11:27:00.001-07:002014-06-13T11:27:39.820-07:00Get Well<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9Bc_QSrxkedoGPPOyf8oXd37L34fSH_zhbnQL-iQcMUK6I-oEh8-eacKCzOQsjRwOzRgFnoBsXCBK4RdXAaPdyfFj3MIYI6eMWmclhjcDm_EKNOL-slFxz0BwuWH1g72Dk1tO4FZ-YYb/s1600/GetWell.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-9Bc_QSrxkedoGPPOyf8oXd37L34fSH_zhbnQL-iQcMUK6I-oEh8-eacKCzOQsjRwOzRgFnoBsXCBK4RdXAaPdyfFj3MIYI6eMWmclhjcDm_EKNOL-slFxz0BwuWH1g72Dk1tO4FZ-YYb/s1600/GetWell.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am in the
infirmary, an effort to take better care of my broken foot so it can heal. This infirmary room is slowly becoming a <i>monk cell </i>for me. I am a bit more confined and so I am less
tempted to pace. It has become a sacred space for healing I keep staring at
the helium balloon that hangs from my ceiling, “Get Well,” it says. It sounds like a very simple request, a kind
wish from a good friend. Little did she
realize what metaphysical ponderings this get-well-wish would work in me!<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What does it
mean to get well? There are times when I
am not actually sick yet need to get well.
At the moment, yes, my foot needs to heal. However I can think of numerous ways I need
to get well.<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">When
my attitude limps and I start feeling sorry for myself I need to get well<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">When
I find myself complaining about every little thing, I need to get well<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<!--[if !supportLists]--><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">·<span style="line-height: normal;">
</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">When
I get so busy I forget to take time for solitude and prayer, I need to get well<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">When
I let grudges reign in my heart, I need to get well<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">When
I find myself critical and impatient with others, I need to get well<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">When
I bring only half a heart to my daily living, I need to get well<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">When
I find myself disgustingly self-righteous, I need to get well<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">When what I own becomes more important than the people I live with, I need
to get well<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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</span></span><!--[endif]--><span style="line-height: 115%;">When
I spend more time judging others than affirming them I need to get well...<o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The list
could go on and on. I could write until
tomorrow. I write these things not to be
overly critical of myself but rather as a gentle reminder that there are ways I
am not living up to my full potential. Since I would like to be the best version
of myself that I can be, these words are a way of prayer. <o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="line-height: 115%;">T</span></b><span style="line-height: 115%;">he mystical
poet Rumi affirms our goodness when he says:
</span><span style="line-height: 115%;">“If you knew yourself for even one moment! If you could glimpse your beautiful
soul! Maybe you </span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">wouldn't</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> slumber so
deeply in that house of clay. Why not
move into your house of joy and shine into every crevice? You are a treasure; and always have
been.” </span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;"><b><i>DIDN'T</i></b></span><span style="line-height: 115%;"><i><b> YOU KNOW? </b><o:p></o:p></i></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 115%;">It’s the
same message St. Paul gives us in </span><span style="line-height: 18.399999618530273px;">1 Cor</span><span style="line-height: 115%;"> 3:16:</span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> Do you not know that you are a temple of
God</b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b> and that the Spirit of God dwells in you?<o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="line-height: 115%;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">And so, all
of you beautiful (though sometimes weary) temples, I invite you to<b><o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-86486653518779307602014-06-07T15:34:00.000-07:002014-06-07T15:34:03.217-07:00Compassion for What is Broken<div class="MsoNormal">
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>"Moved with compassion, </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>Jesus touched their eyes </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b><i>and immediately they could see." </i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i> Mt 20: 34</i></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-family: Trebuchet MS, sans-serif;"><b><i>...if eyes can be healed, why not a foot?...</i></b></span></div>
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The month of June comes upon us with the word compassion trailing along in its wake. The theme I've chosen for this
month is compassion. Everywhere I turn,
everywhere I look, I see opportunities for compassion. Right now I’m looking very close—as close as my
own foot. It’s this big black boot I have
to tote around with me. It’s the foot
inside that I am showering with compassion.
Poor innocent foot that suffered trauma in an unfortunate car accident! </div>
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So here I am unexpectedly slowed down with the same
amount of work to do. I, who, teach the
way of contemplation to others, find myself being invited to listen to my own
words. The turtle that sits beside my foot in the picture wasn't staged. It really is there--my night light inviting me to stop and rest. It has even greater meaning now.</div>
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Life will go on even if I have to cancel a few retreats. Life will go on even if I have change part of
my plans for vacation. (no hiking) Life
will go on if I can’t be at all community functions. At this moment I am called to care for my right foot…this
foot that I haven taken for granted, this foot that I have forgotten to be
(consciously) grateful for. Now I
totally understand <st1:place w:st="on">St. Paul</st1:place>’s
lovely analogy of the physical body and the Body of Christ… (1Cor12:12-26) If the foot should say, “Because I am not a
hand I do not belong to the body, “would it not then belong to the body? “…if one member suffers, all the members
suffer with it.” HOW TRUE IT IS! When I take my boot off at night I am drawn
to pray with it, to thank it for the healing that is happening, to ask its
pardon for taking it for granted, to massage it gently and put lotion on
it. It is quite sacramental. I am being
drawn into compassionate presence. Although it is
unfortunate that something violent had to happen in order for compassionate
presence to come on stage, that is often the case in our lives. Sometimes we are jarred into reflection. I've been spending many moments in contemplation and
gratitude recently. Everything can
become a teacher if we open our hearts to what is in front of us.</div>
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As a child June was one of my favorite months, freed from
school I spent many hours with my feet in the waters of the creek that ran through our forest, catching crawdads, watching the minnows, listening to
life. And this banged up foot: it was young then but it was there---feeling the waters rush over it.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SmUktBa2w67pPH2VPVKR7IC1Gf6Ipbr9xqlJNb-P0I6edTFtpysCT8xQCWssoH9BtePRdTCD0-jm6020ErBO-iawsI8WMoOqMo_Xcza0TZTKav-ifCCZ-b-1q7zMGzoR8Psgpz0O0Pk2/s1600/feet+small+child.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh_SmUktBa2w67pPH2VPVKR7IC1Gf6Ipbr9xqlJNb-P0I6edTFtpysCT8xQCWssoH9BtePRdTCD0-jm6020ErBO-iawsI8WMoOqMo_Xcza0TZTKav-ifCCZ-b-1q7zMGzoR8Psgpz0O0Pk2/s1600/feet+small+child.jpg" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><b>O
Christ of the Healing Waters, </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><b>restore and heal </b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #4c1130; font-size: large;"><b>all things in the world that are
broken.</b></span></div>
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Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-34982880168448172432014-05-16T09:09:00.001-07:002014-05-16T09:23:52.419-07:00E is for...<br />
<span style="font-size: large;">E is for ENTHUSIASM!</span> That is the word I chose as my theme for the month of May. <b>E is also for EARTH</b> and that is the hermitage I stayed in for four days after leading a retreat near Philadelphia. Settling into my hermitage and into the solitude I had so longed for I was pleased to discover that I was in Hermitage E. E is also for eager, energy, ear, eye, ecstasy, express, elusive, enfold, enter, ethereal, and evening: all words I decided I would include, in some way, in my prayer.<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">E is for ENTHUSIASM. </span>In my first prayer period I focused on the fact that enthusiasm means literally <i>to be possessed by God. </i>God-possession! To be zealous and inspired! To have passion for life! To be exuberant! Animated! Alive and Breathing! Moving with the life inside me! In the gospel of John, chapter 10, verse 2 Jesus proclaims: "I have come that you may have life and have it in abundance." Abundant Life, another lovely definition of enthusiasm.<br />
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Of course we don't always experience that flowing energy within. We don't necessarily wake up feeling enthusiastic and passionate about the new day. I wonder if our days might be different if upon rising we would sit down for a few moments, lay a hand on the heart, honoring the God who lives within. Spend a little time owning the Abundant Life given to us by the Source of all life. Each of us is able to decide who we are going to be in any given day.<br />
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E is for ENTHUSIASM! Somewhere inside you is a joy that is wanting to get out. Introduce it to the world. Let it show!<br />
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<span style="font-size: large;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;"> </span><span style="color: #a64d79;">O Source of All Life, Is my abundant life that has come from you truly showing? Is it obvious to those with whom I live and work? Am I allowing it to be the radiant song of joy that you want to sing through me? Am I able to remember that every time I breathe, it is you I am breathing into our world? Does anyone suspect, when they see my enthusiasm for life, that it is because of You I exude this life? And if my answer to these questions is, "probably not," help me remember, there is always tomorrow. My life goes on into the eternal flow of You.</span></b></span><br />
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Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-63397760830397994582014-04-30T16:17:00.002-07:002014-04-30T16:17:36.921-07:00Are we called to be SURPRISES?<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dgcpXkZJ4n7C2-7DeBCh1cMJTLz6gseA5YIXkcD6BYjMfZcPxO8rxQi9YkN7ztKSJzh4K9z89-z1x9NwQqqC0ywZswdWg5eX46gwnm4TM66o1iwv6cCfi-tob-uxbya-kMwXSMkTPWY7/s1600/door1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg_dgcpXkZJ4n7C2-7DeBCh1cMJTLz6gseA5YIXkcD6BYjMfZcPxO8rxQi9YkN7ztKSJzh4K9z89-z1x9NwQqqC0ywZswdWg5eX46gwnm4TM66o1iwv6cCfi-tob-uxbya-kMwXSMkTPWY7/s1600/door1.jpg" /></a>Surprises are endless so always be ready for your day to be interrupted with a surprise. When you open the door there is no telling what might greet you. It may be a piece of beauty that takes your breath away. It could, however, be a surprise of another kind. It could be the surprise of someone who needs help, or someone bearing a message of sorrow. This might require your presence, thus you could have the good fortune (that might not feel like good fortunate at the moment) of being a surprise for the the person at your door. <br />
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It could be the surprise of an unexpected car accident as I somehow celebrated this week. Having my foot elevated and surrounded by ice-packs was not on my agenda but finding myself still alive was an awesome surprise.<br />
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One of the best pieces of advice I have for us is a quote that I am trying to piece together from a Brazilian Archbishop whom some of you may remember from days gone by.<br />
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"Accept surprises that upset your plans, shatter your dreams, and give a completely different twist to your day, and ~~who knows?~~ to your life. It is not chance. Leave God free to weave the pattern of your days." -Dom Helder Camara<br />
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These words certainly echo an amazing piece of advice from our beloved Heni Nouwen,<br />
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<span style="color: orange; font-size: large;"><b> "Turn your interruptions into opportunities."</b></span></div>
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Maybe Jesus didn't just call us to be <span style="color: orange;"><b>DISCIPLES</b></span>. Perhaps he also calls us to be <b><span style="color: orange;">SURPRISES.</span></b><br />
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">Can you allow yourself to find a surprise </span></b></div>
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<b><span style="font-size: large;">behind every door?</span></b></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfyjkCU2xsNIUyMM6thUikChXoZ4FR6RBFpuXeuCVGBIVPRxjwkvRb9IKsJD2_tI5WP1a_uJdzxhAJAHOb-fyZO5DwMiIv9GhqaZT01hVU4ND3tMVVFBoXHVb_x5OZ3gOI6JesJtrwzxQ/s1600/door.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgCfyjkCU2xsNIUyMM6thUikChXoZ4FR6RBFpuXeuCVGBIVPRxjwkvRb9IKsJD2_tI5WP1a_uJdzxhAJAHOb-fyZO5DwMiIv9GhqaZT01hVU4ND3tMVVFBoXHVb_x5OZ3gOI6JesJtrwzxQ/s1600/door.jpg" /></a></div>
<b><br /></b>Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-83390482297859324532014-04-24T05:07:00.003-07:002014-04-24T05:07:39.842-07:00Are you open to surprise?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Your word for April is </span><span style="font-size: x-large;"> <span style="color: #783f04;"><b>SURPRISE</b></span></span></div>
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Go on and pull open the curtain. I know you've seen hundreds of sunrises (or sunsets) but you never know what the next one will be like. It is always a surprise for the one who wears an open heart and can let go of the assumption that you know what is behind the curtain. I once called out to someone with a fair amount of excitement in my voice saying, "Quick, come look at the rising moon!" She answered, "I saw it last night." So did she really see it last night? I doubt it. She saw something in the sky, perhaps, but I doubt that it took hold of her in a healthy, healing kind of way if she wasn't willing to look again, to behold it anew.</div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq63fAYxLoraYV8ToFtIUBNxzqH0gEusOdIWLHXHtIbajP5gCDPTOMH8yYe5P0xqelXx-oQ4EX6MyLLrRY5wxQFkPSMvWE2_21Bo3CfSBoGUWNN-SYsZG8s1-ZqTdlDhczGkkE1JrzwioN/s1600/Surprise2.png" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhq63fAYxLoraYV8ToFtIUBNxzqH0gEusOdIWLHXHtIbajP5gCDPTOMH8yYe5P0xqelXx-oQ4EX6MyLLrRY5wxQFkPSMvWE2_21Bo3CfSBoGUWNN-SYsZG8s1-ZqTdlDhczGkkE1JrzwioN/s1600/Surprise2.png" height="275" width="400" /></a></div>
The word, SURPRISE, has many meanings and my favorite meaning is, "TAKEN FROM ABOVE." You are so filled with amazement and delight that something above you, outside of you, beyond your power, takes hold of you. Something outside of yourself grasps you and invites you to be a seer. You are taken from above and given a new vision of one particular slice of life. A presence that you can't explain pulls back the curtain and some kind of revelation takes place.<br />
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By choice, and practice, we can live as though we are standing before what the Christian Celts call the <i>thin places--</i>those places that are so sacred, could you but draw the veil aside you would see the face of God. Perhaps every surprise is like that. Although it may happen quite naturally yet unexpectedly, you are invited with each surprise to be a seer.<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQys_qKjmQev89-1JqYqI_cOcd0nksBvwdILPiSkpVCfrQ1PZaJjWYE1zKGxRy8Q_cFlvNE6rukYqA1gT2qhbiAKfkNi2ZHh6nvkyvt2bXc1zklvsv7Hn1gZok4XSwEBWOp6dIV1v7Wbd/s1600/surprise4.png" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; display: inline !important; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em; text-align: center;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiZQys_qKjmQev89-1JqYqI_cOcd0nksBvwdILPiSkpVCfrQ1PZaJjWYE1zKGxRy8Q_cFlvNE6rukYqA1gT2qhbiAKfkNi2ZHh6nvkyvt2bXc1zklvsv7Hn1gZok4XSwEBWOp6dIV1v7Wbd/s1600/surprise4.png" height="310" width="400" /></a>It is not easy to be a seer. You have to surrender the lie that you don't have time. 'Looking' is not the same as 'seeing'. One early morning a few years ago I almost walked past a surprise. It was a moon flower just opening its face to the dawn. I looked at it and almost passed by. But suddenly I was taken from above. I paused and took it in. I became its tenant (though it paid no rent). I beheld it and offered it hospitality.<br />
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How easy it is to pass by a surprise because we think we've already seen it!<br />
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Most of all we ought to be careful lest we miss the surprise of one another. Every person is a jewel, a beauty never to be repeated. We think we know the person we are having coffee with but do we really? How do we open ourselves to the surprise of another person? April is almost over and I'm sure you had many surprises. Why not sit down and ponder a few of your surprises! Or, maybe even just the surprises of this day.Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-84553241896069189412014-03-31T11:16:00.001-07:002014-03-31T11:16:04.484-07:00More on Resilience<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white; mso-line-height-alt: 13.5pt;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">Before March slips over into April,</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">let's reflect a little more on resilience.</span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZGAUjirJHOpTA1YDtkG5hTNVa69Tr8PoKs-RjdrfdRLT3svQ96z2VDai-8B3g9xtTANE4sXcHa-V3phh1xiFD2zgXGmDGoAd8jgXZO8oQHd1DI1KeS97KMlzXfAc3BvCEybMtm9qawmy/s1600/The_faithful_ga-330.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjpZGAUjirJHOpTA1YDtkG5hTNVa69Tr8PoKs-RjdrfdRLT3svQ96z2VDai-8B3g9xtTANE4sXcHa-V3phh1xiFD2zgXGmDGoAd8jgXZO8oQHd1DI1KeS97KMlzXfAc3BvCEybMtm9qawmy/s1600/The_faithful_ga-330.jpg" height="640" width="468" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #333333; font-family: "Tahoma","sans-serif";"><span style="font-size: large;">Here is a book about resilience. It is easy to find your life in these pages even though it is about Clarissa's uncle who, after being wounded and broken in spirit by war, returns to life through planting trees and gardening. In this lovely book, The Faithful Gardener, Clarissa Pinkola Estes says,</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: 26.0pt;"><b>"Something is waiting<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: 26.0pt;"><b>for you to make ground for it<br />
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<span style="color: #6aa84f; font-size: 26pt;"><b>its full presence known." </b></span>
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><b>She calls her story: a wise tale about that which can never die. I cannot speak for you (and I know that our stories and our scars are uniquely our own) yet I have experienced a hope and a resilience in myself that seems immortal. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Tahoma, sans-serif;"><b>During the rest of this Lenten season perhaps we could take some time to ponder and pray about what gift we have that is waiting to make its full presence known. How do we need to prepare the soil of our hearts
so that a new presence can be born in our lives? What do you need to make ground for? You've heard of '<i>breaking ground' </i>and ordinarily that means something new is rising. </b></span><br />
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<b style="text-align: center;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-large;"><i>Happy Ground Breaking!</i></span></b><br />
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</span>Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-62890625672874915512014-03-21T07:23:00.000-07:002014-03-21T07:33:24.653-07:00ResilienceResilience is part of our name. It is the word I am trying to celebrate during the month of March. It's been a long hard winter for many of us and for some there is still no sight of Spring. The ravished land is a marvelous metaphor for what happens in the human spirit. There are times when what seemed to be blossoming in us comes to a halt and remains frozen, yet beautiful. How can we trust that the winter of grief in our lives, the deep containers of doubt, the mountains of discouragement can all become teachers for us. Somewhere in the heart of everything is a resilience that wants to lift its face, lift its voice-- and sing its way out of the frozen land of our lives. <b>AND IT WILL!</b><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgvOGp5fBb_OcESv67sD1nhAVKnfjehw4He4EpjR6z-xk0D-IzDxCddk_VmJSgQ67nMiE_uR-BwvqQTUMXdBQYxt8FOKuhCeQHysgwPT2IFczZ9CUNCz8pdrpyZlwx1IQIccVQME0bOUY/s1600/StandStrong.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjUgvOGp5fBb_OcESv67sD1nhAVKnfjehw4He4EpjR6z-xk0D-IzDxCddk_VmJSgQ67nMiE_uR-BwvqQTUMXdBQYxt8FOKuhCeQHysgwPT2IFczZ9CUNCz8pdrpyZlwx1IQIccVQME0bOUY/s1600/StandStrong.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxg2qymF0uJOsNu_dSf_BugyfEVWf5cMYv3OTH6IBOn9EDJ4skcv-Q1AVGPW2XpeLaUneE_RCUtOUf7_OZixCEPtLoZvFMUqqNNfcAF21cPgqM2YmyvYFYgyQL56uFGpNy9Lv8vAlaZCwN/s1600/ShootingStar.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjxg2qymF0uJOsNu_dSf_BugyfEVWf5cMYv3OTH6IBOn9EDJ4skcv-Q1AVGPW2XpeLaUneE_RCUtOUf7_OZixCEPtLoZvFMUqqNNfcAF21cPgqM2YmyvYFYgyQL56uFGpNy9Lv8vAlaZCwN/s1600/ShootingStar.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a><span style="font-size: large;"><b>YES, IT WILL! </b> It has its own time. It will blossom again! And part of the fertilizer we must bring to it is <b>our belief in it. </b>The crocus and the shooting-star that you see here are icons of your own resilient spirit. I invite you to own and honor that often invisible face of yourself. Whether you fully understand this truth or not, you have an amazing rising power in you. Resilience is your inner guest.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyQARXJHKbgin8Gba4P7e3jbnzQjzKukDTislUWDbOxfRcTzoxnJR4JEOAA2i4YhOBjGi4qC9MsFxdR8asZkJo0V3XzKkc3LHpQ2tFl8RmFx7gyPU-TvwIefgxFjT9R174butvFN_IuU3/s1600/crocusPur.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhcyQARXJHKbgin8Gba4P7e3jbnzQjzKukDTislUWDbOxfRcTzoxnJR4JEOAA2i4YhOBjGi4qC9MsFxdR8asZkJo0V3XzKkc3LHpQ2tFl8RmFx7gyPU-TvwIefgxFjT9R174butvFN_IuU3/s1600/crocusPur.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a><br />
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<span style="font-size: x-large;">OH!</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">YOU </span><span style="font-size: large;">BEAUTIFUL</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">RESILIENT</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">SPIRITED</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">BUOYANT</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">STRONG </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">AND NOBLE </span><span style="font-size: large;">SOUL!</span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">NEVER LOSE SIGHT</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">OF YOUR</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">BLOSSOMING POWER.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFxFdkl3VbaqFSFvC2rxTMa287Lm6RtCr1_RVi-f8qbW5Isb3Mkb-sngHaxAQSc2jNa7tsfnyI83RpFLxfTL35_6wH-I3QTwvpKd5ATZz1F2Xn4wnxJ9DIQwz7IJRw4Vk13fvgZCzrLvm/s1600/ChalicFlow2.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjFFxFdkl3VbaqFSFvC2rxTMa287Lm6RtCr1_RVi-f8qbW5Isb3Mkb-sngHaxAQSc2jNa7tsfnyI83RpFLxfTL35_6wH-I3QTwvpKd5ATZz1F2Xn4wnxJ9DIQwz7IJRw4Vk13fvgZCzrLvm/s1600/ChalicFlow2.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
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Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-3893739286256179382014-02-13T10:51:00.000-08:002014-02-13T14:34:49.484-08:00The difficult music of your life<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hqfj7_SuZhUtRXjM7GCFuNbwT6aIdrFWLWtndOynOW13XKzESAX-V2hMoGW760J_Qdo96aGpSHgnVIrqyaJfGttWKjOu1VyLc5hn0rAxaKeWmFqh3cLXn8n4MLkOGudxOhkHvrrBl-0U/s1600/rain.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi3hqfj7_SuZhUtRXjM7GCFuNbwT6aIdrFWLWtndOynOW13XKzESAX-V2hMoGW760J_Qdo96aGpSHgnVIrqyaJfGttWKjOu1VyLc5hn0rAxaKeWmFqh3cLXn8n4MLkOGudxOhkHvrrBl-0U/s1600/rain.JPG" height="261" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">In case you don’t know the poet, Ted Kooser, I would like to
introduce you to him. He was born in
Iowa and now lives in Nebraska. Go to his official website; <u><a href="http://tedkooser.net/" target="_blank">Ted Kooser</a> </u></span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> </span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">If
you like poetry you won’t be disappointed.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">
</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';">And if you think you don’t like poetry, you may be pleasantly surprised.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: 'Comic Sans MS';"> </span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">The poem below is one that I love. It is from his book, <i>Delights and Shadows.</i> </span><br />
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see the poem as you read it. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">A Rainy Morning<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">A young woman in a wheelchair,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">wearing a black nylon poncho spattered with rain,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">is pushing herself through the morning.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">You have seen how pianists</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">sometimes bend forward to strike the keys,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">then lift their hands, draw back to rest,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">then lean again to strike just as the chord fades.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Such is the way this woman</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">strikes at the wheels, then lifts her long white fingers,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">letting them float, then bends again to strike</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">just as the chair slows, as if into a silence.</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">So expertly she plays the chords</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">of this difficult music she has mastered,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">her wet face beautiful in its concentration,</span><span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Verdana","sans-serif";"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">while the wind turns the pages of rain.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">—Ted Kooser<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">One sentence from the poem that lingers with me is this: “So expertly she plays the chords/ of this
difficult music she has mastered.” The words,
“difficult music” linger in my heart. I am in awe of the courage of
so many people (you may be among them) who are daily mastering the “difficult
music” of their lives. I am constantly amazed at the courage portrayed in people's lives. That same courage is in each of us. And so, to discover it!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<span style="color: #222222; font-family: "Comic Sans MS";">Sometimes just sitting with a poem can be a prayer. As you sit with this poem, bring to your mind people you know
who are struggling with the “difficult music” of their lives.</span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="background: white;">
<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QAehwxvigaDYXcIrKuZmPLVmLvAUB0HMj-3S12Uj-fgjoZw2i5FbOqCrC40x1JKWwXEjCLsr879E6g-nWKi8LINf9XJMAyeIkZgUJoJISqrSfFDYCrUQZ_ijxXbvjH3ULWZsztSJMLUr/s1600/wheelchair2..jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj8QAehwxvigaDYXcIrKuZmPLVmLvAUB0HMj-3S12Uj-fgjoZw2i5FbOqCrC40x1JKWwXEjCLsr879E6g-nWKi8LINf9XJMAyeIkZgUJoJISqrSfFDYCrUQZ_ijxXbvjH3ULWZsztSJMLUr/s1600/wheelchair2..jpg" /></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHiAnRdxEvOcARnPjL9j0fs_s76TCFC6deGhRtetn21Yiu_L0RtYhfW69pzJfBAXX-B-kosfzWxesprEjD369J4X9lVGij84V5UaL9Q4QtMLu0Etdd56v5b-bGc2RfAW530XU5tP_ZJ8b/s1600/suffering.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUHiAnRdxEvOcARnPjL9j0fs_s76TCFC6deGhRtetn21Yiu_L0RtYhfW69pzJfBAXX-B-kosfzWxesprEjD369J4X9lVGij84V5UaL9Q4QtMLu0Etdd56v5b-bGc2RfAW530XU5tP_ZJ8b/s1600/suffering.jpg" /></a></div>
<o:p></o:p>Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-57288682899388264552014-02-05T09:35:00.002-08:002014-02-05T09:40:19.806-08:00Wisdom is knocking at your door<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVRYCRhQuHL6Z_XwpPvADnb3OZmEKL566EYgM3lfNsYMVPBPQzGGfoOuG_3tMPerzt7ST6RbhyVMwXelqCoT5sBP0mIyGjhEX79Gs0iDPoZUGDEjHsCA8CgIdLCkx-uIo-TWdGMgmLMnG/s1600/snowcrocus.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjJVRYCRhQuHL6Z_XwpPvADnb3OZmEKL566EYgM3lfNsYMVPBPQzGGfoOuG_3tMPerzt7ST6RbhyVMwXelqCoT5sBP0mIyGjhEX79Gs0iDPoZUGDEjHsCA8CgIdLCkx-uIo-TWdGMgmLMnG/s1600/snowcrocus.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
Those of you who have my 2014 calendar will know that WISDOM is the word I chose for us to focus on for the month of February. It would, of course, be a wonderful gift for us to be conscious of at any moment of the day. Wisdom need not be something we think about only on Pentecost though many of us will recognize it as one of the gifts of the Holy Spirit. I chose wisdom for February because here in Arkansas it is a time when (especially toward the end of the month) we are likely to see little faces of green growing things trying to lift their faces out of the frozen earth.<br />
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
This miracle of life pushing through what looks like death is
beautifully metaphoric for our lives. It is valuable to remember that in our
desperate/lonely moments when no teacher is in sight, there is always a teacher
within. Are we able to learn the
patience of waiting beside the sorrow? Waiting
with the sorrow? Can we sit with the
death we are experiencing and just listen to the wound? Life is a wisdom school, yet there are times when we have to do our grief
work before the wisdom shows her face. <o:p></o:p></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: .0001pt; margin: 0in;">
Spend some time getting acquainted with your inner teacher. What pieces of wisdom will you gather during the month of February? Wisdom is knocking at your door!</div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin: 0in 0in 0.0001pt;">
Here is a small wisdom poem I wrote many
moons ago.</div>
<br />
Again and again<br />
the words washed over my soul<br />
bathing me in truth.<br />
-words from Terry Tempest Williams:<br />
<b>"The most radical thing you can do</b><br />
<b>is to stay where you are."</b><br />
<br />
[..and by those words I do not believe she is asking us not to grow;<br />
or to remain in our sorrow forever; we must take the words deeper.<br />
Eat them. Taste the wisdom within. Live with them for a few days.<br />
I think she is referring to our modern day restlessness that takes us<br />
away from the wisdom of NOW]<br />
<br />
My restless, wandering spirit<br />
stood beside those words for days.<br />
Ate them for dessert<br />
went to bed with them at night<br />
and rose with the taste of them in my heart.<br />
<br />
And what about you? <br />
Where are the words that linger?<br />
-Macrina Wiederkehr<br />
<br />
What have you discovered in the middle of your living that could serve as a resource for your own wisdom poem?<br />
At the end of the day ask yourself this question: What pieces of wisdom from this day's journey, linger?Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-56858868063371845972014-01-30T21:28:00.001-08:002014-01-31T20:19:37.509-08:00What's essential?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">
This week on January 23 St. Scholastica Monastery celebrated the 135th anniversary of our Benedictine community in Arkansas. The little log cabin below is actually a cake which is a replica of the original log cabin in New Blaine Arkansas which was, at that time, our founding site. As I look at the cabin I realize that I am looking at history. I hear echos of the stories of our founding Sisters. As we enjoyed the cake at our evening meal January 23 I was so aware that when our Sisters entered that cabin they had no cake. Indeed they had very little, the bare essentials and not even that. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<br />
I want to hold on to the word, ESSENTIAL, for a little while. Ever since our Founding Day Celebration I've been praying with that word and trying to discern just what is essential in my life. In no way am I implying that we should live in destitution yet I do have concerns with how distracted my life can become in regard to the truly important ingredients of each day. How can I simplify my life in small ways that truly matter each day? How can I do a slow dance with only the essential? For indeed, when I make friends with that which is essential I see everything with new eyes. For example, beauty is essential and it is all around me. Sometimes when I stop my restless pacing, I see the beauty that I pass by every day because I'm looking for something else, something better, more profound or elaborate.... These musings reminded me of a poetic reflection I wrote many years ago. I named it DECORATIONS.<br />
<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRf_Ps9NtLx0R9AX-WoFze95uDZe9F6c-qPXEwKuRjxmm8SyLLWgreXFYBCTc04r4-wTPiqZUSJ46HOdySJYuNYARTvI__dtBOFAHRXxNexzAhnDrTMzxzxxHpZKz4BnI3fbdHIcnU7ow/s1600/OnTheStove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhaRf_Ps9NtLx0R9AX-WoFze95uDZe9F6c-qPXEwKuRjxmm8SyLLWgreXFYBCTc04r4-wTPiqZUSJ46HOdySJYuNYARTvI__dtBOFAHRXxNexzAhnDrTMzxzxxHpZKz4BnI3fbdHIcnU7ow/s1600/OnTheStove.jpg" height="240" width="320" /></a><span style="font-size: large;">"In our search for the holy, there are times when our restless preparations smother the very truth for which we are searching. We decorate our rooms and make elaborate preparations for our prayer, </span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;"> when a single flower ...</span><br />
<br />
<br />
......<span style="font-size: large;">and a moment of waiting</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> </span><span style="font-size: large;">are all we need to meet the One Who Comes. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> In our restlessness, our search </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">sometimes becomes the only god we every meet.</span><span style="font-size: large;"> </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
My days are all spent</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
in decorating my house.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am forever preparing</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
for your arrival.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I hunger for your presence</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
yet I take not the time</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to wait for your coming</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and to my great sorrow</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
you never arrive.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is because I refuse</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to be silent</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that I cannot hear you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is because I refuse</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to await you</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that you cannot come.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It is because I refuse</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to be idle</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that I cannot enjoy you.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It because I am too busy</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
hanging decorations</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
that I cannot welcome you home.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Yet in your deep wisdom</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
your presence leans toward mine.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
You understand my decorations</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
to be symbols of my hunger</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and you know of the day</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
when my heart swept clean</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
will be the only decoration needed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
and I will listen for you coming</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
like night awaiting day.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
--Macrina Wiederkehr</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Seasons of Your Heart, HarperSanFrancisco<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">And now back to our beginning question: </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What is essential? </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">What will you dance with this week?</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">List a few things/people/experiences </span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">that are essential</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;">for you to live a happy life.</span><br />
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span>
</div>
</div>
<br />
<br />
<br />
Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-56359330811546293162014-01-15T13:27:00.001-08:002014-01-15T13:28:52.264-08:00O Lamp of God Gone Out<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">No matter how much we cry out to God, "Be thou my vision..." there are times when it will seem as though our lamp has gone out. Any kind of vision that we hoped would light our way has fled and we are left with a troubled heart.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">Even in these moments we can find a voice for prayer. Even if it is a sad and lonely prayer, let us dare to let God hear our voice.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #0c343d;"><span style="font-size: large;"><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; line-height: 115%;">O
Lamp of God Gone Out ~ </span></span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;"> </span><span style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: large; line-height: 115%; text-align: center;">Where art thou?</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">Once there was a sweet innocence that lived in the garden of my heart and you </span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">were my Epiphany Star; you were my clarity, amazing gift of my life.
Your presence was obvious in the pages of each day. Reflecting on our original relationship I perceive that it was vibrant and alive with
possibilities and meaning. I remember how you helped me claim my
authentic spirit. </span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">From childhood days I had such a longing for
authenticity </span><span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 14pt; line-height: 115%;">and you were my coach, my star, my gate, my lean-to.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;">
<br />
Give me back the sweet innocence of childhood along with the gifted wisdom of
my maturing years. I am firm in my resolution that you are still the Lamp
of my Life and I boldly ask you to shine through the stark and seeming barren
branches of my life--all the way through to the Epiphany Star that is still
shining in the core of my being.</span><br />
<span style="color: #0c343d; font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif"; font-size: 14.0pt; line-height: 115%; mso-ansi-language: EN-US; mso-ascii-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-bidi-font-family: "Times New Roman"; mso-bidi-language: AR-SA; mso-bidi-theme-font: minor-bidi; mso-fareast-font-family: Calibri; mso-fareast-language: EN-US; mso-fareast-theme-font: minor-latin; mso-hansi-theme-font: minor-latin;"> Amen from Macrina</span><br />
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Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-57755287693705502512014-01-13T12:07:00.000-08:002014-01-13T17:29:04.241-08:00BE THOU MY VISIONThe word I have chosen for January is VISION. It seems like a good word for a new year. Even though you may have chosen a different word for this month I offer you this rich word for your prayer. "Where there is no vision, we are told in Proverbs, the people perish." (29:18) So just what does the word, vision, mean to you? First of all, it is considerably deeper than a plan. Anyone can make a plan; not everyone when making a plan will invite vision to be a companion in the planning.<br />
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The first thing to do is to get out your piercing, penetrating eyes (your far-seeing eyes) and become very still. Wait! Listen! Look! Rest in the unknowings of the moment! Close your eyes so that all distractions may more likely disappear and help you get in touch with your inner seeing, that is...your insight. All of this is prayer. You allow God to pray in you. After a brief quiet time you might ask yourself a few questions.<br />
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<li>What is my vision for this day? If I borrow God's far-seeing eyes and look into this day, how would I like to see myself living? [this need not involve a long list, which is often detrimental to faithfulness; perhaps my vision for this day could simply be to live awake (aware).]</li>
<li>How can I live each day with less plans and more vision?</li>
<li>Do I have a spiritual vision for the path of 2014? Am I willing to use my far-seeing eyes to discern what areas of my life are in need of transformation? </li>
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One of the things I am doing this year in an attempt to awaken the vision that I so often allow to sleep in my soul is this:</div>
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Before retiring I ask myself a question, What is your vision for tomorrow? After a few moments of silent listening, I write in my journal one or two of my dreams for the next day. Amazing how a little exercise like this can help me stay on the path, awake!</div>
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I am also trying to allow everyday theophanies (God-Showings) to speak to me about VISION for my personal life. E.G. I am walking along and come upon a young green shoot sprouting out of a dead branch. I pause and allow this ICON to speak to me about my personal life. What is my vision about the things in my life that seem to be dead but in reality are not.</div>
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Another example is this: I see a Sister in my community doing something really kind for another Sister. That is a 'God-Showing' and as I let this beautiful vision cleanse me, I call upon my far-seeing eyes to discern what I might do for someone. It happens every day. I am jarred out of my sleepwalking. I awaken to a vision of something more that is waiting for me.</div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Is it too late to wish you a Happy New Year? </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> Of course not! </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">We have 11 months and 18 days of 2014 left.</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> That's enough time for you to do a tremendous amount of good and have an exorbitant number of visions. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Thank you for the blessing that you are in our world!</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Happy New Year!</span></div>
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Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-37275231339169200522014-01-05T12:08:00.002-08:002014-01-05T12:08:25.936-08:00Happy Feast of Epiphany<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-size: large;">And suddenly the star they had seen rising went forward </span><span style="font-size: large;">and halted </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">The sight of the star filled them with delight.</span></div>
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Matthew 2:9-10</div>
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How often the sight of a star fills us with delight. It is awesome to stand outside and behold a star-studded night. The stars, it seems, have always called us to greatness. They stir up within us a sense of mystery. Poets write and sing about the stars. Artists paint them</div>
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We are told to follow our star. And yet, for all our romanticizing about the stars, if the truth be known, they sometimes lead us to places we would rather not go. A star marks our path with light and guides us to deeper insight. With that deeper kind of seeing comes new responsibilities. It is not always easy to follow a star.</div>
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Long ago three who have been called wise journeyed to the small, insignificant town of Bethlehem. They followed a star that led them to the powerlessness of God lying in a manger. It was the last place on earth one would expect to find the Creator of the stars, yet that is where those beams did shine. We call such a moment an Epiphany. An Epiphany is a manifestation of the Divine Presence right in the midst of daily life.</div>
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Those who have tried to follow the Creator of the stars often find themselves in the midst of an Epiphany. They are called to follow stars that seem beyond their reach. ... And what about you? What is your current Epiphany? Where is your sky all shining with stars? And which stars are calling you?</div>
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Creator of the Stars~~God of Epiphanies</div>
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You are the Great Star</div>
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You have marked my path with light</div>
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You have filled my sky with stars</div>
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naming each star and guiding it</div>
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until it shines into my heart</div>
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awakening me to deeper seeing</div>
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new revelations </div>
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and brighter epiphanies.</div>
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O Infinite Star Giver</div>
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I now ask for wisdom and courage</div>
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to follow these stars</div>
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for their names are many</div>
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and my heart is fearful.</div>
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They shine on me wherever I go:</div>
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The Star of Hope</div>
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The Star of Mercy and Compassion</div>
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The Star of Justice and Peace</div>
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The Star of Tenderness and Love</div>
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The Star of Suffering</div>
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The Star of Joy</div>
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And every time I feel the shine</div>
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I am called</div>
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to follow it</div>
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to sing it</div>
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to live it</div>
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all the way to cross</div>
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and beyond</div>
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O Creator of the Stars</div>
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You have become within me</div>
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an unending Epiphany.</div>
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--Macrina Wiederkehr</div>
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taken from SEASONS OF YOUR HEART</div>
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Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-37965413442896303882014-01-02T14:33:00.001-08:002014-01-02T14:36:19.109-08:00Epiphany<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;">The practice
of choosing a word for the year has replaced my former practice of making new
year’s resolutions. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;">I would like for my
life to be an Epiphany this year: a manifestation of goodness and light, grace
and joy, gratitude and grief. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;">I want to be open to Epiphanies
and Theophanies. These are God-Showings, moments when an awareness of the Holy Mystery breaks into my life. </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 115%;"> You may be surprised that I included grief as a God-Showing. I have found much grace in grief because it brings me face to face with my vulnerability. Grief is not an enemy; it reminds me that I have the potential to love and be loved. When something or someone I loved has been taken away from me it doesn't mean that my life is over; it just means that I have to figure out how to go on with grace and sometimes it takes a while.</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I'll take the star as a guide and I’ll try to open my eyes a little wider each day.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I will watch myself live.</span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">Not quite the same as a resolution! </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;"> </span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I am not saying that I resolve to do this, but I am saying with a certain amount of passion: this is the way I would like to live—open and awake to God-Showings...even if I don't always like the "showing." I do want to see the truth.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">I want to live my life with greater integrity and for me that means living with my eyes open. It also means I need to reflect on how, sometimes, I live with closed eyes. For the new year I have a sign posted on my bulletin board that says, " Open your eyes and watch yourself live." That's scarier than any resolution I ever made.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">This year I plan to spend time praying with the gospels about Jesus healing the blind. The first gospel I've chosen is Mark 8:22-26. I chose it because Jesus had to lay his hands on the blind man twice before he could really see clearly. That is definitely the story of my life. One time just isn't enough. I am a slow learner; I have to be taught again and again and again. The hopeful and helpful thing that I know about myself is that I am willing to be taught.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">My motto for the year is: <b>Nothing has to be a problem unless I make it a problem.</b> </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 18px;">My word for 2014 is <b> Epiphany</b>. </span></span><span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;">My word for January is <b>Vision.</b> Those of you who have my 2014 calendar will notice I have given you one word to pray each month. For those of you who do not have the calendar I will be posting the new word at the beginning of each month. We can live it together.</span><br />
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Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com6tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-39605499261494355032013-12-07T14:01:00.001-08:002013-12-07T14:01:36.103-08:00Advent, a good time to go to God<br />
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<b style="background-color: white; font-size: xx-large;"><span style="color: #b45f06;">AND GOD SAYS:</span></b></div>
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<span style="background-color: white;"><span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><b>“I keep calling to you but
you do not come.” <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06;"><span style="font-size: large;"><b>I couldn't until I was sure
there was nowhere else to go.</b></span><span style="font-size: medium; font-weight: bold;"><o:p></o:p></span></span></div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #b45f06; font-size: 11pt;"><b>Florida Scott Maxwell</b></span><span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><o:p></o:p></span><br />
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<span style="font-size: large;">I totally relate to the quote
above. First of all, let me say
this: turning to God does not necessarily
mean that I’ve been away from God. God
surrounds me like the air I breathe. God
is the Source of my life and all life and I can’t really get away from the
Mystery of that Amazing Presence. I
can, however, move through my days as though everything depends on me. I can wear myself out because I forget to
remember to breathe. Well, of course I
breathe whether I remember that I am breathing or not but it is so much more
enriching when I can truly be in the breathing. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">Imagine that you live your life beside
a flowing stream; the water is always moving.
The stream provides a kind of natural music for your soul. The sun rises and sets. The seasons pass over the flowing stream. Plants grow. Birds sing and drink and play in
the waters. Only you~~you never seem to
come. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">What healing presences are you
missing in your life right now simply because you don’t hear them calling to
you? What are you missing because you
are rushing around doing important things?
These are good questions. In some
way God is always calling us deeper into the mystery of life, calling us to the
Source. To hear this call we have to stop. We will not be able to hear the call ‘<i>on the run</i>’ unless we also learn to
stop. To rest! To be!
To linger! To dwell! To enjoy!
To see! To hear! To abide!<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">God is somewhat like that stream
and concerning the quote above, perhaps there are times when we don't go to God
because we don't know what to say. Or perhaps there are times when we don’t
go to God because we think we don’t have time.
I've said it before
and I'll say it again. Words are the least important part of prayer; we
don't need a lot of words to pray. We
just need a lot of presence and mindfulness.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;">The season of Advent can assist us
in remembering that we have nowhere else to go except to the stream of living
water. Let the sunrise of God’s Presence
shine on you during this holy season.
Get out your hopeful heart. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span style="font-size: large;"><br /></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQWvgxCV5fBpjWJFSuR6eAD5CPOVlWGmApEZE9B-Hvwt43TVP13pK5_xA07Hk6Esx-WKjVq6TaFcNfWJ7xAGvbWFAqETs9aN92pVvlWj1AWy4EaCYJW6iRli2jnL7qWpWyaD2sSuCSxVz/s1600/feet+stream.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiiQWvgxCV5fBpjWJFSuR6eAD5CPOVlWGmApEZE9B-Hvwt43TVP13pK5_xA07Hk6Esx-WKjVq6TaFcNfWJ7xAGvbWFAqETs9aN92pVvlWj1AWy4EaCYJW6iRli2jnL7qWpWyaD2sSuCSxVz/s1600/feet+stream.jpg" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Put
your feet in the stream</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;"> of living waters </span><span style="font-size: large;">and </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">wait for God.</span><span style="font-size: large; text-align: left;"> </span></div>
</div>
Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-30143012100484786532013-10-22T08:36:00.001-07:002013-10-22T08:36:57.032-07:00O Source of all Life, a prayer<br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLyoUKCDWi2lCwXNQAkscB5yazE7YvOKVgLSFkb8qR33uRD_ag8I8snzTZkxI6uQl0QuE29Fu-wIm9ao1ipdOn-vWlRQn6Y-V3JAbn2YGiqI0Ho71CtbowPSV1BKQVt87dvU5mfLImTr7/s1600/Jesus+crowds.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="202" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqLyoUKCDWi2lCwXNQAkscB5yazE7YvOKVgLSFkb8qR33uRD_ag8I8snzTZkxI6uQl0QuE29Fu-wIm9ao1ipdOn-vWlRQn6Y-V3JAbn2YGiqI0Ho71CtbowPSV1BKQVt87dvU5mfLImTr7/s320/Jesus+crowds.jpg" width="320" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #b45f06; font-size: large;"><b>O Source of all Life,</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">a<b>s once you looked with compassion <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>on the weary crowds <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>who seemed lost and without a shepherd, <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>look again upon your people <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>so desperately in need of renewal. </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>Send your spirit to
blow over our dead bones <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #351c75;"><b>resurrect in us a surprising new life. </b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">Blow away negative thoughts,<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #b45f06;">replace them with hopeful dreams. </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">Blow away critical thoughts; <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #741b47;">replace them with affirming words. </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: blue;">Blow away busyness; <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: blue;">replace it with a desire <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: blue;">to take more time<o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: blue;">for building a rich interior life. </span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b> Blow away
anxiety; <o:p></o:p></b></span></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><span style="color: #134f5c;"><b>replace it with trust. </b></span><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">Blow away indifference; <o:p></o:p></span></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">replace it with love.
</span></b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>O Breath of God,<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b> transform our
unconscious way of living <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
<div align="center" class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>into a vibrant, enlivening way <o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>of being in this world.</b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<span style="font-size: 14.0pt;">©Macrina Wiederkehr, OSB<o:p></o:p></span></div>
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Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-68002153217102387022013-10-18T18:51:00.004-07:002013-10-18T18:51:35.243-07:00In Praise of WONDER<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
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This poem by Czeslaw Milosz invites me into the grace of WONDER. Read it slowly and think of some thing in your past that filled you with wonder. </div>
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<br /></div>
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<b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Encounter</b><b style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"> </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>We were riding through frozen fields in a wagon at dawn.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>A red wing rose in the darkness.</b></span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>And suddenly a hare ran across the road.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>One of us pointed to it with his hand.</b></span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </b></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>That was long ago. Today neither of them is alive,</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Not the hare, nor the man who made the gesture.</b></span><b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> </b></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>O my love, where are they, where are they going?</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The flash of a hand, streak of movement, rustle of pebbles.</b></span></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>I ask not out of sorrow, but in wonder.</b></span></div>
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<br /></div>
<div style="background-color: white; color: #333333; line-height: 20px; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">~ Czeslaw Milosz ~</span></div>
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<br /></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi_pa26GsM-d0J2xNn1Ss-bMBQ76BHFg7EoiAI6obtTCbRaQ7AoIJOpBeyPbwxFcOtbEvfI3GLGwTMB8-5LeAaVCg3plt1McfeM4ocds5DiSa6iLAHDO1TjaoCTq8LJthrcnx1_dgLAVI/s1600/blossomOfLove.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyi_pa26GsM-d0J2xNn1Ss-bMBQ76BHFg7EoiAI6obtTCbRaQ7AoIJOpBeyPbwxFcOtbEvfI3GLGwTMB8-5LeAaVCg3plt1McfeM4ocds5DiSa6iLAHDO1TjaoCTq8LJthrcnx1_dgLAVI/s400/blossomOfLove.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<br />
The flower above is one of my memories. It, too, no longer exists in the way I once beheld it. It does, however, still exist in my mind, in my memory. Its visit once filled me with wonder.<br />
<br />
As we reflect on some of the gifts of the past and the WONDER they brought into our lives we might also reflect on the importance of living mindfully. There are many people who wouldn't give a 2nd thought to the things that the poet is so lovingly remembering. Remembering is important. Mindfulness is important. We can choose how alive with wonder we are. Right now, today, make plans to choose wonder.<br />
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<br />Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-49301956009508225062013-10-10T14:47:00.001-07:002013-10-10T14:47:14.750-07:00The gift of a word<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">For those of you who have been </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">keeping up with my WORD FOR A MONTH prayer </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">you </span><span style="font-size: large;">may think I forgot all about my monthly word. </span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: large;">Actually I didn't, although it is true</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">that I have failed to post some of them. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: large;">So how about a little review.</span></div>
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</div>
<ol>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>January</b></span>: the word was <span style="color: #674ea7;"><b>VESSEL</b></span>, with emphasis on allowing myself to be poured out for others.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #741b47;"><b>February:</b></span> <span style="color: #741b47;"><b>SIMPLICITY</b></span>, reminding myself of how clutter oppresses me. It was an attempt to keep my mind, my heart and my space uncluttered.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #e06666;"><b>March</b></span>: During this month I tired to be grateful and present to the wonder of my <span style="color: #e06666;"><b>HANDS.</b></span></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: blue;">April:</span></b><b style="color: #38761d;"> </b>During this month I reflected deeply on the importance of <span style="background-color: white;"><b><span style="color: blue;">GRIEF </span></b>i</span>n our lives.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #7f6000;"><b>May: </b></span>This was the month when I put forth much effort be present and live in the <span style="color: #7f6000;"><b>PRESENCE</b></span>.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: #38761d;"><b>June: RESILIENCE</b>,</span> After weathering the storms of the seasons I became aware of how much springing-back power nature has and I wished the same for myself.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b style="color: #38761d;">July: </b>The word, <b style="color: #38761d;">RESILIENCE</b><span style="color: #38761d;">,</span> didn't want to leave me so I allowed it to stay for the month of July.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #8e7cc3;">August, SILENCE</span></b> entered into my life during this month. I encouraged it with much enthusiasm.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #a64d79;">September: WILD, UNTAMED</span></b><b style="color: #134f5c;"> </b>visited me during September. I tried to get in touch with those undomesticated parts of my life, my original self.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span style="color: orange; font-weight: bold;">October: </span>As I write this, leaves are beginning to fall. I chose the word, <b><span style="color: orange;">SURRENDER, </span></b>asking my whole self to let go of what is no longer needed.</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #351c75;">November</span></b> will be<b style="color: #990000;"> </b><b><span style="color: #351c75;">MINDFULNESS.</span></b></li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><b><span style="color: #cc0000;">December, PEACE.</span></b></li>
</ol>
I found it so helpful for my prayer to focus on a word each month for 2013 that I decided to use this idea for my annual 2014 calendar. Below you will see a composite of the photos I've used for my calendar this year. Each month I give you a word to pray. Your word is splashed across the picture for the month and a prayer poem describing the process can be found on the last page of the calendar. If you would like a calendar check our website or gift-shop. It should be advertised soon. <a href="http://www.stscho.org/">www.stscho.org</a><br />
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<div class="MsoNoSpacing">
Think of a journal
that is empty. The pages are waiting for
your words. Each year is somewhat like
that. The hours, days, weeks, months
await your words, your dreams, your actions. The 2014 year of prayer calendar is offering you 12 words for your pilgrimage through the year.<o:p></o:p></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_1qjsdEKSyJRu0DluLp4qydjKP21CtSmGVDcDuq7aDj5APKKtHmJTAkDbE3dAmwuxLyloAc0HQlgUcNcwr3QkSJ4GWSWnB-uwQGXIyxKUUk0OTFLtULsYsuZkViKtmAF_qOWkaMDeL-i/s1600/Retail+Ad+Template+Calendar+2014-1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="489" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjg_1qjsdEKSyJRu0DluLp4qydjKP21CtSmGVDcDuq7aDj5APKKtHmJTAkDbE3dAmwuxLyloAc0HQlgUcNcwr3QkSJ4GWSWnB-uwQGXIyxKUUk0OTFLtULsYsuZkViKtmAF_qOWkaMDeL-i/s640/Retail+Ad+Template+Calendar+2014-1.jpg" width="640" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>Write on your heart </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: orange; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>that every day is the best day of the year!</b></span></div>
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<b><span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">~~Ralph Waldo Emerson~~</span></b></div>
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Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-60704662597460899102013-10-06T14:45:00.003-07:002013-10-06T18:06:50.599-07:00Tracking the Mystery<div style="text-align: center;">
Have I actually been away from this blog for two months! </div>
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My apologies for staying away so long. </div>
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I've been tracking the Mystery. </div>
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Many things have happened while I was away. </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A ten day silent retreat in Colorado.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A month of re-wilding myself--spending 30 minutes outside each day.<br />
The adventure of trying to live mindfully!</div>
<br />
But now I'm sort of back. Actually I am in transition and this blog will eventually be part of my website which is under construction. If I had time to fetch an orange barrel to keep in line with all the highway construction going on these days, I would do so but for the moment I will leave that to your imagination.<br />
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<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>Getting ready for my Heart of the Hunter retreat </b></span></div>
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<span style="color: #274e13; font-size: large;"><b>which is sometimes called Tracking the Mystery. </b></span></div>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBDtpqi0p4D_WpT67xw7erA7iINOQ6maLQEjBQ-kZO2u40kgXhu_1PM7iOIlpPrHmHrDlVvAmdNRg2TuqGJBAdlXoUdOU414S-Vul-Ib3jgecqcdKswjB26ph-p6BgBQtKkvxcgeBJH0W/s1600/Deep+Forest.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhJBDtpqi0p4D_WpT67xw7erA7iINOQ6maLQEjBQ-kZO2u40kgXhu_1PM7iOIlpPrHmHrDlVvAmdNRg2TuqGJBAdlXoUdOU414S-Vul-Ib3jgecqcdKswjB26ph-p6BgBQtKkvxcgeBJH0W/s400/Deep+Forest.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">We are all trackers. We are all hunters! And the crucial hunt in life is not the hunt for BIG GAME but the hunt for meaning and purpose, for fullness of life, for God. The tool we have been given to serve us on this life-long hunt is the heart. During this retreat we will explore the power of the heart and delve into the truth that we are both the hunters and the hunted, for the HOUND OF HEAVEN is tracking us with the most powerful heart of all. And so, in this hunting season I am remembering the forest again and I am reminded of how hunters find clearings in the forest where they set up food-traps for their prey. </span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">On
my hunting-retreat I, too, will set up food traps for you. It will be a holy trick to lure you into the
astounding beauty of your own heart’s forest where you might find a little
clearing to sit down and wait and perhaps be found by God. And who knows but you, too, might die because
all forms of surrender include a kind of dying. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Whether you are attending this retreat or not I suggest you
prepare yourself for the Hunt. Find a
path in the forest of your life. Follow the path. </span><span style="font-family: Georgia, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;"> </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyN7l77wZkuXAwXyrItGJfFBxPAkbMKTfhdqBWf0PRgG_nZdEprEV0Qv4Hu_-Gybq3iWrSgFLRqx81yfRqUWivNB3ecFd6enideVxT0GsIBDYcAr6D9w7yBnf3pFSLBJI0qzbK5XRYF6TL/s1600/Path,Light,Dark.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhyN7l77wZkuXAwXyrItGJfFBxPAkbMKTfhdqBWf0PRgG_nZdEprEV0Qv4Hu_-Gybq3iWrSgFLRqx81yfRqUWivNB3ecFd6enideVxT0GsIBDYcAr6D9w7yBnf3pFSLBJI0qzbK5XRYF6TL/s400/Path,Light,Dark.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif; font-size: large;">Find the clearing. Sit down and wait. Eat what is provided for you which is nothing more or less than beauty and terror. Allow yourself to be found by God. There is always a sacred place--a little clearing made ready for you; a place where the light will fall on you if only you arrive, and pause for awhile waiting for transformation.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1qM_nMfcbPNq6GPYTerYIi5LyleeftCDV_nkjbioLcerCxRic4gK5625E-pdiRu7v8CznwQQ94F29shVQR1E4eXtMeq5LsUZg-HzHLA2IRUH-OkqUtTUbUrAh8rsJ7nxl5axxzfvUmvp/s1600/StillWaiting.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjM1qM_nMfcbPNq6GPYTerYIi5LyleeftCDV_nkjbioLcerCxRic4gK5625E-pdiRu7v8CznwQQ94F29shVQR1E4eXtMeq5LsUZg-HzHLA2IRUH-OkqUtTUbUrAh8rsJ7nxl5axxzfvUmvp/s400/StillWaiting.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"><b><i>To be hunted by God is not to die </i><i>but to fall in love. </i></b></span></div>
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<i><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"><b>The spears of God’s love slice through your being</b></span></i></div>
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<i><span style="color: #7f6000; font-size: large;"><b> and you are both wounded and healed.</b> — Macrina</span></i></div>
<br />Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4395970139472241820.post-87208518269902817862013-07-25T14:29:00.000-07:002013-07-25T17:45:17.075-07:00Resilience<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b><span style="font-size: x-large;">Resilience:</span> </b></span></span><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">a precious, often hidden gift!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...all within you that is able to rise again </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">after a time of angst.</span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...your rising power</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">your potential to blossom,</span></span></div>
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<span style="text-align: start;"><span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">to spring forth revitalized</span></span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">after a season that felt like death!</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...a restoration of energy and joy</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">after long periods of bitterness, </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">withering and drought.</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">...a bouncing back power </span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">recovery, renewal, resurrection</span></div>
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<span style="color: #38761d; font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: large;">a return from desolation</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">Resilience is the word I chose to pray with and reflect on during the month of JULY. It is such a rich word. All of us experience the piercing sword of separation that comes from death. There are many kinds of death. It may be the actual physical death of a beloved. Or, it may be the death of dreams, the loss of health, the ending of a dear relationship or perhaps your fading youth. Whatever the severing may be, it is an experience of death. Something has ended. Can there be a rebirth of life? Do we want to find our way to new life?</span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">When these things happen it may feel as though nothing is left but a withered spirit of what once was bright and beautiful. Hope seems to have lost her wings and you are left with a broken heart. At times such as these try to become silent, look into your heart. After many heart-viewings you may eventually find resilience waiting to be discovered. For further reflection, pray with the image below. </span></div>
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<span style="font-size: 18px; text-align: start;">A tree behind our House of Discernment was struck by lightening. The debris and remnants of the tree were cleaned up and used for firewood and mulch. After a few months a seedling appeared, a new shoot sprang up. It is still growing! A lovely quote from the book of Job came to me. I offer you this image and scripture text for your own prayer and reflection.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>For a tree there is hope;<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>if it is cut down, it will
sprout again,<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>its tender shoots will not
cease.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Even though its roots grow
old in the earth<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>and its stump die in the
dust,<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Yet at the first whiff of
water it sprouts<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>and puts forth branches
like a young plant.<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica Neue, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 14.0pt;"><b>Job 14: 7-9<o:p></o:p></b></span></div>
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Macrinahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13030180200630548845noreply@blogger.com5