A 17th Century Nun Prayed ‘Lord, Thou knowest better than I know myself that I am growing older and someday will be old.’ Recently, I went on a pilgrimage to Jerusalem, a small village here in New Zealand. In 1892, Suzanne Aubert (better known as Mother Mary Joseph) established the congregation of […]
Poetry
16 posts
Rebuilding Walls have weakened, crumbling, sinking low to ground, sagged like our spirits as they view the sorry edifice before us ShareTweetSharePinMore
This morning I heard this beautiful translation of Psalm 23. Enjoy The Lord is my constant companion. There is no need that He cannot fulfil. ShareTweetSharePinMore
Letting go The more difficult the problem the tighter we tend to hang on as if by grim determination we should squeeze the answer out like the last toothpaste from an already-squashed, ShareTweetSharePinMore
Three Gratitude’s Every night before I go to sleep I say out loud Three things that I’m grateful for, All the significant, insignificant Extraordinary, ordinary stuff of my life. It’s a small practice and humble, And yet, I find I sleep better Holding what lightens and softens my life […]
There is an Ocean We, so small and plain and self-contained, we live lives full of petty concerns, and selfish gain. We, all wound up and tight and self-absorbed, we draw up the drawbridge, and pull shut the door. With our concern for self we become confined, we narrow our […]
Between Here and There I am waiting -for what? To be there, not here, To be somewhere else; To have that, not this, For ‘this’ to be over; For then, not now, To have tomorrow, today. I am waiting for The pain to be gone and My future certain; […]
Dear God, why do I keep fighting you off? One part of me wants you desperately, another part of me unknowingly pushes you back and runs away. What is there in me that so contradicts my desire for you? These transition days, these passageways, are calling me to let go […]
God hath not promised skies always blue, Flower-strewn pathways all our lives through; God hath not promised sun without rain, Joy without sorrow, peace without pain. But God hath promised strength for the day, Rest for the labor, light for the way, Grace for the trials, help from above, Unfailing […]
Safety valves We all need someone to confide in. A listening ear. Sympathetic company. Though some things are too close for comfortable sharing. Too painful to pass on to another. They can remain hidden deep inside. Buried, to all intents and purposes. Or we choose to release in a different […]
I Am Yours Before God I stand Hands bowed at my sides Offering the little I can: ‘I am Yours.’ No frills, no bells, no whistles. Just fear and pain and ordinariness. All that I am: The good, the bad and all that’s in-between. A simple gift Offered in […]
Never Borrow Sorrow from Tomorrow Deal only with the present — never step into tomorrow, For God asks us just to trust Him and to never borrow sorrow, For the future is not ours to know, and it may never be, So let us live and give our best and […]
The Perfect Cup it is time for meto see the flawsof myselfand stopbeing alarmed it is time for meto halt my drivefor perfectionand to accept my blemishes it is time for meto receiveslowly evolving growththe kind that comesin God’s own good timeand pays no heed to my panicky pushing it […]
Seeds for Thought The sword is heavy. And piercing sharp. Stronger than rock, It yields a mighty blow To the foe With each assault. The bow and arrow Are light and swift. Silent war implement, It yields a surprise attack To front or back, From […]
I wanted to.. but I wanted to present to you a lover – undefiled and whole with flesh like grass inviting inspection, pure and eager for your reaching arms. I wanted to present to you a mind unclotted by the mud-pied clogginess of doubt distrust free from fettered cares […]
We want to have a life of comfort, but this prayer asks that God bless you with discomfort at easy answers. A dangerous prayer to pray. May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you […]