“Now is the time we must shake off the great mantle of night which has enveloped us, and reach for the light. The new day which is dawning must find us determined, enlightened, and resolute.”—Frantz Fanon
| Verse of the day I am for peace; but when I speak, they are for war. – Psalm 120:7 |
| Voice of the day And when the pain of gun violence begins to overwhelm me, I remember nature, that it groans with us and sings with us. Even the rocks cry out. – Cassidy Klein |
| Prayer of the day Guide us in the path of discipleship, so that, as you have blessed us, we may be a blessing for others, bringing the promise of the kingdom near by our words and deeds. – From Revised Common Lectionary Prayers |
poem and photos by Ana Lisa de Jong, I want you to write yourself a love note.A story of the spirit that lives in you,rises up, defies opposition.I want you to write the inverse of everythingyou’ve been told that hurts,limits, keeps you sold out to other’s opinions.Who do you know, even amongst those who love…
A Love Note — Godspacelight
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It has been a long and full day
A day of reflection
A day of worship preparation
A day for study
A day to simply Be Still
Lord, to you I raise
Wide and bright
Faith-filled eyes
You are my protection
Bring me home.
And receive my prayer
Sweet as incense smoke
Rising from my heart
Free of care.**
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
**Collected Poems, from Thomas Merton: A Book of Hours, p. 112
| Verse of the day For the love of God is this, that we obey [God’s] commandments. And [God’s] commandments are not burdensome, for whatever is born of God conquers the world. And this is the victory that conquers the world, our faith. – 1 John 5:3-4 |
| Voice of the day I don’t want to be an anti, against anybody. I simply want to be the builder of a great affirmation: the affirmation of God, who loves us and who wants to save us. – Saint Óscar Romero |
| Prayer of the day Faithful God, make our hearts bold with love for one another. Pour out your Spirit upon all people, that we may live your justice and sing in praise the new song of your marvelous victory. – From Revised Common Lectionary Prayers |
“The day we will truly achieve justice is the day that no Black person is taken from us at the hands of police. Let us continue to work toward abolition and Black liberation—one where Black people across the diaspora thrive, experience joy, and are no longer defined by their struggles.”—Black Lives Matter
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
What a wonderful day of vacation
Hanging pictures in the house with my sweetheart
Spending time with members of the Abbey of the Arts community
Enjoying the opportunity to Be Still
Thankful for conversation and re-connecting with a friend and classmate from High School
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
| Verse of the day I am giving you these commands so that you may love one another.– John 15:17 |
| Voice of the day Gestures in good faith do not end oppression; it is risk and ruthless radical love that will see us through. – Aja Monet, My Mother Was a Freedom Fighter (2017) |
| Prayer of the day We pray that, wherever your image is still disfigured by poverty, sickness, selfishness, war, and greed, the new creation in Jesus Christ may appear in justice, love, and peace, to the glory of your name. – From Revised Common Lectionary Prayers |
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
What an amazing day
Gathering for worship and communion this morning
Jesus, any time we get to gather around your table is a blessing
Such a wonderful Installation service this afternoon
How wonderful to worship with friends and family
And to spend the evening with my sweetheart and our puppy
Thank you, for such a gift!
Now as my eyelids grow heavy
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
What a wonderful day to relax and spend time with my sweetheart
To simply Be Still
To embrace the present moment
What a blessing indeed
In Conjectures of a Guilty Bystander, Thomas Merton had the followed to say about the present moment:
You do not need to know precisely what is happening or exactly where it is going. What you need is to recognize the possibilities and challenges offered by the present moment, and to embrace them with courage, faith and hope.
Thank you for the this day and the blessings of the present moment
Now as my eyelids grow
I lift this humble prayer to you
Dona Nobis Pacem
Grant Us Peace
A wee prayer from the heart of your Padre…
