The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
A day of forced rest for healing
A day of reflection and prayer
A day of reading and contemplation
A day to simply Be Still
Thank you Lord, for this time
Thank you for my sweet wife
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 Healer is the one who helps us to overcome inner divisions of body, mind, soul, heart, and spirit. Healing is very different than curing. Even in an illness which does not go away, the Healer within allows us to find some wisdom and grace in the experience and allows us to have some peace and ease in the midst of unknowing and pain.”
— Christine Valters Paintner, PhD, Illuminating the Way: Embracing the Wisdom of Monks and Mystics
As Sister Moon travels across the sky I wonder.
What do you see from your orbit high above us?
Do you see borders created by governments?
Do you see neighborhoods where only a few are allowed to move freely?
Surely you see the destruction of wildfires and earthquakes
Surely you see evidence of the changing climate
Surely you see War’s horrific destruction
Ah Sister Moon, do you see hope for this planet despite our actions?
Do you?
———-
I came across the below poem while reading a small book of a Thomas Merton’s titled, Silence and Joy. It speaks to the season of Epiphany and to what I imagine Sister Moon sees from her vantage point as she makes her way across the sky.
Carol
Flicks feed by darkness with a noise of whispers,
In the dry grass of pastures,
And lull the solemn night with their weak bells.
The little towns upon the rocky hills
Look down as meek as children:
Because they have seen come this holy time.
God’s glory, now, is kindled gentler than low candlelight
Under the rafters of a barn:
Eternal Peace is sleeping in the hay,
And Wisdom’s born in secret in a straw-roofed stable.
And O! Make holy music in the stars, you happy angels.
You shepherds, gather on the hill.
Look up, you timid flocks, where the three kings
Are coming through the wintry trees;
While we unnumbered children of the wicked centuries
Come after with our penances and prayers,
And lay them down in the sweet-smelling hay
Beside the wise men’s golden jars.
———-
Ah Sister Moon
Surely you must weep with our Creator
May you guide us as we carry our penances and prayers
May we somehow find forgiveness
May we somehow turn things around
May we do this and so much more
As we kneel before the Prince of Peace
A New Year’s Blog from Ronnie… and boy is it true!!
“Wonder, my friends, wonder. It’s the only way to stay alive for the few years you have to live.”
— Read on ronniemcbrayer.org/2020/01/06/living-in-wonder/
Ever since we moved to the Rocky Mountains the Moon has played an important role in my own sacred time. Partially it may be because I now have a camera that receives such amazing images.
I remember looking up into the night sky each time I was deployed with the military or on training exercises. To see the Moon and the constellation Orion in the night sky always connected me with family back home. To see the Moon rising over the mountains in Afghanistan knowing that my family saw the same Moon back home brought me much comfort.
Thanks to courses I have been a part of with the Abbey of the Arts Abbey of the Arts (Especially Eye of the Heart: Photography as a Contemplative Practice) my eye and my heart have been opened greatly. I spent many years, especially overseas in the military, “taking” pictures. Even initially here in the Mountains I saw the act as taking pictures instead of receiving them.
Sister Moon has indeed taught me so much spiritually.
A clear night to welcome the New Year
I watched the waxing crescent moon
Watched as she made her trip across the night sky
At night the opportunity is there
To slow down
To Be Still
A time of Examen
A time to simply Be
This picture at the top of the blog came to me by inspiration. I had been following Sister Moon in the National Park after my Mom’s death and while Denise was with her Mom who was in the hospital a mere three months after my Mom’s death. My spirit was in turmoil as I also at that same time was walking with a number of parishioners through the Valley of the Shadow of Death. Sister Moon brought me comfort and connection with Denise during a difficult time. Seeing her in the park and then in the middle of the cross in our outdoor chapel was truly a blessing. Even as I write this, she is rising over Mount Olympus which I can see out my office window!
A beautiful Epiphany offering from my beloved ❤️❤️
The past several days I have been thinking about Epiphany and what I am bringing to Jesus this new year. Michael preached about this very thing and encouraged us to bring our fears and despair along with our hopes and gifts. Bring our whole selves to Jesus, he encouraged…
— Read on lovetrumps.wordpress.com/2020/01/07/home-by-another-way/
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
On this day of Epiphany
The work of the church continues
Budgets to be reviewed for the New Year
Plans for the weeks leading up to Lent
Plans for Lenten and Holy Week services
Lent and Holy Week? Oh my!
Yet I am reminded that the journey from the manger to the cross calls us
It calls us to listen, to love, to serve
Thank you Lord, for these sacred moments
Thank you for the opportunity to serve
Thank you for the moments to Be Still
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 Christmas decorations are packed up with love and care
The wind has been howling all day
As I worked in my office I had some time for contemplation
I had some time for reflection and prayer
Epiphany
A time of gifts and wonder
A time to look forward to a new year
As I read the final passage from Howard Thurman in Bruce Epperly’s book The Work of Christmas: The Twelve Days of Christmas with Howard Thurman, I was struck by the invitation he offers us to continue this journey throughout the year.
Once this spirit becomes part of a [person]’ s life, every day is Christmas and every night is freighted with the dawning of fresh, and perhaps holy, adventure.
Every day is Christmas… the dawn of every day is fresh and new… a holy adventure…
To conclude, Epperly offers these words:
The Feast of Epiphany proclaims God’s revelation in unexpected places and among unexpected people. The true light enlightens everyone—Buddhists, Hindus, Muslims, Jews, and agnostics—as well as followers of Jesus. We find this light everywhere.
Inspired by a dream, the magi “left for their own country by another road.” We never know where a dream can take us. The light can take us to unexpected places. Holy adventures can’t be predicted, but one thing is certain: noticed or unnoticed, obvious or hidden, God will guide us as we go forth, following stars and dreams toward unexpected destinations. And in the midst of the journey, we may discover with feminist theologian Nelle Morton that “the journey is home”—that right now, God’s grace is enough, beauty reigns supreme, and we have enough love and wisdom to find our way.
We take down the tree, we pack up the stockings, and store the cards till next year. But, the work of Christmas has just begun.
God is with us! The adventure continues! (pp. 91-92)
May that journey continue to encourage and sustain you, Dear Reader!
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
It was a wonderful Lord’s Day
Worship and gathering around the Lord’s Table
Enjoying the beauty of the day
Enjoying time with dear friends who are family
Enjoying wonderful music and storytelling
Tonight simply a chance to Be Still
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…
Today is the last day of Christmas. This morning at Worship I was challenged by the Spirit to speak of the Lord’s peace in times like these. When rumors of war assault all of our senses constantly. Tomorrow is the Feast of the Epiphany. The Magi came a day early in today’s worship. Today was a message of challenge… of hope… of consolation… of peace in the midst of chaos.
This afternoon we had the blessing of spending a few hours with two dear friends who are family to us. Erin and Nadine’s music makes us smile. They share laughter and joy with those who hear their music. We are so very thankful for that time of music and joy.
As I drove back up the canyon, my mind came back to this season of Christmas which ends today. It has been quite a season. There have been highs and lows aplenty. It has been a time with family and dear friends. It has been a time of rest, reflection, and blessings. It has been a time of music, love, and laughter. It has also been a time of tears, fear, and sorrow. It has been a time of deep prayer and lament.
Once again I turn to the words of both Howard Thurman and Bruce Epperly. Thurman’s words ring loud and clear in my heart and soul.
When the song of the angels is stilled,
When the star in the sky is gone,
When the kings and princes are home,
When the shepherds are back with their flock,
The work of Christmas begins:
To find the lost,
To heal the broken,
To feed the hungry, To release the prisoner,
To rebuild the nations,
To bring peace among brothers [and sisters],
To make music in the heart.
We were challenged today in worship (both the pastor and the congregation) to look upon this season differently that we have perhaps looked upon it before. The events of long ago were indeed radical. The events of long ago challenged and transformed Shepherds, the Magi, and of course the Holy Family.
Between the music in worship and the music of our dear friends I was reminded of the beauty of this season. The music also reminded me of our purpose as people of the Light. As John 1:5 says–the light shines in the darkness and the darkness has not overcome it.
Epperly put it quite beautifully in his own reflection on the final day of Christmas:
Love always trumps fear and hate. Love opens us to novelty and wonder, and inspires us to bring beauty to daily life, to the lives of the vulnerable, and to the world. Yes, joy and beauty to the world, because God is here!
Christmas is a season, but it is also a state of mind that dwells tenderly on the simple things, that looks for beauty in ugliness, and seeks peace in conflict. On this twelfth day of Christmas, we don’t need partridges, rings, or maids a milking; we need the dream of God’s realm to energize and challenge us. Let us make a commitment to become Christmas people, builders of a new world, embracing persons in need and seeing Christ born and reborn in every child. Let us pray to take our Christmas spirit into the season of Epiphany, the season of the Persian magi and God’s revelation in unexpected places.
The light of the world still shines. (pp 84-85)
Indeed, the light of the world still shines and we are called to carry the light of that love which always trumps fear and hate. May we be Christmas people each and every day of the year.
