Wise words, Shirley!
The family of Isaac and Rebecca make most of our families look good.…
shirleyhobsonduncanson.com/2019/05/15/listening-in-the-center/
I have been thinking about Thomas Merton a lot lately. I picked up the book, A Hidden Wholeness: The Visual World of Thomas Merton a month or so ago and have been reading and reflecting on his photography. A while back I read his book, Peace in the Post-Christian Era and, as is usual for Merton, he stirred my soul!
Today I made time to walk our church grounds. A group of volunteers from our church had been clearing pine needles, dead limbs, and debris from the Meditation Trail and our Columbarium and Outdoor Chapel. In addition to the deep contemplation of what is going on in the world, I also spent time simply soaking in God’s creation and creating space for the Spirit to speak.
In a world of serious hatred and animosity… where fear-mongering is a daily, hourly, even every minute reality… even in that world I believe the Spirit calls us to pause… to simply Be Still… and to listen.
As Merton said in his book, New Seeds of Contemplation:
“What is serious to human beings is often trivial in the sight of God. What in God might appear to us as ‘play’ is perhaps what God takes most seriously. God plays…in the garden of creation, and, if we could let go of our obsessions with what we think is the meaning of it all, we might be able to hear God’s call and follow God in God’s mysterious, cosmic dance.”
Perhaps in that stillness and that dance, we can find the answers for all of the darkness and scariness in this world… perhaps in that stillness we can find common ground upon which to build relationships with strangers and those we disagree with… perhaps in that cosmic dance, we can find and embrace peace and one another…
From my lips to God’s ear… let us pray… Dona Nobis Pacem et in Terra… Grant Us Peace on Earth ❤️❤️
It began this morning as I looked out of my office windows and down to our Columbarium. I visited with and helped our cleanup crew of volunteers as they cleaned up the winter debris. Later in the day my gaze returned to the site and I took a contemplative walk with my phone camera. As I walked down the path, past the outdoor Chapel, my gaze expanded and narrowed… almost as if it was breathing.
As I looked over the area, my eyes were drawn to the downed tree and upturned earth which are remnants of the 2013 flood which destroyed about a third of the Meditation Trail our church has on the property. As I looked to the destruction… I also saw the beautiful mountains in the background. Estes Park has been hit by floods before. The 1976 Big Thompson River Flood was caused by a storm system which stalled over the mountains and our Valley. The church was downtown back then in its original location. I believe that it suffered water damage. The 1982 Lawn Lake Flood was caused by the rupture of a natural Moraine dam in Rocky. Much damage was done to the town then as well. The church was moving from its original building to the current building and all of the records had been moved from a building that would be flooded out to the new church mere hours before the Moraine ruptured! This church and town have also survived fires in Rocky and in the town in the 100+ year history of the church and town.
All of this played out in my mind as I gazed out from the bench in the Columbarium. It also reflects, for me, the tenuous hold we have in this nation and world on sanity and a hope for peace. Breathing in and out as in a prayer, I thought of places that I have been as a Military Chaplain… I thought of places where members of the congregation are right now (Gaza, East Bank, Palestine, Israel)… I thought of the insane rhetoric coming from Washington, DC where sabres are being rattled by men who don’t have a clue what horrors war unleashes upon innocent civilians as well as military members who are NOT toy soldiers for politicians to play with.
Again, my gaze returned to the portion of the Meditation Trail that I was on. As I headed back to the church and my office, I once again returned to the focus on my breathing. And in that focus, my breathing became my prayer… somehow, O Lord, somehow… Dona Nobis Pacem… Grant Us Peace… make us instruments of your peace…
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The picture is from the bench in the Columbarium where I looked out upon signs of destruction, new life, and new possibilities… I will lift up my eyes to the hills. Where will my help come from? It will come from the Lord, the creator of the heavens and the earth (Psalm 121:1-2)
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This reflection is from the Online Course Denise and I are taking through Abbey of the Arts (https://abbeyofthearts.com). The book we are studying is Eyes of the Heart: Photography as a Christian Contemplative Practice by Christine Valters Paintner (Eyes of the Heart)
The sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
A long day of meetings
A good day of ministry
A wonderful night of relaxing
After a long day
For all of your gifts, I thank you Lord
For the opportunity to serve, I thank you Lord
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
When days are long and emotionally draining
When spirits are overwhelmed
Your Spirit, Lord, sustains and enriches
Your Love renews us
Your Light guides us
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
It was a tremendous Lord’s Day in Worship
It was also a poignant time with dear friends
It was a time to relax with my sweetie
It was a time to chill and simply 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 sun has set and the Vesper Lights flicker and glow
Thank you, Lord for some time of rest
For some time of contemplation
For some time to prepare for worship tomorrow
For some time with my sweetheart
For some time to simply 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…
Instead of a picture of sheep and a shepherd, I thought that I would share this beautiful moment we were a part of near Sprague Lake last Fall. Mama Moose, just like the Good Shepherd, leads her young to safe places and nurtures her family.
Having watched enough of our wildlife neighbors here in the Rockies for the last three plus years, I also have experienced the bond between Mama and her young ones. When Mama speaks, the young one hears her voice. Just as each Bull Elk bugle is distinct, so to is the voice of the Mama. This reminds me of what Jesus told the people gathered at the Temple in John 10:27 — My sheep hear my voice. I know them, and they follow me.
In order to follow the Good Shepherd, we must listen for and hear his voice. Sometimes it is like the still small voice which Elijah heard in the wilderness. Sometimes it is that gentle nudging we sense deep inside of us as we sit quietly in contemplation and wait for the Lord to speak. Sometimes it is through the voice of another calling us to God’s work.
On the other hand, there are plenty of voices screaming for our attention today. Many of those voices disguise themselves in the clothing of the shepherd while their main intention is to fleece the sheep! Many of those voices are filled with hatred, bigotry, and fear.
Which voice will you listen to, dear reader? Whom will you choose to serve this day in the words of Joshua? There are many competing voices in the world today. How can we possibly discern the voice of the Good Shepherd?
In the words of Micah the prophet, I believe we can find the litmus test: He has told you, O mortal, what is good; and what does the Lord require of you but to do justice, and to love kindness, and to walk humbly with your God?
Another litmus test is found in the words of our Lord as he summarized the Law and the Prophets: “‘You shall love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind.’ This is the greatest and first commandment. And a second is like it: ‘You shall love your neighbor as yourself.’ On these two commandments hang all the law and the prophets.”
Following the Good Shepherd isn’t always easy… we aren’t always walking besides still waters… we aren’t always lying down in green pastures.
However, if you are loving God and loving Neighbor… if you are Doing Justice, Loving Kindness/Mercy, and Walking Humbly with God… you are following the Good Shepherd. May we walk with the Shepherd each and every day.
When you want to pick up the phone just to call
But then you realize you can’t
Mother’s Day was sort of surreal for both of us
Within four months, both of our Mom’s died
In the midst of so many deaths in our community
read more below by clicking the link…
