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Category Archives: current events
The dance
We find these things to be true, and self-evident, that as good as we pretend or try or believe ourselves to be, we have by design created margins and marginalized other creatures created of God’s affection. That however hard we try to resist, or pretend to resist, the music of the swirl has us tapping our feet. That we have been the ones demanding that God jig to our tune. That we have been exhausting and exhausted. And that the only hope for rest lies elsewhere, with Other-Whom. Continue reading
Decentering
My grandmother was born in the Victorian age, half a United States of America ago and an ocean of war and plunder away; in the span of creation less than the blink of an eyelash. Such is living memory, expanding … Continue reading
Beyond the borders
Beyond the borders of my body lie a floor in need of sweeping, a piano that needs playing, a spider that I saw while making tea, birds that want feeding, though the last creature seen there was a long-fingered raccoon, scooping handfuls of seed into its joyful … Continue reading
Posted in current events, poetry, prayer
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Dramatic irony
I find myself drawn to the contrast between reports this week that some military commanders are framing the war against Iran as an effort to bring about the end times, as though we may decide these things for God, in our wisdom; the contrast between that and Jesus’ words to the woman that the hour is already come, quietly, unnoticed over a cup of water, when reconciliation happens, and the truth of God’s love for the world, in all of its invented factions and fractions, has been revealed. Continue reading
Posted in current events, lectionary reflection, poetry, prayer
Tagged Armageddon, dramatic irony, Jesus, John 3:1-17, John 4:1-17, Samaritan woman, war, woman at the well, Word, year a lent 2, Year A Lent 3
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Amongst the Babel of war
We too often misunderstand, I think, what it means to become like God. We build our towers, our satellites in the sky, posing as heavenly bodies, the better to crater and control the earth. We rain down judgement as though … Continue reading
Posted in current events, lectionary reflection, sermon preparation, story
Tagged Genesis 11:1-9, Iran, John 3:1-17, war, year a lent 2
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The Fast
Is it this, that I would choose, to undo the latches, throw open the doors, empty the warehouses, let in the light, let out the breath, let in the light, let out the breath of the people bated, bated too long, to fast from the bread … Continue reading
Posted in current events, holy days, poetry, prayer
Tagged Ash Wednesday, fast, Lent
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Nor the moon
By night, soothed by darkness those for whom visibility is treacherous stretch out their palms to God who clouds the stars. The waters of creation still bring life from beyond the hills, the hopeful distance Psalm 121
Prayers have been shattered into pieces
Grant that we, putting away all earthly anxieties,
may be duly prepared for the service of thy sanctuary;
we, reaching forth our hands in love. Continue reading
Posted in current events, poetry, prayer
Tagged book of common prayer, Daily Office, found poetry, Lamentations, sanctuary
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Lenses
I was busy. It wasn’t until late in the day that I finally sat down to prepare a prayer for our meeting. I found one, a good one, except for one word that rang untrue. Do we need to be … Continue reading
Intended
That was the vision in which Joseph placed his faith and his family: that God is with us, God’s promises endure forever. It didn’t make life easier, by any means. God knows it didn’t remove the obstacles of grief and the graft and grimness of the world or the wilderness, its empires, its wars, its little kings.
But what it did mean is that he, Joseph, spent the rest of his days in the close and intimate presence of the love of God among us, Jesus. Continue reading
Posted in current events, holy days, homily, lectionary reflection, sermon
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over the water 