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A Family Like Mine: Biblical Stories of Love, Loss, and Longing
https://bookstore.upperroom.org/Products/1921/a-family-like-mine.aspxWhom Shall I Fear: Urgent Questions for Christians in an Age of Violence
https://www.amazon.com/Whom-Shall-Fear-Questions-Christians/dp/0835819671-
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Category Archives: prayer
Learning to dance
Learning to dance the two-step, quick quick slow; sus- pended between beats, the kiss falling from your lips – let’s say that it was caught by One who had already fallen for you, who held it like a talisman, spinning … Continue reading
Posted in current events, poetry, prayer
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Martyrs
The commemoration for tonight’s healing prayers, held in orange, is for Blandina and Her Companions, the Martyrs of Lyons. The Collect: Grant, O Lord, that we who keep the feast of the holy martyrs Blandina and her companions may be … Continue reading
Posted in current events, gun violence, lectionary reflection, poetry, prayer
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The Stone Mason
Only the mason knows the secret flaw carved into the setting of precious stones and metal, glorious, reflecting sunlight and the king’s delight, having built God a home, domesticated the Wild One, his prize. Inspired by the whorl and swirl … Continue reading
Posted in lectionary reflection, poetry, prayer, sermon preparation
Tagged 1 Kings 8:22-23, 41-43, Luke 7:1-10, Solomon's temple, year c pentecost 3
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Mother of sleepless nights
You are the Mother of all sleepless nights. Before the light was bound over to keep the peace till morning, you neither slumbered nor rested your eyes; before the darkness fell from sheer weary excess of hours; as long as … Continue reading
Unbabel
Slab-flat vowels like a block of dough slapped down on the kneading board; sibilant aromas of spice and fruit from afar off mingle with crisp consonants. Syllables roll like oranges through the early morning marketplace; polyphonic strangers drawn by the … Continue reading
Posted in holy days, lectionary reflection, meditation, poetry, prayer
Tagged accents, Acts 2:1-21, Babel, comfort food, expatriate, Genesis 11:1-9, homesickness, language, Pentecost, unity
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Saved and unsaved
It is a variation on that old question of what to save from the burning house. This morning, my middle cat, not the most grace-filled of creatures, landed unexpectedly in my cup of tea while I was working at my … Continue reading
The penultimate last word
“It is finished.” Hurry, Jesus. Hurry to the appointment you have made to duel death. Hasten the darkening sky, that a false dawn may break early; that you may fell the great destroyer. The soldiers come with mallets and spear, we hear … Continue reading
Posted in holy days, poetry, prayer
Tagged crucifixion, Good Friday, Holy Week, It is finished, Jesus, Seven Last Words
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The fifth last word
As the frog seeks its spawning ground, I yearn for the waters of new life. As the child wails for its mother’s breast, I crave your loving tenderness. As the hunger striker is starved of a reprieve, I cry out … Continue reading
The fourth last word
My God, my God, why have you forsaken me? Life shines in the dark lens of your countenance. When you hide your face, all die, and return to the earth. Was it dust or grief, guilt or love that made … Continue reading
Posted in holy days, poetry, prayer
Tagged Jesus, Psalm 104:29, Psalm 22:1, Psalm 90:4, Seven Last Words
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over the water 