Tag Archives: family

All in the family way

It seems as though the depth and strength and sheer closeness of God’s love for us defies any single image of relationship that we can dredge up and dress in poetic language. God is our father and our mother and our lover. 
And then, and then, God became flesh, and dwelt among us. Continue reading

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Love will tear us apart

The divisions that Jesus describes are growing pains, signs of the emergence of the kingdom of God. Discipleship stretches our souls to love more deeply, to forgive more recklessly. Discipleship should change us, stretch us, and there will be friction as we rub up against the tolerance of the structures that have formed us. These are the signs of the kingdom, Jesus tells us, so do not be afraid. God is willing and waiting to restore all things in God’s mercy, risking everything alongside you on the Cross, transforming its hard lines into new life through the Resurrection. Continue reading

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Feline mortal

till holding himself somewhat apart, as though some part of him were ready, already, for the next mile of his journey, perhaps he remembered that love is the greater part of life, that relationship is a surer path to wisdom even than philosophy. Continue reading

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Love/hate/relationship

“Those who say, “I love God,” and hate their brothers or sisters, are liars; for those who do not love a brother or sister whom they have seen, cannot love God whom they have not seen,” warns the letter writer, and if we are in any way human, our heart sinks. We know whereof we are guilty. Continue reading

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Blessed saints

This is the life which God has created especially for us, so that we might become fully human, creatures made in the image of our Creator, learning to reflect and resemble the divine. It is in this life that we are commanded to see one another through the lens of God’s compassion, justice, and love, to the very best of our ability. Continue reading

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Anniversaries

This morning’s prayer is for those carrying their grief under their skin, pricked by memories. Continue reading

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Crossing time

This time next week, I hope to have reached the mountaintop. Between here and there is a steep and rocky ridge. Last time I crossed Crib Goch, it was on my hands and knees. My ambition, some quarter of a … Continue reading

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The ghosting of a marriage

There are things they forget to tell you about being married. They advise you not to go to bed angry, to be kind, attentive, grateful, to say seven nice things every day. They may tell you to keep communications open … Continue reading

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She’s leaving home

My eldest child left home this week. It was a lot less dramatic than you might think. Just as the act of birthing her was fraught with all of the emotion under the sun, but revolved in the moment around … Continue reading

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In memoriam

From the edge of the cliff we see no horizon. Earth, air, water merge, solid state dissolves, breath condenses, dessicates; we lick salt out of the sky. I drive him to the airport. Lumbering hulls filled with gear and stuff; … Continue reading

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