tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-19279625020190877832024-02-06T22:13:17.148-08:00Brigid's mantleCeltic Christian reflections, prayers and blessings for the holy ordinary moments of life.Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.comBlogger101125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-15247295875885257152015-01-31T10:57:00.000-08:002015-01-31T10:57:52.492-08:00Blessing of Brigid<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b> St Brigid - February 1st </b></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2oZS3zcBHGotYi-4GtUX6HhIT2F1i-azBxgvn4qaOS96CNTLwL7IA8NpTCDa46oUc1r-vWsU3oAL30Mx5mRrhq7-ilxUGMulDpVc-ndzmUSkT-AZ2qmFIMJq4WaMPGORJZfsNYatqJSB/s1600/IMG_7435.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEif2oZS3zcBHGotYi-4GtUX6HhIT2F1i-azBxgvn4qaOS96CNTLwL7IA8NpTCDa46oUc1r-vWsU3oAL30Mx5mRrhq7-ilxUGMulDpVc-ndzmUSkT-AZ2qmFIMJq4WaMPGORJZfsNYatqJSB/s400/IMG_7435.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> Brigid, the saint of hospitality, has many blessings already and the custom of clearing the winter vapours and renewing the spiritual air with a house blessing sealed with a handmade Brigid's Cross is one I have held to for years. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Another blessing will never go amiss. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Brigid's Blessing </span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>The hand of the Creator God bless this home</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>In its making and its keeping</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>In its holding and its welcoming </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>In its stones and in its land</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>May the Father bring his strength </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>And the Mother bring her care.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>May all be blessed and be a blessing to others</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>The hand of the Son of Man bless this home</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>May it be a place where the Child sleeps</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>And the Mother rests</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>May the Christ sit at its table </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>And walk in its gardens </i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>May his words welcome the stranger</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>May all be blessed and be a blessing to others</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><br /></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>The hand of the Spirit of God bless this home</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>May her breath renew within and without</i></span></span><br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In the heart and hearth of faith</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In the fire of wisdom</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">May her whispers be </span></span><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">words of peace</span></span></i><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>And the beat of her wings bring courage</i></span></span></div>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>May all be blessed and be a blessing to others</i></span></span><br />
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span>
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>The hands of the Sacred Three bless this home</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In the coming in and the going out</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In the sitting and the resting</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In the spoken word and the listening ear</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In the welcome and the farewell</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>May the Three bind it in their dance of grace</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>May all be blessed and be a blessing to others</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Blessed be</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>wordinthehand2014 </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<br /></div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-71726579712541340702014-09-19T13:07:00.000-07:002014-09-19T13:07:57.386-07:00Sabbat of Mabon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIu0Hk9Pa1xnWOCRcDneH5V-pB5Ep4UTjVTbs90GryJSr4dXdZjivKCwMlnUMPd4veydl0P3A_onjUwaA0nMksmEHrBubEUhWnQNmgLdA_0AqG2TxbSNdxz5jSO2HlmPVButbo9kPapSx/s1600/DSC00946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEipIu0Hk9Pa1xnWOCRcDneH5V-pB5Ep4UTjVTbs90GryJSr4dXdZjivKCwMlnUMPd4veydl0P3A_onjUwaA0nMksmEHrBubEUhWnQNmgLdA_0AqG2TxbSNdxz5jSO2HlmPVButbo9kPapSx/s400/DSC00946.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As the seasons turn into this time of mists and mellow fruitfulness, the Autumn Equinox this weekend takes us into a time for celtic reflection. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Watching the world move through the year is a mindful practice; seeing God's hand in the coming and going of skeins of geese and clouds of swallows; in the changing shades of oak, maple and beech; the graphic silhouettes of trees across the horizon; stormcast skies and shortening days.</span><br />
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This is the time for the ancient Sabbat festival of Mabon; named for the Welsh Celtic God who, like Persephone, gives six months of his life to the underworld so that the earth may benefit from the promise of rebirth into the arms of the Great Mother.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">At this time the Green Man also takes his rest; sinking into the loam of fallen leaves; nestling the acorns, seedpods and tubers into his body; protected and preserved until the sun comes again. But, before sleep, there is time for thanksgiving for the abundant fruits and crops of the earth. Sometimes known as the Feast of Avalon, which means “Land of Apples” the harvest remembers both what is past and what is to come.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> The Celts honored this Sabbat by the harvest of apples; this is particularly the last few days for the harvesting of fruits. The fruits, wines and gatherings of the summer are shared in thankfulness for the life-giving harvest of this year; often shared with the mother trees themselves.</span></span><br />
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">This is a time to pause and reflect with thanks on our own harvest of the year; to celebrate our families; friendships; personal achievements and dreams fulfilled. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Also, to say goodbye with equal thanks to those times that have now passed and the loved ones who rest in the peace of earth and the joy of Heaven. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"></span></span><br />
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">Christianity has baptised this period with the practice of Harvest Festivals; churches richly decorated with displays of flowers, fruit and corn. Many communities bring donations to church to be shared amongst the needy of the area - again a reminder of the early times when the sick and the widow would struggle to survive the winter without help. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;">As we enter the time of The Crone; when Brigid the Mother gives up her busyiness and sits a while so as to share her wisdom stories and healing gifts; it is a good reminder to us all to spend a while with those we love in this world and those that now rest in their own misty lands of mellow fruitfulness. </span></span><br />
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZ7bU_Of3BbhWUo8upsN1_Rk4zQJKrQRXc0g_fq97_wHMKO3n09XfkysnkXiwhoypvrplo2ndTXpgtHaExpaG3bpInttI3ZUUAVFWlQlJdOFEUdIP9swfbSZ7zFRlhwOFKzzixkG2aSR3/s1600/IMG_0845.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgaZ7bU_Of3BbhWUo8upsN1_Rk4zQJKrQRXc0g_fq97_wHMKO3n09XfkysnkXiwhoypvrplo2ndTXpgtHaExpaG3bpInttI3ZUUAVFWlQlJdOFEUdIP9swfbSZ7zFRlhwOFKzzixkG2aSR3/s200/IMG_0845.JPG" height="200" width="148" /></a></div>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="color: firebrick;"><span style="color: black; font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>Mabon Blessing</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>Blessing of mother and son</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>warrior and crone</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>sun and moon </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>Blessing of gift and giver</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>generosity of spirit</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>heartfelt gratitude</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>Blessing of light and shadow </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>sun rising over violet lakes</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>setting over velvet hills</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>Blessing of harvest </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>fallen apples; rising wheat</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>gourds and grape</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>Blessing of farewells</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><i>misty veils and far horizons</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">grace-ful </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">memories </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">Blessing of the Creator God</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">His blessed Son</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">and Spirit of Life</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">blessed be</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;">wordinthehand2014</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-13662215661592216162014-08-31T07:53:00.000-07:002014-08-31T07:53:38.653-07:00Feast of St Aidan - Flame of the North<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Aidan - Flame of the North </b></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Genesis 1:3</span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i>And God said, "Let there be light," and there was light. </i></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdv7ERWxAm2ClhnI_CNB9w9j0lxTXcmuK8i6PmFEU4h0hAnXpCUz58oDez45UUJ2GDN3aLNS8qBokiFM154_CijM-Yd9hfCnPqvijdC_y6Rf4XRNfPBmzgL-w3v9UwSL_OmV18I6s_OUjg/s1600/IMG_6118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdv7ERWxAm2ClhnI_CNB9w9j0lxTXcmuK8i6PmFEU4h0hAnXpCUz58oDez45UUJ2GDN3aLNS8qBokiFM154_CijM-Yd9hfCnPqvijdC_y6Rf4XRNfPBmzgL-w3v9UwSL_OmV18I6s_OUjg/s640/IMG_6118.JPG" height="640" style="cursor: move;" width="480" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>Today sees the feast day of St Aidan and a week of celebrating the the Holy Isle of Lindisfarne and her saints.</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>For a wonderful account of the life of Aidan see Canon Kate Tristam's article <a href="http://www.lindisfarne.org.uk/general/aidan.htm">here</a>. </i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhKiy81nX-WDBPjs7ePB-xKF9mdEcR9T_G7RRQDzGhwtzEBjZdrwq4RyJFF7zW7JNfPa0wbksjkv9z-OQ_lXSUnMPdqH23vF8VQwPzO8Gef77_JFp0asP-cnAGh0UhDVQB5ljeiek9i54/s1600/IMG_5946.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjzhKiy81nX-WDBPjs7ePB-xKF9mdEcR9T_G7RRQDzGhwtzEBjZdrwq4RyJFF7zW7JNfPa0wbksjkv9z-OQ_lXSUnMPdqH23vF8VQwPzO8Gef77_JFp0asP-cnAGh0UhDVQB5ljeiek9i54/s200/IMG_5946.JPG" height="200" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
St Aidan's Bamburgh</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
from the Baptistry</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>When I have the time, my visits to Lindisfarne include paying my respects to Wilfrid at Hexham and then Aidan at St Aidan's in Bamburgh. By tradition, Aidan died in an earlier wooden church on this site and the beam he was leaning against has survived two major fires. Benedictines rebuilt the church in the 12th Century, honouring the memory of the Celtic 'apostle'. </i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>In a symbol of resurrection the beam is now part of the roof work over the baptistry. </i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJYY5WFlkF2ljjdZQzTTsIx0maCJjxrFC-apOq4NM5FP_gEXcBbbCEVKSLt9hdfIO_rTSz9OoLpGnBZWC2UuNWoJvnxrDv7pQZr-W_fIvkPJ_bqHFZ_Vuo0LMQ1J4OiDQymq1XOoHlgm2/s1600/IMG_5956.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiyJYY5WFlkF2ljjdZQzTTsIx0maCJjxrFC-apOq4NM5FP_gEXcBbbCEVKSLt9hdfIO_rTSz9OoLpGnBZWC2UuNWoJvnxrDv7pQZr-W_fIvkPJ_bqHFZ_Vuo0LMQ1J4OiDQymq1XOoHlgm2/s200/IMG_5956.JPG" height="200" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></span></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>There is a simple shrine over the ground where he lay and, touchingly, prayer tokens take the celtic shape of shells, pebbles and feathers tucked into a little stone recess at the side. </i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>Then it is often a case of racing the tide for the crossing - it seems to be another personal tradition to only just make it one way or the other. </i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>This year was the first year that I made the crossing on foot - in bare feet to be precise - following the sentinel posts that mark safe passage. The poem and post <a href="http://stbrigidsmantle.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/pilgrim-sands.html">Pilgrim Sands</a> celebrates the experience of walking in the footsteps of all those who wander for the love of Christ. </i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>There are probably a thousand ways of expressing Celtic spirituality - Aidan is one who carries God's hospitality with him. Wherever he was, he was the doorkeeper to the Kingdom - and his lamp was always lit.</i></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>Blessing of Aidan </i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>May you shine with Heaven's Light </i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>May your heart be Light</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>in Love's longing</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>May your words be Light </i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>in dark times</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>May your hands be Light</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>in life's struggles</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>May your feet be Light</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>in sharing journeys</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>and bringing all to the Feast</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>May you shine with Heaven's Light</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>Blessed be</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i>wordinthehand2013</i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: -webkit-auto;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-41457914226759987572014-08-25T08:34:00.000-07:002014-08-26T02:43:33.367-07:00Prayers for Seekers<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71ffj4cj03coVcrX6bnelOHK6am0aQnTuYyZ7bO8VdT0bYOzN97dHNj0kE20nDBPgpN5oZaZhzrXIlMFQtPjFApxR1BAmY2eY7X7yTnrxkxCAmpyAlSDDrl4Nf4fMEVsObQKj6scDrXjl/s1600/lindisfarneapril+020.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71ffj4cj03coVcrX6bnelOHK6am0aQnTuYyZ7bO8VdT0bYOzN97dHNj0kE20nDBPgpN5oZaZhzrXIlMFQtPjFApxR1BAmY2eY7X7yTnrxkxCAmpyAlSDDrl4Nf4fMEVsObQKj6scDrXjl/s1600/lindisfarneapril+020.jpg" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe there is something in the air of late summer. In the turning of the leaves, the over-blowing of the flowers and the ripening fruit that creates a restlessness. In the excited gatherings of starlings across the telephone lines and skeins of geese pointing the way to pastures and waters new. <br /><br />Maybe the light evenings give everyone, even those who work, the opportunity to clear the mind and notice a lacking, a calling, a mission.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Maybe the Spirit is more easily seen in the wide skies, rustling leaves and sparkling splashes of rivers in full spate.<br /><br />Maybe it is simply an instinct from our early lives. When the new school year forced us out of cotton sandals, leaving the crisscross pattern of suntanned feet as a melancholy reminder under crisp white socks. And it was no longer acceptable for your hair to look as though you had been dragged through the hedge backwards.<br /><br />There is a long liminal season between Lammas and Mabon - the celebration of high summer and the autumn equinox - that nudges us out of our Dog Days attitude. The fine summer will not last forever. <br /><br />How we are to traverse the darkening days is something we need to consider and act upon. Perhaps a pilgrimage of the spirit is called for; a journey to a new depth of being. A calling to ministry or commitment to prayer. The 'perhaps' needs time and consideration. A time of 'ressourcement' - a return to what is authentic, a stripping away of habit and convenience. <br /><br />Jesus would take this need to the desert, that was his ''otherworld'. Advent and Lent can still be desert experiences for many. </span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">But why not here, in what the church calls <i>Ordinary Time</i>? Why not invite the desert to show us what is extraordinary within us?</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br />This series of prayer poems and reflections have a rough sense of desert journeying as a focus for meditative prayer. I usually prefer to set the scene. When I am fortunate enough to be on retreat there will be some wilderness patch, cliff or beach. Standing stones and circles and, of course, labyrinths create a world to withdraw into. Otherwise, a garden shrine or table and a big cupful of silence - quality is not always about quantity. <br /><br /> They are in an order of sorts but feel free to be drawn one way or another.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_jpw6YRODfur82E7wrA7DWPGXZlDcXrC7KnTymj2BLXwBkTLpUANcDvjYqGSoU13Boqtf55h5myrMHE2_oOIPv5VPy6UQVP2sCljnCETOnMyYjE0FyXoXhyphenhyphenEFhIJYSjwFFG_gIeE4e6S/s1600/IMG_0828.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEib_jpw6YRODfur82E7wrA7DWPGXZlDcXrC7KnTymj2BLXwBkTLpUANcDvjYqGSoU13Boqtf55h5myrMHE2_oOIPv5VPy6UQVP2sCljnCETOnMyYjE0FyXoXhyphenhyphenEFhIJYSjwFFG_gIeE4e6S/s1600/IMG_0828.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Calling </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><i>The Lord calls,<br /><br />'Come to me.<br /><br />Leave the plains of ordinary times<br />The well worn paths of everyday<br />Leave the dry river beds<br />And relentless horizons<br />The daydreams<br />And mirages<br />Of life.<br /><br />And come to me'</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<b style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Desert brothers and sisters</b><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Perhaps it is easier to find a place for oneself in the desert; with all its physical trials but without the temptations of the world. I will admit to sometimes finding the idea of solitude and the 'apartness' so very appealing.<br /><br />How difficult it is to focus only on God, only on our soul travelling towards God when we live in the busyness and distractions of the Everyday. <br /><br />This then becomes our challenge - to sacrifice the 'who we are' within the walls of the mundane - in the ordinariness of life - and to create within ourselves some 'desert' space to follow the yearning that leads us into the experience of God's loving presence and so find ourselves, at the end of the day, praying on our knees and with blessed souls. <br /><br /><br /><br /><b>The desert</b><br /><br /><i>I stand with my back to the world.</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJTAndWJVjKX2nzAShbR-u6naUpXf8GeBTEL_H1nCPkNhDOgF0Z1ozvzKYXqz5wlpd-rG5CVVAE10IkVee-VlB38J5h8KJmP0cp6s8cddyWs2ts_udNFCvUsyf3iT9OY4njwM6KFhpbBY/s1600/IMG_1908.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjqJTAndWJVjKX2nzAShbR-u6naUpXf8GeBTEL_H1nCPkNhDOgF0Z1ozvzKYXqz5wlpd-rG5CVVAE10IkVee-VlB38J5h8KJmP0cp6s8cddyWs2ts_udNFCvUsyf3iT9OY4njwM6KFhpbBY/s1600/IMG_1908.JPG" height="320" width="239" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />Its distractions and temptations fading away<br />Ahead the desert, a journey into peace<br />A journey into solitude<br /><br />A journey to find meaning and understanding<br />In a world of confusion.</i></span><br />
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>There is no confusion here<br />Life is precious and to be lived<br />The journey a test of strength<br />A trial of commitment to the Way.<br /><br />What is the way?<br /><br />Who is the way?<br /><br />The God who was here first,<br />Tested and tempted<br /><br />The God who remains now<br />His footprints in the sand<br /><br />The God who is always<br />My oasis, my hope, my guide</i>.<br /><br /><br /><b>Silence </b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b>There are a variety of understandings about levels of consciousness. There is the activity of the ‘what we are doing now’; reactive and proactive. The thinking that knows it is thinking. If we consider this then it seems to take up most of our time, being in the now. But the process of ‘being in the now’ on a conscious level requires access to multiple layers of what has gone before; all the basic skills of life; acquired information that allows us to interpret and forecast events, memories that tell us who and what we are; our relationship to the world. We may believe that this is all in the sub-conscious; as if this is an ocean of deep water with the oily consciousness</span><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> floating above. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To only have these two levels would making fishing for what we need somewhat difficult. I imagine consciousness as layers of different materials sometimes with defined edges, sometimes more fluid, a tidal place where there is always movement; more active at the surface where it is at the elements of the world around it; denser and more concentrated as the layers settle into the self. Silence is not just one layer in this environment. </span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are many layers, some just gentle buffers between one and the other, others a place of transition; others a place to be absorbed into the heart of Now.<br /><br /><br /><b>Based on Psalm 46</b><br /><br /><i>I rest in the Sanctuary of the Lord </i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6Wkp0_OhvkXtAoGBPuknlidL-bd0zZY2awO1NS_ow8r6hVKI2eYrmseVD1EM427tAWcqz1n9350QSpzHTantO-48DvKFnRtdAoTs_xRe-oeZ9TIF4krjIKhv1YaOaxS_VCPqnrq7FK44/s1600/IMG_2256.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhk6Wkp0_OhvkXtAoGBPuknlidL-bd0zZY2awO1NS_ow8r6hVKI2eYrmseVD1EM427tAWcqz1n9350QSpzHTantO-48DvKFnRtdAoTs_xRe-oeZ9TIF4krjIKhv1YaOaxS_VCPqnrq7FK44/s1600/IMG_2256.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />Knowing that God alone is my refuge.<br />I am deafened by the world’s demands <br />Overwhelmed by its rages and torments<br /><br />The seas swell and the mountains quake <br />The uproar of mans greed echoes through the night<br />Angry voices call out for revenge<br />Broken hearts for rescue.<br /><br />But not here<br /><br />Here is a Holy Place<br />This, my refuge<br />Deep as a mountain pool<br />Hopeful as the dawn sun<br />The home of the Most High <br /><br />Heart’s ease is here <br />Soul’s friend is here<br />Spirit’s food is here<br /><br />My Lord and my God<br /><br />The Lord speaks and the world melts away<br />Be still and know that I am God<br />Be still and know<br /> Be still</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Choice</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">We make the choice to turn again; to become unworldly; to escape the expectations. We choose to accept what life truly means. We choose to deny ourselves the distractions that keep us from living an authentic life. If we take this denial seriously we accept some suffering rather than questioning the need for it; somehow we understand the need. That there is solidarity in suffering...solidarity with a God who chose to suffer to set us free; who, in some Kairos moment, continues to suffer and who needs us, in our freedom, to choose to walk beside him</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i><b><br /> See a clay bowl</b></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><i>See a clay bowl set into desert sand</i></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bFiog9VQVjimhXYdF-r12j5X3fxtbrZhEdf7yyPc7lYkJJHpfsBCjvndNmNr4dOcbfXyZImxAtnMHNFq1GxSv3YQ_nECORh4tkxja9Xe6tQnBpUMt_NfWfCD_A1VuOHiVn1_cC6Tyj4k/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><i><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-bFiog9VQVjimhXYdF-r12j5X3fxtbrZhEdf7yyPc7lYkJJHpfsBCjvndNmNr4dOcbfXyZImxAtnMHNFq1GxSv3YQ_nECORh4tkxja9Xe6tQnBpUMt_NfWfCD_A1VuOHiVn1_cC6Tyj4k/s1600/IMG_0174.JPG" height="320" width="320" /></i></a></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>newly fired and filled to the brim with water,<br />with life<br />Perfect.<br /><br />A stone, plucked from desert ashes</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>is dropped into the bowl,<br />gonging it’s entry into sacred space<br /><br />A shower of sparkling light leaps up<br />then falls<br />leaving dark tears on the sand.<br /><br />Another stone.</i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>a filmy amoeba moves eerily across the surface.<br /><br />No longer perfect.<br /><br />Tears rain<br />forced to flee </i></span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>by the will of the unthinking stone.<br /><br />The fragility of the clay <br />weighed down by granite.<br />to move would be to break<br /><br />The bowl sits – bereft<br /><br />In the dark of beneath<br />water seeks a resting place<br />finds a cocoon of memory<br />an inheritance abandoned and forgotten.<br /><br />The remembering seed drinks and climbs<br />fresh green fingers push sand aside and reaches up in joy.<br /><br />Roots entangle clay </i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Imperfect brings forth life.</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I always imagine all pilgrims to be on the road to Emmaus - never quite sure that they will encounter the Divine - until they do.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>The Blessing of Emmaus</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessed be the path of the shoreline</i><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOREkiKiM5vad3Io5NBU7dKsIaWTYWfDB_oUad8LtJr2pK5SleD5oK7hViT17EngfoXRngZ9wwp1fBtRnLKwRqRMJT5obAUmGibuJmflsXvGnpHWXYaaLxMWOlX797aia9mG4MqQQQcRX/s1600/S1000049.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKOREkiKiM5vad3Io5NBU7dKsIaWTYWfDB_oUad8LtJr2pK5SleD5oK7hViT17EngfoXRngZ9wwp1fBtRnLKwRqRMJT5obAUmGibuJmflsXvGnpHWXYaaLxMWOlX797aia9mG4MqQQQcRX/s1600/S1000049.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></i></div>
</div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Of thrift and cordgrass</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The betwixt path of sea and sand</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The path of waxing and waning</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Blessed be the path of the meadow</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Of wheatgrass and poppies</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The tiller's path seeking a harvest</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The path of the gatherer and the gleaner</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Blessed be the path of the mountain</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Of gentians and gorse</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The goatherd's path of vision </i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The path of precipice and ascent</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Blessed be the path of the desert</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>of mallow and milkweed</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The solitary's path of denial</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The path of encounter and sacrifice</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><i><br /></i></b></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>There are no wrong paths</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>only the path </i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>where you do not invite God</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>to walk beside you.</i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="line-height: 18.909090042114258px; text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Blessed be</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>wordinthehand2014 </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: normal;">You are very welcome to use the ideas and prayers - though I would ask that they are acknowledged as mairie gelling 2014 http://stbrigidsmantle.blogspot.co.uk</span></div>
</div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-6954659498924556842014-08-23T02:29:00.000-07:002014-08-23T03:04:22.470-07:00Praying in the Landscape <div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">I thought I would share this reflective liturgy as an idea or inspiration for others. You could adapt the prayers to suit a group if needed.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCcnx3HUCbt5i3MkZIiijSCSWUL9TXHliAvfx_JELeV-wH2XlhElqD_r8JYZEYZA3TZma1uqcHKu-xc3kU1bGkPpOVoX8DygnbHVAN1TF14wBwFMPEDZgowsTDyjsMW7VCHdzUrOBCSqq/s1600/IMG_4506.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuCcnx3HUCbt5i3MkZIiijSCSWUL9TXHliAvfx_JELeV-wH2XlhElqD_r8JYZEYZA3TZma1uqcHKu-xc3kU1bGkPpOVoX8DygnbHVAN1TF14wBwFMPEDZgowsTDyjsMW7VCHdzUrOBCSqq/s1600/IMG_4506.JPG" height="320" width="232" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">There are some lovely churchyards, gardens and natural spaces that invite the opportunity to appreciate the natural world, to pray and to rest. This was a day of reflection written for the surroundings of an ancient church near where I live. I'll describe each station as we go.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In this case, people came into the church space during the day. They were given a map of the stations, which they could visit at their own pace. There were places where people could sit and reflect. Each station had prayer cards with the prayer poem and an image for the visitor to sit with and take away. The visitors were invited to start and end their journey with the prayer to the Sacred Three and to light candles in the church before they left, some people brought leaves or feathers as well. You could create a temporary shrine within the surroundings for this.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Prayer to the Sacred Three </span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sacred Three, whose love spirals the Universe</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I ask you to guide my footsteps </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>To open my eyes, to reveal your presence</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>in the world that is your gift to me.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May the blessing of the Father be in </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>the depth of earth, the stability of rock, </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>the turning of the seasons</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>to hold and protect me.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May the blessing of the Christ be in</i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>the life that springs forth from the earth</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>creatures, trees and plant life</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>companions in my journey</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-style: italic;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">May the blessing of the Spirit be in </i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>the eddying waters, the zephyrs of air</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>the breath of God's love </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>to ward me and guide me.</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen</i></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY0Sw7iQUtKdSqdIKe4k71xJe9GLCUksO94n6W0XtMuIeo7bgozpzWKP4ADLRMk1-g8m2d4CE6ZklKIeqzi3P6wwxG3ranYeV21UxhzHNCUiyAlkhGYKanfnKXPlftpoULRypyHFI62P_/s1600/IMG_3400.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgnY0Sw7iQUtKdSqdIKe4k71xJe9GLCUksO94n6W0XtMuIeo7bgozpzWKP4ADLRMk1-g8m2d4CE6ZklKIeqzi3P6wwxG3ranYeV21UxhzHNCUiyAlkhGYKanfnKXPlftpoULRypyHFI62P_/s1600/IMG_3400.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Station - The Briar Path</b> </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A overgrown part of the churchyard where the path needs to be negotiated with care</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>No-one said it would be easy </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>But sometimes I wish</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>It would not be so hard.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Life sends me on many paths</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Way is not always clear</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Light shines, but casts</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Long shadows.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Darkness catches me </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Unawares. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Thoughts and words</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Like briar thorns </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Bite into my heart.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Am I lost?</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Spirit </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Be in my mind's eye</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>My heart's guide</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>My soul's friend</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Lead me home. </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Station - Water</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrsIfgAzOMrDXak6xSxRs1Fb3E9teiU3nib21Ke3YFzfMo3dmNTow-BKzF9aY3Z5dKRWtS10E2q5MD3TTqvwUOdOLu2jD_yz8HQROv3J69sXskKzFqdSCtb5XoEvZx4UNSt8dBiQ7APtz/s1600/IMG_2931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrsIfgAzOMrDXak6xSxRs1Fb3E9teiU3nib21Ke3YFzfMo3dmNTow-BKzF9aY3Z5dKRWtS10E2q5MD3TTqvwUOdOLu2jD_yz8HQROv3J69sXskKzFqdSCtb5XoEvZx4UNSt8dBiQ7APtz/s1600/IMG_2931.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In a quiet corner a clay bowl of clear water, a jug filled to the brim and a scattering of smooth palm size stones.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Water of Life</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Liquid light contained</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In earth's cool hands.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Stars sparkling in mirrored sky</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Reflection of what is </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>What is not.</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Love is deep</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Life water, life-giving</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Slipping through fingers</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Feeding dry places </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Finding the way</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Within</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Station - Forked Path </b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A place where the path offers a choice </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHa9nlymXT1i3Q30UsuwsiqddXG_KDIwdgIPiYHn9c-UGrg25kER89qSkM8KsXKmVqWamHBMif-Dl_DxhfHuH54OHZ_4-hpIQxD8W0cVEorL0lsFbtdA1QL5P4EQsb-lKkXgrHOKFpo7UE/s1600/roadsideshrine4.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgHa9nlymXT1i3Q30UsuwsiqddXG_KDIwdgIPiYHn9c-UGrg25kER89qSkM8KsXKmVqWamHBMif-Dl_DxhfHuH54OHZ_4-hpIQxD8W0cVEorL0lsFbtdA1QL5P4EQsb-lKkXgrHOKFpo7UE/s1600/roadsideshrine4.JPG" height="320" width="240" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>With hindsight,</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I would know</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Which is right</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>This is the way</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Or, not...</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Who can tell?</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Only this moment</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Foot poised </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>to step into mystery</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Station - Boundary</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3U2FIW003GaOdGbPZBSZRRz2ujNxk0zAe92Z5HQjSIm3_6BCQlni4Ryp8y3Rungg0ReHA740lbq2h_e4_jFGkVGJLlv3qNJ0ITHDLGszd9RtgZ68fKPnl108odi7JXI-H_r3I2U2C5LYM/s1600/S1000080.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg3U2FIW003GaOdGbPZBSZRRz2ujNxk0zAe92Z5HQjSIm3_6BCQlni4Ryp8y3Rungg0ReHA740lbq2h_e4_jFGkVGJLlv3qNJ0ITHDLGszd9RtgZ68fKPnl108odi7JXI-H_r3I2U2C5LYM/s1600/S1000080.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A wall, hedge or fence - a place that defines an edge</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>There is no reason </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>for being on the edge</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Except that there seems</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Nowhere else to go </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Or</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>the 'somewhere else'</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Seems too far.</i></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Station - Groves</b></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A group or circle of trees </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3EIjY4_Qpb-44JdLF_IzPmHs_Yh8OE06ZFd1_KomWn7IntLVVD3Ts7rP3_N_-YBauax4CNlpkqmPonmFZ7mZ9Wd8fNeOFnbYlma28gSWXx7UFAW7dlZFMiMDxaoyLjY1bw8xTYD29nzC/s1600/IMG_1756.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiQ3EIjY4_Qpb-44JdLF_IzPmHs_Yh8OE06ZFd1_KomWn7IntLVVD3Ts7rP3_N_-YBauax4CNlpkqmPonmFZ7mZ9Wd8fNeOFnbYlma28gSWXx7UFAW7dlZFMiMDxaoyLjY1bw8xTYD29nzC/s1600/IMG_1756.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span id="goog_679346966"></span><span id="goog_679346967"></span>To be entwined</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In earth and rock </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Deep in the One who gives me life</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>To stand tall </i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>encircled by life and time</i></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>With the One who gives me life</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>To reach up </i></span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>in joy and spirit</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>To the One who gives me life</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b>Station - The Hearth </b><o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This could be a place of gathering, a fire pit, or altar</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9F61h7WqvKmZDVtH8Am6iMW5DHMTlDkfC-qXi8t9svPYCQ34pGm4pMSAGDHQuSJiHRYBAxLwanYTKWy-NCnBMya7Vbmwf8Im1yvlWWCcpGMYmmfUykrmgho3CmiKOl4qjCZaOWzigjrEI/s1600/IMG_4206.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj9F61h7WqvKmZDVtH8Am6iMW5DHMTlDkfC-qXi8t9svPYCQ34pGm4pMSAGDHQuSJiHRYBAxLwanYTKWy-NCnBMya7Vbmwf8Im1yvlWWCcpGMYmmfUykrmgho3CmiKOl4qjCZaOWzigjrEI/s1600/IMG_4206.JPG" height="240" width="320" /></a></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>This place <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>A leaving<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>With love and courage <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A returning</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Longing and
thanksgiving.</span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<i><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>A place of <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Hospitality<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Where love's fire<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Burns through the
brightest <br />
and darkest of days <o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Feed my spirit<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Guide the wanderer<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Bring me home </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The
prodigal<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And the pilgrim<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>to the heart of God</i></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">You are welcome to use the ideas and prayers though I would ask that they are acknowledged as mairie gelling 2014 http://stbrigidsmantle.blogspot.co.uk</span></div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-31187359050084413022014-08-13T14:46:00.000-07:002014-08-13T14:46:03.782-07:00Blessing of the Moon<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DzktZfT3pXE35oUh2XhqKK6EjkT_DIUE8zwnqv5S-OOreibUssk1Ojg3ea7G7Jwrj5eIfqbpbUMMnUmRUVejSjsYWT12KmELs5dRIF20BY_HopMGq3M-yUMChyQlsCKmuLhP7SqHHvwo/s1600/IMG_3680.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg4DzktZfT3pXE35oUh2XhqKK6EjkT_DIUE8zwnqv5S-OOreibUssk1Ojg3ea7G7Jwrj5eIfqbpbUMMnUmRUVejSjsYWT12KmELs5dRIF20BY_HopMGq3M-yUMChyQlsCKmuLhP7SqHHvwo/s400/IMG_3680.JPG" height="400" width="282" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b><br /></b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><b>Lorica of the Moon</b></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The blessing of the Moon </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Sister of Shadows</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Lantern of Pathways</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Gatherer of Tides</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The blessing of the Moon</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Watcher of the wakeful</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Seeker of the Lost</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Soother of the Mourning</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The blessing of the Moon</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Guardian of dreams</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Mirror of souls</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Wellspring of tears</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The blessing of the Moon </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Sharpness of birth</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Crescent of hope</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Roundness of fulfillment</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The blessing of the Moon</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Angel of the desert</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Witness in the garden</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Mourner at the tomb</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>The blessing of the Moon</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>This night and every night</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>From the solace of sunset</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>'til the promise of dawn</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>Blessed Be</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>wordinthehand2012</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>A Lorica is a breastplate prayer</i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><i>-a prayer of protection </i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<br /></div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-46850973958000341882014-08-11T00:03:00.000-07:002014-08-11T00:03:40.446-07:00Feast of St Chiara of Assisi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrsIfgAzOMrDXak6xSxRs1Fb3E9teiU3nib21Ke3YFzfMo3dmNTow-BKzF9aY3Z5dKRWtS10E2q5MD3TTqvwUOdOLu2jD_yz8HQROv3J69sXskKzFqdSCtb5XoEvZx4UNSt8dBiQ7APtz/s1600/IMG_2931.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQrsIfgAzOMrDXak6xSxRs1Fb3E9teiU3nib21Ke3YFzfMo3dmNTow-BKzF9aY3Z5dKRWtS10E2q5MD3TTqvwUOdOLu2jD_yz8HQROv3J69sXskKzFqdSCtb5XoEvZx4UNSt8dBiQ7APtz/s400/IMG_2931.JPG" height="400" width="300" /></a></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Saint and Virgin</span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Chiara’s
reply<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">They praise me as a Virgin, Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I am sorry to disappoint <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But I am no virgin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">May I ask these holy men<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">By what do they set their mark?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I rejected
earthly comfort.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That place was a shadowland to me <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and I hung on the landscape like a <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">dangling marionette, uselessly beautiful.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There was no comfort there.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I never
earned a love song.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Then they never heard the <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">Poverello</i>. <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">His words were fire and ice in my belly<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">ardently proclaiming Your Love,<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">That song drew me away.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Away from
desire.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Rather like a maiden awaiting her first suitor<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My heart paced in prayer for your presence.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Like a bride in the marriage bed<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My soul ached for You to enfold me.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Never
known a man.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Francis was my heart’s true friend.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Love given and received without guile or charge<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">the fulfilment of Your benevolent Love.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">What physical act could compare? <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">But I have
not borne a child.<o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Are they blind?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">My daughters are with them still <o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">Loving and faithful<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">I have raised them all.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">So, they have given me a Church<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">and they have made me a Saint<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">For being a Virgin.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">You had better tell these men, Lord<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">There are very few <i style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal;">virgins</i>
in Heaven.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 10.0pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt;">wordinthehand2012</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-35196942835296235792014-04-30T04:39:00.000-07:002014-04-30T10:36:06.858-07:00Beltane Blessing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pe24EBw-yNXCK21dJlG65r_NQjcv5ejQ-rslUvL0ZX9PnbdbG6BrCH3V6ufD469arIRgOTHvD0JsRhzE2Kh3hYkWmsa1agcyXoDoE7fMvyhbjQV7-3fP_9bWPTJ6me6tlMMgTeZrlOrO/s1600/IMG_1363.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi0pe24EBw-yNXCK21dJlG65r_NQjcv5ejQ-rslUvL0ZX9PnbdbG6BrCH3V6ufD469arIRgOTHvD0JsRhzE2Kh3hYkWmsa1agcyXoDoE7fMvyhbjQV7-3fP_9bWPTJ6me6tlMMgTeZrlOrO/s1600/IMG_1363.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">After the auspices of the Red Moon we are presently awaiting sighting (through blanketing cloud and morning mists) of the new moon that will lead us into a particular moment of liminal space; long known as Beltane. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Beltane is a Celtic and Gaelic period of festival that marks a cross-quarter day between the Spring and Summer Solstice. Guided by the appearance of the Moon but generally celebrated a few days either side of 1st May which we now know as May Day.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Beltane (bright fire) marks a threshold of invitation; the journeying of the Moon and the nearing of the Sun draw life out into the world and we are invited along with it. It is the pause before the cur<span style="font-size: small;">tain rise<span style="font-size: small;">s</span></span><span style="font-size: small;">. </span> </span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Spiritually it is a time for cleansing, for eagerness<span style="font-size: small;">, for embracing our <span style="font-size: small;">potential. It is a time to sha<span style="font-size: small;">ke the cob<span style="font-size: small;">webs from our creative life and step out with the courage of baby birds leav<span style="font-size: small;">ing the nest. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">It has a festival air of optimism; a time when the world is bright and the promise of summer is in the air; where the waxing power of the Sun is recognised in the full flowering of the Spring flowers and the cacophony of the morning chorus.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Rowan or Hawthorn blossoms of clusters of small white flowers represent the explosion of life in the woodlands; both trees are also known as May trees. They are particularly used as trees of protection which is why you find them marking the boundaries of gardens and fields. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Hawthorn and Rowan wood is used for door and window lintels and for cradles and mangers. At Beltane, boughs of fresh flowering trees are hung over the main doors and and trees themselves may be decorated with ribbons and flowers.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Akin to this is the custom of Well Dressing where the gift of pure, running spring water is celebrated by blessing and decorating the well and surrounding area with ribbons, flowers and figures made out of cones, seeds and berries.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Beltane fire echoes the shared blessing of the longer days. </span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Then the hearths would all be cleared to be started again with a brand from the bonfire with a celebration of burgeoning, new life with food, dancing, flowers and the fertile fecundity of Mother Earth.</span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">In Christianity, the whole month of May is dedicated to Mary with many of the customs of Beltane being baptised into the church and community traditions of May Queens, May processions and festivals of flowers. After all<span style="font-size: small;">,<span style="background-color: yellow;">such </span><span style="font-size: small;">custom<span style="font-size: small;">s and traditions are ways for <span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">humanity</span> to be mindful of a world that truly is wonderful<span style="font-size: small;">, however we believe it was brought into being. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Mary epitomises the <span style="font-size: small;">promise of 'yes' that nature is proclai<span style="font-size: small;">ming before our eyes and beneath our feet. We are surrounded by the Incarnation of God's creation<span style="font-size: small;">;<span style="font-size: small;">take the time to be mindful and to be thankful<span style="font-size: small;">. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<br />
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessing of Beltan<span style="font-size: small;">e</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">B<span style="font-size: small;">lessing of <span style="font-size: small;">sun and moon</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">in drawing out of darkness </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessing of <span style="font-size: small;">fire and water</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">in healing and clean<span style="font-size: small;">sing</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessing of <span style="font-size: small;">earth and sky</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">in holding and yearn<span style="font-size: small;">ing</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessing of <span style="font-size: small;">le<span style="font-size: small;">af and bloom</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">in <span style="font-size: small;">fruitful anti<span style="font-size: small;">cipation</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessing of bet<span style="font-size: small;">wixt and between</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">in invi<span style="font-size: small;">tation and letting go</span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessing of the One who gives</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">in the eternity of giving </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">B<span style="font-size: small;">lessing of the Three <span style="font-size: small;">in One</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">in the <span style="font-size: small;">Circle</span> of Lov<span style="font-size: small;">e</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">Blessed be</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></i></div>
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;">wordinthehand2014</span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> <br />
<br />
<br />
<span style="color: #660000;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span></span></div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-40424250576541129092014-03-20T08:18:00.000-07:002014-03-20T08:18:03.660-07:00Feast of St Cuthbert - Anam Cara<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="fauxcolumn-outer fauxcolumn-left-outer" style="background-color: white; bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; left: 0px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; top: 0px; width: 0px;">
<div class="fauxborder-left" style="background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat repeat; height: 3758px; position: relative;">
<div class="fauxborder-right" style="background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat repeat; height: 3758px; position: absolute; right: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="fauxcolumn-outer fauxcolumn-right-outer" style="background-color: white; bottom: 0px; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; overflow: hidden; position: absolute; right: 0px; top: 0px; width: 260px;">
<div class="fauxborder-left" style="background-position: 0% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat repeat; height: 3758px; position: relative;">
<div class="fauxborder-right" style="background-position: 100% 0%; background-repeat: no-repeat repeat; height: 3758px; position: absolute; right: 0px;">
<i style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">."</span></i></div>
</div>
</div>
<div class="columns-inner" style="background-color: white; font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; font-size: 12px; min-height: 0px;">
<div class="column-center-outer" style="float: left; position: relative; width: 580px;">
<div class="column-center-inner" style="padding: 0px 15px;">
<div class="main section" id="main" style="margin: 0px 15px;">
<div class="widget Blog" id="Blog1" style="line-height: 1.4; margin: 0px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="blog-posts hfeed">
<div class="date-outer">
<div class="date-posts">
<div class="post-outer">
<div class="post hentry uncustomized-post-template" itemprop="blogPost" itemscope="itemscope" itemtype="http://schema.org/BlogPosting" style="margin: 0px 0px 25px; min-height: 0px; position: relative;">
<div class="post-body entry-content" id="post-body-4898162187818643326" itemprop="articleBody" style="font-size: 13px; line-height: 1.4; position: relative; width: 520px;">
<div dir="ltr" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZdv7hk4nKqF-I4JcrXvjXW2dl1QLe1EsO4LBLMHEesbKh-cHVoJimAWlmJ2KE1jqwlA9aOQE4kG8lton5dJkQCYxsuy6a1K6zdj5YlI3vqWTJ8qbCzsMvoBOwmJoa8l86eYlRvtWpFjs/s1600/IMG_6082.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="color: #7e7e7e; margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgNZdv7hk4nKqF-I4JcrXvjXW2dl1QLe1EsO4LBLMHEesbKh-cHVoJimAWlmJ2KE1jqwlA9aOQE4kG8lton5dJkQCYxsuy6a1K6zdj5YlI3vqWTJ8qbCzsMvoBOwmJoa8l86eYlRvtWpFjs/s640/IMG_6082.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(235, 235, 235); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; padding: 5px; position: relative;" width="480" /></a></div>
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;"><br /></span></i><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 20px;">Information about the life of Cuthbert <a href="http://www.lindisfarne.org.uk/general/cuddy.htm" style="color: #7e7e7e; text-decoration: none;">here</a></span></i><br /><i><br /></i><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(235, 235, 235); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; color: black; float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8QdNL8URw9ojyVom3hj1yWb5A2kFdyRm3jbPcMscYxFK2DRr0R_pibh2zovZBkfcsculw3KnrsrcqRKcek6xJLbOV2ign2asBRllTnh4qz2D-G8oUP-urHRohpEbwXdaUujuAah3zO9o/s1600/IMG_5991.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #7e7e7e; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjk8QdNL8URw9ojyVom3hj1yWb5A2kFdyRm3jbPcMscYxFK2DRr0R_pibh2zovZBkfcsculw3KnrsrcqRKcek6xJLbOV2ign2asBRllTnh4qz2D-G8oUP-urHRohpEbwXdaUujuAah3zO9o/s200/IMG_5991.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">seal off Cuthbert's isle</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In my heart I feel a great similarity between Cuthbert and Francis of Assisi. Cuthbert doesn't seem to carry the angst that Francis suffers; perhaps because elder 'brother' Aidan had gone before him. He holds the same sense of mindfulness of the world around him; tales of praying otters and friendly 'Cuddy' (Eider) ducks add to the sense of a man at one with creation.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Like Aidan he carries with him the sense of God's hospitality which results in a ministry of welcoming others with a kindness that is both physical and spiritual. The wildness of Lindisfarne is even now held in a breath of God's peace which captures the pilgrim with the first step onto the island and is in everything.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(235, 235, 235); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; color: black; float: left; margin-right: 1em; padding: 5px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sdHYeS-ThEwoZ5yBmKsBjifR6sWEjVENnrlEUqlnukyRi7EOS7cYhyphenhyphenWvsbz3JwHULr6TJd68wPC2GGyWP2HvI6nKr-Pk00Tc4vCo-FCCbEua99Xhi2YkDH-g_CwLl5sNc2kyg2RzA6lN/s1600/IMG_6004.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #7e7e7e; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8sdHYeS-ThEwoZ5yBmKsBjifR6sWEjVENnrlEUqlnukyRi7EOS7cYhyphenhyphenWvsbz3JwHULr6TJd68wPC2GGyWP2HvI6nKr-Pk00Tc4vCo-FCCbEua99Xhi2YkDH-g_CwLl5sNc2kyg2RzA6lN/s200/IMG_6004.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">Massie's Cafe</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">If you have not visited then you may imagine that the island as some kind of open air cathedral with 'quiet please' signs on every corner. In fact, the change of the tide brings a wealth of visitors; pilgrims, fishermen, photographers, National Trust members, birdwatchers, ramblers, families with buckets and spades. There is a camp for inner-city and underpriviledged children, a varied selection of B&B's, hotels, holiday cottages and, yes, even retreat houses. And people live there, work there and commute there -and back again. In spite of the vaguaries of weather and tide - even the children sometimes have to board off-island - it is a home and a place of welcome. </span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(235, 235, 235); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; color: black; float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo09HxkQdbgJbAsUSa2LTxDdpDNYEC3nHZSRgSOeLyYDO3vQaClTR6VRgEBs9LcXWSYNQSMIuVWYXRHXWMKhYtRrDKFx0o1uXDLaGr_fmjoaa5Zv5K3LteIKZO9gmmmV3bT41BmiU_eE9L/s1600/IMG_6059.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #7e7e7e; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjo09HxkQdbgJbAsUSa2LTxDdpDNYEC3nHZSRgSOeLyYDO3vQaClTR6VRgEBs9LcXWSYNQSMIuVWYXRHXWMKhYtRrDKFx0o1uXDLaGr_fmjoaa5Zv5K3LteIKZO9gmmmV3bT41BmiU_eE9L/s200/IMG_6059.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">view across to Bamburgh; </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The wisdom and healing of Cuthbert called to just as many people way back then - Anam Cara meaning soul friend - despite the difficulties of travelling and the waiting on the capricious nature of wind and wave. And whilst the grace of God may be without measure; there is a human cost; even the most compassionate of friends needs a time to rest. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Before he headed out to the remote refuge of the Farne islands, Cuthbert found a space apart on a little outcrop isle now known as Cuthbert's Island - this place being cut off even from Lindisfarne itself at certain points of the tide. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(235, 235, 235); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; color: black; float: left; margin-right: 1em; padding: 5px; position: relative;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2doQRptTXG4XkO0seERlk6uzw8nkSCSuGVv_CspWUiOYgyi69ENnVYRXzKl0rnRApx174WC4bFE2q0NxO4PnmXPSKLvTF-PT52RQIE5xmJBE9VezE76H213gsBqnIbnNcXzD2NjBNtYb/s1600/IMG_5967.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; color: #7e7e7e; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjh2doQRptTXG4XkO0seERlk6uzw8nkSCSuGVv_CspWUiOYgyi69ENnVYRXzKl0rnRApx174WC4bFE2q0NxO4PnmXPSKLvTF-PT52RQIE5xmJBE9VezE76H213gsBqnIbnNcXzD2NjBNtYb/s200/IMG_5967.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="200" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">Cuthbert's isle </td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Arriving on Lindisfarne my first call is often the hill overlooking the isle to gauge the likelihood of getting on during the day. This has to be measured with care as the tide moves in rapidly over rocks and quicksand catching your balance even when quite shallow. The remains of a chapel capture the heart with thoughts of nights spent in prayer and rest held against the heart of God and sometimes against the furies of the Spirit's storms. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; border: 1px solid rgb(235, 235, 235); box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 1px 1px 5px; color: black; float: right; margin-left: 1em; padding: 5px; position: relative; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjAOXqlYRrOkUlBWEgMJCoI3fIjAvw-uVEcr4MC6GrLziWO_FjPiQLtPdqOINYBWT02gKh-0hS0fvVOBirRlD1qFbNdbG4uA6NsiIDd7v0yKDV8iztvBkbnrv8EyQxJ7k19AUAenauNnP/s1600/IMG_6093.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; color: #7e7e7e; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-decoration: none;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgGjAOXqlYRrOkUlBWEgMJCoI3fIjAvw-uVEcr4MC6GrLziWO_FjPiQLtPdqOINYBWT02gKh-0hS0fvVOBirRlD1qFbNdbG4uA6NsiIDd7v0yKDV8iztvBkbnrv8EyQxJ7k19AUAenauNnP/s200/IMG_6093.JPG" style="-webkit-box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; background-color: transparent; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; border: none; box-shadow: rgba(0, 0, 0, 0.0980392) 0px 0px 0px; padding: 0px; position: relative;" width="150" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 11px; text-align: center;">Cuthbert's chapel</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The tip of the isle is called the promontory and is a place to stand against the wind and the gaze of the setting sun.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Some Christians question the need for saints; surely the personal relationship with Jesus is all we should strive for. But I have a need of friends who have gone before; as brothers and sisters who can lead me home. From my first step on this island it felt that Cuthbert holds a place that I can call home. </span><br /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br /><table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4JnAWhVLV372lSWQeEisBrvuNCBBmQQ5CD5zMyPVb_qveN8fYXKavjZv1r6m-y2tQlgqy_wli4VO46AkG6hNpsIjeUXVbWwKTHxZaQel1LJVYqAyeq1odtwK9z6xBG8CTi2PsQwBqrIz/s1600/IMG_4280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4JnAWhVLV372lSWQeEisBrvuNCBBmQQ5CD5zMyPVb_qveN8fYXKavjZv1r6m-y2tQlgqy_wli4VO46AkG6hNpsIjeUXVbWwKTHxZaQel1LJVYqAyeq1odtwK9z6xBG8CTi2PsQwBqrIz/s1600/IMG_4280.JPG" height="300" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Cuthbert's Isle from Lindisfarne<br /><br /><div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
wordinthehand2014</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-90202639891967025952013-12-17T14:52:00.000-08:002013-12-14T13:22:14.663-08:00O, Antiphon - Wisdom<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTt3v8DRSQYbq3RAVZ56J-oPdsE9GVaGNNGxad2SX6BIxyBP51_IwGdkJLZXBNP892MNtkUv4o1RJ5poJNnd8F24DdN9KeBgw_P-4o7OxtcR1_OcWEMoxNqDUv7ykwkyfQLnAh2SzOL9d/s1600/IMG_6699.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVTt3v8DRSQYbq3RAVZ56J-oPdsE9GVaGNNGxad2SX6BIxyBP51_IwGdkJLZXBNP892MNtkUv4o1RJ5poJNnd8F24DdN9KeBgw_P-4o7OxtcR1_OcWEMoxNqDUv7ykwkyfQLnAh2SzOL9d/s400/IMG_6699.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>O Wisdom, </i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>flowing from the mouth of the Most High; </i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>reaching far and wide, </i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>disposing of all things sweetly and mightily. </i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Come teach us the way of prudence.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Sofia, beautiful - skin deep; </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">heart deep; blood deep; gut deep.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; line-height: 17px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">beauty of a crone; shining wisdom; </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">flowing compassion; crafting prudence.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">Sofia, midwife of hope; knowing beyond; seeing within. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">Tasting the humours on her tongue; </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">ferric blood; salty tears.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;">Sofia, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">counting the quickening in her heartbeat;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Holding the moon in her embrace;</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Calling Hope in her song.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">O, Come...O, Come.</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">wordinthehand2012</span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><i>.</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 17px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
</div>
<br /></div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-53908926389563138772013-12-15T14:44:00.000-08:002013-12-15T14:44:52.953-08:00Mindfulness<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4JnAWhVLV372lSWQeEisBrvuNCBBmQQ5CD5zMyPVb_qveN8fYXKavjZv1r6m-y2tQlgqy_wli4VO46AkG6hNpsIjeUXVbWwKTHxZaQel1LJVYqAyeq1odtwK9z6xBG8CTi2PsQwBqrIz/s1600/IMG_4280.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjT4JnAWhVLV372lSWQeEisBrvuNCBBmQQ5CD5zMyPVb_qveN8fYXKavjZv1r6m-y2tQlgqy_wli4VO46AkG6hNpsIjeUXVbWwKTHxZaQel1LJVYqAyeq1odtwK9z6xBG8CTi2PsQwBqrIz/s400/IMG_4280.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Hobthrush Isle off Lindisfarne</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b style="mso-bidi-font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Mindfulness<o:p></o:p></span></b></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Island teaches
attention<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">To the nature of
passing time; <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Island teaches
rhythm<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Ocean’s ebb and flow:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Island teaches
patience<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And learning in the
waiting;<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Island teaches
presence<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Stillness in the
landscape:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Island teaches
faith<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">God’s finger on your
pulse:<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Island teaches
life<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">And death.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"> <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The Island teaches <o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">It is not you who
decides.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wordinthehand2012</span></div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-22642526417442078262013-10-30T16:08:00.000-07:002013-10-30T16:08:20.991-07:00Samhain<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_iuprFAd2lS0q6-V5g9ZiyqrTioWuyt6NDq8sTXx1LCx9ASzI1qWGRMq0hymMoh-WnbWPZ-o2txZCfz76ADCQ97uw8O3yvrJbhOzYbcPTM8Qfq0eQvLzKG8N2rDSSBggClyncysmErFd/s1600/IMG_1359.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhw_iuprFAd2lS0q6-V5g9ZiyqrTioWuyt6NDq8sTXx1LCx9ASzI1qWGRMq0hymMoh-WnbWPZ-o2txZCfz76ADCQ97uw8O3yvrJbhOzYbcPTM8Qfq0eQvLzKG8N2rDSSBggClyncysmErFd/s400/IMG_1359.JPG" width="400" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Death and Life</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">A Wisdom Story of Hope </span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
<o:AllowPNG/>
</o:OfficeDocumentSettings>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:WordDocument>
<w:Zoom>0</w:Zoom>
<w:TrackMoves>false</w:TrackMoves>
<w:TrackFormatting/>
<w:PunctuationKerning/>
<w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridHorizontalSpacing>
<w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>18 pt</w:DrawingGridVerticalSpacing>
<w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayHorizontalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>0</w:DisplayVerticalDrawingGridEvery>
<w:ValidateAgainstSchemas/>
<w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>false</w:SaveIfXMLInvalid>
<w:IgnoreMixedContent>false</w:IgnoreMixedContent>
<w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>false</w:AlwaysShowPlaceholderText>
<w:Compatibility>
<w:BreakWrappedTables/>
<w:DontGrowAutofit/>
<w:DontAutofitConstrainedTables/>
<w:DontVertAlignInTxbx/>
</w:Compatibility>
</w:WordDocument>
</xml><![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]><xml>
<w:LatentStyles DefLockedState="false" LatentStyleCount="276">
</w:LatentStyles>
</xml><![endif]-->
<!--[if gte mso 10]>
<style>
/* Style Definitions */
table.MsoNormalTable
{mso-style-name:"Table Normal";
mso-tstyle-rowband-size:0;
mso-tstyle-colband-size:0;
mso-style-noshow:yes;
mso-style-parent:"";
mso-padding-alt:0cm 5.4pt 0cm 5.4pt;
mso-para-margin:0cm;
mso-para-margin-bottom:.0001pt;
mso-pagination:widow-orphan;
font-size:12.0pt;
font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-ascii-font-family:Cambria;
mso-ascii-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-fareast-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-fareast-theme-font:minor-fareast;
mso-hansi-font-family:Cambria;
mso-hansi-theme-font:minor-latin;
mso-bidi-font-family:"Times New Roman";
mso-bidi-theme-font:minor-bidi;
mso-ansi-language:EN-US;}
</style>
<![endif]-->
<!--StartFragment-->
</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>From a tale I heard once<o:p></o:p></i></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
</span><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>In a place that is not this place,
there is night; the longest of nights. This place has been abandoned by the
day; by the light; by all that has comfort and warmth. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>The land is coal and ebony on
obsidian. Raven clouds streak across a stygian sky – starless, moonless.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>You may stare; but it is your heart
that sees, not your eyes. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>The night is relentless; arctic
winds slice the landscape raw. Tops of hills reveal skeletal trees, heads bowed
before the ruthless zephyrs. Their silhouettes, clawed hands imploring, seeking
to escape an early grave.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Seeking,
but all too late; life has gone.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>Yet, the heart sees…what? A rhythm
moving against death’s surge; but slow…so slow.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>The heart sees… a being, a
creature, a man. An old man, as black and as dark as pitch; rough carved from
slate; a semblance of a body; ancient bones as spare and as twisted as the
branches he clings to; eyes rheumy, clouded, barely open.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Surely near death? Near, but not dead.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>Will… from where? <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>Strength…from where?<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span><o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>A heartbeat forces a breath,
persuades the hand to reach forward; to grasp the next branch; to pull forward;
to rest; to breathe; to begin again. Slowly, so slowly, he achingly drags
himself from branch to branch, tree to tree. Gasps of life defying the banshee
moans.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Heartbeat by heartbeat the
old man creeps through the landscape.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>At the top of a hill, he stops,
anchors himself against the body of a stunted tree and lifts his head. The
eyelids barely open any wider, he seems to be scenting the air as much as
seeking, but perhaps it is his heart that sees, for there, far, far in the
distance - not black. A shade; a gleam; a light; a hope. The old man gathers
the hope and places it carefully in his heart. And begins again; a heartbeat; a
breath; the hand reaches forward. No faster, for the old man is exhausted
through to the marrow of his bones; but, with hope, the heart is determined not
to fail. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>Time creeps; breath follows
breath, grasp follows grasp. Hope grows. The glimmer becomes a glow held steady
– a window? Closer, closer; a child’s cutting of a house, imagined against the
slate sky.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The tree line fails and
now he must crawl, digging bony fingers into dead grasses, razor edged, tearing
into the creases of his palms. No matter, all he has is given to the light,
believing that, even from here, he can feel the warmth of a fire, the welcome
of a hearth. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>Finally, his hand touches stone,
the doorstep; the boundary between death and life. Without the strength to haul
himself to his feet, he scratches against the door, for all the world like an
aged tomcat seeking a home. The wind carrying the sounds away into the
night.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>Scratch, scratch, scratch –
there is no more.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>The door opens; a dragon’s breath
of heat and light blinds the night; a woman, not young, not very old, peers
quizzically into the dark then down to her feet. ‘There’ she says, ‘There,
there.’<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>She gathers the old man easily
into her arms, just like an old tomcat, skin and bone, skin and bone; and takes
him to her rocking chair near the warmth of the fire, the welcome of the
hearth. She settles herself into the chair with the old man in her arms,
gathered in, gathered in and she begins to rock. She gifts the warmth of her
body against the frozen chill of skin and bone. She rocks; to and fro, to and
fro. And every now and again she murmurs a woman’s healing;<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>‘There, there….there, there’. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>Time passes; it seems the wind
does not howl so defiantly now. The man in the woman’s arms no longer seems so
old; an aged warrior perhaps, battle-torn and scarred but not bowed. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>‘There, there…there, there’<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>The wind quietens to a whisper, a
lullaby to accompany the woman’s words. The man is now younger, lean muscled
limbs, a strong, handsome face relaxed in sleep. The woman smiles now but does
not let him go.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>‘There, there…there, there.’<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>Hours have gone by; the man has
become a young boy, wavy hair, long eyelashes – beautiful. He fidgets in his
sleep but holds on to the woman as closely as she holds him. The sky seems to
have shaded from darkest slate to a dove grey but there are still no stars, no
moon, no light other than the hearth fire.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>‘There, there…there, there.’<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>The longest of times and the woman
now cradles a strong baby boy, plump as a puppy with golden curls and the pout
of a cherub. She gazes at him with pride and love and a great deal of
satisfaction.<span style="mso-spacerun: yes;"> </span>The grey of the sky
has now become a dusky pink streaked with indigo. So nearly dawn but not quite.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>‘There, there…there, there.’<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>And for hours the sky remains
unaltered and the baby boy stays fast asleep. The woman sighs, a woman’s sigh,
she has done all she can. She tickles his feet and the palms of his hands but
he does not wake. She pinches his cheeks and his nose but he merely brushes her
hand away and settles into the crook of her elbow. Finally, between finger and
thumb, she takes three hairs from a curl on top of his head and plucks them
out.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>The baby’s eyes blaze open – fire
bright, furnace bright; astonished, indignant. <o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>‘There,’ the woman says, ‘you
are.’<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>She carries the baby to the
doorstep and shows him the nearly dawn.<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>‘And there…’ she points ‘…is where
you should be.’<o:p></o:p></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<i>Without hesitation, as a hawk is
released from the glove, the baby soars into the sky, golden bright, star
bright, sun bright; the herald of new life, new beginnings, the Spring Son.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #500050; font-family: 'Goudy Old Style'; font-size: 11pt;"><o:p></o:p></span></i></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
wordinthehand2012</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Inspired by a tale told by Clarissa Pinkola Estes</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<br /></div>
<!--EndFragment--></span></div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-41990364008044630532013-10-03T23:25:00.000-07:002013-10-03T23:25:21.028-07:00St Francis of Assisi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: large;"><b>The Hermitage - Assisi</b></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ38Nq42-ph_pO1qd2dESUQmisi4Pebe8z8vUB9PgvaTcQimSsC2jGMQ9wtLlzGGQ-rVZe_60-dVABjsC2B-T11WOXEX-S4IXmDCDXLfaHWW63ZGyg7Jz6MR5KDKF8av21gueMN3divrd/s1600/IMG_2893.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhRQ38Nq42-ph_pO1qd2dESUQmisi4Pebe8z8vUB9PgvaTcQimSsC2jGMQ9wtLlzGGQ-rVZe_60-dVABjsC2B-T11WOXEX-S4IXmDCDXLfaHWW63ZGyg7Jz6MR5KDKF8av21gueMN3divrd/s320/IMG_2893.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
view of the Hermitage -</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
still 30 minutes walk to go</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Who knows how long a walk?<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">Wrong shoes, no directions, no water in the middle of the day- the faith of a fool.<o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But there is an intent for this walk - a journey towards a leaving behind. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">The ego, the little I, </span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">t</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">he needy needing to be needed; </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">and for what?</span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To prove that I am ‘good for something’; </span></div>
</div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
that I have a right to exist?</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
God’s been doing the hard work again –waiting - waiting for me to recognise myself in Him.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
To realise that I may be an outsider but I am not outcast –<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: right; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-left: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: right;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiARwQtxbbJ9TFaPiwzGd14s4Klfr-f-YjOtwFHHlYY4yaNUceKDn5UZaLdNxDamXrnbIy7nslEve1kjllKyXQGg82U2A2U2VLHynXiTRmHUDrFFHdSsH5rEYzzxoC7FTdjXMWr7je3vo9/s1600/francisHjermitage.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgiARwQtxbbJ9TFaPiwzGd14s4Klfr-f-YjOtwFHHlYY4yaNUceKDn5UZaLdNxDamXrnbIy7nslEve1kjllKyXQGg82U2A2U2VLHynXiTRmHUDrFFHdSsH5rEYzzxoC7FTdjXMWr7je3vo9/s200/francisHjermitage.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="150" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">not from God’s Love, not from Christ’s Body.</span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br />To know that being ‘useless’ means being available to the Spirit’s desire. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">To understand that I can only be ‘useful’ to God by being empty, by being vulnerable.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
And. Lord, seeing this, knowing this, does not make it easy. Not for a Martha like me.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<table cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="float: left; margin-bottom: 0.5em; margin-right: 1em; padding-bottom: 6px; padding-left: 6px; padding-right: 6px; padding-top: 6px; text-align: left;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroTPlX8Mz_TX6tyoV1mtDtI9fsUADS-14aPp4D9rZE3rK4In7D3A3K9x4Iw0_UOPfmasaaPDNgM0Ya0iBkE1gKwrIvhQQCQgmwrwPaYa1_RE0igF4Y476Ox3fr4EgEYTX66GAuatcKeeg/s1600/IMG_2904.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjroTPlX8Mz_TX6tyoV1mtDtI9fsUADS-14aPp4D9rZE3rK4In7D3A3K9x4Iw0_UOPfmasaaPDNgM0Ya0iBkE1gKwrIvhQQCQgmwrwPaYa1_RE0igF4Y476Ox3fr4EgEYTX66GAuatcKeeg/s320/IMG_2904.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="240" /></a></div>
</td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="font-size: 13px; padding-top: 4px; text-align: center;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
left behind</div>
</td></tr>
</tbody></table>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
</div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;">But in this sacred space filled with the humility and devotion of Chiara and Francis may I find my own place at your table.</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
So I thank you, Lord, for the challenges and errors that got me here.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
For showing me that nothing is impossible; </div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
that I am braver than I thought I was;<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
that I have friends; that I have You.<o:p></o:p></div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
Take my life Lord, fill it with Yourself.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Browallia New'; font-size: 15px;"><o:p></o:p></span></div>
</div>
</span><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
</div>
<div class="MsoNormal">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #003366; font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
wordinthehand2013</div>
<div>
<br /></div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-3213370142897617942013-08-02T14:49:00.000-07:002013-08-02T14:49:55.237-07:00Lammas Blessing<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoQo1IzpH8JTL15IdBWDnhj181HMzCCbJ2vCyTN1mS1wea8ehhiTmb0xxAbobvQMianVwqjuK5lj6XLZX2FieKJaOJKMRUsZr95lrVgEVBNXvK8yRgKfqnFY9NBhTlO52HKLt5c29UpPx/s1600/IMG_6157.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEigoQo1IzpH8JTL15IdBWDnhj181HMzCCbJ2vCyTN1mS1wea8ehhiTmb0xxAbobvQMianVwqjuK5lj6XLZX2FieKJaOJKMRUsZr95lrVgEVBNXvK8yRgKfqnFY9NBhTlO52HKLt5c29UpPx/s400/IMG_6157.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The beginning of August is Lammas from<b> </b>Anglo-Saxon <i>hlaf-mass</i>,
"loaf-mas", the festival of the wheat harvest. In pagan culture, the festival celebrates in thanksgiving for the fruits of the harvest which had been given
by the long days of the Sun. This is a place of in-between; the summer sun can be at its strongest and often interspersed with the storms of Lammas tears. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">The season is dedicated to the Celtic god, Lugh; who offers his life to be reborn in the harvest and the goddess, Demeter; who offered her daughter Persephone to the lord of the underworld for the months of winter. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">This was the time when, on the highest of hills, the Harvest King or Queen would be seated in a throne of late summer flowers and sheaves of wheat; a sacrifice of thanksgiving from the community. Whether this became an actual 'sacrifice' is lost in the legends of time and was later baptised by the raising of Celtic Crosses on 'hills' of stone steps in the village square. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Wheat is usually the first harvest of the
autumn. Bread would be made from the first pickings and used as a
protective charm around the barns and houses, with an expectation that,
as long as the bread was there, no-one would go hungry.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">In
Celtic Christianity, very little changed - a loaf would be made from
the first pickings of the crop and brought into church for the Mass. The
loaf was blessed, and divided amongst the congregation; it would be
kept in the home as a symbol of the sharing of God's blessing. In every
Mass we give thanks to God who gives us the food and drink that we need
to live.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">As
Christians we should be aware of the generosity of our God, Lord of
all Creation. Particularly in these times when there are many of us who
live well and often, because of processed and fast foods, without any
knowledge of where our food comes from. It would be good to take a
moment sometime today to realise that even the most basic of foods has a
life in God; has come to us through a cycle of life that has spanned
centuries; that belongs to a pattern of interdependence that we are a
part of - not in charge of.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">You
may not have a field to harvest, or the wherewithal to bake the first
loaf of the season. Perhaps instead, take a moment at mealtimes to
consider our food; how it comes to us; how we would be without it; how
we could share it - and to give thanks.</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Lammas Blessing</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessing of the Seven Days </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that bring the world to life</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessing of the Sun and Moon </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that bring the seasons of the world</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessing of the Earth and Rain </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that form the cradle of the world </span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessings of the Seed and Shoot</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that find birthing in the world</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessing of the Harvest</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">that celebrates its life</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">by giving it away.</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Blessed be</span></i></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wordinthehand2013</span></div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-22854915281658984792013-04-18T15:41:00.000-07:002013-04-19T04:12:31.874-07:00Do you really not know<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIfkiGjfozqvR1kTJIP_WzMOnLB2Ii1xl20DbjGGxmRWUQ21OpGMQAjdWtRfToMAmOxHYMSISEEOAJtpGAoIiZlSVpz9nVuw6jgS7SPZ0JYurY13BAIT6XOSSET4CTtVvvopCLeWLoNE/s1600/IMG_7511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhwIfkiGjfozqvR1kTJIP_WzMOnLB2Ii1xl20DbjGGxmRWUQ21OpGMQAjdWtRfToMAmOxHYMSISEEOAJtpGAoIiZlSVpz9nVuw6jgS7SPZ0JYurY13BAIT6XOSSET4CTtVvvopCLeWLoNE/s400/IMG_7511.JPG" style="cursor: move;" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Do you really not know who I am</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Is your heart not ablaze at my voice</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Lift your eyes from their mirror of fear</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Let the promise I made you be true</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Is your heart not ablaze at my voice</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Love seeks to be truly embraced</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Let the promise I made you be true</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And the song of the heavens ring out</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Love seeks to be truly embraced</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In the silence, the soul touches soul</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And the song of the heavens ring out</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Star speaks to star in bright silvered light</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<br /></div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In the silence, the soul touches soul</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In the longing you don't know you know</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Star speaks to star in bright, silvered light</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>O come and be part of the making</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In the longing you don't know you know</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Lift your eyes from their mirror of fear</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>O come and be part of the making</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Do you really not know who I am</i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>wordinthehand2013</i></span></div>
<div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-79263905035781015232013-04-17T14:44:00.001-07:002013-04-17T14:44:45.381-07:00Corpus Christi<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGkwEl3F1OsXupt_jFaaLz31PHS8T22n3PLIeQkylffsH84naWOHqibQVDM4E0EeH_qxKACKV1CsQjKScrtR7v1-YkafuHDe96Sg1NH-j0aV8ifYhJbzD3P3kotKwJcL67VPMKUeJNAM1/s1600/IMG_6719.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjAGkwEl3F1OsXupt_jFaaLz31PHS8T22n3PLIeQkylffsH84naWOHqibQVDM4E0EeH_qxKACKV1CsQjKScrtR7v1-YkafuHDe96Sg1NH-j0aV8ifYhJbzD3P3kotKwJcL67VPMKUeJNAM1/s320/IMG_6719.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><b><br /></b><br />Given, helpless<br />Sticky with blood<br />Slippery with sweat<br />Enfolded into his mother.<br />First words; first steps:<br />Giggles and tickles;<br />Sneezes and coughs;<br />Tears, hiccups.<br />Body of Christ<br /><br />Falls from trees<br />Scraped knees, bloody noses;<br />Splinters, ‘too hot!’ burns;<br />Nettlerash, pimples;<br />Dirt ingrained in fingerprint whorls<br />Calluses, bitten nails<br />Blistered shoulders<br />Slipped chisel scars<br />Body of Christ<br /><br />Face of a wanderer<br />Laughter lines etched deep<br />Leathered skin<br />Speaking of Love<br />Giving peace with a kiss<br />Courage with a word<br />Sharing of Body and Blood<br />Food for the journey<br />Body of Christ<br /><br />Surrendered<br />Agonised flesh<br />Tortured, tormented,<br />Defiled, pierced<br />Given, helpless<br />Sticky with blood<br />Slippery with sweat<br />Enfolded into his Father<br />Body of Christ<br /><br />Wordinthehand2013</span></span></div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-8889887777009212962013-04-16T15:23:00.001-07:002013-04-16T15:23:42.233-07:00Reflection Psalm 89<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<br />
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieh1_MWQvMaZ89Jy57zsWU3YPEBqxrz-s7fFmzj3FIOpcQfnlFT_14HposgJhebRtmq74uI68F5xJXbygtXb7ALmPbUdpLm2vVsyqEaP8iqSjqhcCh0ky32wuawY0QyBYiDkg3-x6lBnN2/s1600/IMG_4800.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieh1_MWQvMaZ89Jy57zsWU3YPEBqxrz-s7fFmzj3FIOpcQfnlFT_14HposgJhebRtmq74uI68F5xJXbygtXb7ALmPbUdpLm2vVsyqEaP8iqSjqhcCh0ky32wuawY0QyBYiDkg3-x6lBnN2/s400/IMG_4800.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></strong></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #660000;"><strong><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I was one voice, Lord</i></span></strong></span></div>
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><div style="text-align: center;">
Singing your faithfulness and your compassion</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A song that repeated my own heart</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
‘I will love you always’.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The heavens caught the air</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Stars bursting with melody across the skies</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The metre marking light speed</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In praise of Love eternal.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
As above, so below</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The rhythm of Earth’s lifeblood throbbed.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The cadence of the tides</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Love’s own heartbeat.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The compass of the Universe turned</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Drawing harmony and counterpoint together</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Creation wove the score in rainbow shades</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
A celestial symphony.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Magnificent, but too much</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I am just one voice in this song of the spheres</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
And all so far above me</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have lost my place.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Only a sigh, Lord</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
But a remembering of where we first met</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the pause between breaths</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
In the rest of a heartbeat.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
That is where you are, Lord</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
The music refined by the mystery of your Presence</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Your song to me in the spaces between</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
‘Always, I will love you’.</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</i></span><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<i><span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"></span></i></div>
</div>
<div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span style="color: #660000; font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>wordinthehand2013</i></span></div>
</div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-67485018353929308652013-04-15T16:01:00.001-07:002013-04-15T16:01:21.454-07:00Psalm 23 Reflection<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmt8yxgC7lf2pLbJl_Ot_6zU7pbTnTK66mrxvSBasSpe89H3Df3spc64jjJk1VtNUzG-v-yz4vDZt5YEWXzCw8NjPXN4uN8jYomtgjcbIbPlzcRj3-uNbxd0V6-TO6o-H3cVt8_2AvNID/s1600/IMG_8356.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiKmt8yxgC7lf2pLbJl_Ot_6zU7pbTnTK66mrxvSBasSpe89H3Df3spc64jjJk1VtNUzG-v-yz4vDZt5YEWXzCw8NjPXN4uN8jYomtgjcbIbPlzcRj3-uNbxd0V6-TO6o-H3cVt8_2AvNID/s400/IMG_8356.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>You care for me as a shepherd for a lamb;</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Finding fields of fragrant clover;</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Pools of clear water;</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>A haven for my soul.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>With You I walk in ways of truth.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Death holds no fear for me;</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Depths of despair will not bind me;</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>For you have not left me alone;</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>You guard me with weapons of truth and justice.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>You feed me with the Bread of Life;</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Despite those who rage against me;</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Blessed by your Love;</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>I can ask for no more.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Every day of my life is filled with You;</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>My resting place in Your arms</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Forever.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>wordinthehand2013</i></span></div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-8027545820635594382013-04-10T15:43:00.000-07:002013-04-10T15:43:41.817-07:00Pass it on<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRt1L_alqsDZyJSmcOSY7mTZa08yHStq6COzzOT1z7hPaykYHxkPDcOzXvd-v95kUn49-ppgxJojHsqmVG27ccxi6hm1fWsbSHStliu-BNx-U8JJv_owVRvUhYYpAKszriKnsUPVNyahX/s1600/IMG_6734.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimRt1L_alqsDZyJSmcOSY7mTZa08yHStq6COzzOT1z7hPaykYHxkPDcOzXvd-v95kUn49-ppgxJojHsqmVG27ccxi6hm1fWsbSHStliu-BNx-U8JJv_owVRvUhYYpAKszriKnsUPVNyahX/s400/IMG_6734.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br />As the Father sent me, </i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>so I am sending you –</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Pass it on.<br />As the Father loves me, </i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>so, indeed, do I love you – </i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Pass it on.</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>The Kingdom's not another place </i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
</div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>It’s another frame of mind, </i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Go and proclaim<br />Go and show<br />Go and tell</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Go and do</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Go and live forever</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>In my name</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Pass it on</i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><br /></i></span></div>
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">
<span style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>wordinthehand2013</i></span></div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-24574725554337193032013-04-09T01:50:00.000-07:002013-04-09T09:17:34.844-07:00Litany for the Unworthy<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-a6GovKnKfRPbyJRSWlUAGBjKF2mEb5WMKXpvY5jLni0PWFWceHBjops5UNfEKIvBMrg2OA0QmwOvAwQbuS9xBHvth59zo8sur1Icv_DUcjRZdsfzZHSWawMFiBAwaeV4w2ViRSY4Z4f/s1600/IMG_6230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiY-a6GovKnKfRPbyJRSWlUAGBjKF2mEb5WMKXpvY5jLni0PWFWceHBjops5UNfEKIvBMrg2OA0QmwOvAwQbuS9xBHvth59zo8sur1Icv_DUcjRZdsfzZHSWawMFiBAwaeV4w2ViRSY4Z4f/s400/IMG_6230.JPG" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Litany for the Unworthy</i></span></b></span></div>
<div style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><i><br /></i></span></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">
</span></i></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Lamb of God who takes away the sin of the world</span></i></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">
</span></i></span>
<br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">have mercy on us</span></i></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">
</span></i></span>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">We who demand to be fed</span></i></span></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who listen but do not understand</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who would have followed the crowd</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who would have ran away</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who have the answers</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who do not show mercy</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who do not say thank you</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who know better</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who define you</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who can only go so far</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who betray you</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who cage you</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who do not see you</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
We who love you</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Have mercy on us</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
And let our hearts be broken</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<br /></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
Let our hearts be broken</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
By the generosity of your love </div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
By the humility and obedience of your kingship</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
By the injustice and cruelty of your sacrifice</div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
By the knowledge of your innocence</div>
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;">Let our hearts be broken </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 20px;"><div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>so that through our wounds </i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>you may enter</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>And take away our sin</i></span></div>
<div class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: left;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><i>Amen</i></span></b></div>
<div style="font-family: Arial, Tahoma, Helvetica, FreeSans, sans-serif; text-align: center;">
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><br /></span></b></div>
</span></div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-68961649162035472042013-02-02T08:34:00.001-08:002013-02-02T08:35:07.261-08:00Candlemass<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div style="text-align: center;">
<b><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Candlemass</span></span></b></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WQ9vdcfqT7o9KRE5W3sjsojY5SBuJf5odby3I9nQ2XbNn5PWfJFhXtJrBwFRvZNYBZ7vf1P4gI6hh6z7knyv1CsnDAmCr4aEaHy20QayWaVqs4luiJXlqBdm5Q2RNY1enoQf1AmD1nF9/s1600/candle.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg8WQ9vdcfqT7o9KRE5W3sjsojY5SBuJf5odby3I9nQ2XbNn5PWfJFhXtJrBwFRvZNYBZ7vf1P4gI6hh6z7knyv1CsnDAmCr4aEaHy20QayWaVqs4luiJXlqBdm5Q2RNY1enoQf1AmD1nF9/s400/candle.jpg" width="300" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Forty Days after Christmas; another journey of faith through the darkness to the mid point between the Winter and Spring Equinox.</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The winter has been filled with blessing and prayers for the light to come and just as it seems that we have waited too long this time.... </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">...overnight the morning sky seems lighter and higher; life begins to glow in the blanketing of last years leaves; suddenly there is birdsong and the flitting of robins and wrens through the budding hedgerows. Moods lighten and fingers itch to out in the gardens; feet seek out the old paths beneath the dead grasses. Only now we notice we have been holding our breath for this moment...</span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"> </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Forty days after the birth of their child, in the Jewish tradition, Mary and Joseph take their son to the Temple. Simeon, the upright and holy man acknowledges a promise with a daring prayer of thanks. </span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="v gb" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>‘Now, Master, you can let your servant go in peace,</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span></span></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>just as you promised;</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span></span></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>because my eyes have seen the salvation</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span></span></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>which you have prepared for all the nations to see,</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span></span></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>a light to enlighten the pagans</i></span></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>
</i></span></span></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><i>and the glory of your people Israel.’</i></span></span></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">The Light is for the nations; the people of Israel have brothers and sisters, and we are all chosen.</span></span></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Baskets of candles will be blessed today to be taken home as witnesses to the light. Light in a window will always attract attention; a beacon; a calling; a celebration; a welcoming;<span style="font-size: small;"> </span>a sign of illness<span style="font-size: small;">; always a sign of hope.</span> </span></span></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">A Light for all people; for all nations; for all time.</span></span></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"></span></span><br />
<h2 class="grayline">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><b>Prayer for the Blessing of Candles</b></span></span></h2>
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">
Loving God, whose Son is Light Eternal</span></span></i></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">Recall to us the promise of Simeon<br />
That your Light belongs to all<br />
Bless + these candles <br />
May they light our home<span style="font-size: small;">s with your grace </span><br />
Help <span style="font-size: small;">us </span>walk in the path of goodness<br />
and lead us to the light that shines forever</span></span></i></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></i></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;">blessed b<span style="font-size: small;">e</span></span></span></i></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">wordinthehand201<span style="font-size: small;">3</span> </span><br />
</span></span></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
</div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span> </div>
<div class="v" style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-53641887246637817042013-01-18T08:17:00.001-08:002013-01-18T08:17:20.649-08:00Snow for Crows<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGlf290XggGlvXP7viaex3kOg0FWX5Ees568b6MZcQJn1eVyOpcVwHPUhx6ICFg_YENX0lnP_To6KWei29N_1KHWSo_pTKxueTIGf02eDOLCDB6bu9PxkmY1bX7a-oV045Pm9eBOQDpdg/s1600/crow.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvGlf290XggGlvXP7viaex3kOg0FWX5Ees568b6MZcQJn1eVyOpcVwHPUhx6ICFg_YENX0lnP_To6KWei29N_1KHWSo_pTKxueTIGf02eDOLCDB6bu9PxkmY1bX7a-oV045Pm9eBOQDpdg/s400/crow.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"><b> Snow for Crows </b></span></span></span></span></span></i></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">feigning nonchalance in their dancing gait<br /> highwaymen crows patrol the snowswept field edgings -<br /> because you just never know...</span></span></span></span></span></i></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent"> </span></span></span></span></span></i></h5>
<h5 class="uiStreamMessage userContentWrapper" data-ft="{"type":1,"tn":"K"}" style="text-align: center;">
<i><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: Verdana,sans-serif;"><span style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="messageBody" data-ft="{"type":3}"><span class="userContent">wordinthehand201<span style="font-size: small;">3</span> </span></span></span></span></span></i></h5>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-12439863591460488032013-01-09T14:03:00.002-08:002013-01-09T14:03:50.247-08:00Small Stones - Trees<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KirB_HE9F3dDVlvCmHMyvSL7IgwyqhKYYunPCFlN4BGFKM5SZIENWGwhJARzgiK4QqLQYW5uwVa51OXNJ_vgb3GQbtmAe_g0AlfwTmBibGuUsQViOYpQxo_FbP3mylH4AOV1ywAz5eaB/s1600/IMG_7466.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh4KirB_HE9F3dDVlvCmHMyvSL7IgwyqhKYYunPCFlN4BGFKM5SZIENWGwhJARzgiK4QqLQYW5uwVa51OXNJ_vgb3GQbtmAe_g0AlfwTmBibGuUsQViOYpQxo_FbP3mylH4AOV1ywAz5eaB/s400/IMG_7466.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Trees bear the lifeblood</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
between earth and sky</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
wordinthehand2013</div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-18829196021891076502013-01-05T14:17:00.001-08:002013-01-05T14:17:55.292-08:00Small Stones - the Fifth Day<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fmTo3082yoeVEOYCzLwDqMMQIemU3-NVYRD6OL5Ghf1Vf32_Rdk7Hk361rXHWDVpgCqiZfw94NKghLWyNJ9ujEEHQzeLaTegzMRTiwklxsiPrsZWZYADo2nfx22vDBxLQKSsi1t76Yzu/s1600/IMG_7541.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi9fmTo3082yoeVEOYCzLwDqMMQIemU3-NVYRD6OL5Ghf1Vf32_Rdk7Hk361rXHWDVpgCqiZfw94NKghLWyNJ9ujEEHQzeLaTegzMRTiwklxsiPrsZWZYADo2nfx22vDBxLQKSsi1t76Yzu/s320/IMG_7541.JPG" width="320" /></a></div>
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
Small Stone </div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
It won't be the first time</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
I have missed the boat</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
wordinthehand2013</div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<br /></div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1927962502019087783.post-7262672810497014022013-01-04T16:20:00.001-08:002013-01-04T16:20:47.542-08:00Small Stones - The Fourth Day - Iron Man<div dir="ltr" style="text-align: left;" trbidi="on">
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRJ8qZIjve886a5boJLpRDx49oyW-lIu3acQd_cq3Xdk_6htc3raG7SJedAnE4VLBAXRR1xyYj1NMq5OZXx8eP0aCdjlnL6oyOKAvtxfE4essedRZz6ABso-CwdUcg8djHHzn3LfES8Gw/s1600/IMG_7511.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidRJ8qZIjve886a5boJLpRDx49oyW-lIu3acQd_cq3Xdk_6htc3raG7SJedAnE4VLBAXRR1xyYj1NMq5OZXx8eP0aCdjlnL6oyOKAvtxfE4essedRZz6ABso-CwdUcg8djHHzn3LfES8Gw/s400/IMG_7511.JPG" width="400" /></a></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Small Stone</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">Iron Man at Crosby Beach</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">neither waving nor drowning</span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;"><br /></span></div>
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, sans-serif;">wordinthehand 2013</span></div>
</div>
Mairie http://www.blogger.com/profile/17663275897097146508noreply@blogger.com0