Good morning... "The awareness of my condition moved through me like a wind," writes Sue Monk Kidd on page 128 of God's Joyful Surprise. 'God, I know that You are here even now with Your love,' I prayed silently. 'I have been absent, unaware, sleepwalking through Your glorious presence. Please, God, help me learn to be present to [...]
Good morning... On this fresh fall morning, a song flows like a river from me to you. Enjoy the palpable presence of God, trusting that the river knows where it goes. You are like a tree, planted by flowing, cool streams of water that never run dry. Your fruit ripens in its time; your leaves never fade or [...]
Good morning... This week, I have watched footage of the final living Israeli hostages returning to the tearful embrace of their loved ones. On the news, I saw a Palestinian man finally returned to the grounds of his home in Gaza. What was once his special place, a place where he had raised his grown children, was now [...]
Good morning... To the light of the full corn moon, let's ponder a poem shared by a friend. As we read it now, slowly and aloud, what word sparkles most? ***** Let me learn by paradox that the way down is the way up, that to be low is to be high, that the broken heart is the [...]
Good morning... “When morning gilds the skies…” This familiar hymn, singing in my head, stirs me from my sleep. Instinctively, I look out the open window and shoot one photo through the screen. The word gild comes alive as the dark early morning sky is embellished with golden light from the moon and the stars. Then, I tiptoe [...]
Good morning... On Saturday, July 5th, out of the blue, I received this special card in honor of Audrey DeShetler. Audrey went to heaven on Sunday, June 8th, ten hours before her twentieth birthday. Not being catholic, I was not sure what it meant to hold a Mass for a loved one who has passed. So I wrote [...]
Good morning... Please savor with me this delicious summer poem. ****** "Tomatoes" by Joy Sullivan I waited so long for love and suddenly, here it is standing in the garden, hands full of heirlooms hot from the sun. Soon we’ll make a supper of them. Salted slabs between slices of bread. Your beard silvers. My hips ripen. The [...]
Good morning... "Our hands imbibe like roots," says St. Francis of Assisi, "so I place them on what is beautiful in this world. And I fold them in prayer, and they draw from the heaven's light." Imbibe. I love this wildly thirsty word. 1. To drink; gulp down. 2. To absorb; soak up. 3. To receive into the [...]
Good morning... I am touched by the final line in a poem I met yesterday. uncertain wind stirring the leaves: this is the world we have: take it - A. R. Ammons I think to myself, "Would I take another wind if it was more certain, more predictable, more limited to my control? Would I want a God [...]
Good morning... I'm stirred awake by the Spirit at 1:23. The simple ascending pattern tickles my attention. I look around the dark room, and light plays on our walls. I snap a few photos before I step outside. In the front yard, I check. No moon. In the back yard, I search. No moon. Tomorrow night's full moon [...]
