Meditation: We share the Word
Since it has pleased the Almighty to bestow upon N1 and N2
the gift of a child, N3, let us now give thanks:
Heavenly Father, you have blessed us with your presence in this world.
We thank you for the life of this child, N3, entrusted to our care.
Help us to remember that we are all your children, and so to
love and nurture him, that he may attain to that full stature
intended for him in your eternal wisdom.
Lord, you have taught us that whoever receives a little child
in your name receives you. We give you thanks for the blessing
you have bestowed upon N1 and N2 in giving them a child. Confirm
their joy by a lively sense of your presence with them, and give them
calm strength and patient wisdom as they seek to bring this child to
love all that is true and noble, just and pure, lovable and gracious,
excellent and admirable, following the example of all who are blessed.
- Modified from the 1979 Book of Common Prayer: Thanksgiving for a Child
Thursday, December 22, 2016
At The Naming of a Hindu Child
Friday, September 24, 2010
Do You See the Children?
Saturday, November 14, 2009
Jacob's Ladder, Reprise
On Genesis 28:10-19
Antiphon: Mandatum novum do vobis ut diligatis invicem sicut dilexi vos
In the desert all alone
beneath his head he laid a stone
the stars looked down upon his face
in this dark desolate place.
In his dreams a ladder shone
let down from heaven to his stone
beside him holy voices spoke
out of fire and out of smoke.
"Where you go there I am too
I will always be with you"
-every place, a place of God
if floored with sand, gold, wood, or sod.
Original Post
Sunday, March 15, 2009
Hold On
The land is grey
and cold winds blow
the rain spots down
mixed in with snow
The reeds sigh in
the the wind so cold
their roots hold tight
to mud and mold
The grass and reeds
are bleached light dun
by wind and rain
and distant sun
Around their roots
the mud lies black
around the ponds
ice-water, black
The ponds seem dead
abandoned, left
-of mammals, bugs and fish
bereft
The eagle eye
sees more below
within the depths
a greenish glow
Life perseveres
and will return
and send up shoots
and uncoil fern
Hold on through one more storm
and then
wild life will arise
again
Monday, November 3, 2008
You Are Given Now
We have only a moment
Not an hour
Or a day
Or a week
Or a month
Or years, decades, centuries, millennia
We have only a moment to trust
A moment to love
A moment to care
A moment to believe
Who that was who came before
- you cannot know
And who comes after
- you cannot see
But you have now
Use it to believe the best
To do the best
And be as much
As fun
As awesome
As inspired
As you can
You are given now
Use it
Friday, August 29, 2008
The Leather Shoes I've Had A While
I've had a while
They're worn and scuffed
They're broken in
Into my shape
They're shaped like me
Perhaps too much
Sometimes I switch
what feet they're on
I wear them backwards
Now and then
Just for a bit
To feel the way
They press my feet
Differently
Somehow it is comforting
To feel them different
And unmeshed
Unmatched to my feet
It is also strange
To wear something
So broken in
And yet so mismatched
It reminds me
Of how comfortable
They are normally
It is kind of like
Seeing an old friend
Doing a new thing
Meeting something
That you know well
In a strange place
Far away
Realizing again
What you are about
When you had forgotten
Or become preoccupied
See, I have made all things new
Even the shoes on your feet
Let them remind you who you are
Remind you what you are
Let them help you remember your calling
And enter into the Kingdom of God
Peace,
LE
Wednesday, July 30, 2008
I Found The Door Unbarred
I found the door unbarred
I found my way within
There was a basin there
Placed welcoming, yet dry
An unlit candle stood tall
The light within was dim
Warmed by illumined saints
Precious woods shone and
Ancient stones gleamed coolly
I paced down the aisle
As carvings spoke to me
Of legend, ritual, faith
I knelt there for a moment
And next to me knelt God
Who accepted my foolish words
Alone in that spare place
And as God often does
I found that my small requests
Were blessed and all came true
The large ones… …it could be
God is leaving them for me
LE
Sunday, July 20, 2008
Jacob's Ladder
On Genesis 28:10-19:
In the desert all alone
beneath his head he laid a stone
the stars looked down upon his face
in this dark desolate place.
In his dreams a ladder shone
let down from heaven to his stone
beside him holy voices spoke
out of fire and out of smoke.
"Where you go there I am too
I will always be with you"
-every place, a place of God
if floored with sand, gold, wood, or sod.
-LE
Friday, May 9, 2008
Who Is?
John 1:1 In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
John 5:43 I am come in my Father's name, and ye receive me not: if another shall come in his own name, him ye will receive.
John 6:35 And Jesus said unto them, I am the bread of life: he that cometh to me shall never hunger; and he that believeth on me shall never thirst.
John 6:51 I am the living bread which came down from heaven: if any man eat of this bread, he shall live for ever: and the bread that I will give is my flesh, which I will give for the life of the world.
John 7:29 But I know him: for I am from him, and he hath sent me.
John 8:12 Then spake Jesus again unto them, saying, I am the light of the world: he that followeth me shall not walk in darkness, but shall have the light of life.
John 8:16 And yet if I judge, my judgment is true: for I am not alone, but I and the Father that sent me.
John 8:23 And he said unto them, Ye are from beneath; I am from above: ye are of this world; I am not of this world. Then said Jesus unto them, When ye have lifted up the Son of man, then shall ye know that I am [he], and [that] I do nothing of myself; but as my Father hath taught me, I speak these things. Jesus said unto them, Verily, verily, I say unto you, Before Abraham was, I am.
John 9:5 As long as I am in the world, I am the light of the world.
John 9:39 And Jesus said, For judgment I am come into this world, that they which see not might see; and that they which see might be made blind.
John 10:7 Then said Jesus unto them again, Verily, verily, I say unto you, I am the door of the sheep.
John 10:9 I am the door: by me if any man enter in, he shall be saved, and shall go in and out, and find pasture.
John 10:10 The thief cometh not, but for to steal, and to kill, and to destroy: I am come that they might have life, and that they might have [it] more abundantly.
John 10:11 I am the good shepherd: the good shepherd giveth his life for the sheep.
John 10:14 I am the good shepherd, and know my [sheep], and am known of mine.
John 11:25 Jesus said unto her, I am the resurrection, and the life: he that believeth in me, though he were dead, yet shall he live:
John 12:26 If any man serve me, let him follow me; and where I am, there shall also my servant be: if any man serve me, him will [my] Father honour.
John 12:46 I am come a light into the world, that whosoever believeth on me should not abide in darkness.
John 13:13 Ye call me Master and Lord: and ye say well; for [so] I am.
John 13:19 Now I tell you before it come, that, when it is come to pass, ye may believe that I am [he].
John 14:6 Jesus saith unto him, I am the way, the truth, and the life: no man cometh unto the Father, but by me.
John 14:10 Believest thou not that I am in the Father, and the Father in me? the words that I speak unto you I speak not of myself: but the Father that dwelleth in me, he doeth the works.
John 14:11 Believe me that I [am] in the Father, and the Father in me: or else believe me for the very works' sake.
John 15:5 I am the vine, ye [are] the branches: He that abideth in me, and I in him, the same bringeth forth much fruit: for without me ye can do nothing.
John 16:32 Behold, the hour cometh, yea, is now come, that ye shall be scattered, every man to his own, and shall leave me alone: and yet I am not alone, because the Father is with me.
John 18:5 They answered him, Jesus of Nazareth. Jesus saith unto them, I am [he]. And Judas also, which betrayed him, stood with them.
Exd 3:6 Moreover he said, I [am] the God of thy father, the God of Abraham, the God of Isaac, and the God of Jacob. And Moses hid his face; for he was afraid to look upon God.
Exodus 3:13 And Moses said unto God, Behold, [when] I come unto the children of Israel, and shall say unto them, The God of your fathers hath sent me unto you; and they shall say to me, What [is] his name? what shall I say unto them?
Exodus 3:14 And God said unto Moses, I AM THAT I AM: and he said, Thus shalt thou say unto the children of Israel, I AM hath sent me unto you.
Jesus Is.
Peace,
LE
Saturday, March 29, 2008
After John 20:19-31
That Sunday they met in secret, locking the doors because they were afraid of further persecution. And as they were talking, Jesus appeared among them, and said “Peace be with you!” Some were full of joy, some were frightened, and many had trouble believing. But Jesus showed them his hands, and the wounds in them, and his side, where the spear had pierced him, and they believed and rejoiced.
And Jesus said “Peace be with you; As the Father has sent me, so I send you!” And he breathed on them, saying “Receive the Holy Spirit!”
But Tom was not there in the locked room where Jesus had appeared, and when he heard the story he said “Unless I see the mark of the nails in his hands, and touch them, and touch the wound in his side, I will not believe.”
So a week later, they were again in the house with the doors securely shut, and Tom was with them. And Jesus again appeared among them and said; “Peace be with you.”
Turning, he said to Tom: “See and touch me, touch my hands - and my side where I was pierced - do not doubt, but believe.”
And Tom grasped his hands and fell to his knees, gasping: “My Lord and my God!” Jesus said to him: “Have you believed because you have seen? Blessed are those who have not seen, and yet still have come to believe.”
Peace
LE
Sunday, March 16, 2008
On Palm Sunday
Monday, March 3, 2008
Here's Mud In Your Eye:
100 Words on Dirt (John 9:1-11):
He rubbed dirt in his eyes!
What?
The man they are calling ‘Teacher’.
Oh, the new prophet-guy, Jesus. You said he put dirt in someone’s eyes?
Worse, he took dirt, he spit on it, made mud and rubbed it in this man’s eyes!
The man didn’t try to stop him?
No, No, he was blind.
What, it wasn’t bad enough that he was blind in the first place? Didn’t anyone else try to stop him?
No, we didn’t think of it – and it made him see!
He puts dirt in people’s eyes and makes them see; now that’s a miracle.
Peace,
LE
Sunday, February 17, 2008
That Evening
That evening, after it was dark, one of the chief men of the city came secretly to speak with him.
His name was Nicodemus, and after he had been welcomed, the two of them sat on a bench in the courtyard, with the stars glinting down at them, and a pleasant evening breeze carrying the smell of night-blooming flowers past. They do not speak rapidly, and although thoughtful, are casual with each other:
Nicodemus: Teacher, we know you are from God, because the signs you show us are the work of God, and no one could do them who is not with God.
Jesus: Yet none - no one can see the Kingdom of God unless they are born again.
Nicodemus: How can I be 'born again' - an old man like me? I certainly can't go climbing back into my mother's womb!
Jesus: No one can enter the Kingdom of God without being born of the water and the spirit - what is born of flesh is flesh, and what is born of spirit is spirit - this should not astonish you.
The spirit works differently from the way of the flesh - it is more like the wind, -we cannot tell where it comes from, or where it goes, but when it is blowing, we sure know it is there!
Nicodemus: I don't get it.
Jesus: Search your heart, and you will know what I say is true. Do you not teach as much in the temple?
I am telling you what we both know and have seen, ...and yet it is difficult for to recieve. If you cannot hear these things that we share, how will you accept what I have to tell you about heaven?
But I will tell you anyway - and I know this, because the Son has seen Heaven:
The Son of Man must be lifted up - just as Moses lifted up the brass serpent in the wilderness, so that those who believe in him - whomever they are - may have eternal life.
This must happen because God loves the world, loves the world so much that he will give his only Son, so that everyone who belives in him will not die, but instead may have eternal life.
Mind you, God did not send his Son into the world to condemn the world, but so that it might be saved.
And the nightengale sang, and the two talked late into the night as the perfume of the night blooming flowers drifted around them and the stars twinkled.
Sunday, January 20, 2008
The Bread and the Wine
Others open their mouths, faithful that you will tip carefully
Some grasp the bottom of the cup
And control the tip
Some just sip, so timidly that you wonder if they received
Others manhandle the cup and take a significant helping
Some raise their hands for the bread
But many, many leave their hands low
Their hands cupped, almost closed
You must reach down
Reach in
And place the bread inside their hands
Like a seed within a pod
Like a child within a womb
Encourage them to take, to taste
The wine seems more welcome than the bread
Perhaps the wine is like the spirit
The blessings of the spirit
Heady, inspiring, and lifting
And the bread is like the body
Reminding us of our mortality
Of our flesh, and its failings
Of our suffering, of our limitations
Or maybe we want to sense the physicality of the bread
To have it thrust upon us
To have God reach out to us
Touch us in our mortal life
We need the thrust, the touch, the impinging of God upon us
Perhaps this is why
It feels like I must give the bread
But that the wine
People are eager to receive
May you find that God reaches out to you
And that you are much beloved.
-LE
Thursday, January 3, 2008
frosty filigree
A fantastic frosty filigree has silently decorated my window while I slept.
Now the sun catches the twisting tiny twirls of tinsel that have grown there, sparkling and glinting as if dotted with diamonds.
I am glad that I am inside to enjoy the beauty in a warm place.
May you have a warm place to shelter in your cold days also.
Friday, December 14, 2007
Dreaming of the Father
I dreampt that I was a father,
An adoptive father,
Posessed of a particular race,
A race different than my usual;
And that I had seven adopted children,
Of all different races,
At first I was suprised,
That I had adopted so many children, and that I had dared to adopt children of other races;
But then I saw what a joy and wonder it was;
and how full of love we were;
I saw that it was good in a profound way;
And very, very right.
Happy Dreams
LE
Saturday, December 8, 2007
Are you Saved?
Are you saved... ...when were you saved?
People used to ask a lot.
We do speak of salvation sometimes now,
But more often not.
Is saving what happens in this life?
Or does it happen when we die?
Can it happen a long time later,
When in the grave we lie?
Can we be saved in both,
Can we be saved again?
Do we know what saving is?
Can you please explain?
Is saving like pickling,
Or like a photo that we take?
Or is saving like a change
Like love or when hearts break?
And did Jesus save us long ago,
Or does he save today?
And when we say our God came down to save us,
What do we mean? What way?
And if the saved can fall, can they fall from grace in death?
Can you still fall from grace when you can't draw a breath?
Are these important questions,
or do we all just need
to hear God's word and do it?
That would be good indeed!
Wednesday, November 7, 2007
The Unseen Tree
Or so I discover.
It was there all along, among the small trees growing behind the forsythia.
But the last couple days have been quite brisk,
And this morning,
As I made my mind up to apologize to someone,
The sun caught it just so;
And its leaves previously unremarkable,
Burst into flame.
And all the angels sang.
Peace,
LE
Saturday, October 13, 2007
Joy
You are not yet so joyful as I mean you to be!
So Live-
And live in joy!
And share your joy and love with those you meet-
Be not dauted;
but daunt with love-
Let your heart expand;
Let your love flow;
And live in joy-
Mourn no more;
And regrets leave behind-
But share and give;
And love;
And live!
Let your blood flow;
And let your love grow-
And all you are;
And all you can be;
And all you are with;
Give
And Give;
And Give;
And Give!!!
Be not single and small
But Live
And Live;
And Live;
And Live!!!
For living is about giving;
And giving is about living;
And loving is about living;
And loving is avout giving;
So Give;
And Love;
And Love;
And Live!!!
Joy!
Friday, October 12, 2007
Normally ExtraOrdinary
“A hero is someone doing extraordinary things, what I did was not extraordinary. It was a normal thing to do.” - Irena Sendler
Irena, risked her life, and suffered much torment to rescue 2,500 children from the Nazis. But in her eyes, her risk, torture, and soic self-sacrifice were just 'normal' things to do.
May we all be such people, that risking our lives and suffering for our neighbors is merely a 'normal' thing to do.
But if it is not normal to love so much, then let us be extra-ordinary, and may God bless us with the courage, the energy, and the strength to change the world such that the extrordinary becomes normal.
Peace,
LE