Greetings!
What did you think of day 1?
I actually spent some time today trying to get outside myself -- to live beyond ME --to make sure I was NOT the focus of attention -- I intentionally sat through one meeting telling myself to minimize [keeping quiet and listening more to others] rather than maximize my presence...
I find it way too easy to make life all about me...
How about you?
I imagined my over-reaching EGO on a leash today -- and my TRUE SELF released to engage others -- seeking to serve the six hospice patients I interacted with today in a way that shifted the spotlight to them...
And, I will try it again tomorrow...
Three thoughts for tonight...
From Henri Nouwen: "God choose powerlessness. God chose to enter into human history in complete weakness. That divine choice forms the center of the Christian faith. In Jesus of Nazareth, the powerless God appeared among us to UNMASK the illusion of power, to disarm the prince of darkness who rules the world, and to bring the divided human race to a new unity..."
Ministry is INCARNATIONAL for me -- seeking in very broken ways to "be Jesus" in the human encounters of life. I do my best when I remember the mystery of powerlessness! When I am weak, THEN I am strong...
Away with the illusion of power through my own might...
My first patient today was Muslim -- not what I ordered at 9 a.m. I felt weak -- I experienced the blessing of turning to Jesus in trust rather than "just doing my thing" -- in my humility, I was surprised by a deep stirring of love and really enjoyed the visit...
From Richard Rohr: "The beggar who continues to pester the Lord is more pleasing than the dutiful and self-sufficient servant. Jesus has reversed our human scale of values...Risk all for love, Jesus tells us, even your own life. Give that to me and let me save it. People who seek to save their own lives, doing a good job of saving themselves, are saying that God's salvation is not needed. People who lose their lives for the sake of the Good News will find their lives. The healthy religious person is the one who ALLOWS GOD TO SAVE!"
I feel better about my weakness now than ever -- maybe it is the wisdom of age -- when I was younger I ignored weakness because of my illusion of infinitude...
Are you laughing at me???
Some of you are because you watched me acting as if I COULD MAKE ANYTHING HAPPEN -- at least it is funny to me now...
I still do NOT like my weakness, but I TREASURE my weakness...
I embrace it now as a friend for several reasons...
My weakness gives birth to peace because life and ministry is NOW about God and not me! My blood pressure goes down everytime I remember that I do not have to be ruled by my EXPECTATIONS -- I can ACCEPT whatever comes my way in simple trust of my Lord... He is in charge so all is well...
My weakness gives birth to power because my trust is now much greater in God...
My weakness gives birth to hope because the finitude of a 50 year old body allows me to give thanks for this flesh while eagerly looking forward to my spiritual body of the parousia which will never decay, decline or die...
I can really live in the already, but not yet of history...
When you hit 50 -- the physical limitations, the brutal dose of emotional reality and the sense that way more than half your days are done -- spiritual maturity begins to break through [even and most especially for men in my humble opinion]...
Will you join me in celebrating personal weakness, powerlessness and simple trust in our lives tomorrow???
After all, it is the poor in spirit who inherit the kingdom...
Until tomorrow -- shalom...
guy
I did all this without the help of wine -- but I now hear it calling...
I still want my dog!!!
Monday, November 30, 2009
Sunday, November 29, 2009
Advent 2009
Greetings!
Tis the season to blog again -- Advent -- preparing my heart afresh for the coming again of Jesus Messiah...
I hope to blog throughout the Advent season -- probably for me much more than for you -- I need the change of life's seasons to re-focus me [especially spiritually]...
Blogging through the Lenten season was spiritually enriching for me -- hope you enjoyed the journey as well...
I have spent the last hour getting ready to start -- I almost quit before I got started [ha! ha!]...
Resetting my password since I had forgotten it since Lent -- oh well...
I am sitting on the front porch and it is actually cool in Tampa tonight -- so I had to go find my favorite Tractor Supply hoodie... Looks like I may have to go find some shoes too... My shaved head is pretty chilly too...
Pandora's internet radio is dialed in to Jimmy Buffett...
I have a bottle of red wine -- for my heart and to stay warm [of course]...
I have been choosing resources for my [hopefully our] journey for quite some time...
One booklet is from Henri Nouwen -- aren't you shocked [ha! ha!] -- it is entitled LIVING IN HOPE...
My other resource is my new devotional for 2010 -- RADICAL GRACE by Richard Rohr -- a Franciscan priet from New Mexico...
I also read my Bible tonight -- don't act so shocked [ha! ha!]...
But never fear -- I am almost ready to start -- maybe just a few more minutes for the wine to release more deeply spiritual thoughts...
So, what do i want out of Advent this year???
It is my favorite time of the year -- I LOVE THE HOLY SEASON!
I have been so giddy today that my family was afraid they were actually going to have to institutionalize me for "being too happy" [or maybe "acting too stupid"] -- sounds great -- I will apply for disability and take an early retirement for mental reasons [ha! ha!] Bet there is a lot of time to read on the "inside"...
I almost celebrated the beginning of Christmas by going to get me a new dog this afternoon -- a beautiful Golden Retriever I found on the internet -- but Nancy's "look" appeared too dangerous [and the boys wouldn't support me since Josh wants a Boxer and James always votes with his Mom because he does not like dogs]...
So, I am dogless, but still happy...
[I may still win this battle after we get back from PA for Christmas...]
I want fresh JOY, HOPE, PEACE and LOVE for 2010 out of this Advent journey...
My heart is full of anticipation and expectation -- I sense God is about to do "something"...
Nouwen says that there is "great expectation in the Advent season..."
I think he is right on -- I am looking for fresh and meaningful epiphanies of the Christ child throughout this season...
I bet some of my hospice patients will teach me so much about Christmastime -- for many, this will be there last one here on earth...
I am expecting spiritual encounters that will deepen my contemplation and move me to action...
I love the way Rohr says it when he speaks of the "primacy of action" in our spiritual journey...
"God can teach me in my taking care of the needy around me -- in moving toward the world as it is. I think when we respond to need as it is right in front of us, usually we are NOT as susceptible TO OUR EGOS! Life in front of us pulls us out of ourselves and we have to do it because it is there. That's how I see people being purified. That kind of spirituality I can trust. If your life is not moving toward practical action in this real, living world, with other people, WITH THE NOT ME, don't trust your spirituality. But your engagement must happen in tandem with contemplation, the inner disengagement with ego and openness to God. Contemplation is the Divine Therapy that purifies our work and involvement. Action and contemplation are the two polarities that regulate and balance the faith-filled life. It saddens me that most Christianity is right in the middle. It's neither radical interiority nor radical engagement. You don't learn much in the medicre middle, and you don't have too much to give." [321]
Observation: I am fully convinced that much of the personal pathology in our world is the direct result of EGO CENTRISM -- people are help captive by their own EGO -- we cannot find or live out of our TRUE SELF because we are consumed by US -- we make sure that EVERYTHING centers around US!!!
The most powerfully lived worship chorus of our day goes "It's ALL ABOUT ME dear Jesus, it's ALL ABOUT ME!" [rather than "it's all about YOU dear Jesus"]...
We are not engaging life and need around us in such a way that it is "pulling us out of ourselves" -- too often, we have a lazer focus on our needs, our wants, our pains, our wishes, our comfort, our control, our manipulation, and on and on and on -- there simply is not room for ANYTHING else since it is ALL ABOUT US!
I see it all around -- it is one of the realities of our post-modern culture -- we are fixated with ourselves!
This Advent -- I vote for being pulled [probably kicking and screaming] out of myself -- I will be a "person for others" [as Bonhoeffer described Jesus] -- I will embrace the need that will save me from myself -- I do NOT need the personal pathology of self-absorption -- I do not want to be imprisoned by my EGO...
Sounds fun...
Wanna join me???
Shalom...
Guy
I still want my dog [and I may not stop until I have it] -- it could teach me so much about serving God's creation [ha! ha!]...
Tis the season to blog again -- Advent -- preparing my heart afresh for the coming again of Jesus Messiah...
I hope to blog throughout the Advent season -- probably for me much more than for you -- I need the change of life's seasons to re-focus me [especially spiritually]...
Blogging through the Lenten season was spiritually enriching for me -- hope you enjoyed the journey as well...
I have spent the last hour getting ready to start -- I almost quit before I got started [ha! ha!]...
Resetting my password since I had forgotten it since Lent -- oh well...
I am sitting on the front porch and it is actually cool in Tampa tonight -- so I had to go find my favorite Tractor Supply hoodie... Looks like I may have to go find some shoes too... My shaved head is pretty chilly too...
Pandora's internet radio is dialed in to Jimmy Buffett...
I have a bottle of red wine -- for my heart and to stay warm [of course]...
I have been choosing resources for my [hopefully our] journey for quite some time...
One booklet is from Henri Nouwen -- aren't you shocked [ha! ha!] -- it is entitled LIVING IN HOPE...
My other resource is my new devotional for 2010 -- RADICAL GRACE by Richard Rohr -- a Franciscan priet from New Mexico...
I also read my Bible tonight -- don't act so shocked [ha! ha!]...
But never fear -- I am almost ready to start -- maybe just a few more minutes for the wine to release more deeply spiritual thoughts...
So, what do i want out of Advent this year???
It is my favorite time of the year -- I LOVE THE HOLY SEASON!
I have been so giddy today that my family was afraid they were actually going to have to institutionalize me for "being too happy" [or maybe "acting too stupid"] -- sounds great -- I will apply for disability and take an early retirement for mental reasons [ha! ha!] Bet there is a lot of time to read on the "inside"...
I almost celebrated the beginning of Christmas by going to get me a new dog this afternoon -- a beautiful Golden Retriever I found on the internet -- but Nancy's "look" appeared too dangerous [and the boys wouldn't support me since Josh wants a Boxer and James always votes with his Mom because he does not like dogs]...
So, I am dogless, but still happy...
[I may still win this battle after we get back from PA for Christmas...]
I want fresh JOY, HOPE, PEACE and LOVE for 2010 out of this Advent journey...
My heart is full of anticipation and expectation -- I sense God is about to do "something"...
Nouwen says that there is "great expectation in the Advent season..."
I think he is right on -- I am looking for fresh and meaningful epiphanies of the Christ child throughout this season...
I bet some of my hospice patients will teach me so much about Christmastime -- for many, this will be there last one here on earth...
I am expecting spiritual encounters that will deepen my contemplation and move me to action...
I love the way Rohr says it when he speaks of the "primacy of action" in our spiritual journey...
"God can teach me in my taking care of the needy around me -- in moving toward the world as it is. I think when we respond to need as it is right in front of us, usually we are NOT as susceptible TO OUR EGOS! Life in front of us pulls us out of ourselves and we have to do it because it is there. That's how I see people being purified. That kind of spirituality I can trust. If your life is not moving toward practical action in this real, living world, with other people, WITH THE NOT ME, don't trust your spirituality. But your engagement must happen in tandem with contemplation, the inner disengagement with ego and openness to God. Contemplation is the Divine Therapy that purifies our work and involvement. Action and contemplation are the two polarities that regulate and balance the faith-filled life. It saddens me that most Christianity is right in the middle. It's neither radical interiority nor radical engagement. You don't learn much in the medicre middle, and you don't have too much to give." [321]
Observation: I am fully convinced that much of the personal pathology in our world is the direct result of EGO CENTRISM -- people are help captive by their own EGO -- we cannot find or live out of our TRUE SELF because we are consumed by US -- we make sure that EVERYTHING centers around US!!!
The most powerfully lived worship chorus of our day goes "It's ALL ABOUT ME dear Jesus, it's ALL ABOUT ME!" [rather than "it's all about YOU dear Jesus"]...
We are not engaging life and need around us in such a way that it is "pulling us out of ourselves" -- too often, we have a lazer focus on our needs, our wants, our pains, our wishes, our comfort, our control, our manipulation, and on and on and on -- there simply is not room for ANYTHING else since it is ALL ABOUT US!
I see it all around -- it is one of the realities of our post-modern culture -- we are fixated with ourselves!
This Advent -- I vote for being pulled [probably kicking and screaming] out of myself -- I will be a "person for others" [as Bonhoeffer described Jesus] -- I will embrace the need that will save me from myself -- I do NOT need the personal pathology of self-absorption -- I do not want to be imprisoned by my EGO...
Sounds fun...
Wanna join me???
Shalom...
Guy
I still want my dog [and I may not stop until I have it] -- it could teach me so much about serving God's creation [ha! ha!]...
Tuesday, June 9, 2009
nourished...
Holy Communion…
The Lord’s Supper…
The Eucharist…
Three names for the same sacrament – a means of God’s grace – shared at the table he spreads for our spiritual nourishment. Our enrichment at the deepest level through his loving provision…
Feasting on the body of Christ – his precious body broken for us – you and me – his brokenness for our wholeness.
Drinking deeply of his life – his very blood spilled for us – you and me – offering us the cup of forgiveness through his sacrifice.
Holy Communion speaks of a community meal – a family meal – where all the children of God come and share a common loaf. It reinforces our shared life together – we are ONE in Jesus Christ. “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” [1 Corinthians 10.17]
The Lord’s Supper speaks of the host – it is Jesus himself who invites us to his Father’s table of grace, mercy and acceptance. ALL God’s children are welcomed. By the grace freely given, we can all find our place and slide our legs under the Lord’s Table. Even prodigals can return home and eat their fill of his lavish love…
The Eucharist speaks of thanksgiving – it comes from the Greek word for gratitude. Nothing we have done merits our open invitation to the table of grace – the Trinity always takes the initiative – it is a priceless gift. We cannot afford this sumptuous meal – way beyond our meager means – and yet there is always a place set for you and me. Our response? Gratitude, of course…
I love to serve the meal to the people of God. I especially love the BIG round loaves of Hawaiian bread – I love to hold them up and tear them apart – reminding the faithful of how Jesus’ physical body was mangled during his passion. [And I love to eat this bread – it tastes SO GOOD with the grape juice (especially when we are fasting). I hate those mystery wafers that we used to give out when we passed the trays around the church.]
I love to pour the fruit of the vine from the pitcher to the cup – in dramatic fashion – always splattering some of the juice on the table. Why? It reminds me that Jesus’ murder was not neat, clean and sanitary, but brutal – his blood was spilled for you and me. I also love to invite people to the table – it is actually Jesus’ call for us to come…
I also love to serve this meal to my patients and even myself – especially Jewish style. Rabbi Marty, a friend of mine, reminds me that Jesus did not use Hawaiian bread [although it does taste better and he will admit that if you push him] – he used unleavened bread. Marty sent me to the store to buy some matzos bread. This Messianic Rabbi told me that this unleavened bread points clearly to Isaiah 53…
Look at the matzos.
It is burnt at places appearing bruised – just as the Suffering Servant was bruised for our iniquities. It has holes running all through it – just as the Suffering Servant was pierced for our transgressions. The holes form straight lines – just as the Suffering Servant bore many stripes for our healing. What a powerful reminder of the irrational love of God for you and me!
Once a month is NOT enough for this family meal.
I am so glad the underground celebrates it every week – but I am still not sure if that is enough.
I need more NOURISHMENT for my spirit – how about you?
I will make this meal a more prominent part of the rhythm of my spiritual journey…
The Lord’s Supper…
The Eucharist…
Three names for the same sacrament – a means of God’s grace – shared at the table he spreads for our spiritual nourishment. Our enrichment at the deepest level through his loving provision…
Feasting on the body of Christ – his precious body broken for us – you and me – his brokenness for our wholeness.
Drinking deeply of his life – his very blood spilled for us – you and me – offering us the cup of forgiveness through his sacrifice.
Holy Communion speaks of a community meal – a family meal – where all the children of God come and share a common loaf. It reinforces our shared life together – we are ONE in Jesus Christ. “Because there is one loaf, we, who are many, are one body, for we all partake of the one loaf.” [1 Corinthians 10.17]
The Lord’s Supper speaks of the host – it is Jesus himself who invites us to his Father’s table of grace, mercy and acceptance. ALL God’s children are welcomed. By the grace freely given, we can all find our place and slide our legs under the Lord’s Table. Even prodigals can return home and eat their fill of his lavish love…
The Eucharist speaks of thanksgiving – it comes from the Greek word for gratitude. Nothing we have done merits our open invitation to the table of grace – the Trinity always takes the initiative – it is a priceless gift. We cannot afford this sumptuous meal – way beyond our meager means – and yet there is always a place set for you and me. Our response? Gratitude, of course…
I love to serve the meal to the people of God. I especially love the BIG round loaves of Hawaiian bread – I love to hold them up and tear them apart – reminding the faithful of how Jesus’ physical body was mangled during his passion. [And I love to eat this bread – it tastes SO GOOD with the grape juice (especially when we are fasting). I hate those mystery wafers that we used to give out when we passed the trays around the church.]
I love to pour the fruit of the vine from the pitcher to the cup – in dramatic fashion – always splattering some of the juice on the table. Why? It reminds me that Jesus’ murder was not neat, clean and sanitary, but brutal – his blood was spilled for you and me. I also love to invite people to the table – it is actually Jesus’ call for us to come…
I also love to serve this meal to my patients and even myself – especially Jewish style. Rabbi Marty, a friend of mine, reminds me that Jesus did not use Hawaiian bread [although it does taste better and he will admit that if you push him] – he used unleavened bread. Marty sent me to the store to buy some matzos bread. This Messianic Rabbi told me that this unleavened bread points clearly to Isaiah 53…
Look at the matzos.
It is burnt at places appearing bruised – just as the Suffering Servant was bruised for our iniquities. It has holes running all through it – just as the Suffering Servant was pierced for our transgressions. The holes form straight lines – just as the Suffering Servant bore many stripes for our healing. What a powerful reminder of the irrational love of God for you and me!
Once a month is NOT enough for this family meal.
I am so glad the underground celebrates it every week – but I am still not sure if that is enough.
I need more NOURISHMENT for my spirit – how about you?
I will make this meal a more prominent part of the rhythm of my spiritual journey…
Sunday, June 7, 2009
fragrances in the church
i love the story of the breaking of the alabaster jar in the gospels...
the woman who was the notorious sinner, breaks open the extremely expensive perfume and anoints Jesus' feet...
washing his dirty feet with her tears...
wiping his smeared feet with her locks of hair...
then the perfume lovingly lavished on his feet...
the fragrance fills the whole room...
no way to stop the aroma...
sacrificial worship always seems to release such a fragrance...
it happened today at the tampa underground...
our worship leader just gave birth to her second child, so she was not in worship this morning...
the rest of the team "filled in" and just let it happen...
and WOW -- God showed up...
awesome...
a sweet fragrance filled the auditorium...
God's children in worship -- simple, humble and undignified...
but, that was NOT the only fragrance in the buidling today...
while i was sitting in my row waiting for the celebration to begin, i smelled another aroma...
the acrid smell of a homeless guy settling into the row behind me...
he hadn't been near soap or shower for quite a while...
his clothes had not encountered a washer or dryer lately...
and, there was the smell of the mocker -- alcohol...
so much chemical abuse that i could smell the toxic amonia oozing out of his pores...
what a smell...
at that moment...
i breathed a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord...
i am so glad to attend a movement where EVERYONE -- yes -- even and especially the poor and the homeless are welcomed...
even better, i know this guy...
i have been praying for this man...
he attended my spiritual formation class this past week -- totally hammered...
we decided it would be better if he came back this week sober -- maybe the study would make more sense...
i thank God for him...
and for my spiritual family who opens their arms to love and welcome him...
one of the least of these...
maybe he was actually Jesus worshipping with us this morning...
maybe that is the connection between the two fragrances in the theater this a.m.
shalom...
the woman who was the notorious sinner, breaks open the extremely expensive perfume and anoints Jesus' feet...
washing his dirty feet with her tears...
wiping his smeared feet with her locks of hair...
then the perfume lovingly lavished on his feet...
the fragrance fills the whole room...
no way to stop the aroma...
sacrificial worship always seems to release such a fragrance...
it happened today at the tampa underground...
our worship leader just gave birth to her second child, so she was not in worship this morning...
the rest of the team "filled in" and just let it happen...
and WOW -- God showed up...
awesome...
a sweet fragrance filled the auditorium...
God's children in worship -- simple, humble and undignified...
but, that was NOT the only fragrance in the buidling today...
while i was sitting in my row waiting for the celebration to begin, i smelled another aroma...
the acrid smell of a homeless guy settling into the row behind me...
he hadn't been near soap or shower for quite a while...
his clothes had not encountered a washer or dryer lately...
and, there was the smell of the mocker -- alcohol...
so much chemical abuse that i could smell the toxic amonia oozing out of his pores...
what a smell...
at that moment...
i breathed a prayer of thanksgiving to the Lord...
i am so glad to attend a movement where EVERYONE -- yes -- even and especially the poor and the homeless are welcomed...
even better, i know this guy...
i have been praying for this man...
he attended my spiritual formation class this past week -- totally hammered...
we decided it would be better if he came back this week sober -- maybe the study would make more sense...
i thank God for him...
and for my spiritual family who opens their arms to love and welcome him...
one of the least of these...
maybe he was actually Jesus worshipping with us this morning...
maybe that is the connection between the two fragrances in the theater this a.m.
shalom...
Saturday, April 11, 2009
holy saturday 2009
greetings!
it is almost sunrise on easter sunday...
i loved nouwen's reflection for today...
"if the God who revealed life to us, and whose only desire is to bring us to life, loved us so much that he wanted to experience with us the total absurdity of death, then -- yes, then there must be hope; then there must be something more than death; then there must be a promise that is not fulfilled in our short existence in this world; then leaving behind the ones you love, the flowers and the trees, the mountains and the oceans, the beauty of art and music, and all the exuberant gifts of life cannot be just the destruction and cruel end of all things; then indeed we have to wait for the third day..."
tonight, i experienced the grace of God in ybor at the colombia restaurant...
at this stage in my life, there are few things better than good food and a great time with a soul friend...
donald and i shared a meal together and more importantly -- the grace of God...
as we talked, i felt life in my spirit -- the stirrings of easter sunday...
when we touch a deep and resonant chord within each other, the result is always LIFE!
i did not wear a watch to supper this evening because i was in no hurry -- what a blessing...
an entire evening -- devoted to a friend and the sharing of the grace of God...
what peace...
what serenity...
a taste of heaven on earth...
[except i ate too much...]
thank God for soul friends and the sacrament of table fellowship...
[and a friend who will let me blast lynyrd skynyrd on the stereo]...
easter is coming -- it is almost here...
happy easter!
i will be thinking of you on my way to ft pierce in the morning...
please pray for me...
shalom!
guy
what a blessing it was to drop some food by to mr williams -- he was so happy -- it is a great feeling to be remembered...
it is almost sunrise on easter sunday...
i loved nouwen's reflection for today...
"if the God who revealed life to us, and whose only desire is to bring us to life, loved us so much that he wanted to experience with us the total absurdity of death, then -- yes, then there must be hope; then there must be something more than death; then there must be a promise that is not fulfilled in our short existence in this world; then leaving behind the ones you love, the flowers and the trees, the mountains and the oceans, the beauty of art and music, and all the exuberant gifts of life cannot be just the destruction and cruel end of all things; then indeed we have to wait for the third day..."
tonight, i experienced the grace of God in ybor at the colombia restaurant...
at this stage in my life, there are few things better than good food and a great time with a soul friend...
donald and i shared a meal together and more importantly -- the grace of God...
as we talked, i felt life in my spirit -- the stirrings of easter sunday...
when we touch a deep and resonant chord within each other, the result is always LIFE!
i did not wear a watch to supper this evening because i was in no hurry -- what a blessing...
an entire evening -- devoted to a friend and the sharing of the grace of God...
what peace...
what serenity...
a taste of heaven on earth...
[except i ate too much...]
thank God for soul friends and the sacrament of table fellowship...
[and a friend who will let me blast lynyrd skynyrd on the stereo]...
easter is coming -- it is almost here...
happy easter!
i will be thinking of you on my way to ft pierce in the morning...
please pray for me...
shalom!
guy
what a blessing it was to drop some food by to mr williams -- he was so happy -- it is a great feeling to be remembered...
Friday, April 10, 2009
good friday 2009
greetings!
i share nouwen's prayer...
"o dear Lord, what can i say to you?
is there any word that could come from my mouth,
any thought?
any sentence?
you died for me, you gave your life for my sins,
you not only became man for me
but also suffered the most cruel death for me.
is there any response?
i wish that i could find a fitting response...
but in contemplating your holy passion and death
i can only confess humbly to you
that the immensity of your divine love
makes any response seem totally inadequate.
let me just stand and look at you.
your body is broken, your head wounded,
your hands and feet are split open by nails,
your side is pierced.
your dead body now rests in the arms of your mother.
it is all over now.
IT IS FINISHED!
it is fulfilled.
it is accomplished.
sweet Lord, gracious Lord,
generous Lord, forgiving Lord,
i adore you,
i praise you,
i thank you.
you have made all things new
through your passion and death.
your cross has been planted in this world
as THE new sign of hope.
let me always live under your cross, o Lord,
aand proclaim the hope of your cross unceasingly.
amen...
shalom...
guy
there is HOPE!
i share nouwen's prayer...
"o dear Lord, what can i say to you?
is there any word that could come from my mouth,
any thought?
any sentence?
you died for me, you gave your life for my sins,
you not only became man for me
but also suffered the most cruel death for me.
is there any response?
i wish that i could find a fitting response...
but in contemplating your holy passion and death
i can only confess humbly to you
that the immensity of your divine love
makes any response seem totally inadequate.
let me just stand and look at you.
your body is broken, your head wounded,
your hands and feet are split open by nails,
your side is pierced.
your dead body now rests in the arms of your mother.
it is all over now.
IT IS FINISHED!
it is fulfilled.
it is accomplished.
sweet Lord, gracious Lord,
generous Lord, forgiving Lord,
i adore you,
i praise you,
i thank you.
you have made all things new
through your passion and death.
your cross has been planted in this world
as THE new sign of hope.
let me always live under your cross, o Lord,
aand proclaim the hope of your cross unceasingly.
amen...
shalom...
guy
there is HOPE!
Thursday, April 9, 2009
holy thursday 2009
greetings!
a long day...
please pray for my mom -- she is back in the hospital...
nouwen spoke to me this morning while i was eating grits at the waffle house: "your eyes, o Lord, see in one glance the inexhaustible love of God and the seemingly endless agony of all people who have lost faith in that love and are like sheep without a shepherd...your eyes are so severe yet so loving, so unmasking yet so protecting, so penetrating yet so carressing, so profound yet so intimate, so distant yet inviting...i gradually realize that i want to be seen by you, to dwell under your caring gaze, and to grow strong and gentle in your sight. Lord, let me see what you see -- the love of God and the suffering of people so that my eyes may become more and more like yours, eyes that can heal wounded hearts..."
what a gift of language...
shalom...
guy
may we all sense the passion of the Christ on good friday...
a long day...
please pray for my mom -- she is back in the hospital...
nouwen spoke to me this morning while i was eating grits at the waffle house: "your eyes, o Lord, see in one glance the inexhaustible love of God and the seemingly endless agony of all people who have lost faith in that love and are like sheep without a shepherd...your eyes are so severe yet so loving, so unmasking yet so protecting, so penetrating yet so carressing, so profound yet so intimate, so distant yet inviting...i gradually realize that i want to be seen by you, to dwell under your caring gaze, and to grow strong and gentle in your sight. Lord, let me see what you see -- the love of God and the suffering of people so that my eyes may become more and more like yours, eyes that can heal wounded hearts..."
what a gift of language...
shalom...
guy
may we all sense the passion of the Christ on good friday...
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