Monday, September 7, 2009

Water


Central to our lives ... water  
Laughter joy renewal peace calm
Water is central to our lives ... We need it for survival .... 
61.8% of our body weight is water
There is an abundance of water in the east
There is a lack of water in the west
Parts of the world are experiencing water "stress"
Water is referenced in the 2nd verse of the Bible
Referenced 485 times in the Bible (NIV)
We are baptized with water
Jesus walked on water

We thirst ... 
We yearn ... 
Water is life
Water is renewing

Sunday, September 6, 2009

Fathers and Daughters

Making memories. As the sun sets they run together along the shore. Check the rhythm. Right foot down ... This is what eat well, live well, love well is all about. Time together ... laughing, eating, running, loving. Making memories. Time to head outside and live well.

Saturday, September 5, 2009

The Lights of Night


The night sky calls to me ... A full moon, the north star, the big dipper and the little dipper. Constellations abound ... And to think they are they for our enjoyment. Finding a place away from city lights ... laying down. God made them all.

Lift your eyes and look to the heavens: Who created all these? He who brings out the starry host one by one, and calls them each by name. Because of his great power and mighty strength, not one of them is missing.
Isaiah 40:26

Friday, September 4, 2009

Endings

Ball of fire
Bouncing low 
Bouncing high
Stretching to the sand

A gathering crowd 
Looking west
Holding on to summer
Yearning to warmth

Night draws near 
Sleep awaits
End of day
End of week
End of season

Thursday, September 3, 2009

wherever you are ....

The ache that comes 
changes ... transitions ... loss.
The ache that comes 
break up, death, anger.

No matter the reason .. 
Ache comes with love.
The ache of intensity ... 
the ache of loss.

No matter where ... 
No matter who ... 

And if you come back 
I want you to know
I love you no matter 
Where you have been 
No matter 
What has happened.

So just in case you come back
I want you know the intensity of my love.   

Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Contemplation

Henri Nouwen defined contemplation as "a vision of the nature of things," the ability to see things for what they are."  He goes on to suggest that it helps the mind to "descend into the heart" to discern the nature of reality.  

Perhaps it is the melding of the heart and mind to focus on what is ... what is to the core.  When one seeks understanding of contemplation one cannot avoid the connection to spirituality.   Contemplative prayer, contemplative reading, a centering on the simple.  

"our contemplation should first of all be simple, very simple.  Contemplative prayer enables us to allow the Word of God to descent from our mind into our heart, where it can become fruitful.  ... it is so important to focus quietly on a word or sentence.  Then we must ruminate on it, murmur it, chew it, hear it, so that in our innermost self we can really sense its power."

As you walk the labyrinth ... as you watch the sunset ... as you sit in the quiet light of the dawn ... allow the melding of the heart and mind ... God is present.  

"Jesus remember me, when you come into Your kingdom.
Jesus remember me, when you come into Your kingdom."

Tuesday, September 1, 2009

To the mountain

To the mountain.  I wonder if Jesus went to the mountain when he felt stressed.  Out on a boat ... up on a mountain ... near the water.  I don't live near a mountain ... I do live near water.  Sometimes the effort to get there ... gets in the way of the aloneness ... So the mountain to be something else.  I guess it really isn't about a mountain ... or the sea ... It is about the disconnect ... to the alone ... to the prayer.  In an office, listening to the music.  No words ... music ... aloneness ... prayer ... Thank you Jesus for the example.

He (Jesus) went up on a mountainside by himself to pray. When evening came, he was there alone.
Matthew 14:23

Where do you go?