It has been two months since I have written here. I spent a fabulous week in Mississippi working on houses damaged by Hurricane Katrina, and found freedom surrendering to the schedule they establish for you at Camp Coast Care. I have been celebrating with family and friends out of town my recent birthday. I spent another fabulous week writing an icon while on retreat (I'll post a picture when I finally finish it) which is one of the many contemplative practices that I enjoy, and a refreshing week with dear friends who have let me graft my branch on to their family tree. So it has been a time of travel, and fun, and relaxation, but I have gotten away from my daily spiritual practices, so here I am, wanting to re-engage with Eugene Peterson's The Message, his contemporary paraphrase of the Bible, and with all the history and tradition that stands behind it. I am also thinking about how to shift this blog, perhaps, just a tad, to bring in more of my practices and experiences, as I use Bible reading as spiritual guide in my call to live the Christian life. I would be happy to hear questions, suggestions, ideas that any of you have that I could incorporate here.
Isaiah 5:7b He looked for a crop of justice and saw them murdering each other. He looked for a harvest of righteousness and heard only the moans of victims.
Isaiah has just used the analogy of a vineyard and its owner to represent the relationship between the
Life is a gift. This incredible planet on which we live is a gift. Do I look at each day and all it offers me as a gift, as a manifestation of the love and care of a Divine Creator, or am I caught up in my own head – my problems, my feelings, my insecurities, my petty ego desires? In the half full/half empty debate, faith calls me to see the good that is in m life rather than bemoan what is missing. Einstein said that either everything is a miracle or nothing is, and my faith calls me to see the miraculous in every moment, the beauty that surrounds me, the good food I get to eat, the time that is mine to use, the people that I know and love that move in my life. Rather than focusing on what is missing, let me notice my blessings and be grateful.
Prayer: Dear God, I want to be sweet grapes for your delight, ro appreciate all that you have given me, and live out a blessing on the world. Help me keep to that path and be grateful for each day’s miracles. Amen.
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