Blog

On Doubt

No Doubt I couldn’t find any doubt in me. Perhaps it’s my age. Perhaps it’s just the nature of the valley I’m currently in. Perhaps it’s just the stage of spiritual growth I am in. But there was no doubt around my heart. Where I would most expect it to be. For the first time in my life, I feel as though the path for my emotions is clear. Absolutely clear. And happy. A most unusual state for my heart. And...

To Fast

Cleaning The Gutters Again—again after the last writing I did—what I saw in my prayer while focusing on the concept of “fast,” was parts. Parts of me that lie alongside each other, and between them are gutters.  The gutters collect the runoff from the individual parts. And, for me, to fast means to keep those gutters clean.  To keep the parts whole and on their own.  Maintaining the integrity of the parts so that the whole...

On Simplicity

Mind, Body, Soul When I closed my eyes and prayed, using the word, simplicity, as my anchor—my rock to sit on during the prayer—what I saw was myself—my body—separated into three parts: my head my torso my hips and legs I kept looking at that image.  It reminded me of that game we could play as children.  A person—perhaps just his face—broken into three parts.  Multiple faces, all broken along the same lines.  All layered on top of...

On Faith

Hands I remember when I was learning about the five realms of God.  The second realm is surrender.  This is when God gives you something you don’t want to accept, but you have no choice. This is where all the pain of our lives comes to us. The key to surrender is faith. And I remember very clearly the visions I had about this.  I am in a very small boat, with a mast and sail in the middle.  And a big storm comes up.  A huge...

On Stillness

The Sneeze I sat down in my big, over-stuffed chair.  I lit two candles: one on the mini-altar across from the chair, and the other on the little table by my hand where I keep my books for prayer time. I set the countdown timer: 20 minutes. I closed my eyes. I began immediately to feel that sensation that a part of my insides was melting, and part of me was starting to drip. Down.  Down.  Down. Deeper into contemplation. I was...

On Wilderness

The Face of God I stand before the stand of trees The wood The expanse before me And I see the shards of light— the asymmetric design of relief from the darkness and I think of God Of walking through— trying to walk through— the challenges laid at my feet. Looking out on the faces of mankind but knowing that, in truth, on that day, anyway, I am walking on the path of God; that can evaporate under my feet. Or lead me to a...

On Silence

In Keeping Still It was a day like every other during that period of my life. A student. An English student. I worked. I studied. I went to class. Circles. Ever-turning circles. But no labyrinth because there was no Minotaur at the center. A spiral of life. Onward. Steady. Paced. Then the day came. I entered the classroom. Dickens. A teacher that looked a bit like Father Christmas. Other students. I sat near the front, to the right....

On Gratitude

Opening Watering the flowers after a long, hot, dry spell the earth changing its color deepening its hue the flowers themselves savoring the new flow of refreshment happy in the sun now thirst quenched for the moment Filling the dishes food and water touching the soft heads saying, good morning do you want to go out? it might be a bit cold or too rainy or look at all that snow happy eyes gazing back almost a smile Opening my arms...

On Empty

Full Full I look at my emptiness And I see my full-up-ness Full of debris Broken pieces Remnants Leftovers of clashes Of lost connections Of misunderstandings And understandings made sparkling clear How do I sort it all out Make a path, even, through it all There are no trash bags for the soul And while the soul is made up of the dirt of our lives Too much refuse is still just that Too much We work on disciplines so that we may be...

On Examination

A Failure to Fail Examination Being scrutinized It has been hard Living a life Of being told Not to be me So, since that was not possible I had to design an exterior A mask I’m not really as competent as I seem As though my competency were the loose edge of a carpet threatening to trip you So in passing the examination with flying colors I fail I remember being scolded for learning to ride a bicycle faster than my brother,...

To Journey

Standing Still I looked out at my journey. And I saw a head of broccoli: All sorts of paths heading out from one stem. Or at least giving the impression of heading out. Because each path ended in a burst. A flourishing. But, ultimately, going nowhere. A forest of trees – but no continuing on. Each tree becoming an ending in itself. So I just stood there. Knowing that each path was, essentially, that exact same as the others. It made...

On Ashes

Burnt Offering Ashes: What is left over after the flame goes out. The fire. The fire of anger.  The fire of lust.  The fire of enthusiasm. Wholeness in pieces. My wholeness. My completeness. How do I function in pieces? Broken apart. My heart over here; my hand over there. Even if they retained their wholeness. Their completeness. I am broken apart. Scattered. Vulnerable to the the threatening wind. Or I could soak into the ground....

Why I’m Here

I suppose it’s interesting why I am here.  A bit interesting, anyway. You see, I am a mystic.  And for most of my life, I played the Clark Kent role to my Superman. Not that I was Superman. But I certainly knew what it was to be Clark Kent. I learned at a very young age to conform to the way other people behaved.  To think like they did.  To be concerned with what they were concerned with. It tore me upside, really, to not be...

Prayer For Stress & Anxiety

Heavenly Father, we pray for all those who are overwhelmed with stress and anxiety. We ask that you would strengthen them and give them grace to get through the day. Let your peace reign in their family, jobs, homes, and most importantly, their hearts. In Jesus’s name,...

Prayer Of Mother Teresa

Dear Jesus, Help me to spread thy fragrance everywhere I go. Flood my soul with thy spirit and love. Penetrate and possess my whole being so utterly that all my life may only be a radiance of thine. Shine through me and be so in me that every soul I come in contact with may feel thy presence in my soul. Let them look up and see no longer me but only Jesus. Stay with me and then I shall begin to shine as you shine, so to shine as to be...

An Irish Blessing

Deep peace of the running wave to you, Deep peace of the quiet earth to you, Deep peace of the glowing air to you, Deep peace of the shining stars to you, Deep peace of the gentle night to you, Moon and stars pour their healing light on you....