Thursday, November 30, 2006

Psalm Of An Emerging Emmanuel

O Come O Come Emmanuel
I pray with upraised eyes.
Drop down, O Dew of Heaven,
that God might walk and talk on earth
might heal and feed our sin-soaked world.

O Come O Come Emmanuel
my prayers like searchlights
comb the starry winter skies.
Descend from the black hole of some neighboring galaxy
to green with your grace
our barren earth.

Such an Advent waiting prayer
can be a lifelong profession of patient longing
unless I know, with all my heart
that Emmanuel not only comes down
but also comes forth and emerges.

O Come O Come Emmanuel
come forth from deep within me
with Christmas luminous beauty.
For my heart has become the sacred crib,
the birthing place of God-among us.

Peace on earth and justice for all
will only become manifest in our lives
when enough of your sons and daughters
awaken to your divine design
that has made each of us
and emerging Emmanuel.

Prayers for a Planetary Pilgrim by Ed Hays. copyright 1988. Forest of Peace Books, Inc. Route one Box 248 Easton Kansas 66020

Saturday, November 18, 2006

You're Welcome! from Jesus

So today I shall give you flowers
and tomorrow just for you -
I will bend and bow the fields of wheat
and waltz the daisies across the meadows.
I will tickle the bubbling brook
to make it laugh, and float sunbeams
across the waters to make them dance.
I will gently touch each blade of grass
with dew and whisper secrets
to each leaf upon the tree.
I shall throw stars across the sky
and drape darkness over the hillsides
and then at night...
just before you close your eyes...
I will smile as I hear your loving prayer
of thanks
And I will say quietly so that only you will hear -
"You are very welcome."
copyright 1996 S. Patricia Proctor, OSC

Thursday, November 16, 2006

...what she said....

I see more Pharisees among Christians than there were around Pilate.
– St. Margaret of Cortona

Tuesday, November 07, 2006

A Thank You Card to God

I’m bound by human words but they are so limited and useless for expressing thanks to You, my Savior. Lord I’ve used many of those words before like a 4 yr old who doesn’t grasp the degree of sacrificial parental love. That child will go into the garden her mother planted, break off a beautiful blooming rose and present it to her parent along with a big smile.
But it wasn’t the child’s work that produced the rose. And mom may even have preferred it to remain exactly where it was planted. Like that child I use your gift of speech and give it back to you. Thank you God, I say repeatedly. I praise you God. While a nice gesture, better thanks would be more active: a life of love, an attitude of gratitude. In all humility and with apprehension about my own ability to follow through I say simply, “Watch me. I’ll show you my thanks. “

Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Parable of the Talents cont'd

God knows what talents and potential He gave you.

  • what are those talents/gifts ?(please don't deny them!) He gave me faith, family and friends. A healthy body and good mind and a decent income. He gave me staff to work with and an agency to help grow.
  • how can you increase what God blessed you with? I can improve the quality of my relationship with Him and help others to do the same. I can develop the potential I see in my staff and complete the work done in our non profit agency to the best of my ability, expanding it where possible.
  • what will the effect of that increase look like? I will praise and thank God more for His generosity. I understand that God, rightfully, expects a just return on His gifts. I will try to be more detached and less possessive appreciating that I am completely dependent on God.

To whom much is given, much is expected. The lazy servant only returned back to the Master what was given to him. For that the servant was condemned. What will your choice be?