Sunday, November 17: The Wise Shall Shine Brightly

To Practice: 

• Music speaks of transformation in another language. Perhaps you might close your eyes and simply listen to Vienna Philharmonic perform Barber: Adagio for Strings, Op.11 (about nine minutes). How do the readings, the image, the music inform your journey now?
• “Do the Welcoming Prayer, no matter what, in any situation, because God is with us in that situation. … When we can be present in the moment, in our feelings, whatever they are, no matter how much we would prefer not to be feeling …. if we can bring compassion to that, then that’s the moment of transformation and that’s what the Welcoming Prayer is all about.”- Cherry Haisten, Welcoming Prayer, Consent on the Go praxis booklet. Practice the Welcoming Prayer with the sensations and feelings you experience as you move through your daily life.

If you would like to re-read the full email reflection, you may do so here: https://mailchi.mp/coutreach/2024_word-of-the-week-nov17

From “JB” by Archibald MacLeish

“Blow on the coal of the heart.
The candles in churches are out.
The lights have gone out in the sky.
Blow on the coal of the heart
And we’ll see by and by…. ” (Sarah, Scene 11)

Beautiful! Thank you, Eben. – Pamela

Absolute favorite quote, eben

 

Linda: yes . Yes . Yes.

pamela-the music you have introduced me to over the years – wow!

take a listen

to olaf armands . Im listening to his music this am —haunting … gathers me up into quiet.

 

Looking at the image, I see people hunkered down, fearing the worst. It takes one brave soul to look up and then see the star. This is a prophet. May I notice present day prophets and, like them, be brave enough to notice the sometimes faint sign of the new on the horizon.  And then live into that newness.

Sue, you help me see deeper into the image. I love that you identify the one looking up as a prophet. A prophet is one who can’t help but speak, act, move, urge. This gives me much to ponder. Thank you. – Pamela

My thanks too Susan.  I had not looked long and carefully enough to see the prophet looking up and pointing to the star.  I am grateful for this reminder to pay closer attention.  Thank you.

“…there is nothing a blessing is better suited for than an ending, nothing that cries out more for a blessing than when a world is falling apart…”

I live in an active liminal space – rapid change pairs with snail’s pace daily activity. Endings are upon me, and new light and perspectives emerge. Send blessings, Lord, “to sit beside [me] among the shards and turn [my] face toward the direction from which the light will come, gathering itself about [me] as the world begins again.” <3 linda

Thank you for your reflection Linda.  The quotes you use come at a good time for me.
Blessings

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