Author Archives: remcmahan

Lenten Day Twenty-nine:  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

March 18, 2024 “There may be worship without words.”  Longfellow This blog is a companion piece to Saturday’s, https://spirit-reflections.org/2024/03/16/lenten-day-twenty-eight-thomas-merton/, about the spiritual practice of being silent, of resting in the company of God/Universe/the Divine.  This time, though, I’m reflecting on Sunday worship services, for those of us who attend any kind of religious service.  HaveContinueContinue reading “Lenten Day Twenty-nine:  Henry Wadsworth Longfellow”

Lenten Sabbath Five: George MacDonald

March 17, 2024 Happy Saint Patrick’s Day! On this Sabbath day, here is a poem by George MacDonald (1824-1905), not an Irishman but a Scottish author, poet and Christian Congregational minister.  Interestingly, he was also an influential mentor of C. S. Lewis and is a figure in Lewis’ novel The Great Divorce. May your dayContinueContinue reading “Lenten Sabbath Five: George MacDonald”

Lenten Day Twenty-eight: Thomas Merton

“Let me rest in Your will and be silent.”  Thomas Merton Thomas Merton was an American Trappist monk, writer, theologian, mystic, poet, social activist and scholar of comparative religion. Most of all, he was a lover of silence, and despite all his other “doings,” he found “being” his greatest blessing. Again and again, I, though,ContinueContinue reading “Lenten Day Twenty-eight: Thomas Merton”

Lenten Day Twenty-seven: Dennis Linn

March 15, 2024 Photo credit: Pixabay “We become like the God we adore.”  Dennis Linn When I began this Lenten series of quotations, I opened with one from Pelagius (c. 354–418), a British theologian who emphasized freedom of choice in salvation and “original goodness” as opposed to “original sin,” and thus was deemed a hereticContinueContinue reading “Lenten Day Twenty-seven: Dennis Linn”

Lenten Day Twenty-six: Sappho

March 14, 2024 “What cannot be said will be wept.”  Sappho This quotation holds a beautiful truth from Sappho, an ancient female poet from the island of Lesbos who was widely regarded as one of the greatest lyric poets of her time.  It touches me because I’ve experienced the truth of it. In our culture,ContinueContinue reading “Lenten Day Twenty-six: Sappho”

Lenten Day Twenty-five: Craig Lounsbrough

March 13, 2o24 ~La Sagrada Familia~ “You can’t define wonder. You can only stand in the presence of it.” Craig D. Lousnbrough I don’t know who Mr. Lounsbrough is, but I appreciate his quotation which reminds me of our trip to Spain just a few months before the pandemic shut down the world.  We wereContinueContinue reading “Lenten Day Twenty-five: Craig Lounsbrough”

Lenten Day 24: Kathleen McMahan

March 12, 2024 “Don’t feed the monster.” Kathleen McMahan So, haha on me.  I have been miscounting the days of Lent since I included the first Sunday in my count!  Realizing my error, I recalculated, renumbered my blogs, and now have three additional meditations to write to make the numbers work.  Just when I thoughtContinueContinue reading “Lenten Day 24: Kathleen McMahan”

Lenten Sabbath Four

March 10, 2024 Taking a break from Lenten meditations on this “mini-Resurrection” day as we await Easter Sunday, let’s breathe in Sabbath together. Blessings ~ Rosemary Wood Walking The end of January, the weight of pandemic and politics as heavyas blizzard snow, I take to the woods,down an empty pathmade by sojourners before me.The sky,ContinueContinue reading “Lenten Sabbath Four”

Lenten Day Twenty-Six: Richard Rohr

March 11, 2024 “Jesus Christ never said worship me.  Instead he said, ‘follow me.’”  Richard Rohr Franciscan priest and spiritual teacher, Father Richard Rohr, has perhaps had more influence on my spiritual journey than any other author.  I’ve read many of his books (my personal favorite is Everything Belongs) and I appreciate the way heContinueContinue reading “Lenten Day Twenty-Six: Richard Rohr”