A Poem for Turkey and Syria

February 8, 2023 Another Day What will I make of this new daywhile bodies (some with breath) lie entombedbeneath mortar, brick, wood, and stonewhere the earthshook and life collapsed?What will I do on this bright sunny day,all my limbs intact,my loved ones well,when the dirge of mourning snakes its waythrough plumes of dust and smoke—itsContinueContinue reading “A Poem for Turkey and Syria”

A Blessing for Candles

February 2, 2023 While most of us in the States may be disappointed because our favorite groundhog, Punxsutawney Phil, saw his shadow today, which tradition says means six more weeks of winter, we might be consoled by remembering that, in the Roman Catholic Church, today is also Candlemas, the feast day of the Presentation ofContinueContinue reading “A Blessing for Candles”

Epiphany:  The Rest of the Rest of the Christmas Story

January 6, 2023 For many Christians, the Feast of Epiphany marks the end of the Christmas Season and is the culminating celebration of the Twelve Days of Christmas.  The story of the Epiphany is found only in the Gospel of Matthew, Chapter Two, and it involves the non-Jewish wise men/kings/magi/astronomers (supposedly three, but no numberContinueContinue reading “Epiphany:  The Rest of the Rest of the Christmas Story”

Reverie ~ A Christmas Poem

The tree stands bare in the spillof white candlelightthat beckons remembrance,the still air laden with pungent pine.I unwrap memorieslifted from silk-worn boxes,and passing years emerge,reflecting faces mirroredin each round and shiny ball. A piece of crumpled tissue dropsand here is the rocking horsesuspended on a crimson stringthat marked my son’s first outing,creamed soup with hisContinueContinue reading “Reverie ~ A Christmas Poem”

Thursday, Advent Week 3: Shine

The Psalms of Advent, December 15, 2022 You are invited to light a candle and join me as we reflect upon the final psalm selected for Advent, as designated in the Revised Common Lectionary.  I hope you will sit with this psalm and listen for the word that Spirit is whispering to you. Today’s poem,ContinueContinue reading “Thursday, Advent Week 3: Shine”

Saturday, Advent Week 2: A Poem

Please light a candle and join me on this Advent journey and exploration of the Psalms of Advent.  In my last blog, I wondered about the invitation to make praise both a worship and an everyday practice and experience.  This poem is the response to my reflection on that.  Like the psalm we have lookedContinueContinue reading “Saturday, Advent Week 2: A Poem”

Wednesday, Advent Week 2: A Poem

The Psalms of Advent, December 7, 2022 Since yesterday’s post on Psalm 21 and my thoughts on the word “presence” (https://wordpress.com/view/spirit-reflections.org), I’ve had a desire to write a poem about the presence of the Divine as my meditation on this psalm.  I thought of that Presence who revealed Itself in evening walks in gardens, inContinueContinue reading “Wednesday, Advent Week 2: A Poem”

Saturday,  Advent Week 1: Sacred Reading

The Psalms of Advent, December 2, 2022 You are invited to light a candle and join me on this journey of reflecting on the psalms chosen for the Season of Advent, most recently Psalm 72, found here: https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Psalm%2072&version=NRSVUE.  A couple of days ago, I mentioned that I am not a scholar of the psalms.  IContinueContinue reading “Saturday,  Advent Week 1: Sacred Reading”

Come August

September 6, 2022 I live in the Southeastern United States where I am graced by the witness of Ruby-throated hummingbirds.  Each March, the scouts (males) begin to arrive here, searching for hospitable courting and nesting grounds.  Around late April, early May, the females arrive, and I spend a good part of my summer keeping twoContinueContinue reading “Come August”

Half-Mast

May 25, 2022 Our flag slides down the silver poleonce againstopping halfwayagainits trajectory now rooted in its memory.This time it pauses and waversin remembrance of nineteen childrentwo school teacherstrapped and murdered in a classroom,each crumbling one after anotheronto the blood-stained floor.I see their photos, smile after smileon brown faces, white faces,hopeful faces,one child wears aContinueContinue reading “Half-Mast”