Uncategorized – Prayers, Poems, and Christian Ponderings

Arrival!

I wish you a Merry Christmas and a hopeful New Year. In the gospel of Matthew, chapter 2, we read of the journey of the wisemen from the east. When they actually arrived is not known, but we should not be surprised to learn that it may well have been some days or many weeksContinue reading “Arrival!”

The Gospel story is old but it is always new.

It is hard to share an image of that first Nativity. This year I leave an empty square for you to imagine Bethlehem Square in whatever way you choose. I am still haunted by my one and only visit to Bethlehem. Israeli soldiers boarded our bus as we approached the city of Bethlehem to checkContinue reading “The Gospel story is old but it is always new.”

Struggle of Waiting!

We struggle to wait, whether that be in a shopping line, a ticket line, at a bus or train stop, even at a red light! When everything seems so instant waiting for the tea kettle to boil can be a struggle. Advent is a season of preparation and hopeful waiting. Today, I share with youContinue reading “Struggle of Waiting!”

Quiet

Over the past days and months there has been a lot of political noise. so much noise that I yearn for quiet, both within and without. Over the past several days we have had an abundance of snow and yet when snow falls it makes no noise whatsoever. Each snowflake makes its way to theContinue reading “Quiet”

ADVENT

Advent – a time of waiting. We often think it is us who do all the waiting, but perhaps it is God who is waiting for us to come to our proper sense of soul and it is God waiting for our prodigal return. I wonder! On the subject of Advent and Waiting, James K.Continue reading “ADVENT”

Lest we forget!

Rudyard Kipling wrote the poem Recessional in 1897 in celebration of Quenn Victoria’s Diamond Jubilee. His words reflect on the transient nature of power and concentrate on the importance of humilty. He reminds us of the impermanence of empire, contrasting the then British Empire with ancient civilisations of Nineveh and Tyre. He calls for divineContinue reading “Lest we forget!”

Rusted bed-springs in the street

A few weeks ago I checked out of the local library A Century of Poetry in The New Yorker 1925-2025. The 980 pages of poems make it too heavy for bedtime reading! I promise I will not be using it as my only source for new poems. As I turned the pages a poem byContinue reading “Rusted bed-springs in the street”

Shedding Leaves

Today I return to a poem and prayer I used in October 2021. This is such a beautiful time of year and how I long for it, year after year. At last the hot days of summer are past and the biting cold dark days of midwinter have not yet arrived. Readiness though is inContinue reading “Shedding Leaves”

“rubbing smiles into the wounds”

A good many years ago, while visiting the National Cathedral in Washington DC I bought my first R.S. Thomas poetry book from the cathedral gift shop. Today I have many of his poetry collections on my book shelf. These books feel like good friends as I often have good conversation with the words on theirContinue reading ““rubbing smiles into the wounds””

“fail, and fail again”

This past week I watched my first baseball game of 2025! The major teams have a long season from March to September and play 162 games! Now we are in the playoff season and down to the last 4 teams. I am hooked on the TV coverage of the end of the season. Last year,Continue reading ““fail, and fail again””