Uncategorized – Page 25 – Prayers, Poems, and Christian Ponderings

Is the soul solid, like iron?

I love this photograph. Many years ago when I stopped on the Isle of Mull, on my way to Iona, there they were, in plain view and in hiding. I was reminded right away of that gospel parable of the shepherd who had 100 sheep and one went missing. The shepherd searched and searched untilContinue reading “Is the soul solid, like iron?”

Let America Be America Again

I turn today to the words of Langston Hughes. His words are always fresh, provocative, and inspiring. We cannot be the same person we were before, once we allow his words to enter into our heart and soul. I offer just a few verses from his poem Let America Be America Again. He never didContinue reading “Let America Be America Again”

“How should we live?”

These past seven days have been for most disturbing and shattering. You, like me, have watched in disbelief at the chaos and tragedy of Kabul and the whole of Afghanistan. It is not my place to offer answers, or “I told you so” but sadly it is my place, and yours, to feel some ofContinue reading ““How should we live?””

Dogs, again!

Recently I wrote about dogs and sheep, and in particular about “collie” dogs, known to many of us as sheepdogs. I enjoyed your comments and thought I might return to another poem about dogs. Although spoilt for choice, I have settled on a poem by Scott Cairns from his 2019 book New Poems. Several weeksContinue reading “Dogs, again!”

‘Into the woods’

Some thirty minutes drive from our present home in Louisville KY you can be in the midst of Bernheim Aboretum and Research Forest. Throughout these past many months of isolation it has been a place of great escape, and its beauty, in all seasons, offers an opportunity to recalibrate what is important and precious. SomeContinue reading “‘Into the woods’”

Hugs

We continue to recover from the absence of hugs due to COVID-19. The joy we have experienced in being able to hug family and friends from whom we have been isolated for so long. These past months have caused great suffering and many are those who were separated from a family member because of theContinue reading “Hugs”

Message in a bottle!

Today I wish to take you to the seaside. Remember, all those summer days over many years, when you spent some time dipping your toe in the water. Perhaps you wondered for a moment or two, where has this water come from, where did it begin, how many miles has it travelled, is the tideContinue reading “Message in a bottle!”

Sheep dogs!

In “normal” times during the summer months if you spend anytime in Scotland you have the opportunity to watch in awe the sheepdog trials or if attending some Highland Gatherings fall in love with both sheep and collie dogs! The working sheep dog displays amazing concentration in the job at hand working with amazing partnershipContinue reading “Sheep dogs!”

On Turning Ten

Thanks to you who have been reading these posts. If you have labored through the last three with T.S. Eliot then I offer you a treat, how about a doughnut and a cup of coffee. Today, I too need a treat so I am turning to poet Billy Collins. On the cover of one ofContinue reading “On Turning Ten”

“The Church must be forever building”

In this the third and final post from T.S. Eliot’s Choruses from the Rock we continue to hear Eliot wrestle with the question -Can faith itself hold up? Today we hear a few lines from Part 2 of this 10 part poem. To read the whole poem please use the link https://www.arak29.am/PDF_PPT/6-Literature/Eliot/Chtherock_eng.pdfEnjoy! And the ChurchContinue reading ““The Church must be forever building””