R.S.Thomas – Prayers, Poems, and Christian Ponderings

“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””

The Kingdom!

I grew up in Carrickfergus, Co. Antrim, N. Ireland. The Norman castle was the dominant feature of the town’s landscape. On many occasions major celebrations were marked by events in and around the castle. N. Ireland for sure is a place that keeps memories for all too long, and centuries of history was often replayedContinue reading “The Kingdom!”

It’s a long way off, but

The KingdomIt’s a long way off but inside itThere are quite different things going on:Festivals at which the poor manIs king and the consumptive isHealed; mirrors in which the blind lookAt themselves and love looks at themBack; and industry is for mendingThe bent bones and the minds fractured By life. It’s a long way off, butContinue reading “It’s a long way off, but”

White Christmas

As I prepare to post this poem the snow has begun here in St. Louis. We are expecting a possible 2-4 inches as the storm moves west to east. As always weather proves somewhat unpredictable We are prepared, though we hope the snow will pass quickly. So today I invite you to take time, don’tContinue reading “White Christmas”

Kneeling

St. Andrew’s Presbyterian Church, Church of Scotland, Sutherland, (photo above) is where I served from 1983-1988. A beautiful white stoned building and if those walls could speak perhaps they would tell stories, not so much of ministers, but of village folk who from birth to death lived believing, lived praying, lived hoping. Their faith andContinue reading “Kneeling”

It’s not about the View!

I started the conversation by asking, “Where did you meet?” The soon to be married couple looked at each other and answered in unison “Mt. Everest.”I quickly responded “I guess one was on the way up and one was on the way down.” Smiling they responded in unison, “How did you guess?” I am notContinue reading “It’s not about the View!”