“Mellow out,” they say. If I only could. Adolescent patient quoted by Dr Michael Piechowski Three times, the Apostle, says he cried,yet three times denied:within his side the unnamed thorn remained.To fester? To infect? No, to be the site of grace,for only this reply came: My grace is sufficient; in your weakness will my powerContinue reading “Peace and the Thorn”
Author Archives: Matthew Pullar
Lost Things
In a house wheredaily I lose, misplace or breakwhat really, in eternity’s view,means little, yethas power to make or break my day,I understandthe urge to ask Saint Anthony wheremy keys are, or my glasses, orany other easily hidden thing.God in heaven is surelytoo busy with the business of soulsand perhaps too quick to point outContinue reading “Lost Things”
Freeway Towns (After Kenneth Slessor)
Freeway townswith your dusty brownsand shady grassall moving past,with parks astridethe freeway’s sideand hearts that knowand streets that glowin summer sunat half past one,that tolerateour hasty gaitwhile moving onto where we’re from:you watch it all,while freeway’s calldenies the chanceto meet your glance.The moment gone,we part unknown.I wish I knewthe half of you.
Valedictions
Once the new year camein a traffic jam, at Borneo’s mouth,when the crowds who’d fled early to escape the rushnow bid each other a happy onebetween their cars across the street.Another time it came while Iand a friend were lost in the midst of things,driving from one house to another wherethe champagne was chilledand theContinue reading “Valedictions”
The other side to success
Year 12 results come out today in my state, after a year in which no-one would have chosen to sit their final high school exams. I live through Year 12 results every year as a teacher and this year because of people close to me receiving results I’m experiencing it more close to home. ThisContinue reading “The other side to success”
Christmas Day: Let all the earth rejoice
You will go out in joy and be led forth in peace;the mountains and hills will burst into song before you,and all the trees of the field will clap their hands. Instead of the thornbush will grow the juniper, and instead of briers the myrtle will grow.This will be for the Lord’s renown, for anContinue reading “Christmas Day: Let all the earth rejoice”
Advent with the Prophet Jonah: Christmas Eve
The wolf will live with the lamb, the leopard will lie down with the goat,the calf and the lion and the yearling together; and a little child will lead them…They will neither harm nor destroy on all my holy mountain,for the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the Lord as the waters coverContinue reading “Advent with the Prophet Jonah: Christmas Eve”
Advent with the Prophet Jonah: Day 25
But the Lord said, “You have been concerned about this plant, though you did not tend it or make it grow. It sprang up overnight and died overnight. And should I not have concern for the great city of Nineveh, in which there are more than a hundred and twenty thousand people who cannot tellContinue reading “Advent with the Prophet Jonah: Day 25”
Advent with the Prophet Jonah: Day 24
But God said to Jonah, “Is it right for you to be angry about the plant?” “It is,” he said. “And I’m so angry I wish I were dead.” Jonah 4:9 Again, God asks Jonah if his anger is right, this time his anger about the destruction of the plant. And Jonah, oblivious to theContinue reading “Advent with the Prophet Jonah: Day 24”
Advent with the Prophet Jonah: Day 23
When the sun rose, God provided a scorching east wind, and the sun blazed on Jonah’s head so that he grew faint. He wanted to die, and said, “It would be better for me to die than to live.” Jonah 4:8 There’s a parallel moment to this in the Old Testament, when the prophet Elijah,Continue reading “Advent with the Prophet Jonah: Day 23”
The Consolations of Writing 