I was angry with my friend; I told my wrath, my wrath did end. I was angry with my foe; I told it not, my wrath did grow. So William Blake begins his poem “A Poison Tree”. Where as Christians do we take our anger, or all the other messy emotions that seem not toContinue reading “The Consolation of Psalms: Podcast Episode Two”
Category Archives: Devotional
Nazarene (II)
Did you meet in Damascus? Did you greet at the stalls and meet in your homes, all safe in their walls? Was there never a time when your people weren’t here? Did you meet in Damascus and sing? Did you meet in Homs where your buildings were tall, where the foundations laid were the surestContinue reading “Nazarene (II)”
Litany, Rossetti and Cardiphonia-style
In preparing to lead the service at my church this Sunday – looking at Revelation 10-11:14 – I’ve found myself reading some of Christina Rossetti’s devotional commentary on Revelation, Face of the Deep. If you’re looking for a systematic unpacking of a complex book, probably don’t go to Rossetti, but if you want to readContinue reading “Litany, Rossetti and Cardiphonia-style”
New Season
Fig Season? The garden holds promises, and I visit them daily: minuscule at first, fluffy, unsure, like hesitant children, awaiting the world. This is not quite their season: the Rabbi knew as much, yet visited expectant nonetheless. And, as frost and dew recede, there they are, peeping and proffering garden-bound joy. Too early toContinue reading “New Season”
Krateo
While he clung to Peter and John, all the people, utterly astounded, ran together to them in the portico called Solomon’s… (Acts 3:11) Why cling? Fear, perhaps. The crowd, after all, lunged and lurched about, amazed hands raised, indignant, astonished; how might this seem to eyes which had beheld, rejected, hands which had held andContinue reading “Krateo”
Astronomy
…the dread of something after death – The undiscover’d country, from whose bourn No traveller returns – puzzles the will, And makes us rather bear those ills we have Than fly to others that we know not of… (William Shakespeare, Hamlet) What dreams may come when we set out for stars? What will we findContinue reading “Astronomy”
August
I gather moments like raindrops, like snowdrops: these microscopic buds of spring tricked by sun to come out, one by one; I see how hesitant can be can be the grandest glimpse of things and sing. I catch the way your moments dance from distance – yetContinue reading “August”
Eikon
No mirror to reflect, no voice, only dust, sculpted by hands, crafted by plan. No self-stirring spirit, no knowledge, no thrust, only dust, fingerprinted, moulded – with tears and with blood and with sweat – now we stand, heart and body, earthenware image, dust reflecting in praise.
Diakonos
Gather dust. Run, speedy feet, and kick up dust. Kick up, gather: dust we are. O dust, return. Be turned. Gather, sheep. Be gathered, sheep; make ready feet. Unglamorous and matted, poor: gather all. All dusty sheep, return. Gather us. You gather dust, reviving us, and send us out, in cloud ofContinue reading “Diakonos”
Big Sky
Charcoal smudge and ochre-stained cotton buds line the open eye scanning ghost grey and brown wrinkled skin. Smile. Hopeful tears explode; white tears evaporate in the silence of the day; in every way the earth whispers retreat into evening grace. Wide ground opens arms as far as sight can be. Trust gathers memories. Hand-in-hand wanderContinue reading “Big Sky”
The Consolations of Writing 