Whan that Aprille with his shoures soote, The droghte of March hath perced to the roote… (Chaucer, The Canterbury Tales) Finally the clothes are dry, the air is dry, the leaves fall in their way. Finally April ends with such crispness and we emerge, knowledge of winter on the edges of skin yet our bodiesContinue reading “The Long Drizzle”
Category Archives: Devotional
The Last Post
Clouds drift; distant, the birds sing. The courtyard sunk in silence sits. Somewhere cars continue the day, and floating in the distance thoughts of mateship dearly bought, and peace woven where no need for war had driven us to foreign shores, repeat: We shall remember them. This has no glory, only silence. And in theContinue reading “The Last Post”
Catechism 45
Is baptism with water the washing away of sin itself? No, only the blood of Christ and the renewal of the Holy Spirit can cleanse us from sin. (New City Catechism) God, no water is enough. Stains worsen when washed deeper in; this is the deepest, from Adam to now. Only blood can washContinue reading “Catechism 45”
Break O’Day
Written Easter Sunday in Pyengana, Tasmania Dedicated to the people of Break O’Day Parish, St Helens Drink from the brook. The day sparkles the hills in their joy. Look to the mountains: there comes your help. Springing forth from caves with rolled-away stones breaks the day, breaks the day. Singing in haze, this resurrection joyContinue reading “Break O’Day”
The Womb of the Morning
(Written on Holy Saturday in Bicheno, Tasmania) The oath must still hold true yet waiting dries expectation; the dew of your youth evaporates in the tomb. Now: what the LORD said to David’s Lord is unchanged, but the rods of foes seem the triumphant ones today. Only Pilate’s wife regrets the washing of hands; onlyContinue reading “The Womb of the Morning”
Lent: Enough 4
Praise Him that all our rags have failed: more longing then for Heaven’s clothes. And praise Him too that faces fall so that we seek His more. Enough that we now dimly see, and in ourselves feel death’s sentence. Enough that we have glimpsed this sight and die to know itsContinue reading “Lent: Enough 4”
Lent: Enough 3
Weary eyes: your sight grows faint, yet Heaven’s gate still opens up for you to walk through. This is enough; O grace enough. Let weary eyes now rest. Like Simeon, though waiting lags, this promise stands in baby’s rags and gives you rest. Your rags have failed; His are your glory. Eyes: this is enough.Continue reading “Lent: Enough 3”
Lent: Enough 2
Hold tight. My covenants break; I cannot hold myself, my trust. My word unbinds before I bind myself to it. Yet this is mine, this is enough: Jesus my own and His brother. What world may fling, what failings ring against me count for nothing. This is enough. My God, my covenant, my binding joy.Continue reading “Lent: Enough 2”
Lent: Enough 1
Hold tight. Hold me tight: what coverings I have sought, what fig-leaves, cannot disguise my nakedness. My shame burns garments – yet You clothe in righteousness. Hold tight. Hold me tight; You are enough, yet I am afraid, and turn to fig-leaves when rightly I should bathe myself in You. O Lamb,Continue reading “Lent: Enough 1”
Lent: The Wait, the Weight 6
Number days, yet know your days are kept in Him. If He held stars, then He can hold your dross, your deadened weight. At dead-ends, wait. He makes all things well. Hope can break, yet covenant anchors days and ends. Morning mends. The dross, the deadened weight of broken hope lifts. WhenContinue reading “Lent: The Wait, the Weight 6”
The Consolations of Writing 