Devotional – Page 90 – The Consolations of Writing

True Face

You may not see the storms that rage behind my daily stoic smile: the silent endurance of misplaced pride, the choice to cope apart from grace. You may not see the twitch in my face as we pass the place where I often lied and kept my face in stern, set denial, that trick passedContinue reading “True Face”

Kin (For William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury and Martyr)

The Lord receive my soul, and have mercy on me, and bless this kingdom with peace and charity, that there may not be this effusion of Christian blood amongst them. (Bishop Laud’s dying words) Some battles are fought on abstract grounds, Brother armed against a brother, Defending the periphery. And sometimes hearts within us burnContinue reading “Kin (For William Laud, Archbishop of Canterbury and Martyr)”

I am a new creation

I am a new creation, born of blood and tears and pain, born upon a hill of bones and nurtured on a tree. I am a child of the king, born a cripple, made a prince: the beggar picking children’s crumbs and made an heir with them. I am the shining of His face forContinue reading “I am a new creation”

Meditation

Firm still when I least feel you Wise still when I least know you Unchanged when I am changing Constant when I am fickle The light inside my shadow The rain in my cracked soil Fulfillment of all promises My Yes and my Amen My tower when I am underground My fortress when I amContinue reading “Meditation”

Epiphany

Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn. (Isaiah 60:3) We do not have a star to guide us; Our best wisdom takes us through The desert and across vast plains But may not lead us here. Persia’s camels have forgotten the way; The calculations of Magi, The machinationsContinue reading “Epiphany”

Cluden (For Eliza Marsden Hassall, Missionary)

The world has many great houses and many great families and names. There are many whose legacies spread through the world, whose wealth and repute linger after them. But Miss Hassall once bought a house near a church in Old Sydney Town where she sowed many seeds into small hearts and those seeds grew andContinue reading “Cluden (For Eliza Marsden Hassall, Missionary)”

Foolish (For Gregory of Nanzianzus and Basil of Caesarea, Bishops and Teachers)

I had wasted much time on follies and spent nearly all of my youth in vain labours, and devotion to the teachings of a wisdom that God had made foolish. Suddenly, I awoke as out of a deep sleep. I beheld the wonderful light of the Gospel truth, and I recognised the nothingness of theContinue reading “Foolish (For Gregory of Nanzianzus and Basil of Caesarea, Bishops and Teachers)”

Above All Names (The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus)

Who is this child whom angels name, whose birth they sound with trumpets loud, who lies a baby, helpless in his parents’ hands and yet is praised by elders and the heavens’ choir? His name is Jesus, and He saves His people from their sins. Who are they, His people, that they should deserve suchContinue reading “Above All Names (The Naming and Circumcision of Jesus)”

The Invisible Church (For John Wycliffe, Teacher and Reformer)

While men grab for land and priests try to be kings And the Word of God sits, unopened, on shelves, As scholars debate and mystify truth And mouth after hungry mouth lingers, unfed, The Spirit still moves, in invisible ways, Calling and saving, protecting, preserving, Speaking to those who have ears to hear And sealingContinue reading “The Invisible Church (For John Wycliffe, Teacher and Reformer)”

The Streets (For Josephine Butler, Social Reformer)

Jesus said to them, “Truly I tell you, the tax collectors and the prostitutes are entering the kingdom of God ahead of you. For John came to you to show you the way of righteousness, and you did not believe him, but the tax collectors and the prostitutes did. And even after you saw this,Continue reading “The Streets (For Josephine Butler, Social Reformer)”