Comfort sits, unexpected, in our waiting with weakness. No giant leaps needed, only the baby steps of the heart slowly learning contrition. Begin with incapacity, then the slow-dawning knowledge that you are nothing but dust. Dust transfigures at His breath. Exhale in the sigh of your Lenten frailty. Then inhale, inspire. O brother in ourContinue reading “The Consolations of Lent”
Tag Archives: dust
Wednesday’s Colours (Glenroy Lent #2)
Fire is the colour of the eastbound sun lighting the face of the dusty sky. Ash is the colour of this roadwork black, of tarmac where the plane lost flight. Red is the colour of the traffic light, gold the colour in the new day’s eye, and ash to ash is this road we drive;Continue reading “Wednesday’s Colours (Glenroy Lent #2)”
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”
Lent: Enough 5
What warmth I hide in will soon grow cold. All Peter’s false fires, Adam’s cloak of leaves, will burn out, fade, and leave nakedness in ash. Clothe me. My shame is always before me. Nothing hides from Your sight what should be white, yet’s stained like blood. O God. I stand – naked, dust. YouContinue reading “Lent: Enough 5”
Lent: Man of Sorrows 4
Lay me down – slow me down and lay me down upon the Cross, in Jesus’ hands. Slow my heart and silence all the numb self-serving of my pleas; stifle pride, unlock the clench of fists deep in this fickle dust. Lay me down, my soul; lay down my soul in Jesus’ hands. Their scars haveContinue reading “Lent: Man of Sorrows 4”
Lent: Humility 4
Dust I am, precious Lord. Though well-adorned in rags of self, underneath I am dry bone. Daily I wander in search of glory: fine silks to wrap my pride; jewels to garnish ears that do not hear; softest leather to shoe rock-still feet. What can clothe a heart of stone? What perfume can disguise rottingContinue reading “Lent: Humility 4”
Lent: New Song 1
Oh sing to the Lord a new song; sing to the Lord all the earth!…Tell of his salvation from day to day. (Psalm 96:1, 2b) Old songs rot in dead ears; Old ruts of thought declare: That was not me I will try harder I had no choice That’s just the person thatContinue reading “Lent: New Song 1”
My Jonah Heart
Recite this catalogue of wrongs: I loved this tree – if you loved me I always knew – I told you so… And all the while in Ninevah the people weep in ash. Uphold your cause; God may forget the hurts you hold, the wounds you bear. The tree’s shade is your natural right. ShakeContinue reading “My Jonah Heart”
Remember our dust…
Well, as Easter week draws to a close so does my series of Lenten and Easter reflections. But Easter season continues for some weeks now, and my prayer is that we can all use this season to remind ourselves of what is a daily truth: that God’s people are a resurrection people. Here, to bringContinue reading “Remember our dust…”
The Consolations of Writing 