One of the original purposes with which The Consolations of Writing was created was to celebrate the ways in which God can use our trials and struggles to grow good fruit in our lives. This purpose emerged out of my own struggles with mental illness – depression and obsessive-compulsive disorder – and the ways in which,Continue reading “A new project, and a request”
Tag Archives: grace
O Sacred Head: Streaming Page CXVI’s “Good Friday to Easter” Day 1
As Easter rapidly approaches, I find myself feeling less and less equipped for what is ahead: Jesus on the Cross, bearing my sins. Even less prepared am I for the reality of the Resurrection – new life for old, us the sinners sharing in His glory. But this is the truth, and it can be aContinue reading “O Sacred Head: Streaming Page CXVI’s “Good Friday to Easter” Day 1″
Lent 18: Saturday of Second Week
So the kingdom comes in mustard-seed smallness microscopic yeast invading our flatness prehistoric treasure hid in fallow ground trees unfolding out from roots too deep to see imperceptible life defying noisy death the now-and-not-yetness of ever-active grace.
Catechism 12
What does God require in the ninth and tenth commandments? Ninth, that we do not lie or deceive, but speak the truth in love. Tenth, that we are content, not envying anyone or resenting what God has given them or us. (New City Catechism) The one beside you in the field, Continue reading “Catechism 12”
Lent 6: Monday of First Week
Now grace topsy-turvies the world: Mountain-top-truths speak to violent hearts Declaring the way which turns cheek to foe And blesses the poor in spirit, the meek, The hungry, the thirsty, the peaceful, the weak. Blessed are you: words strangely fitted, A garment much brighter than all its surrounds. A whisper of pain, aContinue reading “Lent 6: Monday of First Week”
An Absolutely Ordinary Poet
February now over, it is time to offer one final celebration of Les Murray’s poetry, before moving onto our next – and final – poet in the 12 Poets Project. Here is a short reflection on some of the qualities I value most in Murray’s work. I hope it is a fitting conclusion to ourContinue reading “An Absolutely Ordinary Poet”
“Fast from… Feast on…” – Streaming Page CXVI Day Four
When I was younger, comfortable in low-evangelical churches where Lent was not observed, the season and its observances always seemed a semi-Catholic imposition. Our school chaplain would wear purple and people gave up eating sugar. That was mostly all I knew about it. When I came slowly to understand its value, it came with theContinue reading ““Fast from… Feast on…” – Streaming Page CXVI Day Four”
“Were you there…?” – Streaming Page CXVI Day Three
Were you there when they crucified my Lord? None of us today can answer “yes”. Yet the truth and power of that moment is never diminished, how much time stretches between us and it. Today’s track from Page CXVI’s “Lent to Maundy Thursday” combines two old hymns: “Were You There?” and “O The Deep, Deep LoveContinue reading ““Were you there…?” – Streaming Page CXVI Day Three”
“Before the throne of God above…” – Streaming Page CXVI Day 2
Well, as Lent approaches, so does the release of Page CXVI’s “Lent to Maundy Thursday”, and so it is with great excitement that I am posting the second track of the album, one of my favourite hymns: “Before the throne of God above”. When we could use this season before Easter as a time toContinue reading ““Before the throne of God above…” – Streaming Page CXVI Day 2″
Sprawl: For Les Murray (and Bach)
February is a short month, and so sadly I am having to speed up our journey through Les Murray’s poetry. My final poem for the month is an original work written in response to this interview with Murray from Image (Winter 2009-10) as well as Murray’s own description, in a personal letter, of his visit toContinue reading “Sprawl: For Les Murray (and Bach)”
The Consolations of Writing 