Coracle Trust E-Reflections archive
All E-Reflections to date:
A time for listening and speaking
"Watchin' and listenin' 's the thing at present ."
Magician 's Nephew, C S Lewis
A time to keep and to give
Make sure you don’t take things for granted and go slack in working for the common good; share what you have with others. Hebrews 13:16
A time to embrace and to part
It's time the stone consented to bloom.
Paul Celan
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A time to cry and to laugh
Weeping may stay for the night but rejoicing comes in the morning.
Psalm 30:5
A time to tear down and build up
Every week, a Sabbath rest when I release the world’s hold on me.
Christine Valters Paintner
A time to kill and heal
Is this the river of life
or death? Both? Both.
Wendell Berry, Sabbaths 2002, VI
Lent: Jesus
His purpose was to create in himself one new humanity out of the two, thus making peace. Ephesians 2:15
Lent: In between days
When hope has gone, when nothing happens, nothing changes.
Lent: The thief on the cross
I promise you that today you will be with me in paradise.
Lent: Simon of Cyrene
Simon from Cyrene happened to be coming in from a farm, and they forced him to carry Jesus’ cross. Mark 15
Lent: Herod
Men here have short attention spans.
They see something sparkly and they're off.
Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip
Lent: Pilate
Pilate spoke to them a third time, “But what crime has he done?" Luke 23:22
Lent: Women
Pride makes us artificial and humility makes us real.
Thomas Merton
Lent: An army officer
There's no accounting for happiness,...
It comes to the monk in his cell.
It comes to the woman sweeping the street
with a birch broom, to the child
whose mother has passed out from drink.
Jane Kenyon
Lent: Rich and poor
Zacchaeus, hurry down! I want to stay with you today. (Luke 19:5)
Lent: Children
I'm hurt all the time.
I don't want to cry for the way I feel inside.
I just want someone to hold me...
I'm alone in the dark, please try to find me.
Chula
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Lent: Mad men
When Jesus was getting out of the boat, a man with an evil spirit quickly ran to him from the graveyard where he had been living.
Lent: Faith for geeks
Sheldon: I'm not insane, my mother had me tested! (from the Big Bang Theory)
Lent: Yearning for an ordinary life
Jesus said to her, ‘Daughter, your faith has made you well; go in peace.’ Luke 8:48
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Lent 2013: The inward and outward journeys
Relating is at the heart of what is redemptive, and what may bring about the transformation of the world.
Mary Grey
A time to plant and pluck
These opposites are the stuff of our life.
Father Bede Griffiths
There is a time for birth and death
It is morning, afternoon or evening.
Begin.
Thomas Merton
A time and a place
This being human is a guest house.
Every morning a new arrival.
A joy, a depression, a meanness,
some momentary awareness comes
as an unexpected visitor.
Guest House, Rumi
Winter - Sweet darkness
Time to go into the dark
where the night has eyes
to recognize its own.
There you can be sure
you are not beyond love.
David Whyte
Advent 2012: Here and now we are one
And the world cannot be discovered by a journey of miles,
no matter how long,
but only by a spiritual journey,
a journey of one inch,
very arduous and humbling and joyful,
by which we arrive at the ground at our feet,
and learn to be at home.
Wendell Berry, Collected Poems
Advent 2012: Yes
And I heard a loud voice from the throne saying, “Look! God’s dwelling place is now among the people, and he will dwell with them. They will be his people, and God himself will be with them and be their God.
Revelation 21:3
Advent 2012: The Light of God
Everything that was created
received its life from him,
and his life gave light
to everyone.
John 1, 3-4 CEV
Advent 2012: Matter matters
'Matter matters' so the founder of the Iona Community succinctly put it. Matter whether hill, valley or sheep or matter as heart and lungs, bones and face, mind and emotions matter. Presence endures.
Advent 2012: Introduction
Weaving tunes, composing symphonies: The Sacred Story incorporates our own sacred stories.
For all seasons
Stop at any point in your day to reflect upon the day's graces and pulls. Set within the context of the changing seasons we will be offering an audiovisual liturgically based ‘altar’ for stilling ourselves and re-viewing our experience of Life this day.
No perfect structures, no perfect people
If you only look at us, you might well miss the brightness (of Christ). We carry this precious Message around in the unadorned clay pots of our ordinary lives.
2 Corinthians 4:7 (The Message)
Frail Bird
Let me
keep my mind on what matters,
which is my work,
which is mostly standing still and learning to be
astonished.
Mary Oliver, The Messenger
Beauty as sacrament
And God saw everything that he had made,
and behold it was very good (beautiful).
Genesis
Suffering and Transformation
Love may forgive all infirmities and love still in spite of them:
but Love cannot cease to will their removal.
C.S.Lewis, The Problem of Pain
To feel ourselves beloved
If I have a faith that can move mountains,
but do not have love, I am nothing.
1 Corinthians 13
Love, beauty and suffering
Faith slips - and laughs, and rallies
Emily Dickinson, This World is not Conclusion
Call yourself alive?
Call yourself alive? Look, I promise you
that for the first time you’ll feel your pores opening
Temptation, Nina Cassian
An air of Lightness
I am born for the second time.
I am light
as the eyelash of the wind...
I walk dancing,
if I wish, I will soar.
Anna Swir
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A place in him that had been closed like a fist was opened
And walking down the street to the railroad station
Past magnolia trees with dying flowers like old socks
It was a long time since he had breathed so simply.
A Journey, Edward Field
Washing them clean
Holy Spirit, giving life to all life,
moving all creatures...
awakening the heart
from its ancient sleep.
Hildegard of Bingen, Holy Spirit
Free for?
Whatever happens. Whatever
what is is is what
I want. Only that. But that.
Galway Kinnell, Prayer
Enjoying your freedom
I don't believe in the other world.
But also I don't believe in this world
unless it is pierced with light.
Anna Kamienska, The Other World
Pondering resurrection
We had hoped...they were so filled with joy and wonder. (Luke 24)
Over, in and around
This huge trusted power Is spirit. He moves in the muscle of the world, In continual creation. He burns the tides, he shines From the matchless skies. He is the day's surrender. Chorus, Elizabeth Jennings
Missing God
There was a garden near the place he was crucified, and in the garden a new tomb in which no one had yet been placed. So, because it was Sabbath preparation for the Jews and the tomb was convenient, they placed Jesus in it. John 19:41-42
The death of a hero
Do you think for a minute I'm not going to drink this cup the Father gave me?... Pilate caved in to their demand. He turned Jesus over to be crucified. John 18:11, 19:16
Turn back or Turn towards
Jesus, knowing by now everything that was coming down on him, went out and met them. John 18:3
Manipulation versus Foot washing
I've laid down a pattern for you. What I've done, you do. I'm only pointing out the obvious. A servant is not ranked above his master; an employee doesn't give orders to the employer. John 13:16
Souls unfolding
After he said these things, Jesus became visibly upset, and then he told them why. "One of you is going to betray me." John 13:21
Treasures in darkness
Jesus replied, "The hour has come for the Son of Man to be glorified. I tell you the truth, unless a grain of wheat falls to the ground and dies, it remains only a single seed. But if it dies it produces many seeds." John 12: 23-24
Things are not what they seem
Six days before the Passover Jesus arrived at Bethany where Lazarus lived, whom Jesus had raised from the dead. Here a dinner was given in Jesus’ honour. John 12:1
The turning point
That was a turnaround for many of the Jews who were with Mary. They saw what Jesus did, and believed in him. But some went back to the Pharisees and told on Jesus. John 11:45
Deep questions
Mary came to where Jesus was waiting and fell at his feet, saying, "Master, if only you had been here, my brother would not have died." John 11:32
Follow me
After the two days, he said to his disciples, "Let's go back to Judea." They said, "Rabbi, you can't do that. The Jews are out to kill you, and you're going back?" John 11:7-8
Actions that speak louder than words
Again the Jews picked up rocks to throw at him. Jesus said, "I have made a present to you from the Father of a great many good actions. For which of these acts do you stone me?" John 10:31-32
Life as we have never dreamed of
I came so they can have real and eternal life, more and better life than they ever dreamed of. John 10:10
A divine comedy?
They came back at the blind man, "You're the expert. He opened your eyes. What do you say about him?" He said, "He is a prophet." John 9:17
This can’t be from God
"Obviously, this man can't be from God. He doesn't keep the Sabbath." John 9:16
A rock-like response
Jesus knew from the start that some weren't going to risk themselves with him...(Indeed) after this a lot of his disciples left. They no longer wanted to be associated with him. Then Jesus gave the Twelve their chance: "Do you also want to leave?" Peter replied, "Master, to whom would we go?...We’ve already committed ourselves, confident that you are the Holy One of God." John 6:64
Seeing God, or not
Jesus answered, "You've come looking for me not because you saw God in my actions but because I fed you, filled your stomachs—and for free." John 6:23
Bless what you have
(Peter) spoke up and said, "There is a boy here who has five small loaves of barley bread and two fish. But what good is that with all these people?" Jesus took the bread in his hands and gave thanks to God. John 6:9,11
The plain truth
Jesus said, "I tell you most solemnly that anyone who chooses a life of sin is trapped in a dead-end life and is, in fact, a slave. A slave is a transient, who can't come and go at will. The Son, though, has an established position, the run of the house. So if the Son sets you free, you are free through and through." John 8:34-36
Submission to deep longing, to truth
"When you raise up the Son of Man, then you will know who I am—that I'm not making this up, but speaking only what the Father taught me. The One who sent me stays with me. He doesn't abandon me. He sees how much joy I take in pleasing him." John 8:28-29
Two worlds
(The Pharisees) said, "Where is this so-called Father of yours?" Jesus said, "You're looking right at me and you don't see me. John 8:19
Good news
Finally, Jesus and the woman were there alone. Jesus stood up and asked her, "Where is everyone? Isn't there anyone left to accuse you?" John 8:9-10
Have faith in me
On the last and most important day of the festival, Jesus stood up and shouted...Have faith in me...The people started taking sides against each other because of Jesus. Some of them wanted to arrest him, but no one laid a hand on him. John 7:43
What is the Father doing?
I tell you for certain that the Son cannot do anything on his own. He can do only what he sees the Father doing, and he does exactly what he sees the Father do. The Father loves the Son and has shown him everything he does. The Father will show him even greater things, and you will be amazed. John 5:19-20
Pick up your mat and walk
When Jesus saw the man and realized that he had been crippled for a long time, he asked him, "Do you want to be healed?" The man answered, "Lord, I don't have anyone to put me in the pool when the water is stirred up. I try to get in, but someone else always gets there first." Jesus told him, "Pick up your mat and walk!" John 5:6-8
The notes meet, harmonious
When he heard that Jesus had come from Judea to Galilee, he went and asked that he come down and heal his son, who was on the brink of death. Jesus put him off: "Unless you people are dazzled by a miracle, you refuse to believe." But the court official wouldn't be put off. "Come down! It's life or death for my son." Jesus simply replied, "Go home. Your son lives." John 4:47-49
Hearing the groom’s voice
At a wedding the groom is the one who gets married. The best man is glad just to be there and to hear the groom's voice. John 3:29
Manipulation
In Jerusalem during Passover many people put their faith in Jesus, because they saw him work miracles. But Jesus knew what was in their hearts, and he would not let them have power over him. No one had to tell him what people were like. He already knew. John 2:23-25
I will build it again
"Destroy this temple and in three days I will build it again!" The leaders replied, "It took forty-six years to build this temple. What makes you think you can rebuild it in three days?"... And when he was raised from death, his disciples remembered what he had told them. Then they believed the Scriptures and the words of Jesus. John 2:19-22
Come with me
The next day Jesus decided to go to Galilee. There he met Philip, who was from Bethsaida, the hometown of Andrew and Peter. Jesus said to Philip, "Come with me." John 1:43-44
Where do you live?
When Jesus turned and saw them, he asked, "What do you want?" They answered, "Rabbi, where do you live?" Jesus replied, "Come and see!" John 1:38-39
I am, simply
Who are you then?... I am only someone shouting in the desert, 'Get the road ready for the Lord!' John 1:21,23
Lent: Light
In him was life, and that life was the light of all mankind. John 1:4
Lent 2012: Finding our story within Jesus’s story
May Christ Jesus look into your face with love, God the Creator spring to life within your being, and the Holy Spirit be found in sacred places around you. A blessing
Faith transitions: Journeying within Christ
In Him we live and move and have our being. Acts 17:28
Faith transitions: Doors opening
Joy teaches him to rise, to stand and move out through the opening the light has made Sabbaths 2001, I. Wendell Berry
Faith transitions: Compass and rudder
Shall I then suffer every kind of wound that the sea can inflict? Shall I take my tiny boat across the wide sparkling ocean? O King of the Glorious Heaven, shall I go of my own choice upon the sea? O Christ, will You help me on the wild waves? St. Brendan's Prayer
Faith transitions: Secure and strange
People need a life of practical romance; the combination of something that is strange with something that is secure. Orthodoxy: the romance of faith, G.K. Chesterton
Advent 2011: That we may be one
Make ready for the Face that speaks like lightning, Uttering the new name of your exultation Deep in the vitals of your soul. Make ready for the Christ, Whose smile, like lightning, Sets free the song of everlasting glory That now sleeps, in your paper flesh, like dynamite. Thomas Merton
Faith transitions: Reading to Being Read
What is this wondrous mystery unfolding within me? I have no words to name it, for that One is above all praise, transcends all words St.Symeon the New Theologian
Faith transitions: Turning around yet one more time
The soul should always stand ajar That if the Heaven enquire He will not be obliged to wait Or shy of troubling Her Emily Dickinson
Faith transitions: Deepening what we already have
I tell you, do not worry about your life Matthew 6:25
Faith transitions: Crossing threshold after threshold
It is morning, afternoon or evening. Begin A Book of Hours, Thomas Merton
Faith transitions: A fear of becoming
The soul, that glancing, Aeolian*, thing, elusive as a butterfly. C G Jung, Archetyes and the Collective Unconscious *Soul, from Old German saiwalo, may be cognate with aiolos, “quick moving, changeful hue, shifting”
Faith transitions: A grand sweep
Suilven's a place that gives more than a basket of trout. it opens the space it lives in and a heaven's revealed, in glimpses No accident, Norman MacCaig
Faith transitions: Migrations
Terah took his son Abram, his grandson Lot son of Haran, and his daughter-in-law Sarai, the wife of his son Abram, and together they set out from Ur of the Chaldeans to go to Canaan. Genesis 11: 31
Faith transitions: Our comings and our goings
The Lord will guard your coming and your going both now and forever. 2 Corinthians 3:18
The Everyday: Daily miracles
As to me I know of nothing else but miracles. Walt Whitman
The Everyday: LBJs
Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Luke 12:6
The Everyday: Sleeping
I lie down this night with God, And God will lie down with me; I lie down this night with Christ, And God will lie down with me; Carmina Gadelica
The Everyday: Eating and the meal table
If love unfolds, it unfolds here. Here where Heaven shows its face. ...Ignorance mixed with longing, intelligence mixed with hunger. The sacred in the planting, the wading in mud*. Eating what is here. Fish, bread, tea, rice. Fish tea rice, Linda Gregg (* paddy fields!)
The Everyday: Sitting down
We may ask in all seriousness whether we have the strength of mind, integrity and independence of spirit to sit down and rest occasionally, or whether we are the sort of people who must always be up and doing...Are we too always running about in an effort to run away from ourselves? Karl Rahner
