The Swan (blessing continued)

Christiane, a French woman who was at our retreat, introduced to us the second poem posted below because it seemed to embody the idea of blessing--and all the overtones involved in being open to receiving it when it finally does come. So I came home and when I was looking for it stumbled upon another poem by Mary Oliver also by the same title. (She is quickly becoming a favorite of mine. I'm hoping my husband will get me her book "Winter Hours" for Christmas. Suttle, heh?) The two together seem to say so much about what God is teaching me. And SO beautifully at that. Then, I thought I remembered Rodger having taken some pictures of swans that were extraordinary. So I asked if I could borrow them. I must say I'm quite pleased with the combination, and I hope you are truly blessed by it.

The Swan

by Mary Oliver

Did you too see it, drifting, all night, on the black river?

Did you see it in the morning, rising into the silvery air -

An armful of white blossoms,

A perfect commotion of silk and linen as it leaned

into the bondage of its wings; a snowbank, a bank of lilies,

Biting the air with its black beak?

Did you hear it, fluting and whistling

A shrill dark music - like the rain pelting the trees - like a waterfall

Knifing down the black ledges?

And did you see it, finally, just under the clouds -

A white cross Streaming across the sky, its feet

Like black leaves, its wings Like the stretching light of the river?

And did you feel it, in your heart, how it pertained to everything?

And have you too finally figured out what beauty is for?

And have you changed your life?

The Swan

also by Mary Oliver

Across the wide waters

Something comes floating-a slim

and delicate ship filled with white flowers and it moves

on its miraculous muscles as though time didn’t exist

as though bringing such gifts to the dry shore was a happiness

almost beyond bearing.

And now it turns its dark eyes, it rearranges the clouds of its wings,

it trails an elaborate webbed foot, the color of charcoal.

Soon it will be here.

Oh what shall I do when the poppy-colored beak rests in my hand?

Said Ms. Blake of the Poet:

I miss my husband’s company—he is so often in paradise.

Of course! The path to heaven doesn’t lie down in flat miles.

Its in the imagination with which you perceive this world,

and the gestures with which you honor it.

Oh what will I do, what will I say, when those white wings touch the shore?

Photos by Rodger Pickett

Advent--Expanded Post

Do not be afraid.

Behold I bring you good news of great joy

that will be for all the people.

Luke 2:10

A season of new beginnings.

A season of expectancy.

A season of blessing.

What does it mean to be blessed?

I have been going over my notes from the retreat. I've been wanting to pull my thoughts into a writing of some sort. And I will do that. As I went through some of the group's insight I thought that I would share some of the raw data with you all so that you could kind of go through the process with me. Ken and Katherine were our retreat leaders. Just being under their leadership was in itself an amazing learning experience. They truly represented a beautiful model of spiritual reciprocity. Listening to God together, to each other in the Spirit, and leading the group together in that process. Strength and humilty. Confidence and deference. It was absolutely beautiful to witness. I wish you could have seen Ken's hand dance of reciprocity. Remind me to show you sometime. Anyways, I'm on a rabbit trail again.

Ken and Katherine began by asking the group (which was a fairly well-read group by the way) what they understood as the meaning of the word blessed. And I took notes. Here are my notes as I wrote my understanding and interpretations based on what the group had to offer.

Please feel free to add a comment that might be helpful to me as I write, or you can send me an e-mail. There just seems to be something really special in all of this I want to pull together. Now, if you want to read this in the spirit of the Quakers, after each response, take time to pause, let it sink in, and meditate with the Spirit on what it might mean and what God might be saying to you about it.

B

Blessed—what is the meaning of blessing?
(responses from group)

Not a gift that something has been added. But where something has been taken away, an impediment removed.

When you arrive at a point where something about you has been recognized. A change has taken place, a difference, so what you weren’t before you are now and you are therefore blessed.

A feeling of completeness, wholeness.

Totally open to receiving. Like a sun shining with a cloud in front of it, when the cloud moves we can receive the full blessing.

A gift from God. A deep KNOWING that is available to us.

New wineskin, which is a greater blessing than even the new wine. Or perhaps that the new wineskin which can hold many new blessings IS the greater blessing.

Blesse in French means wounded. Blessing has something to do with our woundedness, and the beauty of our healing in the reality of our woundedness. (I wonder does our ability to receive blessing become greater in our woundedness?)

Grace, healing, and gratefulness blended together.

Being anointed and declared good. That is the gift of grace. We can give and receive that grace as vessels of God’s love in the world.

When God imparts into my soul a deep peace, a great joy that transcends everything else.

A sense of being cherished and known and cherishing and knowing in response.

Emptied. Able to receive. Able to contain. Able to be filled.

Pendle Hill

For my Birthday this year, Jean gave me a wonderful gift. She and I went to a retreat at a Quaker community called Pendle Hill. There is so much I want to say about it. And I hope that soon I will find the words to express some of what we experienced. In the meantime, I wanted to post some pictures I took that are quite significant reminders of how God moved in and through us during our time there.

Spirit (wind, breath)


Reciprocity


Beauty in Rain


Morning Light


Trinity


Still Fall


This is the path, walk ye in it.


Christ.
He's always there, even in the midst of those unaware.

A Musing

Wrinkle in Time

Photo by Bgrace

My friend, I thought of you today

Wish you could know that I'm ok

Sometimes I wonder and begin to fear

You've turned to the skeptics

You've given them ear

Though they may try to rewrite the past

Tainting the light with the shadows they cast

I trust the Spirit of God in you

To show you what's good, what's right, what's true

I'll say just this before I go

I'm still almost the strongest person you know

(Though my scars have born more pain than they'll ever show)

I've seen so much I wish I could share

Depth and beauty

The rich and rare

Though our paths have parted ways

I find myself hoping it's just a phase

Trust this in me

No matter where your feet may go

Nothing could turn you from friend to foe

The Beattitudes

Jemma's Rose

photo by bgrace

1-2 When Jesus saw his ministry drawing huge crowds, he climbed a hillside. Those who were apprenticed to him, the committed, climbed with him. Arriving at a quiet place, he sat down and taught his climbing companions. This is what he said:
3"You're blessed when you're at the end of your rope. With less of you there is more of God and his rule.
4"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.
5"You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought.
6"You're blessed when you've worked up a good appetite for God. He's food and drink in the best meal you'll ever eat.
7"You're blessed when you care. At the moment of being 'care-full,' you find yourselves cared for.
8"You're blessed when you get your inside world—your mind and heart—put right. Then you can see God in the outside world.
9"You're blessed when you can show people how to cooperate instead of compete or fight. That's when you discover who you really are, and your place in God's family.
10"You're blessed when your commitment to God provokes persecution. The persecution drives you even deeper into God's kingdom.
11-12"Not only that—count yourselves blessed every time people put you down or throw you out or speak lies about you to discredit me. What it means is that the truth is too close for comfort and they are uncomfortable. You can be glad when that happens—give a cheer, even!—for though they don't like it, I do! And all heaven applauds. And know that you are in good company. My prophets and witnesses have always gotten into this kind of trouble.
Salt and Light 13"Let me tell you why you are here. You're here to be salt-seasoning that brings out the God-flavors of this earth. If you lose your saltiness, how will people taste godliness? You've lost your usefulness and will end up in the garbage.
14-16"Here's another way to put it: You're here to be light, bringing out the God-colors in the world. God is not a secret to be kept. We're going public with this, as public as a city on a hill. If I make you light-bearers, you don't think I'm going to hide you under a bucket, do you? I'm putting you on a light stand. Now that I've put you there on a hilltop, on a light stand—shine! Keep open house; be generous with your lives. By opening up to others, you'll prompt people to open up with God, this generous Father in heaven.

The Message

More to Come...

snow"fall"

there's beauty in the overlap

snow in fall

fall snow

snow falling

falling snow

there's beauty in the overlap, you know

Gorgeous

Gorgeous

photo by Bgrace

I should say many interesting things about this waterfall we visited at the gorge in Watkins Glen, NY. I should make many spiritual applications, because there are many connections to be drawn. But I have had delightful day, full of friends and laughter and beauty and warmth, and I'm wonderfully tired and can't wait to tuck my children in and crawl underneath the covers. And I have a few prayers that must be prayed for some dear friends. So maybe tomorrow or the next day I'll try to say something important and meaningful. But for tonight, I'll let the waterfall speak for itself.

B