Many of us have a favorite place conducive for relaxing, thinking, or meditating. Some of us may use mantras or mindfulness or some other form of meditation to lower stress levels, to relieve anxiety, and to achieve inner calmness. The prophet Isaiah knew the secret to inner peace. Speaking of God, he wrote, “You willContinue reading “Perfect Peace”
Tag Archives: New Testament
Out With the Old, In With the New!
(In the winter of life, the past remains even though life constantly changes.) “Out with the old, in with the new” is a grand but totally impractical New Year’s expectation! Celebratory gatherings, festive toasts, fireworks, and a few seconds of Auld Lang Syne somehow allow a brief reprieve from the baggage and sadness of theContinue reading “Out With the Old, In With the New!”
Go! Tell It!
John Wesley Work Jr. was an African American educator and musicologist who compiled, “harmonized,” and published a number of slave songs which came to light during the Great Migration of Blacks from the southern states to the north after the civil war. “Go Tell It On the Mountain” dates back at least to 1865 andContinue reading “Go! Tell It!”
flight or fight
Perceiving a threat, these spooked wood ducks noisily retreated to a more isolated, protected area down the river. Wired physically, physiologically, and emotionally to either flee or confront threats against bodily harm, we react similarly to difficult circumstances or to spiritual and emotional insults which might endanger our peace and joy or rob us ofContinue reading “flight or fight”
Open or Closed?
Beyond the fence in the photo lies a magnificent but obscured view of Frenchman’s bay, its islands, boats, and mountains. That wonder can only be accessed through the now closed gate, and we are not invited in. Jesus used a gate as a metaphor in a rather surprising, even shocking parable about some good butContinue reading “Open or Closed?”
Is There Any Safe Place?
Some of us have known the security and comfort of homes with parents who we could trust to protect us and to make everything as right as it could be. Sadly, some of us have not known the love and safety of nurturing arms because of abuse or neglect or abandonment. Those situations may leadContinue reading “Is There Any Safe Place?”
From where you sit…
From where you sit, do you see what I see? Probably not! We live in the same world, maybe in the same neighborhood, or even in the same household but still can have very different perspectives on life. What we learn and the way we learn and experience the world can be very diverse. So,Continue reading “From where you sit…”
Pleasures Now and Forever?
The Catch, the Joy of Lobstering, Sullivan, Maine We were created as sensual beings with the capability and expectation that we should know the pleasures of our world. Experiencing pleasure comes in varied ways and forms: tastes, colors, styles, textures, books, art, recreation, music, ideas, and relationships. We have preferences but also enjoy others’ achievementsContinue reading “Pleasures Now and Forever?”
When the Light Changes…
A bright light shines between the thunder storm and the fog. Experiencing life often seems like living within weather patterns. Our joy, our moments of contentment and security are caught between the abrupt and distressing, between storms and mysteries. We are vulnerable to relentless change, some of which is expected and good but frequently isContinue reading “When the Light Changes…”
Behold!
Maybe it’s a butterfly on a tangerine cone flower or an expansive, breathtaking vista. It might be minuscule and cellular or cosmic and grand; simple and stark or intricate and complex; lovely and serene or loud and boisterous; man made or God created. It might be a song, a symphony, a discovery, or an idea.Continue reading “Behold!”
Sweet Words from Maine 