Bleak (Psalm 102*)

My God, hear me and listen to my outcry.

My heart is hurt and my soul is troubled

My days are wasted, and I cannot concentrate.

I am bewildered and need your help.

I am unsettled and want You to answer me.

I am totally distracted,

and I cannot get anything done.

I lie awake and cannot sleep.

I am losing it and cannot go on like this,

everyone makes fun of me and talks behind my back.

I know that you are upset with me

and I regret not abiding by your will.

You raised me up and then flung me down.

Have mercy on me and pity my desperate heart,

I have learned my lesson and I truly do fear the Lord.

Let this be my legacy;

Your will be done.

May all peoples, including those yet unborn,

know, love, and serve God,

who hears the groans of the demoralized and answers their prayers

*Reprayed in my voice

I The Magician (next day repost)

Based on Meditations on the Tarot

Sharing harmony –

the synthesis

of the impulse of the unconscious

and the compulsion of the conscious

The wisdom of Solomon…

balances a conundrum –

“Give the living baby to the first woman.

Do not kill him; she is his mother.” [1]

Thus the method of analogy

leads to the discovery of truths,

but, the method of analogy

is in not infallible.

Magic needs dexterity…

Charming fosters creativity…

Enchanting wants openness…

Delight promotes self-trust.

True concentration without effort

transforms work into play.

Detached indifference

reveals serene acceptance

The wind blows where it wills,

you hear the sound, but you do not know

whence it comes

or where it goes [2]

[1] 1 King 3:27

[2] John 3:8

I The Magician

Based on Meditations on the Tarot

Sharing harmony –

the synthesis

of the impulse of the unconscious

and the compulsion of the conscious

The wisdom of Solomon…

balances a conundrum –

“Give the living baby to the first woman.

Do not kill him; she is his mother.” [1]

Thus the method of analogy

leads to the discovery of truths,

but, the method of analogy

is in not infallible.

Magic needs dexterity…

Charming fosters creativity…

Enchanting wants openness…

Delight promotes self-trust.

True concentration without effort

transforms work into play.

Detached indifference

reveals serene acceptance

The wind blows where it wills,

you hear the sound, but you do not know

whence it comes

or where it goes [2]

[1] 1 King 3:27

[2] John 3:8

The Tooth (next day repost)

The whole tooth

and nothing but the tooth…

the tooth is not free.

Here it comes, dad said,

as he lowered the bucket

and then the handle broke

wiping out my tooth

but the root was OK…

the answer was a crown.

Fifty years of cleanings

with some caries and a bout

with periodontitis,

impact was  deep

especially on the tooth…

the answer is an implant.

Braces don’t just align a bite,

chewing was ungainly,

brushing was awkward,

but they were a measured response…

to pull my tooth down

and un-recess the gum.

Preparing for the implant

left a gap in my smile

for a state-of-the-art tooth,

unashamed on Zoom

shameless in person…

a wonder to behold.

Impressions were made.

preparation complete…

twenty ncm secures,

grinding enhances,

buffing polishes,

finally my new tooth.

Twenty-eight hands later

the whole tooth…

nothing but the tooth

The Tooth

The whole tooth

and nothing but the tooth…

the tooth is not free.

Here it comes, dad said,

as he lowered the bucket

and then the handle broke

wiping out my tooth

but the root was OK…

the answer was a crown.

Fifty years of cleanings

with some caries and a bout

with periodontitis,

impact was  deep

especially on the tooth…

the answer is an implant.

Braces don’t just align a bite,

chewing was ungainly,

brushing was awkward,

but they were a measured response…

to pull my tooth down

and un-recess the gum.

Preparing for the implant

left a gap in my smile

for a state-of-the-art tooth,

unashamed on Zoom

shameless in person…

a wonder to behold.

Impressions were made.

preparation complete…

twenty ncm secures,

grinding enhances,

buffing polishes,

finally my new tooth.

Twenty-eight hands later

the whole tooth…

nothing but the tooth

Psalm 22 (Final Part)

For She has not scorned me

   in my suffering;

   She has not disregarded me

   in my affliction

   She has listened to my cry for help.

I will tell my story over and over;

   I will keep all my promises.

The poor will have food and be satisfied;

   all who seek will be found —

   our hearts will be mended!

Always in all ways

   we will turn to our Lady,

   we will pray together

   our joys will be doubled

   our sorrows will halved

For She is our God

   and we are Her people

All will worship Her and work with Her;

   for we are just dust,

   we cannot keep ourselves alive.

We will prosper in serving Her;

   Our story will never end.

Honesty and justice will prevail

   even to the yet unborn—

   for She is with us.

Help Me (Psalm 22) Part 3

I am surrounded by the willful;

   they encircle me and

   take away my confidence.

   I am naked and vulnerable.

I hurt in my bones;

   I wallow in my misery.

I have nothing left

   my body is sacked,

   my heart is bursting.

I beg you, my Lady, be not far off;

   oh my Strength, come quickly and help me.

Deliver me and do not let me succumb,

   show me how precious I am.

Rescue me from the beasts;

   save me from the headstrong and the willful.

I will be a witness for you;

   I will praise you everyday in every way.

   I will say

“Praise God!

   let all generations honor Her!

let all our descendants revere Her!

Help Me (Psalm 22) Part 2

For you have brought me here;

   I have trusted you

   I felt safe

   as safe as at my mother’s breast.

Yes, from birth I was chosen by you;

   from my mother’s womb you have been my God.

Do not be far from me,

   for trouble is near

   and there is no one to help.

I am surrounded by the headstrong;

   they encircle me and take away my freedom.

They are like roaring beasts

   they are too much for me

   my fierceness cannot overcome them

I am poured out like water,

   And all my bones ache.

   My heart has turned to wax;

   It has melted away within me.

My strength is gone, I am weary,

   I have a lump in my throat always;

   I cannot stand the tension.

For Me (Psalm 22) Part 1

My God, my God,

   why have you abandoned me?

   why do I not feel safe?

   are you listening to me?

O my God, I cry out by day, but you do not answer,

   by night, and you do not respond.

Yet you are our God;

   and we are your people.

In the past, we have put our trust in you;

   and you have made us safe.

We cried to you and you answered us;

   we trusted you and we were not disappointed.

But now I am a worm,

    I am disrespected and unloved.

No one believes in me;

   everyone shakes their heads in doubt:

I wonder with them, “If God is on my side;

   when will She rescue me.

   when will She deliver me,

   when will She give me happiness.”

Our Gift (next day repost)

The Child came to a world at Peace.

The world today is in utter uproar –  

“Shameless worldliness, frivolous pleasure,

and brutal sensuality are the vogue.” [1]

The unholy have the means …

to disrupt our youth.

Most alarming is their untruth

corrupting innocence.

Overcoming the tribal demand

requires fervent resolve

We can not just say I will be good

We must do good as a power for good

Contrary to the horrid vices,

to pleasure-loving spirit,

to frivolity, to detestation

to the worldliness of today.[2]

Demonstrate self-sacrifice

display self-denial,

support self-renunciation,

reveal self-detachment.

So, do some big thing for Jesus

more zealous, more generous

more selfless, more detached,

be a power for good.

[1] Mditations of Father Judge p. 29

[2] Ibid p. 29