Always in All Ways (Psalm 139)

My Lady,

   You are in my bones.

   You are with me always in all ways;

   You embrace me and hold me close.

From the time I wake up until I go to sleep;

You are my companion everyday in every way.

Before a word is on my tongue,

   a thought in my mind

   a feeling in my heart

You accept it.

Can I escape from your Spirit?

   You surround me

   I am the center of your circle,

Can I flee from your presence?

   You have taken my hand in yours,

   we walk side by side

You are in my bones.

You are with me always in all ways;

You embrace me and hold me close

For you created me in you image and likeness;

Indeed, all your works are delightful,

   all is well and all will be well.

My soul is not hidden from you

   for, before I was made,

   your eyes saw my

    unformed body, mind, and heart.

Vainly I said, “Surely darkness will hide me,

   and I can hide in the shadows,”

however, it is futile to hide

   the darkness is not dark to you,

   there are no shadows in your light.

You are in my bones.

You are with me always in all ways;

You embrace me and hold me close

Take away my fears and doubts

   make me fierce and free

Hug me, O God,

   and relax my body,

   and temper my thoughts,

   and soothe my heart.

In the Darkness

It is not clear – the way to go

It is not blocked, the path is clear.

It is unclear because darkness…

obscures the given direction

Despite this, I must venture forth,

step aheart into the darkness,

with courage embrace the unknown,

engaging what I do not know.

“Be not afraid” is a mantra –

helpful to proceed with safeness.

Darkness surrounds and envelops,

but does not impede or deter.

Yes, darkness is a space holder.

In darkness, I see possible.

With darkness, I find openness.

Darkness helps me explore the way.

I adjust my eyes for darkness…

and I listen attentively.

I hopefully wander about

available to all that is.

Oasis

We start each day alone.

Be aware and be attentive.

Be aware that those who cross your path

is the image and likeness.

Be attentive and honor all

and yield not to discouragement.

The Spirit drove him forth into the desert.”[1]

Prayer and fasting opens us

This rite of passage tests –

If we listen, we are changed.

“I do not know what God is speaking –

what the Spirit is speaking – that is God’s secret.

Listen to His voice. Be in that solitude

and open your heart to Him.”[2]

Jesus says, “Come with Me.”

He needs us to rest…

He wants us to watch…

He expects us to embrace.

We are not worthy

but he is willing to heal.

With him we have zeal

to live and die for the Truth

The Presence satisfies

We bathe in the Light.

[1] Mark l: 12

[2] Father Judge Meditations p3: lines 13-16

Problem

Just sayin’, “no problem”, does not help.

There is a tendency to dismiss

problems, by suggesting they are not,

what they are: an issue to deal with.

Time and time again problems remain.

Unless trouble is responded to,

these issues will not resolve themselves.

Just sayin’, “no problem”, does not help.

Unacknowledged problems will fester,

and will generally thwart success,

issues can make circumstances worse.

Problems annoy, but just pretending

they have no bearing on the future,

is like sticking one’s head in the sand.

“We have a problem” is helpful,

Confronting problems aids to solve them,

creating a container for them,

making possibilities likely.

So, admitting there is an issue,

truly halves problems and doubles joys.

Assistance creates advocacy.

“We have a problem” is helpful,

Stopping and dealing with the issue

makes it viable to find a way.

Sharing problems fosters real answers.

Facing the dilemma forces us

to be engaged in the solution.

If not fixed, at least mended or healed.

Success

Success is not by number assessed.

Success is by commitment possessed.

I do wonder how good I have done.

I doubt it is in more the merrier.

I believe what counts is having fun.

There are those who would fully dismiss

this hard to accept success notion.

I submit fun is getting a kiss.

Success is so rarely effortless,

and is sometimes even unwelcomed,

but the fun is simply measureless.

Completion is not transactional.

Fulfilment ends in consummation.

Consequences embrace actual.

Fun makes me feel very lighthearted.

Fun is in every way wholehearted.

Forgive and Forget

I am asked to forgive

those who have offended me

This is not easy,

when there’s no reparation;

and even harder,

when there’s no preparation.

I am asked to forget

what I have forgiven

This is possible

but difficult to realize.

It requires imagination

and a penchant to idealize.

Truth is not transactional

Truth is a revelation

Being right needs a process

a commitment to cooperation

correctness wants oneness

a willingness for collaboration

Reality is not a consensus

Reality is shared being

Being real needs acceptance

We are chosen to behold

Authenticity wants awareness

Listening to what is told

Forgiven defies logic

Forgotten rejects objectivity

No matter what the record says

Life goes on and walls fall

Looking past the past means

Love of neighbor bridges the call

Redeemer (Psalm 19)

Heaven declares the beauty of God;

   Earth proclaims the work of Her hands.

Everyday in every way they announce Her;

   always in all ways they present Her.

Her promise is for all

   Her voice is heard by every one.

Her song goes out to all the earth,

   it calls across the seas and echoes in the mountains.

She makes us at home

   She protects us and keeps us safe,

She has a joyous expectation not a demanding one,

   She has confidence in us.

Her love touches all of creation

   everyone enjoys Her warmth; and

   nothing is hidden from Her heart.

Our Mother’s assurances are just what we need,

   a tonic for the soul and a balm for the heart

Her instructions are trustworthy,

   making living simply, simply living.

Her precepts ring true,

   giving joy to the heart.

Her guidance is radiant,

   providing light for our eyes.

Our mother is awesome,

   our companion forever.

She honors us with her presence,

   her way is safe and secure

It is more precious than gold,

   invaluable and enduring;
It is sweeter than honey,

   delicious and satisfying.

We, Her people, are enlightened by Her;

   warmed by her radiance.

My Mother is with me

   She forgives me, and

   She holds nothing against me.

My Lady, deliver me from willfulness;

   help me to do the best that I can do.

   I want to enjoy peace and equanimity,

   help me to be fierce and free.

My Mother, accompany me

   ponder and brood with me

   blubber and sigh with me

You are my Queen and my Redeemer.

Helper

He drew an invisible X on the floor,

“Stand right here and don’t move”.

He handed me the droplight

and pointed to a spot ahead of us,

“If you want to help, shine the light here.”

I was ten and really wanted to help,

How was this helpful?

He put the toolbox down, opened it, took my arm,

and moved the light over it,

“Follow my hand, shine the light there.”

He was my dad and it seemed, he was hardly ever home,

but it was clear he took great pride in his work.

It was an honor to go on a service call.

How was this helpful?

“See this,” he said, “this is the problem.”

He then moved over to the basement sink.

“Come here with the light and bring the toolbox with you,

watch and learn.”

Wow, it was much heavier than I thought.

He carried it with such ease.

At the sink, he reached into the toolbox,

and disassembled the unit with a bunch of tools,

without words, he showed me what was wrong

and then reassembled the unit

his hands and fingers moved fast and sure

We moved back to the burner compartment,

and put everything back together,

then we turned the unit on and made sure it ran.

… then he turned it off and then on again

… then he did it again and waited for the heat to come up

He we went to the stairs and called up, “All set”

From the top of the stairs the woman said, “Thank you.”

“There will be no more problems,” he said.

From the top of the stairs the woman said, “I’m sure you’re right.”

“OK, let’s pack up.

Make sure all the tools are away and wrap the light up this way.”

I put the stuff in the truck and got in the passenger seat.

How was this helpful?

On the way home, he patted me on the head.