do not let your love be a pretense.

this says everything. i have no words to add. but an amen.
and a so be it.

A reading from the letter of Paul to the Romans:
(Romans 12:9-16)

Do not let your love be a pretense, but sincerely prefer good to evil. Love each other as much as sisters and brothers should, and have a profound respect for each other. Work for the Lord with untiring effort and with great earnestness of spirit. If you have hope, this will make you cheerful. Do not give up if trials come; and keep on praying. If any of the saints are in need you must share with them; and you should make hospitality your special care.

Bless those who persecute you: never curse them, bless them. Rejoice with those who rejoice and be sad with those in sorrow. Treat everyone with equal kindness; never be condescending but make real friends with the poor. Do not allow yourself to become self-satisfied.

all saints day.

remembering those who have gone before.
a great cloud of witnesses.

Grant us during our pilgrimage to abide in their fellowship,
and to become partakers of their joy.

taizé day in stuggart.

on 10 october, we took the baden-württemberg regional ticket (up to five travelers covered for € 28!) up to stuttgart for:

Prayer and meeting in Stuttgart:
The communion of the Church: going towards one another

we joined our voices with fellow brothers and sisters who had also made the pilgrimage for this gathering. the article linked above highlights all of the youth that came, but i really saw all ages present. making our song one. a beautiful picture of the Church in deutschland.

this prayer (from the most recent taizé newsletter) is being echoed by brothers and sisters on all continents. may we join too. in both word and deed:

Christ Jesus, seeking to follow you, we understand that you call us to forgive, again and again. And faithfulness to your Gospel can kindle in us such a passion for forgiveness.

wisdom.

i've loved this song for about six years now. which is some time to let it really settle in and take root in my prayers. it speaks time and time again. i'm reading about wisdom again these days. with a proverb a day. also soaking-in some nouwen [here and now: living in the spirit] to accompany this song. grateful for reflection. and grateful for the pursuit. of making wisdom the first step and the last thought when the day's done.

Humble yourself before the Almighty
That’s where you find true wisdom
Make it your first step, make it your last thought
Lying in bed when the day’s done

Hear it calling out your name
In the busy streets, in the center of town
Who will turn their face to truth and then live it out

Wisdom is greater than any fleeting
Pleasure that money brings you
Answers will come to those who pursue
The pathway to life that few choose

Hear it calling out your name
In the busy streets, in the center of town
Who will turn their face to truth and then live it out

Knowledge awaits you filling your arms
With more than they ever could grasp
Blessed are you who hunger for truth
And keep your eyes fixed on what lasts

Hear it calling out your name
In the busy streets, in the center of town
Who will turn their face to truth and then live it out

a time to love.

i think we could all benefit from takin' a look
at the times which presently surround us.
the u.s. news is chalk-full of stories about
so.much.name-calling.and.bickering.
and.finger-pointing.and.blame-gaming.
just all-around negativity goin' down.
my daily podcast reel (thank you AC360)
continues to show how divided people are.
on all fronts. on all issues. on all 'isms'.

but stevie is here to remind us (& ms. india.arie backs him up)
what time it really is.
please read. and ponder. and act.
let's.act.in.love.
it's the time.

We have time for racism
We have time for criticism
Held bondage by our ism's
When will there be a time to love

We make time to debate religion
Passing bills and building prisons
For building fortunes and passing judgments
When will there be a time to love

At this point in history we have a choice to make
To either walk a path of love
Or be crippled by our hate

We have time to cause pollution
We have time to cause confusion
All wrapped up in our own illusions
When will there be a time to love

We make time to conquer nations
Time for oil exploration
Hatred, violence and terrorism
When will there be a time to love

At this moment in time
We have a choice to make
Father God is watching
While we cause mother earth so much pain
It's such a shame

Not enough money for
The young, the old and the poor
But for war there is always more
When will there be a time to love

We make time for paying taxes
Or paying bills and buying status
But we will pay the consequences
If we don't make the time to love

Now's the time to pay attention
Yes now is the time... to Love...
A time to Love... Love...
A time to Love
Please, please won't you tell me
When will there be a time to Love...

-- Stevie Wonder, "A Time To Love"

always learning this one.

less.
really.
is.
more.

and.that.is.easier.said.than.done.
but.i'm.still.trying.

.reflecting on six months' time.

'my heart is just getting used to the idea of mercy...'

-- aaron strumpel

'Thy mercy my God is the theme of my song
the joy of my heart, and the boast of my tongue
Thy free grace alone, from the first to the last
hath won my affection and bound my soul fast...'

... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ... ...

'Thy mercy is more than a match for my heart,
which wonders to feel its own hardness depart
dissolved by Thy goodness, i fall to the ground
and weep for the praise of the mercy i've found...'

-- john stocker (published in 1776)

'i do not at all understand the mystery of grace -
only that it meets us where we are but
does not leave us where it found us.'

-- anne lamott (from traveling mercies)

stay bewildered

Stay bewildered in God and only that.
Those of you who are scattered,
simplify your worrying lives.
There is one righteousness.
Water the fruit trees and
don't water the thorns.
Be generous to what nurtures the spirit and
God's luminous reason-light.
Don't honor what causes dysentery and
knotted-up tumors.
Don't feed both sides of yourself equally.
The spirit and the body carry
different loads and
require different attentions.

-- Rumi

The Ecstatic Faith of Rumi
Krista Tippet's interview with Fatemeh Keshavarz

Yesterday, I entered into one of my favorite Sabbath rhythms. When I'm not traveling or out of town on the weekends, I love listening or even re-listening to my favorite Speaking of Faith sessions. Sometimes I read along with the transcript of the program, sometimes I sit still, sometimes I cut vegetables, and sometimes I think about how much I miss my art supplies, namely mod-podge and paint. I like being able use my hands while I soak up good words. But I try to listen, and I try to reflect... as well as learn how to stay bewildered.

you can't do it all alone

don't push so hard against the world, no,
you can't do it all alone
and if you could, would you really want to?
even though you're a big strong girl,
come on, come on, lay it down
the best made plans
come on, come on, lay it down
are your open hands
are your open hands

-- deb talan

hands open to the world

“Prayer is first and foremost listening.... People who pray stand with their hands open to the world. They know that God will show [God's self] in the nature that surrounds them, in the people they meet, in the situations they run into. They trust that the world holds God’s secret within it, and they expect that secret to be shown to them.”

-- Henri Nouwen

-- (Show Me the Way: Daily Lenten Readings, "Prayer", p. 34-35)

••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

As we pray...
we stand with our hands open to the world.
Trusting that You will show Yourself
in the nature that surrounds us,
in the people that we meet,
and in the situations we encounter.

We come with the expectation
to hear from You, and
we come with the desire
to be shaped in this season.
Help us to listen to Your voice
in new ways today and
throughout this season of Lent.

It is through You that
we learn to listen with
hands open to the world.

And it is through the One who
was tempted in the wilderness for 40 days,
the One who remained faithful to You,
the One whose life, death, and resurrection
marks this Lenten journey towards the cross,
...it is in this name, Jesus Christ, that we pray.

amen.

go before us...

walk among us,

surprising God of Peace.

go before us

that we might encounter You in our travels.

sanctify our joys

and our sorrows;

turn our hearts to You.

at the name of Jesus,

we bow before You.

may Your name

be glorified

in and through

Your people,

now, and always.

amen.