Tuesday Morning Smiles

I'm sitting here, with a cup of tea, eating a scone. I'm on the fourth day of this particular headache, and I'm having some other annoying symptoms as well. All that to say that I'm rather desperately in need of a "smile list" this morning.

So, here's my Tuesday, August 12, 2008 edition of "Things that are making me smile":

• This flower arrangement, which was a birthday gift from a dear friend.


• The lilies from aforementioned flower arrangement, which are making my bedroom smell absolutely fantastic
• passion tea
• that my ipod warranty hadn't expired (though three weeks without it while it gets repaired is a little much)
• Misty Edwards
• a certain teddy bear named Nelly
• a favorite soft blanket from ikea
• water
• plans to mail some gifts to a friend
• an evening with very little on the schedule
• that a certain troublesome colleague is still on vacation
• reminder stones resting on my desk.

Dove

Today I wore a dove around my neck. I bought a necklace at a fairtrade shop on the weekend. It was made in the Philippines. Just a simple cord, with a few beads, and a white dove, in flight, made from shell.

I needed the reminder it is for me today, and found myself fingering it often.

Peace. Doves are internationally a symbol of peace. I'm trying to find peace in a number of parts of my life again. Feeling unsettled.

But more than that, for me, a dove is the symbol of the Holy Spirit, of God descending and dwelling in us. I'm reminded of the Spirit descending "like a dove" on Jesus at his baptism. I'm reminded that God dwells with me, holds me. And these days I'm reminded too that the spirit intercedes for us with "groaning beyond words". I need that right now.

So I wore a dove today, and I'll likely wear it again tomorrow, and the day after that, for as long as it takes. I'm waiting for some things to change and I need the reminders of peace, and the presence of the Lord with me closely these days.

Catching My Attention

This blog post "Strength and Beauty"

These two posts at Naked Pastor:
"Been a While"
"Pastor's Apprentice and Spiritual Porn"

This news article on "Peacekeeper's Day" which happened August 9th.

Things Read, and Heard (Again)

Seems these last days have been full of things seen, heard and experienced... I'm not sure there's a common theme, or that I'm really yet beginning to absorb any of it, but here are some words, links, quotes, ideas, photos and thoughts that have grabbed at my heart...

"Come, take a closer walk with me." (Morgan Freeman as "God" in Bruce Almighty)

These two posts, from earlier this year, about Lent. "Lenten Resolutions" and "Lent Hurts".

"Nobody gets baptized alone." (Sara Miles, author of Take This Bread, in an article found here, titled "By Water and By Fire.)

"You have to move gradually from crying outward - crying out for people who you think can fulfill your needs - to crying inward to the place where you can let yourself be held and carried by God, who has become incarnate in the humanity of those who love you in community." (Henri Nouwen, The Inner Voice of Love)

Federal Government Marks First World War Milestone (the last 100 days)

100% Right, But Only Partly

The Singing Priests of Belfast

"It's okay for you to be whole." (words spoken by a dear friend, that are rattling around my brain, making space for themselves)

"If we do not apprehend the truths the Lord has revealed - most of which are spiritual, invisible, and inaccessible to the senses - we are technically mad, because we are out of touch with the greater part of reality." (Bert Ghezzi, The Sign of the Cross)

"When we sign ourselves we are taking up our cross and accepting whatever suffering comes our way. With that ancient gesture we are saying that we welcome suffering on God's terms. And we are subordinating our will - that would rather not endure pain - to God, just as Jesus subordinated his will to his Father when he gave himself to the cross." (Bert Ghezzi, The Sign of the Cross)

"When we make the sign of the cross we invite the Lord to join us in our suffering. We touch our forehead and move down to our breast, telling the Lord with this gesture that we want him to bend down to us. Then we cross our shoulders in a movement that asks him to support us - to shoulder us - in our suffering." (Bert Ghezzi, The Sign of the Cross)

"The new self that we received in baptism is not a finished product." (Bert Ghezzi, The Sign of the Cross)

"...real prayer penetrates to the marrow of our soul and leaves nothing untouched. The prayer of the heart is a prayer that does not allow us to limit our relationship with God to interesting words or pious emotions... the prayer of the heart challenges us to hide absolutely nothing from God and to surrender ourselves unconditionally to his mercy." (Henri Nouwen, A Restless Soul)

"I suddenly realized that no mask can make people really happy. Happiness must come from within." (Henri Nouwen, A Restless Soul)

"It is so sad that people who act out brotherhood, friendship, and intimacy live the opposite." (Henri Nouwen, A Restless Soul)

"Anything so attacked as loyal unity is attacked does need care if it is to be preserved. We need to walk humbly not only with our God but with one another, lest the enemy slip in at some unguarded gateway and poison the sweetness of our life together." (Amy Carmichael, Candles in the Dark)

I suppose that's enough for now... there are other voices... bit and pieces of scripture... prayers from a little prayer book I bought yesterday at a Catholic book shop.

I've been trying all day to get in a space quiet enough to pray, and this is the closest I can get for the moment. Thoughts and voices swirling, reflecting the cry of my heart for myself, and for those that I love deeply. And so I pray with the words of others, and the deep cries of my heart. I pray for wholeness. For peace. For a knowledge that each one of us is deeply loved, known, and held by Jesus. For ever deepening intimacy, and calling to draw others there as well. For those requests that have been spoken, and those left in the silence.

I pray this way, and I pray with actions. Cleaning - restoring order and peace where there was little. Cooking - remembering that the moments where I have seen the most unity are those spent sitting around a table, sharing a meal with friends.

This is what I can manage today, and I pray it is enough.

Busy Day

I was out and about for most of the day today.

Errands.

And fun stuff.

I did a bit of shopping.

Bought some things that are making me smile.

And saw a play at noon with a friend and her sister.

"The Complete Works of William Shakespeare: Abridged" but on by the crew at Shakespeare in the Park.

Have you ever seen this play? All of the plays of Shakespeare, performed by three cast members, in an hour. And they do Hamlet three times, fast, faster, and backwards. Absolutely hilarious, and totally worth seeing. And that's high praise coming from someone who generally doesn't enjoy Shakespeare.

Needing tomorrow to be mostly low key. My roommate and I will grocery shop. But mostly we'll rest and recharge around home. I'm hoping to read and maybe write a bit.