Lyrics...

Was listening to Steve Bell's album of Bruce Cockburn covers the other day, and was caught by the last verse of the song "Pacing the Cage."

Sometimes the best map will not guide you
You can't see what's round the bend
Sometimes the road leads through dark places
Sometimes the darkness is your friend
Today these eyes scan bleached-out land
For the coming of the outbound stage
Pacing the cage
Pacing the cage

My friend Andrea played a song for me after a coffee date one night about a month or so ago... the lyrics caught me, reminded me of a person I used to know, one I'd bumped into that night... I've listened to the song a few times again these last few days (it was on the mix cd she gave me on the weekend...) the lyrics are still catching me, reminding me of so many broken young women I've been or continue to be involved with...

i see her wander around, princess without her crown, stumblin' and fallin' down beneath her burden. she's floating through our town, bride without her gown, passin' her heart around to numb the hurting.

she's scared of coming home, she's been so long alone, she's stat upon her throne, until it crumbled, now she's got to choose, she's nothing left to lose, she's battered and she's bruised and feeling humbled as saying her prayers to no-one.

who is her brother, who is her keeper? where is her lover, can anyone reach her? cup of cold water, in the name of the Father, sending a letter to the prodigal daughter.

now where is love everyone, for all the one's who mourn, for those who suffer scorn and have no father. maybe to bless not curse, maybe the last not first, maybe the ones who thirst, will find the water.

her lover sees inside, He sees with lovers eyes, He sees a radiant bride, with passion burning. everything's upside down, her rags become her gown, her scars become her crown with no returning and i sing my song to you baby!

who is her brother, who is her keeper? where is her lover, can anyone reach her? a cup of cold water, in the name of the Father, sending a letter to the prodigal daughter.

By: Andrew Smith

Pause

It's 4:00. My work day ends at 4:30. I'll be glad when another day is over.

I'm pausing, just for a moment.

Eating a mandarin orange.

Stretching my neck.

Filling my water bottle.

Listening to a song off a mix cd my friend Andrea gave to me on Sunday night.

Thinking about the fact that in less than two hours I'm sitting down to turkey dinner. My mom is making turkey, and invited my roommate and I to join my parents and some guests to consume said turkey. Not my all-time favorite meal by any stretch, but I'm grateful to not have to cook for myself tonight.

Okay, end of pause.

See ya later!

Having Reverence and Respect for the Body - Henri Nouwen

Another great reflection from Henri Nouwen today...

Having Reverence and Respect for the Body

In so many ways we use and abuse our bodies. Jesus' coming to us in the body and his being lifted with his body in the glory of God call us to treat our bodies and the bodies of others with great reverence and respect.

God, through Jesus, has made our bodies sacred places where God has chosen to dwell. Our faith in the resurrection of the body, therefore, calls us to care for our own and one another's bodies with love. When we bind one another's wounds and work for the healing of one another's bodies, we witness to the sacredness of the human body, a body destined for eternal life.