Daily 5 - Year 3, Day 80

Today's Daily 5:

1. blueberry muffins
2. cradling a hot mug of tea in cold hands
3. safe commutes on the first snowfall of the season
4. friday night rest and relaxation
5. work ending early on a day when I definitely was having a harder time than usual coping with the challenges of this particular job situation

Daily 5 - Year 3, Day 79

I just realized that I forgot to post yesterday's Daily 5, so, here's Yesterday's Daily 5:

1. Wearing a pair of boots that I love, purchased while I was in Malta
2. picking up breakfast on my way to work
3. Quarter and Nickel candy from a convenience store
4. tears that were mostly cathartic
5. a knitting lesson, and the encouragement of friends

Quiet

I'm declaring a quiet weekend in this space, starting now.  I'll be around for the Daily 5 posts this weekend, but that's probably it.

This has been a wearing sort of week, and sleep last night was fleeting.  I had odd dreams of leeches and dogs and all sorts of other things.  A weird conglomeration, really, and morning came far too soon for comfort and rest.

Plus, it's finally snowing here.  Those of you who know me well know that I am NOT a fan of either winter or the white stuff that comes with it.

So, I'm going to take a weekend to rest.  I'm attending a conference this weekend, and recovering from a tiring couple weeks as I gear up for a very busy November.

See you Monday!

No Newness Yet

I've been revisiting an absolutely beautiful book of prayers written by Walter Bruggemann lately, and have found myself moved again by his words and driven to share some of these prayers with you. Each prayer in the book was written for an occasion (such as a class lecture - he opened classes with these beautifully written prayers).  This particular prayer caught my attention in a week where I'm celebrating an anniversary of healing, but also conscious of all the places in my own life, and in the world that still cry out for healing.  Bruggemann wrote this prayer for a class on the Psalms that he taught, and the prayer is dated January 21, 1999.

No Newness Yet

You are the God who makes all things new.
We gladly raise our voices and move our lips
to acknowledge, celebrate, and proclaim
your staggering newness.
As we do so, we hold in our hearts
deep awareness of all the places where your newness
is not visible, and
has not come.
Our hearts link to many places of wretchedness
short of your newness.
We picture our folks at home,
sick, in pain, disabled, paralyzed
(we name Frank).
and no newness yet.
We know up close the deep wretchedness
of poverty, of homelessness, of hunger
and no newness yet.
Move our hearts closer to the passion of our lips.
Move our lips closer to your own newness.
Work your newness in hidden, cunning ways among us.
Move us closer to your bodied newness in Jesus,
newness of strength come in weakness,
newness of wisdom come in foolishness.
Draw us from the wretchedness we know
to his scarred, bloody wretchedness
that is your odd entry into our life.
We pray in the sane of his suffering newness. Amen.

Daily 5 - Year 3, Day 78

Today's Daily 5:

1. Twinkle lights on the trees downtown
2. quiet time alone at lunch
3. finishing up an audiobook I was listening to
4. steak dinner with the family
5. soft bed to sink into at the end of the night