Monthly Archives: May 2007

May 16, 2007 · 2:54 pm

On Prayer

A quote from Julian of Norwich on prayer:

…often our trust is not complete, for we are not certain that almighty God hears us, because of our unworthiness, it seems to us, and because we are feeling nothing at all; for often we are as barren and dry after our prayers as we were before.  And thuswhen we feel so, it is our folly which is the cause of our weakness, for I have experienced this in myself. And our Lord brought all this suddenly to my mind, and gave me great strength and vitality to combat this kind of weakness in praying, and said: I am the fountain of your beseeching.  First, it is my will that you should have it, and then I make you to wish it, and then I make you beseech it.  And if you beseech, how could it be that you would not have what you beseech? 

…But God’s love is so great that he regards us as partners in his good work; and so he moves us to pray for what it pleases him to do, for whatever prayer or good desire comes to us by his gift he will repay us for, and give us eternal reward.

From Julian of Norwich, Showings,  Short text, Chapter XIX

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May 15, 2007 · 10:30 pm

Another item checked off

Sometimes my list of things I must do gets so long that it seems as if the end – well – I will never get there.  Problem is that as I check one more thing off the list, another seems to get added on to the other end.

Gotta find a way to stop that.

But that would mean saying "no" to a whole lot of things I still want to do.  And you know, there are only so many years left to work away at the list.

Last night I completed the paper and other requirements for the course I’m taking and sent them off via e-mail to the instructor.  She let me know that she got them today. 

So another step towards becoming a spiritual director is taken. 

I guess the paper, as much as I fret over getting it just right, is only a small part of the work involved.  The real work is takng place inside of me.  And this work will never be measured by a certificate achieved or passing grades.  The changes are mostly on the inside.  I want the changes to be profound and significant.  Mostly they are little and invisible.  But there are subtle changes God is working in me and I want to keep at it.  Even without a course, I don’t think I could trun back now. 

Next little project – stories for The Companion

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May 14, 2007 · 9:14 pm

Avon Calling

You know when a guy is super comfortable with his identity – when he agrees to deliver his wife’s Avon orders to our office! 

The girls in the office tried to pry some advice out of him.  They were just wondering which makeup shades suited them best.  They thought the Avon guy should know these things.

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May 13, 2007 · 5:54 pm

That was pretty cool!

Today the PA Strings played with the Saskatoon Symphony.

I didn’t realize how stressed I was about it till we got there and had to warm up with them.  Threee guys on big basses who are good.  And then us.  I guess I am the only real newcomer – first year person but these guys playing next to us were so good. 

It was quite the experience for Mother’s Day.  Can’t say I’ve ever had a Mother’s Day quite like it.

Now that it is over, I’m starved.  Good thing we are going out for supper.

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May 12, 2007 · 8:02 pm

For Mother's Day

Mama             by Edwina Gateley

I did not know
how fiercely
a child could squeeze and loose
my heart.
I did not know
how deeply
his sudden, momentary absence
could chill my guts.
And I did not truly know
the passion
of God’s love
for me
until a child slipped
into my life
and called me "mama."

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May 11, 2007 · 2:53 pm

The "Tag" continues

Today the courier company actually returned my calls about me sink.  The poor sink.  They were sure that somehow we had not wanted to pay the UPS fee and were about to return MY SINK! 

We caught it in time. 

So, Monday or Tuesday it is to be delivered to Sand and Stone in Saskatoon.

We await the actual delivery.  With fear and trepidation.  I din’t know how difficult a delivery could be. 

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May 10, 2007 · 4:10 pm

Frustration

Frustration is —- trying to track down a sink on some courier truck.  They are trying to deliver it to us and we are not home. 

We know we will not be home so leave instructions to deliver it to my office.

Nothing happens.

Said sink is supposed to be delivered to the countertop people tomorrow for templating. 

I wonder when I will find the sink??????

It’s like phone tag but worse.

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May 9, 2007 · 10:46 am

From Henri Nouwen – Can You Drink The Cup?

Todays meditation from Henri Nouwen is

The Cup of Life
When the mother of James and John asks Jesus to give her sons a special place in his Kingdom, Jesus responds, "Can you drink the cup that I am going to drink?" (Matthew 20:22). "Can we drink the cup?" is the most challenging and radical question we can ask ourselves. The cup is the cup of life, full of sorrows and joys. Can we hold our cups and claim them as our own? Can we lift our cups to offer blessings to others, and can we drink our cups to the bottom as cups that bring us salvation?

Keeping this question alive in us is one of the most demanding spiritual exercises we can practice.

I recall reading this passage in Nouwen’s book Can You Drink The Cup?  and being profoundly moved by this thought, "The cup is the cup of life, full of sorrows and joys. Can we hold our cups and claim them as our own? Can we lift our cups to offer blessings to others, and can we drink our cups to the bottom as cups that bring us salvation?"

 

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May 8, 2007 · 10:14 pm

There is movement here

Well, maybe not movement as such, but progress anyway.  Something that shows. 

The base cabinets went in today and my sink arrived – or at least will be delivered to my office tomorrow.  No one was home today when the delivery guy came by. 

Then the countertop guy comes up to draw the templates for the counters.  Then a wait again.  About three weeks to fabricate the counters and finish off the rest of the cabinets and the floors. 

 

I am tired of trying to live out of this mess – even if it will be worth it in the end. 

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May 7, 2007 · 9:49 pm

Back at it

I took my bike out for one of the first times this year on the weekend.  Saturday and Sunday were just too nice to stay inside.  So between setting up for our concert and the concert in the evening, I took a half hour ride down by the river. 

Today I rode to work again for the first time.  I haven’t done any hills yet but riding home agianst a 60 K wind should count for some exercise! 

I need to get into better shape again.  Our winters are too long and dark – bad for the body.

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