"O taste and see that the Lord is good; happy are those who take refuge in him. O fear the Lord, you his holy ones for those who fear him have no want." (Psalm 34:8-9 NRSV) I love this evening's psalms, especially 34.  To begin with "I will bless the Lord at all times; his... Continue Reading →

We arrive this morning at one of my favorite psalms, 31.  I have loved the language of the version from the Book of Common Prayer for so long:  In you, O Lord, have I taken refuge.  Let me never be put to shame...." Beautiful language that is grounded in the reality of life.  The later... Continue Reading →

I'm posting early this morning the reflection from last night.... An amazing glimpse at Psalm 27 (NRSV) Thinking about prayer and how we understand prayer...what prayer "is" and what it "does."  I thought back to the curriculum meeting we had with the youth leaders, looking toward the arrival of our new Associate for Youth and... Continue Reading →

This morning's time on the patio garden opened up to a reflection on salvation...on wholeness, that reality which lies at the heart of Biblical/Judeo-Christian understandings of salvation.  The monastics and mystics still know this, but it seems that "salvation" has been co-opted.  To ask someone if they "are saved" now means (for certain schools of... Continue Reading →

This evenings finds me with two beautiful psalms:  22 and 23.  I don't know why it hasn't really dawned on me the power in placing these two rich, evocative texts alongside each other.  Psalm 22 with it's Good Friday shadows: "My God, my God, why have your forsaken me" with "The Lord is my shepherd...even... Continue Reading →

Last evening I didn't have a chance to post, but we shared an amazing Lectio together at our vestry meeting.  Looking at the first few verses of Psalm 18, God as rock...space of protection... and Nan Merrill's rich imagery of "I abandon myself to You, O Living Presence."  This image struck many of us.... And,... Continue Reading →

Again, this rich language of "taking refuge" in God.  Marvelous dialogue between Christian practice and Buddhist practice, looking at how we understand our life of faith.  We are well beyond "mere" rational understanding when we ask the question posed in Psalm 15 (NRSV):  "O Lord, who may abide in your tent?  Who may dwell on... Continue Reading →

Today, Grace Church celebrated the Feast of the Ascension....this amazing and absolutely crucial feast in the church's life and practice.  I think the Orthodox describe it--imagine it best:  that in the Incarnation, Divinity was brought into humanity in Jesus Christ.  And, that, in the Ascension, Jesus' glorified humanity was brought into the Divine reality.  I... Continue Reading →

From this morning's Psalms....challenging: Psalm 10 (NRSV):  "Why, O Lord, do you stand far off?  Why do you hide yourself in times of trouble?" And then, in 11, we have this wonderful image: "In the Lord I take refuge...." (Ah, the richness of Buddhist perspectives here on "taking refuge," on not having our religious practice... Continue Reading →

After I went on my evening walk around the neighborhood, noticing the birds swooping and even the poor dried worms on the sidewalk...a part of creation.  Listening to a podcast with Rabbi Lawrence Kushner, reflecting on Kabbala...on the "isness" of things and the privilege of being a piece, a slice, a drop, of the isness.... Continue Reading →