A Christmas Circular Letter

The city had withdrawn into itself 
And left at last the country to the country; 
When between whirls of snow not come to lie 
And whirls of foliage not yet laid, there drove 
A stranger to our yard, who looked the city, 
Yet did in country fashion in that there 
He sat and waited till he drew us out 
A-buttoning coats to ask him who he was. 
He proved to be the city come again 
To look for something it had left behind 
And could not do without and keep its Christmas. 
He asked if I would sell my Christmas trees; 
My woods—the young fir balsams like a place 
Where houses all are churches and have spires. 
I hadn't thought of them as Christmas Trees. 
I doubt if I was tempted for a moment 
To sell them off their feet to go in cars 
And leave the slope behind the house all bare, 
Where the sun shines now no warmer than the moon. 
I'd hate to have them know it if I was. 
Yet more I'd hate to hold my trees except 
As others hold theirs or refuse for them, 
Beyond the time of profitable growth, 
The trial by market everything must come to. 
I dallied so much with the thought of selling. 
Then whether from mistaken courtesy 
And fear of seeming short of speech, or whether 
From hope of hearing good of what was mine, 
I said, "There aren't enough to be worth while." 

"I could soon tell how many they would cut, You let me look them over." 

                                    "You could look. 
But don't expect I'm going to let you have them." 
Pasture they spring in, some in clumps too close 
That lop each other of boughs, but not a few 
Quite solitary and having equal boughs 
All round and round. The latter he nodded "Yes" to, 
Or paused to say beneath some lovelier one, 
With a buyer's moderation, "That would do." 
I thought so too, but wasn't there to say so. 
We climbed the pasture on the south, crossed over, 
And came down on the north.
                                     He said, "A thousand." 
"A thousand Christmas trees!—at what apiece?" 

He felt some need of softening that to me:
 "A thousand trees would come to thirty dollars." 

Then I was certain I had never meant 
To let him have them. 
Never show surprise! 
But thirty dollars seemed so small beside 
The extent of pasture I should strip, three cents 
(For that was all they figured out apiece), 
Three cents so small beside the dollar friends 
I should be writing to within the hour 
Would pay in cities for good trees like those, 
Regular vestry-trees whole Sunday Schools 
Could hang enough on to pick off enough. 
A thousand Christmas trees I didn't know I had! 
Worth three cents more to give away than sell, 
As may be shown by a simple calculation. 
Too bad I couldn't lay one in a letter. 
I can't help wishing I could send you one, 
In wishing you herewith a Merry Christmas. 

Robert Frost

"And lead us..."

(A meditation on each word(s)

 of the Lord's prayer)

Luke 15:3-7

It is true

that the angels

cheer and rejoice

over the one

that the Shepherd

has returned to the fold.

However,

they are mystified

at the Master's

difficulty to

lead the 99

from the 

pastures of the past

to

fresh new meadows.

"...we forgive those who trespass against us."

(A meditation on each word(s) 

of the Lord's prayer)

The Physician

said:

"In order to stop

suffering,

you must end

this self-medication of 

bitterness,

addictions,

grudges,

habits,

and hurts."

But we respond:

"We will

really suffer!"

And He answered:

"Then healing 

can start."

So we make the decision-

Should we

consider this cure

or 

start exploring

second opinions?

"As we..."

(A meditation on each word(s) 

of the Lord's prayer)

Lord,

we're having this

nice conversation of

what You will provide

now and in the future.

And then

 unexpectedly, 

You bring 

us 

into the discussion.

"What could we do for You?"

we ask.

And after a

moment of

silence,

the Other speaks

one word:

"Love."

MANDELA'S FAVORITE POEM

Invictus
William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
      Black as the pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
      For my unconquerable soul.

In the fell clutch of circumstance
      I have not winced nor cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
      My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
      Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
      Finds and shall find me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
      How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate,
      I am the captain of my soul.

“Christmas traffic”

Three, two, one, liftoff

Signals Mission Control. And off they go.

To the dark parts of the planets

In their pressurized spacesuits,

Cocooned in technology, the astronauts.

Mission control whispers in someone’s ear.

Yes, she says, I will. And in due time

A different traveler makes a quieter journey,

Arriving hungry, naked, but true to instructions,

Docking on Earth, taking the one small step.

U. A. Fanthorpe

"And forgive us our trespasses"

(A meditation on each word(s) 

of the Lord's prayer)

As we cleanse

our temples

and rid 

ourselves of 

all the souvenirs

from the places

where we thought

we could find

unconditional love,

Lord,

please take them

away

along with our

desires for them.

And afterwards, 

 lead us

your rebellious children

in a service

of rededication.

"Give us this day! "

(A meditation on each word(s)
of the Lord's prayer)

Lord,
Give us this day
to live and share our love.

Lord,
Give us this day
to take delight in You.

Lord, 
Give us this day
to be peacemakers in this hostile world. 

Lord,
Give us this day
to be patient in this "me-first" world.

Lord,
Give us this day
to show kindness to strangers.

Lord, 
Give us this day
to value our friendships.

Lord,
At the end of this day
may we surrender all back to You
and petition You, 
our heavenly Father
to grant us one more day.

"Give us this day"

(A meditation on each word(s) 

of the Lord's prayer)

The Hand You’re Dealt

Every day

God deals us

our hand

for the day.

Some of us

fold

in resignation.

Some of us

bluff

our way 

through the day.

And the rest

play the game

the way the Master 

taught them.

"...our daily bread"

(A meditation on each word(s) 

of the Lord's prayer)

The people of the Empire

wonder why 

the God of abundance

parcels out

His Providence

in daily packages,

while 

the rest of the world

utters a 

grateful

alleluia. 

The Vast Ocean Begins Just Outside Our Church: The Eucharist

Something has happened
to the bread
and the wine.
They have been blessed.
What now?
The body leans forward
to receive the gift
from the priest’s hand,
then the chalice.

They are something else now
from what they were
before this began.

I want
to see Jesus,
maybe in the clouds
or on the shore,
just walking,
beautiful man
and clearly
someone else
besides.

On the hard days
I ask myself
if I ever will.

Also there are times
my body whispers to me
that I have.

Mary Oliver

Happiness by Carl Sandburg

I asked the professors who teach the meaning of life to tell
     me what is happiness.
And I went to famous executives who boss the work of
     thousands of men.
They all shook their heads and gave me a smile as though
     I was trying to fool with them
And then one Sunday afternoon I wandered out along
     the Desplaines river
And I saw a crowd of Hungarians under the trees with
     their women and children and a keg of beer and an
     accordion.

“On earth as it is in heaven”

(A meditation on each word(s) 

of the Lord's prayer)

Christian Nation

How will the

people of the Empire

who value

freedom

and 

individual rights

be able to

comprehend

an eternal life 

under

the singular rule 

of a 

King

and 

a world

based on

serving

community

rather than 

self-interests?

"Be done"

(A meditation on each word(s) 

of the Lord's prayer)

Why can't 

Your will

be done 

like mine?

Just

cross off

another

task from

the to do list.

Instead

Your will

is accomplished

by the faithful

doing its best

to follow 

Your path

with their crosses

in an 

eternal march

You lead.

"Thy will"

(A meditation on each word(s) 

of the Lord's prayer)

I hate clichés.

But 

where 

there

is a

will,

there

is a

way.

And

we don't need

to search for direction.

For 

You 

declared:

I AM

the 

Way.

Teaching us Your will 

by

 following You.

Lord,

may we 

fulfill Your will

by 

moving closer

to You

each day

in Word,

Work,

and Worship.

Amen.

I'll Be Your Mirror

Songwriters: Reed, Lou / Lang, David

I'll be your mirror 

Reflect what you are, in case you don't know 

I'll be the wind, the rain and the sunset 

The light on your door to show that you're home 

When you think the night has seen your mind 

That inside you're twisted and unkind 

Let me stand to show that you are blind 

Please put down your hands 

'Cause I see you 

I find it hard to believe you don't know 

The beauty that you are 

But if you don't let me be your eyes 

A hand in your darkness, so you won't be afraid 

When you think the night has seen your mind 

That inside you're twisted and unkind 

Let me stand to show that you are blind 

Please put down your hands 

'Cause I see you 

I'll be your mirror

I'll be your mirror

I'll be your mirror

Music - http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GFQWflbG4h4

"Come"

(A meditation on each word(s)

 of the Lord's prayer)

On the second Christmas,

When He comes.

Not as a baby

But as the King.

No star directing those to see Him

But He who is the Light in the darkness

Not escaping to Egypt

But reclaiming those who kept the faith.

No gifts from the wise men

But reviewing what the faithful and unfaithful

did with theirs.

On the second Christmas,

When He comes.

“Thy Kingdom”

(A meditation on each word(s) 

of the Lord's prayer)

I agree.

This is Your kingdom.

Where Your Presence

permeates the

place like

a mustard tree

annihilates a

garden

or the 

yeast that goes

throughout the 

loaf.

A kingdom that

has a declaration

that every ruler

has dreamed of -

A kingdom that will

never end.

A kingdom

whose citizens are

the ones 

who found the pearl

and knew its

true value.

The ones who 

kept their hand

on the plow

without looking back

Where

good thieves

tax collectors

prostitutes

the childlike

are allowed in.

While the rich 

desperately hope 

for their

advocates

to show up.

My entry for the Worst Christian Book Cover 2013 contest

Genesis (Japan)

To see the other entries go here.

"Thy name"

(a meditation on each word(s) 

of the Lord's prayer)

Your Name

which signifies omnipresence

in a land that

stares into 

its self-absorbed screens.

Your Name

which signifies omnipotence

in a land that 

fights over 

scraps of power.

Your Name

which signifies omniscience

in a land that

hung Truth

on a cross.

The Bird With the Human Head

~ Anne Sexton

I went to the bird

with the human head,

and asked,

"Please Sir,

where is God?"

"God is too busy

to be here on earth,

His angels are like one thousand geese assembled

and always flapping.

But I can tell you where the well of God is."

"Is it on earth?"

I asked.

He replied,

"Yes. It was dragged down

from paradise by one of the geese."

I walked many days,

past witches that eat grandmothers knitting booties

as if they were collecting a debt.

Then, in the middle of the desert

I found the well,

it bubbled up and down like a litter of cats

and there was water,

and I drank,

and there was water,

and I drank.

Then the well spoke to me.

It said:  "Abundance is scooped from abundance,

yet abundance remains."

Then I knew.

Irish Folk Tale

Once there was a poor and generous old man from Ballaghaderreen who has a dream.  In it he is told to make a journey at the end of which he will find a pot of gold.  In this case the old man has to leave Balla and travel a good way to Dublin and there, when he crosses one of the bridges over the River Liffy, he will find a pub, and there he will find his treasure.  

The old man follows the dream map and when he sees the pub that was in his dream he looks around but there's no place he can dig for a hidden treasure, so he stands beside the door and waits.  He waits all day and at nightfall the publican comes out and asks,
"What are you standing here for all day long?"

"I had a dream that told me to come here."

"A dream?  I think you must be a daft old man to follow dreams.  I, myself, had a dream a month ago and it told me to go to some poor old sod's cottage on the crossroads from French Park to Ballaghaderreen and if I did, I would find a pot of gold in his front yard.  Do you think I would go traipsing all over the countryside because of a dream?  It's cold.  You should go home."

"Indeed I should and will," said the old man.

And when he got home he dug in his front yard and found the treasure and wasn't he himself and all the others the better for it.  

And if he hasn't given it all away we might share a bit with them.

The Radical Priest on Luke 18:1-8

(Parable of the Persistent Widow)

Now most of 
my brethren
will preach
that the lesson of
the text is
to be persistent in prayer.
To pray unceasingly 
as St. Paul puts it.

However,
the problem I
have with this
message is
by extension
the unjust judge
is God.

Whom we
can badger
anything out of
Him 
if we are  
relentless in
our petitions.

Allow me
to turn the tables
on this parable.

God is the
widow.

Constantly 
pleading 
to the point of 
being pushy
to get us
to see His way
is the best way.

And I can see
by the look in
some of your eyes
you sense
the implications
of this.

WE ARE THE UNJUST JUDGE!

Do we
don't care
what God thinks?

Do we 
ignore
what God is pleading with
us about?

Do we worry
about 
God upsetting 
our apple cart
or worse?

(Aside: I never before noticed 
in the  text
that judge was afraid
of physical harm 
by his continual
rejecting of her claims.)

So the 
message I have for 
you this
Sabbath 
is this:
Yes,
be faithful in prayer.
Pray in the Spirit.
Pray in love and truth
and unceasingly.

But also
listen to
and contemplate
on the Father's
continual
prayers for you.

Buddha on Matthew 6:25-34

An old farmer went to the Buddha 

seeking help for his problems. 

First, he had professional problems. 

In his part of the world, 

farming was extremely difficult 

and his work completely vulnerable to weather. 

Even though he loved his wife, 

there were certain things 

about her he wanted to change. 

Similarly, he loved his children, 

but they weren’t evolving 

the way he had hoped and anticipated. 

Listening carefully

as the man explained his frustrations with life, 

the Buddha responded, 

“I’m sorry, but I can’t help you.”

“What do you mean?” 

questioned the farmer. 

“You’re a highly regarded great teacher 

who has insight into all of life’s problems.”

“All human beings have eighty-three problems,” 

the Buddha explained. 

“A few problems may go away, 

but soon enough others will arise. 

So we’ll always have eighty-three problems.”

The farmer, both indignant and frustrated, asked, 

“So what good is all of your teaching?”

To which the Buddha replied, 

“My teaching can’t help with the eighty-three problems, 

but perhaps it can help with the eighty-fourth problem.”

“What’s that?” the farmer asked with great curiosity.

“The eighty-fourth problem is that 

we don’t want to have any problems.”

“Hallowed be”

(a meditation on each word(s) 
of the Lord's prayer)

I

"Honor Me with their lips"

Lord,

when I'm in a

church 

that is in 

more awe 

of the preacher

than You,

I believe 

I hear them

pray:

“...hollowed be thy Name”

II

The Beauty of His Holiness

You are 

holy.

Compassionate before a person sins,

Compassionate after a person has sinned,

and

mighty in compassion 

to give all creatures according to their need.

Merciful, that humankind may not be distressed;

Gracious if humankind is already in distress.

You are

slow to anger;

plenteous in mercy;

speaking in truth;

keeping mercy unto thousands;

forgiving

iniquity;

transgression;

and sin;

and pardoning

because

You are 

holy.

Adapted from Shelosh-'Esreh Middot

"in Heaven"

(a meditation on each word(s) of the Lord's prayer)

Your eternal address.

You

once sublet

the place

to that

nice couple

You created.

Unfortunately,

 You had to 

evict them

because they

broke

the 

Lease.

And for 

a long time

you let 

the place go vacant.

Then

You decided

to 

advertise

Kingdom Properties.

First

the prophets.

Then

Your Son.

Telling

all who 

would listen

about

the new terms

of the Lease. 1

And revealing to people 

the new name of the estate --

Graceland.

Note 1  - John 1:17

"Who Art"

(a meditation on each word(s) of the Lord's prayer)

I

A Mystery.

All

of the modern 

versions of

the Book

have dropped 

this line,

so why

do we pray

as if 

Jesus

proclaimed

the Good News

in 

Old English? 

II

Jehovah-Shammah

"You are"

Jesus insists.

No ancestor 

worship

of

Abraham,

Isaac,

and Jacob.

You 

are

the God

of the living.

You are 

Presence.

Jehovah-Shammah

Benediction

Rabindranath Tagore

Bless this little heart, 

this white soul that has won the kiss of

heaven for our earth.

He loves the light of the sun, 

he loves the sight of his

mother's face.

He has not learned to despise the dust, 

and to hanker after gold.

Clasp him to your heart and bless him.

He has come into this land of an hundred cross-roads.

I know not how he chose you from the crowd, came to your door,

and grasped your hand to ask his way.

He will follow you, laughing while talking, 

and not a doubt in his heart.

Keep his trust, lead him straight and bless him.

Lay your hand on his head, and pray that though the waves

underneath grow threatening, yet the breath from above may come 

and fill his sails and waft him to the heaven of peace.

Forget him not in your hurry, 

let him come to your heart and

bless him. 

Our

(meditation on each word(s) of the Lord's prayer)

You made us.

I can understand

why You call us 

Yours.

But it’s only through

Your gift of 

grace

that we can begin

in prayer with 

“Our”

Father

(meditation on each word(s) of the Lord's prayer)

You love us

unconditionally.

You desire 

relationship.

Yet,

You allow us to wander

away.

No Amber alert.

No pictures on a milk carton.

Just

the confidence

that Your children will

 repent their sins

and understand

there is no place like Home.

Meal Blessing

(From a prayer book)

Blessed are you, Father

who gives us

our daily bread.

Blessed is your only begotten Son,

who continually feeds us

with the word of life.

Blessed is the Holy Spirit,

who brings us together

at this table of love.

Blessed be God

now and forever.

Amen.

Avarice and Usury and Precaution

When the accumulation of wealth

 is no longer of high social importance, 

there will be great changes in the code of morals. 

We shall be able to rid ourselves

 of many of the pseudo-moral principles

 which have hag-ridden us for two hundred years, 

by which we have exalted

 some of the most distasteful of human qualities

 into the position of the highest virtues. 

We shall be able to afford

 to dare to assess the money-motive

 at its true value. 

The love of money as a possession — 

as distinguished from the love of money

 as a means to the enjoyments and realities of life — 

will be recognized for what it is, 

a somewhat disgusting morbidity, 

one of those semi-criminal, 

semi-pathological propensities 

which one hands over with a shudder

 to the specialists in mental disease.

 But beware! 

The time for all this is not yet. 

For at least another hundred years

 we must pretend to ourselves

 and to everyone

 that fair is foul

 and foul is fair; 

for foul is useful and fair is not. 

Avarice and usury and precaution

 must be our gods for a little longer still. 

For only they can lead us out of the tunnel of economic necessity into daylight.

John Maynard Keynes (1931)

The Radical Priest on Luke 16:19-31

Luke 16:19-31

Sometimes,

when I think of the afterlife

the question I have is:

“Will it be much different than now?”

(In other words: on earth as it is heaven (really?))

Consider this as

we read this parable of the

one percenter.

Does his world view change

with fires of Hades

lapping him?

To start, he still treats

those in power 

with respect.

(Father Abraham)

And as usual,

 the conversation

of the powerful turns to 

how the 99ers can do their will.

(Send Lazarus to cool my tongue)

Next, there we hear

of a chasm.

Except the tables are turned.

The earthly who 

amassed and stockpiled

the gains of the economy

and separated themselves

from the rest of society

now live in a gated community

that eternally faces an abyss.

(A physical and spiritual one)

And the last aspect of

this parable is the benefit

of those who have

power and influence:

inside information.

He pleads with

Father Abraham

to let his family know

to tell them 

his story 

of Breaking Bad

by sending Lazarus.

And Abraham 

tells him,

“They just need to listen

to Moses and the Prophets.

They told the truth."

And the Patriarch concludes:

"Anyway, remember 

where you came from!

Do you really think 

Lazarus would be able to

ring your door bell?"