Another milestone

 

Someone asked me recently what my plans were for my 60th birthday. 

My response?  "I'm getting my shingles shot!" 

I don't think that was the response they were expecting,

but having watched several of my friends suffer through the shingles

and knowing that the recommended age for the shot is 60,

this is a no-brainer! I'm off to get that dang shot!

 

And yes, I do plan to do other awesome birthday type activities

which include blowing out birthday candles and 

delighting in my friends and family.

 

I am one very blessed gal!

The Prodigal Pup

Today's gospel is from Luke 15 in which Christ continues to shock both pharisees and scribes by hanging out with the less desirable members of society.  In response Jesus gives them the parable of the Prodigal Son. 

Below you will find a reprint of my blog post from three years ago.  I loved it then and I love it now.  And frankly (no pun intended), my wiener dog is the perfect prodigal prop.

"Every time I return home my dog, Lucy, goes berserk. First there's that sweet moment when she realizes that I have returned from wherever I've been. Then there is that mad dash to get to me. This can occur at a dizzying level of speed. This is followed by the jumping up on me, the piddling, the squeaking, and the frantic tail wagging. And the length of time that I'm away doesn't seem to factor in to her uber-excitement. I can be gone a week or 20 minutes. It's all the same to Lucy. And I love it for who else is so consistently overjoyed just by my walking into their range of sight?

Here's what I know about my dog. She is the spittin' image of the Father in the parable of The Prodigal Son. You know the story, boy is unhappy with his lot in life, asks dad for his inheritance, dad hands it over, boy blows it all and has to crawl back home. He is expecting to hear a litany of "I told you so's" but instead his dad acts just like my dog. Running, kissing, hugging, and I am undone by such a display of love - as I'm sure that son was. Like the Prodigal Son's Father, Lucy's mercy is neverending. I continue to learn a lot from her.

P.S. Oh yeah, and about that "put-out attitude" of the older brother. Definitely cat behavior."

psalm one

 

Psalm 1

“Blessed are the man and the woman

who have grown beyond their greed

and have put an end to their hatred

and no longer nourish illusions.

But they delight in the way things are

and keep their hearts open, day and night.

They are like trees planted near flowing rivers,

which bear fruit when they are ready.

Their leaves will not fall or wither.

Everything they do will succeed.”

translated by Stephen Mitchell

from The Enlightened Heart

p. 5

art by Frits Thaulow from here

Mary of the Sign

Today is the feast of the Immaculate Conception,

which has been celebrated as far back as the 7th century

and celebrates the conception of Mary in her mother Anne's womb.

 

As we count down the days until the birth of Christ,

let us honor Mary through this icon (and what, in an ancient yet modern way,

resembles an ultrasound of the child she carried!)

The following piece is from  the December issue of

Contemplative Outreach News

which you can read in its entirety here.

Mary of the Sign

Mary stands square to the viewer, her poised

stillness or silent constant prayer is noted in

the hands, palms extended outward in total

surrender to what has been given. Mary clutches

and yearns for nothing. In early icons Mary was

portrayed as the Burning Bush and Christ the

fire that burns within. She is represented as the

divine vessel of burning love. She knows

and loves Him even before His birth.

 

The orb containing this revelation rests within her

being, Christ surrounded in gold, symbolizing

the totality of God without image. Christ is

holding a tiny scroll, a symbol of the Scripture

being fulfilled in Him and later to be filled in

each and every one of us. Christ is our interior

teacher, guide master, and rabbi. The icon’s

theology is the link between the Jewish tradition

and the new understanding of Christ.

 

“The Lord Himself will give you a sign, behold a

young woman shall conceive and bear a child

and his name will be Emmanuel.” - Isaiah 7:14.

 

Excerpt taken from The Mary Collection 2008

by Mary Jane Miller. To see more work done by

Mary Jane Miller, go to:

http://sanmiguelicons.com/galleries.php

 

 

click here to see Mary Jane Miller's icon of Mary of the Sign.

it is stunning!

spreading grace

"God is spreading grace around in the world

like a five-year-old spreads peanut butter:

thickly, sloppily, and eagerly."

-Donna Schaper

hat tip to Jean

And may this thick grace of God be the thread that sows together

 the ragged edges of Japan's people and land

in the midst of this unspeakable tragedy.