April 19

Hafiz’s phrase ~ ‘Lovers of the Dawn’ ~ makes my soul smile this morning, reminding me of the love and patience and expectancy necessary in spiritual practices.

2020

My son Paul is preaching a series on the stained glass windows at the church he serves, Granite Falls Lutheran. He’s taking the camera right up close to the art and letting it also preach, noting questions it stirs in him. Today he encouraged parents watching to actually mute him so they could listen to what their children had to say about what they were seeing.

The first window was the creation story.

I really enjoyed the connection with my morning meditation:
“Hope… is a light-force… which directs creative evolution…” -Valentin Tomberg

Isaiah 55:10-11:
For as the rain and the snow come down from heaven,
and do not return there until they have watered the earth,
making it bring forth and sprout,
giving seed to the sower and bread to the eater,
so shall my word that goes out from my mouth;
it shall not return to me empty,
but it shall accomplish that which I purpose,
and succeed in the thing for which I sent it.”

2019

“Love seeks out the tears of hidden hearts
And turns not from the Lovers of the Dawn.
Is there a remedy for the pain of love?
Or is it too unbearable for thought?

One taste of the medicine
And you will realize just how sick you have been.
Those who plead in the defense of love
In love’s judgment shall find grace
And to that court, Hafiz
May your heart fly…”

‘Wings of Love’
—Hafiz

“…what is it to realize that there is an endless source of love at the very root of who we are?” —Alana Levandoski

“God protects us from nothing, but unexplainably sustains us in all things.” —James Finley

2018

Are you at the edge of your potential?

Resurrection beckons us there.

I am reminded of one of the concepts that sunk deeply in my soul while journaling Mary Oliver’s “Upstream” … Flow takes us over the edge.

2017

This morning I’ve been pondering the smallness and the power of a seed. For those of you who have seen Sarah Jane’s current work, Mere Objects: Participatory Art Honoring Survivors of Sexual Violence, you can vouch for the wonder experienced with each Portrait of a Survivor. I’ve been with people seeing this project for the first time in person… and they all have been mesmerized by the smallness of the pieces.

I heard someone say once that small connects… what a beautiful truth. If you’re not familiar with Sarah Jane’s project, I invite you to take a look.