Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Gratitude

My gratitude stirs me on

You made me O Lord

In thine image I am

You hunt me - O Lord
 like the fox hunts its prey

I hide -
 but you find me in the shadow.

I am yours O Lord
 you know it
 I know it
 the forest knows it
 the atoms know it

till I rest in your embrace
 I will hide and you will seek
 and that's the way it is.

Saturday, July 27, 2013

Mary and Elizabeth

Mary and Elizabeth were cousins.
The young and the old.
They shared one thing in common
  To each a child was to be born.

Mary visited Elizabeth.

Oh, what they might have said
on that fateful day.

One can only imagine.

The babe in Elizabeth's belly heard Mary's voice
and in an instant knew the Christ child was near..
A stirring was felt in Elizabeth's womb
and her babe lept with  joy.

For the time being now the two Jesus and John
  traveled in the waters of their mother's womb

One day they would meet in the waters
  of the Jordan

And John would baptize Jesus
 and their Heavenly Father would be proud.
 

Gratitude

I said I wasn't coming back
but I am having too good a time
not to revisit.


Psalm 35 (Cont'd.)

THE PSALMIST PRAYS:

Let them not rejoice over me who are
  wrongfully my enemies;
Nor let them wink with the eye who hate
  me without cause.
For they do not speak peace,
But they devise deceitful matters
Against the quiet ones in the land.
They also opened their mouth wide
  against me.
And said, "Aha, aha!
Our eyes have seen it."

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

Lord show them no mercy, those who
 gloat over me - they are my enemies;
Nor let them mock me with the eye
 that would cast hardened looks my way.
For they have no joy - only hate.
They stir up problems in the family
They use their mouths to form words of deceit
  against me.
And wag their tongues ever against me
  saying vile things are indeed true.

THE PSALMIST PRAYS:
This You have seen, O Lord;
Do not keep silence.
O Lord, do not be far from me.
Stir up Yourself, and awake to my
  vindication.
To my cause, my God and my Lord.
Vindicate me, O Lord my God, according
  to your righteousness;
And let them not rejoice over me.
Let them not say in their hearts, "Ah, so
  we would have it!"
Let them not say, "We have swallowed him up."

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:
You have eyes to see, O Lord;
Let your being stir.
O Lord I know you are aware.
Awaken and come to my aid.
Be my trumpet and sword.
Slay the wrongdoer.
Let them know what it is
 to awaken your wrath.
You are the protector of the wronged.
Let them not think, "We have obliterated him."

THE PSALMIST PRAYS:
Let them be ashamed and be brought to
  mutual confusion
Who rejoice at my hurt;
Let them be clothed with shame and
 dishonor
Who exalt themselves against me.

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:
Let them be cowered and be brought to
  mental disdain
Those who would rejoice at my troubles;
Let them see what it is like to invoke your ire
Strike them from their horse
Let them wallow in the mud.
Those who laugh at me -
 let them know at last the pain in their own bones

I pray let them see O'Lord.
Let them know beauty
Let them know kindness.
Ever in your debt O'Lord.
Ever in your mind.

THE PSALMIST PRAYS:
Let them shout for joy and be glad,
Who favor my righteous cause;
And let them say continually,
"Let the Lord be magnified.
Who has pleasure in the prosperity of His
 servant."
And my tongue shall speak of Your
 righteousness
And of Your praise all the day long.

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:
Let them exclaim with good tidings,
 Who are for me;
Let them raise their voices continuously
 "That you O'Lord be praised on end
Who has riches and kindness on end."
And my voice shall ever be raised in praise
 of Your righteousness
And of Your glory all the day long.

Where no Man shall boldly go.

Where no Man shall boldly go.

Of my own doing I couldn't go there.

I go from room to room -
 some might say I was roaming -

I take a few steps -
 stop -
my senses are aware
 I tentatively listen.

My back is straight
 hands paused in flight
fingers to lips
 quiet they say.

I hear you O Lord
My mind muffled now
A heavy curtain pulled on thought.

Stillness.

There is a ripple
I know this stirring

Eyes wide open
My breathing diminishes

I have arrived.

Longing has occurred
Desire has been met
We are enchanted you and I
For eons it has been this way.
and for now it is enough.

Humanity will have its way.
The Divine waits.  














Who do you say that I am?

Who do you say that I am, Doris?
You are Yahweh - the Holy One.
Who do you say that I am, Doris?
You are sweetness - My Lord.
Who do you say that I am, Doris?
You are Master - My Lord.
Who do you say that I am, Doris?
You are Jesus, second person, Son of the Living God.
Who do you say that I am, Doris?
You are the Beloved.
Soul of my soul.
Spirit of my spirit.
Blood of my blood.
My sinew and bone.
You are my Life, My love, My Beloved, My Betrothed, My Desire, My Allure.

You are me and I am you.

allured

You desired me O'Lord
 You allured me O'Lord

  I wept
  I am yours.


Monday, July 22, 2013

Song of Songs

O God I know you love me.

Your life force is boundless and unending

It reaches down to me

Pulls me in like quicksand

I wiggle and pulsate
I lose my breath

Your calmness soothes me.
Your tenderness warms me.

In an instant our love is shared.

O God you know I care for you
and it is my life's work to show my love
for you.

You love me
and
I love you.

Psalm 35 (Cont'd.)

PSALMIST PRAYS:

Ruthless witnesses come forward;
   they question me on things I know nothing about.
They repay me evil for good
   and leave my soul forlorn.

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

Mean spirited people cast aspersions my way;
   they say things to do me harm.
They are full of fear and dislike
   and leave my spirit heavy in heart.

PSALMIST PRAYS:

Yet when they were ill, I put on sackcloth
  and humbled myself with fasting.
When my prayers returned to me unanswered,
I went about mourning
  as though for my friend or brother
I bowed my head in grief
  as though weeping for my mother.

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

Yet when they were in need, I found a way
  to lessen their burden.
When my prayers fell on deaf ears,
 I was anxious and heavy of heart,
  depressed because I didn't know what to do.
I sat in silence alone with my grief
  I wept tears of hurt that you would turn from me.


PSALMIST PRAYS:

But when I stumbled, they gathered in glee;
 attackers gathered against me when I was unaware.
They slandered me without ceasing.
Like the ungodly they maliciously mocked
  they gnashed their teeth at me.
O Lord how  long will you look on?
  Rescue my life from these ravages,
  my precious life from these lions.
I will give you thanks in the great asembly;
  among throngs of people I will praise you.


PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

I fell and they stood over me smiling;
 sinful people made a circle around me.
They called me names unending.
These were people spoiled of life
  souls that lost their love
  they knew no shame
  their teeth clicked unending and their
  tongues heavy with noise smacked their lips.
They enjoyed my distress.

O My God how long will you stand by?
  Lift me up out of this treacherous
  stream of lies -
  Save me from the roar of the ungodly.
I will forever prostrate myself at your feet
  and sing your praises to the multitudes.














Sunday, July 21, 2013

No Answers


I was driving my car
in 95 degree weather
when I stopped  for a light
.
Turning my head slightly to the left
I saw a man with white hair
 sitting on a guardrail. resting
 under the shade of a tree.

Once somebody's son I thought.

His arm had a white cast from wrist to elbow
His leg was encased in a blue boot from ankle to knee.
A small red suitcase lay at his feet.

His face was tired and worn
I wished I could have helped him.

Once a boy of 16 came through criminal court
He wore an orange jumpsuit.


His face was tired and worn
I wished I could have helped him.

Now he sits at my dinner table.

and I call him Son.


Saturday, July 20, 2013

Psalm 35 (continued)

THE PSALMIST PRAYS:
Since they hid their net for me without cause
  and without cause dug a pit for me,
may ruin overtake them by surprise --
   may the net they hid entangle them
   may they fall into the pit, to their ruin.
Then my soul will rejoice in the Lord
   and delight in his salvation.
My whole being will exclaim,
  "Who is like you, O Lord?
 You rescue the poor from those too strong for them,
   the poor and needy from those who rob them."

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

Since they laid a trap for me without merit
  and dug a hole for me to fall into
may calamity overtake them by surprise --
  may the trap they laid take hold of them
  may they fall into the hole, to their dismay.
Then my spirit will rejoice in the Lord
  and  be happy in adulation.
My whole being will cry out,
 "O Lord there is no other like unto you.
You come to the aid of one who is overcome,
  the thirsty and needy from those who would harm them."

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

O Lord my soul cries out in adoration.

This creature bows before you
ever in supplication.

You grant her every wish -
as it would seem to her earthly eye -

She wishes to thank you -
for your kindness and generosity.

The words you whisper in her ear
are ever held with great sincerity.

She adds with a little humor and
 ever in adulation - please keep
 the lines of communication open -
 so that she may ever always honor
 you with the written word -
 if it be only your sole desire

She knows - and I know you know - 
I loved you then
and I love you now.







.

















 

Tuesday, July 16, 2013

Psalm 35 (continued.)

PSALMIST PRAYS:

May those who seek my life
  be disgraced and put to shame;
may those who plot my ruin
  be turned back in dismay.

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

May those who dishonor my name
  be found out for the liars they are;
may those who cast dispersions my way
  find themselves at the bottom of their deadly pit.  

PSALMIST PRAYS:

May they be like chaff before the wind,
  with the angel of the Lord driving them away;
may their path be dark and slippery,
  with the angel of the Lord pursuing them.

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

May they be like the dust in a windstorm,
   with the angel of the Lord's sword a shadow on their back;
may their footing be treacherous and blinded,
   and may they hear the hooves of the angel's steed
   ever in their ears.
.  



july 14th sunday's call

There is some kiss we want with our whole lives,
 the touch of spirit upon the body.

 The kiss of death we look forward to our whole lives,
   the touch of divine upon the body.

  We struggle
  We wiggle
  We storm
  We accept
  We go with the flow -
   the acceptance of the inevitable
   is a freedom not withheld.

So many of us do battle with life

We go to sleep in death,  inhaling the old --
 We wake up in life exhaling the new --

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Psalm 35 of David

PSALMIST SAYS:

Contend, O Lord, with those who contend with me;
   fight against those who fight against me.
Take up shield and buckler;
   arise and come to my aid.
Brandish spear and javelin
   against those who pursue me.
Say to my soul,
   "I am your salvation.."

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:
O Lord, you know me.
You know those who would harm me
  better than I know them myself.

Take issue with them O Lord.
Put on face armor and breastplate
  and come to my defense.

Threaten them with sword and spear
  be in their face -

Say to them in loud and clear voice
  "I am her protector."

Say to my soul,
  "I am with you in the depths of your being,
     I am yours always forever vigilant.
     Have no worry.

I hear your voice O Lord in the depths of my being

The Lord says:

Lift up your face Doris
close your eyes 
  I see your heart searches for my embrace
  I am inside you always - just waiting for the turn of
   your thought.

  A turn of the atom and now I am in your thought and you are always in mine.

  I love you and you love me - that's how it is
 
  alas
  O Lord
 
  I think
  how pungent
  how human
  how divine

and in a nanosecond
 the breath of a heartbeat - a whisper
 that is all it takes 
 we meet -
  like forever the dawn meets the day
  and we are one.



  
 

Thursday, July 11, 2013

Psalm 34

THE PSALMIST 

The eyes of the Lord are on the righteous
   and his ears are attentive to their cry;
the face of the Lord is against those who do evil,
    to cut off the memory of them from the earth

PSALMIST DORIS SAYS:

The gaze of the Lord is ever on me
   and his ears are ever attuned to my whisperings;
the face of the Lord is turned toward my enemies,
   he blocks out their memory from my mind.

THE PSALMIST

The righteous cry out, and the Lord hears them:
   he delivers them from all their troubles.
The Lord is close to the brokenhearted
  and saves those who are crushed in spirit.


 PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

My soul cries out, and my Beloved hears me;
   he delivers me from all my tremblings
.The Beloved clasps my broken heart and warms it
  with his own.  
My tremblings cease and my heart soars.

THE PSALMIST

A righteous man may have many troubles,
  but the Lord delivers him from them all,
he protects all his bones,
  not one of them will be broken,

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:

A good woman may have many troubles,
   but the Lord oversees and protects
   all her comings and goings
   not one will harm her
   his comfort is her protection. 

THE PSALMIST:
Evil will slay the wicked;
  the foes of the righteous will be condemned
The Lord redeems his servants;
  no one will be condemned who takes refuge in him.

PSALMIST DORIS PRAYS:
Evil has its own reward;
  the enemies of the righteous will fall into a dark hole.
The Lord looks after his servants;
  no one will fall into the darkness who seeks the protection of
 the Beloved.




Sunday, July 7, 2013

Purpose

My purpose is to adore God - in doing this -
 be like a tree, a flower, a blade of grass,
  dew on a petal , the breath of a cougar.

What is God?
  God is nature, being, humans, the earth, the Cosmic Christ.

My purpose is to be present in this play of dynamics -
 to do nothing.

I don't have to do anything
I'm just there.
From being there things progress.
I'm in it  - but out of it

Today what do I do?
I used to think that if I was truly evolving as a human being
I would be a better weight.  Eat the right foods.  And think
good things.

Well, I seem to be at some point now -
I meditate.
I read.  Read a lot. 
Write.
Swim - and drink wine still - and yell at  John when he doesn't remember.

Well, I'm  eating better.

So, maybe I am evolving.

See where I am same time next year.

I don't really need a social purpose.
I don't have to convince anybody of anything
 and I have no great truth.
No great novel or story.

I am just am what I am.
Don't get me wrong I still write -
 but I have been thinking lately of a plan for the coming year-
 and it probably has to do with what I believe.

Swimming gets rid of stress and tones my body.
Pilates gives me strength.
And meditation loosens up my unconscious -
how can there be something in nothing - but there is.

THE END














Psalm 34

THE PSALMIST SAYS:
I sought the Lord, and he answered  me;
  he delivered me from all my fears.
Those who look to him are radiant;
  their faces are never covered with shame
This poor man called, and the Lord heard h im;
  he saved him out of all his troubles.
The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him,
 and he delivers them.

PSALMIST DORIS SAYS:

I seek the Lord in my daily prayers;
  at the time he delivers me from all my fears.
Those who trust in him are fearless,
  their face has no blemish.
This poor woman called, and the Lord listened,
  he saved her from her shakiness.
It is true the angel of the Lord, puts his pionions around those who
  fear him, and he delivers them.

THE PSALMIST SAYS:
Taste and see that the Lord is good;
  blessed is the man who takes refuge in him.
Fear the Lord, you his saints;
  for those who fear him lack nothing.
The lions may grow weak and hungry,
  but those who seek the Lord lack no good thing.

PSALMIST  DORIS SAYS:

I have tasted you O' Lord and know that you are good;
  blessed am I when I take refuge in you.
This lowly woman bows down before you in awe O'Lord.;
  you know this creature -  she loves you.
The cougar grows weak from hunger - his breath is labored,
  I who dare to say I love you lack no good thing.

THE PSALMIST SAYS:
Come, my children, listen to me;
  I will teach you the fear of the Lord,
Whoever of you loves life
  and desires to see many good days,
 keep your tongue from evil
  and your lips from speaking lies.
Turn from evil and do good;
 seek peace and pursue it.

PSALMIST DORIS SAYS:
Come, Doris, walk with me.
 I will show you the true awesomeness of  of the Lord.
Whoever of you loves your daily comings and goings
 and desires to see the sunrise and sunsets of many years,
keep silence when an evil tongue would speak
 and lock your lips from forming untruths.
Keep an ever vigilant watch of your mind;
  seek only peace and pursue it with a wholehearted heart.
  for only ever in a steadfast watchfulness is the fear of the Lord
  given true birth.
 

Saturday, July 6, 2013

Psalm 34

THE PSALMIST
 
  I will extol the Lord at all times;
   his praise will always be on my lips.
  My soul will boast in the Lord;
   let the afflicted hear and rejoice.
 Glorify the Lord with me;
   let us exalt his name together.

PSALMIST' DORIS

 The Lord is ever in my heart;
   each breath I draw says his name.
 My soul will rest in the Lord;
   let the weary and trodden of soul
     hear the song of songs -
     Yahweh is his name.
  Bow down before your creator;
    let your heart leap with joy
    let us each one praise his name together. 

hope

psalm 33 -

THE PSALMIST

We wait in hope for the Lord;
  he is our help and our shield.
In him our hearts rejoice,
  for we trust in his holy name.
May your unfailing love rest upon us, O Lord,
  even as we put our hope in you.

my thoughts -
 despite my own unwillingness and desires
I put them aside to listen to you,
 your desire -
I love you and I always will.


PSALM OF DORIS

I wait with absent notice of breath for the Lord;
  he is my only hope.
In him my heart beats loudly
  for my trust is ever locked in his holy name.

My lips tremble and my mouth gives shape to the formless
 Yahweh is his name.

May your unfailing love rest upon me, O Lord,
  even as my creature ly desire rises to meet you
  if only in in the hope of my heart.       
 

perspective

If I ask:  "What is eight divided in two?" the mathematically inclined will answer
without  hesitation:  "Four."
However, someone more visually oriented might see an eight divided in the
middle horizontally and say:  "Two zeros."  Or looking at it another way,
divided vertically might say:  "Three."  It is a matter of perspective, of
different ways of seeing.
The most basic foolishness we can be dominated by is the foolishness of
self-satisfaction..

   Taken from  Lectio Divina by Basil Pennington.  Page 14-15.