Women from the cradle to the cross

Perhaps it is no wonder that the women were first at the Cradle and last at the Cross. They had never known a man like this Man ... A prophet and teacher who never nagged at them, never flattered or coaxed or patronised ... who rebuked without querulousness and praised without condescension; who took their questions and arguments seriously; who never mapped out their sphere for them, never urged them to be feminine or jeered at them for being female ... Nobody could possibly guess from the words and deeds of Jesus that there was anything [inferior] about woman's nature.
- Dorothy L. Sayers, from her book, Are Women Human?

Book #5 For 2010 - Their Eyes were Watching God

I read Zora Neale Hurston's book "Their Eyes Were Watching God" for a book group - I attempted to start reading it and had a hard time reading it. I found the book on Audible - and listened to it - it was a 6 hour "read".  And for me, probably the best read book I have listened to with Ruby Dee as reader. It took me two days to listen to it and had the opportunity to knit and "read" at the same time.
Hurston's book is probably one of the most important pieces of literature written in the 20th century and it poetic flow in the story spins the story of a woman who is a woman evolving into her own being through three marriages, becoming increasingly more independent, despite the many trials and tribulations she experiences.

Set in Florida in the early 20th century, many cities and towns will be familiar to those who have lived in Florida. Whether you read it or listen to the book, you are in for a treat.

Dwelling Place - how lovely

I was looking for the recommended hymns for Sunday - and saw the hymn "How lovely is thy dwelling place". What comes to mind is not the tune in the hymnal, but the one from Brahms Requiem. It's one of the first choral works I remember performing at some point in my high school years, and brings warm memories and the presence of the Lord and His dwelling place to my heart.


So I went looking on Youtube, as I usually do, and had in mind posting the Brahms version. I tried to find the one which had the clearest, cleanest sound and one that suited MY fancy for you to hear.


It was not to be.


I can tell you that it caught my attention.


Now, if you will indulge me.....
Interestingly, same exact music, different video. See the difference.






Where is your dwelling place?

Sacred Space

I would like to create a sacred space in my home, where we (or I) can go to meditate, pray, find quiet, etc. I googled sacred space in the home (or something like that) to see some images and there were some there, some conventionally Christian, others eclectic, while others did not appear to be what I would think of as a sacred space, but that's ok.
I have an icon that my son brought to me from a trip to Poland. I treasure that, and I know that will be a piece of my space. But I ask my readers of this post. What do you have as part of your sacred space? Or, if you were to create one of your own, what would be a part of it? Where do you have it? or where WOULD you have it?

Gentleness and Strength

Nothing is so strong as gentleness,

Nothing so gentle as real strength.

St. Francis de Sales

Walking with Saint Melangell

For Lent, I signed up to take an online class with Seminary of the Southwest, auditing the class Holy Companions: Spiritual Practices from the Celtic Saints. Each week we are given readings and resources to read and then choose one of the saints to spend time with, or to journey with them as one experiences their week. It's a time to reflect on the spiritual practices we are using that particular week.

This week I chose to journey with St. Melangell (pronounced Mel-en-geth), a 7th century saint, born of an Irish chieftain in the country of Wales. At an early age, she felt a call to solitude and prayer. Her parents did not approve of her calling, so she ran away in search of a place to pray.

Her story continues as she encounters a prince who is hunting hares, and the hare finds refuge underneath the hem of Melangell's garment.  The dogs found the hare with Melangell, and they withdrew, recognizing the saint's strength and holiness. The prince was humbled after learning of Melangell and her dedication to a life of prayer. He honored her by declaring the valley in which she had chosen as her refuge as a sanctuary for men, women, and animals who came to seek refuge and protection. The place, after Melangell's death, came to be known as Pennant Melangell and was a site for pilgimage for those seeking healing or seeking a place to escape opression. Today the place continues as a place of prayer and a refuge for wandering souls.

I felt drawn to her, not necessarily from the animals in the story, but from Melangell's desire for searching for a place to pray.  I have places where I pray, and sometimes it is not necessarily the location of where I am praying that really matters.  However, for some reason, I have had this calling to go... find a place to seek refuge in solitude to pray, where the worries of the world can be left behind, and I can allow myself to clear my slate and pray openly to God and I can listen and hear what God might be telling me at this time in my life. And, this is not a running away as in her case when she ran away from her parents, but a running to a place, to be protected and  surrounded by the hem of God's garment of love.

I don't know the time or the place, and am being open to being patient and knowing that when the time is right, the door will be open for my soul to wander and soak in God's love. In the meantime, I will take tiny spaces of time and place to talk and listen through prayer whenever and wherever I can find it.

Image comes from Patricia Banker's illustration of St. Melangell

Doodlebug #2 - Olivia

Almost two weeks ago, a precious little girl at our school experienced a freak accident which resulted in major surgery, including a colostomy, to allow for healing to take place. This is a family with five children, the oldest being in 3rd grade. Little Olivia's accident resulted in a perforated bowel, and was taken to a children's hospital three hours away to receive top notch care. As many accidents, it turned their life upside down. The community has surrounded them with support, providing meals, keeping the other children, providing financial support, and praying for Olivia and the family. 


Olivia is going to be fine.  It may be tough what she is going through, learning to adjust to her new way her body is working right now. I am sure that the responsibilities of the parents are overwhelming, trying to juggle all that is going on in their life. The family is a shining star in how they are handling this - how they allow God to surround them in the toughest of times. Their faith has been their backbone. But it doesn't mean they wonder why, or get scared, or wonder what will happen next.


I was reading one of the blogs I have found that has been a source of wonderful quotes and words of wisdom. Today's post made me think of what has happened to Olivia and how her family has handled this situation. This quote from Barbara Brown Taylor made me think of them and the challenges which they are experiencing now.

"Terrible things happen, and you are not always to blame.

But don’t let that stop you from doing what you are doing.

That torn place your fear has opened up inside of you is a holy place.

Look around while you are there. Pay attention to what you feel.

It may hurt you to stay there and it may hurt you to see,

but it is not the kind of hurt that leads to death.

It is the kind that leads to life."

Barbara Brown Taylor, from "Life-Giving Fear, Christian Century 1998.

and so we pray:
Almighty God, you know that we have no power in ourselves to help ourselves:

Keep us both outwardly in our bodies and inwardly in our souls,

that we may be defended from all adversities which may happen to the body,

and from all evil thoughts which may assault and hurt the soul;

through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit,

one God, for ever and ever. Amen. 

Book of Common Prayer, Collect for 3rd Sunday in Lent

Olivia, Aimee, Joel, and the rest of the "doodlebugs",  my prayers, among many others praying for you, surround you with healing love.

Special thanks goes to Roberta for providing the resource of the quote at her blog.