Month: July 2017

Comfort in grief.

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(Excerpt of a letter from Ben Franklin to the widow of his brother John Feb. 1756)

“That bodies should be lent to us is a kind and benevolent act of God. When they become unfit for these purposes and afford us pain instead of pleasure – instead of an aid, become an encumbrance and answer none of the intentions for which they were given – it is equally kind and benevolent that a way is provided by which we may get rid of them.

Death is that way … Why should you and I be grieved at this, since we are soon to follow, and know where to find him.”

thread in the darkness.

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A thread in the darkness, silken, reflective,

Glowing in the stillness and silence of the night that had engulfed his world.

He reached out. It did not quail.

Spider silk strong, it responded to his touch as he wrapped his hand around it.

Tensile strength lifted him, souring from the darkness to a world of light and song.

He looked into eyes pure and true. Love reflected,

The tiny thread that rescued him sprang from those eyes.

He took her hand, delicate, frail, yet strong as the web she had wove round his heart.

“Don’t ever leave me,” he whispered.

The great race.

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Lemming like they serge and flow

As to their end they swiftly go

Swallowed up by death’s dark water

Striving for the things they oughta.

Racing on, not looking up

To sniff the breeze of freedoms cup.

Copying the lives of others

TV’s glare outshines its brothers

Missing call of sun and moon,

Arriving dead much far too soon.

A rat race headed for the sea

Enslaved forever souls to be.

But if they dared to stop and look

Another path, redemption took

Why then indeed they’d once more be

Mankind of hope at last set free.leming3

With fear and great joy!

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“With fear and great joy” This so captures those moments when we perceive God not as a far off deity, but a living entity involved intimately in our very lives. I love this phrase!

Mathew recounts:

“There was a great earthquake; for an angel of the Lord descended from heaven, and came and rolled back the stone from the door, and sat on it.

His countenance was like lightning, and his clothing as white as snow and the guards shook for fear of him, and became like dead men. But the angel said to the women, “Do not be afraid…”(the strong men, the soldiers, were terrified, but the defenseless women had nothing to fear for they came seeking Jesus.)

“So they went out quickly from the tomb with fear and great joy…”

“Jesus met them, saying, “Rejoice! … Do not be afraid.”

It is this awe so great it might border on fear were it not immersed in total and overwhelming joy, that quickens my heart time after time.

How could I be so dumb?

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I’d been suffering for several days, angry and worried. You see the cleaners I hired to give my old apartment a professional clean (as per my contract requirement) were anything but professional. I could have done better myself (much better!) especially for the price. It didn’t meet with the inventory clerk’s approval either in spite of my going from room to room making them redo the worst of the stuff. Not only that but they left a mark on the carpet they were suposed to be cleaning, dumped a new tube of putty, my favourite mug and a Virgin hub that I may have to return. I’m being generous saying “dumped” maybe they were not just dumb but deliberately took the stuff.

It’s been keeping me awake wondering if I’ll need to pay to get it all redone or replace the hub etc. Worst of all my landlord is a really good guy and I wanted to leave it spotless.

I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Finally waking at 2am and immediately hitting the same old theme in my head, I tried everything but no luck. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. Then I realised what I needed to do – FORGIVE THEM! Problem solved – the few times it came to mind I said in my head, “I forgive them” why spoil my days (and nights)? It’s been several days now  I haven’t even given it a thought. Why didn’t I do that before – it’s such an old lesson.