Lord's Day Thoughts

O Lord,

I have a wild heart,

and cannot stand before Thee...;

My mind is a bucket without a bottom...,

My will is without power of decision or resolution.

My heart is without affection and full of leaks,

My memory has no retention,

so I forget easily the lessons learned,

and Thy truths seep away.

Give me a broken heart that yet carries home the water of Grace.

He shall drink of the brook in the way;

therefore shall he lift up his head.

Psalm 110.7 - Common Prayer

He drinks from any stream he has to cross,

then charges forward triumphing.

Psalm 110.7 - Moffatt

A Lovely Bit of Burns

Yesterday Scottish poet Robert Burns was mentioned. This poem is among his writings but had never encountered it before. It seemed a startling contrast to what one expects of Mr. Burns. It is a lovely paraphrase of the first Psalm.

Savor and enjoy, Dear Reader.

The man, in life wherever plac'd

Hath happiness in store,

Who walks not in the wicked's way,

Nor learns their guilty lore!

Nor from the seat of scornful pride

Casts forth his eyes abroad,

But with humility and awe

Still walks before his God.

That man shall flourish like the trees,

Which by the streamlets grow;

The fruitful top is spread on high,

And firm the root below.

But he whose blossom buds in guilt

Shall to the ground be cast,

And, like the rootless stubble, tost

Before the sweeping blast.

For why? that God the good adore,

Hath giv'n them peace and rest,

But hath decreed that wicked men

Shall ne'er be truly blest.

A Little Bit Celtic

It's true. It's hereditary. Our blood is mixed but there is a strong rivulet from the Celtic stream.


There are those of us who thrill to the sound of a piper's Scotland the Brave or Amazing Grace. There is something very powerful in the appearance of a man in kilts, knee sox and gillies. Tales of Bonny Prince Charlie, of the courageous and unbending Covenanters and many others strengthen and encourage. We may no longer paint our faces as in Braveheart but the spirit is stirred by these things.

I'll not mention the fact that there are faerie houses in our gardens and all that sort of silliness because today the thoughts are along the lines of the spirituality that goes with this tradition.

There may be those of our branch who would choose to go back only as far as the Scots Presbyterian influence, yet for today's specific thought we must travel farther back.

This focus is a word really, and all that word brings to heart and mind.
"anamchara". The word means 'soul-friend', one who is a spiritual counselor.

We all need someone with whom to share our deepest self. This so we can hear and see ourselves as we truly are. (As Robert Burns wrote:"O wad some Power the giftie gie us, to see oursels as ithers see us!") We need someone who can encourage us to be our best selves, a kindred spirit who can be trusted to be truthful.

Our perfect Soul-friend is most certainly our loving Lord. That in no way diminishes the need of our humanity for one 'with skin on'.

So Dear Reader, may you have a true anamchara in your life, one who travels your journey along side, who strengthens your heart in God.

Deep peace, a quiet rain to you;

Deep peace, an ebbing wave to you!

Deep peace, pure green of grass to you'

Deep peace, pure brown of quiet earth to you;

Deep peace of pure blue sky above you;

Deep peace of the Son of Peace to you;

In the name of the Three who are One,

Peace, Deep peace;

And by the Grace of the King of Heaven and all these,

Peace, Deep Peace!

Lest We Forget...

...to count our blessings that is.

This Day, at this point in my journey has been so blessing filled. Small ones perhaps in the greater scheme of things. Yet I must not fail to count out loud or recount the joys that make a common day one of bliss for me.

A soft spring rain to bless the growing garden.

Roses beginning to bloom.

Sweet peas breaking through the ground.

A grand daughter calling with plans for a future visit,

her future baby, the name planned,

and C. S. Lewis.

A grand daughter calling concerning a planned visit,

food,

and quilting.

A beloved niece calling about a radio broadcast,

first loves of daughters,

grand-mother-of-the bride dresses,

and family.

A husband calling ahead regarding dinner timing.

Long ignored chores accomplished happily between these lovely calls.

How's that for a list of the ordinary, with the extraordinary mixed in?

Our God is so amazing with His scattering of little joy dot through our days.

I am bewildered by the abundance of my blessings.

I rejoice.

Feeling Noble, Or is it Smug?

I don't even own a clothes dryer.

Displaying my garments outside along a taught line,

even in winter,

is a cleaning chore that knits me all togeather again,

unlike anything else.

~Mary Jane Butters

Truth to tell, I do own a clothes dryer. Frankly, in the Pacific Northwest, it would be one of the last electricity eater I'd willingly give up.

However. today there is an open, friendly sky. So pretty pastel sheets and pillow cases flutter on the line in the back garden.

It's a happy thing on a Spring day.

And yes, I do feel ever so smug about it.

What is more, those items will smell delicious when back in their accustomed place.

Happy Mother's Day

To all of you, Dear Readers, who are mothers, to those of you who will be, my best wishes to you for a special day of recognition.

Viewing left you will see the reasons why I consider myself the most blessed of women.

Four children with whom to grow up , to delight in and enjoy makes for the very best and happiest of lives.

Four children growing into productive, loving, funny, clever and spiritual centered adults make for a heart-bursting pride, ("pride in the best sense").

And unending gratitude to a most faithful God the giver of only good gifts.

"For what is [my] hope or happiness

or [my] victor's wreath of triumph

when [I] stand in the presence of our Lord Jesus

at His coming?

Are not you?

for you are indeed [my] glory and [my] joy!

Random Phrases, Random Thoughts.

The phrases are from Psalm 35 as found in the Book of Common Prayer.

"and my soul shall be joyful in the Lord;

it shall rejoice in his salvation.

All my bones shall say, Lord

who is like unto thee...?"

It is as though David in this 'song of struggles' cannot be content with just saying the words. His experiences with his God go wide and deep. So must the expression of his heart. The depth of his feelings and his praise seem even to have penetrated his very bones. Even his bones declare the reality and truth of his devotion.

"O deliver my soul from the calamities

which they [mine adversaries] bring on me,

and my darling from the lions."

Just as in truth God collects our tears in His bottle and records our griefs, so our Adversary keeps record of all our sins and wrong doings. These he uses to remind us of our spiritual treason. These he rehearses before the Throne. And in Grace, the One on that Throne reminds him of our status by both promise and right of purchase.

But it is the term "my darling" the is the sweet part of this verse. What an interesting choice of words! My darling is my soul - my one and only, my solitary one. The secret, private inner me that feels desolate, deserted, hopeless. But here is the reminder that regardless of the accusations and roarings of that lion, the enemy of our souls, our 'darling' is also God's dear one and so will find rescue and be safe.

"And as for my tongue,

it shall be talking of thy righteousness,

and of thy praise,

all the day long."

Our life is not to be only a tedium of repetitions, of words. Words are important, but as Augustine reminds us if we sing, we praise. Whatever is done well is praise. When we do not do evil, that too is praise. To do no wrong when transacting business is praise. Now quoting Augustine directly:

"Dost thou till thy field? Then do not [fret], thou has praised God.

In the innocency of thy works prepare thyself to praise God all the day long."

So Dear Reader and fellow pilgrim, let us 'till today's field' in faithfulness and with rejoicing.