Seeking Authentic Voice

(Photo from the files of Mompriest, Sunrise, Escalante, Utah) Listen! Wisdom is calling! Before all began, God , Word, and Wisdom Creating, calling, from the foundations of the deep Listen! Wisdom is calling! From the mountain tops Earth, fields and sea Creating, calling From the foundations of the deep Listen! Wisdom is calling! To those who suffer God’s love is given Endurance blossoms From the foundations of the deep Listen! Wisdom is calling! Daily, God’s delight You, me, every one Given hope, grace, love As the foundation of our lives Listen! Wisdom is calling! Poured into our hearts That we may become Christ’s hand and heart, love As the foundation of our lives Listen! Wisdom is calling! crossposted on RevGalBlogPals and RevGalPrayerPals

A reflection on the readings for Trinity Sunday: Proverbs 8:1-4, 22-31, Romans 5:1-5 , John 16:12-15 In the last 8 months I have made four trips between Arizona and Chicago. I’ve logged some 10,000 miles in driving. My most recent trip was in late April when I returned to pick up one of our cars that we had to leave behind when we moved. It’s a long story why, which I’ll spare you. Anyway, in late April I flew to Tucson to get the car and drive it back. Usually I drive the “southern” route: heading east through southern Arizona, north through New Mexico, cutting across Oklahoma and Missouri and then up across Illinois from St. Louis to Chicago. 1849 miles, one way, give or take. But for this trip I decided to drive north through Arizona and southern Utah, then up to Salt Lake City where I have family, and then head east across Wyoming, Nebraska, Iowa, and Illinois. It would be a longer trip by several hundred miles, but I could drive at a leisurely pace stopping to see family alo

--Robert Mapplethorpe, Hand in Fire, 1985 There is a German expression: ich würde die Hand dafür ins Feuer legen, which means: “I would put my hand in the fire for that. Mary Beth over at RevGals challenges us to ponder, in this Friday Five, what we would put our hand in the fire for. Things / people / causes in which you believe passionately and completely? This might be demonstrated in that you would take extraordinary (for you) action…donations, marching, writing letters…or merely in the way you live your life. You may give as much or as little detail as you wish. 1. My family - husband and children. I'm the momma and I am passionate about keeping them healthy, safe, content. 2. My faith - I have been a wanderer on this faith journey. I spent some 16 years wondering how I was to live my faith life and wandering through a variety of religious traditions in search of my path. Now that I've found it, and been going in a more focused direction for some 20 years I find that

I have five preaching opportunities coming up in the next seven weeks, three of them paying jobs, two of them for the parish whose rectory I'm living in. That's more preaching than I have done since last August. Ten months of living without the weekly rhythm that has marked my life for 10 years. Last night I took my dogs outside for the last time before bed as we do every night. I stood under this huge oak tree, under a half moon, in the humid but cooling night temperature and took a deep breath. I do love it in Chicago. I do hope I find a job in this area and can stay here. I love the green most of all. The varied hues of green grass and trees are lush, they saturate my eye, with a soothing peace. My eyes, grown accustomed in just a few years to the harsh brown of sand, pale greens of cacti, and the intense vibrant splashes of desert flowers and short scrubby trees, relax in the shades of Midwest green. I stood outside with my dogs under a huge oak tree and grieved the los

The last two days have been suddenly, startling, hot, AND humid. The operative word here is AND. Well, and Humid. Yes, it's true that we had heat in Arizona - big time heat. And this time of year, late May and early June were the hottest. And, we also had some humidity in Arizona. We especially had a lot of humidity during the monsoon season of July and August. And I hated it. There. but also here. I am not a fan of humidity - of being constantly damp. I'm also not a fan of air conditioning, but frankly the humidity, and my response to it, means air conditioning. sigh....so, that's been the biggest event of the last few days:sun, hot, humid. You'd think that all this heat and humidity would cause my sore and tire muscles, sore and tired from a lot of exercise at the gym, would cause them to be a little less sore. Actually, it's not so much that they are sore as they are, tired. Very tired. Tired above and below my knees. Tired above and below my shoulders. Really

(Photo from the files of Mompriest, Highway 12 north of Boulder, Utah) God of creation, God of fun and sport God who created Leviathon, just Because you could, God of fun God of life, God who delights In diversity and randomness We rejoice with you this day! God who sends forth as the Holy Spirit God who comes to all, women, men, Young, old, to all colors, all people God who speaks all languages and Loves all people and accepts all We rejoice with you this day! God who sends forth an advocate To lead, to guide, to speak for All, you, me, all creation God who loves each one as if, as if, only one - and yet - all! We rejoice with you this day! Fill us we pray, with your Holy Spirit May we know your fire of love deeply in our being, may We be your love. May we bring Your love. May your love reign As we rejoice with you this day! In my words and in my silence in my Prayers and in my meditation in my Joy and in my sorrow in my despair and In my hope, may I k

Friday, May 21, 2010 Friday Five: Disciplines I so often think I have little "discipline" in my life, but there has to be a certain amount to survive and accomplish anything. Think about the various disciplines you routinely (or semi-regularly) participate in--or formerly practiced. Tell us about five in any (one or more) category(ies) that you feel like discussing. Here are a few, you may also have your own: Spiritual Practices: when I was working regularly I found weekly sermon preparation to be a spiritual practice. On Tuesday I'd read the lectionary selection for the upcoming Sunday and begin to pray and reflect on it with the intention of finding a "theme" - for some this is the title, although in the Episcopal Church we don't usually title our sermons. Then I'd spend the rest of the week letting this theme resonate within me while I pondered how it was relevant to my congregation and the heart of the Gospel. Other spiritual practices - until I move

(Photo of Moon setting at sunrise, Escalante, Utah, files of Mompriest) Bright Morning Star, Holy God Joy of my heart, Water of life Gift to all Hear our prayer. Comfort those who suffer in body, mind, or spirit Those who thirst for your mercy and grace Those who yearn for the peace of Christ. Bright Morning Star, Holy God Joy of my heart, Water of life Gift to all Hear our prayer. Have mercy on those who struggle to follow Your desire, your hope, your way, May your Name be known to them. Bright Morning Star, Holy God Joy of my heart, Water of life Gift to all Hear our prayer. God of love, pour out abundantly like A river, like flood waters, like a dam opening Your love overflowing on this house and that Bright Morning Star, Holy God Joy of my heart, Water of life Gift to all Hear our prayer. God of the morning, God of water, Giver of life in you I am complete for through you I know love, I become love, yours. Bright Morning Star, Holy God Joy of my heart, Water of life Gift to all H

Sophia over at RevGals offers this Family Edition for the Friday Five Meme: 1. Do you have any interest in geneaology? I have roots in the Mormon Church with family members who have done geneology on parts of my family. I am lucky to have copies of those records and find them fascinating. Sadly they only go back to the early 1800's with the early round of Mormon pioneers settling Utah and Idaho. Along with those settlers are stories of a pregnant great grandmother (5 generations back) who left England with her two toddlers and travelled to Utah while her husband stayed behind to earn money. The grandfather/husband later joined the family then took an additional wife or two and this grandmother divorced him. So, yes, I also have polygamists on my family tree. Then there's the story of another great grandfather who was a missionary to American Indians and wrote an English/Indian (not sure what tribes) dictionary. (Wish I had that. apparently they aren't very common). There a

The discordant notes like the draw of string and bow a concert of wind through trees. Clanging timpani and banging kettle drum bass a wild storm this morning. Morning? This predawn symphonic awakening to chords of light jagged sky. As if heaven was pouring forth heavy. As if a waterfall or river. Socks, fleece, a cup of hot coffee dogs being dogs with wet tongues sloppy dawn. A pause, a quiet moment, the sun rise behind heavy clouds rain. Or tears? More rain than I have seen in two, maybe more, years. Three AM symphony. Lulling me awake. Reminding me, life, shattered ripped open sky. Or soul?

The road traversed long, sometimes narrow and steep. Oh! So very high up - and, then - down. Winding along through canyons of red and grey stone with scraggly trees and shrubs. Leaving my car behind, for a bit of a hike, I wandered along a well worn trail. Ancient land, Indian land, land of migrating wild cats and who knows what else. Land that my father lives on. Land that one day will be "mine" or so he says in his trust. Land that really belongs to no one and yet, everyone.

Two weeks ago the Arizona sun Powerful stark, hot blaze even in April Warmed my skin yet chilled my soul. Arizona. Beautiful cruel, open skied, prickly thorns that rip raw, skin and spirit - have you watched the news lately? Now, it's fourteen days later, Midwest spring Endless days of rain, clouds wind and cold and yet, warms my soul, here spirit shines. All around spring has bloomed: leaves and grass, green flowers burst forth, lilacs! Yes, lilacs. Stop and take a moment - breath it in.

It's been a long while since I have posted a Monday Morning Musings. Mostly that's because I haven't spent Monday mornings musing. I've been busy moving and moving again and travelling. In between the moves and the travels I've been exercising and exercising some more. But I have been musing. A lot. Or thinking. Or, sometimes, despairing. Not much of it can I blog about. This morning I had coffee with a friend. Yesterday I spent the day with family. These are a couple of the reasons why it is so good to be back here, friends and family. So I'm musing on how good it is to be amongst family and friends. And trying not to despair about the job situation. At least not too much despair. This afternoon I may go exercise. Or at least walk my dogs and go to the grocery store and knit a bit. What about? What are you musing about? What are you doing this day?

(photo from the files of Mompriest, Highway 12 outside of Boulder, Utah, altitude, 9660 ft) God, who created the heavens and the Earth and all that lives Bless us, heal us. Make Your face to shine Upon us and bring us peace. May all leaders Of governments, nations, cities, towns, villages through Your grace, be filled with Your wisdom. May Your desire for Life may be fulfilled. Bless us, heal us, May your face shine upon us and bring us peace. May suffering Of body, mind, or spirit be healed through love -Yours, through faith - mine, ours. Embrace us deeply. Take my troubled Heart and my fears. Bless us, heal us, May your face shine upon us and bring us peace. Strong and yet , Gentle God, Mother of all - birthing life nurturing life, love food - grace fuels hope, mercy, comfort, her people, hers. Bless us, heal us May your face shine upon us And bring us peace. In thanksgiving for the gift of life and the mothers who birthed us and those who nurtured us and the nurturer within each o

In 1972, as a Junior in High School, I read a guide to "The Bhagavad Gita" by Ram Dass. My group of friends were all reading it and finding it filled with profound insight and "enlightenment." Me, not so much. I thought it was all marijuana and/or acid induced mumbo-jumbo. Perhaps I was wrong? Or at least partially wrong. I think it was a book intended to introduce Americans to Buddhist thought of mindfulness and enlightenment. Later in life, as I delved deeply into meditation, I came to appreciate much of what Buddhism offers from the practice of meditation and mindfulness.... Now flash forward some 20 years after that high school time. It's 1992/93, I am now 36, married, mother of one child with a second on the way. I am training to be a certified massage therapist, a 14 month intensive course. In the library of the school where I am training I see a book, recommended by one of my teachers. It's called, How Can I Help ? and the author is Ram Dass. This bo

The first time I read a book by Ram Das was in 1972. I think the book was titled, "The Bagvadgita." I didn't understand it. Or rather I basically rejected it all as marijuana brain addled mumbo jumbo. Uhm. I was also only 16. I've not read the Bagvadgita since then, but I suppose my criticism was a bit harsh. Or not.

Sally, over at RevGals, offers this Friday Five Meme: Well it may or may not have escaped the notice of many that over in the UK we have been awaiting the results of the General Election.... it has been the most closely fought election for many years, and the result... a hung or balanced Parliament, with no outright winner... and it has got everybody talking... So what do you think about the mix of faith and politics: 1. Jesus a political figure: discuss... Absolutely a political figure. We would do well to remember that and embrace his radical politics of love, compassion, and generosity. 2. Politics in the pulpit, yes or no and why? Oh, I think so....BUT rarely have I encountered a congregation that wants this. Most just want to be comfortable and have a little something to reflect on but no politics from the pulpit. That said I am not a fan of promoting MY politics from the pulpit. I do think we ought to speak about political issues of justice in our area/world. To that end I have

I am sitting in a Borders using their free WiFi because I do not have internet at "home"...I'll be back whenever it gets fixed/restored/figured out/etc. etc. etc.

I have been away from internet access for a number of days, which is weird for me. I have missed my daily blogging - reading the blogs of my friends and posting the various things I am pondering. And, on this trip there has been much to ponder, but I'll write more about that later....for today, while I sit in WiFi free hotspot at a laundramat, I want to post some photos of my drive yesterday from Southern Utah to Salt Lake City. Suffice it to say it was an awe-filled day. Sunsrise from my bedroom at my dad's house in Southern Utah near Escalante Highway 12 near Bryce Canyon My son and his dog during our short hike along Calf Creek (highway 12 toward Boulder, Ut.) Calf Creek Vista Beginning our descent from 9660 feet, top of the Rockies....outside Boulder, Ut.