Sunday, March 20, 2011

Breathe

No body can go back and start a new beginning but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”  Maria Robinson

   Hank and I returned to obedience school  this Spring, hoping  to be inspired.  Our mentor and friend, Lynn Fox, had promised to remove all the balls from the room before we arrived.  Hank arrives and comes crashing in through the door heading for the toy box but no toys!  After a moment  or two of shock, he recovers and begins to search high and low  and finds one last ball sitting on a shelf.  Too late! We decide to let him have a play; back and forth and around and around he pushes the ball until he becomes breathless and frenzied.  Maggie walks in who is wise and experienced with border collies with issues.  “That will never do,” she quietly says.  “Take the ball away ; he must calm down”  The ball is set on the shelf and we make Hank lie down, stroking him gently, telling him, “good settle.”  “Breathe Hank Breathe,” we say although out of the corner of his eye, he is watching the ball. We  talk in soothing tones to him and  hear our own breathes slow down, feeling calmer ourselves. Finally his breathing becomes synchronous with ours and slowly  we all get  up.  I walk over to get the ball…one or two moments of play and then it’s taken away.  “Look Hank.”  He takes his eyes off the ball for a fraction of a second  and lifts them to me , then like a magnet, they land back on the ball.  That will do for a start.  And  we repeat   the cycle….play, settle, look, play  until I am worn out.

   Hank is an addict and  without his balls or sheep, he becomes restless and anxious.  That is what drives him and makes him brilliant at times, yet  far away.  He cannot hear his master.  “Breathe Hank, Breathe.” 

Thursday, March 17, 2011

St. Patrick’s Day

from "The Breastplate of St. Patrick"

"Christ shield me this day: Christ with me, Christ before me, Christ behind me, Christ in me, Christ beneath me, Christ above me, Christ on my right, Christ on my left, Christ when I lie down, Christ when I arise, Christ in the heart of every person who thinks of me, Christ in the eye that sees me, Christ in the ear that hears me."

-St. Patrick

For Reflection:
Considering this prayer of St. Patrick and in light of Ephesians 6: 11-17, what "armor" do I wear daily? How convinced am I that I need to wear the armor of God?

(taken from Women of Grace-Gracelines)

Monday, March 7, 2011

I learned to love old movies from my mother on Sunday afternoons watching Bill Kennedy out of Detroit.

kkk

Memories Of My Education

I remember on Friday evenings, my mother, father, sister and I would travel to town for our once a week  shopping trip. Sometimes for a treat, we would stop for pizza, and finish up with a stop at the laundromat. While waiting for my parents to finish the laundry, my sister and I would walk down the street past a small Pentecostal Church. On hot summer evenings, they would open the doors allowing us to peak in...two little Presbyterian girls just staring in awe at the dancing, shouting and singing with tambourines.  It was truly an education.   Once home, we would be allowed to stay up late and be educated some more, as we watched Johnny Carson and our favourite movies stars. Miss those days when the world seemed safe and less confusing.
Here is one segment with Joan Fontaine and Johnny who I had a crush on.


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CuMy7pZswSE

Thursday, March 3, 2011

On Reading the Holy Scriptures

In the holy Scriptures, truth is to be looked for rather than fair phrases.  All sacred scriptures should be read in the spirit in which they were written.  In them, therefore we should seek food for our souls rather than subtleties of speech, and we should as readily read simple and devout books as those that are lofty and profound.  Do not be influenced by the importance of the writer, and whether his learning be great or small, but let the love of pure truth draw you to read.  Do no inquire, “Who said this?” but pay attention to what is said.

Men pass away, but the word of the Lord endures for ever.

God speaks to us in different ways, and is no respecter of persons.  But curiosity often hinders us in the reading of the Scriptures, for we try to examine and dispute over matters that we should pass over and accept in simplicity,  If you desire to profit, read with humility, simplicity, and faith, and have no concern to appear learned.  Ask questions freely, and listen in silence to the words of the Saints; hear with patience the parables of the fathers, for they are not told without good cause.

The Imitation of Christ, Thomas A Kempis.