Wings

If I rise on the wings of the dawn, 

if I settle on the far side of the sea, 

even there your hand will guide me, 

your right hand will hold me fast.   

Psalm 139:9-10

Voices

Recently, a neighbor, who is a member of the Oakland Symphony Chorus, sent out an email advising that the chorus was inviting people to come to an evening dedicated to the singing of American Spirituals. I decided to take part. As an audience member, I was familiar with the work of Dr. Lynne Morrow, the director of the chorus.  I, and no doubt thousands of others find her to be charismatic, deeply gifted and articulate about music and the history of the various styles. In the course of a couple of hours, I laughed, cried, and yes, did manage to sing.  However, the voices weaving around me were so captivating, I occasionally had to pause and simply listen.    

When the evening came to a close, and I was about to drive away, a car came up beside me.  The driver rolled down his window.  He simply sat there smiling and looking at me, so I rolled my window down.  He asked where I was a pastor.  The question surprised me because I had not met him.  As I began to explain my ministries, I suddenly remembered that my car has a clergy sticker.   It is was like one of those moments when a grocery store clerk surprises you by calling you by name, and then you remember you still have your conference name badge on.   

He then surprised me even more by saying, "I have a gift for you."  He gets out and goes to the back of his car.  He returns and hands me a book and tells me that his wife had translated some of the psalms from Hebrew to English.  I was in awe of the unexpected gift, and of the endeavor. The book is entitled, Let us Praise by Betty Bracha Stone.  In the introduction she writes, "In the summer of 2012, I entered into a serious Jewish practice: strenuous introspection and prayer during the month of Elul in preparation for our High Holy Days - Rosh Hashanah and Yom Kippur. This was begun with the customary practice of reciting Psalm 27 twice daily."

   

Like many of us who love the psalms, there were tangles and confusion.  The language of the psalms is often beautiful, but also can be strident, divisive, even hateful. Embracing her struggle, she began to do her own translation and interpretation.  I admire that greatly.  Even when reading the psalms in English, most of us translate, interpret, reinterpret, and frankly sometimes just skip over troublesome sections as we grapple with trying to bring the ancient voices forward.   I don't think she jumped over the problems, but she admits she "tampered" a bit with sequence, time, pronouns, meaning, and assumptions.  

  

The result of Stones' work is, I think, a beautiful translation and interpretation of thirty-seven psalms.  I am grateful for the gift, the endeavor, and the simple act of rolling down a window at a time when such action is rarely recommended.   

   

   

You, Oh, God, have grabbed me out of nowhere

And have put Your hand upon me. 

And so I am formed.   

Your designs are without number 

And there is no limit to them

Their number is greater than the sand. 

from Psalm 139, Let Us Praise, Betty Bracha Stone  

www.36psalms.com  

     

Friends, I am putting more and more of my photographs and writings on my blog.

Please consider following it.  The photographs seem to be made for it.   I will, of course, continue to send emails, and much appears on facebook.  I thank you for being present in whatever way you prefer.  I will continue to try to do the same!

Friends, I am putting more and more of my photographs and writings on my blog.

Please consider following it.  The photographs seem to be made for it.   I will, of course, continue to send emails, and much appears on facebook.  I thank you for being present in whatever way you prefer.  I will continue to try to do the same!

Bee and Nectar

I led worship today in a home just off of the downtown area of San Leandro. I spotted sunflowers about a block away. The garden is overgrown, much to the happiness of the sunflowers and some chubby bees. In the center of many of the blossoms were tiny drops of sticky nectar.

Bouganvillea II

Sightings

I have written of Jill more than once.  She is blind and has been since she was a very young woman.  Now in her later years she has also grown deaf, and arthritis is taking a toll.  Yet, most of the time

she continues to come to worship, and enthusiastically replies yes when I ask (well, kind of yell in her ear) if she would like to take communion. She periodically reminds me that as a child she saw a vision of the Blessed Mother at Lourdes.  Jill asked her if she could avoid going blind.  Alas, the Blessed Mother told Jill "with her eyes" that she would go blind.  This vision has sustained her life and her faith, even though she did not get the answer for which she hoped nor the life she had dreamed.  However, she received so much more: the knowledge that she was loved.  "I see in another way."   

The last time I saw Jill she told me that she was glad that I knew her story.  I, too, am glad for that sacred gift.  While walking a few mornings ago, I was intrigued by a gentle pink light at the the end of a neighbor's driveway.  I have always loved Bougainvillea for its bold purple, red, or dark pink leaves (I understand the the white part is the actual flower).  The plant can grow into a dramatically large and vibrant cascade that covers walls and drapes fences.  Once it is established it is actually fairly hardy even through our periodic freezes.  However, this particular plant is small, and the color very delicate.  I did not take off my shoes, but I knew I was standing on holy ground.  It is impossible to be anywhere else. Perhaps, I, too, am learning to see in another way.  Blessed be.    

Unwinding

In God's loving presence, I unwind the past day, 

starting from now and looking back, 

moment by moment. 

I gather in all the goodness and light in gratitude,

I attend to the shadows and what they say to me,

seeking healing, courage, forgiveness.   

from Sacred Space, The Prayer Book 2014 (page 250)

The Irish Jesuits 

Found

The last lines of the wonderful hymn, "Love Divine, All Loves Excelling," reads "Till' we cast our crowns before Thee, lost in wonder, love, and praise."  When I sing this hymn with the beloved elders, I always tell them that when that day comes, there should be no concern because we will be right where we need to be - in the heart of God's love.  

I thought of this hymn this morning as I took this picture.  Someday, I will dedicate a whole day to simply be among the flowers.  I hope I will have the presence of mind to not wander off on a day when I am scheduled to be somewhere else.  Regardless, do not worry about me.  Just say, "Oh, she is just lost in wonder, love, and praise.  Right where she has longed to be."

    

Let us always remember to enjoy some easy days this summer. Practice casting your crowns now.  They are heavier than you think.   

 

   

Consider the lilies of the field, how they grow; they neither toil nor spin,  yet I tell you, even Solomon in all his glory was not clothed like one of these.  Matthew 6:28-29