Here Lies the Son

It says..."here lies the son." It's a niche in the wall that surrounds the village church. The son's name isn't completely legible because of the lichen and grime that accumulates on this old stone. Today we worship at the manger where another Son lies. This day is full of wonder and glory and joy. You can't help but be excited about this birth or about any birth, any child lying in his crib. A new life ready to go forth and make his mark in the world. It's truly a joyous occasion. But as we know the story only begins in that manger so many years ago. So while we celebrate its beginning, we also must always be aware of where it ends...with the cross, with death, pain and humiliation, and finally with resurrection.

"Here lies the son..." today he lies in the glory of his birth! But in the days and years to come, he will lie in other places, places not so loving or so safe and protected. Let us always celebrate his beginning by also honoring where the story ends.

Choosing to Say Yes

It's the 4th Sunday of Advent, and I've been watching and waiting and preparing for a month. Finally, I can begin to celebrate Christmas! Part of my preparation for Christmas this year has been participation in an online Advent workshop called "Birthing the Holy." During Week 1 we were challenged to 'Awaken' fully to Advent and consider what it means to be truly awake to God in our lives. Week 2 we began 'The Journey' to the holy. Last week we considered the 'Darkness' in our lives and how moving into darkness prepares us for moving into the light. This week the theme is 'Saying Yes.' How important it is to say yes to God when He opens a door for us or asks something of us! Even if He asks us to do something scary or opens a door into the unknown, the answer must be yes. Think of it... if Mary had not chosen to say yes to God, would we even be celebrating this wondrous season? Oh sure, God could probably have found another virgin teenager about to be married to an older man she hardly knew who was willing to be pregnant out of wedlock and carry His child. And then watch that precious child be mocked, humiliated and crucified by people who once adored him. But God didn't ask that other teenage girl. He asked Mary and she chose to say Yes! Inspite of the humilation, the fear of rejection, and the pain, she said yes to God. And the rest, as they say, is history...Biblical history, at least. If Mary was courageous enough to make this choice, can I do any lesswhen God asks?  Choose to say yes. If you need a bit of encouragement, here's a 'Prayer for Choosing' by Jan Richardson:
A Prayer for Choosing

What we choose
changes us.

Who we love
transforms us.

How we create
remakes us.

Where we live
reshapes us.

So in all our choosing,
O God, make us wise;

in all our loving,
O Christ, make us bold;

in all our creating,
O Spirit, give us courage;

in all our living
may we become whole
 
You might enjoy her blogs: The Advent Door and The Painted Prayerbook
 
I took the photo of the Virgin in the Abbey Church at Conques last September.

Down to the River

I was down to the river this morning just as the sun was peeking over the causse...

There I sang my morning prayer, accompanied only by the rustling of the dry, frosty leaves as the dogs sought out a frozen scent and by the silently flowing river carrying hunks of ice downstream.

 A single voice, singing to God..

"By the Rivers of Babylon"

in the cold.

"May the words of my mouth and the meditations of my heart be acceptable in thy sight, O Zion!"

Love at Christmas

Love comes in many ways.

Love comes at Christmas as a tiny baby.

Love comes as a generous gift.

Love comes as a warm embrace.

Loves comes at Christmas as a tiny baby.

Loves comes born of theVirgin.

Love comes in a warm embrace.

The tiny baby held by God's loving arms.

Loves comes born of the Virgin.

Love comes as a generous gift.

The tiny baby held by God's loving arms.

Love comes in many ways.

I thought this might be a Christmas without a creche, but I was blessed with this one that came in the mail. Thank you, Lila! (and Randi)

Cold

I live in an ancient stone house....

Up leaf-littered stone stairs....

Surrounded by a mossy stone wall....

Yesterday's snow lingers. This morning the river valley is blanketed in thick, heavy fog.

It is cold.

I plan my day around the cold. I stack wood, walk the dogs, sweep and clean to stay warm.

When I sit...to read, to write, to dream...the cold seeps in.

Multiple layers, fleece, a hat...and still it seeps in.

When I'm cold, I can only think about how to get warm

But not too warm.

Don't sweat, don't get chilled...that's even worse than just the cold.

People sleeping over the heat vents on the streets of Des Moines

Or huddled in tents in those make-shift campsites along the river.

Men and women wrapped in sleeping bags stretched out in the doorways of Paris.

Or along the Canal St. Martin in cardboard shelters.

The homeless. The clochards.

They are cold.

Mind-numbing, bone-chilling cold.

Cold that defines life...or death for some.

I light the fire laid on the hearth,

The logs crackle and burn.

I ignite the gas heater and roll it closer.

Its blue flames dance.

Instant warmth for me.

Who warms the others?

With God on Our Side

I've blogged over at MelangedMagic about one of the unexpected pleasures of staying here at the Chatette...discovering new music in Laury's CD collection. The Neville Brothers have become my new favorites. This YouTube photo-montage to Aaron Neville's cover of the Bob Dylan song, "With God on Our Side," brought tears to my eyes. I think its anti-war message is powerful, as are the images, so be forewarned...a few of them are quite graphic.

My God is on the side of peace. Hear what the psalmist says in Psalm 46: 9 & 10:

9 He makes wars cease to the end of the earth;
he breaks the bow, and shatters the spear;
he burns the shields with fire.

10 ‘Be still, and know that I am God!
I am exalted among the nations,
I am exalted in the earth.’

Be sure to turn off the Dona Nobis Pacem music before playing the video!

Enriching Morning Devotions

Whether I'm at home or here in France, I frequently like to enrich my morning devotion time with something beautiful. Sometimes I light candles; sometimes I meditate on a photograph I've taken of a sacred space such as this detail from the Cloisters at the St. Etienne Catheral in Cahors. Most of the time, though, I use music. It can be either sacred or secular...classical works are perfect. My only criteria is the music cannot be accompanied by singing unless it's not in English. I find I get distracted by the words of a song and don't focus on the words of Scripture. I know...I'm not very disciplined! This morning I set the mood for my devotional time with a CD by Paolo Lorenzani (1640-1713) an Italian-born composer who used rich choral arrangements with his orchestral scores to blend both the Italian and  French styles of music during the Baroque peiod. The CD playing for my inspiration was a series of motets with titles such as "Dialogue Between Jesus and the Soul," "Antiphon to theVirgin," and "Litany of Our Lady." I could close my eyes and imagine myself sitting on a hard wooden pew in a Gothic cathedral worshipping with the faithful. For me, music, beauty, and light are all rituals that the Holy Spirit uses to enrich my time with God.

Do you enrich your devotions with any rituals? I'd love to hear what they are.