Friday, March 18, 2011

Up All Night

18 March 2011

Sometimes she sleeps--we think she's angelic.
Those hours fly by, then she wakes teething,
spends the night screaming.
In the morning someone asks
and we agree she's adorable
during the day or when she sleeps,
but wouldn't it be nice to close your eyes at 10 PM,
not open them until 5 or 6? Of course,
there are the moments when she wakes burning,
a cloth on her brow, cool just moments ago,
mopping up the fever. Those moments between
2 and 2:30 stretch out as if to ten mornings or more,
waiting for the fever to break. I've noticed
how precious she is in those moments,
whether or not she's sleeping.

Sunday, March 06, 2011

Congruence

6 March 2011


I never have understood this brand of non-conformity,

everyone building their own unique

from homologous blocks of vaguely varying hues;

differing degrees of sameness. The very pretty

people somnambulate to and fro scrutinizing;

assimilating bits of cleverly pieced cotton and ramie;

making their resulting congruence

a little less distinctive, a little more

just like everyone else.

The Beginning of Lent

My family missed church this morning for various reasons, among which were that our older daughter returned very late last night (or early this morning) from a three day field trip to Chicago, and our younger daughter decided last night that she wasn't so much into the whole Sleep Thing. I was looking forward to the service this morning, and specifically to hearing our priest talk about the epistle and the Gospel.

The epistle this morning was from Ephesians 6, and talked about honoring one's parents, one's master, one's servants; and about putting on the armor of God.

The Gospel was from Matthew 6, and was, for me, the harder of the two readings.

"For if you forgive men their trespasses, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. But if you do not forgive men their trespasses, neither will your Father forgive your trespasses."
I have recently realized how very long my memory is. At the same time, I know there's really no good excuse for an unforgiving spirit. I find myself particularly convicted upon reading this passage, having had several opportunities recently to have my [not so] righteous indignation stoked. Regardless of how purely motivated a person believes his or her anger to be, today's Gospel reading makes very clear that forgiveness is not optional. I'm not saying it can be forced, but it's a long road, and I'd do well to start walking.

The latter portion of the Gospel reading is equally compelling to me.

"Do not lay up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy and where thieves break in and steal; but lay up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where neither moth nor rust destroys and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."
The reading itself doesn't need any commentary. What do I value most? Where is my treasure?

I'm pondering this morning how these two readings intersect, these ideas of obedience, honor, preparation; forgiveness and valuing things that last rather than what doesn't. Why do they come together, on this, the last non-Lenten Sunday of the season? And since I'm missing Father Tom's commentary on this point, I'll be running it through my processor all day. If I come up with anything particularly compelling, I'll be back to comment.

George MacDonald

"Home is ever so far away in the palm of your hand, and how to get there it is of no use to tell you. But you will get there; you must get there; you have to get there. Everybody who is not at home, has to go home."

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