We have on this
Smudges
"You can remove the smudge from your face now," her mother said. Her mother always said the same thing and she always replied, "In a little while," which they both knew meant that she would not remove it before bedtime.
The priest, pressing a thumbload of ashes against her forehead, had solemnly intoled, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return," and she was determined to show off her dustiness to as much of the world as a child might encounter on a wintry Ash Wednesday.
All too soon she grew up and learned that her dustiness (her human-ness) was not a badge of honour but a condition to be overcome or at least denied. She got her act together and forgot, for a while, that she is dust. Until it seemed that she might never be able to wash away the smudges of living.
Once again she knelt and heard the worlds, "You are dust." It was good news. It was, in fact, a great relief to know that human is all that she was ever meant to be. Not 'simply' human of course and certainly not 'merely' human. Like every other man, woman and child alive she was always meant to be 'fully' human: formed of the earth, inspired by the breath of God.
Her stress level fairly plummeted. Imagine loking into the mirror and accepting the reality of a smudge or two! Imagine looking at others and having the grace to not judge their smudges.
From Grampa Told Me a collection of writings by Esther North
"You can remove the smudge from your face now," her mother said. Her mother always said the same thing and she always replied, "In a little while," which they both knew meant that she would not remove it before bedtime.
The priest, pressing a thumbload of ashes against her forehead, had solemnly intoled, "Remember that you are dust and to dust you shall return," and she was determined to show off her dustiness to as much of the world as a child might encounter on a wintry Ash Wednesday.
All too soon she grew up and learned that her dustiness (her human-ness) was not a badge of honour but a condition to be overcome or at least denied. She got her act together and forgot, for a while, that she is dust. Until it seemed that she might never be able to wash away the smudges of living.
Once again she knelt and heard the worlds, "You are dust." It was good news. It was, in fact, a great relief to know that human is all that she was ever meant to be. Not 'simply' human of course and certainly not 'merely' human. Like every other man, woman and child alive she was always meant to be 'fully' human: formed of the earth, inspired by the breath of God.
Her stress level fairly plummeted. Imagine loking into the mirror and accepting the reality of a smudge or two! Imagine looking at others and having the grace to not judge their smudges.
From Grampa Told Me a collection of writings by Esther North
Firenze
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This Week ...
Stories, comments, FAQs, reflections and thoughts about this and that
Stories, comments, FAQs, reflections and thoughts about this and that
BELOW
Who do you say that I am? Parable of Wheat & Tares
Stir Up Sunday Goin' Home. Remembrance Day I will draw all to myself St. Francis of Assisi Snow on Snow
Remembrance DayCLICK HERE FOR ARCHIVED REFLECTIONS
The LightHouse
Decathexis
Little Grey Donkey - Palm Sunday
Smudges
Who do you say that I am? Parable of Wheat & Tares
Stir Up Sunday Goin' Home. Remembrance Day I will draw all to myself St. Francis of Assisi Snow on Snow
REMEMBRANCE DAY
Way back in WWII my Dad volunteered and served in the Royal Canadian Armed Forces. In the land of his birth and family - England - and in some of the most dangerous battlefields - Italy and, when the war drew to a close, he was part of the stay back clean-up in Holland. All in all, he was away from my mother and me for five long years.
Like many veterans he didn't talk about the war. He did talk about some of the fine people he met. People - not enemies. So it is in his memory as well as the many, that I pray this day
Let us remember all who died and all whose lives have been, and continue to be, torn apart by war.
Let us remember the troops who are in danger this day ... the peace-makers and the peace-keepers.
and in those two minutes of silence we observe at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, let us remember to pray for ourselves, that we may live with peace in our hearts, that our lives may be a sign of hope that one day all people may live in security and freedom.
Amen.
Way back in WWII my Dad volunteered and served in the Royal Canadian Armed Forces. In the land of his birth and family - England - and in some of the most dangerous battlefields - Italy and, when the war drew to a close, he was part of the stay back clean-up in Holland. All in all, he was away from my mother and me for five long years.
Like many veterans he didn't talk about the war. He did talk about some of the fine people he met. People - not enemies. So it is in his memory as well as the many, that I pray this day
Let us remember all who died and all whose lives have been, and continue to be, torn apart by war.
Let us remember the troops who are in danger this day ... the peace-makers and the peace-keepers.
and in those two minutes of silence we observe at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month, let us remember to pray for ourselves, that we may live with peace in our hearts, that our lives may be a sign of hope that one day all people may live in security and freedom.
Amen.
"Let no one be discouraged"
When you walk into the square in front of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy, you are immediately drawn to the Michaelangelo's 17 ft. marble masterpiece, 'David' - a copy, nonetheless the dramatic effect maintains.
The sculpture was commissioned for the interior of a church instead it was strategically placed in front of the Town Hall, looking towards Sienna.
In 1501 Sienna was Florence's Goliath and David stood, physical beauty imbued with the ancient story, as a presence powerful enough to inspire the citizens of Florence to believe in themselves - to believe that theirs was a strength capable of overcoming enemies that were mightier in numbers and artillery.
Summoned from herding sheep to the royal court to play his hard and calm Saul's tormented soul, David learned of the Philistine's giant. Goliath is described as being 6 cubits and one span tall - over 9 ft. On his hed was a bronze helmet and he wore a breastplate of scale-armour. His shield bearer walked in front of him.
"Let no one be discouraged," said David.."I'll go."
Saul said, "You can not go. You are only a boy." But David could not be dissuaded, so Saul did what he thought was best for the lad. Saul, who had increasingly put on the trappings of worldly power, dressed david in his Philistine armour and gave him his Philistine sword.
David tried to walk. "I cannot," he said. "I am not used to them."
David removed the armour and dropped the sword. He said, "I have snatched sheep from the jaws of lions and bears. God delivered me and God will deliver me from the Philistine." So David walked onto the battlefield with his stick in his hand, his sling and five smooth stones he'd selected from the Wadi.
Goliath laughed. He stepped out of the ranks. David took one practiced, perfectly aimed shot. It was over.
Michaelangel's David is a kind of attitudinal icon that we need to withstand our personal giants and the prevalent cultural giant - isms - materialism, cynicism, relativism ...
David knew God and he knew himself. David couldn't go into battle in anyone elses' armour. It's true for all of us.
When you walk into the square in front of Palazzo Vecchio in Florence, Italy, you are immediately drawn to the Michaelangelo's 17 ft. marble masterpiece, 'David' - a copy, nonetheless the dramatic effect maintains.
The sculpture was commissioned for the interior of a church instead it was strategically placed in front of the Town Hall, looking towards Sienna.
In 1501 Sienna was Florence's Goliath and David stood, physical beauty imbued with the ancient story, as a presence powerful enough to inspire the citizens of Florence to believe in themselves - to believe that theirs was a strength capable of overcoming enemies that were mightier in numbers and artillery.
Summoned from herding sheep to the royal court to play his hard and calm Saul's tormented soul, David learned of the Philistine's giant. Goliath is described as being 6 cubits and one span tall - over 9 ft. On his hed was a bronze helmet and he wore a breastplate of scale-armour. His shield bearer walked in front of him.
"Let no one be discouraged," said David.."I'll go."
Saul said, "You can not go. You are only a boy." But David could not be dissuaded, so Saul did what he thought was best for the lad. Saul, who had increasingly put on the trappings of worldly power, dressed david in his Philistine armour and gave him his Philistine sword.
David tried to walk. "I cannot," he said. "I am not used to them."
David removed the armour and dropped the sword. He said, "I have snatched sheep from the jaws of lions and bears. God delivered me and God will deliver me from the Philistine." So David walked onto the battlefield with his stick in his hand, his sling and five smooth stones he'd selected from the Wadi.
Goliath laughed. He stepped out of the ranks. David took one practiced, perfectly aimed shot. It was over.
Michaelangel's David is a kind of attitudinal icon that we need to withstand our personal giants and the prevalent cultural giant - isms - materialism, cynicism, relativism ...
David knew God and he knew himself. David couldn't go into battle in anyone elses' armour. It's true for all of us.
READERS WRITE
Neil (Eden's dad), Montreal, PQ
Those Women: "I found myself turning pages in anticipation of what might take place as if I had never encountered the events before! As I said, such a delightful read."
Wally S., Gibsons Landing, B.C.
"This story [Those Women] puts the reader in the life and times of the living Lord. Since Jesus is both man and God, I found inspiration in his humanity. I usually think more of his divinity."
S.I., Surrey, B.C.
"I work in an environment where single parenting, 99% of women, is the norm. Who Will Be Joseph? brings to light one of the largest barriers facing these children: lack of role models. Well put Ms. North!"
Marie, Saskatoon
"For someone like me who has little ability to imagine the [biblical] settings or behaviour except in the Sunday School story images of my childhood - long hair and flowing robes - Those Women is opening my eyes and, dare I say, my heart to a new vision of the flesh and blood Jesus. So thank you, thank you!"
A.S., St. Mark's Ocean Park
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Little Grey Donkey
I don't know who took this picture. I'd like to give them credit. It arrived in this morning's email from my sister.
Just in time for Palm Sunday. A reminder of Al and the parish tradition that started 19 years ago.
I moved to the Coast in the Autumn of 1989. My first parish. Visions of myself as The Country Vicar. Like many small communities, Gibsons had time and space for 'Characters'. Helen, who lives on The Bluff and spends her days picking up litter left behind by the more indolent among us, is still a presence. Al disappeared. No one knows. Very few know Al's role in the Palm Sunday tradition.
Al lived somewhere back of beyond in the forested hills above Roberts Creek from whence he would walk down the highway to Gibsons to spend most of his days outside the groceteria/coffee shop in the company of like-minded men and his saddle-packed dog. We didn't see much of Al over the winter. Early in Springtime, when patches of Snowdrops and Crocus were brightening the evergreen landscape, he reappeared.
'There's Al,' I said to Barbara. 'Looks like he's adopted a second dog.' As we drove past him we saw that it wasn't a dog. It was a little grey donkey colt. Who isn't a pushover for puppies, kittens and colts!?
'We need that little colt for the Palm Sunday procession,' I said and Barbara, Parish Warden and self-appointed Go-pher, went off to extend the invitation. Al said yes. It was settled. Plans for the liturgical procession around the churchyard - one of the busiest corners in Gibsons when the ferry arrives - underway.
Alone in the church office some weeks later, I looked up at the sound of knocking to see the unkempt Al waiting outside the locked door. I admit that I hesitated before opening the locked door and inviting him in.
Al reported that the 'authorities' had found him unfit to own a donkey colt and had seized the animal.
'I've come to assure you though that Curly will be here on Palm Sunday,' said Al. 'I wouldn't let them take him until they promised to keep his appointment.'
I thanked him, somewhat surprised by his integrity and determination. He surprised me further by saying that whilst he knew about the donkey carrying Mary at Christmastime, he didn't know anything about Palm Sunday. Would I mind telling him? I invited Al and the saddle-packed dog into my office. We spent the next hour drinking coffee, eating Sunday's left-over cookies and talking about the church's beliefs and traditions.
He never said so, but you could tell by his manner and vocabulary, his knowledge and curiosity, that Al was an educated man. One of the many who had 'dropped out'. A draft-dodger perhaps. Living in an abandoned cabin probably. He never came to the church again. He would nod and move on without a word when we met on the street - never to presume.
Al's unshaven face, unwashed body and ragged vesture camouflaged an honourable man. Many lesser men and women sit camouflaged in high places.
Lord, help me to see my brothers and sisters as you see them. Amen.
