Words with Friends

If you know me at all, you can agree that I am a "lover of words".  Maybe this is one way to indeed admit that I love to talk, but also I appreciate the use of words.  I love thinking about why we use the words we do and how we use the words we do.  I like hearing how people say words and the personalities and stories that come with their accents.

While it is not an obsession, I do have an affinity for a came called...Words with Friends.  Some people play solitaire, others knit, some draw - my relaxation comes in the form of this game.

For those of you who have not played it, it is basically an on-going game of Scrabble.  Some might stress over the actual "winning" of the game, but my favorite part is out doing myself.  I love it when I learn a new word (because I didn't believe the person who played said word and then looked it up, root and all...)or when I use a word that isn't commonly used.

The words I play and my competitor play in this somewhat silly game lead me somewhere...a memory is invoked or curiosity sparked.  These words guide me, whether I intend them to or not.

Y'all might know of this book called the Bible.  (Kind of a big deal where I'm at...)  It is full of words that guide, whether we intend them too or not. I'm thinking of this one verse in particular from Psalm 119, vs 105:

Your word is a lamp 

before my feet 

   and a light for my journey.

Yes, I imagine the word of the Lord to be this gorgeous lamp illuminating my well pedicured feet, and yes, this is an illusion.  Often times in reality it feels like the word of the Lord is the flashlight you put on the shelf in case of emergencies, and you never can find it when you need it because you never use it. 

Hmm...you never use it.  

My prayer today is that I start these words I read, these ancient texts that ARE INDEED relevant to today's world wisely.  And don't put them on the shelf in case of emergencies. 

Prayer:

O God of Light, Father of Life, Giver of Wisdom, Benefactor of our souls, who givest to the faint-hearted who put their trust in Thee those things into which the angels desire to look; O Sovereign Lord, who hast brought us up from the depths of darkness to light, who hast given us life from death, who hast graciously bestowed upon us freedom from slavery, and who has scattered the darkness of sin within us; do Thou now also enlighten our eyes of our understanding, and sanctify us wholly in soul, body, and spirit- Amen. 

~ Liturgy of Saint Mark (175-254?)

Poems as Prayer

In honor of World Poetry Day (and the fact that we are studying poetry in Hebrew!), I thought I would share some of my favorite poems.  Many of you all know my love of literature and language, and poetry is no exception to this love.  To be seeing and reading (or at least trying to) poetry in an ancient language that still comes alive is such an exciting thing!  

The poem we translated and read yesterday is one most of you might be familiar with, Psalm 1.  Here it is in Hebrew:

Blessed is the man

        Who does not walk in the counsel

of the wicked

or stand in the way of sinners

        or sit in the seat of mockers.

But his delight is in the law of the Lord,   

        and on his law he meditates day and night.

He is like a tree planted by streams of water,

        which yields its fruit in season,

and whose leaf does not wither.

        Whatever he does prospers.

Not so the wicked!

        They are like chaff

        that the wind blows away.

Therefore the wicked will not stand in

the judgement,

nor sinners in the assembly of the righteous.

For the Lord watches over the way of the righteous,

        but the way of the wicked will perish.

                                                ~Psalm 1

A beautiful reminder of what it means to walk in the way of Lord.  

Poetry has been for a long time a way for people to artfully express praise and prayer to God.  Just as some see God in other mediums of art, poets have such a wonderful gift of capturing God through the use of words.  I was introduced to the poet Gerald Manley Hopkins by my professor yesterday when he read the following poem as our opening prayer, Pied Beauty:

Glory be to God for dappled things—
For skies of couple-colour as a brinded cow;
    For rose-moles all in stipple upon trout that swim;
Fresh-firecoal chestnut-falls; finches’ wings;
Landscape plotted and pieced—fold, fallow, and plough;
    And áll trádes, their gear and tackle and trim.

All things counter, original, spare, strange;
Whatever is fickle, freckled (who knows how?)
    With swift, slow; sweet, sour; adazzle, dim;
He fathers-forth whose beauty is past change:
                 Praise him. 

 What I love about this poem by Hopkins is how he captures the glory of God in what might seem small and mundane things, but as one who was privileged to sit outside in the sun yesterday while studying, I was made more aware of this glorious creation God has given us. 

While some of our teachers might have taught us that there is bad poetry, I think any poem that is expressing oneself freely in praise, thanksgiving, despair, or need to our God is a good one.  Just as I've told my youth there is no such thing as a bad prayer, I think the same with poems.  

One of my favorite poets of all times is often not taken "seriously", yet if you mention his name, I guarantee majority of people's eyes will light up with delight in remembering his works.  Shel Silverstein is his name and my favorite poem is "Hug O' War".  It was printed and posted in my room in college for all FOUR years.  I used to say this was my "mantra" and in some ways it still is.  I am not a fan of conflict and to this day hate playing games where there are losers.  Silverstein captures this somewhat childish innocence so perfectly and gives voice to the idea of peace.  (If this is too big of a stretch for you, that's ok...it's just my interpretation of a poem...I'd love to hear yours!)

Poetry has been able to give voice to so many people, actions, and even things in our world, from the ancient Psalms of David to the sonnets of Shakespeare to the silliness of Silverstein. On the local NPR station, every morning at about 10 til 10am, they play the "Writer's Almanac" which is hosted by Garrison Keillor (another favorite!).  It includes facts about writers and such on this day in history, and normally concludes with a poem.   I would encourage you to visit the blog here and read today's poem by Michael Ryan, entitled "Garbage Truck". 

 As you go out into the world today and do what you always do, my prayer for you is two fold:

- that you would take time to stop and notice the mundane

- read a favorite poem and maybe just think on it

If you get stuck on trying to think of a favorite, just open the book of Psalms or you can visit The Center for Public Christianity where they have compiled some of their favorite poems "of a spiritual bent". 

Blessings! 

Katy

Be well, do good work, and keep in touch.^®  (from The Writer's Almanac")

Dear Companion

Scripture for the day:

⁶⁰  When many of his disciples heard it, they said, “This is a hard saying; who can listen to it?” ⁶¹ But Jesus, knowing in himself that his disciples were grumbling about this, said to them, “Do you take offense at this? ⁶² Then what if you were to see the Son of Man ascending to where he was before? ⁶³  It is the Spirit who gives life; the flesh is no help at all. The words that I have spoken to you are spirit and life. ⁶⁴ But there are some of you who do not believe.” (For Jesus knew from the beginning who those were who did not believe, and who it was who would betray him.) - John 6:60-64

Last week during chapel, I was introduced to a song.  How it was presented might be part of the reason I am so in love with it, but it also too is a very good song to listen to.  (I promise, a good use of 3 minutes!)

The song is entitled "Dear Companion" and it is performed by Ben Sollee and Daniel Martin Moore.  How it was presented for our chapel service was as part of our meditation.  We read scripture (which of course I am completely blanking on but I think the one above fits) and then spent time in silence meditating.  We then were presented with this song and the lyrics were displayed on the screen in front in time with the music.

I found it a very moving song and I hope you will take the time to listen to it.  They explain the history of the song, but I first listened to it without any context except having read a passage from the bible involving Jesus (so you know who was on my mind...) Here's the best version I've found (courtesy of Youtube)...the lyrics are posted down below.

Dear Companion,

Am I on your mind?

Dear Companion, 

Am I on your mind?

You have never left mind.

Dear Companion,

You're deaf to me I fear.

Dear Companion,

You're deaf to me I fear.

Your life is far away from here.

Dear Companion,

Can you hear my cry?

Dear Companion, 

Can you hear my cry?

From this cold bed where I lie.

Dear Companion,

Before I close my eyes,

Dear Companion,

Before I close my eyes,

I wonder if I am on your mind.

What in this songs speaks to you, especially in this season of Lent?

What about in relationship with the verse I put at the beginning?

Jesus is coming to the end of his journey - he knows it, and has just finished telling the disciples how he is the bread of life.  And they question him - still!

Are we the companion Jesus is seeking out?  Are we listening to him?

Needless to say, this song has stuck with me.  And the thought of Jesus seeking me out.  For some reason, it has weighed on my head and heart.

Prayer: Triune God, open our ears so that we can hear you speaking to us. Help us to not only keep  you on our minds, but also our hearts.  You sent your son to us, for us; he lived and died in order to redeem us.  Let us not forget his cries from the cross; let us not be deaf. You indeed are a speaking God...a moving God...an acting God, and we give thanks and praise for that.  Amen

The Tie that Binds

Good day friends and I hope this Monday finds you all doing well.  This "Spring Forward" time change always gets me, but I know once the warmer weather is here and I find myself wanting to stay outdoors, I'll be thankful.

What the nails look like.

My mother graciously gave me a copy of the Lenten Devotion that my home church is using this Lenten season and it is entitled, "Your Nail" and includes, yes, you guessed it, a nail. There was some joking among our family with my mother and us kids, because she always had her nail on her - and we could see it. I was a little worried about flying back with this nail in my bag, but apparently TSA wasn't.

This book that accompanies the nail has been quite engaging.  Written by Arden W. Mead, it connects your nail you are carrying around with the context of nails in the bible, nails in our daily lives, and more.  

I found today's devotion intriguing mainly because of the questions it asks of the reader.  The devotion begins by saying "nails are very useful things...but often it takes a lot of them to get a job done". It goes on to talk about how we are not alone in this community of believers (in this case, in the community of "nail holders") and how today would be a good day to think about them:  

• Who are your fellow Christians?
• Where are they?
• What do you have in common?
• How does it help you to know that they are there?
• Does it help them to know that you are there too? 

Reading and reflecting on these questions was really helpful this morning. I was reminded of my mom who faithfully has been carrying around her nail, allowing it to poke and prod her and remind her during this Lenten season.  I thought of my home church congregation who continues to keep me and our other seminarians in their prayers.  I thought of a friend who asked for prayers from his "Prayer Warrior" friends for his grandson.  I thought of a former youth who asked for prayers for her grandmother who is ill.  I thought of the communities in Japan who are still recovering, mourning, and rebuilding in the year since they're world was rock by an earthquake and tsunami.   I think of the community I am in now at CTS, especially with Midterms upon us. 

My heart has been especially heavy with the news this weekend about the US Sergeant who opened fire on Afghan people. (read more about it here http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=148387039) While details are still being discovered, what really spoke to me was this morning when it said the Sergeant was a husband and a father of two children.  My thoughts and prayers are not only with the Afghan families who lost children, husbands, or wives, but also with the family of this soldier. 

So, do we know we have other communities of believers uplifting us in thought and prayer?  Does it help us to know they're there?  For, me - yes.  I am reminded of the hymn, "Blessed Be the Tie That Binds".  I've included the words below, but I think the verse that means the most to me today and in thinking of the Communion of Saints is this one "From sorrow, toil and pain, and sin, 

we shall be free, and perfect love and friendship reign through all eternity." 

The Communion of Saints, myself and my fellow believers, are redeemed by the 

blood that came from the nails in Christ's hands. We are bound and tied together in Christ's 

redeeming love.  I do believe we share in each other's woes and burdens as well as our hopes and joys.  

I believe there is comfort to be found in this community of believers and 

like our nails, this is "useful and a good thing".  

 (I've used this hymn as my prayer today. During my reading of each verse, I thought of a person or a community in need of prayers that possibly related to what the verse was saying.  I would encourage you to try it.  If you are a music person like me, here is a link to an organ playing the hymn.)   

 

Blessed be the tie that binds 

Our hearts in Christian love; 

The fellowship of kindred minds

Is like that to that above.

Before our Father's throne 

We pour our ardent prayers;

Our fears, our hopes, our aims are one 

Our comforts and our cares.

We share each other's woes,

Our mutual burdens bear;

And often for each other flows 

The sympathizing tear.

When we asunder part,

It gives us inward pain; 

But we shall still be joined in heart,

And hope to meet again.

This glorious hope revives 

Our courage by the way; 

While each in expectation lives, 

And longs to see the day.

From sorrow, toil and pain, 

And sin, we shall be free,

And perfect love and friendship reign 

Through all eternity.

Amen.

Tired: Adjective or Verb?

Dear me, have you ever heard me say I am tired?  Well, today I admit it.  Friends, I am tired.

(What I think "tired" looks like today.)

I've been fighting being sick for a week and we all know how we fill when under the weather.  For me at least, I just want to be home, with my mother taking care of me, and it wouldn't hurt if the cat chose my bed to sleep on.

Well, none of that is happening and life goes on; I'll have to suffice with my Diet Canada Dry and splurge at Whole Foods on "Leapin' Lemur" cereal.

My "splurge"

I'm the kind of tired that reminds me of a small child - where just about anything not going my way will bring me to tears.  And friends, I have at least 3-5 things in the past 6 hours not go my way (and by "way" I don't mean they messed up my Starbucks order, a bigger "way").

At least she looks adorable while upset.

Let's just say I feel like if I were in The Hunger Games, I don't feel like the odds ever would be in my favor.  That kind of day/week thing happening.

So what does one do when they feel that tired that is beyond physical - for some odd reason you feel zapped mentally, emotionally, and just all over...?

I took 5 minutes and went on the interwebs for some inspiration.  Friends, as you look at these words (creatively displayed), I would encourage you to take a deep breath and pray over them. That's what I am doing and need to continue doing.

Blessings to you all this day and all days, Katy

 (If you want to shoot a prayer my way too, that would be great...midterms start next week which just adds all sorts of goodness to my already frazzled state.)

Hello!

Lenten blessings friends!  I was made more aware of my lack of blogging when I was talking to a friend who said they thought they had the wrong blog because nothing had been posted!  I realized my error - I have been the one not posting!


My apologies in my absence; even with a day more in February, it went by too quickly.  


I started my spring semester here at CTS which includes exciting courses such as Preaching, Presbyterian History & Polity, New Testament Survey, and Exegesis of Old Testament Themes. 

This is not to say that we didn't read the Bible last semester, but this semester, there seems to be more intention in our reading of scriptures.  You might think, "uh, duh, you're in seminary, shouldn't you be reading the bible?", but you would be surprised how easily that Book gets put aside in order for others.

Looking forward to March, you'll be sure to be hearing from me.  While I may not have been writing in my actual blog, I've been keeping copious notes on what I want to be blogging about.  So stay tuned friends, I promise I'll be around more than I was in February.  

Here's a happy picture of some scripture I've been turning too.  I find this a good verse for me to remember during this season of Lent too.  Blessings to you all!