A Positively Poetic Priest

Grant to us, Lord, we pray, the spirit to think and do always those things that are right, that we, who cannot exist without you, may by you be enabled to live according to your will; through Jesus Christ our Lord, who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Proper 14 BCP 232) Don’t Hesitate BY MARY OLIVER If you suddenly and unexpectedly feel joy, don’t hesitate. Give in to it. There are plenty of lives and whole towns destroyed or about to be. We are not wise, and not very often kind. And much can never be redeemed. Still, life has some possibility left. Perhaps this is its way of fighting back, that sometimes something happens better than all the riches or power in the world. It could be anything, but very likely you notice it in the instant when love begins. Anyway, that’s often the case. Anyway, whatever it is, don’t be afraid of its plenty. Joy is not made to be a crumb. I love reading poetry which reminds me to be incarnational. To remem...

I have been reading and writing a lot lately. There is so much that needs to be said and so much which needs to be heard. We desperately need to listen to each other right now. Also I am in the midst of wedding planning and right now that has consisted of a few pro/con lists. As I was staring at some of the headlines this morning it caught my poetic eye that "Protect" and "Protest" are only one letter apart. We have had an eruption of protesting and protecting and I think some of us are losing sight of the fact that most of us are trying to do both. Protecting by protesting, on both sides. In a bit of poetic fancy, I took those two closely spelled seven letter words and made a Pro/Con List of Hope. Pro List           Con List Project Conceal Profess Concern Protect Conduct   Protest Confute Provoke Condone Propose Confide  Provide Consult  Prosper Console Proudly Confirm 

Almighty God, whom truly to know is everlasting life: Grant us so perfectly to know your Son Jesus Christ to be the way, the truth, and the life, that we may steadfastly follow his steps in the way that leads to eternal life; through Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, for ever and ever. Amen. (Fifth Sunday of Easter, BCP 225) The Call. Come, my Way, my Truth, my Life: Such a Way, as gives us breath: Such a Truth, as ends all strife: Such a Life, as killeth death. Come, my Light, my Feast, my Strength: Such a Light, as shows a feast: Such a Feast, as mends in length: Such a Strength, as makes his guest. Come, my Joy, my Love, my Heart: Such a Joy, as none can move: Such a Love, as none can part: Such a Heart, as joyes in love. From The Temple (1633), by George Herbert I believe that God has given us free will, the freedom to make our own choices, in this world. For better...

the spark electricity firing neurons causing thought propelling motion into speech open hearts open minds with love between the same words spoken in conjunction I love you 1/23/18

God willing when I lie shadowed in the dark night amidst the spirits fly head on into the light success is truly mine waiting across the                                    line        broken verses                                 broken lies  truth mirrored                            success denied       love burst through                                         ending pattern                                                   foresight mine         ...

what would I give to stop the flow                                the                                drip                                the                               loss                                 of life                                 of                                love                                 of         ...

wrapped in ragged cotton used to be some mother's pride a shirt, a second pair of shoes concealed as precious treasure what would you carry with you no home to lay your head jewels or tools, art or comforts all you could manage in a bag consider well the proposition we are all homeless in our beds waiting for life's greatest venture to take us home for eternal rest 1/5/18

"action, not words" but, oh! the words! the red words the ones which bring connection through letters novels, stories spoken, written not half symbolized text messages feel the depth in the true words the true actions born from humanity, not automation 12/31/17

like so many ghosts convening in the hall floating through the walls the floor, the ceiling history makes itself known centuries mixed with decades time as permeable skin wrapped loosely as a dressing gown preparing us for forever 12/18/17

the honest truth people don't even like when others are not busy enough the honest truth we don't know how to handle our own frustratingly similar emotions the honest truth we forget that uniqueness and similarity are not opposites 12/6/17

the gleaming look in your eyes belies the falsehood and shows in stated garb, the truth as such as it is in war where lies no justice, no just reward no righteousness in trade for death a single sigh, a headless doll lying on the bank of the pillaged village this is not the end, nor the beginning it is in fact, the messy middle 11/26/17

the room is full of truths wandering through the minds of people in their walking sleep passing by unseen dust in the wind catch a breeze... and sneeze be aware your body may not like the truth when it enters in. 11/10/17

it hardly seems like victory the giving up of love yet constant stories, epics, tales repeat the lesson again in order to love, you have to set free you can't love a child by smothering you can't love a cause by keeping it you can't love a passion by controlling it you have to let it be victory is in the gift

firmly planted grounded in each passing second whisking by so much fluff blown in the breeze unregistered by human thought caught up in past or future dilapidated by realization the now you've noticed has but passed and in thinking caught up in past there is no moment recognizable without memory impermanence is impermanent all is static fluid 10/24/17

I see a town, sleeping by a river I see a festival, celebrating history I see a street, cute store fronts galore I see a playground, the future at work I see the lights, at home in the night I see the elegance, of architecture preserved I see the people, community engaged I see God, waiting for me 10/19/17

the consequences are their own reward the actions must be chosen carefully the rust belt resiliency grinds on polishing the only metal worth the spit indeed there is no transparency when the motivations lack symmetry love gives and takes, holds and lets go love is its own reward, waiting to be enjoyed 10/11/17

the soundtrack of a lifetime simple settings in the background a table here, a chair over there the carpet pathways carrying the melody of daily routine the patterns only we can see punctuated by the harmonies of the intersection of our lives with others 10/6/17

Savor the bridal veil of spiderwebs trailed behind in the flow air artfully streaming in the curved aerodynamic symmetries glinting in the sun 9/26/17

Illness is an invitation Into another way of being Coming without fanfare Or even cream colored paper Yet you stand invited nonetheless An invitation like so many others Giving pause for preparations Bringing worry as to wardrobe Unprepossessing all the same A chance to look at life again

a simple inquiry of jest sarcasm is at best taken seriously you've found the deepest secrets unlawfully held the flash of insight, nigh improbable is garnered at the end of every foresight who wrote the conclusion? wait for the revelation