Wednesday, December 21, 2011

If You Want...







Several years ago, Jud and I took training to become non-denominational Spiritual Directors. It was a wonderful experience. We met a weekend each month for two years and our class was full of diversity in religion and, well, not men exactly. There were two, one male leader and a whole lot of wonderful women.







At this time,  I found a "don't miss" retreat concerning using the arts in spiritual direction and traveled to a beautiful retreat center on the ocean shore of Washington state, where we studied, prayed and played for a week. The leaders, Christine Valters Paintner and Betsy Beckman were terrific and now have written several books. Christine also has a blog and, this morning, I was again reminded of this poem.





  1. If You Want

    If
    you want,
    the Virgin will come walking down the road
    pregnant with the holy,
    and say…
    “I need shelter for the night, please take me inside your heart,
    My time is so close.”
    Then, under the roof of your soul, you will witness the sublime
    intimacy, the divine, the Christ
    taking birth
    forever,
    as she grasps your hand for help, for each of us
    is the midwife of God, each of us.
    Yes, there, under the dome of your being does Creation
    come into existence eternally, through your woman, dear pilgrim –
    the sacred womb of your soul,
    As God grasps our arm for help’ for each of us is
    His beloved servant
    never far.
    If you want, the Virgin will come walking
    Down the street pregnant
    With light and
    …sing. 

    -St. John of the Cross from Love Poems to God translated by Daniel Ladinsky



My final words to you...may you, whatever faith or belief you hold, give birth to whatever is sacred in your heart.

And thank you, during this terrible and wonderful time, for surrounding me with caring and hope.

P.S. I do have a pretty new "face"  on my blog. More about that very soon. I can't seem to get rid of the yellow. Susie Hibdon to the rescue!!!

Monday, December 5, 2011

Let it Be



 Let It Be

Writer: LENNON, JOHN / MCCARTNEY, PAUL

When I find myself in times of trouble, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
And in my hour of darkness she is standing right in front of me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be 
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be


And when the broken hearted people living in the world agree
There will be an answer, let it be
For though they may be parted, there is still a chance that they will see
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be


And when the night is cloudy there is still a light that shines on me
Shine until tomorrow, let it be
I wake up to the sound of music, Mother Mary comes to me
Speaking words of wisdom, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
There will be an answer, let it be
Let it be, let it be, let it be, yeah, let it be
Whisper words of wisdom, let it be


Whatever your beliefs, may you have a gentle, peaceful day.
Let it be.

P. S. I just talked to Jud. He looks fine. He said that the biopsy was "no big deal." The worst part was the novacaine.  What a guy!