Prayer Diary

More signs of a solitary traveler

1/19/2019

I just had to share this with my prayerdiary friends about a post on www.acottagebythesea.net.

Would you believe this? I was selected as one of two the blog stars for December 2018 by Lonely Planet for my 12/28 post “More Signs of a Solitary Traveler.” “LP Pathfinders: what did you write this month [December]’ in our Travel Bloggers and Pathfinders forum.”

“Hey guys,
Thanks to everyone who submitted their wonderful travel tales from December 2018! A big congratulations to the following blog-stars who made it into this month's new-look round up:
@BobbbiFisher
@ChrisGaillard
You can check out the round-up in full, including why these blogs were selected, here: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/blog/2019/01/17/pathfinders-best-blogs-instagram-shots-and-videos-from-december-2018
Well done everyone! Keep up the wonderful travel writing and we look forward to reading more of your posts next month.
Happy travels!
Jack

Living with grace

1/13/2019

Lately I’ve been thinking about the ‘role’ of those of us blessed to be positive, optimistic, and to see all things, good or bad, in the light of hope, love, and possibilities for GOOD. Everything that happens is grist for the mill. No matter what is before us, we can work through to a positive win/win solution. It takes time, effort, and commitment, and even moments of falling short in order to keep it going, but we do. I believe I have a part to play, and a choice in moving forward with love, or in joining in hate (gossip, schadenfreude, etc.). I don’t’ believe this is of my own doing, although I am aware of the benefits inherent in the time and place of my birth. What I’m emphasizing here is disposition.
My faith and my church community help me fulfill this ‘role’. Grace doesn’t offer any excuse, nor get me off the hook; rather it obliges be see my role as to live a life of service. I admit I fall short all the time, but I try my best to keep the purpose in front of me.

Eternal life lived with God

1/2/2019

I taken on the challenge of reading the Scripture, Commentary, and Reflections (by Gail R. O’Day) of the Gospel of St. John in The New Interpreter’s Bible, (Abington Press, 1995)--all 475 pages of. It inspires slow, ponderous reading; nevertheless, my goal is to complete it in 2019. So far, I’m about ready to begin Chapter 4.
    Today I’m pondering O’Days comment about eternal life in John 3:15:

Just as Moses lifted up the serpent in the wilderness, so must the Son of Man be lifted up, that whoever believes in him may have eternal life.

    She writes: “Eternal” does not mean mere endless duration of human existence, but is a way of describing life as lived in the unending presence of God.”
    As I meditate on this idea of eternity as God’s ending presence, a sense of deep, timeless peace that is eternity coming over me; I could be in the moment forever; if something were to happen to me I would be at peace; worries and concerns, as well has joys and happy anticipations fade a way.
     The spiritual awakening in me is palpable when I shift from considering eternity as part of the human life cycle (Chronos time) to meditating on it as a way of being with God (Kairos time). I sense a leap in faith that is not of my own doing.

Christmas Eve~

12/24/2018

Christmas Eve. Many people out there are listening to Christmas music, wrapping Christmas presents, decorating Christmas cookies—Christmas, Christmas, Christmas. But very few admit to be Christian. I’m not judging, just observing.
I don’t need to announce publically that I am a Christian, but personally it makes all the difference in my life. Faith leads me toward humility and away from hubris. It is not me alone creating good thoughts, words and deeds, but God working through me. When I falter, I am forgiven and led to pick myself up
This Christmas Eve I will be listening to Christmas music, wrapping Christmas presents, and decorating Christmas cookies. God will be working through everyone, but I am blessed with the grace of knowing the mysterious benefit.

Advent hope

12/20/2018

Advent is a time of hope. We hope for Jesus’ saving grace. We know that his birth was just the beginning, that during his life he experienced satisfaction but then suffered and died a horrific death. The fulfillment of hope doesn’t come until Easter with his resurrection to new life.
    It is the cycle of all human experience; we sometimes we forget the good parts that hope carries for us.
    The following post was written for my cottage by the sea blog. As Christians, we can read the Advent hope into it.

Back home. Hiatus from posting as I catch up with all that’s going on here before we head to Lancaster on Saturday for Christmas. Tis the season to be grateful even among change and sadness.
      On Monday night my church went caroling to several of the people that I visit regularly; many young children and teenagers brought joy to the elderly who can’t get out anymore. ‘Shut-in’ may not be a PC term, but there’s some truth in it; for sure, however, they opened up their hearts and doors to those of us who can still get out and about.
     I had missed two weeks volunteering at Open Table, our local food pantry. I help on Tuesday, Senior Day. Many said they missed me and asked if I was okay. “Yes, I’m here today,” is all that I said, and then listened to their holiday stories. One woman admitted that the holidays weren’t joyful for her; two of her four adults sons had died of heart attacks during the year and the other two have heart conditions. Someone else admitted, “Christmas isn’t Tra-la-la-la-la for everyone.”
      But there was also joy and gratitude. A food supplier had donated frozen ham, turkey breast, or roast beef, a marvelous choice for each guest.

Walking around with God

12/12/2018

This is my last day in Florence walking around with God. Of course, I can walk around with God anywhere, because God is everywhere.
Walking around with God is not a white privilege; you don’t have to afford be in such a beautiful place as Florence; God walks with everyone, everywhere, all the time--God shows no partiality.
God is always there to walk with me. I just have to notice.

St. James Episcopal Church in Florence

12/10/2018

     Yesterday I attended Sunday worship at St. James Episcopal Church (where I used to go when I was a student here in 1959-60). The program was printed in both English and Italian, parts of the service were conducted in Italian, and Communion was open to everyone. The congregation was composed of people of all colors, languages, and nationalities. To quote my mom, it was what Heaven is like.
     Their mission statement:
We rejoice in a diverse and international parish family, and serve Italian and English speakers from many denominations, back grounds and cultures.

     The Rev. Cannon T. Mark Dunnam, preaching (in English) on Luke 3: 1-6, drew a contrast between the powerful rulers of the day and ‘insignificant’ John the Baptist. The message was compelling: God calls insignificant people like us to do powerful things.

Church walk in Florence~

12/6/2018

On every visit to Florence I take a morning church. I photograph each church exterior and move on to the next one. The rain stopped me from getting to Santa Croce.

The Convent of San Marco and Fra Angelico

12/4/2018

Here it is again! A slideshow of Fra Angelico’s frescoes in the monks’ cells in the Convent of San Marco. At 8:15 I was the first visitor of the day, and for a while I had the place to myself. I have a set of these same pictures stored on my computer, so why take them again? Because these are of the moment, this moment of prayer.

Send love!

12/2/2018

I’m back in Florence, walking around with God. My commitment to this is strong, which means that I am remembering more often to feel God’s presence, not just when I visit a church or walk the streets, but as I encounter people living their lives and expressing joys and concerns.
     My purpose simple: live only in, by, through, and with love. This means no judgments, other than to notice that someone is expressing joy or concern. If I observe joy, I express gratitude. If I observe what appears as sadness or anger, I send God’s peace.
    Case in point! A bit ago, a boy (age eight ?) sat down in this café with his parents and grandmother. He appeared distressed and started pouting and crying. He was not happy, nor were the adults happy with him. I need not analyze or explain the situation further.
     My prayer challenge is simple: send love. Further judgments on my part diminish the power of prayer.