Another wonderful week to soak up the beauty of my favourite world city. I have delighted in ferry trips on the harbour, watched whales breaching off the coast, been awakened by the kookaburras, and drunk in the wonder of the Australian bush with its blue gums, Waratahs and banksias. It has been a special time of visits with friends and family gatherings laughing and crying together as we mourned my brother Nick.
It is hard to believe that my time in Australia is almost over and on Friday I will wing my way back to Seattle. I am longing to see Tom again, but am not looking forward to the cold and rainy weather or to the last days of hype before the American elections. There is much to ponder as I travel. As usual when homeward bound, I will journal about my trip and seek to discern lessons that God wants to teach me through it. I took a lot of photos, and looking back over them as I fly is a great way to not just remind myself of all I experienced but also to stir reflection, insight and connection to God’s presence within my trip.
My Meditation Monday – The Circle of Seasons is an indication of some of the direction my thoughts are taking. As I pause after the completion of Celtic Advent – Following An Unfamiliar Path. I am not just pondering what the next project might be but also what new practices might help me continue to move towards a faith that is intertwined with every aspect of life. The place I like to start, as I discussed in my post is with the liturgical calendar and the insights it brings to my faith. I hope you enjoy the links to resources and books that I provided in the post. My apologies to those of you who usually access this through godspacelight.com. Because of my travels I did not have time to publish it on the blog.
Lilly Lewin with her Freerange Friday: Jesus Heals the Blind Man did not disappoint. However, like her, I want to choose to follow Jesus on the pilgrimage of love. You might also like to check out her Freerange Friday: Halloween Candy Prayers in which she gives some wonderful examples of ways to pray using Halloween candy and its wrappers.
In the midst of the challenging season we face, I find myself reaching for prayers and psalms to strengthen me. This week it was Psalm 86. I read it over several times today, relishing the words written millennia ago. They remind me of the constancy of our God and as often happens, today too, out of a time of deep prayer and reflection God spoke to me.
First I was reminded of the image above – a powerful image from one of the Wild Goose Festivals I attended many years ago.
Then as I reflected on the image, my words too were crafted into prayer and praise.
God almighty, creator of the universe
Holy and righteous One, loving and caring One
Into your hands I commit my life.
My body, my soul and my spirit belong to you.
Guide me to the wholeness hidden deep within,
The light in dark and broken places
That flickers and shines with hope and promise of renewal.
God ever present, Architect of all that is, all that was and all that will be,
Faithful and true One, gracious and merciful One,
Weave the wonder of your love
Into the tapestry of my life.
I will stir the dawn with praise and thanksgiving.
I will brighten the day with joyful shouts.
I will delight in your eternal presence.
Your greatness is beyond compare.
Your truth is a canopy in the heavens.
Your mercy stands firm around the earth.
Holy One, Sacred Three,
Your glory fills the universe,
I give myself to you.
I will praise your name for ever and ever.
Christine Sine
Substack: Walking In Wonder
Author of The Gift of Wonder: Creative Practices for Delighting In God
Host of The Liturgical Rebels Podcast