C. S. Lewis deals so deftly with the issue of pride, well, deftly until it hits you like a sledge hammer. Today, Lewis from The Problem of Pain, on pride: “…it is the fall in every individual life, and in each day of each individual life, the basic sin behind all particular sins: at this very moment you and I are either committing it, or about to commit it, or repenting it.”
Though he and I have never met, I think he’s got that about right.
Photo taken on a run around the lake this weekend. The animal kingdom, at times, shows signs of wiser, if not higher, development.
Continuing my Mary Oliver-a-thon. A two-fer with the whole poem and a portion, photo taken in Galveston recently.
A couple of (the last two) stanzas from Mary Oliver’s Mysteries, Yes poem stuck with me this morning:
“Let me keep my distance, always, from those
who think they have the answers.
Let me keep company always with those who say
‘Look!’ and laugh in astonishment,
and bow their heads.”
The word that comes to mind here is “reverence,” which Webster defines as “profound adoring awed respect.” Reverence doesn’t allow us to think “we have all the answers.” Instead, it causes us to “look,” to “laugh in astonishment.” There is much to look at, much to be astonished by.
In looking at my folder of completed photo and text offerings, I realize that they are heavily skewed to Mary Oliver poetry, which makes sense as I am working my way through her collection of poems — Devotions. Here is one (another) of those. Photo taken in Portland some years back.
As has been/will be reflected in my posts for a while, I am working my way through Devotions, a compendium of Mary Oliver’s work over the years — most excellent! Today is a two-fer from her poem, Don’t Hesitate. it didn’t seem right o provide only a slice of this pie. Photo 1 is a Galveston sunrise taken a few months back. Photo 2 is one of the mystery photos that appear on my camera roll from time to time.
It seems the perfect send off to my friend Fr. Sid Gervais who passed away this weekend — this, today’s entry in Oswald Chambers’ My Utmost for His Highest which Chambers titles “Undaunted Radiance”:
“Nay, in all things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Romans 8:37
Chambers writes: “Undaunted radiance is not built on anything passing, but on the love of God that nothing can alter. The experiences of life, terrible or monotonous, are impotent to touch the love of God, which is in Christ Jesus our Lord.”
That pretty much sums up how Sid lived, what he believed, and was a, perhaps the, basis for his interminably positive attitude, and it is his legacy he leaves for me, for us — “Nay, in all things, we are more than conquerors through Him that loved us.” Romans 8:37
This short in stature, yet a giant in every other way, man – Sid, the conqueror.
This Sunday’s offering in honor of Fr. Sid Gervais, a friend of mine who passed away in his sleep Saturday night (so Sid-like!). The text is from Mary Oliver, but Sid certainly lived by these principles.
Photo taken in Kona, Hawaii a couple of months back.
From Mary Oliver’s The World I Live In:
“You wouldn’t believe what once or
twice I have seen. I’ll just
tell you this:
Only if there are angels in your head will you
ever, possibly, see one.”
Here’s to making room in the head for angels and countless other blessings that may, possibly, appear if we just keep them in our heads.
It occurs to me... 