a prophetic voice-

Is my small heart big enough to embrace the pain of the whole Earth? the bereftness of people everywhere? the grief of those whose loss seems never-ending? the hunger of the starving? the isolation of the lonely and rejected and forgotten? the deep sorrow of the untimely dying? the even deeper sorrow of those from whom hope has fled? For I am part of them all and they are part of me- woven together, inseparably connected, one in living and dying, one in hoping and despairing, one in a circle of mutual respect and love. Is my small heart big enough to welcome the reality of such Oneness? Let it be so today.

The fire has died down      to a flickering ember Barely discernable Barely felt The once-roaring flames      of Presence and Power    become a tiny, barely-glowing spark    Too often the flame of Love has Consumed me, burning so Brightly, so fervently that Little else remained of me but ashes At this end of life A steady, persistent glow      will suffice, I think... And yet, at times, That Holy Love still flares and flames Filling me with a daring warmth Fueling me for yet one more Daring dash into      the flames of the      bush burning in my path.     

Perfection...that's the only word which adequately describes the weather today here in my part of Carolina. After weeks of hot, often-muggy, summertime swelter, today is breathtakingly gorgeous. I don't know what the temperature is in the greater community, but here, in my yard, under the canopy of tall, old trees, the thermometer outside the back window reads 85 degrees, with the humidity comfortably low and a gentle breeze occasionally ruffling the leaves of shrubbery surrounding the screened porch. As I said, perfection. The neighborhood is basking in a quiet Sunday afternoon, with only the occasional voices of kids returning from an afternoon at the nearby community pool to break the sabbath silence. And I have been reading and watching and listening to the silent sounds- not so oxymoronic, really, because that's when I can most clearly "hear" the voice of God speaking through my thoughts, my mind, my heart, my daydreams. The Holy One comes to me most fu