Persian Art from Andrey’s Art Portfolio
ARTFUL WRITING
THE GUEST HOUSE
CALL ME SENTIMENTAL
Safari Wallpaper by Alphonse Mucha
REMEMBERING
June for me is sometimes still bittersweet. It took 35 years for destiny to reunite my mother to her beloved spouse on this day 4 years ago.
There’s no denying – I’m very wired for passionate sentiments. I sympathize with this sultry lady above as she bows down to the bird in her hand while the other three wait for her gentle touch. I was on the phone with the doctor when my mother expired. Her goodbye groan jumped from my ear to my heart as if God had given me the capacity to comfort her in the last moment. The groan was a sound I had never heard before. Soon after the nurse sent me a photo of 3 pigeons perched on the room’s windowsill. The Holy Trinity came to mind.
How astonishing is Mucha’s sentimental lady to encourage me to memorialize my mother with a happier sentiment – the joy of celebrating my marriage on June 4th – 32 years strong.
O, June, I will always embrace you with some bitter sweetness.
PEACE VS. VIOLENCE
Love is Patient by Jen Norton
OFF THE CUFF Writing
“I believe in the Holy Spirit, the Lord, the giver of life!” –Nicene Creed
On the heels of Pentecost across America, I sorrow for the destruction of communities embattled with violence against injustice. In the tumult of rage against common sense, history repeats itself. I believe that peace has to begin first in each heart no matter the circumstances. Let us be reminded by those world leaders to stand for peace and justice in a non-violent manner.
“Hate begets hate; violence begets violence; through violence you may murder the hater, but you do not murder hate.” —Martin Luther King
“Peace cannot be built on exclusivism, absolutism and intolerance. But neither can it be built on vague liberal slogans and pious programs gestated in the smoke of confabulation.” –Mahatma Gandhi
“The peace produced by grace is a spiritual stability too deep for violence — it is unshakeable.” –Thomas Merton
“Peace is, I think, the manifestation of human compassion. Through violence, you may ‘solve’ one problem, but you sow the seeds for another.” —Dalai Lama
“Do not fear those before whom you are now afraid; do not fear them, says the Lord, for I am with you to save you, to rescue you from their power.” –Jeremiah 42:11
Come, Holy Spirit, trace with fire Love’s design.
THE WONDERS OF THE HOLY SPIRIT
Art by Jen Norton
GOOD SUNDAY AFFIRMATION
ALLELUIA ! Church is reopening. May the Holy Spirit shower you with these gifts:
Understanding and receiving knowledge
Accepting counseling
Growing boldly in wisdom
with the help of
Fortitude, piety and the fear of the Lord
May this prayer bless you.
Come, Holy Spirit, fill the hearts of your faithful
kindle in them the fire of your love and you shall renew the face of the earth.
THE SPIRIT OF PENTECOST
A Bing Image
A THOUGHT AND MEDITATION
The Holy Spirit is constant to pour silent prayer in the believer to live out in charity. Listening to the Holy Spirit demands faith.
CINQUAIN POEM
There is
Grace and power
Being vulnerable
Let go of the worldly for God’s
Wisdom
“ALL SHALL BE WELL”
HAIKU
It’s the way of God
Doing one thing at a time
Begin with the heart
“All shall be well, and all shall be well, , and all manner of things shall be well.”
–Julian of Norwich
A PURE GIFT OF GRACE
A Pexels Photo
A THOUGHT AND MEDITATION
“Go after experience rather than knowledge.”
“On account of pride, knowledge may often deceive you, but this gentle, loving affection will not deceive you. Knowledge tends to breed conceit, but love builds. Knowledge is full of labor, but love, full of rest.”
–from the “Cloud of Unknowing” an unknown mystic of the 14th century
Resting in the Lord is pure gift.
