Category Archives: Poetry

Writing a Prayer

My friend wrote this icon. “You don’t paint icons,” she said. “You write them. You are writing a prayer. “You begin with a small brush. Then use smaller and smaller ones.” She entered the tomb with her brushes, paint and trepidation. … Continue reading

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Our Hands Have Touched God

That which was from the beginning, which we have heard, which we have seen with our eyes, which we have looked at and our hands have touched—this we proclaim concerning the Word of life. —1 John 1:1 On this day, my prayer takes … Continue reading

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Ash Wednesday

Pilgrimage Ash Wednesday He’s on the road PUT waiting for me today we begin a forty day walk to Jerusalem I lace up my shoes and follow PUT from a safe distance but it’s bound to happen His eyes will catch mine … Continue reading

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The Word Became Flesh

Emmanuel when Jesus came he didn’t sneak in through the back door of poverty selling magic tricks for applause no Jesus came poor entered every day of every life and never left The Word became flesh and blood,     and moved into … Continue reading

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Advent I: Hope

Hope God, you come like the persistent widow and knock on my door. You keep knocking, wearing me down with your pleas until I do right. You come like the friend at midnight calling me out of bed to give my neighbour what they … Continue reading

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A Prayer for When You’re in the Middle of the Story

For I am the Lord your God who takes hold of your right hand and says to you, Do not fear; I will help you. –Isaiah  41:13 (NIV) God, you promised to help me, your right hand guiding, with a cautious squeeze or a confident tug. … Continue reading

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Love Mischief

God’s been up to some love mischief. I have three pieces of evidence. Last Sunday I preached on the lectionary readings for the day. I was captivated by an image I found in Psalm 116 which said that God inclines … Continue reading

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Flies and Cold Fish

I’ve been doing too much, thinking too much. I’m so full of thoughts about what I have to do, my prayer times are inundated with them. I try to push them away, but each one promises to be the thought that will … Continue reading

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Empty

Empty Before you go to bed, shake the dust off your feet. Open your front door and –with a shoe in each hand– smack those soles together. Like a TV preacher, tell those demons: “Be gone!” Before you go to … Continue reading

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Loving Certain People

“I love mankind. It’s people I can’t stand,” exclaimed Linus Van Pelt decades ago in the cartoon strip Peanuts. Perhaps it’s more accurate to say, “It’s certain people I can’t stand.” When I see certain people do things that annoy … Continue reading

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