Prayers by the Lake

Your birds awaken me in the morning, and the murmur of the lake lulls me to sleep in the evening. But it is not the birds that awaken me, nor the lake that lulls me to sleep, but You, O Lord, Master of the voice.

You lend Your voice to the birds and the midnight murmur to the lake. You have lent a voice to every throat, and have put a story into every creature. I am surrounded by Your heralds, as a student by many teachers, and I listen to them tirelessly from dawn until dusk.

O Lord, Master of the voice, speak more clearly through Your heralds!

The sun speaks to me about the radiance of Your countenance, and the stars about the harmony of Your being. The sun speaks in one language, and the stars speak in a different language, but all the languages flow out of the same vocal cords. The vocal cords belong to You, and You uttered the first sound that began to tremble in the deafness and formlessness of nothingness, and it broke into countless sounds and heralds, as a thundercloud breaks into rain drops.

O Lord, Master of the voice, speak more clearly through Your heralds!

One exclamation escaped the breast of the Bride of God when She saw Your Son--a voice filled with a love that could not be contained in silence. And that exclamation echoed in the heart of Her Son, and this echo--this response to the love of His Mother--the Holy Spirit has spread with His powerful arms throughout the entire universe. Therefore, all the universe is filled with Your heralds, O my Song and my love.

O Lord, Master of the voice, speak more clearly through Your heralds!

For this reason You also spoke in parables, O Son of God, and You would explain things and events as stories about the Most High God. You cured the sick with words and raised the dead with words, for You recognized the mystery of love. And the mystery of love is a mystery of words. Through all creatures, as through piercing and blaring trumpets, words pour forth--and through words, the love of Heaven.

O Lord, Master of the voice, teach me Your love through all Your heralds.

~St. Nikolai Velimirovic, Prayer 27

Just a Little Post

Well, to start, we had a lovely service of forgiveness at church on sunday evening, which was accompanied by Jay having a seizing fit. Not quite a seizure, but he was seizing up and could not control the right side of his body, so was twitching and could not hold his own weight. This isn't the first time, as this is a regular reaction for his body to food he shouldn't eat, though it hasn't happened so severely in quite some time, months even. I helped him in at the end of the vespers and he made it through. Fr. Andreas gave him some Holy Water, which helped calm the nerves, but he stopped twitching completely after Fr. said a short prayer of anointing.

Next day, he was weak and tired, though in delightful spirits. He rested according to his need and today has been nearly back to himself. It occurred to me that, while this is not something new for us to experience, it was wholly new for our new church family to see. Everyone was so kind and helpful, doing all they could to understand and put him at his ease. Glory to God for all things!

In other news, a week from tomorrow will be my 35th birthday. My birthday always falls during Lent, no matter how early or late it falls. This year, with Pascha so late, we will (gratefully) get through clean week before Annunciation (n.s.) and then my birthday. What a week that will be! Kat and Jay are conspiring about what they will make me and I am excited to see what they figure out.

Hmm, a little mish-mash, but that is it for now. For those of you on this Lenten journey, may it be prosperous and fruitful. Peace be unto you!

Springtime Promises

Sitting in my favorite spot
Positioned to soak in sun
Whose rays are bright and bold
With deliciously varied hues of blue
From horizon to the topmost point
Creatures stir and chatter
While butterflies dance
In anticipation of springtime
As the creek effortlessly flows by
Tall trees sway silently
Amidst the birds jubilance
Clanging chimes rejoice
Swung to life and music
By dandling breezes
Time stands still
With quiet determination
Sleepily, the earth breaths
In rugged simplicity
Drawing all things together
God's perfection magnified

Foggy Mist

I adore the fog and mist. I love driving down on a sunday morning for church, where it is a quiet sunrise as we leave, in the valley pocket of our home, climbing to the top of the road we drive. The shadows begin to fade and give way to the beauty of the day as the creatures stir. We go along the dirty, red road and find our way to the highway, watching the clouds to see where they have settled, or whether they will depart. The blue of sky and soft, misty clouds swirl, like they did this morning.

The thick and moving mist is filled with heavy sleep which clings to its body. Some places it is so thick, you cannot see but ten feet in front of you. Wrapped in this foggy mist, there is little else to notice and such is life, at times. The quietude and timeless state of the moment overcomes most any other thought or sensation. As we journey on, we nearly burst into clear air and are submerged into the depths beneath the clouds and the day that is given to the greater valley below.

Such beauty.