We are all islands in a common sea...

And God called the dry land Earth;
and the gathering together
of the waters called he Seas:
and God saw that it was good.
Genesis 1:10

On Wings of Eagles

From the Word of the Lord
Isaiah 40:31
.....but those who hope in the LORD will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles; they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

I arrived at Groome Transportation in Macon from the Atlanta Airport around 10:30 AM Tuesday, the 23rd. As I was dragging my luggage across the parking lot I heard a flock of birds making a huge racket. I looked up into the sky to see what was going on up there and I saw the most amazing sight - a magnificent American bald eagle. For one second I though to dig my camera from the depths of my luggage but as stood in awe I could not move. That magnificent bird flew across the sky right in front of me, circled around behind me and flew back. It was for me a great gift from God and so as you read these words just imagine that beautiful creation of God soaring in the sky as a gift to you and I give you this prayer as well.

Thank you, thank you, thank you - generous God. You have injected life with joy, thus we know laughter. You have dabbled creation with color, thus we enjoy beauty. You have whistled a divine tune into the rhythm of life, thus we hear music. You have filled our minds with questions, thus we appreciate mystery. You have entered our hearts with compassion, thus we experience faith. Thank you God! Thank you, thank you, thank you.

Peace and prayers to you all!

Comtemplation

In 2006, composer, musician and friend Kate Campbell released her CD For The Living of These Days. Start to finish that CD is an incredible journey in and of itself. I was particularly moved by The Prayer of Thomas Merton set to music. Through music that prayer resonates with great accuracy the faith journey of many followers of Christ. I taped a copy of that prayer to my bathroom mirror and while I don't read it every single day it is always there and is always giving me strength for my journey. I share it with you this morning and it is my hope and prayer that in it you will find strength for your journey as well.

MY LORD GOD, I have no idea where I am going. I do not see the road ahead of me. I cannot know for certain where it will end. Nor do I really know myself, and the fact that I think I am following your will does not mean that I am actually doing so. But I believe that the desire to please you does in fact please you. And I hope I have that desire in all that I am doing. I hope that I will never do anything apart from that desire. And I know that if I do this you will lead me by the right road, though I may know nothing about it. Therefore I will trust you always though I may seem to be lost and in the shadow of death. I will not fear, for you are ever with me, and you will never leave me to face my perils alone.
...from Thomas Merton, "Thoughts in Solitude" © Abbey of Gethsemani

Peace and prayers to you as you read and as you travel. Genie

Let me sow peace

Everyday, sometime during the day, I try to utter the prayer of Saint Francis of Assisi and that his how I will start my blog. It will be my prayer and my desire that whoever reads this blog will find words of peace, words of comfort and strength for the journey,

Lord, make me an instrument of your peace,
Where there is hatred, let me sow love;
where there is injury, pardon;
where there is doubt, faith;
where there is despair, hope;
where there is darkness, light;
where there is sadness, joy;

O Divine Master, grant that I may not so much seek to be consoled as to console;
to be understood as to understand;
to be loved as to love.

For it is in giving that we receive;
it is in pardoning that we are pardoned;
and it is in dying that we are born to eternal life.

Peace and blessings to you as you read.