Sunday-Ps.89 is a royal hymn that Christians then link to Jesus, as a child of the great king David. Now look at the first two verses and apply them to the royal work of Jesus and its constant reversal of royal expectation. What do you make of a king in a cattle stall? Why did god choose to work through Behtlehem?
Monday-Centering Prayer means allowing a sacred word arise within you "that gathers up you all your desire," according the anonymous Cloud of Unknowing. Once a young Italian man told how the word adagio emerged as his centering word. How wonderful since adagio means "slowly" or "at ease." Later we listened to a CD of multiple versions of Samuel Barber's "Adagio."
Tuesday-One day, according to legend, a neighbor observed Michelangelo rolling a jagged boulder up the street and onto his front step. When the sculptor took out his hammer and chisel and began to strike the boulder, the neighbor was overcome by curiosity. He crossed the street and asked, "What are you doing hammering on that boulder?" Michelangelo responded, "There's an angel inside and I'm trying to let it out!" Bruce Epperley
Christmas Eve-I have always thought of Christmas time, when it has come round, as a good time; a kind, forgiving, charitable time; the only time I know of, in the long calendar of the year, when men and women seem by one consent to open their shut-up hearts freely, and to think of people below them as if they really were fellow passengers to the grave, and not another race of creatures bound on other journeys. ~Charles Dickens-
Christmas-The Evangelist shows how, when they arrived at Bethlehem, they were the most insignificant and despised, so that they had to make way for others until they were obliged to take refuge in a stable, to share with the cattle, lodging, table, bedchamber and bed, while many a wicked man sat at the head in the hotels and was honored as lord. No one noticed or was conscious of what God was doing in that stable. He lets the large houses and costly apartments remain empty, lets their inhabitants eat, drink and be merry; but this comfort and treasure are hidden from them. 0 what a dark night this was for Bethlehem, that was not conscious of that glorious light! See how God shows that he utterly disregards what the world is, has or desires; and furthermore, that the world shows how little it knows or notices what God is, has and does.
Friday-keep your feet on the dry bank - you maintain as best you can your own inner peace, the best and strongest of who you are - and from that solid ground reach out a rescuing hand. "Mind your own business" means butt out of other people's lives because in the long run they must live their lives for themselves, but it also means pay mind to your own life, your own health and wholeness, both for your own sake and ultimately for the sake of those you love too. Take care of yourself so you can take care of them. A bleeding heart is of no help to anybody if it bleeds to death.
Saturday-The patience for waiting is possibly the greatest wisdom of all: the wisdom to plant the seed and let the tree bear its fruit.-John MacEnulty
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