bishop

The art of losing
isn't hard to master. Just
practice, live, exhale.

spacation

I am sitting in front of a fireplace, awaiting the sun to rise. It's peaking out over the Catalinas, promising a new beginning. Even if it might be a chilly one.

My mother and I have escaped to Miraval, in Tucson, AZ, where we are pampering ourselves for a few days. My goal is to become healed from the past several, excruciatingly challenging months; to accept these challenges and how they may have changed me for the better; to accept myself.

To this end, I am focusing on ways to reduce stress, which include being aware of my surroundings, this beautiful desert with mountains to protect and dry air to suck out my toxins.

It is a practice in being still.

*

In my stress relief/meditative yoga class last week, towards the end of shavasana (corpse pose), when we were bringing awareness back into our bodies, the instructor said, "Feel the edges of your body. Think of your boundaries."

I mean: *that* could be quite the list.

Other favorite things yoga instructors have said over the years include "Listen to what your body is capable of today," which gives me permission to spend an entire class in child's pose if I need, and "Yoga is a practice: it doesn't have to be perfect."

So much of life is a practice, yet we cannot accept imperfection from ourselves or others. Love is a practice. So is forgiveness. And more everyday things, like cooking or driving or exercising or singing. And bigger things, like prayer.

Just because you do it differently doesn’t mean you do it wrong.

I remind myself that acceptance is also a practice. It's a form of forgiveness, but it's also a form of letting go, which is difficult for people like me who prefer control. (See how nicely I framed that? It's already working!)

*

I will feel my body's boundaries
I will feel whether it can practice, and how
I will forgive it when it is tired
or when it feels too much
I will accept my practice
I will not expect perfection from myself

And I will try my best to remember
that everyone else is also practicing

and we don't have to be perfect
we just have to practice whatever our bodies can give this day
wherever our boundaries are
whatever we can accept

*

Namaste.

crumbling

Compartmentalized
everything. Gave her fault
lines. Upon quicksand.

removal

Garbage trucks roll through
Wish they could take away his
Toxins, questions, hurt.

new year

Our midnight kisses
Felt like hope.

counting

Hospitals. Winter.
The way the light attaches:
a long December.

prayers of the people: December 9

Heavenly Father, 

we come to you as your people

your lacking

but faithful 

people

We ask that you come to us

that we may share in Mary's joy 

as people victorious

as people who clearly see who we have been

and what you have asked of us 

as people who are stretched and changed

as people who know 

that peace is always born of travail.

Together, we ask you to 

Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to your world as King of the nations.

Come to North Korea, where the government prepare for a long-range missile test.

Come to Syria, where the civil war continues.

Come to Israel and Palestine, where barely established peace agreements are threatened.

Come to Egypt, where people cry for a new constitution and for equality.

Come to the Northeastern United States, where Hurricane Sandy recovery efforts continue.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to the suffering as Saviour.

We pray that the sick will be restored

the fallen will be raised

the heartbroken, the survivors, the orphans, and the widows will be consoled.

We pray for the dearly departed,

especially _______

and those we name at this time.

May they share in your victory over evil and death.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to us as guardian of our souls.

Break into our lives,

where we struggle with direction:

we struggle to believe that here, now, is where we are meant to be.

Set us free to love and serve,

and may the light of God's coming dawn shine

on those who only feel darkness 

on those who live within the shadow of death

and on those who see the future through fog, as they try to discern next steps.

And allow us all to shine

so that you may find in us the completion of your redeeming work.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to us as a listener

As we name at this time

all we have to be thankful for

all of our blessings

and all of our gifts.

Come, Lord Jesus.

Come to us as shepherd.

As we gather gifts and decorations and lists

gather travel plans

gather comfort and kindness

Remind us to slow down

to find awe 

to wonder

to be.

Come, Lord Jesus.