150 Beads

In the twelfth century, religious orders recited together the 150 Psalms as a way to mark the hours of the day and the days of the week. Most of the laity were illiterate and wanted to share in this practice, so praying on a string of 150 beads or knots began as a parallel to praying the Psalms substituting instead 150 repititions of the Lord's prayer.  Eventually the Hail Mary was added to the recitations. 

Rosary use continues today as that once designed for the illiterate. Since the fifteenth century, the beads have been divided into 15 "decades, " with a mystery of an event in the life of Jesus assigned to each decade. This, too,  was to help the illiterate meditate on stories in the Bible.

Today, however, few people are illiterate.  We can read the Bible and we can read the Psalms.  I would love to see rosary praying be restored to the original format of the monks, as that of reciting the Psalms regularly.

TV~
Is any among you afflicted? let him pray. Is any merry? let him sing psalms.  [James 5:13]

How to Become a Diamond

On the shores of the Delaware Bay in southern New Jersey, one can find small stones known as "Cape May Diamonds."  These "diamonds" are different from the expensive, sparkling, precious stones found in engagement rings. 

They are small pieces of quartz crystal that begin their lives truly “in-the-rough” in the upper reaches of the Delaware River.  They journey more than 200 miles over thousands of years and their sharp edges are smoothed as they are propelled along the river bottom. Eventually the stones come to rest on the shores of the Delaware Bay.1

Our journey is 80+ years, if we are strong.  As we are propelled along in this life, let us allow our sharp edges to be smoothed, thus turning us into "diamonds."

The grandest character is grown in hardship. ~ Streams in the Desert

TV~
Our days may come to seventy years, or eighty, if our strength endures; yet the best of them are but trouble and sorrow, for they quickly pass, and we fly away.  [Psalm 90:10]



1. New Jersey Monthly, May 5, 2009

Fine Wine

I visited two wineries yesterday.  The wines of the older, more established winery were much more flavorful and enjoyable.  Their grape vines were more mature, established and the winemakers more experienced in their art.

Tending grape vines, I understand, is quite labor-intensive.  One has to work diligently to fight disease and blight.  However, over the years, the hard work pays off.

Keep tending the vines in your life - those of your marriage, children, good friends and family.  This hard work also will pay off with time, resulting in a flavorful, mature result.

TV~
Let us not become weary in doing good, for at the proper time we will reap a harvest if we do not give up. [Galatians 6:9]

Little Lamb

The Lamb

By William Blake

Little Lamb who made thee 

         Dost thou know who made thee 

Gave thee life & bid thee feed. 

By the stream & o'er the mead;

Gave thee clothing of delight,

Softest clothing wooly bright;

Gave thee such a tender voice,

Making all the vales rejoice! 

         Little Lamb who made thee 

         Dost thou know who made thee 

         Little Lamb I'll tell thee,

         Little Lamb I'll tell thee!

He is called by thy name,

For he calls himself a Lamb: 

He is meek & he is mild, 

He became a little child: 

I a child & thou a lamb, 

We are called by his name.

         Little Lamb God bless thee. 

         Little Lamb God bless thee.

 

TV~

 The next day John seeth Jesus coming unto him, and saith, Behold the Lamb of God, which taketh away the sin of the world.  John 1:29

Wisdom vs. Wisdom

Earth's Wisdom:
Source:  Not from above, earthly, sensual, demonic
Results:  Envy, self-seeking, selfish ambition, confusion, every evil thing
 
True Wisdom:
Source:  God
Results:  Given to us in abundance, if we ask for it.  Yields peace, gentleness, mercy, good fruit, no show of favoritism, no hypocrisy.

TV~
For the wisdom of this world is foolishness in God's sight. As it is written: "He catches the wise in their craftiness."  [I Corinthians 3:19]

Byproduct of Grief

 Anyone who has suffered grief understands the twisting inner pain that keeps one awake at night.  However, a beautiful byproduct of this horrific pain can be kindness.  In acute suffering, the griever often has no desire to inflict emotional pain upon another human being.

" And so I learned about grief, and about the absence and emptiness that for a long time make grief unforgettable. We went on, the three of us remaining, as we had to do…

A sort of heartbreaking kindness grew.....  grew among us all. It was a kindness of doing whatever we could think of that might help or comfort one another. But it was a kindness too of forbearance, of not speaking, of not reminding...  That kindness kept us alive, I think, but it was a hardship too.”  (Wendell Berry, as quoted in Hannah Coulter)

TV~
He is despised and rejected of men; a man of sorrows, and acquainted with grief... [Isaiah 53:3a]

Rejoice, Pray, Give Thanks

From the three directives of I Thessalonians 5:16-18 that were mentioned yesterday....

Rejoicing always has to do with attitude as well as action.  Both praying without ceasing and giving thanks for all things are actions that can be done regardless of attitude. 

If we try to rejoice, but don't have the ability to do it, we can pray that God will enable us to rejoice and then we can give thanks for answered prayer whether we see an immediate answer or not.

TV~
Before they call I will answer; while they are still speaking I will hear. [Isaiah 65:24]