Trillium

Called to Question - by Joan Chittister

Let me recommend Joan Chittister's book, 

"Called to Question." 

Here is an excerpt: 

"It's possible, of course, to wend our way through life superficially, questioning nothing and calling it faith. Or we can choose to look ourselves in the center of our souls, admit the worst, whatever the pain of that, and pursue the best, even when we are totally unsure where that pursuit will take us. This book is an attempt to be true to the struggle to create for ourselves a spirituality that comes out of both the essentials and the uncertainties of life rather than the pieties."

(Photo taken 07-2010, Canon Xsi 1.4 lens)

Silence and Words

I have been receiving emails from "The Center for Action and Contemplation" for a number of months. On a daily basis they send a short, thought provoking message (usually no more than a couple of small paragraphs) from the writings of Richard Rohr. Whether I agree with everything he says or not, I am still prodded to think again about the things I believe. 

Today's meditation was on the relationship between silence and words. I was struck with these words:

" Silence and words are related.  Words that don’t come out of silence probably don’t say much.  They probably are more an unloading than a communicating....If I had to advise one thing for spiritual growth, it would be silence."

It is so true. Many times I have found myself  "unloading" words instead of really "communicating" something meaningful, birthed from time spent in silence. 

Enough said....

If you would like to subscribe to Rohr's daily emails, this link will take you there:

Subscribe to CAC email lists

Elizabeth Francis Caldwell

(Canon Rebel Xsi, 250mm lens - 07/15/2010)

"In the intensity,

diversity and rapid pace of our daily lives,

we must remember to reconnect

the holy and sacred

with the daily and the ordinary."

~ Elizabeth Francis Caldwell

~ Wonder ~

The wonder

is that we can see these trees

and not wonder more

Ralph Waldo Emerson

(Canon Rebel Xsi, 250mm lens, cropped 06-05-2010)

The Individual

The majority of flowers in this photo are bright orange California Poppies. They are all facing the same direction. There is one Shirley Poppy, and ironically, it is not only a different color, but it is facing the opposite direction!

Does that say anything to you?

(Canon Rebel Xsi, 250mm lens, cropped - 06-03-2010)

Guidance

Howbeit when he, 

Spirit of truth,

is come,

he shall guide you

into all truth

John 16:13

Savior,

like a shepherd lead us...

(Canon Rebel Xsi, 18-55mm lens, +4 close-up: cropped)