Monastic Skete- Daily Living A Hermit Lifestyle of Meditation

My Toe Hurts

2012-01-30T10:35:00.000-06:00

A Monday Morning Exercise

For those retired, like myself, Monday is the gift day of the week, a day of paraphrasing who and where I am, usually a blank schedule, and a place of quiet.

My diabetes numbers are high which bothers me. There is no reason other than a busy weekend. I taught Sunday School and taught a course on journaling at the Church of Latter Day Saints in Nashville. It was an attentive group. They seemed appreciative of what I was doing.

When I got home I had one of my dizzy headaches and slept for a couple of hours. Earlier in the day I had dropped a bottle on my foot and my toe began to throb. I looked and it was black and blue. I walked with a limp. It changed my mood. A defective toe will do that.

I watched Downtown Abbey at 8. It is one of my favorite shows but it left me depressed. Everything was bad; dreams destroyed, deaths of primary characters, strange maniputations, and faults of characters suddenly emphasized. It caused my foot to hurt more, but reality is like that. There are days we need to forget. Days assembled from darkness not light.

A word of encouragement comes from Isaiah 41, "Be strong! Be an encourager." WORTHY WORDS. Important words. Words rarely spoken.

The sun is out today. The temperature in the sixties. Nice. A day to be thankful, to watch birds and sunlight and dream. Leave the newspaper closed, the hurtful words will be there tomorrow. Drink deeply of the air, feel the sunlight, rest the hurt toe. REJOICE!

Review of Spiritual Journaling by Dan Phillips

2012-01-18T13:10:00.000-06:00

A Review ofSpiritual Journaling- God’s Whispers in Daily Living

By DanKenneth Phillips

CircleBooks, London, England, 2011

In speakingof his journals, Phillips says, “A frayed journal is precious. It often hastorn pages, water lines dribbled throughout, ink stains scattered, forgottennames in inappropriate places, words misspelled, tear stains on blotted ink,crayon marks of a child, wrinkled pages, bible verses scribbled in darkness, oran article from a deceased newspaper columnist.” He describes the journey witha journal as an awakening, an hour of anticipation, a sacred time.

Using hisown journals, Dan Kenneth Phillips describes events and experiences where God’spresence was real to him; a patient on his way to surgery becomes a source ofinspiration as he faces death, standing on the Acropolis in Athens, Greece, sensingthe voice of the Apostle Paul, or as he prays by a statue in a dimly litcorridor of a hospital, he realizes the important of life and how the leftoversof our life can be the source of new life.

Hisinspiration for a spiritual moment can be as simple as a lingering sunset,waves softly rubbing the shore line, a sentence he reads in an ancient book, akiss, or a prayer in an ancient garden. He describes these moments as “pointsof light like a meteor showering the sky.”

He emphasizesthe importance of buying a special journal. A Buffalo Journal he bought in Montana says, “This‘Oh-sooo-soft’ leather is double thick with a natural battered rough edge, thekind a traveler may have taken with them on that long journey, chasing the westernsunset.”

JonathanMontaldo, editor of many of Thomas Merton’s Journals, says of Phillips, “Writtenwith simplicity and revealing great humanity, Spiritual Journaling continuesthe work of a master teach of contemplative living who finds God’s energieseverywhere in all the events of life.”

Phillips isa long time chaplain at a leading hospital in Nashville, Tennessee, a formerreligious editor, and a blogger. His blog, Monasticskete (http://danphillips.blogspot.com) isread by numerous people each day as is a result of many of his journalexperiences. He also leads retreats on Developing Your Spiritual Life, usingjournaling as a key element. SpiritualJournaling-God’s Whispers in Daily Living, can be ordered from Amazon or Kindleat http://amzn.to/qQz6Ng

Catching the Sheep

2012-01-11T11:07:00.001-06:00

Thomas Merton wakes me up sometimes. I often begin with A Year With Thomas Merton. Today he is in the sheep business, dealing with verses that Jesus said, like "My sheep hear my voice." As he describes himself while writing this he confirms he is restless, stubborn, surrounded by events and living a complicated life.

Guess that sums us up to. Complicated. Ears itching from the latest rumors. Animals need to be fed. We have a headache. The dog jumps on the bed at 4 a.m. and wakens me, so I get up and study of all things, "The Art of Worldly Wisdom."

So Merton pretty well describes us, but it leads him in a different direction than us. It develops into prayer. His, I call it, The Shepherd Prayer, stirs something in me. He hits home, a home run. Complications become moments when we turn ourselves over to the master.

THE SHEPHERDS PRAYER BY THOMAS MERTON

"Good Shepherd, You have a wild and crazy sheep in love with thorns and brambles. But please don't get tired of looking for me! I know you won't. For you have found me. All I have to do is stay found."

Question: Has the shepherd found you?
http://amzn.to/qQz6Ng

Thoughts on a Rainy Day

2011-12-21T10:39:00.000-06:00

Thoughts Today:

I am certainly excited that Professor Newt called this morning asking for my vote. Just to think that he took time from his many visits in Iowa to call me. How is that for personal attention!

And then there are the dishes! Since many guests have been here in the last week, I have been in charge of emptying the dishwasher. However, there are to many dishes and not enough places to put them. I believe this is a conspiracy. When anyone dies, there is always a rush to give a way dishes. Here is her complete Twiddly Winks set of dishes. I know you will love them. Right?

Dishes have complicated the world. There are too many to handle. Was it Thoreau who said, "Beware of any enterprise that causes you to buy a new suit." The same compulsion is with dishes. You need special dishes for: Halloween, Good Friday, Christmas, dishes for the Kentucky Derby, a special dish for your birthday, Columbus Day dishes, and of course Mother-in-law Day Dishes. What a scam. Why won't four dishes, a cup, a saucer, and a few forks,etc. do? Did I miss something? Let me know. Maybe I could start the dish sell network.

More Seriously:

I have updated my blog, added a different picture, and changed the introduction. Try it Dan's Blog

My high school friend, Jim Pemberton, got his ham license today: KK4FUW. I look forward to talking with him.

Quotes:

The love of solitude is the beginning of the love of God.

A monk is a man of prayer.

Do I hear the voice of Christ singing in the Psalms?

It is easier for parents to have children than for children to have parents.

I remember the music
I meditate in my heart
My spirit ponders (dreams)
Psalm 77:6)

Have a nice day/

Bro. Dan

Midnight Dreams-AN ADVIL MOMENT

2011-12-14T09:24:00.000-06:00

Sometimes I have difficulty sleeping. It is my knee. It aches badly. It is arthritis, a gimpy disease disturbed mostly by a cold front entering my life.

I get up at 2 a.m., make half of a mayonnaise sandwich, drink some buttermilk, then take an Advil PM. It causes me to dream strange things, like last night, I was in Washington D.C. attending an old downown church. It was a flimsy story of how things had changed. The once famous church was now attended by just a few people, the walls were bare and unpainted, the mutterings from the pulpit were mostly un-understandable, the parisoners were old old and mean. (One said to me, "don't have your Bible open when the preacher is speaking."). And of course the finance committee was looking for extra money to pay the preacher, or maybe hire a choir director.

Nightly, I listen to Milt Rosenberg on WGN Radio in Chicago. Two nights ago someone told him that the best book he had read all year was TRAIN DREAMS by Denis Johnson. Since I come from a long line of railroaders, I kindlelized the book and read it yesterday. It was a great book, but a reminder, like the midnight dream, that times change, and often slowly. The problem is that we do not often recognize it.

So the dream is in Washington D.C., a city once of great dreams, the capital. Now it is broken. Money disappearing. "Old type ladies" running the show in eccentric fashion. I need a remedy for my knee, instead I get a dream that tells me my story. Searching for the past in a rundown church. Going to a city where reality not only depresses, but causes us to be dumbfounded by the fact I really lost my flashlight and the batteries are dead and I can't find my way.

This is not suppose to make sense. Little makes sense today. We are hunting the illusive god particle, finding planets millions of miles away that should have life and we don't even have a spaceship big enough to cast a man into orbit. Our progress has become a nightmare. We aren't who we think we are. Our drones are uncontrollable, and Santa Claus does not have enough gas for his reindeer. Something to think about. Dream Time. AN ADVIL MOMENT.

Thomas Merton Memorial Day

2011-12-10T06:51:00.000-06:00

Thomas Merton Memorial Day-

Several years ago several of us online began a day of retreat on December 10th in reference to Thomas Merton. He entered The Abbey of Gethsemani on December 10, 1941, and died in Thailand on December 10, 1968. The significance to this date is important to many of us. So today, in memory of Thomas Merton, we have a day dedicated to his memory. Having an online retreat seems appropriate at this time.

Enclosed is a previous format of this retreat, using the seven hours of prayer used by the monks at Gethsemani, Merton's home monastery.

HOW TO KEEP THIS:

You can use a previous retreat if you like and add to it as appropriate. Its location is:

http://bit.ly/ugxBwY

Or you can use your own reflections from Merton's readings, using your own Merton library, and please journal your entries. On facebook you can journal your entries if you like or add to this blog.

I am so thankful for Thomas Merton. Without his spiritual direction I would never have had the opportunities I have been given. I am thankful for that. THANK YOU FATHER! for placing him as a mentor in my life.

As this is a day of retreat with Merton the following are listed as prayer hours, or minutes. You may vary as you like.
7 am vigils and lauds
9 am- Terce
12- Sext
3pm-
5 pm - Vespers
Bedtime - Compline

MAY THIS BE A TREASURED DAY OF SPIRITUAL RENEWAL.

http://edge.net/~dphillip/Merton.html

Twitter: Twitter.com/brodanphillips
Facebook: Facebook/brodanphillips

JOYFUL

2011-12-07T09:36:00.001-06:00

It is that time of year when little things creep into our lives. Some memories with a touch of sadness that remind one of past years. (For instance I just discovered I played taps for 9 coal miners who died in Robbins, TN in 1959. Funny what things you can find on the web.) Or other memories with thanksgiving, publishing my first book this year, a new grandchild Luke Daniel, a trip to the beach, a look at the new Shoney's menu and a free piece of cake.

But if we look and listen there are other tiny examples. Being invited to a Christmas party at the hospital where I formerly worked today, facebook-- sure I get tired of to many ramblings from some people--but it is still a way of keeping up with what is happening. An e-mail from a friend in Wisconsin who is 80 plus years and whose mind and thoughtfulness always challenges me.

And my journal always is an intriguing adventure with words and thoughts such as, what really pleases me, what am I grateful for, (really, a warm puppy in my lap), have I learned to live with my limitations? One thought stood out this week. I was reviewing the things I said when we went to Jerusalem and after 8 full days of visiting holy places I wrote in my journal, "I don't feel like going to any more holy sites." So enough of a good thing can be a bad thing, right? What words rule over me? What captures my attention too much?

My pastor Mark Marshall taught us about lost sheep and lost coins this past Sunday from Luke 15. Pondering his words JOY stood out. When the shepherd found the lost sheep there was joy. When the lady found the lost coin she was JOYFUL and shared with her neighbors. What about Joy?

What brings Joy to God? What brings joy to my life? Sometimes we fumble the ball, our emotions go viral, anger overcomes us. But, we must remember that God forgives and continues to pursue us like the lost sheep. Joy is an attitude, an opportunity.

What brings joy to you this season? Better yet, how can you bring joy to others?

http://amzn.to/qQz6Ng

Paul's Prayer

2011-11-22T09:12:00.001-06:00

I have completed another Journal. It goes from April 14, 2011, until today, November 22. Finishing a journal is always a sacred moment, a time capsule of God's activity in my life during the past few months. Sometimes I review the entire journal to capture the moods of these months.

The most important thing to happen in these months has been the publication of my first book. Times to visit Chicago and Florida. A time to look at the spaces in my life, usually beginning with "devotion time" when I read scripture, pray, and pet the dog Cuddles sitting in my life. He is a praying dog who loves devotion time.

So verses from the journal stick out. "When life is heavy and hard to take, go off by yourself. Enter the silence. Bow in prayer. Don't ask questions." (From the Message, Lamentations 3:28-30)

A passage from the Apostle Paul catches my attention, a prayer for the church at Colossians.

1. That you may be filled with the knowledge of his will in all spiritual wisdom and understanding.
2. That you may walk in a manner worthy of the Lord
by pleasing Him
by bearing fruit
by increasing in knowledge
3. That you may be strengthened with the power of endurance and patience with JOY.
4. Giving Thanks to the Father.

That is a lot of wisdom for the day."Lord, thanks for the words in this journal. May it be a source of strength and power as I put it away for a new one. As years pass, may I return to it and find solace and continued direction for my life as I seek to do they will." Amen

A Journal as a way to hear God's Whispers

The Way - Why I Want to See the Movie

2011-10-20T19:18:00.001-05:00

THE HISTORY

I am a collector of prayer books. One of my favorite is Celtic Daily Prayer. It was given to me at Christmas in 2002 by my wife Janet. One of the stories in the book comes from the writing of Jennifer Lash in her book On Pilgrimage. She writes about her experiences going on a pilgrimage to Santiago de Compostela.

THE BOOK

Moved by the words of Ms. Lash, I ordered the book. Evidently she was a novelist, not well known, and the book was not a best-seller. For me it became my favorite book. In my book Spiritual Journaling the last chapter, Magical Journeys, describes On Pilgrimage, and about Jennifer Lash after she discovered she had breast cancer. After chemotheraphy and radiation, she decided she would leave her husband and six children, and she would make a three month pilgrimage through France and Spain visiting Holy Places.

The shape of her journey led from Lisieux, in France, to Sandiego de Compostelo, in Spain, the place evangelized by the Apostle James and a frequent pilgrimage site to this day. She stayed in monasteries, prayed in ancient chapels, lighted candles for strangers, and fought the continual tiredness that came from her ongoing battle with cancer.

THE JOURNEY

To those of us who fought the battle of cancer (for me it was prostate cancer) there is an uncertain journey that follows you. Fear can easily overtake one. Every step seems difficult. Some days it seems like the last step has been taken. Reading her story reminded me of my own story, but her strength in following an ancient path, under extremely difficult conditions, were an inspiration to me.

When she died her children wrote, "She was buried in a simple home-made coffin, under a table cloth embroidered with a map of Ireland." And I would add,"she left behind a journal of her final journey."

Her story is again repeated in the movie The Way, another story of one's pilgrimage along the Road to Sandiego de Compostelo. I have been looking forward to the movie for months. I have read several reviews. Many reviews are about Martin Sheen's own spiritual journeys through a life of heavy drinking and poor choices.

The last movie I got this excited about was "Of God's and Men," the story of several monks in Algeria who died because of their faith. I once had my picture made with the Abbot General who preached these monks funerals.

ABOUT YOU AND ME

This story is about you and me. What about our journeys, especially the spiritual journeys? Have you ever gone on a journey searching for something?And really what you were searching for was to find yourself? So that is why I am excited about the movie. Surely, I will write some of the quotes from the movie, but I will also relive some of my own journeys; to Jerusalem, Athens, Patmos, battling sicknesses, disorders of many kinds, moments of desertion or lostness. We have all been there. Maybe we are still there, right.

WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN THE MOVIE

1. What does the movie tell you about your own life?

2. Have you ever been on a spiritual journey? When, where, why? How did you get there?

3. Who went on the journey with you? Who did you find along the way?

4.Where is your journey today leading? What is God telling you?

AFTER THE MOVIE

After the 7 p.m. showing on Friday night Janet and I will wait in the lobby. Anyone who wants to go with us and discuss the movie can join us then. I think that would be an interesting discussion.

Am PRAYING FOR US ALL on the way. Also, the question of the night, what were some of the children's names Jennifer Lash left behind?

See you at the movies!

Why I journal, or put thoughts on paper!

2011-10-12T10:44:00.002-05:00

Sometimes I feel more like a hypocrite than a Christian. I fly down rather than up. I crash. I listen and get stirred by that which should not stir me. I talk when I should listen. I play when I should work. I love other things more than God. I ask more for mercy than anything else. I am the seed that fell by the wayside and yielded an endless crop of nothingness.

WHY WRITE IT DOWN

With that said, how do I deal with it? Maybe that is the reason I keep a journal, not only to write profitable thoughts but also the unprofitable thoughts that ring through my head. It is a way of trying to make sense of what is really going on in me and around me.

In the front of my journal is a thought by Henri Nouwen that I read often. "I have promised myself not to let a day pass without writing down, as honestly and directly as possible, what is happening within and around me." How often I miss what is going on around me. Is it possible God was whispering and I missed it?

Last night I had a bad dream. It was a dream about something which may or may not have happened over twenty years ago. The dream is more about things lost than things found. So I tried something different. I made it into a prayer. I have never done that before.

"Dear Father,
I dream of lostness.
A building has changed
my friends have gone
I can't find coffee or elevators
or the room where I belong.
Everything seems futile
I am afraid
I go outside and get lost
I cry."

Yes, pretty sad, but sometimes writing it down --maybe in a new form (art, a sideways writing on paper, even a prayer) brings life to it.

I am a frequent flyer with the Liturgy of the Hours that I use as devotional material. I try daily to read in it but often fail. Today two verses stood out:

"He renews your youth like an eagles." (Psalm 103)

and

"He made known his ways to Moses."

Neat, right? Maybe God was speaking in those words to me who has been filled with lostness. Yes, a word. EAGLES! Yes. And the ways? Yes, for the Lost there is a way.

When people read my book on Spiritual Journaling I get interested responses. Most of the time I say,"Have you begun a journal yet?" Most laugh and say no. Then, on further questioning, I am discovering that the book has been used differently. It has been used devotionally. At night, before bedtime, one chapter at a time. Maybe it is a good way of getting sleepy hi.

One of my favorite parts of the book is from a lady whose husband is dying after 60 plus years of marriage. She writes these last words to him. "I want to tell you again how much I love you and cherish each day we have shared both good and bad. I thank the Lord each day for having let our paths cross, our hearts meet and blossom into a deep and abiding love."

Not a bad way to end the day with one's mate.

So today was a LESSON! Did you get it? From a LOSSNESS to a point where God really is saying something to us. That is the point. Make a copy of this blog and try it. It might work, even give you something to meditate on.

From a hypocrite -- on the journey

brodanphillips@gmail.com

Saturday Morning

2011-10-08T09:20:00.000-05:00

How different it feels to work all week and retire again. I didn't realize how much I really enjoy retirement hi. But no doubt it was worth it to work for a change.

Thanks for all the birthday wishes. I am now reading Lectio Divina, renewing the ancient practice of praying the scriptures, by M. Basil Pennington. It is a good reminder of God working in our lives as we read the scriptures.

Nice day outside. Hope to enjoy the sunshine.

Birthday Sermon- Oct.5, 2011

2011-10-04T20:42:00.001-05:00

BIRTHDAY SERMON
Thanks to all of you who helped make my birthday meaningful. There have been requests for the sermon outline of my first ever birthday sermon.

Four Things Every Christian Should Know:

You should remember your birth. (Babies are all beautiful and welcomed into our world. Jeremiah 1:5 says, “Before I formed you in the womb I Knew You. Before you were born I set you apart.” For me, I only weighed a little over 3 pounds and at that time my Mother dedicated me to the Lord because they were not sure I would live.

We should remember our re-birth. (John 3:16) –Recently I went to the home of Ralph Murray and went out to eat with he and his wife Jane. Ralph, when I was 9 years old and had just become a Christian, baptized me at the Smithwood Baptist Church in Knoxville, TN.

We should remember what God has done in our lives. (Joshua 2:4) I collect rocks that represent times that God has been present in my live. The book of Joshua says we are collect rocks in memory of what God has done in our lives. I then shared an experience where I accidently found the grave of Robert Frost and felt like God had led me to that place.

We should remember that God is still at work in our lives. (Roman 8:28) God wants to continue working in our lives daily if we are committed to him.

My our birthdays be reminders of thanksgiving and for another year of life.

Written in my journal today

2011-09-29T10:06:00.001-05:00

After Paris, and trains and crowds it was so quiet, so still, such a gathered presence; you felt you might hear the snap of a spiders web. There is something very welcoming simply in stillness. It forces us to touch down, to go deeper into yourself.(Jennifer Lash)

The sacredness of a train's whistle.

Liturgy: The blazing fire at the centre of the house.

A chapel: A secret place that has properties of transformation.

The Blessing - Meditations at Pinkerton Park

2011-09-28T07:57:00.072-05:00

Many years ago I began a practice of once a week making a note in my journal about something that happened that week that only God could have done. In recent days I have modified it to ask, "what were the blessings you received recently?" I have been surprised that most days I receive a blessing that was unexpected. Maybe it was a smile, a word of thanksgiving, a scripture from my lectio divina practice, or a simple thank you. I really believe we receive tons of more blessings than we realize and every blessing should be greeted with thanksgiving in our heart.

Yesterday, while meditating in Pinkerton Park I thought of several blessings I have received this week.

The Email

I received a note from a reader of Spiritual Journaling that was a blessing to me.

Dear Brother Dan

Thank you for the gift of your writing and, in particular, your book Spiritual Journaling, which by various routes landed here on my doorstep in Jersey, Channel Islands. It was both a comfort and inspiration at a time of weariness and restored peace and thankfulness to the Lord.

God bless you in all your endeavours.

Kind regards

Michael Evans

Nothing is a greater blessing than to receive a note from someone who has read your book and found inspiration from your writing. This email was a noteworthy blessing for which I was thankful.

The Friendship

The Reverend Wayne Burns is a dear friend. We met over four decades ago. We were neighboring pastors in the Coosa River Baptist Association near Talladega, Alabama. He was famous for preaching the doctrinal sermon at the yearly convention. It was titled, "The Doctrine of Trouble." I have never heard a sermon like it.

We were both Thomas Merton buddies. We have been to the Abbey of Gethsemani many times together. We talk too much there. As Merton use to say,"Oh no, the Baptist are coming. I talk too much while they are here."

Over the years, Wayne has dedicated each day to his AM With Merton, a daily email with a quote from Thomas Merton. His commitment has hundreds of people waiting each day for the quote and a revealing question he always asked at the end of the quote.

Wayne wrote a review of Spiritual Journaling and this is what he said:

A few weeks ago, the book Spiritual Journaling God's Whispers in Daily Living was published. The author, Dan Phillips, has been a close friend for many years. You might find this book very helpful and meaningful for your spiritual journey.

All who read and study Thomas Merton realize the impact Merton's journals have on so many people. Dan has been journaling for 40 years. The book contains 11 chapters in 88 pages. Each chapter will help in learning how to journal and how to learn and reflect on your journal.

Dan shows us how our journal should always be with us. Dan writes, "I feel it is an easy companion." When should one write in a journal? Dan writes, "Write only in your journal when something grips you or has special meaning to you." What is in the journal. Dan will tell about dates, time, places, things, people, etc. Dan reflects on the place Saint Anne's at the Abbey of Gethsemani played in his life. Dan writes, "Prayer plays asignificant part in a spiritual journal....but prayless journals
are not spiritual."

Dan believes our lives would be more fulfilled if we kept a spiritual journal. He writes, "Rereading my journals I find, and this is the most important part of this book, that each page is a reminder, a
discovery of a point in life when God was alive, and with the tiny words that survive we find hidden treasure and a record of God's work in our life."

The book is brief but packed with many lessons about the importance of having a journal as one travels thru life.

You can purchase the book thru Amazon or Barnes and Noble/nook.

Wayne

A blessing, a word from a friend to other friends. Another time of thanksgiving!

The Contemplative

Before going to Pinkerton Park I had worked out at the Williamson County Recreation Center. My friend Gary Brown was there. Several years ago, a college classmate from North Carolina wrote me that a friend of his was moving to Tennessee near me. My friends words of commendation was "He is a contemplative." Those words meant a lot to me. I do not know of many contemplatives around. For several years Gary and I have periodically gone on a half day excursion to meditate, pray, read from our journals, and be silent. A park, an old church, a monastery, a bench in an out of way place usually set the framework for our meditations. Yesterday, we decided to get a cup of coffee after our exercise, get our Bibles and Journals, and go to Pinkerton Park for several hours of contemplation.

The weather was perfect. Gary had brought chairs. We shared thoughts, especially things we had written in our journals. What a blessing! Someone to sit and commune with God in an out of the way place. A slight breeze, enough sunshine to see our journals, even a policeman on a horse to chat with briefly. A Blessing!

The Guru

I am not a marketing genius. I hate marketing. It takes time, innovation, and in our day of social media, unusual ways of sharing our books. When my book was published I knew that one of the persons I wanted to say two or three sentences about my book was the "Guru of Twitterdom." He doesn't live far from my house. I looked up his house on Spokeo and even found a picture of his home. Excited, I autographed a book, sharing how much I appreciated his work, and went by his house. I was going to ring the doorbell and give him a copy of the book, but the traffic was terrible and I couldn't stop.

I went home and decided to look up his address and mail the book. In reading his blog and how to contact him, I became really discouraged. His words were not to give him a book, not even if it was one that was appreciative of his work. It was then I told the Lord, "Guess it is not meant to give this book to him. If you want me to give it to him you will have to bring him into my life your way."

A certain peace comes with hopelessness. It is all in God's hands. Anyway, what do you do with an autographed book that you are not going to give? Cut it up, I thought. I could use it in a powerpoint presentation, or show retreatants how to tear a book up and make it useful. You get the idea!

Lo and Behold, while meditating in the park with Gary Brown, who should come jogging by but the "Guru of Twitterdom." I couldn't believe it. A rather awkward moment. Maybe it was not him. I had never seen him before. I was dreaming. Sorta weird. I went to my car and got the book I was going to destroy and continued the meditation. I am sure he will not surface again. Surprise! Surprise! Surprise! Here he comes. Shaking off my fear I ran up to him, introduced myself, and gave him the book. He really didn't want it, but thankfully he carried it with him.

I remember something P.D. Gurdieff once said, "If you want to meet someone, sit still and they will come by."

So at least the "Guru of Twitterdom" has my book. Will he read the book? Who knows, but if God can bring him by while I am meditating in a park, he just might be able to do anything, like move mountains. The Blessing of the day!

So, for your consideration, "What was the last blessing you had in your life?" You think about that.

Writing as a spiritual activity « Paulo Coelho's Blog

2011-09-24T15:54:00.001-05:00

http://paulocoelhoblog.com/2011/09/20/writing-as-a-spiritual-activity/

Psalm 23 - A Modern Interpretation

2011-09-20T08:36:00.000-05:00

(Author Note)- It was late at night. I was on a Tres Dias Retreat. The stars were brightly shining and I wrote this as my nighttime prayer, my interpretation of the 23rd Psalm.

PSALM 23

The Lord Cares for Me
I have need for nothing
He gives me a night of quiet rest
He feeds me with the silence of His Word
My life has new hope
His guidance leads me through the darkness.

He is with me
Through the dark night of the soul
His touch ever with me
His hand quietly on my shoulder.

When the enemy comes
He is there
With oil
With grace.

(From page 21, Spiritual Journaling-God's Whispers in Daily Living)

A Walk In the Park

2011-09-19T10:16:00.000-05:00

A few days ago, while walking in Pinkerton Park, two miles from my home, I carried a small Bible in my back pocket. From time to time, I would open it and read from the Psalms. Then, a lady pasted me and said, "Reading from the Word?" Somewhat puzzled, I turned and said, "Yes, I like to read the Psalms while I walk."

AWESOME!" She said, as she wandered off.

What a message from God, "Awesome." Yes, God is Awesome.

The scripture I was reading was from Psalm 8. "Lord, O Lord, how majestic is your name in all the earth. When I consider your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and the stars, which you have set in place, what is man that you are mindful of him, or the son of man that you care for him."

Then rephrasing the Psalm, I thought, "Lord, oh Lord, how AWESOME is your name.

AWESOME: Freshly mowed grass, the smell of freshness in the air, a bench to sit on when tired, others walking the same path, a heated cup of coffee, the strength to move through the day praying and being thankful. AWESOME!

I recently received a gift, a book on Christian Mystics by Ursula King. She says that mystics have "an all-consuming love for both God and the world.....a spiritual wholeness and completion that reaches its goal in God." What an awesome thought.

WHAT IS AWESOME IN YOUR LIFE TODAY?

MORE

Re: Monday in Florida

2011-09-05T15:49:00.003-05:00

The sun just came out. It has been a boisterous weekend. Threads of tropical storm Lee, high winds gusting to 45 MPH, a chair flying reluctantly off of our balcony. Like any vacation there are surprises, the weather not the least of these. I have spent most of the one reading and eating.
The Desert Fathers lead the way, followed by The Hidden Reality, and Bob Edwards new book, and the supreme beach memoir, A Gift from the Sea.

We ate last night at Fisherman's Corner in Perdido Key. The food fantastic, the service slow. Tonight plans are to go to Niki's nearby in Orange Beach.

We have spent most of time watching the weather channel. The storms have allowed plenty of time for naps, twittering, counting dreams, and relaxing. Not a bad day.

My NEW BOOK ON KINDLE

2011-08-26T21:04:00.000-05:00

My new book came out on Kindle today. I am excited about it. Hope you will download and enjoy. Only $7.99. Check it out.

Apostle Peter

2011-08-19T19:35:00.001-05:00

Taken in Capernaum.

Peter's Mother in law.

2011-08-19T19:32:00.001-05:00

The room where Jesus healed her.

Town of Jesus

2011-08-19T19:30:00.001-05:00

Really Capernaum.

St Anthony

2011-08-19T19:25:00.001-05:00

In Jerusalem. St. Anthony Monastery.

THE WEDDING DANCE

2011-08-02T08:56:00.000-05:00

(This is a dream I had this morning. I awoke at 4 am and could not sleep. I turned on radio to don and roma on wls in chicago.All they could talk about was how dumb the democrats are and how smart the republicans are.Filled with this knowledge I changed the channel. Dozed. Alarm went off at 6. then the dream began.)

NEW ORLEANS

I leave my hotel room and take a small sack with a radio and go downtown. I will be gone for two hours I tell them. My purpose is to go see the manager of the New York Yankees and tell him I have come to play shortstop for him. He says he has a shortstop. Disappointed I get a glass and put orange juice in it. I walk outside and around the corner.

THE WEDDING

A crowd is gathering outside an old church. People of all sizes, faded clothes, some dressed "dude like" and others generally making noise, among also as finely dressed ladies and gentleman that I have ever seen. I follow the crowd inside. "What is this,"I ask. A wedding someone says and laughs. I go to the front of the church. The only open seat is beside the pulpit. I sit down. Noise increases then a jazz band with three members enters with little children marching in front of them carrying strange instruments; glass jars, candles, waving sheets. There is clapping. Then everyone begins to dance. To jump up and down.

I .hold the orange juice in my hand, drink a little and place it on a table nearby. When I turn my head someone goes and drinks it. Everyone is happy, joyful.....then the bride and groom enter. Both heavy set, the groom dancing, the bride following. They run through pews, jump on them, shout, and sing loudly. "Is that the preacher," I ask. "Oh yes, his first wife died. He is remarrying." "Oh!"

Then bride and groom wander off. Little kids arrive in a group of five. They are gypsies. Singing. Sounds like a hymn. A seat is open nearby and I move to it. Someone comes and whispers in my ear. "Isn't this wonderful?" I laugh.
.
The bride and groom wonder off. To another room. Dancing and shouting."This is the best preacher we ever had," says someone enjoying the service. A cameraman shows up from a local tv station and takes pictures of the audience.

I go to another room and sit by a lady who says, "Aren't you glad I told you about this? Wouldn't miss it for the world. I stumble walking down the aisle. Several people help. Welcome me. I find the bride and groom ready to get married, but th. e pastor suddenly is shot out of a canon and finds himself naked on the floor. He laughs. Dust himself off and returns to the bride. Several visiting preachers arrive, proclaiming well wishes, reading scripture, and running around shaking hands.

Suddenly the radio in my sack goes off. Loudly. I tune and try turning down the volume to no avail. I then take out the batteries and it is still playing. A older man comes up to help. He takes everything a part. It still plays. I feel so awkward. I can't mess up the wedding so I go outside. Kids come to see the mysterious noise where all the batteries have been removed. I am embarrassed. I look at my watch. I need to be at the hotel in ten minutes. I really hate to leave. It was so much fun. I really was excited. What a wonderful dream. "I want to go to a church like that," I thought. (Dream time over. Wonder where bride and groom are going on their honeymoon?"

Spiritual Journaling: MY FIRST BOOK

2011-07-10T20:05:00.001-05:00

Really excited. All the information about my new book is now available on Amazon. Spiritual Journaling: God's Whispers in Daily Living, is now available for pre-ordering on Amazon and Kindle. TO PREORDER you can go to this website: click http://amzn.to/qQz6Ng

It will be published on August 16 and will be available in both Amazon and Kindle edition. It will cost $10.17 on Amazon and $7.99 on Kindle. I am asking for your prayers as I begin this new adventure. My prayer being that it will glorify God and help develop the spirituality of many people.

Strength

2011-07-07T08:44:00.001-05:00

"My strength and my courage is the Lord." Is.12

When our outward strength fails our love of God encourages us to carry on and depend on Him.

Priceless His Unfailing Love

2011-06-29T09:23:00.001-05:00

My prayer time each morning consists of Psalms and words. the new or old testament. I often follow a format related closely to the liturgy of the hours. Today Psalm 36 had words of encouragement to me that I made into a prayer. "Priceless is your unfailing love." PRICELESS.. wow.

PRAISING GOD

To go along with scripture I often sing a hymn. The prayer book I use has hymns but I do not know them. As a member of the silent generation the older hymns have meaning to me. There is a website I use that has the top 100 hymns. This has become my pages to sing from. http://popularhymns.com
It has become a useful page in my spiritual life.

His unfailing love. Something to remember and be thankful for.

Spiritual Journaling

2011-06-15T19:16:00.001-05:00

My new book, Spiritual Journaling, is now ready for pre-ordering on Amazon. http://bit.ly/iTYwz8

Morning Prayer

2011-06-15T07:56:00.001-05:00

Darkness has faded
Sleep has refreshed us

We thank you
For friends who sustain us
For grandchildren who see life
For the first time

And the joy of trains and masterpieces
And paths that follow
The flowing streams

Have mercy
Hear our prayer
We give thanks.

Waiting

2011-06-14T08:11:00.001-05:00

I sit alone

Waiting

For YOU.

Trains

2011-06-14T08:08:00.001-05:00

Going to see the trains at Cheekwood.

With grandson Jack and son-in-law Mike.

The memories. Dad and Granddad worked over eight decades on railroad.

I see the old train station, the silent motorcars, the Love that paved the way.

International Thomas Merton Society

2011-06-07T20:25:00.001-05:00

I will be live tweeting from the Thomas Merton meeting in Chicago on June 9 to June 12. Check out twitter at http://twitter.com/monasticskete

An Angel Dropped by to see me today

2011-05-26T20:12:00.003-05:00

It was a sleepless night. Wind, storms, lightning. I kept trying to write in my head. The word gooey kept me awake. I want gooey writing. Writing that sticks in someone's mind. Writing that is unforgettable, like sticky fingers that licking does not cure. Traceless words that empower not defeat. Thoughts that germinate action.But gooey didn't do it.

Yesterday, one of my special friends died, Catherine Cowell, of Camden, TN. I met her a decade ago through her daughter, Sandy, who is a nurse friend of mine. Catherine was a quilter, always making a quilt for a new baby, or someone in need. She has always been a joyous person, looking for the best in others. Her funeral is to be Saturday at 2 p.m. at the Cowell United Methodist Church near Camden. I was looking forward to going and being with the family.

At 6 am this morning, the phone rang. I missed it. In calling back it was about Janet's Aunt Opal who had died during the night. She was 96. The oldest child of ten brothers and sisters, she was the inspiration for us all. The active one who climbed high mountains even in her eighties. Janet's Mom, Georgia, was one of the younger sisters. Speculation was the funeral will be Saturday in Livingston, TN. a 200 mile trip from Camden. The same day. Two funerals I wanted to go to. What made it worse was that a few weeks ago two of my best friends, Hubert Jarvis and Louis Wilkinson, funerals were at the same time 200 miles apart.

I just stumbled through the thought, a grief unexplained, sadness surrounded by loss and being separated. Then, Janet said, look out the window. There it was two fifty foot tree limbs broken during the night, the yard full of broken limbs. I was stunned. I had been cleaning up the garage for days. Now a setback of grief and broken limbs. All more than I can handle. Too much. To many tears. Exhaustion setting in on me.

At 8:30 am a young man was to come and help me weed some of the yard. When I went outside it was cold, to cold for an old man to work, freezing, and cloudy, more rain maybe. I called the young man to not come, but the phone did not work without his area code which I did not know. I looked out of the window feeling hopeless! Tearful. A what is the use moment.

ANGELS UNAWARE

We have been told in the book of Hebrews about angels unaware, unexpected visitors from God, who may take on our burden and help us, a Michael, or a Gabriel. When Witt arrived I showed him the mess. He weighed about 120 pounds and was from Thailand trying to make enough money to survive and go back and be a missionary. Then amazingly he went to work! With chain saw in hand he demolished the trees and had them piled high for someone to carry them away. Even an earlier tree limb up fifty feet high he climbed the tree and was able to get it down. Of course I was not much help. At 67 I can work 15 minutes then I have to rest.

By noon I was exhausted and came in the house to lay down only to find that the cat had messed all over our new cover for our bed. Every step required another step. Do you know what I mean?

By 5 pm Witt had done the impossible, trimmed 18 trees, sawed up three, removed limbs all over the yard, trimmed all the hedges, and weeded the entire place. Like a whirlwind he kept doing things I could not do. All I could think of was God had provided an angel when the winds had grown to powerful, when the third watch of the night had caused disciples to feel the hopeless of the winds. Yes, an angel.

When he left eight hours later I told him, "Witt, you were an angel in my life today!" And, I meant it!

P.S. I checked Amazon today and found my book, Spiritual Journaling listed, three months before the publication. That was an exciting meaningful moment to conclude the day. Check out the book on Amazon.

Cultivating Grace

2011-05-19T09:45:00.001-05:00

In silence and stillness we cultivate grace. Seeing the birds fly past, trees swinging in the wind, the smile of a small child, a friend laughing. These are items of grace we often miss.

When was the last time you experienced his grace?

New grandbaby Luke.

2011-05-18T12:58:00.001-05:00

Babies are so much fun.

UPDATES ON A FRIDAY

2011-05-13T20:27:00.000-05:00

I finally got things together enough to update Thomas Merton and Spiritual Directions. Thomas Merton is unique as it adds a couple of things that I feel will be helpful. On the new Thomas Merton page is one link that tells everything you need to know about the upcoming, June 9-12, International Thomas Merton Society meeting in Chicago, IL. Lots of famous Merton scholars will be leading sessions during the three day conference. The full schedule can be found on updated site.

Also, PBS last Friday night did an interview of Brother Paul Quenon, a monk for fifty years at Gethsemani. He has lived outside for the past 50 years and this is really a great show about a friend of mine. I first met Brother Paul over 15 years ago and we have discussed Thomas Merton many times. He has led me around the monastery campus to places I did not know existed, including St. Anne's, and a statue of St. Benedict, hidden in the far woods. This is an inspirational TV program, well worth watching. To view these go to:

http://tinyurl.com/om5s

Another update is found on my Spiritual Directions page, with updated retreat information, including retreats on Merton, Grief, and Spiritual Direction.

Be in prayer for me as I begin some new spiritual endeavors. Thanks.

The Ultimate Morning

2011-05-10T08:41:00.001-05:00

This is the first morning this year it has been warm enough for breakfast, two hard boiled eggs and toast, on the patio. A neat experience.

I watch birds zoom across the sky and chirp, read from the gospels and the Imitation of Christ, and journal. In two weeks we will have our 50th high school reunion, the Clinton, Tennessee, class of 61.

Luke, our new grandson, is doing well. His parents, Mike and Melinda, love him very much. His big brother Jack is always willing to help, and especially willing to remind us to pray before meals so he can say Amen. He is three plus years old.

Yesterday I mowed. Today is limb and pine cone day. As for today, my prayer is that I may be an instrument for noble purposes useful to the Master. (2 Tim.2:21)

Luke awake

2011-05-08T18:49:00.001-05:00

Baby Luke after bath.

New Day Luke Daniel McReynolds

2011-05-06T09:38:00.000-05:00

My second grandson, Luke Daniel McReynolds, was born on May 3, 2011. He weighted 7 pounds and one ounce. Born at 3:51. Excited about the new family member. We will send pictures very soon.

Basketball

2011-04-05T07:23:00.001-05:00

I don't like basketball anymore! After Connecticut beat Butler last night for the college basketball championship, I went to bed mad. I felt I had not watched a basketball game but a masquerade of football, or better still, the bulls chasing spectators down narrow corridors in Spain.

Years ago, Bill Walton made 21 of 22 shots in a final. This time, during a stretch Butler made 1 of 21. What is going on?

Scoring is less important than defense. Every shot seems blocked or the rim is covered so much with fingers there is no room to put the ball in the goal. Teams can not throw the ball inbounds anymore because of hands everywhere. It has become a disappointing ritual.

When the three point shot became the law there were those predicting scoring to reach over 100 points everytime and that Pete Maravich was treated unfairly since there were no three point shots. But now, scores have decreased. Most points are fought over under the basket, elbow to chins, eyeballs plucked with fingers.

Besides the masquerade of discrimination, we 5 foot 9 inch specimens have no place in the game. Let's change the game so everyteam must have a midget on the floor at all times.

Of course making freshman as the main makeup of the powerful teams the NBA has a constant source of free stars on the agenda every year.

Yes basketball has become a farce for me. Glad its over. Let the giants leap over cars, give coaches an annual stipend to buy players, march madness has become stupidity for the masses.

A Sickness, two funerals, a farewell, and a birthday party

2011-04-01T12:21:00.001-05:00

The title explains it pretty well. Best friends died, a friend retired, my daughter had a birthday, and I was totally wiped out. When I am sick I am figurately dead. I lay mercilessly under a quilt. My head aches. Every cough a death rattle. But, I am beginning to improve a little. How can I tell? An email to a sick friend, a phone call, and a willingness to accept the moment as a gift.

In that moment I read about the miracles of St. Francis, say prayers for friends who are hurting, read Jim Forest stories of Robert Lax, listen to Roshi Joan's Merton quotes, and read Sheila Mullican's blog of a recent retreat:

http://sheliamullican.com/faith/souvenirs-of-silence/

Illness often is a place to regain strength. There is always so much excitement. It is difficult to turn the noise off to hear Our Lord, but illness flattens us and we have moments to listen.

As I prepare for my first book to be published, I have thought that maybe a book signing is inappropriate. Maybe invite friends over and have a time to dedicate it to the Lord. We could read some from it, drink tea and coffee, eat grapes, and be thankful. Might be interesting. I have led many prayers of dedication on people's homes, but never a book.

May thy hand be upon us dear Father. Amen.

Grief

2011-03-29T17:07:00.001-05:00

And what does grief feel like? Two of my dearest friends died two days ago. Their funerals are at the same time tomorrow, separated by two hundred miles.

Both had been friends over three decades. One over four. Grief is remembering the laughter. Both were jewells at seeing hypocrisy.

I will miss the banter, the meals we shared, the laughter, the flow of ideas we shared, the joy at just seeing their faces. Meeting at places far from home. A chilled fork. A new heresy.

Yes, the real griefs are the joys we will miss, the sly smiles, and those times when hurt or afraid they listened without a word, and cared.

Hubert and Louie I will miss you. Thanks so much for what you added to my life.

Poetry in a Messy Room

2011-03-28T12:14:00.001-05:00

Conquest of time is never easy. We are trapped by who we are, often lingering before the bell rings.

Today I am sick, a springtime cold. In bed I read Merton's poems and remember that I too once dreamed in poetic sequences. The moonlight shining like the sun during lauds on the day my friend James Hamilton was buried.

Some trips linger longer than others. Joy or sorrow limiting the range. Of course, we always dress well. Our signature at events of significance. Sometimes an umbrella is needed, or a helpful hand.

When sleep returns our visions replay the scences, sequenced between night and day. I will...I wi l l..... i

Thoughts On Marriage 43 years Later and Today

2011-03-26T10:12:00.001-05:00

At the end of this blog is Bob Herbert's last column working for the NYT. It is a good sign of the times, but what about OTHER TIMES? How did they differ?

Today Tammy and Daniel get married in the same church that Janet and a I married in over 43 years ago. Brides and Grooms are an optimistic sort. Marrying inspires, gives hope, a victorious vision of the future. Marriage for most of us is the mountaintop, the pinnacle of life. In marriage one can accomplish anything with ones mate. Children, kindergarden, jobs of distinction, are the signposts. Who carries the garbage, keeps the weeping checkbook, and who sorts through the high pitched voices, is not the addendum we expected.

When Janet and I married in 1967 we dreamed big. But the outskirts were invisible. We were warriors in 67 also. The Vietnam War to protect us from communism. In less than a year assassians killed MLK AND RFK. The country was filled with riots. We did land a man on the moon and I loss my job because of govt cutbacks. There were few if any jobs for engineers. Two years into marriage I was unemployed for a long time.

Todays tragedies seem similar to another era. Americans still seem to love war, complain about the rich, are politically adversive to either party, and have visions of a Joshua to lead us to the promise land. Times may not have changed as much as we think.

So what can I say to the newlyweds?

Times are always filled with choices and empty voices. For those times we listen to proverbs. "He shall direct thy paths."

Keep your voices to a dull roar.

Give each other the chance to be heard.

Respect others. Follow the footprints. Love God. Follow the signs.

Enjoy each other. You are partners on the journey.

You may now kiss the bride!

READ BELOW

http://mobile.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/opinion/26herbert.xml

Losing Our Way

2011-03-26T09:18:00.001-05:00

Columnist Bob Herbert signs off for the last time. Lots to think about here. http://mobile.nytimes.com/2011/03/26/opinion/26herbert.xml

Thinking

2011-03-24T10:02:00.001-05:00

Merton said, "keep warm anyway you can, love God, and pray."

Anxiety is always our answer. There is always an unfinished to do list that daily increases in length. The impossible to get done list. And if we tire, we can always share the blaime with another. Such is the form of human nature.

Today is put up curtains day. One of my least favorite things. Tomorrow we do again with different colors. Days of trial to take up the time and keep up efforts for others. Never enough. Our power consists in our ability to control others. And if nothing else, here is what the president did wrong today. Why do we never except the non purity of us all.

Lawrence Ferlinghetti is 92 today.

The sun shines. I must go, say a QUICK prayer and work.

Spiritual beggar

2011-03-12T20:53:00.001-06:00

"Being a spiritual beggar is seeking to live God's will rather than one's own."

When Prayers Are Answered

2011-03-07T10:13:00.000-06:00

When prayers are answered:

Yesterday, our pastor, Mark Marshall, preached the most challenging sermon I have heard in a long time, based on the passage from Luke 7:1-9. While listening I developed my outline while listening to his.

The story happened in Capernaum, a city that may be the centerpiece of most of Jesus ministry. I went there a couple of years ago. Locals pronounce it differently, Caper-Ney-Um. It is near the sea of Galilee on the side of a mountain. A large statue of the Apostle Peter is near the entrance. It was his hometown. Jesus healed Peter's mother here.

There was a prayer request.

Jewish elders had the request for a centurion's servant who was about to die. The need was amplified by the fact these Jewish leaders bring the request, not for themselves, but for another. (Note: When our prayer is for others it is big enough.)

Pleading

They "pleaded earnestly." He helped build our synagogue (yes, I saw the ruins of it) and he cares for our nation. This request is extremely important! This plea is the SECRET to successful prayer!!

I often take the prayer request from our church home each week. Once the length of them got the best of me. Some of the request were to simplistic to me, then my wife, Janet, pointed something out to me, "the real prayer request are on the back page!" Sure enough, there they were. The homeless we help with had heartfelt needy prayers, "I need food to eat, I need a job, I need a place to live. Father, forgive me how I have failed you." After reading those request, I suddenly realized something about prayer that was the most important lesson I have ever learned. !!

A True Prayer is From the Heart and TO THE POINT !

This thought changed my prayer life. I describe it to my classes by having them place their hand over their heart and then pointing a finger toward the sky. Try it! "From the heart to the point."

The "pleading earnestly" from the heart (We care very much for this centurion, he has done so much for us, we plead earnestly from our heart to heal his servant.) Jesus, hearing the request and need says, "Let's Go!"

The Recommendation

Often someone asks for prayer and I think, "What's the point?" I have even asked that question to the person requesting prayer. This requires extensive thought on our part, what are we really praying for?
Why prayer for a broken arm? It takes on a whole new dimension if it is a professional baseball player and his whole career is on the line. The prayer, "Lord, we love him, may this be the point in his life when your ultimate direction for his life is revealed." See the difference? Sure your prayer is heartfelt, but WHAT IS THE REAL POINT?

The Faith

Jesus was so amazed that he said, "I have not found such great faith even in Israel." Then the men who had been sent returned to the house and found the servant well. Are we surprised? Gee, this prayer really works.

In my Kindle downloads are the answered prayers of George Muller, a prayer giant of another era. I read the prayers to try to understand what he was really praying for or what is the point. His secret is the same HEARTFELT TO THE POINT.

As our pastor closed he asks one of the most important questions ever asked to a Christian that has been hanging on to me like a wet cloth and one I want you to struggle with also:

DOES MY FAITH AMAZE JESUS?

Think about that. If not, why not? Thanks Mark.

Week Over

2011-03-04T16:08:00.001-06:00

The weather has been nice most of the week. Rain expected all weekend. Tonight is rook night, our monthly gig. Lots of food and fellowship.

I accomplished a lot this week, lawnmoving, fixed a chair, organized a little, exercised, watched bbq show on travel channel which made me hungry.

RE: some memories of Fr Matt Kelty

2011-02-25T08:16:00.000-06:00

What a sad loss. I recall Matthew telling me the story of opening the gate for Thomas Merton late one night when he came to reside at Gethsemani.

From: dan phillips [mailto:brodanphillips@gmail.com]
Sent: Thursday, February 24, 2011 10:23 AM
To: Laura Babbage; wayne burns; Landra Lewis; Blog
Subject: Fwd: some memories of Fr Matt Kelty

More memories of Father Matthew.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Jim Forest" <jhforest@gmail.com>
Date: Feb 24, 2011 9:17 AM
Subject: some memories of Fr Matt Kelty
To: "Jim Forest" <jhforest@gmail.com>

From: John Landry <johnplandry@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 8:13 PM
Subject: Re: Rev. Matthew Kelty of Abbey of Gethsemani buried in twilight ceremony
To: Jim Forest <jhforest@gmail.com>

I first met Matthew Kelty in 1972. He had walked the 235 miles from his hermitage in North Carolina to Washington, D.C. in protest of the Vietnam War in August. Nixon was re-coronated in November.

Philip Berrigan was released from Danbury (I led the march with Pete Seeger, Ben and Mary Spock thru the rain along a country road from the prison to a reception with Dan, Liz and a couple hundred movement stalwarts). I had stayed with Ed Guinan's CCNV group and sang at the front of a demonstration against the Christmas bombings with Joan Baez and Mimi Fariña. I rode a bus to Raleigh, finding the last connection of the day to Oxford was gone. So, (imagine!), I called the local bishop's office, telling him of my journey to visit Matthew, and he invited me to dinner and stay the night.

A snobby young Jesuit was also there...he and the bishop had no respect for the likes of the Berrigans and Merton, or Kelty, for that matter. I was pleasant and grateful for a meal, a much-needed shower, and sleep.

In the morning, I had breakfast with the black cook and housekeeper, and walked to the bus station to make my way to Oxford. From downtown Oxford, I walked thru the tobacco land, passing a few roadkill snakes along the way, disturbing one hungry crow and making one patrolling buzzard jealous.

I stuck out my thumb and a pickup truck stopped and drove me to the little country store, saying have a Coke and he'd be able to take me to the road to Matthew's once he'd bought some feed.

When I came into the humble monastic complex, Polka, Matthew's Dalmation sidekick, who'd walked to Washington with him, came out to greet me. There was a trailer, which served as the weaving studio, looms at the ready, for making priests' stoles. The main building housed the library, the kitchen, and a line of showers and bathrooms, and a couple small single bedrooms. Behind it was a stark, simple chapel on which the peacocks roosted, or fled to when the Guinea hens were marauding. Spread out around the place at just enough distance were maybe 5 single room hermitages, including Matthew's own, slightly away form the rest beyond the center structure and the chapel.

He was living there alone at the time (when I returned there several years later, there were 4 younger monks occupying the property.

It was Winter, and one night there was a surprise storm. Between a foot and 18 inches fell, everything in sight blanketed quietly. We shoveled around and put out food for the birds, the Guineas chasing the peacocks away quickly. I went and sat on a cleared step of the side entrance to the library with feed in each cupped palm. I heard a creek in the floorboards where Matthew stood in amazement...the two peacocks were eating from my hands.

We headed out into the covered world the next day and shared some homemade corn liquor with a mechanic he had working on his ole pickup.

He was a very direct guy, Matthew. We had some long conversations about Gethsemani, Merton, solitude, poetry, the war, New Guinea, and, of course, Massachusetts, from which we both hailed.

All the talk peppered with deep laughter. He maintained his great wit thoughout. We stayed in touch and corresponded when he returned to Papua for several years.

The last time I visited Matthew and Patrick Hart was Summer 1997.

I wish I had made my panned road trip this past Summer.

Poetry of a Soul: A Monk's Story is about Matt -- a marvelous little documentary now available on DVD, a treasure to have now that he is gone.

Pax

John Landry

* * *

On Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 3:06 AM, Jim Forest <jhforest@gmail.com> wrote:

Courier-Journal (Louisville) / 21 February 2011

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110221/FEATURES10/302210062/1061/SPORTS10/Rev-Matthew-Kelty-Abbey-Gethsemani-dies?odyssey=nav|head

Rev. Matthew Kelty of Abbey of Gethsemani buried in twilight ceremony

by Peter Smith
psmith@courier-journal.com

TRAPPIST, Ky. — As the abbey bell tolled slowly and as stiff gusts scattered the first drops of an incoming rainstorm, the Rev. Matthew Kelty was lowered into his grave in a twilight ceremony whose simple dignity matched his monastic calling.

Kelty, perhaps the most public face of the Abbey of Gethsemani since the death of renowned author Thomas Merton, died Friday and was buried Monday afternoon following a funeral attended by dozens of fellow monks and priests and more than 100 visitors.

Kelty, a longtime chaplain to the monastery’s retreat guests, was 95 — the abbey’s oldest monk. He was “lucid and interested up to the last” before dying during a midday nap following a brief illness, said the monastery obituary.

Kelty, a one-time typist for Merton, published several books on spirituality himself. For many years, he spent hours each day counseling people who had come on retreat to the remote Roman Catholic monastery in Nelson County, Ky.

Until he was recently slowed by age, Kelty gave nightly devotional talks to retreatants. Speaking in a crisp South Boston accent that contrasted with the immediate surroundings of rural Kentucky, he mixed his own observations with a sampling of poetry and prose by other writers.

Kelty spent the morning of his death talking with fellow monks, many of whom were with him at his death, the monastery obituary said.

“So many of us are the better for having known him,” said Gethsemani Abbott Elias Dietz at Kelty’s funeral Mass in the historic abbey church.

Kelty was buried in the tradition of the Trappist monastery — without a coffin and without embalming, lowered gently into the grave by fellow monks. The purpose, Kelty himself had written in an essay years earlier, is to have a “simple and beautiful” acknowledgement of death for what it is, while retaining hope in resurrection.

The service was marked by the simple chants and long silences characteristic of the Trappist monastery. Flutist Tracy Campbell of Louisville, who has visited Gethsemani for years, played “Danny Boy” at the funeral — a tribute to Kelty’s Irish heritage — and “Amazing Grace” after his body was gently lowered into his grave.

The music recalled the title of one of Kelty’s essays, “Flute Solo,” in which he compared his own musical hobby with monastic solitude.

Kelty served as chaplain of the monastery's guest house from 1990 to 2006, even as age left him stooped and his hair nearly as white as his robe.

Many visitors had been drawn to the monastery by the writings of Merton — under whom Kelty trained as a novice. But Merton was long deceased, and for many visitors the most accessible monk was Kelty, who kept regular hours counseling anyone who wanted a listening ear.

Widows, divorcees, “troubled people and happy people” came to see him, Kelty said in a 2005 interview with The Courier-Journal. They ask about how to deepen their prayer life, how to deal with loneliness, how to forgive others — or themselves — for past offenses.

“In an active world, people keep busy,” Kelty said. “A place like this is quiet. You can't hide anything.”

Kelty “was wise and witty and deep and bold at times, and at the same time he could keep his solitude,” said Brother Paul Quenon, a fellow Gethsemani monk and author. “There was a kind of loneliness that he always had (that was) one of the reasons he was attractive to people.”

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville presided at the funeral Mass.

Kelty was born Charles Richard Kelty Jr. on Nov. 11, 1915, in the Irish Catholic neighborhood of South Boston, Mass. His family soon moved to suburban Milton, where he attended public schools.

Kelty said he inherited little of the mechanical skill of his father, a tool-and-die engineer, and was instead drawn to poetry, drama and music.

When his high school history class studied how monks lived in the Middle Ages, "I knew then that's what I wanted to do," he said.

But no one told him there were monasteries in 20th-century America, so he joined a missionary order, the Society of the Divine Word.

He served as a priest on the Pacific island of New Guinea from 1947 to 1951, making rounds to Catholic communities to teach lessons and conduct Masses, burials and weddings.

Kelty returned to the United States to edit the order’s magazine. He later received permission to join Gethsemani in 1960.

Given a new name — Matthew — to mark his new life, Kelty repaired shoes, mended clothes and typed manuscripts for Merton.

In the 1970s, he helped found an experimental religious community in North Carolina and then lived as a hermit during a second stint in New Guinea. He returned to Gethsemani for good in 1982.

His books include “My Song is of Mercy,” “Gethsemani Homilies,” “Call of the Wild Geese,” “Sermons in a Monastery” and “Singing for the Kingdom,” all still in print.

In 2007, Kelty wrote to The Courier-Journal's consumer-advocacy column Lemme Doit, saying that as he struggled with his handwriting he hoped to get a sturdy manual typewriter like he had decades ago. His purchase was a “disaster,” he wrote, but Kelty eventually received not only a refund but a flood of offers from readers offering their ancient but functional manual typewriters.

"I should let you know that I am in receipt of a handsome Smith Corona portable," Kelty said in a type-written thank-you note to Lemme Doit. " … God bless you."

* * *

Jim & Nancy Forest
Kanisstraat 5 / 1811 GJ Alkmaar / The Netherlands

Jim & Nancy web site: www.jimandnancyforest.com
Jim's books: http://www.jimandnancyforest.com/books/
Photo collections: www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/collections/
In Communion site: www.incommunion.org
Forest-Flier Editorial Services: www.forestflier.com
On Pilgrimage blog: http://jimandnancyonpilgrimage.blogspot.com/
A Tale of Two Kidneys blog: http://ataleof2kidneys.blogspot.com/

* * *

Fwd: some memories of Fr Matt Kelty

2011-02-24T09:23:00.000-06:00

More memories of Father Matthew.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Jim Forest" <jhforest@gmail.com>
Date: Feb 24, 2011 9:17 AM
Subject: some memories of Fr Matt Kelty
To: "Jim Forest" <jhforest@gmail.com>

From: John Landry <johnplandry@gmail.com>
Date: Wed, Feb 23, 2011 at 8:13 PM
Subject: Re: Rev. Matthew Kelty of Abbey of Gethsemani buried in twilight ceremony
To: Jim Forest <jhforest@gmail.com>

I first met Matthew Kelty in 1972. He had walked the 235 miles from his hermitage in North Carolina to Washington, D.C. in protest of the Vietnam War in August. Nixon was re-coronated in November.

Philip Berrigan was released from Danbury (I led the march with Pete Seeger, Ben and Mary Spock thru the rain along a country road from the prison to a reception with Dan, Liz and a couple hundred movement stalwarts). I had stayed with Ed Guinan's CCNV group and sang at the front of a demonstration against the Christmas bombings with Joan Baez and Mimi Fariña. I rode a bus to Raleigh, finding the last connection of the day to Oxford was gone. So, (imagine!), I called the local bishop's office, telling him of my journey to visit Matthew, and he invited me to dinner and stay the night.

A snobby young Jesuit was also there...he and the bishop had no respect for the likes of the Berrigans and Merton, or Kelty, for that matter. I was pleasant and grateful for a meal, a much-needed shower, and sleep.

In the morning, I had breakfast with the black cook and housekeeper, and walked to the bus station to make my way to Oxford. From downtown Oxford, I walked thru the tobacco land, passing a few roadkill snakes along the way, disturbing one hungry crow and making one patrolling buzzard jealous.

I stuck out my thumb and a pickup truck stopped and drove me to the little country store, saying have a Coke and he'd be able to take me to the road to Matthew's once he'd bought some feed.

When I came into the humble monastic complex, Polka, Matthew's Dalmation sidekick, who'd walked to Washington with him, came out to greet me. There was a trailer, which served as the weaving studio, looms at the ready, for making priests' stoles. The main building housed the library, the kitchen, and a line of showers and bathrooms, and a couple small single bedrooms. Behind it was a stark, simple chapel on which the peacocks roosted, or fled to when the Guinea hens were marauding. Spread out around the place at just enough distance were maybe 5 single room hermitages, including Matthew's own, slightly away form the rest beyond the center structure and the chapel.

He was living there alone at the time (when I returned there several years later, there were 4 younger monks occupying the property.

It was Winter, and one night there was a surprise storm. Between a foot and 18 inches fell, everything in sight blanketed quietly. We shoveled around and put out food for the birds, the Guineas chasing the peacocks away quickly. I went and sat on a cleared step of the side entrance to the library with feed in each cupped palm. I heard a creek in the floorboards where Matthew stood in amazement...the two peacocks were eating from my hands.

We headed out into the covered world the next day and shared some homemade corn liquor with a mechanic he had working on his ole pickup.

He was a very direct guy, Matthew. We had some long conversations about Gethsemani, Merton, solitude, poetry, the war, New Guinea, and, of course, Massachusetts, from which we both hailed.

All the talk peppered with deep laughter. He maintained his great wit thoughout. We stayed in touch and corresponded when he returned to Papua for several years.

The last time I visited Matthew and Patrick Hart was Summer 1997.

I wish I had made my panned road trip this past Summer.

Poetry of a Soul: A Monk's Story is about Matt -- a marvelous little documentary now available on DVD, a treasure to have now that he is gone.

Pax

John Landry

* * *

On Tue, Feb 22, 2011 at 3:06 AM, Jim Forest <jhforest@gmail.com> wrote:

Courier-Journal (Louisville) / 21 February 2011

http://www.courier-journal.com/article/20110221/FEATURES10/302210062/1061/SPORTS10/Rev-Matthew-Kelty-Abbey-Gethsemani-dies?odyssey=nav|head

Rev. Matthew Kelty of Abbey of Gethsemani buried in twilight ceremony

by Peter Smith
psmith@courier-journal.com

TRAPPIST, Ky. — As the abbey bell tolled slowly and as stiff gusts scattered the first drops of an incoming rainstorm, the Rev. Matthew Kelty was lowered into his grave in a twilight ceremony whose simple dignity matched his monastic calling.

Kelty, perhaps the most public face of the Abbey of Gethsemani since the death of renowned author Thomas Merton, died Friday and was buried Monday afternoon following a funeral attended by dozens of fellow monks and priests and more than 100 visitors.

Kelty, a longtime chaplain to the monastery's retreat guests, was 95 — the abbey's oldest monk. He was "lucid and interested up to the last" before dying during a midday nap following a brief illness, said the monastery obituary.

Kelty, a one-time typist for Merton, published several books on spirituality himself. For many years, he spent hours each day counseling people who had come on retreat to the remote Roman Catholic monastery in Nelson County, Ky.

Until he was recently slowed by age, Kelty gave nightly devotional talks to retreatants. Speaking in a crisp South Boston accent that contrasted with the immediate surroundings of rural Kentucky, he mixed his own observations with a sampling of poetry and prose by other writers.

Kelty spent the morning of his death talking with fellow monks, many of whom were with him at his death, the monastery obituary said.

"So many of us are the better for having known him," said Gethsemani Abbott Elias Dietz at Kelty's funeral Mass in the historic abbey church.

Kelty was buried in the tradition of the Trappist monastery — without a coffin and without embalming, lowered gently into the grave by fellow monks. The purpose, Kelty himself had written in an essay years earlier, is to have a "simple and beautiful" acknowledgement of death for what it is, while retaining hope in resurrection.

The service was marked by the simple chants and long silences characteristic of the Trappist monastery. Flutist Tracy Campbell of Louisville, who has visited Gethsemani for years, played "Danny Boy" at the funeral — a tribute to Kelty's Irish heritage — and "Amazing Grace" after his body was gently lowered into his grave.

The music recalled the title of one of Kelty's essays, "Flute Solo," in which he compared his own musical hobby with monastic solitude.

Kelty served as chaplain of the monastery's guest house from 1990 to 2006, even as age left him stooped and his hair nearly as white as his robe.

Many visitors had been drawn to the monastery by the writings of Merton — under whom Kelty trained as a novice. But Merton was long deceased, and for many visitors the most accessible monk was Kelty, who kept regular hours counseling anyone who wanted a listening ear.

Widows, divorcees, "troubled people and happy people" came to see him, Kelty said in a 2005 interview with The Courier-Journal. They ask about how to deepen their prayer life, how to deal with loneliness, how to forgive others — or themselves — for past offenses.

"In an active world, people keep busy," Kelty said. "A place like this is quiet. You can't hide anything."

Kelty "was wise and witty and deep and bold at times, and at the same time he could keep his solitude," said Brother Paul Quenon, a fellow Gethsemani monk and author. "There was a kind of loneliness that he always had (that was) one of the reasons he was attractive to people."

Archbishop Joseph E. Kurtz of Louisville presided at the funeral Mass.

Kelty was born Charles Richard Kelty Jr. on Nov. 11, 1915, in the Irish Catholic neighborhood of South Boston, Mass. His family soon moved to suburban Milton, where he attended public schools.

Kelty said he inherited little of the mechanical skill of his father, a tool-and-die engineer, and was instead drawn to poetry, drama and music.

When his high school history class studied how monks lived in the Middle Ages, "I knew then that's what I wanted to do," he said.

But no one told him there were monasteries in 20th-century America, so he joined a missionary order, the Society of the Divine Word.

He served as a priest on the Pacific island of New Guinea from 1947 to 1951, making rounds to Catholic communities to teach lessons and conduct Masses, burials and weddings.

Kelty returned to the United States to edit the order's magazine. He later received permission to join Gethsemani in 1960.

Given a new name — Matthew — to mark his new life, Kelty repaired shoes, mended clothes and typed manuscripts for Merton.

In the 1970s, he helped found an experimental religious community in North Carolina and then lived as a hermit during a second stint in New Guinea. He returned to Gethsemani for good in 1982.

His books include "My Song is of Mercy," "Gethsemani Homilies," "Call of the Wild Geese," "Sermons in a Monastery" and "Singing for the Kingdom," all still in print.

In 2007, Kelty wrote to The Courier-Journal's consumer-advocacy column Lemme Doit, saying that as he struggled with his handwriting he hoped to get a sturdy manual typewriter like he had decades ago. His purchase was a "disaster," he wrote, but Kelty eventually received not only a refund but a flood of offers from readers offering their ancient but functional manual typewriters.

"I should let you know that I am in receipt of a handsome Smith Corona portable," Kelty said in a type-written thank-you note to Lemme Doit. " … God bless you."

* * *

Jim & Nancy Forest
Kanisstraat 5 / 1811 GJ Alkmaar / The Netherlands

Jim & Nancy web site: www.jimandnancyforest.com
Jim's books: http://www.jimandnancyforest.com/books/
Photo collections: www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/collections/
In Communion site: www.incommunion.org
Forest-Flier Editorial Services: www.forestflier.com
On Pilgrimage blog: http://jimandnancyonpilgrimage.blogspot.com/
A Tale of Two Kidneys blog: http://ataleof2kidneys.blogspot.com/

* * *

Legendary Trappist Fr. Matthew Kelty dies | The Deacon's Bench

2011-02-21T17:58:00.001-06:00

http://www.patheos.com/community/deaconsbench/2011/02/21/legendary-trappist-fr-matthew-kelty-dies/

Death of Father Matthew Abbey of Gethsemani

2011-02-20T19:25:00.001-06:00

http://www.monks.org/chron_20110218_fr_matthew.html

Matthew Kelty dies

2011-02-20T19:20:00.001-06:00

http://unfinishedlivesblog.com/2011/02/18/fr-matthew-kelty-ocso-passes-away-out-gay-monk-was-thomas-mertons-confessor/?utm_source=twitterfeed&utm_medium=twitter

Wisdom and the search for it.

2011-02-16T19:36:00.002-06:00

Things learned are often suspect. They need to be lived first. The most disturbing news of this hour, day, year, is "where are the wise?" There are many who claim the role. Pundits. Speakers of all sorts, each with credentials, or maybe even lies, that appoint them as heirs of wisdom. 24 hours a day they fill our lives.

Where are the wise?

Even Solomon, counted by many as the wisest of men, had 700 wives and 300 concubines, alliances with nations surrounding him that were destructive, and his concluding statement is, "all is vanity." That from a man who had it all!

The wise? Live within your means. Don't follow the Jones anymore. Let me lead you to the promise land! That promise land is the echo of all who claim authority over us. And that, I admit, is what I am looking for, the promise land, where all our dreams come true.

But, I do not know where it is? Must we all wander in the wilderness for 40 years to find it? The land of milk and honey. The promised life we deserve! Probably! So, the person of wisdom, is probably hidden deep within. The past that haunts us, the mistakes made in the corners of our lives, the habits hidden, the anger, the plotting, the disasters we helped to accomplish, only lead to one thing. That within us.

The place within? Is it really within us? How do we live with our failures and our past? Really, there is only one way, the place in our heart where we confront ourselves. And how? Maybe watching a sunset cover the sky with orange. Maybe turning the off button even on ourselves. Regrets are just memories of times we can't forget.

Some speak of a memory, of two roads, choices, and someone once said, "the one less travelled made all the difference."

No, I have not found the wise one yet, but I believe he is just around the corner.

Baseball Nerd: Chuck Tanner

2011-02-12T13:44:00.001-06:00

Good character story of Chuck Tanner. http://keitholbermann.mlblogs.com/archives/2011/02/chuck_tanner.html

Little Prayers of Brother Dan

2011-02-10T10:32:00.001-06:00

O God help us
Give us safety on the journey
Feed us
Lead us
Touch us
Give us hope
Use us!

Another storm?

2011-02-08T20:52:00.001-06:00

This has been a delicious winter for snow lovers. Tomorrow we are expecting more snow in middle Tennessee. One of my favorite things to do is eat popcorn, drink a coke, and watch it snow. For several years we had no snow. Seven years I believe. It was horrible. No snow. No snowmen. No days off from school.

Yes, weather touches our moods. So tomorrow, maybe a snowman, scattered birdseed on top of the snow, maybe even snow creme. What do you like about the snow?

A Great teachers journey

2011-01-29T08:58:00.001-06:00

http://m.caringbridge.org/visit/keenbabbage/journal/entry/id/7392130/page/1

Berhanu Hirpa - A Testimony for a Wonderful Man of God

2011-01-26T09:47:00.006-06:00

Berhanu was a friend of mine. He grew up in refugee camps in Ethiopia. Through Christ leading he came to the United States and worked as a Pharmacy Tech at the hospital where I worked. He always had a smile on his face. He wanted more than anything else to be a United States citizen. He was to sick to go to the ceremony in which he would become a citizen. He died a couple of days later. This message by his friend Bill Hatcher was preached at his memorial service at Centennial Medical Center. It touched me greatly.

In Memory Of Berhanu

Love, joy, peace, patience, kindness, goodness, faithfulness, gentleness, and self-control. The scriptures give these nine virtues a singular name; the fruit of the Spirit. What does that mean? It means simply that a Christian should be recognized by these attributes and that this fruit should bear witness to a living relationship with Jesus.

To every Christian, God has deposited the fruit of the Spirit, but that does not mean we suddenly awake to find these virtues active in our daily lives. Growing in Christ like character is a life long process and in order to bear fruit, you must stay close to the Vine.

You see, the greater our vertical relationship is with God, the greater our love grows for others (the horizontal). The two greatest commandments are after all, paraphrasing, to love God and to love others. Berhanu Hirpa understood this well and devoted his life to these principles. Berhanu was a man of deep faith and because of this, his relationship with God was genuine so therefore his love for others was real. He cultivated the vertical and horizontal relationships in life and by doing so, those intersecting lines create a visual of the cross. When our lives are shaped by the cross, others will see Jesus. Berhanu lived his life reflecting the cross and in the process others came to know his Savior.

St. Francis of Assisi once said, “Preach the gospel, use words if necessary.” Berhanu understood that being a Christian is not something you do, it is quite simply who you are. In a genuine relationship with God we are so filled with His character and attributes that His love pours out of us into all other relationships we have. Berhanu, although fallible and imperfect like each of us, lived his life in such a way that he made a positive impact in the lives of others who knew him. My life is better because of Berhanu, and I imagine you would say the same.

When a person leaves behind a legacy what exactly does that mean? I believe it is more than just the wisdom they shared in their aptly spoken counsel, or the benevolence they displayed through acts of kindness and charity. I believe a true legacy inspires us to a higher place. Integrity found in their daily life speaks to us in such a way that we take note of our own lives and in doing so we are compelled to better ourselves. We are challenged to set our standard higher, to raise the bar, and in the process, make a positive impact in the life of others.

I believe in Berhanu’s short time here, he has done this. He has called you and me to take inventory of our very character and to evaluate its worth. Even now Berhanu calls us to stop, give pause, and reflect on what matters most. At the end of our lives here, as with Berhanu, it will not be the exterior, but the interior that will be remembered. At times like this we realize it is not the fancy home we live in, the expensive car we drive, or the money we have accumulated in our back accounts that really matter. In the end what people will remember most about us is the kind of person we were – our character. Did we show love to others? Was our lives filled with joy? Were we peacemakers? Did we show patience? Were we kind? Was there goodness in our lives? Were we faithful in all respects? Did we have a gentle spirit? Did we use restraint and self-control when necessary? In other words, did the fruit of the Spirit live in us and flow through us in our daily lives? For Berhanu Hirpa, I believe the answer would be a resounding, yes.

Berhanu did not make it back to Ethiopia and was unable to become a U.S. citizen, but what is more important to realize is that as a Christian, his real citizenship and home were never here, they were in heaven. Berhanu may have missed celebrating Christmas here, but what is most important to understand is that while we sang carols and celebrated the birth of our Savior here, Berhanu celebrated his first Christmas in heaven, with Jesus Himself. Reflecting on these things bring me great healing and comfort. I pray they will do the same for each of you.

The Apostle Paul wrote that, “To live is Christ, to die is gain.” To the Christian we realize the best part of our life is what waits for us after this one. For Berhanu, the wait is over and all Heaven rejoices in his homecoming. We may grieve Berhanu’s loss, but we can find hope in knowing where he is. He no longer suffers from cancer or sickness of any kind. He is completely healed and better than we ever knew him here. Berhanu walks on streets of pure gold. His home is a mansion. The beauty in everything he sees, smells, touches, or hears is beyond our imagination to describe. But the greatest of all these things is Berhanu now lives forever in the very place where God dwells, surrounded by the Heavenly hosts and all the saints who have went before him. This, my friends is heaven; this is the ultimate reward of God’s grace – and this is where Berhanu now lives.

May Berhanu’s life continue to inspire you. May God’s peace be with of you and may His comfort surround you. And may you come to know and experience the deep love of God in your life daily. Pray with me.

Rev. Bill Hatcher

Godspeed! Father Seraphim

2011-01-22T12:51:00.005-06:00

This is a great testimony to Father Seraphim by S. Mullican

Godspeed!

from ANAM CARA | JANUARY 22, 2011

http://feedproxy.google.com/~r/typepad/VwHq/~3/IyOsde5MbTo/godspeed.html

Dusk is falling on the snow out of doors. It presses against the windows in shafts of deep indigo. Flames flicker in red glass ... read more
---

Sargent Shriver: A Life of Grace

2011-01-19T09:45:00.002-06:00

Washington Post / www.washingtonpost.com / January 19, 2011

Sargent Shriver: A Life of Grace

By Colman McCarthy

It took only a walk with Sargent Shriver to learn how deeply loved and loving he was. Former Peace Corps volunteers, from the early days of the program that he began in 1961, or ones just back from stints in Third World outposts, would stop Sarge to thank him, embrace him and tell him stories about their life-changing service.

Countless others approached him on airport concourses, city sidewalks and elsewhere: people whose lives were changed because of the anti-poverty programs that Shriver started in the Johnson administration - Legal Services, Head Start, Job Corps, Community Action,VISTA, Upward Bound. Or the parents of children in Special Olympics, the program began by Shriver and his wife, Eunice, that revolutionized the way we treat those with mental disabilities. Occasionally, it was someone from Massachusetts who voted for the McGovern-Shriver ticket in the 1972 presidential campaign - Massachusetts and the District being the only places they won while the rest of America, narcotized, backed the soon-to-be disgraced Richard Nixon and Spiro Agnew.

In the three years - 1966-69 - that I worked as Sarge's speechwriter, traveling companion and suitcase carrier, I saw hundreds of these random moments. Hale and always effulgent, Sarge gave full attention to each greeter. It was a style of honest generosity that came naturally, a pole removed from the grip-and-grin fakeries of American politics.

At his death Tuesday, after years of Alzheimer's disease, the legions with whom Shriver had shared himself were no doubt recalling those chance run-ins as encounters with grace.

It was certainly that way for me. In the summer of 1966, I was roaming the country writing freelance articles about the civil rights movement: a week in Cicero, Ill., where Martin Luther King Jr. was trying to integrate housing; a week in Mound Bayou, Miss., an all-black Delta community scraping by. I sold a story to the National Catholic Reporter, a nascent liberal weekly already on its way to becoming a beacon of conscience-based journalism.

Sarge happened to read it. He tracked me down, not to jab back about the program of his I had criticized but to say that he had a staff opening for "a no-man, because I already have enough yes-men." He was running the newly created Office of Economic Opportunity and needed help with speeches, he said. He invited me to Washington for an interview.

I thought my chances were nil. Months before, I had emerged from a Trappist monastery in Georgia where strictly cloistered priests and brothers were God's inmates. Five years with no newspapers, magazines, television or other damnable frivolities, I'd been bricked out of secular society. Why would Shriver hire me?

For the make-or-break interview, we went to dinner. For four hours, the talk was not about pending legislation, Lyndon Johnson's White House or Republican attacks on the Peace Corps. Instead, it was theology and spirituality, the turf on which I been trodding, however unsteadily.

Shriver, amazingly, wanted to discuss Thomas Merton, Flannery O'Connor, Hans Kung, Tertullian, Leon Bloy, Pierre Teilhard de Chardin and others. He told of inviting Dorothy Day of the Catholic Worker to speak at Yale during his student days. A couple of times I couldn't keep up, as when he riffed on the differences between the early, middle and late writings of Saint Teresa of Avila.

At dinner's end, Sarge hired me - a flashpoint moment in my life. A spirited public orator, he needed a speechwriter like Stradivarius needed help stringing violins. Once at work, I learned that I wasn't the only one with a background in religion. He was hiring so many former nuns and priests that OEO could have stood for Office of Ecclesiastical Outcasts. Sarge's Catholicism ranged from ordinary pieties - a rosary was always in his pocket - to mindfulness of the church's teachings on social justice and nonviolence.

It infused his thinking, as when he said in 1981 at a reunion of Peace Corps volunteers: "The cure is care. Caring for others is the practice of peace. Caring becomes as important as curing. Caring produces the cure, not the reverse. Caring about nuclear war and its victims is the beginning of a cure for our obsession with war. Peace does not comes through strength. Quite the opposite: Strength comes through peace. The practices of peace strengthen us for every vicissitude. . . . The task is immense!"

For four decades, Sarge was my closest friend outside of my family. I said goodbye to him a few days ago during a visit at his apartment. I thanked him for everything. He had difficulty speaking, so he communicated by reaching for my hand. He kissed it and held it for half an hour, without a word between us. None was needed. He was saying that he loved me, the way he told all those people at airports and byways that they, too, were lovable.

* * *
Colman McCarthy, a former Post columnist, directs the Center for Teaching Peace and teaches courses on nonviolence at four Washington area universities and two high schools.
* * *

Monk carries Nun in a bag.

2011-01-18T17:04:00.001-06:00

Monk Tries To Board Plane With Nun's Remains In Bag: http://huffingtonpost.com/2011/01/18/monk-airport-bones_n_810519.html

Vampires in your life

2011-01-16T22:15:00.001-06:00

Who's The Emotional Vampire In Your Life?: http://huffingtonpost.com/judith-orloff-md/how-to-deal-with-draining_b_807069.html

Kids

2011-01-15T09:45:00.001-06:00

Kids Corner at Krispy Creme.

Re: Thomas Merton: the human dimension

2011-01-08T09:12:00.001-06:00

Interesting thought from merton.

On Jan 8, 2011 9:00 AM, "Jim Forest" <jhforest@gmail.com> wrote:
> "The basic problem is not political, it is a-political and human. One of the
> most important things to do is to keep cutting deliberately through
> political lines and barriers and emphasizing the fact that these are largely
> fabrications and that there is another dimension, a genuine reality, totally
> opposed to the fictions of politics: the human dimension which politics
> pretend to arrogate entirely to themselves. This is the necessary first step
> along the long way toward the perhaps impossible task of purifying,
> humanizing and somehow illuminating politics themselves."
>
> -- Letter from Thomas Merton to Jim Forest, August 27, 1962:
>
> * * *
>
> *Jim & Nancy Forest*
> Kanisstraat 5 / 1811 GJ Alkmaar / The Netherlands
>
> Jim & Nancy web site: www.jimandnancyforest.com
> Jim's books: http://www.jimandnancyforest.com/books/
> Photo collections: www.flickr.com/photos/jimforest/collections/
> In Communion site: www.incommunion.org
> On Pilgrimage blog: http://jimandnancyonpilgrimage.blogspot.com/
> A Tale of Two Kidneys blog: http://ataleof2kidneys.blogspot.com/
>
> * * *

Tuesday January 4, 2011

2011-01-04T14:36:00.000-06:00

Facing a new year always seems strange. People ask, "How is retirement?" Certainly it is a good question but one I am not sure of yet. Definitely it is different. I can sleep later, do the chores (empty
dish washer, fold clothes, vacuum, make bed, take dog out to potty, check the trash). As sports editor Furman Bisher once said, "Old men's most important job is taking out the trash." Certainly it is a worthy thought.

I am just now getting around to important THOUGHTS. What excursions of the mind continue to surface? Health, a format for daily living, how am I going to plan each day, and how am I going to change?

I have begun to realize, after a month of retirement, that thoughts have begun to clarify more. All the "doings" of Christmas take up tons of time and leave one exhausted. December is not a month to gentily go into that Dark Night because it is to busy.

I am realizing that I was suffering from burnout for the last year and just did not deal with it as well as I should. I was worn out physically and mentally, not to far-fetched as far as people in the health profession know all to well. I have enjoyed not having a beeper ring at midnight, or certain emergencies that creep up. I am beginning to relax some. Am learning a little how to define a new day. I am even beginning to change some of my web pages and thinking of doing another book.

All new things move slowly. How is retirement? I am moving slowly.

Soundings: Thomas Merton and Conversion of Manners

2011-01-01T18:31:00.001-06:00

Fr.Dale Matson shared with me this about Merton. Good.
http://sanjoaquinsoundings.blogspot.com/2010/12/thomas-merton-and-conversion-of-manners.html

Western Wall

2010-12-28T19:34:00.000-06:00

For inspiration I often turn on the web camera that is located at the Western Wall in Jerusalem. Check it out and see if it works for you.

http://wwitv.com/tv_channels/b3613.htm

Snow

2010-12-25T13:32:00.001-06:00

Enjoying a white Christmas.

Christmas photo

2010-12-21T22:42:00.001-06:00

We had a great weekend.

ANNUAL CHRISTMAS 2010 LETTER

2010-12-20T19:25:00.000-06:00

CHRISTMAS LETTER FOR THE PHILLIPS FAMILY FOR 2010

It has been a "bits and pieces year." Dan had a flat tire on the interstate during a snow storm in January, then followed that up with a snow-filled week with 25 pastors in Red Lodge, Montana, where he led a retreat. Other trips for Dan and Janet included a trip to Natchez, Mississippi, for the annual pilgrimage to see older homes and to enjoy the festivities.plus a July 4th week four day trip to Cancun, our first trip to Mexico.

Dan retired in December after ten years as a chaplain. Janet continues to work. Her company took us to see The Louise Mandrell show at Opryland. Opryland had been almost destroyed by the Nashville flood earlier in the year. The opry mills mall may never open again. The flood was a Nashville area tragedy. In Franklin we had 15 inches of rain in two days.

Other news: We have a new grandchild coming in May. Jack is 3 so will enjoy a new addition to the family, as we will.

Dan is having his first book published next year. Spiritual Journaling- God's Whispers in Daily Living, will be published in July of 2011. It is being published by the John Hunt Company in London, England. Check Amazon in June and July.

Hoping for each of your a miraculously and wonderful new year.

Merry Christmas,

Dan and Janet

Beneath Dead Sea, Scientists Seek Natural History - NYTimes.com

2010-12-18T21:52:00.001-06:00

We were in engedi last year? I thought this was interesting. http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/18/world/middleeast/18deadsea.html?src=twrhp

Company of Rivers

2010-12-13T10:30:00.001-06:00

On the day I was granted the option of what our
preachers called “leaving the faith ,” I did .
Following intuition and love with all the sincerity
and attentiveness I could muster, I chose to
spend my life in the company of rivers,
wilderness, wisdom literature, like - minded
friends, and quiet contemplation . As it ’ s turned
out , this life has enriched me with a sense of the
holy, and left me far more grateful than I ’ ll ever
be able to say . ~ David James Duncan, “ What
Fundamentalists Need for Their Salvation ”
orionmagazine . org / index.php /articles /
article/ 156 / July /August 2005
You cannot leave the holy . Namaste

Copied from John p. Coco journald

Published with Blogger-droid v1.6.5

What really matters?

2010-12-10T20:50:00.001-06:00

From Simon on npr.

Writing essay on Elizabeth Edwards. Tearing. Read what she said when Tony Snow died: http://tinyurl.com/28w9p7o. True grace-"

Waiting

2010-12-09T08:41:00.001-06:00

I am practicing being home alone during the day. A minature heater bums in the background. I watch a lady in heavy overcoat walk to work. Temperature is 20 degrees.

Merton's daily meditations are a companion. He speaks of the need for the discipline of long meditation in silence.

I pray. I walk Cuddles. I wait.

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What Was Important Today in Your Life

2010-12-07T20:52:00.001-06:00

After my fiasco with hot water heaters, I had been invited to a Christmas luncheon with people I had worked with. It was like the "annual feast" when I use to play taps in high school for veterans who died. No money, just the feast. Today's was a terrific one, one of the best.

Afterwards, I stopped by Alive Hospice. A friend is nearing the end of his life. He often worked nights at the hospital. He was a Christian who had struggled for many years to make a living. He often asked for prayers, described the tough life he had in Africa and the horrible deaths of family members. But in spite of everything, he had a sunny disposition and was a joy to be around. He asked me a year ago for prayers for surgery. I did not realize how bad it was until last week. Just something one forgets.

He is struggling to live for a few more days. He is tremendously weak. In two days he becomes an American Citizen. It is what he is living for. The officials know he can not make the ceremony all the way through, but with the aid of a social worker, the ceremony will be carried out in a much shorter version. Nine of his friends were outside waiting. Sorta like a death watch I have been at many times. I held his weak hand and said a short prayer. I told him what a good friend he had be and that he meant a lot to me.

I left and told those outside, all a different race than me, how much he meant to me. I left with a heavy heart, aware of how friends we take for granted are really what is important! I came home to the usual political banter, political victories claimed by each party, and I was very sad. The most important thing that happened for me today was seeing the courageous struggle a young man was having to become an American citizen before he died.

Merton surrender

2010-12-07T19:52:00.001-06:00

Our real journey in life is interior. It is a matter of greater surrender to the creative action of love and grace in our hearts. (Merton)"

Tuesday day 2

2010-12-07T16:06:00.001-06:00

I have spent first two days of retirement playing with hot water heater that died. After 3 different water heaters from home depot, consulting with 3 experienced experts i now have got water again. Now I can take a bath.

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Retired- Day one- Saturday

2010-12-04T14:46:00.000-06:00

My retirement party was incredible. It was wonderful! Many people said nice things about me. Stories were shared I had forgotten. Several people, including my brother Ron, showed up unexpectedly. I received beautiful cards, gift certificates, cookies, a plant, several books with signatures in them, and I talked so much I was hoarse. I have been so blessed. As I left went to our chapel, where I usually spend a few minutes each day, and just said Thank You. Thank You Lord!

Wednesday Morning

2010-11-30T08:32:00.001-06:00

Two more work days until retirement. I sleep an hour and a half later. I am eating buttered toast with Grandma Honey's homemade grape jelly and drinking a cup of coffee. It is raining outside and I am watching the squirrels and the cardinals fight over the bird seed.I have put up a baffle to keep the squirrels from eating all the food, but I spilled some and the squirrels are happy again.

What does one do with a day with nothing planned? I am working on a routine. For starters I will put the dishes up then go and do my Bible Studying. We start a new lesson series on Sunday, in 1 Kings. The introduction is always the most important part to begin.

Cuddles (doggie) is cuddled up in the corner. He is napping this early. I am sure he will enjoy the companionship, not being alone each day.The winter of life is a new experience. A day's journey is different, more un-planned, not as to-do orientated, less bells and whistles.My bucket lists grows shorter. I lack only one state, North Dakota. Maybe in the spring I can go up there, but not in winter I am told.

Today I am working on the third proof pages of Spiritual Journaling. I am excited about my book being published, hopefully in the early part of the new year. I guess if anyone asks, "what do you do for a living," I can say I am a writer.

The journey begins. Blessings from Bro. Dan

Thanksgiving 2010

2010-11-24T07:48:00.001-06:00

With appreciation to Furman Bisher in Atlanta, Georgia.

Thanks for Furman Bishers yearly Thanksgiving column in the Atlanta Journal Constitution.

Thanksgiving for Janet and 43 years of marriage.

Thanks for grandson Jack yelling wake up Poppa.

Thanks for my ten years at Centennial Medical Center as chaplain and those who wish me well in retirement.

Thanks for wifi and internet radio, like Gospel grass radio and LBC in London.

Thanks for new keurig coffee maker.

Am thankful I have been to Israel.

I am thankful I can turn off the television when something disturbs me.

Thankful for a working lawnmower.

Thankful for daughter Melinda and that she is pregnant.

Thankful I am still able to walk and take out the garbage.

Am thankful my first book, Spiritual Journaling, is coming out next year.

Thankful for Cuddles and Aiden.

Thankful I saw Edward Hopper's Nighthawk art in Chicago.

Thankful for my friends at the Abbey of Gethsemani.

Thankful for my Sunday School Class.

Thankful Atlanta Braves are doing better.

Thankful for the liturgy of the hours.

Thankful Mike helps me with my computer.

Thankful my mother-in-law, Georgia Honeycutt, is doing well.

Thankful for my hobbies: ham radio, reading, writing, and love of sports.

Thankful for heat in winter and AC in summer.

Thankful for wonderful parents I had.

Thankful for my brother Ronald and my other precious relatives.

Thankful for kindle and droid.

Thankful for 67 years of life.

Thankful for so many many blessings that I can not possibly count. Blessings that only God can give.

What are your blessings? I would be glad for you to share with me.

Abbey this week

2010-10-31T20:18:00.001-05:00

I will be spending several days at the Abbey of Gethsemane this week. It will be an extended time of prayer and reflection plus celebration birthday party for Father Carlos.

I will be writing reflections each day if you wish to follow. Also am beginning another book, maybe called My Travels with Thomas Merton.

Prayer request include: guidance and direction as I retire in a month, a continuous sense of God's presence, time for prayer and contemplation, time of prayer for many friends, healing for others, a sincere desire to be in the center of God's will, clear leadership in seeking God's leadership for my life and my family, and yes always Thanksgiving for so many blessings.

I covet your prayers.

Bro. Dan

Cheekwood

2010-10-23T11:18:00.001-05:00

Enjoying chihuly exhibit.

What is it?

2010-10-21T19:13:00.001-05:00

Dead animal caught on my Ham radio animal. What is it? How did it get there?

Cuddles

2010-10-15T17:13:00.001-05:00

Cuddles welcoming me home from work.

Jim Forest.First day ...Reflection

2010-10-12T09:35:00.001-05:00

My first day off, preparing for. retirement. I sit outside with Aidend and Cuddles. It is partly cloudy and 66 degrees.
I am reading The Ladder of the Beautitudes by Jim Forest. I bought the book last night at St. ELIZABETH'S Orthodox. Church in Murfreesboro TN. Jim was the speaker. He spoke on Christianity in a world of Conflict. It was a meaningful and moving experience for me.
Some of his quotes:
What does Jesus mean about love? How we care for each other.

Whenever you pray for someone there is a connection.

God does not need our advice.

Essence of sin is fear of the other which is rejection of God.

We are made in the image of God. There is no such thing as a completely evil person.

Life goal---the attempt to love one's enemy .

Things to think about

Retirement

2010-10-09T09:41:00.001-05:00

The normal routine will change from day to day
First off como va am trying to learn to relax
Relaxing is my main momentum. I feel I really need the rest and how difficult it is when a routine dominates our every momeni

I also need to learn how to listen. What does the wind say, or a doggie scratching in the sunlight? Do the leaves become the primary determinate of the time of year?

No longer full-time employee

2010-10-09T09:31:00.001-05:00

I am no longer employed full time. I am relaxing in my backyard. I slept until 815 and ate breakfast at cracker barrel. From my vantage point in the backyard I see three tiny birds at the bird feeder and the squirrel rushing around in the back area of the yard.
Morning time is a special time for me. It is a quiet time when I study the bible, pray, and plan the day
I am already realizing that days will be a different. The getting up routine, the not rushing to work, maybe a cup of coffee somewhere. #### am hoping to relax some.

Birthday fever

2010-10-05T17:05:00.001-05:00

Going to Cajun steamer for birthday bash.

Fwd: Thomas Merton site

2010-10-04T20:10:00.001-05:00

This is great Merton story. Enjoy.

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: "Randall De Trinis" <sherando1@ntelos.net>
Date: Oct 4, 2010 1:26 PM
Subject: Thomas Merton site
To: <brodanphillips@gmail.com>

You might enjoy this site of mine.

Randy De Trinis

Website: Website: http://mertonocso.wordpress.com/

Prayer

2010-09-27T21:14:00.000-05:00

Beautiful day.

2010-09-25T21:15:00.001-05:00

http://m.youtube.com/index?desktop_uri=%2F&gl=US#/watch?xl=xl_blazer&v=44ieyPi0kYg

This could be your week

2010-09-24T09:35:00.001-05:00

This is a picture I took in Israel at the Shrine of the Book. Note the words on the sign!

Thomas Merton (Peace/Remedies)

2010-09-24T08:21:00.001-05:00

"Never before have men talked so much about peace, and never has there
been so little peace in the world. What was said by the prophet
Jeremiah of the men of his time applies even more truly to the men of
our own: they said, 'Peace, Peace', and there is no peace.

We prescribe for one another remedies that will bring us peace of mind,
and we are still devoured by anxiety. We evolve plans for disarmament
and for the peace of nations, and our plans only change the manner and
method of aggression. The rich have everything they want except
happiness, and the poor are sacrificed to the unhappiness of the rich.
Dictatorships use their secret police to crush millions of men under an
intolerable burden of lies, injustice and tyranny, and those who still
live in democracies have forgotten how to make good use of their
liberty. For liberty is a think of the spirit, and we are no longer
able to live for anything but our bodies. How can we find peace, true
peace, if we forget that we are not machines for making for making and
spending money, but spiritual beings and sons of the most high God?"

(THE MONASTIC JOURNEY, page 39)

What is peace?

Copied From Wayne Burns

Tennessee Capital at sunset

2010-09-22T18:57:00.001-05:00

Evening downtown Nashville

Sign in cancer center

2010-09-22T10:17:00.001-05:00

Faith!

Mike Celizic Dies- Death of a Cancer Patient

2010-09-22T10:07:00.001-05:00

Mike was an excellent writer but his final episode was the writing he did as the final chapter in his life.

Having worked for a hospice and hospitals I have seen this final chapter many times. My admiration for Mike is how he handled it. No more chemo, maybe just a couple of weeks to live, but lets not keep playing this game! Lets make the most of what is left. I don't want to continue being racked with pain, losing all the body functions I have, and not being able to say goodbye when the end comes. That is where the courage is and I have always admired those who I know who played the game this way. It was a winner!

http://nbcsports.msnbc.com/id/38832689/ns/sports/

Problems with addiction

2010-09-21T20:30:00.001-05:00

I often counsel with people with Ptsd and various addictions . This is an excellent article about addictions.

The Hidden Pain Of The Addicted Family: http://huffingtonpost.com/dr-tian-dayton/the-hidden-pain-of-the-ad_b_732753.html

Titan Store

2010-09-21T16:20:00.001-05:00

Buy pro stuff here.