Keeping Up With the News
Celtic Advent, Celtic retreat, Godspacelight news
It’s done. Today I finished the last reflection for my Advent devotional Celtic Advent - Following An Unfamiliar Path. I also received some images from my graphic artist for the cover and appreciate those of you who responded with your opinions on the different options. One thing is obvious, All of us are different with different likes and dislikes. Whichever cover I choose we will not satisfy everyone. However I did receive some helpful feedback that we will take into account. There is still a lot of work to do to upload it to Amazon and have it available by the middle of October but I am confident that we can stick to that timeline…. Maybe be ready a couple of days early. It will be available on Kindle, and we will also be able to take bulk orders at a reduced price. Thank you for your prayers as I complete this project.
The Celtic webinar on Saturday went very well, in spite of the fact that most of those who signed up decided to watch the recording later. It was wonderful to have my good friend Lisa Scandrette and our once upon a time neighbour who now lives in Oregon. We had a great time of teaching, discussion, creativity and writing of poems/prayers. I am delighted to have Lisa’s prayer to add to this newsletter.
As you can imagine my thoughts are very much into Celtic spirituality at the moment. I feel as though I am living and breathing the air that the Celtic saints breathed. My focus was reflected in my Monday Meditation - Finding Joy in the Book of Kells, which is an excerpt from the Celtic Advent: Following An Unfamiliar Path. I love the book of Kells and have found myself returning to the images from it on many occasions this week. I love the intricate and beautiful embellishments on many of the pages and could sit and look at them for hours.
On Friday, I posted Episode 16 on The Liturgical Rebels, the second in our series on Celtic Spirituality. I am very encouraged by the response to this episode and the whole emphasis on Celtic Spirituality. Next week we will publish an interview with John Philip Newell. I loved interviewing him and I think you will find this episode very inspiring.
On Godspacelight Lilly Lewin’s Freerange Friday: Live Out of Love Not Fear was an inspiring look at possible reactions to the very polarized political environment in the US at the moment. She quoted Parker Palmer who says “When all of our talk about politics is either technical or strategic, to say nothing of partisan and polarizing, we loosen or sever the human connections on which empathy, accountability, and democracy itself depend.” And commented on her own recognition that she must pray for all people to work together. It is a great post with much to think about.
Yesterday we posted Emily Huff’s beautiful reflection on a service at Taize in France. She wrote a lovely prayer in response to her involvement that I highly recommend to you too.
September 21st is International Day of World Peace. Here are a couple of posts you might like to check out. Walls that Create Barriers to Peace and Dance Your Way to Peace and Joy
Let me end with Lisa Scandrette’s beautiful prayer from Saturday.
Encircle me with your presence,
Creator, Christ, Companion.
Keep mystery aflame,
and dampen skepticism.
Keep softness alive,
and hardening far from my heart.
Enhance my wild, natural self
and let me not hide in conformity.
Connect me with your holy creation,
and prevent my putting you in boxes.
Keep hospitality within
and fear without.
Keep love overflowing in me
for you,
for myself,
and for others.
Stifle indifference.
Water in me wonder and playfulness,
let my imagination thrive.
Banish dullness and ingratitude.
Let me breathe deep
your refreshing breath
and leave aside the
suffocation of short-sightedness.
Tune my ears to your heartbeat,
bring me home to my truest self
and compassionately retire the
false selves.
With the dawning of each new day,
remind me of your encircling love.