The Fields of Athenry

Check this out. A friend got me hooked on this group, and particularly this song.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=v9InnXP64To

Mike+

Call and Response

The other morning, while sitting on my back porch enjoying a time of prayer, I noticed a call and response sound coming from the nearby woods--whether it was the sound of insects or birds I am not skilled enough to know. As one call would crescendo, then diminish, the other (bird or insect) would start up and follow the same sound pattern in response. When this sound ran its course, the other would response. This went on for the entire time of my prayers, forming a rhythmic pattern of call and response. It occurred to me that this is the nature of prayer. Too often, we see prayer as a one-way conversation rather than an ongoing rhythmic call and response throughout life. Perhaps this is what St. Paul meant when he spoke of unceasing prayer. Just a thought, but try listening!

Mike+

Perspective

I was visiting with a member of my congregation today when she related a story to me, the insight of which, was deeply profoud. A number of years ago, while with another member of the congregation on a youth outing at a retreat center and surrounded by the beauty of the hills of West Virginia, she couldn't help noticing how smudged and dirty the glass door of the center was. As she was thinking about this "problem", her friend remarked how beautiful the scenery was. Both were gazing through the same door. One saw the beauty and the other saw the smudges. She said, that was a lesson she has carried with her these many years. What's your perspective? It will make all the difference in the world.

Mike+