(photo of sparrow taken while sitting on a park bench in Riga, Latvia this summer)
-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts
The Blessings of Our Ancestors + Prayer Cycle ~ A Love Note from Your Online Abbess
The Blessings of Our Ancestors*This blessing calls you home againto your collective inheritance of blood and bone,calls you to dance with generationswho shimmer beyond the veil.We call on the great cloud of witnesses,the ones who inspire our courage,support our endurance,kindle our joy, whisper words of
November 8, 2026
6 Responses
amy and christine–it’s my favorite line, too! the photo is so wonderful. i am envious of you sharing space with that precious little creature. :-) the poem and photo are also a very nice way to end a busy day! ahhhh…
The little sparrow – we’ve fallen in love with them this year as two birdhouses were filled with at least 3 nests of new birdies in our backyard. Then the youngsters didn’t leave, they hung around and flocked across the yard from fence to fence, to birdbath, feeders and back. So much fun to see them. We’ve noticed the last couple of days that they’re inhabiting the houses again and wondering if they are going to settle in for the winter?
Thanks for the beautiful poem from Mary Oliver and your sharp little sparrow!
amy, that is my favorite line too. :-)
thank you Tess and Suz, Mary Oliver is always a great way to start anything!
Mary and Christine…I love you both!
What a wonderful way to start the week.
The photograph is stunning – as is the poem.
“they could not tame me, so they would not keep me”
love that.