(photo of sparrow taken while sitting on a park bench in Riga, Latvia this summer)
-Christine Valters Paintner @ Abbey of the Arts
Dearest dancing monks, artists, and pilgrims, This month The Wisdom of the Body: 10-week online companion retreat to the book is our featured self-study. We have updated all the video content to now have closed captioning and transcripts for accessibility. This is an excerpt from the
I am delighted to share another beautiful submission to the Monk in the World guest post series from the community. Read on for Christina Lelache’s visual art reflection on creating your own prayer book. In her book, In the Sanctuary of Women, Jan Richardson tells about
Easter Blessing*God of Rising,you bring new lifeto all the places death inhabits.Bless our own dying dreamswith your breath of new life.Make our dry bones dance,inspire us to sing,revive our bodiesso that we might becomemore vibrant, hopeful witnessesto the persistence of your love.We call on Christ’s
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.