The sabbatical so far has kept me close to home. It has been a daily mixture of contemplation, chores and some new discoveries. Richard Rohr’s daily meditations have lately focused on the human body as understood in incarnation theology. This was certainly on my mind as I also spent one full day learning more about wilderness first aid and CPR. The miracles of this life are everywhere around us.
It was a joy to sit in the pew on Sunday and simply receive worship. The pastor, who is my friend, will be retiring this summer and shared a very meaningful and personal message about the ministry of the congregation.
One ongoing discovery I’m experiencing are the prayers and poems of Celtic Christian spirituality. “Celtic” is a linguistic term; identifying where Celtic languages were and are spoken. They seem to have a rich tradition of the Christian faith as experienced in daily life. Here is one example by John Philip Newell.
Opening Prayer
In the morning light, O God,
may I glimpse again your image deep within me
the threads of eternal glory
woven into the fabric of every man and women.
Again may I catch sight of the mystery of the human soul fashioned in your likeness
deeper than knowing
more enduring than time.
And in glimpsing these threads of light
amidst the weakness and distortions of my life
let me be recalled to the strength and beauty deep in my soul.
Let me be recalled
to the strength and beauty of your image in every living soul.
John Philip Newell, twenty-first century poet & writer