Sunday, January 27, 2013
Quotes
The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all art and science. He to whom this emotion is a stranger, who can no longer pause to wonder and stand rapt in awe, is as good as dead... his eyes are closed.
- Albert Einstein
Eternity is with us, inviting our contemplation perpetually, but we are too frightened, lazy, and suspicious to respond; too arrogant to still our thought, and let divine sensation have its way. It needs industry and goodwill if we would make that transition; for the process involves a veritable spring-cleaning of the soul, a turning-out and rearrangement of our mental furniture, a wide opening of closed windows, that the notes of the wild birds beyond our garden may come to us fully charged with wonder and freshness, and drown with their music the noise of the gramaphone within. Those who do this, discover that they have lived in a stuffy world, whilst their inheritance was a world of morning-glory: where every tit-mouse is a celestial messenger, and every thrusting bud is charged with the full significance of life.
- Evelyn Underhill
To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.
- C.S. Lewis
- Albert Einstein
Eternity is with us, inviting our contemplation perpetually, but we are too frightened, lazy, and suspicious to respond; too arrogant to still our thought, and let divine sensation have its way. It needs industry and goodwill if we would make that transition; for the process involves a veritable spring-cleaning of the soul, a turning-out and rearrangement of our mental furniture, a wide opening of closed windows, that the notes of the wild birds beyond our garden may come to us fully charged with wonder and freshness, and drown with their music the noise of the gramaphone within. Those who do this, discover that they have lived in a stuffy world, whilst their inheritance was a world of morning-glory: where every tit-mouse is a celestial messenger, and every thrusting bud is charged with the full significance of life.
- Evelyn Underhill
To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable.
- C.S. Lewis
Saturday, January 26, 2013
The Bells of Heaven
The bells of heaven ring
To wild and beckoned souls
As one would kneel
At the mere sound
Amply passing through ears
And inward
Where the true hearing is
Of joy that rips the heart
And ragged renders it
Like deeply shaded night
Dipped in ink, specked with gold,
As swirls of ripe perfumes
Of olive, of myrrh, of bay
It moves in shapes of ponies bright
And leaping dogs and riders
© Rachelle LeCount
To wild and beckoned souls
As one would kneel
At the mere sound
Amply passing through ears
And inward
Where the true hearing is
Of joy that rips the heart
And ragged renders it
Like deeply shaded night
Dipped in ink, specked with gold,
As swirls of ripe perfumes
Of olive, of myrrh, of bay
It moves in shapes of ponies bright
And leaping dogs and riders
© Rachelle LeCount
Thursday, January 24, 2013
Consider Job
A question arose during a discussion with friends regarding the Book of Job and I think it's an important question. It's also a question that is debated in regard to all scripture, and that question is "Is it TRUE?"
It's often argued the Scripture is allegory. Others say it's entirely literal. Personally I think it's far more literal than not. However, I also believe a thing can be both, simultaneously... double layered and multifaceted.
While the book in question is generally considered to be a didactic poem set in prose form, and not literally true, who's to say for sure?
John Gill (who I happen to agree with more often than not) has the following to say about The Book of Job. (see next post)
"Though all good men are afflicted. Yet sooner or later they are delivered out of their afflictions; and that it becomes them to bear them patiently, and not murmur at them; nor complain of God on account of them, whose ways and works are unsearchable, and who gives no account of his matters to men, but is sovereign, wise, and just, in all he does; and whatsoever is done by him issues in the good of his people, as well as in his own glory, as the event shows. This book may be considered either as an history of the life of Job, in which an account is given of him in his prosperity; of his afflictions, and how they came upon him; of a visit paid him by his friends, and of the discourses that pass between him and them, and of his restoration to greater affluence than he enjoyed before: or as a drama or dialogue consisting of divers parts, and in which various speakers are introduced, as God, Satan, Job, his wife, and friends; or as a dispute, in which Job's three friends are the opponents, himself the respondent, Elihu the moderator, and God the umpire, who settled and determined the point in question. It contains many useful things in it concerning the Divine Being, and the perfections of his nature, his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and sovereignty; concerning the works of creation and providence; concerning original sin, and the corruption of mankind; concerning redemption by Christ, and good works to be done by men; and concerning the resurrection of the dead, and eternal life."
This is a powerful story, regardless of whether you see it as literally true or not. There is no evidence that this man, Job, truly existed or that this is a "true story" in the most literal sense. Yet it hardly matters because the story is nonetheless TRUE.
No matter what we face in life and no matter our losses and sufferings, consider Job. Also consider God's words to him. Some say the story is depressing and it bums them out or makes them sad. Well, folks, that's life. Think about it. That's life. We can suffer the loss of spouses and parents and even children but CONSIDER JOB. And then consider the end of the story. In the end, God repays Job for all his losses. Still doesn't sound FUN? Yeah, well... I figure Job would agree. His losses were painful. But God is all powerful, all knowing and full of compassion and in the end, when it's all said and done, God WILL repay all our losses and twice over. No, MORE than twice over.
Perhaps the story is merely parabolic. Yet if so, it diminishes the meaning and the TRUTH of the story not one bit.
Consider Job. Consider how many people suffer in this world, both past and present. If you've suffered loss, perhaps you think it doesn't help to consider those who have lost more. Our personal losses often seem to us to be worse than the losses of others. Yet here is a man who lost everything. And many many people do lose everything. Not just one spouse or one child or two parents but tremendous loss that I pray to God I never have to experience.
This is a powerful story. A great read. If you haven't read it, you really should.
The Book of Job
A song by Mark Altrogge that acknowledges God’s unfailing majesty and character even in our sadness, sorrow or days of difficulty.
It's often argued the Scripture is allegory. Others say it's entirely literal. Personally I think it's far more literal than not. However, I also believe a thing can be both, simultaneously... double layered and multifaceted.
While the book in question is generally considered to be a didactic poem set in prose form, and not literally true, who's to say for sure?
John Gill (who I happen to agree with more often than not) has the following to say about The Book of Job. (see next post)
"Though all good men are afflicted. Yet sooner or later they are delivered out of their afflictions; and that it becomes them to bear them patiently, and not murmur at them; nor complain of God on account of them, whose ways and works are unsearchable, and who gives no account of his matters to men, but is sovereign, wise, and just, in all he does; and whatsoever is done by him issues in the good of his people, as well as in his own glory, as the event shows. This book may be considered either as an history of the life of Job, in which an account is given of him in his prosperity; of his afflictions, and how they came upon him; of a visit paid him by his friends, and of the discourses that pass between him and them, and of his restoration to greater affluence than he enjoyed before: or as a drama or dialogue consisting of divers parts, and in which various speakers are introduced, as God, Satan, Job, his wife, and friends; or as a dispute, in which Job's three friends are the opponents, himself the respondent, Elihu the moderator, and God the umpire, who settled and determined the point in question. It contains many useful things in it concerning the Divine Being, and the perfections of his nature, his wisdom, power, justice, goodness, and sovereignty; concerning the works of creation and providence; concerning original sin, and the corruption of mankind; concerning redemption by Christ, and good works to be done by men; and concerning the resurrection of the dead, and eternal life."
This is a powerful story, regardless of whether you see it as literally true or not. There is no evidence that this man, Job, truly existed or that this is a "true story" in the most literal sense. Yet it hardly matters because the story is nonetheless TRUE.
No matter what we face in life and no matter our losses and sufferings, consider Job. Also consider God's words to him. Some say the story is depressing and it bums them out or makes them sad. Well, folks, that's life. Think about it. That's life. We can suffer the loss of spouses and parents and even children but CONSIDER JOB. And then consider the end of the story. In the end, God repays Job for all his losses. Still doesn't sound FUN? Yeah, well... I figure Job would agree. His losses were painful. But God is all powerful, all knowing and full of compassion and in the end, when it's all said and done, God WILL repay all our losses and twice over. No, MORE than twice over.
Perhaps the story is merely parabolic. Yet if so, it diminishes the meaning and the TRUTH of the story not one bit.
Consider Job. Consider how many people suffer in this world, both past and present. If you've suffered loss, perhaps you think it doesn't help to consider those who have lost more. Our personal losses often seem to us to be worse than the losses of others. Yet here is a man who lost everything. And many many people do lose everything. Not just one spouse or one child or two parents but tremendous loss that I pray to God I never have to experience.
This is a powerful story. A great read. If you haven't read it, you really should.
The Book of Job
A song by Mark Altrogge that acknowledges God’s unfailing majesty and character even in our sadness, sorrow or days of difficulty.
Sunday, January 20, 2013
Know
did you know
if you speak the words
they may be heard
you should know
when you look too closely
your sight becomes blurred
and could you know
if you let yourself love
you'll become like a bird
so you know
what it means to be weightless
like promises stirred
and then you know
- Rachelle LeCount
if you speak the words
they may be heard
you should know
when you look too closely
your sight becomes blurred
and could you know
if you let yourself love
you'll become like a bird
so you know
what it means to be weightless
like promises stirred
and then you know
- Rachelle LeCount
Saturday, January 19, 2013
Northern Princess
Wrap thyself in thy gossamer garments
Oh white fairy princess from the north country
And fly to yonder mountain
On the beams of the shining moon.
- Love
Mystery Companion
----------------------------------------------------------
Every man has his secret sorrows
which the world knows not.
- Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Thursday, January 3, 2013
The Wood Song
In Thankfulness and Gratitude...
-----------------------------------------------------------
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
- Kahlil Gibran
-----------------------------------------------------------
When you are sorrowful look again in your heart, and you shall see that in truth you are weeping for that which has been your delight.
- Kahlil Gibran
Tuesday, January 1, 2013
Easy to Do
it was a simple task at the time
dividing clouds with beams of light
that shot from our finger tips
or to first set foot
on that far globe near the warm cave
nor was there need for slats and boards
in order to glide through air
or float atop waves and ride tides
so easy a thing it was
to connect the stars like dots
that only spirits ever see
yet more difficult to remember
since it was all before we were born
Rachelle LeCount
dividing clouds with beams of light
that shot from our finger tips
or to first set foot
on that far globe near the warm cave
nor was there need for slats and boards
in order to glide through air
or float atop waves and ride tides
so easy a thing it was
to connect the stars like dots
that only spirits ever see
yet more difficult to remember
since it was all before we were born
Rachelle LeCount
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