Dear All of Us,
The Center Room of our
urban cottage in the sky (1)
faces west with four
six by two and a half feet
windows, and south
with three more.
We have a corner on
skyscape spacious.
That darkens out
early, though,
these December days.
Not to worry.
My wife, Suzanne,
has strung
loops of light
framing and filling
the windows -
hundreds of tiny brights.
Set against the dark,
they light dot defy dark.
It's quite
a symbol
of our
spiritual lives,
especially
these dark days.
More and more
that dark
blocks out
light bright,
inks out
the lightsome,
spacious skyscape of
Grace and Creation -
truth denied
savage politics,
authoritarianism,
wealth grab,
culture clash,
tech terrifying future,
millions starving,
violence normalized -
enough already!!
Not to worry!!
In our midst is
The Light of the World,
dark death defying.
Once in a while flashing in
a bolt stunning bright -
discovery of the wheel,
Francis of Assisi,
Gregorian Chant,
printing,
harnessing electricity,
Pope Francis.
Beacons bright all.
For most of history,
and mostly these
dark dangered days,
The Light of the World
is strung out
in you and
I hope in me,
LIGHT BRIGHTS
of
Grace
and
Creation -
raising our kids,
doing decent at work,
being vibrant in our
spiritual communities,
looking out for the
left outs and lost outs,
being people of
peace and prayer,
living modestly,
sharing extravagantly,
caring for the elderly,
speaking only when,
as Richard Rohr
counsels:
"Is it loving,
is it true,
is it necessary?"
seeing and embracing
God
in
Nature and Neighbor,
being faithful to
family and friends,
and an ever long string of
LIGHT BRIGHTS
We're looped out
over all our
dark dangered world
and
we will outlast and
outlight the darkest
of these days sharing
The Light of the World.
Yes we will.
Together we are
dots of light
defying the dark,
shining hope
as all people and places
await the dawn,
the coming of
The SUN SON OF GOD,
In this mean time
we are God's
LIGHT BRIGHTS
******
We hear with our eyes and
follow with our lives:
- Jesus once again
addressed them:
"I am the world's Light.
No one who follows me
stumbles in the darkness.
I provide plenty of
light to live in."
John 8:12
The Message
- Here's another way to put it:
You're here to be light,
bringing out the
God-colors in the world.
God is not a secret to be kept.
We're going public with this,
as public as a city on a hill.
If I make you light-bearers,
you don't think I am going
to hide you under a bucket,
do you? I'm putting you
on a lamp stand.
Now that I have
put you there on a hilltop,
on a lampstand - shine!
Keep open house,
be generous with your lives.
By opening up to others,
you'll prompt people
to open up with God,
the generous father in heaven.
Matthew 5:14-16
The Message
******
(1) Our Washington DC
fifth floor apartment
******
What an enlightening
to be here together.
******
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******
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******
Looking forward to us all
being together here
next week.
Love to all.
God Bless.
SHINE
John Frank
******
frankly speaking
spirituality for the street
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
******
