Friends
This week's offering
is being posted
an evening earlier
than usual.
All the best.
John Frank
******
Dear All of Us,
Years, musculature
and energy ago
I regularly stayed at
my friend and more
Jude Willett's farm.
It is near the
Abbey of Gethsemani
in beautiful,
rural Kentucky.
Being on the farm
was
St. Benedict's
LIFE RITE,
"Ora et Labora"
for sure.
We bailed hay,
planted, picked
and canned vegetables,
cut timber, built a barn,
transported
hogs and cattle
to and from the
auction house
in Frankfort,
having a six A.M.
breakfast at
Tom Pigg's eatery
in Bardstown on the way
- an overabundance of
delicious cholesterol
and a generous spread
of country fresh folks -
shared story and soul,
teased and prayed.
I loved it.
There is an earthy,
hard scrabble,
honesty and often
humorous comradery
about farm folk.
They help
each other out.
Living close
to the earth
lifts soul
heavenward.
Life is paced
slow and steady.
There's time to notice
God Good
across the spread
of time and place.
That was in
marked contrast
to the intense,
rushed life
for me
back home in
suburban New Jersey
in those days.
Being on the farm
meant many blessings.
High on the list
was a chance
to slow down and
and catch up with
God, Creation
and myself.
That difference made
all the difference
for Soul Self.
Farm Rite is one
of countless Life Rites
that mix and match us
Life Right
with our deeper selves,
neighbors and Nature,
a fresh encounter
with the divine
incarnate varied wondrous
in our midst.
e.g. music camps,
square dancing,
mission trips,
literary gatherings,
hiking/biking clubs,
spiritual retreats,
prayer/Bible Study groups,
community gardening,
singing barbershop,
quilting circles,
Saturday volunteer
"Fix It Teams"
for the needy, ...
These immersions in
good difference
refresh, renew our spirits.
There is a fundamental
wholeness, holiness
in them.
They clear channel
The Spirit
with new grace gifts.
They balance us out
Rite Right
******
FURTHERENCE
For Ponder Prayer
The apostles then rendezvous
with Jesus and reported on all
they had done and taught.
Jesus said,
"Come off by yourselves,
let's take a break
and get a little rest."
For there was constant
coming and going.
They didn't even
have time to eat.
Mark 6:30-31
THE MESSAGE
(Jesus)
"Are you tired?
Warn out?
Burned out
on religion?
Come to me.
Get away with me and
you'll recover your life.
I'll show you how
to take a real rest.
Walk with me and
work with me -
watch how I do it.
Learn the unforced
rhythms of grace.
I won't lay anything heavy
or ill-fitting on you.
Keep company with me
and you'll learn to live
freely and lightly."
Mattthew 28-30
THE MESSAGE
******
WEEKLY POSTINGS
Thursday afternoons
(often mornings)
East Coast USA time
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Just scroll well
down below
this posting.
It's so right rite
being here together
each week.
Have a good one
upcoming.
Love to all.
God Bless,
John Frank
frankly speaking
spirituality for the street
johnfrankshares.blogspot.com
******
