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Nothing New

There is nothing new under the sun.What we bemoan now we bemoaned seventy years agoSeven hundred years agoWhat we give away now, we gave away thenThe freedom Jesus promisedTo burn at the stakeTo defy a tankTo hang on the crossFor the truth dw p.s.I posted this earlier in response to a quote from Thomas Merton about how we are so inclined to go along with whatever group(s) we want to belong…

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Inflammable

There are things that do not burn,Are seemingly impervious to the Refiner’s fire. Though we beg they remain, asbestos-like;Remain to remind us, in our shame: “My grace is sufficient for you.” dw

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Longing

Longing is a liarclose kin to Covetinga deprecated religious wordmeaning there’s something I wantwant enough so it bothers mebothers me enough to distract medistract me from what’s before meright now:the opportunity to live and act fullyundistracted dw

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When I used to go to church

When I used to go to church I wasn’t who I was … Neither was God … So we both left … Sad Disappointed For my church-going friends I mean no harm This is poetry Expressing the experience of many Not doctrine Saying how it should be Grace and peace to you… dw

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What is left?

Now we know who won what is left to do but love God love our neighbor keep praying and persevere with more compassion than ever through the trials and tribulations of an evil, evil time. Grace and peace to us… dw

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Corinthians

Mentally assented to all the right things Loved all the wrong things Believed they were better than everyone else Trusted in their entitlement Were blind to it all Lord, have mercy on us. dw

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If it were the end of days

If it were the end of days,I’d say: Let’s do this,See what God begins next. Let’s do it together,See how God lovesfrom the very next beginning To the never-ending end. dw

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Disconsolate

How many times, (how many times!),have I turned to music To hear God’s voicewhen there was no other wayto know he was near? I hope this hymn, sung by Roberta Flack and Donny Hathaway, brings consolation and healing to whatever you may be experiencing. Grace and peace to you… dw

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Grieving

Grieving goes onlywhere Brave is willing Brave is alonetrustingIt feels alonedw

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Give Paul a Break

You may be tempted to read the letters written by the Apostle Paul. My advice: Don’t. Not yet. Not until you’ve soaked in the Gospels for a good while. And John’s letters. And James’s letter. And Peter’s letters. And maybe a good bit of the Old Testament. Why? It’s easy to get things all turned around otherwise. It’s easy, because of Paul’s logic and eloquence and personal story, to make…

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Continue continuing

Once you have read Matthew, Mark, Luke, and John… If you find yourself wanting to move on (maybe you’re thinking “Ok, I’ve read that bit, now let’s get to the rest of the story” or maybe you’re not) Don’t do it. Stay right here. You’ve just met the person you’ve been longing to meet your whole life And he wants to hang out. (Maybe you remember reading “Abide with me” – that’s what he…

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Listening

Straining to hearis not betterthan listeningquietlyknowingthe answer will comeI try to tell myselfdw

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Posts about Bible reading

I posted a new page of posts A short series on Bible reading I hope the series will grow over time Anyway, here it is: Pages on Bible Reading You can find it in the Menu, too Grace and peace to you… dw

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Scandal

There exist also sinful inequalities that affect millions of men and women. These are in open contradiction of the Gospel: Their equal dignity as persons demands that we strive for fairer and more humane conditions. Excessive economic and social disparity between individuals and peoples of the one human race is a source of scandal and militates against social justice, equity, human dignity, as…

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Differences

On coming into the world, [people are] not equipped with everything [they need] for developing [their] bodily and spiritual life. [They need] others. Differences appear tied to age, physical abilities, intellectual or moral aptitudes, the benefits derived from social commerce, and the distribution of wealth. The “talents” are not distributed equally. These differences belong to God’s plan, who…

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Long thoughts

It takes a long timeto think long thoughts;Much longer to distill theminto words anyone can hear. dw

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Every form of discrimination

The equality of [humans] rests essentially on their dignity as persons and the rights that flow from it: Every form of social or cultural discrimination in fundamental personal rights on the grounds of sex, race, color, social conditions, language, or religion must be curbed and eradicated as incompatible with God’s design. Vaticana, Libreria Editrice. Catechism of the Catholic Church . United…