In the school of the Spirit, man learns wisdom through humility, knowledge by forgetting, how to speak by silence, how to live by dying.”
Johannes Tauler (c.1300-1361)
Paul’s wisdom, always pertinent
"...we have this treasure in earthen vessels, that the excellence of the power may be of God and not of us. We are hard-pressed on every side, yet not crushed; we are perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not forsaken; struck down, but not destroyed— always carrying about in the body the dying of the Lord Jesus, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our body. For we who live are always delivered to death for Jesus’ sake, that the life of Jesus also may be manifested in our mortal flesh." 2 Corinthians 4: 7-11
As it ever was
Have I therefore become your enemy because I tell you the truth?
Galatians 4:16
In heavenly peace
How long?
How long, O you sons of men,
Psalm 4:2-3
Will you turn my glory to shame?
How long will you love worthlessness
And seek falsehood?
But know that the LORD has set apart for Himself him who is godly;
The LORD will hear when I call to Him.
The secret
The secret is Christ in me, not me in a different set of circumstances.
Remember
This is the day the LORD has made;
Psalm 118:24
We will rejoice and be glad in it.
Agnus Dei
Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi, miserere nobis. Agnus Dei, qui tolis peccata mundi, dona nobis pacem. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, have mercy on us. Lamb of God, who takes away the sins of the world, grant us peace.
Awe
This weekend I made a circular walk from the village of East Kennet, Wiltshire, up onto the ancient wansdyke and back.
On this particular day the perfect contours of the chalk downs, the summer patchwork of textured fields and the variegated colours of crops and meadows responded to the majesty of the swirling weather. Mists descended, soft striations of distant rain marked the horizon and the sun peaked through bruised clouds like a spotlight illuminating the finest gothic cathedral.
The astonishing beauty of it all composed itself before my eyes. All I had to do was look. I couldn’t quite believe how perfect it was. In this moment I felt like I caught a scent of the Edenic creation, unfallen and in its paradisiacal state.
I love this land. The more I see it, the more it reveals of itself and of the creator.
The Way
A man who wanders from the way of understanding will rest in the assembly of the dead.
Proverbs 21:16
Being a walking question mark 