what we need is here
Geese appear high over us,
pass, and the sky closes. Abandon,
as in love or sleep, holds
them to their way, clear
in the ancient faith: what we need
is here. And we pray, not
for new earth or heaven, but to be
quiet in heart, and in eye,
clear.
Blog: Pictures-Books-Reflections
PABLO CASALS ON AGEING
Posted on by James Woodward
On my last birthday I was ninety-three years old. That is not young, of course.
In fact, it is older than ninety. But age is a relative matter.
If you continue to work and to absorb the beauty in the world about you, you find that age does not necessarily mean getting
THE MORAL SIGNIFICANCE OF MEMORY
Posted on by James Woodward
"Nothing holds firm. Everything is here today and gone tomorrow. But the good things of life-- truth, justice, and beauty-- all great accomplishments need time, constancy, and memory, or they degenerate. The man who feels neither responsibility towards the past nor des
Posted on by James Woodward
the endless knot
The endless knot is one of the eight fortunate symbols in Tibetan Buddhism. It has many meanings.
It is a pattern that is closed in on itself with no gaps, signifying the interrelatedness of everything.
It shows that the apparent disharmony and contr
morning rain
Posted on by James Woodward
morning rain
The dawn light. A light rain.
I hear it on the treetop leaves.
Then, the mist. The morning wind
blows it and the clouds away.
Now colours deepen, and a sense of grace:
the presence of water.
And then, across the landscape
the smell of morning rain.
Together?
Posted on by James Woodward
veins
Look: how they grow to be each other.
In their veins there is only God.
Each other's axis, a shimmering shape
that glows, like fire, a rapture, a delight.
They thirst, and are each other's wine;
see, how they are each other's seeing.
Let us let each rejoice into
HEALTHCARE, WHOLENESS & HEALING Saturday, 7th March 2015
Posted on by James Woodward
Diocese of Bath and Wells
Diocesan Healing Group event
HEALTHCARE, WHOLENESS & HEALING
Saturday, 7th March 2015
Healthcare is increasingly driven by clinical outcomes, budgets, targets and political constraints. This is at the expense of whole-p
who died?
Posted on by James Woodward
who died?
When death comes
like an iceberg between the shoulder blades,
I want to step through the door full of curiosity, wondering
what is it going to be like, that cottage of darkness?
And therefore I look upon everything
as a brotherhood and a sisterhood,
and I l
Auckland Castle
Posted on by James Woodward
I have very vivid memories of visiting Auckland Castle as a sixth form student beginning to wonder about my vocation to the ordained ministry in the Church of England. At a young people's gathering in the Throne room of this imposing building I remember the Bishop of Durham, John
Sermon for Christmas eve St George's Chapel Windsor 2014
Posted on by James Woodward
St George’s Chapel Windsor Castle
Christmas Eve Communion 2014: The Christmas Truce
This evening I want to remind you of something very remarkable that happened exactly 100 years ago to this day. The world was at five months into an armed conflict that ended the lives of f
into His Peace
Posted on by James Woodward
And because of His visitation, we may no
longer desire God as if He were lacking: our
redemption is no longer a question of pursuit
but of surrender to Him who is always and
everywhere present. Therefore at every moment
we pray that, following Him, we may depart from
ou
The Christmas Truce
Posted on by James Woodward
The Christmas Truce
One hundred years ago the world was at war - it was a conflict that changed the world for ever and at this anniversary we have been remembering its impact upon the families and communities in our country. In particular we remember with sorrow our human cap
The twenty third day of December
Posted on by James Woodward
O come, O come, thou calling child:
the creatures, those both tame and wild,
the weak and pow’rful, coax along
and change their trembling into song.
Rejoice! Rejoice! The vuln’rable
shall make us all insep’rable
Jim Cotter
Expectant : Verses for Adv
The twenty- first day of December
Posted on by James Woodward
O Come, O come, thou shaft of fire,
to lead us on through dark and mire;
through desert bare thou moving cloud
protect and guide, fulfil what's vowed.
Rejoice! rejoice! Our God afresh
the covenant shall soon enflesh
Expectant : Words for Advent Jim Cotter
Understanding Age? Face the Future….
Posted on by James Woodward
It has been a great pleasure to offer a Forward to this stimulating contribution the literature on old age by the delightful William Cutting
Foreword - (Face the Future. Book 2. Challenges, Joy and Faith for Seniors)
Like many of you reading this book I am thankful fo
What is illusory?
Posted on by James Woodward
focus
Walking, snow falling, it is possible
to focus at various distances
in turn on separate flakes, sharply engage
the attention at several spatial points:
the nearer cold and more uncomfortable,
the farther distanced and almost pleasing.
Living, time passing, it is
Radiant
Posted on by James Woodward
radiant
this blessing
God's love
calls us
to that elsewhere world
which only lovers
eyes alight, eyes aflame
can see at all.
only those who have
self surrendered:
once, they were flecks of fire;
now, they are
the radiant sun.
Rumi
to love and obey
Posted on by James Woodward
The French scientist and theologian Pierre Teilhard de Chardin sums it up nicely in his book “The Divine Milieu.” He writes:
“God obviously has no need of the products of your busy activity since he could give himself everything without you. The only thing that c
Feast on your life?
Posted on by James Woodward
Love After Love
The time will come
when, with elation,
you will greet yourself arriving
at your own door, in your own mirror,
and each will smile at the other's welcome,
and say, sit here. Eat.
You will love again the stranger who was your self.
Give wine. Give bread.