Quiet Time

Where hast thou gone, oh quiet hour?
I arose so early to greet thee.
The brew is warm within the pot
'Though cold within my cup.
The list prepared by Kris is read,
My Bible's words have spoken,
Their voice now bound by covers closed.
There lie the books that call to me
With words so succulent and sweet
Unread yet one more day,
Yet art thou fled away?

My prayers are not completed.
My friend with cancer stricken,
His grandchild bowed with pain,
Another wracked by fears and doubts
Between tormenting poles.
The churches need upholding,
The pastors need support.
Their neighbourhoods need witness,
The people need a word
Of love and patient listening,
Encouragement, of God.

Oh quiet hour, where has thou gone?
For I am not yet done!
And still the day advances
The race calls to be run.
The treadmill needs a treading,
There are classes to prepare.
The dawn will soon be coming,
Its hour’s march is here.
And yet I sit and linger
Wilt thou not tarry here?

A morning muse by Carman
Be blessed with smiles today.

Silence

One comment I heard several times from the various commentators who were part of the broadcast of the recent state funeral. One after another they kept being amazed at the silence of the assembled hundreds (thousands?) of mourners. There they sat on the grass in front of the big screens that enabled them to share what was happening inside, yet still in the midst of the big city. And they were absolutely silent.

I'm still thinking about this silence. What is it? What is happening? Why are Evan and Ann Marie and Lloyd and Peter so amazed by it?

While you think about that I have a couple of excellent links to share with you. I've been exploring this new website that appears to be just chock-a-block full of good helps and resources for all you preachers, teachers, worship planners out there. Have a look at it.

One of the excellent articles I found there, under the worship tab, is this essay about silence--what it is, why it is so important to our connecting with God, how to plan for it and incorporate it into our worship.

I'll not say more today, but leave you a little bit of extra time, either to just be silent, or to make those links and put them into your Favourites List.

Posted by Marion

Morning

Morning has come. The air is cold but still. No wind blows and the branches of the trees do not stir. They stand entranced in this quiet, peaceful moment. Through the branches, the crescent moon is visible still, pale and white against the sky’s early blue. Were it but a few weeks later the moon would not be seen through the leaves that are as yet unborn.

Bird songs ring out, first this one then that, the morning calls adding a note of joyful hope to the quiet dawn. The birds are not visible, but their notes announce their presence somewhere in the tops of the trees.

On their northeast side, the blackness of the trees' silhouette is gently bathed in soft, yellow light as the sun slowly peeks above the horizon.

Oh that the entire world could be at peace this way, and experience this one quiet moment, with no guns, no bombs, no warplanes, no tsunamis, and no leaking atomic reactors! Oh that my own mind could be so gently, peacefully and thoroughly at rest!

If you have three minutes, you might want to spend it with this version of Cat Stevens Yusuf Islam's Morning has broken. You might also enjoy this one this one.

Have Peace today.

Posted by Carman