Categories
Poetry

This and that

This is not the life
that gives life;
That is given
so we might live
both.

dw

I came that they might have life and have it abundantly.

Jesus (John 10:10)

Grace and peace to you…

dw

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Categories
hope Poetry

A Land

There is a land

that flows with milk and honey

Where there’s no room for any sorrow or crying,

only room for joy and laughter;

A land where living water

flows ever from the throne

And the praises sing the glory,

the glory of the Three in One.

There’s a place

There’s a time

There’s a land where glory reigns

There’s a God in heav’n above

Angels bow before Him.

Verse 3 and Chorus 3 of Song of Hope by dw

Verse and chorus three. Next comes the bridge and final chorus. I hope you find hope in these words.

Grace and peace to you…

dw

Categories
Other Writings

Jean Vanier – rest in peace

Update on 31 May 2020: Since I wrote this post last year, serious allegations have been raised and confirmed by L’Arche that Jean Vanier had coercive sexual relations with six women. Here is an article from the Washington Post that goes into depth about the allegations: https://www.washingtonpost.com/religion/2020/02/23/jean-vanier-once-talked-about-nobel-or-sainthood-candidate-is-accused-abusive-sexual-relationships-with-six-women/

I feel betrayed by yet another spiritual leader. I, who am full of faults, do not condemn him…but I do feel duped and betrayed.


To love someone is not first of all to do things for them, but to reveal to them their beauty and value, to say to them through our attitude: “You are beautiful. You are important. I trust you. You can trust yourself.” We all know well that we can do things for others and in the process crush them, making them feel that they are incapable of doing things by themselves. To love someone is to reveal to them their capacities for life, the light that is shining in them.

Vanier, Jean. From Brokenness to Community (p. 16). PAULIST PRESS New York and Mahwah, N.J.. Kindle Edition.

cropped-david-monje-2199131.jpg

I’m speechless
because I’m guilty,
swallowing hard at the extent of my collusion
with the deceiver within me,
the extent of my obstruction of the justice due you
to be the one who sees my desperate need,
who rescues me from my delusion
that you are the one who needs rescuing,
not me.

dw

 

I’m deeply challenged by Vanier’s perspective, both in the quote above and in this video.