A Bidding Prayer reflecting on Mark 1:29-39

A Bidding Prayer

As Jesus withdrew from a world of demands and the concerns of others, in worship we have an opportunity to withdraw, reflect and pray.  I invite you to this time of prayer. 

(Brief moment of silence)

God lover of us all, most Holy One,
Now, in shared quietness, we listen to the wisdom
of your Spirit speaking to our inner hearts as we join in this time
of silence and meditation.

We thank you for our personal journeys…
sometimes a long and hard journey...

We thank you for the work we have done this week

for what is finished and for what is imperfect and incomplete...

In your forgiving love, we now let go our guilt and shame for what we have done and what we have left undone - as we also commit to make good as we are able...

Our thoughts turn towards others in our lives and community who are struggling and we name these sisters and brothers silently to you...

We acknowledge our common humanity as we pray for the people of other nations.  Today we pray for the people of the Ireland and the people of the United Kingdom.  

Amen

New Year's Resolutions

New Years Resolutions 2012

People who study New Years resolution say that 75% of people who make them give up on them within nine days of the new year.  That means that by now most people have given in.  Will power is weak.  The Apostle Paul said that when he said  “the things he would do are the things he does not do and the things he would not do are the very things he finds himself doing.”  I can relate.  All of us can related.  

So why bother?  If it is hopeless - what is the value of our yearly exercise in soul searching?  Are we just setting ourselves up again to discover how weak we are?

So years ago - a wise spiritual guide told me that we fail in our resolutions because they usually are written in opposition to something.  We say - “I will NOT overeat” or “I will NOT smoke.”  Even when we state this in the reverse as a positive affirmation of what we will do differently, the resolution is still a reaction against something in our lives we want to struggle against.

My friend’s suggestion was to take a different approach.  She points out that “what you resist, persist.”   In other words, the more you fight something, the more you are caught in a relationship with what you would like to rid yourself of.  Her solution?  Rather than not doing something, learn to listen to how other options are more life-giving.  “Listen to Spirit,” she called it.  What brings joy and healing to my life and to those around me?  How do I feel when I take that daily walk in the morning rather than jump into a long day of work?  How do I feel when I am honest and attempt to work out a difference with another person?

From our faith perspective, the Spirit of God is always at work in the world around us.  The new year is a time to commit to tuning in and listening more and following the Spirit. 

Umbrian Jazz

We are a family again; Allen returned earlier this week in time for my birthday!

Jax, Subasio and Kira

The day before, our new friends came over for swimming and a BBQ.   I kept looking for the gas "on" switch, but we had to burn pine cones and WOOD.

Whatever it is, it sounded great

See the candle?

Church? No, Courthouse

Saturday was spent in Perugia, the capital of Umbria and location of a small jazz festival (Prince, Santana, and BB King were there) to listen to street music, shop, sightsee, and lunch (notice the candle in the middle of my seafood pasta?).

The Unexpected

Peace & Good

???

In Assisi, there are often lovely painted greetings and reminders of stories above the doors and along the stone paths.  We have really enjoyed this " art show" as we walk through Assisi.

As always in life, there are always new paths we must try.  Allen had to fly home to Memphis to be with his ailing father.  He may face open heart surgery in the next week or so, so Allen will remain at the hospital until more is known.

Our view from the pool

The children and I are safe and sound at the agritourismo.  We played tennis this morning,  read books, and will probably swim in the pool later this hot afternoon.    There are a couple of other families with small children here, too.  Who cares if they speak Norwegian or French or Dutch?!  Kids are kids.

I'm very thankful for the Americans living here who have had us to their home and introduced us to more locals.  Kindness has surrounded us here in the Umbrian countryside.

Kira feeding neighbor's goats

Lake Bolsena

The pier in format of our Hotel

As most families, we tend to pack too much into one small summer.  Thursday, we moved out of our Assisi apartment,  loaded our car to the brim (including cooking supplies), and visited a hydrangea-filled,  lake town a couple of hours away, complete with a castle.  

On our way to the Top

Almost to the Top

View from the Castle

Luke is still disappointed that the museums aren't family museums (so what if there are artifacts over 2000 years old?).

Fortunately,  our children met some Austrian children and played so well that both families spent the next day together, going on a little cruise and lunch.  Birgit spoke some English, thankfully, so conversations were a little easier.

Luke's new friend, John (Yan)

Saturday, we packed our little car again and drove to a farm house outside Assisi.  Ok, we smell farms around us but we have a pool, soccer field, and a TOASTER in our kitchen.  All are happy.

Le Infiorate

Today, Sunday, is a special day for a couple of local towns.  It is Le infiorate, which after Eastertime, they celebrate the miracle of the eucharist of Christ.  All night long, teams place flower petals, leaves and seeds in elaborate designs throughout  Spello. We wondered what they did on windy days? Anyway,  the pictures usually tell Christian stories and they are truly spectacular up and down the narrow hilly streets.  Needless to say, the entire nation showed up at 7am when it opened.

Noah & the Ark

Last Supper

The turtle shell is artichoke leaves!

Some of the tapestries are done by families in front of their homes, done by flowers grown in their own garden.  Our children were invited to help create a small one and Kira's job was framing the picture with  pink hydrangea  petals.

From Market to Mountain

Kira, learning to haggle

Looks like our backyard

This Saturday morning we thought we would buy our picnic lunch at the market and then do a little hike at the top of Mt Subasio.   I forgot how distracting the market can be.  There is a little something for everyone.

Kira sized coffee maker

Fortunately, Allen was doing his job and bought us some porchetta, sliced right off the roasted pig.

Finally we were on our way up the hill.  Luke is still obsessed about the fort, so we admired that from our perch up high.

From the top of Mt. Subasio