Uncategorized

Guest blogger: Kathleen Matson on Heavenly Light

Steve · May 26, 2013 · 10 Comments

Kathleen Matson of the Boston area was one of several readers who responded to my plea two weeks ago for guest bloggers willing to write 500 words or less about this beautiful piece of the Psalms:

“When I see your heavens, the work of your fingers, the moon and stars that you set in place—Who are we that you are mindful of us, and a son of man that you care for us? Yet you have made us little less than a god, crowned us with glory and honor.” Psalm 8:4-6

Kathleen writes:

sunset — Sunset with friends. SJG photo.

The little ones were finally down for the night after our busy day at The Cape. We were enjoying a much needed weekend respite with dear, old friends. While our husbands watched a Red Sox game, my friend and I took a walk down to the beach to breathe in the sea air and unwind.

Onlookers and faces in the crowd

Steve · November 23, 2011 · 8 Comments

They are the faces in the crowd, some standing on tiptoe to get a glimpse of this condemned prophet or rabble-rouser, take your pick, as he stands mute before the authorities, as he flinches but never complains against the searing heat of the lashes, as he bears the weight of the beam across his shoulder blades and feels the bite of the sheer mass and the splintered wood.

On the presence of God and the color purple

Steve · August 21, 2011 · 10 Comments

In my reading this morning for a class I begin next week, I read the following, which brought me up short because I had forgotten it, even though I read the book mentioned many years ago (and saw the movie):

In [Alice Walker’s novel] The Color Purple, the heroine, Celie, had never been introduced to any image of God other than the old white man with a beard, legalistic and authoritarian. Her friend Shug is much more awakened. Celie is astonished: she says to Shug, “You telling me God love you, and you ain’t never done anything for him? I mean, not go to church, sing in the choir, feed the preacher and all like that?” But Shug’s God is a lover who is “always wanting to share a good thing,” who is “pissed off if we walk by the color purple in a field and don’t notice it.” (from The Art of Spiritual Guidance, Carolyn Gratton)

How to celebrate an anniversary dinner in 14 easy steps…

Steve · August 27, 2010 · 2 Comments

1. Get fresh shrimp and peppers to go with the pasta. Get some good local (Mendocino) wine.

2. Get the hot tub hot.

3. Eat a quiet dinner, just the two of you.

4. Go outside to the hot tub.