Beyond The Trees

Beyond The Trees

As with the morning dew,
Glimmering in the sun,
Until the earth, a kiss,
We sink, yet rise
High, beyond the trees.
~ D.F.

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“For the whole world before you is as the least grain of the balance, and as a drop of the morning dew, that falls down upon the earth:

But you have mercy upon all, because you can do all things, and overlook the sins of men for the sake of repentance.”
~ Wisdom 11:22-23

Heavenly

Heaven and the Bee

Perhaps this little bee can give us a glimpse of heaven?

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Bursting with life,
not barely,

Ever so busy,
yet not fretting,

One at home,
Hearts resting.

“You have made us for yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in you.”

~ St Augustine of Hippo
(13 Nov 354 – 20 Aug 430)

+ May the souls of our dearly departed find eternal rest. Amen. +

All Souls Day
2 November 2013

Light

His Light

Silhouette of leaves,

Framed against the sky.

Their darkness speak ever so clearly,

Here is His Glory,

Here is His Light.

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“… that you may announce the praises of Him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light.”

1 Peter 2:9

The Leper

The Leper

Beneath our bright veneer of normalcy, respectability and even elegance,

A leper yet cowers in the shadows.

For like these linen white leaves which cannot produce food,

We too have often lost our humanity by failing to identify with the poor and unfortunate.

Who can heal us?

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And a leper came to Jesus, imploring him, and kneeling said to him, “If you will, you can make me clean.”

Moved with pity, he stretched out his hand and touched him and said to him, “I will; be clean.”

And immediately the leprosy left him, and he was made clean.

~ Mark 1:40-42

Upside Down

Upside Down

La vita è bella (Life is beautiful) …

But more so when our world seems to have been turned upside down!

It simply means that God has a grander design in the pipeline and major remodelling is in order. 🙂

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” … they dragged Jason and some brethren to the rulers of the city, crying out, “These who have turned the world upside down have come here too.”

Acts of the Apostles 17:6

Photo:
The same flower in normal and upside down position.

Bruise

Bruise

Ever ready to advance his cause, the devil thoughtfully schemes the rot.

And what is just now a bruise to the ego, festers into a stinking sore upon the soul.

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“For our wrestling is not against flesh and blood; but against principalities and power, against the rulers of the world of this darkness, against the spirits of wickedness in the high places.”
~ Ephesians 6:12

The Gilded Tongue

The Gilded Tongue

Beware of the gilded tongue belonging to that wretched, the father of lies!

His words can easily persuade us, not because they are truthful or eloquent,

but simply because he repeats for our listening,
the very words that he has heard from the dark within us.

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“He was a murderer from the beginning and does not stand in truth, because there is no truth in him.

When he tells a lie, he speaks in character, because he is a liar and the father of lies.”
~ John 8:44

“A good person out of the store of goodness in his heart produces good, but an evil person out of a store of evil produces evil;
for from the fullness of the heart, the mouth speaks.”
~ Luke 6:45

Bouquet

Bouquet

Do not afraid.

Set aside what age, knowledge and experience have long conspired to fill your mind and in so doing, killed off your childlike wonderment.

Then behold,
Where once you expect to see just another flower,

A delightful bouquet yet grows before you,
to refresh your spirit and heal your senses.

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“Then I saw a new heaven and a new earth.”
~ Revelations 21:1

Photo:
A bouquet of different flowers growing from the same plant.

Bending the Law

Bending the Law

Has the law demanding “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” ever brought about a peaceful and lasting solution to any of the woes in this world?

Is it not rather in bending to mercy and forgiveness, that the law finds its true fulfilment and for man, a realisation of his nobler self?

Photo:
The placard reads “Please do not lean cycles against this wall”. Cambridge, UK

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“If you, LORD, keep account of sins,
Lord, who can stand?

But with you is forgiveness and
so you are revered.”
~ Psalm 130:3-4

Faith & Reason

Of Faith & Reason

Is Faith truly opposed to Reason as some say?

For as the leaves of this plant are aligned against each other with little overlap in order to capture the most of the available sunlight,

Faith and Reason come together from seemingly opposed ends to enlighten our minds and hearts.

Indeed,

While Reason is the foundation upon which Faith is built,

Faith yields the context within which Reason evolves beyond mere logic and finally acquires real meaning.

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“I believe, in order to understand; and I understand, the better to believe.”
~ St Augustine of Hippo