Wednesday, March 31, 2021

All Things New

 

The chorus of songbirds has begun to echo each dawn.  Why do they sing? Scientists have theories, but to me it seems a chorus of joy, a spontaneous celebration of the new day. Their songs have a sense of life and hope about them. The robin says "chirry up!" The cardinal answers "What cheer, cheer, cheer." 

Who can resist the feelings of hope and joy that one gets from participating in nature's birth? Edward Giobbi

All kinds of buds are opening, the lawns greening, the trees showing some life. We find great joy, great hope in these signs. The cold death of winter loses its strength, warm days of promise are ahead, and new life, suddenly, is all around us. New life is at our door. It blesses us. We have been given the chance to start over, and start with a fresh slate. Anything is possible. 

Earth is crammed with heaven, and every common bush afire with God, but only he who sees takes off his shoes.  Elizabeth Barrett Browning


The soft velvet of an infant's cheek brings tears to our eyes, reminds us of vulnerability and possibility, of the miracle of life. Nothing touches us so deeply. This is the promise we treasure, and we celebrate each new milestone: the first smile, the first word, the first step, the first day at school. 

The Christian tradition often speaks of newness, a new order, a clean slate. I rest in that promise, especially this year. 

1 Peter 1:3  Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead...

So I share with you this prayer poem from Celtic Daily Prayer... from the Northumbria Community...

If my lips could sing as many songs
as there are waves in the sea:
if my tongue could sing as many hymns
as there are ocean billows:
if my mouth
filled the firmament with praise:
if my face
shone like the sun and moon together:
if my hands
were to hover in the sky like powerful eagles
and my feet
ran across mountains as swiftly as the deer:
all that would not be enough
to pay You fitting tribute,
O Lord my God.
                                              -Unknown author



Chopin's Spring Waltz


Many blessings to you for this spring season and this Holy Week. Please leave your links in the comments below and I will round them up throughout the day or days ahead.




Join Ruth at There is No Such Thing as a God-forsaken Town as she ponders redemption and shares a  John O'Donnell poem.

Linda Mitchell at A Word Edgewise reminds us of Christ's commandment.

Find Margaret Simon at Reflections on the Teche to read her artists prayer.

Don't miss Fran Haley's post at Lit Bits and Pieces as she shares her journey of hope.

A Golden Shovel poem digs deep into renewal at Ramona's  Pleasures from the Page.

Carol Varsalona shares delight at the end of an arduous journey at Beyond Literacy Link

Chris Margocs joins us today, with her post at Horizon 51.  Welcome, Chris!

8 comments:

  1. Thank you for hosting, Karen! Here's my post: https://thereisnosuchthingasagodforsakentown.blogspot.com/2021/04/spiritual-journey-thursday-all-things.html Yours is beautiful! Have a blessed Holy Week.

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  2. Karen, that prayer is beautiful. Thank you for sharing it. Today is Maundy Thursday and I'm so glad that in the context of the Last Supper, Christ talked to us about love and loving others.
    https://awordedgewiselindamitchell.blogspot.com/

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  3. Thanks for hosting. Such a rich and beautiful post. I finally wrote my artist's prayer, but feel it is an ongoing draft. https://reflectionsontheteche.com/2021/04/01/spiritual-journey-first-thursday-artists-prayer/

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  4. Join with all nature in manifold witness! Beautiful, Thanks...

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  5. Karen: One cannot separate spring from the joy of birds and their songs. I wrote of them also. For me this season is one in which Earth remembers its former unbroken glory. I am listening to Chopin's waltz as I type; the quivering of flowers, the trilling of birds, their movements, their wings - it's all there in those notes scattered across the lower undertones of life. The Celtic Prayer - so beautiful. How perfectly it captures the longing for God, the desire for the Creator's holiness planted deep in imperfect hearts. Thank you for hosting today!

    https://litbitsandpieces.com/2021/04/01/all-things-new-spiritual-journey/

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  6. Karen, what a wonderful post. I loved the Celtic prayer poem, and Chopin's Waltz with the gorgeous images accompanying it. Here's my post: https://pleasuresfromthepage.blogspot.com/2021/04/spiritual-journey-thursday-sharing-our.html

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  7. As promised, Karen, I finally finished my blog post on your excellent theme, All Is New. I found a deep sense of being in this theme and an intense desire to reflect and renew my faith. These past months have been trying. Today, was a breakthrough for me. I am at peace listening to Chopin's music and reading your spiritual post that is a wonderful evening prayer before bedtime. I thank you for offering so much to allow me to reflect and fill my heart with springtime joy. You can find my post at https://beyondliteracylink.blogspot.com/2021/04/all-things-new.html

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  8. An introduction of sorts, to this group. I am looking forward to walking this new path of Spirit with you all! https://horizon51.blogspot.com/2021/04/abandoned-traditions-spiritual-journey.html

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