Friday, December 19, 2008

hard times

Dear ones,

Good morning everyone. I have chosen the canticle from Morning Prayer for today's selection. It has a verse that kept me going during a time that was quite difficult (quite difficult... that's my polite English side keeping my wilder Irish side from using other adjectives).  It seems like a story I read about rather than one I lived. When I was 21 years old, an undergrad in Michigan,  I was the victim of an attempted rape and murder. I escaped, but was badly badly beaten. The perp, although known (he was my Abnormal Psychology professor, Dr. Henry Orloff) was never put behind bars. I used to meditate on the verse from today's scripture "Violence will no more be heard in your land, ruin or destruction within your borders." Meditating on that verse helped me turn the corner (eventually)   from continuing to live in fear to tip toeing  into life again.   God is present, even in violence. God is present, even when destruction comes. God is present, always, to carry us through those times. Peace.  



Canticle 11 The Third Song of Isaiah 
Surge, illuminare Isaiah 60:1-3, 11a, 14c, 18-19


Arise, shine, for your light has come, *
and the glory of the Lord has dawned upon you.

For behold, darkness covers the land; *
deep gloom enshrouds the peoples.


But over you the Lord will rise, *
and his glory will appear upon you.


Nations will stream to your light, *
and kings to the brightness of your dawning.


Your gates will always be open; *
by day or night they will never be shut.


They will call you, The City of the Lord, *
The Zion of the Holy One of Israel.


Violence will no more be heard in your land, *
ruin or destruction within your borders.


You will call your walls, Salvation, *
and all your portals, Praise.


The sun will no more be your light by day; *
by night you will not need the brightness of the moon.


The Lord will be your everlasting light, *
and your God will be your glory.