Prayers
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Tidbits From An Old Master
Ever since I found one of his books at a library sale, I have enjoyed and benefited from the writings of Abbe de Tourville. His slender volume, Letters of Direction, is a book I frequently use in my lectio divina. Here are some passages from that book that I think my readers might enjoy and from which you might gain nourishment: Let us be able to depend quietly on ourselves. Let us judge for ourselves which things most help, guide, and teach us, by observing the degree in which they fit our own particular temperament; learning by experience those things which help us and which we most need. Live according…
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Goodbye, Mr. President
The Holy Scriptures enjoin us to pray for those in authority over us: I desire therefore, first of all, that supplications, prayers, intercessions, and thanksgivings be made for all men: for kings, and for all that are in high station: that we may lead a quiet and a peaceable life in all piety and chastity. I Timothy 2: 1-2, Douay Rheims version As President Trump is still my President for another 14 hours at the time of this writing, I am praying for him and his family tonight, as I have done so many times in the past four years. I would encourage my tiny group of readers to do…
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Wings Of Contemplation
We received a surprise skiff of snow during the night, and an even more surprising squall of the stuff during the morning, giving us a couple of inches of nice, fluffy snow, the kind that squeaks beneath the boot and provides good traction. The sun came out a while ago, but more snow is supposed to move in during the night. Jinx is keeping a close eye on the weather forecast, as snow is one of his great joys in life. He enjoys speeding along the ground like a spotted rocket, nose barely above terra firma, mouth slightly ajar and scooping up loads of the stuff. He stops occasionally to…
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Her Name Is Ashli Babbitt
She is not at home with her family tonight. Mike Pence is in his comfortable lair, but Ashli Babbitt’s body is in a morgue, and her family is making funeral plans. Mike Pence hasn’t even spoken her name aloud. Mike Pence’s security cop murdered Ashli Babbitt, but he hasn’t been named, his address and family’s address haven’t been posted on social media, and he will likely be hailed as a hero by the same people who denounced the Covington Boys before the truth came out. I cannot express the situation more eloquently than the Z Man did today, so I will simply post what he wrote. I will spend the…
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The Epiphany of the Lord
While on our daybreak walk this morning, Jinx and I watched two men setting up chairs under the tent at the newly-opened grave in the little country graveyard. The spotted menace seems to take a special interest in the craft of the sexton; I was grateful he didn’t leap onto the tarp covering the grave. This time. The wind was chilly and brisk but not unbearable…about 43F. The clouds moved like a flock of sheep across the sky, low and swift and wooly, and the tang of silage came to me when I turned into the wind. As I walked, watching Jinx gallop in one of the pastures, I engaged…
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Auld Lang Syne
“Time, like an ever-rolling stream, bears all its sons away…” Isn’t that how the hymn puts it? Time to put away this exhausted year, my friends. I wish you all a very Happy New Year. May the Lord bless each of you and give you grace as we enter the next phase of our fading days. ~ S.K. Orr
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Languages
The super-frigid temperatures have subsided somewhat, and so the snow has had a chance to melt a bit. Today it’s in the 40s, with the high 50s forecast by Friday. If this prediction holds, the New Year will come riding in on a mild current of air. Thought I love the cold weather, it has been nice to walk with Jinx in the evenings and not wince and shiver and grimace against the onslaught of the twin blades of wind and ice crystals. I’ve shoveled with a diligent rhythm against the mountain of leftovers remaining after Christmas day, and we are nearing the end of them. Unlike many others, I…
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We Command You To Have a Merry Christmas
Over at The Thinking Housewife, Laura Wood has posted a lively and encouraging message about this year’s Christmas celebrations. Read and heed. ~ S.K. Orr
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Despicable Week
His name was Bill, and he meant something. We weren’t close friends, but I enjoyed Bill’s presence and appreciated his gentle, self-deprecating manner. The last time I saw him, he was walking with a cane, like I do now in the evenings when Jinx and I go for walks. He always had a smile and a shrug and a clear, blue-eyed gaze of friendliness and curiosity. He died a few days ago. An observant neighbor, noticing that a yard-putterer like Bill hadn’t been outside on a fine, mild November afternoon, went to his door to investigate. She found Bill in his bed, and the medical examiner later determined that he’d…
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The Fabric Of Sadness
I have a friend — we’ll call her Lydia — whom I haven’t seen in several months. The last time we met, Lydia told me about her brother, Jake, who had recently had a massive, debilitating stroke. At the time of the event, Jake had been caring for his girlfriend, who had suffered a similar stroke some months prior. While describing their sad plight, Lydia said, “They’re all each other have. They pretty much just lay in bed and comfort each other by talking to each other.” I promised to pray regularly for all of them. Yesterday, I saw Lydia again, and the first thing I asked her was how…