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Something On the Wind
Something odd occurred this morning when I arrived at work. As has been my custom for years, I took crackers and a few leftover rolls and sprinkled them on the ground for the crows. The black birds were already there waiting for me, perched in the trees ringing the parking lot and atop a couple of the light poles. They watched me with their expressionless faces while I put their breakfast in place, and I went on into the building. About ten o’clock, a fire alarm went off in the building and we all filed out into the parking lot per protocol to wait for the all-clear. I detached myself…
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He Is Risen Indeed
I slipped into sleep last night watching the fire-patterns in the stove, methodically releasing my hold on old hurts and old grudges that had been bedeviling me all evening. Reading earlier in the afternoon in Holy Week: The Complete Offices in Latin and English, I had latched onto a section from the Second Nocturne in Holy Saturday, a selection from Psalm 26: I believe to see the good things of the Lord in the land of the living. Expect the Lord, do manfully, and let thy heart take courage, and wait thou for the Lord. How often are men exhorted in this day and age to “do manfully?” The rarity…
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Wraith
My wife drew my attention last night to the signs in front of a house near our place. The local funeral homes place these little signs, reading “Slow — Funeral” on either side of homes where someone has died, presumably to encourage an atmosphere of quiet and to discourage solicitors and other annoyances. This morning when I drove past the house, I looked to see if there was a funeral wreath on the door, and there it was, black and somber and silent. The house usually has a rather festive air to it. The owners keep candles and lights in the windows, they decorate lavishly for Christmas, and they keep…