''Special O'' Track Meet - Beginnings

Hopeful faces,

Excited  brows, twitching high and low.

Anxious eyes, sparkling eyes

Lips never stopping... or reticent and unsure

Cheeks flitting with dimples,

                           -a frown line here or there...

Chins puckered,

...or - anticipation wagging them up and down.

Clusters of folks,

Circles of friends,

Voices and laughter.

         .........Smiles flitting with wings of anticipation.

Care givers giving what they've got,

waiting for the COACH !

....Silly, the COACH.. not coach.. 

-She's here!-

with movies... and a bathroom...

Coach has arranged it,

Can't wait to begin !

"Let me win and if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt!"

Motto brave and pure.

As they stomp up the COACH,

Reticence, flown on the wind.

Anticipation!

Friends and field-play 

Food and fun.

Here

we

come! 

North Bay Track Meet June 26 2011

Pentecost Season

"The resurrection does not replace the cross and thereby lead us into triumphalism . . . rather, it vindicates the the cross and leads us into humble service. It demonstrates to us that God's ways (often unpredictable, counter-cultural, beyond our comprehension and control) will finally triumph. Living this truth, however, requires patience, humility, and self-denial . . . even as we pursue our dreams, passions, and sense of calling in the world." Patrick Franklin June 16 2011

Alive - Folly of God poster by Sieger Köder Code:73SK15

http://www.pauline-uk.org/product.asp?id=2066

 These words of my son in law, in a letter to my dad the other day, brought me back to  that resurrection morning with the disciples. I am drawn again and again to the events before the cross, at the cross and then resurrection this season of Pentecost. 

Peter, James and John have seen beyond the veil on the mount of Transfiguration as they beheld the glorified Jesus talking with Moses and Elijah. Pentecost has come and the disciples have seen, touched and heard their Master.They have been empowered to spread  the good news of Jesus, God's son, given to us,- God's supreme love, to bring us into intimate relationship with Him- as  the Holy Spirit descended on them with tongues of fire.
These men -and Mary not long past, were at the tomb, wondering what happened... Ordinary people like you and me.  Each touched by agony of the moment. As I ponder this, I wonder, Who am I?
Peter who saw? 
John who believed?
-or Mary who wept, waited, searched and then went to tell?
Above all, there is humility in their agony- the agony of the resurrection. It seems all good things do not come without pain and humility.

Sometimes I feel like I have been in that agony of the resurrection all my life. That searching , that agony of not finding him- then glimpsing  His resurrection glory and surety of His love in my life. Then- plummeted to the agony again- so that I am not sure - of my love - or the love for me...
At this point, I become Peter who saw the empty tomb and went home.. with his feelings of shame, remorse, and desolation. So I see, and then go on with my life-knowing but not reveling in my Lord's glory of love, and resurrection life.-
.. Thinking... Let's get on with it - knowing, (-or rather, thinking I know) in my head what I must do, - desiring in my heart sooo longingly,  --- but at the same time, shutting off my hurting spirit. What must Peter have felt as he looked int the tomb, knowing he had denied His Lord 3 times before his death, after vehemently saying he would never do such a thing.... He probably wanted to run and hide- get away from it all...


Mary knew her limitations, was not afraid of them and lived in the "now" of her feelings.... knowing with a surety that she had been loved and healed but still, in the depths of  agony of not knowing what came next...

Peter and John did not want to... what-- humble themselves?  to face their agony. They went home. Mary stayed and cried out her agony. 
So often I pick up my socks - seeing and believing- but then I run home to safety, so I don't have to think anymore on my agony---put up the barriers and false strength to go on.


So today Lord, I am staying and being Mary- wishing with all my heart - to hang on to you.

Stay, rest in the moment. No getting up 

to run to security and denial.

Stay, till the work is done. 

Deep deep pain-- 

Brings more than abundant joy.

Flashes of joy, Glimmers of glory

Along the road.

And along the road ...

I meet ...God's fishermen!

 

Wind of the Spirit

I seem to be stuck at Eastertide this year.,, So many thot's about resurrection power and the veil being rent to allow new dimensions of love and life!

While walking by the lake and enjoying the breeze gently, then not so gently, blowing the green bows of early summer, I got to thinking of the mighty Wind of His Spirit given to us in fullness at Pentecost.

I and my sister here on the Island, do not much like the wind - she has to put up with it as lake winds rush mightily across her yard; I hide in my bush where winds are gentled and  caught by the mighty pine and whispering aspen,- so do not blow quite as hard on me. For both of us, days are made by how the wind blows in many ways... and today, wind blows with not so much pollen, as tender aspen and maple flutter and sing.

As I write this, I am also reminded of the differences of the winds of nature, the world and the winds of the Spirit. CS Lewis put it so well.. The road to living by the wind of the Spirit is in this statement:

The real problem of the Christian life comes where people do not usually look for it. It comes the very moment you wake up each morning.

All your wishes and hopes for the day rush at you like wild animals.

And the first job each morning consists simply in shoving them all back, in listening to that other voice, taking that other point of view…Letting that other larger, stronger, quieter life come flowing in. And so on, all day.
Standing back from all your natural fussings and frettings

Coming in out of the wind.” ~C.S. Lewis

Acts 2:2 ESV
And suddenly there came from heaven a sound like a mighty rushing wind, and it filled the entire house where they were sitting.

I do not like the wind My Lord,

But I have learned to love it!

You have shown me..

Dancing with joy and laughter,

Pulling tricks- a gammon of delight,

Joying in it's Master.

Leading the way

To calming peace and rapture!

Breath o breathe,

My Love,

The Wind of Your Spirit,

On troubled soul herafter,

As I yield to your Wind 

Calling to me... 

                        and to you...

To join life's dance with the 

Master!

June 2, 2011 Gloria Taliotis

My World

She cries when I answer the phone.

Children off to school..                  

And feeling so alone                                               

How can I do this?

How to keep going?

..Heartsick in the knowing.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~                                              

…Lord I’m tired too and..

I don’t want to talk..

How do I give what I haven’t got??

 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~

I remember that Voice

                                That still small Voice.

That calms me to stillness,

                          and brings me to fullness..

~~~~~~~~~~~

“I am here,

And I’ve got an ear..

I’ll lend it to you my dear.

It’s all I’ve got .

But the Master is here

He holds you near..

and together we’ll soak

in His infinite cloak

                       of loving kindness…”

Feb 15 2011

Gloria Taliotis     

Evening Walk

We have escaped like a bird   from the snare of the fowlers; the snare is broken, and we have escaped! 

Psalm 124:7

 We went for a walk tonight,

My Lord and I,

Wonder, awesome sights we saw

Lover of my Soul and I.

Wind splaying on liquid silver,

Skipping swirls upon the water- without the pebbles, Lord!

Awesome you are!

"I made this place for you my love,

Come to the labyrinth of love and put your burden down.

Start at the east and turn,

Turn towards my resurrection love and life.

I wait for you my love, 

At the centre of encircled love.

Centre yourself in me."

..........All around majestic pine

Gracefully waving,

                      soaring,                                                  

                                dancing on your breeze.

 Soughing,whispering hymns of praise, 

to Creator and created both;

Joyful waves of mighty boughs

join rippling silver shine.

"You are mine my love,                                                     

I made this all for you. my love.                               

Come join my symphony of joy.                          

Joy in My Grace, 

Joy in My Love.                                            

Come join me in peppermint candy tea!!"

                  while

         Light shines on you,

        Peace surrounds you,

        Love enfolds you.

Gloria Taliotis,June1 2011

Whisperings of Love

This musing came to me as I was on silent retreat, looking out at the pine cones dancing in the breeze, out my cottage/hermitage-window, and meditating on  how truly deep God's love is for me. When my eyes are open to this, I am in awe and reach out in joy as Mary Magdelene did when she realized that Christ was right there before her- and alive..as she whispered:"Rabboni"
-Sometimes, the whisper is the deepest expression of a deep emotion true and pure.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

And now as Pentecost arrives wait in awe again as more of His love and life enfolds before us.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Bright pointy Pine cones..

New seedlings,

                   Joying in life.

Dancing on wind,

Waving in sunshine,

Weaving on  breeze.

Fruit of the Branch!

Child of the Tree.

Nourished with well-springs

Of surging, life-giving sap.

Deeply rooted by waters of Life.

What are you here for?

This moment in time...

But to grow, burst with life- abundant and true,

Strengthened with winds of time and tumult,

Then fall and crumble- sink into earth,

Fecund earth,soft receptive soil.

               Enfolded in

                                             Dark Night of Earth.

Agony, waiting, longing...

.... A glimmer, a wonder..

     Hope...

A bursting forth.

Small seedling,

  to

Majestic Pine.

Whispering..

                   Life- to my soul.

Whose design is this?

Whisper it to the world.

        Whisper!

               ~~~
Gloria Taliotis June 1 2011

Hosea14:8. O Ephraim, what more do I have to do with idols?
I will anwer him and will care for him. I AM LIKE A GREAT PINE TREE, your FRUITFULNESS comes from me.

Amplified Bible (AMP)

Ephraim shall say, What have I to do any more with idols? I have answered [him] and will regard and watch over him; I am like a green fir or cypress tree; with Me is the fruit found [which is to nourish you.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~`
Gleenings on the Pine Cone.

Ancient spirituality makes connections with the pine cone, one of the most ancient fruits on the planet. Throughout.the ages the pine cone has been a symbol of human enlightenment. There is a story that the Pine Cone was actually the fruit from the Tree of the Knowledge of Good and Evil that was eaten by Eve. 

  

Some ancient cultures consider the pinecone symbolic of spiritual ascension and immortality. The Bible mentions pinecones on several occasions. One of these is the story in Genesis 32 of Jacob wrestling all night with God. Jacob, now Israel, calls the name of the place Peniel, for " I have seen God face to face, and my life was preserved. And as he passed over Peniel, the Sun rose upon him." The literal translation of the word peniel here is "face of God".

 

The pineal gland, at the  centre of the human brain is shaped like, and is named after the Pinecone.It is linked to the body's perceiption of light. It modultaes our sleep patterns  It is islolated from the blood /brain barriersystem and receives more blood flow than any other area in the body except the kidneys.

It is extremely affected by light, and takes action according to what it senses. Similarly, pine cones will open themselves up to the sun’s rays, and close up during cloudy or stormy days. Sunny days offer conditions for the tiny seedlings nestled in the scales of the pinecone to become airborne more easily.  Damp or rainy days have  poor seed spreading conditions so the pinecone just closes during these weather conditions.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

As I watch the pine cones floating on a breeze , I sense a whispering of God's light and love nourishing my inmost being... and I catch glimpses of the face of God.

Even Song

Golden Fire of Son
On my window hovering,
Piercing through clouds of grey,
Shine your rays upon me pray.
Burning, blinding, purging Light,
But for a moment, before the night,
Then rest beneath your covering.

Shimmering clouds, silvery bright,
In the shadows made by Light,
Peace, my soul, at rest- respite,

Whispering Aspens herald the night.
Gloria Taliotis
June 8,2011

Quiet Places

Sometimes God calls us to stay....
even if it is in the agony .. until He is finished working...
When we are lost, we need to be still
             so that we can be found ...even in the dark....
In the dark starts resurrection work.
Seedlings sprout!
Renewal starts
God longs to do deep resurrection work..
....Stay til the work is done
Embrace the now....
Hold it close.
Know it.
Then release.
Arms open wide..

Deep deep pain  ....births wellsprings of abundant JOY

Calm after the Storm. June 1 2011. G. Taliotis