Written on the 25th anniversary of September 11, 2001 I. The morning the words ran out I made my living with words. I was trained as a journalist. I spent years in public affairs and crisis communication for energy and chemical companies, writing the sentences that get said when something has gone badly wrong. I studied how disputes are negotiated and how public arguments are framed. By the autumn of 2001 I was in Houston, teaching and advising at a graduate school of theolog

To love and be loved is The greatest gift In Heaven and on Earth. It's like this... Looking at someone Looking at you with Eyes that see your soul Hearing someone Hearing you with Ears that hear your heart Holding someone Holding you with Hands that hold your love. Now imagine this... God created you and me Out of nothing. Out of nothing? Except for love, an eternal love. A love that sees, hears, holds, And knows ...really knows You and me. With immensity And such unbelievabl

Humans have a capacity for understanding, and living, within the infinitude of God now and into eternity. It is a fact and a desire deep within us. It pervades our body, our intellect, our emotion, our relationships, and most importantly, our spirit. For the vast majority of people, however, there is a failure even to recognize its presence, God's inward presence, at any level. For some, there is a dismissal of what is beyond the human intimacies of hearing, seeing, touching,

Icons tell more than a story. They explain the faith As brought to us by God Who came in the flesh Himself. They illustrate the love of God Through the lives of those who lived And breathed to their last breath The Holy Spirit among us. Icons point us to our own inner journey And guide us on our exterior one. They open us to God who walked in our shoes And remind us that God has never left our side. We are clear on what icons are And what they are not. We do not worship them.

Ways shallow that Weigh down. Panes clouded that Pain all around. Minds confused and Mines that are fused. Traps that are lain and Slaps that remain. Evil sows and Chaos ensues. Humans pursue and Death reaps... The not too few. What is one to do? Eyes closed and Mind still. Breaths deep and Heart open. Acquire the Spirit Who is and Who was And ever shall be the Heavenly King. Comforter Spirit of Truth Breath of God, and Giver of Life. Holy Spirit stained-glass window (Cathedr

Seeking heaven, the Sun the Moon the Clouds, and the Rain. Searching earth, the Mountains, the Oceans, the Desert, and the Ice. Seeing people, the Hesychastic, the Apophatic, the Concerned, and the Caring. Meeting death, and its captives, all those thousands upon millions, spiritually dead. I will pray For you For that is what I do, Not because I am worthy But that is what He bid me do.

How can this be? Pouring Your love into my heart? Filling my mind with Your knowledge? How can You want me before you in prayer? Such a wretched soul Crying for my sin. Rending my garments In a wilderness of my own making. Hiding and Avoiding. Repenting and Hoping? There I am. Helplessly Loving you with all my heart Desiring to fulfill Your will. Daring to be close to You now Imagining life with You for all eternity. Seeking Your face Warming by Your light. "What is this spin

You are the Alpha and the Omega. I trust you are behind me I trust you are ahead of me. It's this middle thing We call life That I don't trust so much - At least half of it anyway. To my right I see the angels and the saints Interceding and protecting Praying and encouraging. To my left I see the demons and the detractors Interrupting and attacking Sneering and antagonizing. This path makes me tired. I hurt all over. And why not? It did the same to You. The Via Dolorosa They

You fill me With Divine Love You surround me With Divine Fire You sustain me With Divine Waters You lead me With Divine Light I am not worthy of this Yet Here you are Never letting go Always reminding me I am in the world, But not of the world. I love you With every ounce of my being. Save me from myself and Sanctify me. An 18th c. icon of Pentecost from a private collection via Wikimedia Commons.

It is getting late and My head hangs low. It is darker now and My tears begin to flow. It is desperate all round so My hands grasp Because they know. The divine language of love, Played on a rope Made of silence. With humility and love, I implore you. Give me shelter, So I may pray through the nights. "O Mistress, Empress and Lady, Defend all who are in danger and misfortune Or weak from many sins, And who stand before your holy Icon Praying with tears, humility, repentance,