Here at our sea-washed, sunset, gates shall stand A mighty woman with a torch, whose flame Is the imprisoned lightning, and her name Mother of Exiles.
(Excerpt from The New Colossus by Emma Lazarus)
Listen to this choral interpretation of the Beatitudes titled Bonhoeffer, written by Thomas Lloyd, Director of Music at the Philadelphia Episcopal Cathedral which has been nominated for a Grammy for Best Choral Performance
As refugees we have found refuge, and we are to become a refuge too.
We can’t go back to being 4 or 5 again, trusting that everything in life is beautiful, good, and a source of curiosity to see how it works. Unfortunately those days are gone for us, and we will never totally get them back
“When he saw that they were straining at the oars against an adverse wind, he came towards them early in the morning, walking on the
we can trust ourselves to know Christ when we hear him. He will speak the language of our own hearts. His words will be hope, acceptance, expansive creativity, possibility, paradox and joy.
When was a time you experienced conversion of way of life, or a significant change, and it took you a while to accept your “new name?” Who entered your life to help you navigate it?
If you could have any superpower, what would you choose? Has it ever occurred to you that you already have one?
Who have you written off? In whom do you no longer even look for the light of God? Which enemy have you so thoroughly demonized that you can not see anything virtuous in them?
This Epiphany, let’s practice looking up, looking for a star, and not just hanging our heads and hiding our eyes from what’s in front of us for fear of what’s going to happen in the next step or two that we take. Follow the star, keep the faith, and plunge ahead.