For Your Eyes Only

 

                                                                              photo by j. chow

 

While driving this morning, I turned on the radio and heard Sheena Easton's voice singing the song below. It's  actually from a James Bond movie, but for some reason what entered my consciousness was the gospel scene this morning of Bartimaeus, the blind man who asked to be able to see, and who upon being healed, immediately began following Jesus on his way. I wondered about their encounter, and the level of emotion between them - which was surely far greater than what was described in the gospel. Perhaps Bartimaeus at that moment would have felt more like Sheena Easton, singing with all intensity, "For Your Eyes Only"!   :o)

 

 

For your eyes only, can see me through the night

For your eyes only, I never need to hide

You can see so much in me, so much in me that's new

I never felt until I looked at you

 

For your eyes only, only for you

You'll see what no one else can see, and now I'm breaking free

For your eyes only, only for you

The love I know you need in me, the fantasy you've freed in me

Only for you, only for you

 

For your eyes only, the nights are never cold

You really know me, that's all I need to know

Maybe I'm an open book because I know you're mine

But you won't need to read between the lines

 

For your eyes only, only for you

 

You see what no one else can see, and now I'm breaking free

For your eyes only, only for you

The passions that collide in me, the wild abandoned side of me

Only for you, for your eyes only

 

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Blog Turns Five

 

Ships that pass in the night and speak each other in passing;
Only a signal shown and a distant voice in the darkness;
So on the ocean of life we pass and speak one another,

Only a look and a voice, then darkness again and a silence.

 

Tales of a Wayside Inn

 ~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

 

Henry Wadsworth Longfellow's poems are very interesting to read because they leave vivid visual images that linger in the mind long after the poem has been read.  There is a certain quiet noticing, like a pause in between sounds, a stillness in the midst of motion, a space within which to ponder...

 

The view of Manila Bay last night reminded me of the poem above, and of this one below:

   

 

The day is done, and the darkness
Falls from the wings of night,
As a feather is wafted downward
From an eagle in his flight.

 

A feeling of sadness and longing
That is not akin to pain,
And resembles sorrow only
As the mist resembles the rain.

 

And the night shall be filled with music,
And the cares that infest the day
Shall fold their tents like the Arabs,
And as silently steal away.

 

The Day is Done

~ Henry Wadsworth Longfellow

 

 

As this blog turns five years old today (yes!),  I too pause in between activity, take quiet notice of the different soul expressions that have flowed out from within my heart and on to postings in this blog the past five years. What a joy it has been to lay pieces of soul here, freely, simply, and with love!

 

No, the 'day is not yet done'. There is still much to sail through in life... many more ships to 'pass and speak each each other in passing'... much in life to still notice, in stillness and in quiet pauses in between activity.

 

"Thank you dearest Lord, for your Spirit flowing through the many pages of entries here. Everything that has been written originates from You and is quietly offered back to You.  One day, when my day is done for good and darkness finally falls for me, from the wings of the night, may your images continue to shed light and convey who You are to the many other 'ships that pass in the night' ".

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God, be my breath...

"God, be my breath, my steps, my first word."

- Gerald May  



It is easier to say this prayer when things are going well. But when I am angry or hurting, it becomes much more difficult to acknowledge Him as still actively present and flowing thru all that I am... until I am able to make an act of faith and pray for a reconnection to "the one true thing that matters."

Dearest Lord,

be my EVERY breath

my EVERY step

my EVERY word

in every moment

 of my life.

-  Prayer on October 1, Feast of St. Therese of Lisieux, 

& the beginning of another spiritual year in the Lord

Heaven on Earth

 

When we allow ourselves to receive God's love in the way that He waits for us to receive it... when because of it, we finally believe how truly loved we are by Him and begin to genuinely love Him back in ways that truly please Him... we actually experience Heaven.  Yes, He already gives us a taste of Heaven here on earth!

 

For what is Heaven  -  but our being in union with Him... trusting in Him... loving Him and all He wills... being one in journey with Him... laboring and resting in Him...

 

All these, inspite of our very limited human nature...

All He asks is that we love Him through our hopes and joys, our fears and struggles, through all that we are... To love Him with the fullness of our very limited human nature :o)

 

 

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Love Beyond Death

1963 – 1972

 Dear Mike,

Today is your 40^th death anniversary!  Years ago, it was impossible to imagine what it would be like 40 years from then, without you. Our days had been filled with so much play together, and then suddenly you were gone. You left us all so sad, so soon.

Imagine, it has been 40 long years that you have been up there!  Hmm, I wonder what you have been up to all this time :o)   Did you ever take a peek at each of us, now living in different parts  of the world?  Have you ever wished you could have joined our children in their play?  I bet you would have had the time of your life getting to know their many stuffed toys, called “best friends”, positioned all over the house. Did you ever talk about us with our beloved God, and noticed any expressions on his face as you spoke with Him? Did He ever allow you to know what is in store for the future?

Mike, it is true that time heals.  The 40 years have enabled us to move out of our sorrow, and to now think of you without the feelings of sadness and loss that once weighed so heavily in our hearts.

How true it is that love lives beyond death. How can it not be so, when 40 years after your death, my heart still warms up with each recall of our day-in and day-out play and chatter. I smiled when together with my children, I recently saw again the drawings, cards and letters to real and imaginary people that we had made more than 40 years ago. I can still recite by heart each and every line of the beautiful prayer and the simple poem composed in your memory decades ago.

Mike, your years with us were short but rich. I still don’t fully appreciate why you had to move on so early, but what I do know now from this experience is that yes, love lives beyond death.  Love for you continues, despite the 40 long years you have been away..

“I love you for always”  my dear brother :o)

St. Michael, 

Prince of Angels and Gods First Knight

Brave and true to your captain, Christ

We give into your strong care

Our Michael young and fair

Called suddenly from our loving home

To stand his watch before God’s throne.

A page of Christ washed and fed

With cleansing waters and holy bread.

And though we miss his voice and smile

Yet we trust that in just a while

We all together again shall be

Forever a part of God’s family.

So St. Michael, until that day

We shall continue to watch and pray

At peace to know that our son and brother

Is safe with Christ and his loving mother. 

-  Fr. J.F. Donelan, SJ

One lonely night as I sat by my window

Memories of a little boy with a lot of pillows

Had just entered into my mind

For there was no one of such a kind. 

I remember how he used to stand

Beside my bed to conduct a band

Of little animal cushions who stared

At the little boy’s face which cared.

And throughout the day I would hear

His sweet voice ring so near.

His smile so touching  would send me dreaming

Of his two eyes so brightly gleaming.

Troubles, we think of him

Cutting our things to trim!

But in truth, it’s such a joy

To be with Michael, that wonderful boy. 

- mc

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Healing Grace

Photo borrowed from the website bibleseo.com

One of the most significant homilies I have heard was the one given by Fr. Armand Robleza years ago, during a mass in the office.  I remember distinctly that the gospel was about the paralytic who was lowered down from the rooftop by four people, so that he could be presented to Jesus for healing. Fr. Armand encouraged us to identify at least four people in our own lives who were like the four in the gospel scene. Four people who were with us during our most difficult times, and whose  presence and guidance have helped us to rise up, just like the paralytic. People through whom Jesus' healing grace flowed on to us, with or without their being aware of it.

Fr. Armand's homily made me think of eight such people in my own life, whose presence and accompaniment I have been blessed to receive. People who taught me not by words but by their actions, what it means to consistently extend support to another during the other's vulnerable moments.  In this photo there are eight assisting - just like the eight I am truly grateful for!

May you also be able to identify at least four people in your own life through whom you have felt our dearest Lord's healing grace flow on to you... four people who have been there to carry you to our Master Healer when you really needed it.

Then let us pause and say a prayer of deep gratitude for them, that they too may be so blessed by our beloved Master Healer Himself   :o)


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A Silver Anniversary Prayer

Dearest Lord,

Our deepest THANK YOU

For all the blessings you have bestowed on us
In our journey as a married couple and as a family.
In all our bright as well as dark moments
You walked with us, waited with us
Held our hand and pulled us up.
You have been our most faithful and loving partner.

Deepen now our understanding of your Triune Love.

Make our family stay centered on your Sacred Divine Heart.
Help us to grow in the kind of mutual self-giving
That will radiate your light and love
Not only within our little family
But also outward to every person whom You bring into our life.

Lord, help us to remember the vows we affirmed
Before your sacred crucifix today.
Inspite of our shortcomings too many to count,
Help us to still do our very best to love and honor You,
Our most beloved partner in our “marriage of three”.

Amen. 

+ mcs

Great is Thy Faithfulness

Great is thy faithfulness

Oh God our Father!

Morning by morning

All we have needed

Your hand hath provided:

Mercy and love

Pardon for sins

Peace that endureth

Thy dear presence

Cheering and guiding

Strength for today

Bright hope for tomorrow

Blessings all ours

With ten thousand beside.

As Thou has been

Thou forever will be.

For thy great faithfulness

Oh God our Father,

Our thank you and love!

  -  Prayer adapted from  the song "Great is Thy Faithfulness" written by T. Chisolm & W. Runyan & sung by John McDermott

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An Artful Summer

From the Potter's Table

Fruits

Fruits and Vase

Bouquet of Flowers

Fresh Orange

Holy Family

The Robins

Garden Flowers

Flowers on a Vase

Handmaid of the Lord

Province

House on the Hill

Trees

Prayer Space

Provence

Tuscany

An artful summer indeed! With gratitude and joy for being introduced to a way of capturing life and color in a medium other than photography :)


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The Truth Remains...

DWELLS GOD

- Arnel Aquino S.J.  Behind our restless search for greater meaning, and answers to our deepest questioning, beneath relentless faith, boundless hope, surrend'ring love. Behind our trust that all things will be better, that peace will reign and mercy will prevail, deep in our hearts, in our souls, in all we are Dwells God, eternal God, self-giving God, all pow'rful love. More than we ever know or may believe, the truth remains that deep within us dwells God. Behind the deep regret for all our failings, and hunger for the pardon of our sins, beneath our restless shame, desire to rise from them again. Behind our courage to forgive each other, and willingness to heal each other's pain, deep in our hearts, in our souls, in all we are Dwells God. Dwells God.  You just have to take a long, close look at the intricately ordered patterns and design at the center of the sunflower to be reminded of the profound truth that resounded like a choral piece among the Holy Week homilies, talks and reflections during this Lenten season, that  "more than we ever know or may believe, the truth remains that deep within us dwells God... Deep in our hearts, in our souls, in all we are... dwells God." Our faithful, loving God! Happy Easter  :o) .